//------------------------------// // Chapter 57 // Story: Rekindled Embers // by applezombi //------------------------------// Chapter 57 Official Statement, issued by Empress Cadance, 1113 AF To all my beloved citizens: We are entering into an unprecedented era of change.  Many of you are already aware of the events that have shaken the Empire recently.  Rumors are plentiful, and sometimes they drown out the truth. Allow me to clarify certain points of fact. Recently an attempt was made on my life, and on the life of my daughter.  Thanks to the intervention of my brave guards, and some allies from the Knights Discordant, my daughter and I are unharmed.  We offer our sincerest condolences to the families of those guards and civilians killed in the attack.  The perpetrators are imprisoned, and we are beginning the processes of justice and healing. We will hold responsible those who initiated this plot.  At this time, We are making preparations to muster our armed forces for an expedition into Equestria. I will not mince words, my beloved citizens.  The coming days will be difficult.  We wish only for peace, but recent events have shown that the so-called ‘Diarchy’ (or more accurately, certain ponies in positions of power within the Diarchy) is more of a threat to us than ever.  If we are to be a force for peace, and bring light and freedom to those oppressed down south, we may have to do so with strength of arms. Tomorrow the shield that has kept us safe for generations will come down.  We realize that this may cause some fear and anxiety.  So, to allay that, I invite all to participate in a very old tradition.  For the first time in centuries, we will be holding a Crystal Fair.  In each of your communities, in all the towns and villages of the Empire, you will find family-friendly events, food, fun, celebration.  We ask you to attend; the event has a purpose larger and deeper than simple morale-building. It is time for us all to remember the true purpose of the Crystal Heart: not to keep us all sealed away behind a shield, but rather to spread the love and light we have within us throughout Equestria. So be brave, my wonderful, brilliant, kind creatures.  Keep the fires of love burning in your hearts.  Hold close to your friends, your family, your neighbors.  If we do this, we will weather these difficult days with all the grace and wonder that I know you are all capable of. One last thing: many of you remember coming to visit me as a foal.  I wish to thank you all for the centuries of love, support, and faith you have shown.  While it will no longer be necessary (as the shield will no longer need to be powered in the same way) I do hope you will continue to bring your children to meet me.  It always gave me strength and hope to see their bright young faces, to see all that potential and future.   For those who live in the capital, I will be attending the Crystal Fair in pony.  I do hope to see you and your families there. Crystal Empire, 1113 AF Emberglow’s prediction that they were in the calm before the storm turned out to be absolutely true.  Rarity’s days were an absolute mess, packed from breakfast to dinner with meetings, press events, public appearances.  She had taken to scheduling blocks of time with Lightning Bug for her own creative works, as well as personal romantic time with Emberglow.  But even those activities had become compressed. At least Emberglow had moved fully into her suite. There was a part of her that wished she could go back to Angel’s Rest.  A piece of Rarity’s heart would always belong in her shop, whatever location or form that shop took.  She had started to consider opening up another location in the Crystal Empire, but the inner voice of her pessimism suggested that the moment she did, they’d be on their way to the next adventure. The meetings were necessary, but frustrating.  Rarity felt useless and overwhelmed by the endless discussions about army mustering, logistics, strategy, and command structure.  Sometimes she felt as if the only good she did at those meetings was cool the inevitable sparks that flew between Heartwing and Flurry Heart; when Cadance couldn’t attend herself, the two of them often argued. “You may have forgiven him,” Flurry confided in her once after one particularly bitter debate.  “I don’t know if I ever can.  I’ll tolerate him, though.  At least he’s on our side.” She sounded like she still wasn’t quite sure. Today’s afternoon meeting, however, was different.  Today it was a smaller group, only the Elements, Rarity, Lightning, Flurry, and Cadance. Today was all about context. “I don’t know that we need to be very formal if it’s just us,” Heartwing began, drawing a reluctant laugh from Princess Flurry.  Most meetings began with some sort of formal introductions from all the participants, as well as things like agendas, minutes, and other sorts of dull procedure.  Lightning Bug was taking notes, a pen floating in her aura perched above a blank notebook.  “I mean, I’m happy to introduce myself.  It’s practically tradition, now.  Hey, everypony, my name is Heartwing and I’m…” He was drowned out by a chorus of well-meaning boos. “Okay, okay, message received.  So I’m not sure how much this meeting will help, except for assuaging our own curiosity.  But Flurry Heart and I thought it might be useful to get all of us together and piece together a timeline.  How we got to where we are right now.  Maybe it will help us fit everything back together again, maybe not. “But I have to thank Lightning Bug and her scholarly patience for helping us fit everything together into a somewhat cohesive timeline, as well as the Princess’ and Empress’ amazing memories.  They have asked me to present the sequence of events, as best as we can figure.  There will be some level of speculation and educated guessing involved, and some events are simply buried too deeply beneath time and history. “Oh, and if you have questions feel free to interrupt, but you’re gonna have to raise your hooves like good little school colts and school fillies, okay?” Rarity held a hoof up to her mouth to hide her giggle. Flurry, however, was unamused.  “Can’t you be serious for one minute?” “I shall endeavor to do my best, Princess,” Heartwing said, making a dramatic bow, all the more awkward because they were all sitting.  “So.  To the beginning. “I suppose we need to start with Sombra’s attack, and the destruction of the Tree of Harmony.  Twilight, fortunately, had removed the Elements earlier that day because Phantom McGhostface had been sighted lurking about Ponyville, and she wanted to be prepared.  So when he snuck into the cave where the tree grew, the Elements weren’t there.  I’m guessing he destroyed the Tree in a rage.  We know now that some parts of it survived, a root system or something. “I remember that bit,” Rarity said.  “The Elements didn’t disappear, so we were all sure the Tree would regrow, somehow.  It seemed worrying, but not too much.” “You didn’t raise your hoof,” Heartwing scolded, and Rarity stuck her tongue out at him.  Emberglow giggled at that. “Anyways, the battle with Sombra led all the way to the Crystal Empire, to the throne room itself, where Sombra was once again defeated, this time by the Elements rather than the Crystal Heart.  The Diarchy has their own version of this in the Book of the Saints.  It’s vague, and there’s very little detail, but besides the omission of some of the principal characters, like the Empress and her family, there’s not much wrong with their account. “A few years later, scientists at the Manehatten Institute of Magic and Technology began an experiment with the very beginnings of rune magic, though they didn’t know it at the time.  Their intent was to create an invisible, intangible field that non-unicorns could use to power magitech devices.  It would have been a very real breakthrough.  They invited Princess Twilight to attend their experiment.  She was busy with matters of state, so she invited Starlight to attend in her place.  We know how that turned out.” Rarity pointedly raised her hoof, and Heartwing smirked at her, gesturing with his own.  “Tell us about it, Rarity.” “The poor dear came down with a rather nasty flu on the weekend of the experiment, so she asked me to go instead.  I may not have been a particularly accomplished mage like Starlight or Twilight at that time, but I could still take notes.”  Rarity pursed her lips in concentration.  “I was expecting some sort of lab, but instead they held the experiment in a small theater.  I’m sure I couldn’t begin to describe the technical apparatuses present.  The researchers and their grad students were up on stage, and most of the audience was filled with press ponies and undergrads.  The head researcher, I think her name was Inciting Incident or something like that, got up and described the experiment.  Then she flipped a large switch by the machine.  Everything went white, and the very next thing I remember is the beautiful face of my rescuer.” “Thank you, Rarity.  I didn’t know you thought so highly of me,” Heartwing smirked, and for the second time that meeting Rarity stuck her tongue out at him foalishly.  “But we’re skipping ahead.  I can tell you that nothing was left of that theater but a crater.”  He shuddered.  “It was bad.  Your friends were inconsolable.  Fluttershy in particular was…” he sucked in a quick breath, shook his head, then continued.  “Fluttershy was the worst, I think.  Of all of her friends, I believe you were the one she felt closest to. “We couldn’t find any… remains in the crater, so we searched.  All of us.  The Pillars, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, our students from the school.  We tracked down every possible lead, every hint, every sighting.  There was nothing.  In time, ponies had to move on with their lives.  We all did, except Starlight.  She and Twilight argued about it, and that’s when she admitted she’d been using dark magic to extend her life.  They fought, and Starlight left Ponyville. “Shortly thereafter, Celestia and Luna announced their retirement.  At the time, everypony assumed they would just be doing something like go on vacation, or start checking things off their bucket list.”  Heartwing leaned forward on the table, his eyes narrowing in concentration.  “That’s not where they went, is it, Cadance?” “The Starlit Path,” Cadance said.  There was a reverence in her raspy voice, and everypony at the table subconsciously leaned forward to hear.  “The Starlit Path is a mystery, even to us alicorns.” “But you know more than you’re willing to tell,” Heartwing guessed, and Flurry huffed at him angrily. “If she doesn’t want to—” “The Starlit Path,” Cadance interrupted her daughter, “is sacred to alicorns.  It is the thing that connects us.  It is not a place, exactly, but…” she waved a thin hoof.  “I’m not sure how to describe it.  It is in all of our minds, a realm adjacent to the dream world that Topaz visits.  Many of you have caught a mere glimpse of the Starlit Path.” Terminus’ ears drooped and he looked away.  Lofty and Emberglow were nodding knowingly.  “Twilight could explain it better than I could, and I’m certain Celestia knew much more about it than she ever let on.  But I’ll share what little I do know. “All ponies are connected to the Path, but alicorns, as representatives of all three tribes of ponies, have the strongest connection.  We can commune with the Path, traverse it in our minds.  There, we can get in touch with the deepest parts of our magic.” Cadance’s brow furrowed, her eyes unfocused.  “In a way, alicorns are Harmony.  And the Path is where we are able to see our place in the larger picture.  Celestia once told me that communing with the Path allowed her to learn about a pony’s potential; she could see pieces of what a pony could become, if they made the right choices.  Luna was sometimes able to see glimpses of future events.  When I do, I see potential relationships; I see how love could flourish, if cultivated.  Twilight was the closest to the Path out of all of us; I’m sure in time she would have discovered secrets beyond what we can even imagine.” “So Celestia and Luna didn’t just retire, then,” Rarity said, shooting a glare at Heartwing when he pointed at her hoof. “No.  They… evolved beyond their physical forms in order to explore the Path.”  Cadance said.  “It is something we can all choose to do.  Though some are closer to the Path than others.” Cadance looked at Flurry, who turned away with a small huff. “Regardless, we all have an intimate connection to the Path.  It gives us our longevity.  Even if we are killed, a part of us still exists there.  That is why Celestia and Luna can still reach out, if we find ourselves on the path.  In Luna’s case, she can exploit the closeness of the Path to the world of dreams and touch the lives of ponies relatively easily.  Luna and Celestia wished to explore the Path more directly than those of us who remain in the physical world.  Their intent was to find new ways to guide and help their ponies.  But then…” “Getting ahead again,” Heartwing waved a hoof.  “We’ll get there, I promise.  So Celestia and Luna evolved, or disappeared, or retired, or however you want to say it.  And they intended to still be able to influence Equestria from the Starlit Path.  And for a time, they did, while Twilight led from Canterlot, and you led from here.  And Flurry was a surly teenager.  I believe this was during your ‘goth’ phase?” “Moving on,” Princess Flurry growled, her face flushed.  “For a time, things were peaceful.  But from Twilight’s notes, and from the words of the insane mare from the cave, we’ve worked out that there was already a conspiracy in motion to destroy what had been built. “So let’s list the villainous dramatis personae, shall we?  We have Cozy Glow, a pegasus foal who consistently used her manipulative charisma to try to amass power and influence. Then there’s Chrysalis, the jealous and hateful queen of the changelings.  Last is Tirek, the centaur with a genius-level understanding of thaumic science and a bitter spite for all ponies.  Tirek and Cozy were confined in Tartarus, and somepony broke them out.  We have now guessed that this was most likely a creature known as Adagio Dazzle. “Adagio assembled her conspiracy of four, and then began undermining harmony in Equestria.  And I don’t just mean peace between the tribes, ponies getting along, or even a consistent, pleasantly arranged sequence of musical notes.” He paused a moment, glancing around the table.  Terminus let out a small cough and rolled his eyes.  Heartwing sighed before continuing.  “I mean Harmony with a capital ‘H’.  The magic of Equestria itself. “They did this in three ways: one, by sowing disharmony among ponies.  This was Cozy’s specialty.  All she had to do was pick a group, any group, to blame for any and all of Equestria’s problems, both real and imaginary.  And Cozy picked unicorns.”  Heartwing tapped his horn with a hoof for emphasis.  “It started as an underground cult in Manehatten.  From Twilight’s notes, we’ve discovered that Cozy was recruiting from among earth ponies and pegasi there, spreading a narrative about the dangers of unchecked magic.  She tied every disaster in Equestrian history, including her own failed attempt to take over, on unicorn magic. “Of course nopony believed her at first.  And that’s when things started getting weird.  A series of dangerous and deadly incidents occurred, supposedly perpetrated by unicorns against other ponies.  Soon angry earth ponies began responding in kind.  Yet when Twilight started looking into these incidents, she noticed a disturbing trend.  Many of them had connections to a rogue’s gallery of ponies who’d had unfortunate encounters with Twilight or her friends.  Even more disturbing is, many of those ponies disappeared before Twilight could interrogate them. “Tribal tensions began ramping up, and the unicorn elite in Canterlot began to take notice.  Now, I don’t know if this was the work of Adagio and her conspirators, or just idiotic nobleponies being idiots, but they started to maneuver. It was an alliance of the wealthiest citizens of Canterlot, meeting behind closed doors.  They started introducing legislation, slowly and gradually.  It was insidious; each law appeared to be designed to ‘help Twilight focus her energies on the recurring disasters in Manehatten’ rather than the petty concerns of governing Canterlot.” “The summary doesn’t do it justice,” Cadance said.  “Each new measure passed was another layer of control lost in Canterlot.  It was a death by a thousand cuts.”  “She should have seen it coming.  Could have, too, if she weren’t distracted at the time,” Heartwing said.  “But when things really started to deteriorate in Canterlot, Twilight was busy dealing with the deaths of her friends, one after another.  Compounding it all was one friend who could have helped her see what was happening; an unwitting moron who, with his lack of self-control, restraint, and general emotional imbalance, was about to destroy everything.” “We know what comes next, love,” Terminus said softly.  “He can tell the story if he likes,” Flurry said, her voice just a little chilly. “Fluttershy died.  I lost it, and in my grief I destroyed Ponyville.  And Twilight Sparkle died turning me to stone again.  Twilight arranged for Spike to hide the elements before she died, and he distributed them as instructed.” “I did try to track them down and secure them up North,” Flurry said.  “But Spike was insistent that we follow Twilight’s final wishes.  He only gave us one of the Elements: Laughter.” “Wait,” Emberglow said, raising her hoof.  “I have a question.  If I may.” There was something so earnest and eager in the way she did it that reminded Rarity of elementary school foals. “Um, did you say that an alicorn is still tied to this Starlit Path?  Even if she dies?” “She is,” Cadance said simply.  “Twilight Sparkle may no longer have a physical form, but death is not the end for her.” The room was uncomfortably quiet.  Cadance and Flurry were not looking at each other.  Rarity’s mouth was dry, almost painfully so.  She tried to swallow, and nearly choked. “Y-you mean, you mean she’s still—” “Rarity, please don’t misunderstand,” Cadance said.  “Twilight is dead.  Celestia and Luna ascended to the Path voluntarily.  Twilight’s presence is there, but not in the same way.  I don’t want to get your hopes up, or make you think that there is something you can do to see her again.  I don’t know how to show another pony the way to the Path if they’re not alicorns.” “Can we get back to the story?” Flurry cut in suddenly.  “All this metaphysics isn’t helping to clarify the history of the Diarchy.” “But…” Rarity began.  Her heart ached.  She had to know more. “Later, Rarity,” Cadance said.  “I promise.  I’ll tell you as much as I can.” “I might as well take over from here, Heartwing,” Flurry said sharply, glaring at her mother.  Cadance merely looked on sadly.  “Because Heartwing was a rock.” But Rarity was finding it hard to concentrate.  Flurry’s voice was so much like Twilight’s; a lecturer’s voice, firm and confident.  But she couldn’t focus on the words. Twilight is still… “…underground cult was starting to become a little more mainstream.  Ponies were openly worshiping Twilight and her friends.  Popular politicians in Manehatten, Seaddle, Stalliongrad, and…” Somewhere, Twilight is still… “… were now calling ‘the True Faith’, if they weren’t members already.  Up North, we were largely…” Rarity could barely hear her over the sound of her own heartbeat. Somewhere, somehow, Twilight is still… “…Canterlot was the only holdout, and only because it was largely ruled by an oligarchy of unicorn nobility.   Several of the other races came to Cadance and…” It’s not possible.  Cadance said… but whatever she said, Twilight is still… “As far as we can guess, that’s what the ‘machine’ Adagio spoke about was powering,” Heartwing added. Rarity’s mind buzzed as she tried to catch up to the conversation.  She’d been missing something important.  “Machine?  Powering?  I’m sorry, I was…”  Cadance shot her a sympathetic look; she’d clearly guessed when Rarity’s attention had derailed. “A spell, Rarity,” Flurry answered patiently. “Adagio and her cronies had destroyed the harmony between the tribes, but that wasn’t the end of their offenses.  They sought to destroy every hint of Harmony magic throughout Equestria, including devising a nasty spell to banish us alicorns from Equestria itself.” “My best guess is that this machine is the target we Elements are supposed to be pointing our rainbow friendship laser at,” Heartwing said. Rarity tried to listen.  She really did.  But her mind wandered back to the construct, and the mysterious answer she had once received from Twilight about the Starlit Path.  What did the alicorns know that they weren’t sharing?  She watched Cadance, staring at her sunken eyes.  Cadance stared back. Was it a trick of the light?  Cadance looked as she always did; kind, understanding, sympathetic, loving.  But maybe there was something more there.  Guilt, perhaps, at not sharing her secrets?  Shame, at having hidden Twilight’s ultimate fate from her closest friends?  A worm of jealous suspicion grew in Rarity’s heart, and no matter what she did she couldn’t banish it. “I tried to go to Canterlot myself, to appeal to those oligarchs in pony,” Flurry continued, heedless of the turmoil spinning in Rarity’s heart.  “But something was preventing me from entering.  It was the same with Mother.  Ocellus, queen of the changelings at the time, offered to send spies into Equestria to figure out what happened.  They were unable to discover the source of the spell, but they did determine its epicenter: the ruins of Ponyville. “The events of next few decades are probably not helpful,” Flurry said.  “The missionaries of the ‘True Faith’ had started to build shrines and fortresses in Ponyville.  Tensions were escalating, and civil war felt imminent.  Other races began to pull into their own borders, or out of Equestria entirely, like the hippogriffs, the thestrals, or the kirin.  We sent messenger after messenger, begging both sides for calm, rational discussion.  But by then, there was no harmony left in Equestria. “Those loyal to the Faith in Cloudsdale maneuvered it into position above Canterlot.  Before the unicorns realized what was happening, the mountain was being bombarded by hail and lightning.  It lasted for weeks, and by the time Cloudsdale ran out of ammunition, the Faith’s ground forces were in position besieging the city.” Rarity found herself struggling to care any longer.  It was as Heartwing said in the beginning of the meeting; nothing that had happened mattered, unless they could use the knowledge to fix Equestria.  She fought the urge to stand up, to demand that they get to the point; it was time, in her mind, to start talking about the ‘how’.  Never mind the ‘why’. And she wanted to corner Cadance and demand a more thorough explanation about the Path.  Rarity had thought she’d gotten a degree of closure, when she’d decided to forgive Heartwing.  Now she was less sure, and memories of Twilight Sparkle were threatening to overwhelm her.  A dozen sensory images, smells of the castle, of the library, sounds of her voice, explaining, lecturing, pleading, comforting.  The sight of her, proud, nervous, excited, or furious.  They all rattled around without sense or pattern in Rarity’s head. “I’m sorry, darlings,” she interjected into whatever it was Flurry had been talking about.  “I find myself in desperate need of a break, perhaps a bit of fresh air.  I’m finding it difficult to concentrate, it seems.” “Um.”  Flurry Heart blinked a few times, before nodding patiently.  “Sure, Rarity.  We can pick up at Sunset’s rebellion when you’re feeling better.  Is everything okay?” “I’m fine, Princess,” Rarity said, standing up from the table with enough haste that Emberglow jerked a little, looking to her with concern.  “Like I said.  I just need some air.  This whole topic is difficult.” She didn’t dare look at Cadance.  She was sure she would see something.  Pity, perhaps.  Or apology.  She wanted neither. With a small smile for Emberglow, she stepped away from the table and out of the door.  Emberglow followed in her wake. Once the door to the conference room was closed behind her, Rarity took a deep breath.  Emberglow watched, patiently waiting. “Is it that easy to tell something is wrong?” Rarity asked softly. Emberglow smiled.  “A little, yes.  You’re upset.  I’m here for whatever you need.  We can talk, or not.  We could even find some ice cream.” “You are a gem, darling, and I am most certainly keeping you,” Rarity laughed, and Emberglow blushed with a giggle.  “I will be fine.  Go for a walk with me?” “Of course,” Emberglow said.  Rarity moved alongside her, and with a bump of their hips they walked slowly down the crystal hallway. Rarity was slowly growing used to the guards that now followed them wherever they were, even in the palace.  It made her think, again, of Twilight, and her reluctance to hire guards for her palace.  She wondered if Twilight had changed her mind, later. “It’s Twilight,” Rarity said out loud to Emberglow.  “Hearing Cadance talk about Twilight, and this Starlit Path place… it has left me out of sorts.  There’s more to the mystery of this Path place that nopony wants to talk about.  The construct mentioned something about it too, remember?” “It locked us out from asking about it when you said you were not an alicorn,” Emberglow recalled. “Mostly, though, I just miss her, Emberglow.  I thought, maybe after the trial, I’d be done with this.” “Grief doesn’t work that way,” Emberglow said, then colored.  “Um.  It’s something Topaz and Terminus both say, and I…” she took a deep breath and let out an embarrassed giggle.  “I’m sorry.” “No, you’re right,” Rarity said.  “It just got to be a little much, is all.” “Where would you like to go?” Emberglow asked. Outside seemed like the right answer.  The two of them hurried back to Rarity’s room, fetching their warm weather coats before stepping outside. The grounds around the palace were a swarm of activity, buzzing with ponies setting up for the coming festival.  It was so unlike the last Crystal Fair Rarity had participated in; for one, she and her friends weren’t doing all the work. A thousand years, and the culture of the fair had changed, as well.  The Fair Rarity and her friends had set up had been beautiful, but a bit of a one-note thing, culturally.  Now, in addition to the traditional staples, like crystal berry sweets, a petting zoo for the foals, and jousting, there were activities and crafts from among all the Empire’s peoples.  Rarity could see a trio of Diamond Dogs setting up a jewelry booth, and three unicorns building a large tent to sell some kind of fried food.  There was even a pair of changelings putting together what appeared to be some kind of foal’s game underneath a brightly colored sign that said ‘Mirror Mindboggler’.  It seemed as good a distraction as anything, so Rarity and Emberglow wandered over. “I’m sorry to bother you,” Rarity called out, and both of the changelings glanced up at her, eyes widening with recognition.  “But we were curious about the booth you were setting up.  Would you terribly mind explaining it?” “Oh, uh… of course, Lady Rarity,” the taller of the two gave a low bow.  Rarity was growing used to being recognized on sight.  “My name is Tabanus, and this is my wife Ommatidia.  We’ve been running this game for years.  Some variation of the mirror game has been at every festival, carnival, and circus in the Empire since the changelings first migrated.  Would you care for a demonstration?” “Why, of course,” Rarity said, intrigued. “Okay then!” the changeling smirked.  “I’m going to have to have my wife borrow your beautiful marefriend for a moment, then.  If you don’t mind.  Omma?” “Step this way for a moment, Lady Emberglow,” the female changeling said, with her own smile.  “You’ll like this, it’s fun.” Emberglow nervously glanced between Rarity and the changeling, gulping a little until Rarity smiled confidently.  “Um, okay.” The two of them stepped behind the partially assembled booth, and Rarity heard the hush of muted conversation.  She didn’t bother to listen, she was already pretty sure she had correctly guessed what this was all about. Still, it was distracting, and it wouldn’t hurt anypony to play along and have some fun.  “So what am I supposed to do?  How does this game work?” “Well, it depends on if you’re a foal or an adult,” Tabanus winked.  “We don’t have the prize table set up yet, but you bring a friend and pay your bits, one for foals and two for adults.  Then one of us goes with your friend behind the curtain there, and when they come out there’s two of your friend.” Rarity grinned.  She had indeed figured it out. “So you have sixty seconds to guess, though we give foals a little more time.  If we can fool you, you get a small prize, like candy or a little treat.  If we can’t fool you, there’s a larger prize section with plushies and toys.  For the heroes of the Empire, though, you two get to play for free.” “Bring them out, then,” Rarity said confidently. “Well, there’s a bit I have to…” Tabanus cleared his throat, and his voice changed, becoming deeper and more full.  “Welcome, pretty lady, to the Mirror Mindbender, a daring game of trickery and observation!  How well do you know your loved one?  Can you spot the fake?”  He flourished with one hoof.  “We shall see!  Lady Emberglow and Lady Emberglow, you can come out now!” Even though Rarity knew what to expect, it was still a little jarring to see two Emberglows step out from behind the booth.  They were identical down to the smallest detail, and Rarity could tell; even the stitching on the unique coat Rarity had made for her was the same. “Which is real, and which is the fake?  You can ask any question you like, but you only have a minute.”  Tabanus reached under the booth’s counter and pulled out a small hourglass.  “Your time starts now.”  He flipped over the hourglass, and the sand began to trickle down. Rarity’s smile widened, a plan already forming in her head.  Wordlessly, she circled the two Emberglows.  She made a show of walking in a loop around the both of them, pretending to take in each and every detail while keeping an eye on the timer.  Then, just before about half of the sand had fallen, she spoke. “The resemblance is almost perfect, darling.  It’s rather disconcerting.  I must say, though, the possibilities are intriguing.” “Possibilities?” One of the Emberglows asked. “Oh, I mean in the bedroom, darling.  If there’s two of you…” One of the two Emberglows went bright pink, sputtering.  Rarity began to laugh, pointing her hoof at the true Emberglow while Tabanus sighed and shook his head with an amused smirk. “I… you…” one Emberglow was reeling, while the other began to laugh.  In a flash of green fire, she became a changeling again.  “You never even asked a question.  You two must be very close,” Omma winked.  Rarity knew a good ‘buttering up’ when she heard one, but she still took the complement.  Meanwhile, Emberglow’s face was still red, her eyes wide.  “You’ll make sure to come back, when we’re all set up?  You’ll need your prize, after all.” “We didn’t actually pay, we couldn’t possibly…” Rarity began. “It’ll be worth it for the business.  If other creatures see the two heroes visiting our booth?  That’s a win, as far as I’m concerned,” Tabanus said.  “Besides, the two of you were looking a little morose when you came out of the palace.  But we managed to put smiles on your faces, didn’t we?” “You did, good sir,” Rarity said.  “Thank you.  And we’ll take you up on that prize offer.” Emberglow was still silent as they walked away, moving through the booths being set up.  They were nearly to the end of the festival area when she finally spoke again. “The cat,” she said, and Rarity blinked. “Excuse me?” “There was a cat.”  Emberglow went red again.  “Plush.  White and orange.  With a cute face.  I saw it in one of their crates they hadn’t unpacked yet.  That’s the prize you’re getting me.” “But darling, I’m the one who won the game.” “At the expense of my embarrassment,” Emberglow said, a little haughtily.  The look was ruined by her laugh.  “You owe me.” “Fair enough,” Rarity laughed, before leaning into Emberglow with a satisfied sigh.  “Thank you for this distraction, darling.  It’s what I needed.” “I didn’t do much,” Emberglow said. “You were here.  Sometimes that’s enough.” *   *   *   *   * The walk was nice, but it didn’t keep Rarity’s melancholy at bay for long.  It was as if this day was cursed; everything conspired to remind her of Twilight.  They finally returned to the palace, with Emberglow citing the need to check on Sunset. “How is she progressing?” Rarity asked with a pang of guilt.  With all the chaos, she’d barely had time to think about the comatose alicorn.  Then there was another pang; Sunset Shimmer, like Rarity, had a close connection to Twilight Sparkle. Sure, Cadance, Flurry, and Heartwing remembered her, but it was a memory buried in a thousand years of history.  For Sunset, the last time she saw Twilight was probably months ago.  Just like Rarity. The urge to see Sunset awake, to talk to her, to meet her officially for the first time, was nearly unbearable. “She’s healing,” Emberglow said.  “Bringing her here was the right thing to do.  Heartthrob was able to help.  He and I have been learning a lot from each other.”  Emberglow did like to spend some of her free time with the doctor, comparing techniques and sharing knowledge.  Rarity sometimes joined their conversations, but most of it was far over her head, unless they were talking about magical theory. “When will she wake up?” “That we don’t know,” Emberglow shrugged.  “Cadance says that when an alicorn ascends, their thaumic pathways have to be re-written.  It’s not just the new limbs, it’s the whole nervous system, and all the other bodily functions have to adapt around that.  She said that Celestia knew some spells to expedite the process, but she only passed them to Twilight, not to Cadance or Flurry.  So they’re probably lost to us, unless one of us develops something.” “So we just have to wait,” Rarity scowled. Emberglow shrugged.  “Yes.  Sorry.  There’s more, though.  She’s healthy, as far as we can tell, but the process is going slower than it should.  Sunset had a very close brush with death, so it’s slowing down her healing.  Both Heartthrob and I believe she’ll be just fine, but we still don’t know how long it will take for the natural healing processes to complete and for Sunset to wake up.  Heartwing has a theory about all of that.” “He does?” Emberglow laughed.  “It’s not a very scientific one.  He thinks that she’s subconsciously waiting for the appropriate dramatic moment to wake up.” Rarity snorted.  “That sounds like something he’d say.  I doubt it’s that simple, though.” “Strangely enough, he might be right,” Emberglow said thoughtfully.  “He is the expert in chaos magic, after all, even though he can’t use it any longer.  And both he and Cadance agree that there’s an underlying hint of chaos magic in the alicorn transformation.  Neither one knew enough about it to speculate any more deeply, though.” “But Twilight probably knew.” Rarity deflated, and Emberglow hugged her. They walked the rest of the way to the infirmary in silence.  Heartthrob was not there, but one of the nurses was inside his office.  The door was open, and she looked up from his desk. “Lady Emberglow!  Your device is ready for you, by the patient’s bedside on her night stand,” the nurse barely rose from her seat.  Rarity could see she was reading some sort of large textbook.  “Do you need anything?” “I’ll let you know,” Emberglow said.  “Thank you, Snowdrop.”  Of course Emberglow would remember the nurse’s name.  “Your device?” Rarity asked. “My rune gauntlet.  I leave it here.” Emberglow moved over to the familiar hospital bed by the window, and the familiar-yet-alien alicorn who still rested there. Rarity moved to the side while Emberglow put on the gauntlet.  She was now becoming familiar with the sight of Emberglow’s basic diagnosis spell; she was also familiar with the patient sigh that usually came after. “No change?” “There’s change,” Emberglow said.  “It’s just… very slow.  I’m not the best at judging the rate of growth of her non-unicorn thaumic nerve clusters.  Thaumatology isn’t much studied in the Diarchy, unfortunately.  But from everything I can tell she’s improving.” Emberglow paused, eyeing Rarity carefully.  “Do you mind if I try something?  One of the things I’m struggling with is having a baseline for ‘normal’ unicorn thaumic density.  We didn’t have many unicorns to practice on when we were learning diagnostic magic, after all.” “Of course, darling.  What do you need?” “Just a routine thaumic scan.  The same spell I’ve been casting on Sunset Shimmer this whole time.  Don’t worry, it won’t hurt.” “Go right ahead.” Emberglow raised her hoof and cast the spell again, the same runes she’d used on Sunset.  Rarity felt a warm sort of tingle spread through her body, before finally settling at the base of her horn. It stayed for a few moments, then faded. “That’s…” Emberglow’s eyes narrowed, and she glanced at her gauntlet.  “Um.  One moment, Rarity.” “Emberglow, what’s wrong?” “Nothing.”  Rarity raised an eyebrow, and Emberglow blinked and looked away.  “I’m going to cast the spell again.” It was the same warm tingle as before, much less comforting this time due to the look of poorly-disguised concern on Emberglow’s face. “Darling, if you don’t tell me what’s happening, I’m going to be very cross with you.” “I…” Emberglow gave a sharp intake of breath.  “I don’t know.  I don’t think there’s anything wrong.  But I don’t know enough about a unicorn’s thaumic system to be sure.”  Her voice was getting quicker, each word tumbling over the next in her nervousness.  “Nurse Snowdrop?  Can you go find the doctor, please?” Rarity eyed her sharply, but Emberglow wouldn’t meet her gaze. Emberglow was just as poor a liar as her predecessor.  She didn’t even turn to look as the nurse rose from her spot in the doctor’s office, responding, no doubt, to the growing panic in Emberglow’s voice. “Emberglow…” “I don’t know, okay?  I…” She closed her eyes for a second, and Rarity saw her mouthing something.  She was counting down from ten.  “I’m sorry.  I’ve been behaving unprofessionally.  This is exactly why doctors aren’t supposed to provide service for their friends and family.  Or marefriends.”  Emberglow’s lips turned up in an infinitesimal smile.  “Please, can I have you sit down on one of the beds?  My scan discovered something that has me nervous, so I’m going to ask the doctor to take a look.  But I do not think it’s anything you should be worried about.” “What did you find?”  Being told not to worry was, paradoxically, rather worrying.  Still, Rarity allowed Emberglow to gently guide her over to one of the infirmary beds; the same bed Emberglow had spent a great deal of time in, in fact.  “I can’t say all this mystery is helping.” “There’s some sort of…” Emberglow scowled in frustration.  “Passive motic presence along your cornaetheric nerve.  I have been studying up on unicorn’s thaumic systems, or else I might have noticed it sooner.” “What is it?” “I don’t know,” Emberglow repeated.  “I haven’t scanned you since… since the book cast that spell on you, back in Nyumba ya Joka.  This could be related to that, or something that happened since then.  I didn’t think to look until now, until I was trying to compare your baseline to Sunset Shimmer’s.” “But you said not to worry.” “That’s the thing,” Emberglow tapped an impatient hoof on the floor.  “It doesn’t seem to be hurting you, or else I probably would have noticed it sooner.”  She colored.  “I’m sorry.” “You have nothing to apologize for,” Rarity said.  Except being needlessly cryptic in the middle of a minor panic, she thought, though she didn’t want to say that out loud.  “What do we do now?” “You relax,” Emberglow said, patting Rarity with her hoof.  “I’m not trained in the doctor’s instruments; we used rune magic rather than technology down south.  But I know which ones he’ll need, at least.” Rarity tried to focus on her amusement as Emberglow fluttered about the infirmary.  Even though Emberglow still couldn’t fly yet, her wings twitched and spread with her agitation as she gathered a tray of sensors and instruments. “Darling, I think you’re more worried about this than I am,” she said.  “It’s not helping my own nervousness.” “I’m sorry that I’m struggling with my professional objectivity at the moment,” Emberglow said wryly.  “Look, I can’t see anything dangerous about this, but not knowing is bothering me.  I’m sorry.”  She finally abandoned her efforts to prepare for the doctor’s arrival and plopped down on the bed next to her.  “I’ll try to relax.” Cuddling was certainly helpful.  It at least helped the time pass until the doctor rushed in, with Nurse Snowdrop bounding in behind him. “What’s the emergency, Emberglow?” Emberglow jerked up from the bed, rushing over to Doctor Heartthrob.  “I was performing my routine test spells on Sunset.  There was no change.  On a whim, I performed the same test on Rarity, to get more familiar with the norm for a unicorn’s thaumic system.  Only I found something odd.  Some sort of passive motic clustering around her cornaetheric nerve.  I need to check if you can measure what I’m seeing with my spells.” “I see.  Marchioness, can you lay back on the bed?”  Rarity noticed that the doctor used her title, but not Emberglow’s. “Of course.  And please, just call me Rarity.”  She laid back, and the doctor pulled a small sensor from the tray.  It was the same sensor that he had ran over Emberglow’s wings as soon as she’d awoken from her coma.  He flicked a switch on the back. “Thank you.  Now, please turn so that you are laying on your side and rest your head against the pillow.  Try to relax as much as possible, and do not light your horn until I ask.” Rarity followed the doctor’s instructions.  Emberglow took up a position behind the doctor, clearly anxious, though keeping her distance.  The doctor lowered the sensor, running it along her horn and to the base, where the appendage met her forehead.  He moved it up and down her horn a few times. “Thank you.  Now, light your horn, but no spells or levitation.  Just hold your magic.”  The white linen of the pillow in front of her turned blue with the glow of her magic.  Rarity tried to ignore the doctor and his movement, instead focusing on the steady rhythm of her breath.  In and out.  Calmly.  Nothing was wrong.  There was no real reason that her marefriend was jumpy and panicky.  There was nothing to be worried about.  Nothing at all. “Rarity, would you mind answering some questions for me?” the doctor asked, calm and evenly. “Of course.” “Could you tell me the sum of thirty nine and two hundred and twelve?” “Uh…” Rarity furrowed her brow.  “Doctor, I don’t see…” “Humor me.” She had to think about it for a moment.  “Two hundred and fifty one?” “Thank you, Rarity.  Now can you subtract twenty seven from the result of eleven multiplied by nine?” She had to have him repeat the question.  When she answered, he asked another.  And another.  Each one just complicated enough to make her focus on his exact words.  She was about to become frustrated, when he finally lifted the device back to the tray and smiled. “Done.  Thank you for your cooperation, Rarity.  You can sit up now.” “What was all the math for?” Rarity furrowed her brow in consternation.  As a business owner, she was no slouch in math.  But it was still unexpected, and a little annoying. “I’ve found that sometimes when a patient is feeling anxious about certain tests or procedures, asking them mathematics questions makes them focus on something other than what is happening.  It forces them to use the logical and analytical parts of their brain, rather than their overactive imaginations.  I noticed that you were close to hyperventilating, so I thought I’d intervene before it became a problem.” “Sorry,” Emberglow said, her ears pinning back.  “I might have not helped the situation much.  I was… more than a little anxious about this.” “I can see why,” the doctor said.  “Rarity, I have some questions about your recent history.  In retrospect, I should have done some in-depth scans on the lot of you as soon as you came in, but things were so chaotic…” So Rarity told him her story, from waking up in the cave all the way until arriving in the Crystal Empire.  Doctor Heartthrob had Snowdrop bring him a notepad and a pencil and began taking notes.  His questions focused less on the adventure and more on Rarity’s various injuries and perils.  Most of his queries were reserved for the explosion at the university and the spell cast from Twilight’s book. Halfway through, Emberglow excused herself, returning a few moments later with some snacks and drinks for everypony.  Rarity was quite grateful for the break, before she went back to explaining the spell the book had cast on her, and how it had changed her magic. When she was done, the doctor thanked her with a smile. “So to start, Rarity, I don’t think that whatever is happening to you is going to hurt you.  I detected the same thing that Emberglow did, and it appears benign to me.  My best guess is that the processes of Princess Twilight’s spell are ongoing; it did not affect your magical reserves all at once, and continues to do its work. “But!” the doctor held up a hoof.  “I’m not willing to bet your safety on my guesses.  I’d like to do some more testing and observation, if you’re okay with that.  I’d like you to stay in the infirmary overnight.” “Is it too much to ask that we go a single month without one of us ending up in the hospital?” Rarity proclaimed acerbically.  Emberglow snorted with amusement.  “Well, really, darling.  If you could just try harder not to sustain any life-threatening injuries, I shall endeavor not to contract any test-baffling mystery conditions, and maybe we can manage to actually spend some time in our own beds?” “Our own beds?” Emberglow said.  “But aren’t we technically homeless right now?” “That’s right!”  Rarity slapped one hoof into another.  “Princess Flurry granted us lands to build an estate on.  We could use my unexpected incarceration to begin brainstorming ideas for our new home.” It took a few seconds for what Rarity had said to fully dawn on her.  If Emberglow’s shocked expression meant anything, then it was clear the other mare had noticed it first. “Did you… just ask me to move in with you?” Emberglow said.  Rarity gulped and nodded, and they stared at each other. “Well,” Doctor Heartthrob cleared his throat.  “I’ve done enough testing to know you’re not in any immediate danger.  I could step out for a few moments, and give you two some privacy.”  Nurse Snowdrop nodded, hiding her grin behind a hoof.  “I’ll be back in a half hour to see if the readings change in the short term.  There’s also some blood tests I’d like to do.” “Of course, doctor.  Oh, and could you let our guards know what’s happening?  You have my permission to tell them the details.  They’ll make sure the others know, as well,” Rarity said. The doctor nodded, and slipped out of the room.  Silence fell, and Emberglow stepped closer, fidgeting with the instruments left behind on the tray. “I was serious, darling.  While Flurry provided us both with family lands alongside our titles, wherever I may end up living, I want to share it with you.” “I…” Emberglow gulped, and then slowly slipped into the bed next to her.  “…okay.” “You don’t mind?” Rarity asked, and Emberglow shook her head frantically.  “You seem a little nervous about the idea.” “I am,” Emberglow admitted.  “But I like it.  Only, I’m worried we’ll never get to enjoy any home we get.  Sorry.” “Why are you apologizing this time?” “I might have brought in the next disaster for us,” Emberglow looked away, before Rarity pulled her head back for a kiss. “Darling, that’s nonsense and you know it.  You merely discovered an existing situation.” Emberglow sighed.  “I know.  I’m just so tired, Rarity.  We need a vacation.”  She looked over at Sunset.  “I envy her sometimes.” “I do so wish she would wake up, though.  I would love to speak with her,” Rarity whispered, looking over at the only other patient in the room.  Sunset Shimmer could pass for a pony merely sleeping.  Except for the gentle beep of the heart monitor she was hooked up to, she looked entirely normal.  Slow, even breaths inflated her chest, and her wings were curled up at her sides just like Emberglow’s did when she was sleeping. “She’s seen Twilight almost as recently as I have.  She’s displaced in time, like me.  Is it odd that I feel such sisterhood with a pony I’ve never met, only heard about?” “Not odd,” Emberglow said.  “I get it.  There’s a shared experience there.  When I first came to Angel’s Rest, I found myself really drawn to Bubblegum, a pony I used to hate.  But now we have so much more in common than we used to.”  She talked while she worked, casting what Rarity guessed were more complex and specialized diagnosis spells.  Rarity was impressed at how she could multitask, though she supposed it wasn’t much different than holding a conversation while sewing. “It doesn’t hurt that her foal is adorable.” “No,” Emberglow giggled.  “Somehow Bubblegum’s son makes Bubblegum much more bearable.  You should have met her back when I first did.  She was insufferable.  She liked to taunt me all the time about my…” her voice dropped with embarrassment.  “…uh.  Vow of chastity.” “How is Bubblegum doing?”  Rarity had met her a few times, and she was rather amused by the bombastic mare.  “You still keep in touch, right?” “Yes.  She was in a bit of a panic when I was out because of the coma.  I’m glad Heartwing remembered to message her back on the third day after I got injured, or else she might have…” she blushed, and her mouth shut with a click of her teeth.  “…Um.  She likes to write embarrassing things in the journal.  But she’s doing well; she and Spark are home, and both of them are driving her husbands crazy.”  Emberglow paused, staring intently at the window over Sunset’s bed.  Rarity watched her.  She had a contemplative look on her muzzle, the kind she got when something was bothering her.  Some ponies might be willing to wait for another to come to them with their problems.  With Emberglow, Rarity preferred to take the direct approach. “What’s bothering you, darling?” Rarity asked, and Emberglow jumped slightly, her good eye shooting wide as she looked up. “You know how I told you I sometimes get this voice in my head?” she said, shamefaced. “Your inner monologue of guilt, I remember,” Rarity said.  She moved up beside Emberglow.  “You can talk to me.” “It’s telling me to shut up right now.  That I don’t deserve…” Emberglow took a deep breath.  Then another.  “Do you… do you think I’d make a good mother?” As odd as the question was, Rarity could see the train of thought from Bubblegum to Emberspark to Emberglow’s own future.  And Rarity knew she didn’t even have to think about the answer. “Without a doubt, darling.” “But I don’t know, Rarity,” Emberglow almost whined.  “I’ve never spent much time around foals except True, and I never thought I’d have the chance to…” “Emberglow.”  This was one rant that needed cutting off at the source.  “You are kind and compassionate.  You are patient and creative.  All things that are essential skills for motherhood.” Emberglow didn’t quite look convinced, but she nodded.  “Okay.  Uh.  There’s a follow up question.” Rarity didn’t need to think too hard to guess where this was going. “Going from first date to asking if I want to have your foals in just a few weeks?  Emberglow, you move quickly.”  Truly it was delightful to see the blush on those cute pink cheeks.  “I tease, darling.  The truth is, I have thought about it before.” “Well, you did just ask me to move in with you,” Emberglow teased back.  “Um.  You have thought about it?” “While my little sister was a filly, my parents traveled a great deal.  Sweetie Belle ended up living with me for several years.  I’d like to think I got a good taste for motherhood during that time.”  Rarity waited for the pang of hurt to pass.  Sweetie Belle was long gone, just like Twilight Sparkle. “I-if it’s too soon to ask, I can…” “Emberglow, hush,” Rarity bumped her with her flank.  “I’m not saying I’m ready.  I’m also not saying I’m not.  What I do know is that what we have feels like a very long term arrangement right now, and that means these are the kind of things we need to have adult conversations about.  I’m glad you brought it up, so we can think about it, and talk about it.” “Talk about it…” Emberglow repeated, her good eye going unfocused.  “Yes.  Well, I’m not sure I’m ready yet, either.  But I want a foal.”  She shifted nervously in her spot on the bed, her hooves rubbing together.  “I never thought I’d have the chance.  My mom…” Rarity reached up with one hoof, wiping away the tear that suddenly dripped down Emberglow’s cheek.  “This sounds like a story.” So Emberglow spoke of a night, years ago.  She spoke of accidentally eavesdropping on her mother, sobbing to her father.  Her mother, wanting more than anything else to have a grandfoal.  And how Emberglow’s dream of joining the Knights Radiant ruined that. “That’s one of the first things I realized, when I switched over.  That I can have a foal, now.  Do you think that would be enough?” “Enough for what, darling?” “Enough for Mom to forgive me.”  It came out as a whimper. “If your mother is even a tenth the pony you are, Emberglow, she won’t even hesitate.”  Rarity nodded firmly.  In truth, she didn’t know how Emberglow’s mother would react.  But it didn’t matter at the moment.  “Anyways, I think it’s a fine idea, though I’m sure the timeline is a little awkward.” “Oh, definitely,” Emberglow nodded.  “I know that there’s dangerous days ahead.  I wouldn’t want to bring a foal into that.  Or be pregnant when we’re on some kind of perilous quest.” It was interesting to Rarity that Emberglow immediately assumed she would be the one carrying any children of theirs. “Perhaps you should ask Heartwing to teach you the runes.  Then we can talk about the timing, hm?”  In truth, the idea was starting to excite her, despite her misgivings.  A small foal.  A little one, hers to love and cuddle and guide and shape.  The idea was intoxicating. “I will.  And, Rarity? For what it’s worth, I think you’d be an excellent mom, too.” *   *   *   *   * “Okay.  Since Rarity and Emberglow can’t manage to stay out of the hospital for one measly week, we’ve gotten permission from the palace doctor to finish our history meeting here.”  Heartwing’s horn glowed as he brought several folding chairs into the room.  The other Elements followed behind, each looking appropriately sympathetic as they set up the chairs around Rarity’s bed and took their places.  Emberglow stayed on the bed with Rarity.  It was a tight fit, but Rarity wasn’t about to complain. “Ha ha,” Rarity deadpanned.  “Didn’t our guards tell you that nothing was wrong?” “They filled us in,” Topaz said.  “I would have brought you some balloons or flowers, but they said you were just staying one night for observation.” “Very true.  I should be out in the morning,” Rarity said.  “Still,” Heartwing said.  “I’m less than happy about how vague the doctor was.  Emberglow, you’re sure we can’t get a more definite answer about what’s going on?” “Yes, I’m sure,” Emberglow said with some impatience.  “Doctor Heartthrob knows his work.  And so do I.  Rarity is in no immediate danger.”  Rarity hid a smirk; Emberglow was awfully confident for a mare who had been freaking out about that same lack of surety just a few hours ago.  “He’s done dozens of tests, as have I.  We’ve even sent a message to Princess Flurry so she can bring the Twilight construct.” “It might help if you’d stop worrying about it,” Rarity said to Heartwing.  “The doctor said as much.  Besides, we’re here to finish our meeting.  Where are the Princess and the Empress?” “Empress Cadance is still not used to being up and about,” Heartwing said.  “And Princess Flurry had to go oversee the final preparations for the coming festival.  She asked that we finish up without her.  Besides, we already went through most of the important bits.  All that’s left is the Diarchy’s slow, brutal takeover of Equestria, the retreat of the other races to the north, and Sunset Shimmer’s rebellion and capture.  After that, the Diarchy had essentially won.  It wasn’t until I woke up that they started facing a serious threat.” “I’m sorry I had to step out,” Rarity said.  She wondered about Cadance’s absence, though.  Was she really too tired to meet?  Or was she avoiding the questions she knew Rarity had?  Perhaps later she’d track down Cadance and corner her.  It was time for some answers about Twilight. “I understand,” Heartwing said.  Their eyes met, and Heartwing blinked.  “I guess the only thing we had left to talk about is what comes next. “Princess Flurry has plans, of course.  She and Cadance have decided it’s time for the Empire to re-enter the world, and that means the shield has to come down.  That also means reinforcing the border, guarding harbors, all that sort of thing.” “Why take the shield down at all?” Emberglow asked. “Because it was designed to fail,” Topaz said.  Everypony stared at her, and she shrank back a bit.  “W-well, it was.  The Empress told me, once.  Before I went south.  Ocellus the First, who designed the apparatus, didn’t want her people, or even the other peoples of the Empire, to grow too dependent on the protection of the shield.  She wanted to make sure we came up with another solution to the Diarchy problem besides hiding from it.” “That seems like Ocellus,” Rarity mused.  “She was such a thoughtful and wise changeling, even as a foal.  Er, nymph?”  She shrugged. “We’re getting off topic,” Heartwing said patiently.  “Though I know Topaz has suggested some group therapy sessions for all of us.  Perhaps reminiscing about past friends should be a part of that?”  Rarity nodded, thinking of the precocious changeling student. “So.  The Empress and the Princess have plans for deploying their forces to protect the Empire.  I am a major part of those plans, as I have rather suddenly found myself leading her armed forces.  Much to the annoyance of some of her other generals, mind you.” “You thrive on annoying ponies, though, so don’t pretend like you don’t like it,” Rarity quipped.  Heartwing grinned proudly. “Of course.  At least they recognize that I have far more experience than they do.  And they’ll need it.  The fact is, the imperial army is smaller, less experienced, less well equipped, and less magically enhanced than the Diarchy.  Even with the addition of the Knights Discordant, we’re woefully outmatched in any direct confrontation.  So I have advised the princesses that direct confrontation would be foolish, bordering on suicidal.  We will not be invading or conquering the Diarchy. “Then there’s the Elements.  They would not have revealed themselves, and their bearers, if the need were not dire.  I’m certain that if there is any long-term victory for any of us, it’s through the Elements.  And we’re missing one.” “But you just said you advised the Princess not to invade,” Lofty noted. “We won’t be invading the capitol, or leading a force against the borders.”  Heartwing’s grin was predatory.  “I had an even better idea.  We’re going to occupy Old Canterlot.  From there, we’ll be within striking distance to sneak ponies into New Canterlot City to search for the Element of Magic.  I’m sure Steadfast Word is keeping it close.  And with Old Canterlot atop Mount Canter, it will be difficult for the Diarchy to send a large force up to uproot us. The high ground, and all that.” “Risky plan,” Lofty said.  “You’re begging for them to besiege us.  We’ll be trapped without an escape route, if things go south.” “If everything goes to plan, the Diarchy won’t be able to bring their forces to bear on the mountain without risking a counterattack from their flanks.  Messengers have been sent to the dragons, the griffons, the major zebra groups, even my own Discordant in Angel’s Rest.  At the very least the griffons and Cobalt will take advantage, keeping the Diarchy’s eyes off our actions long enough for us to get into place.  From there, we’ll only need to find the Element. “As awful as it sounds,” Heartwing continued, “the horrible weather will be on our side.  The crystal ponies and their allies are experts at working in the cold, even if they lack combat experience.  Winter is crippling the Diarchy down south, keeping them locked up in their homes and cities.  They’ll be cold, hungry, and demoralized.  And we’ll take the old capitol before they even realize we’re there.” “How?” Lofty asked.  “There are watch posts all along the northern border, as well as dozens of farming villages between here and there.  How are we possibly going to sneak an entire army, however small, past all that right onto the Diarchy’s doorstep?” “I’d like to take credit for this one,” Heartwing smirked.  “But it turns out, for all her desire to stay hidden behind the Empire’s shield, Princess Flurry actually already has an answer for that.”  His horn lit, and a beam struck the floor at their hooves.  Spreading out from the impact point was an illusion, a topographical map of the Empire.  Rarity recognized the mountains that served as a natural barrier between the Empire and the south. “One of the first things the Empire did when they were considering the shield was to cut the rail lines that connected the Empire to Equestria,” Heartwing said, and a web of golden lines shot out from the Empire, spreading out towards the mountains.  Lines shot through the passes between peaks.  Heartwing reached with a hoof, swiping it through some of the larger lines that led south, breaking them.  “The Diarchy didn’t rebuild them, except to connect small lines to their watch posts and forts along the border.  But if we could connect those lines before the Diarchy realized, we could have trains of troops shooting along the Diarchy’s own rail lines while they’re busy with a thousand skirmishes along the griffon border.” “Of course,” Rarity said.  “Reconnect thousands of miles of ancient rail lines.  It’s the perfect plan, darling.  If we had years to enact it, somehow, without anypony noticing.” “Oh, Flurry did,” Heartwing grinned.  “It’s really quite impressive.  Did you forget all the other races that are a part of the Empire now, Rarity?  You, of all ponies, should remember how talented some creatures are at subterranean construction.” Rarity gaped.  “The Diamond Dogs?” “At Princess Flurry’s orders, they’ve been constructing a web of tunnels underneath the Crystal Mountains.  Many of them are just underneath existing Diarchy rail lines, perhaps only a hundred feet away.  The moment she says the word, those talented diggers and builders will break through to the surface and connect the lines.  Then we just load a train with a small but elite force and ride it all the way to Old Canterlot.  We use the Diarchy’s own infrastructure against them. “We’ll be leaving as soon as possible,” Heartwing said, and Emberglow gave Rarity a knowing look.  Indeed, once again they were just amidst the calm right before the next disaster.  “Rarity, if you don’t…” “I’m coming, darling.  And I won’t hear anything different.” Heartwing smiled as if he had expected nothing else.  “Of course you are.  Thank you.  We’ll wait until the doctor’s last tests come back.”  He turned to look at Topaz and Lofty.  “I’m sorry we can’t wait until after your wedding.  Unless you’d like some kind of shotgun affair.” “Are you implying something untoward about the potential timing of our wedding, sir?” Topaz pointed an accusing hoof at him; her stern expression didn’t last long before she giggled.  “Because I’m getting a giant fairytale wedding, even if we have to postpone it until after we save the world.  Regardless of any biological details.” “Are you…” Rarity gasped. Topaz giggled.  “Not yet.”  She shared a glance with Lofty, and he nuzzled her.  “But we’ve decided to try.  True needs siblings.” That was an unpleasant reminder.  “What about True?” Rarity asked.  “You can’t possibly bring him along.” “Saints, no,” Lofty shook his head.  “Empress Cadance has agreed to watch him while we’re gone.  We’ll be back, for sure.”  He sounded so confident, so absolutely certain, that Rarity grinned. “Why not the Princess?  She’s taken quite the liking to him.” “She’ll be coming with us,” Heartwing said.  “That spell that keeps alicorns from entering the Diarchy?  It’s almost completely gone.  She might be weakened a little, but Princess Flurry Heart is still one of our greatest assets.  The generals fought her hard on that one.  And then Queen Chrysalis wanted in, too, but her brother talked her out of it. “So that’s about it, ponies.  Our allies provide a distraction while we slip in and take the mountain from the small force the Mystics leave to guard it.  We hold it long enough to sort out where the Element of Magic is.  We trust in the Elements to guide us along, as much as possible.  And then hopefully together we can smash the machine and begin the process of restoring Harmony to Equestria.  Finally.” The last word was whispered, and not a single pony in the room missed the bone-deep weariness in Heartwing’s voice.  Terminus leaned over, silently pulling Heartwing against him in a tight hug.