As Anton awoke, he was aware of a slowly dimming light. He pulled himself up, shaking his head and with it, the blurred vision that was afflicting him. His legs felt like he had Rockcrete blocks chained to them, his chest was heavy and breathing labored, and all in all, he felt... strange.
What took up most of his attention, though, was his head; what he had seen, more specifically. Him waking up falling from the sky above the Everfree wasn't too out of the ordinary. However, what he had seen before was new. Those visions, the voices... That light. What did it mean?
He was finally torn from his own thoughts by a small groan. Looking over, he saw... Nightmare Moon? It looked nothing like the towering, fanged monstrosity he had been fighting. It was smaller, with a lighter color coat and hair devoid of any shimmering shapes. Shards of metal sat around her, likely the shattered remains of her armor. However, it had to be her; the same cuts and marks peppered her fur, while the mark on her flank remained the same.
Was this a trick? Some sort of clever deception, trying to make them lower their guard? He looked over to the others, who were talking amongst themselves, examining the new adornments on their necks or upon their head, in Twilight's case. They were speaking, but his hearing was distorted and water; he couldn't make out much of what they were saying. He turned back to Nightmare Moon, snorting at her. It didn't matter if it was a trick; he could tell that she was still breathing. The only fate for an enemy was defeat, and for one such as this, that meant death.
He looked around, his eyes finally resting on his laspistol. He levitated it over to him, his aura responding unusually easily to his command. Once the weapon was near him, he raised the weapon up to check the power pack. Thirty percent power left. More than enough.
He turned to the prone form of Nightmare Moon. He raised the pistol, leveling it at the unconscious beast's head. It didn't even stir, giving Anton some pause. However, he steadied his aim, uttering, "God-Emperor. Guide the flight. Watch the Target; take the unworthies life."
As his aura slowly depressed the trigger, Applejack's voice cut through his haze and watery hearing: "Aquila?" As he turned to face her, a bright light suddenly swamped his vision. It was a brilliant, golden light, similar but distinctly different than what he had seen in his vision. It danced in his squinted eyes, taunting him with its brilliance. He felt wind in his hair and across his fur, a faint feeling of something cold against his back-
-And then once again, he was surrounded by darkness.
+++++~+++++
Anton groaned, blinking away the weight in his eyes. "By the Throne, what did I do to deserve this?", he muttered, beginning to hoist himself up.
He was on a couch, with a pillow tucked under his neck. He sat up, rolling his shoulders and hearing a satisfying crack. Arcing his back, the same sound echoed up to his ears, and a sense of relief came over his body. However, it was his mind that was still on alert.
What happened? This obviously wasn't anywhere in the Everfree; the only place close to this he knew of was Zecora's hut, and she didn't have a couch. He looked around, trying to determine where he-
"You are in my Student's new home, Aquila", a calm, melodic voice answered his unsaid question.
Anton whipped his head around, climbing out of bed and instinctively reaching for one of his weapons. He turned when he couldn't find one, finding his webbing had been removed. "Don't worry. Applejack has your things", the voice said. The speaker was a tall figure, similar in form to Nightmare Moon. However, that was where the similarities ended. Her coat was white as snow, while the flowing mane was a multi-colored wave of greens, pinks, and blues. She had golden jewelry and shoes, while intelligent and kind purple eyes gazed back at him.
Anton gazed at her with distrust. "Who are you?"
"I'm surprised", she said. "I would have expected my name to have been mentioned at least once. No matter; My name is Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria."
Anton nodded slowly, suspicion still in his eyes. He had heard of her, naturally; a Monarch wasn't just something you wouldn't hear about when in their jurisdiction. The answer he received, however, did bring another question to mind: "What happened? How did I get here?"
"Applejack and the others brought you here when we returned to Ponyville", Celestia explained. "As for what happened... I merely prevented you from harming my sister. I underestimated how much you had been weakened by the Elements and your fight with Nightmare Moon."
Anton snorted, before cocking his head in confusion. "Wait. Your sister?"
"Indeed", Celestia said. "She was corrupted, and taken over by Nightmare Moon. The Elements of-"
"So you stopped me from killing this 'Nightmare Moon?'", he questioned.
Celestia said, "She had been cleansed by the Elements of Harmony. She had returned to her old self."
"'Even though you once called him friend, the Traitor has forsaken you'", Anton said. "'Show no mercy even if he begs it, for his soul is tainted and given the chance he will betray your trust.'"
"I hold a much more broad view of forgiveness, though from what Applejack told me, I suppose a more limited worldview is to be expected", Celestia said, her expression... strangely sad. "I was merely checking on you before I left for Canterlot. Your friends are in Town Square, at a Party. I would encourage you to reconsider your opinion on my sister." Anton merely looked at her, expression neutral. She sighed, giving him a small nod, before turning to leave.
+++++~+++++
Princess Celestia tried to smile, she really did. Her sister was back after a thousand years, after all. Now, she could try and make up for what happened, and how Luna had felt so neglected all those years ago. However, that stallion, Aquila, ate at her thoughts.
"Art thou alright, dear sister?", Luna asked, watching her.
Celestia looked over at her younger sister, finally managing to break through a smile. "I am fine, Luna. I am happy you are back. However..."
"The stallion?", Lun asked. "The one whom I-Nightmare fought?"
"Indeed", Celestia said. She looked up at the guards pulling their carriage, before leaning down to whisper to her sister.
Luna gasped, whispering back, "Truly?"
"I have an old... associate who lives in Ponyville. She doesn't give too many specifics regarding that subject, but enough lines up", Celestia said. "Plus, my own observations have pushed me towards that conclusion. I am not certain, but it is likely."
"B-but our agreement", Luna said. "Unless something happened in the thousand years of our exile-"
"No no no", Celestia replied. "I don't know what, but we have to be prepared for that possibility."
Luna looked down, gazing over the windswept mountains and valleys below them. Celestia sighed, turning her gaze up towards the city of Canterlot. "Enough of that for now. We can discuss this more later. For now... Let's get you home, sister."