//------------------------------// // Never Again // Story: Sacanas // by Lets Do This //------------------------------// "Awfully late, for anypony to be knocking at this hour," said Gingham Square. "Eh, dear?" She glanced at the sketched portrait on the wall, of her late husband Stone Cutter. She liked to pretend she was still talking to him rather than to herself. It felt less lonely that way. Cautiously, the elderly mare edged open the front door of her cottage, and peered round it, ready to throw her not inconsiderable weight against it if she saw reason. Then she flung it wide in shock. "Princess Palladium!" The rose-maned Princess smiled up at her. "A pleasant evening to you, ma'am." Grabbing the fringe of her nightdress, Gingham curtseyed deeply. "It's really you then, Your Highness? You're all right? We'd heard you'd been kidnapped." "It's... sort of more complicated than that," Palladium said. "But I'm fine, really. Though I can't stay for long. May I come in, please?" "Of course, Highness! Where are my manners? Come right in." Gingham stepped back, gesturing welcomingly. "Sorry 'bout the mess. Wasn't expectin' royalty this evening." Palladium smiled, looking round at the spotlessly-kept dwelling. At the shelves, full of small carven knick-knacks. At the watercolors on the wall, the marvelously crocheted cushions on the couch and embroidered curtains on the windows. And all of it expert hoof-work as far as she could see. It was like standing in a small art gallery or museum, instead of somepony's living room. I knew it, she told herself proudly. Gingham shut the door, and smiled down at the Princess, though a little uncertainly. "What brings you by this late, deary?" Remembering, Palladium turned to her. "I wanted to ask a favor of you, ma'am. A big favor." She held up a hoof, on which was the small, sculpted figurine of Gusty the Great. "You said your husband makes these?" Gingham looked bashful. "Oh, well... actually he's been gone these many moons, rest his soul. I tells ponies that at the stall 'cause it makes a good story. And too, if everypony knew that I did these... oh my word, dear! There'd just be no end of it! Ponies wantin' custom this, and custom that, all in a hurry-like and no thought for anypony but themselves --" "You mean, you do all these?" Palladium interrupted, her eyes wide. "Wow! That's even better!" "How so, love?" Palladium glanced around. "This is a secret. You can't tell anypony." Gingham nodded willingly, though still looked puzzled. "I'm founding an Empire," Palladium said. "An Empire of my own, which I'm going to rule. It's in... uh, it's a long ways from here. Sacanas is my Royal Sorcerer, and she's helping me. And there's other ponies helping too, making everything ready. And it's warm, and safe, and there's farms for food, and beautiful crystal houses for everypony to live in..." She paused, uncertain. "But...?" Gingham gently prompted. "But it still needs something," Palladium said. "To make the place really pleasant for everypony. I need somepony who can... I don't know..." "Add a few homey touches?" Gingham suggested. "Carpets and curtains and suchlike? Little decorative bits?" "That would help," Palladium agreed. "But it's more than that. I need somepony who can make all of it nice, the whole thing. Kind of like... a decorator, but for the whole Empire." She smiled. "And right away, I thought of you. And this." She held up the toy. "If you can do wonderful things like this, and show others what to do, and where to put them so they look their best, I just know it would make all the difference." "So let me just understand you clearly, dear," Gingham said. "You want me to come with you, to this Empire of yours, and use what I know to make it a place other ponies would love to call home?" Palladium nodded eagerly. "I want a place where my subjects will feel happy and safe. I want to be a good Princess, a worthy Princess. And I can't do it all by myself." "I should think not! Sounds a tall order, Highness, and no mistake. But even so, I've never shirked a royal command in my life, and I don't intend to start now." Gingham curtseyed, as deeply as she could manage. "Not that I've gotten many of 'em you understand, but that's neither here nor there. Just give me a mo' to throw a few things together, and we'll be off." Palladium stared at her, amazed. "Just like that? Really? I thought I'd have to convince you. I had a whole speech worked out, too. With reasons and everything!" "I'm sure you did, love." Gingham smiled warmly at her. "But you needn't have bothered. I was ready to go with you before you asked. The moment I saw you, in fact." "Oh?" Palladium looked overjoyed. Then her face fell. "Oh, I'm sorry... I did forget to ask. How are things here?" Gingham shook her head. "It ain't been the same, dear, not since your dear mother went off to Canterlot. The Prince has been... well, I never want to speak ill of the monarchy. And I'm sure he's a firm ruler and all, but..." "It's okay," Palladium said quickly. "I don't really like him, either." "Aw, now there's a shame. You and he not gettin' along. It wouldn't surprise me, though. Well as I say, it's not been pleasant. And I just know if you were the Princess, you'd be a good'n and no mistake. And I'm not the only one as thinks so. The townsfolk here all remember how you stood up for us, against the Griffons. How much you cared about us. We'd follow you to the edge of the earth, Princess, and that's a fact. You just put out the word and you'd have half the town along with you in a trice." "Well..." Palladium winced. "I have to be careful. It's risky even being here talking to you. But I was hoping you might come along. And I'm going to ask a few others. And once we've all worked together and built up the Empire so that it can stand on its own, then maybe... well, maybe others will be able to come there too." "I shouldn't doubt they'll want to, dear." As they'd been talking, Gingham had shrugged out of her nightdress and into a warm cloak, and gathered a few tools and mementos into the pockets of a carryall, which she slung across her back. "There, that should do, I'd think." She blew out the candle on the side-table, pluging the room into darkness save for the soft glow of magic from their horns. "Lead on, Your Highness." Palladium smiled, and turned towards the door. Which swung open, revealing Sacanas standing outside. Two of the furred soldiers were with her, as escort for the Princess. The sorcerer's horn sizzled and crackled with a harsh, electric-blue glare. And with the scar across her face, the dark scowl of her eyes, and her iron-black mage armor thrumming with power, she looked like somepony's worst nightmare brought to life. But her voice, when she spoke, was quietly calm. "Are we off then, Your Highness?" Palladium nodded. "It turns out all I had to do was ask." "Indeed?" The sorcerer's stern gaze swept towards Gingham. "Most fortunate, is it not? That Her Highness is so naturally persuasive?" Gingham shivered, as she turned to shut the door behind her. It still mystified her how someone as kind and caring and gentle as the Princess could persuade a fearsomely powerful sorcerer like Sacanas to follow her around so willingly... ------------------------------ The work proceeded swiftly, yet with an exacting care, so hardly any notice was taken in the kingdoms down south. A village or two out on the fringes of society would be suddenly found abandoned, but this merely prompted a few vague rumors in the rural counties of rogue mages, or a return of the Windigos or the like, even though there'd been little sign of either for many a moon. And too, the rumors helpfully kept ponies from venturing too far north into the cold and ice. Here or there a unicorn mage or artisan would suddenly leave town or move away without a forwarding address. Yet it was always someone unknown, someone quiet or antisocial, whose skill and talent went unnoticed or even ignored. So little remark was made of their disappearance. The sudden resignation of a few sections of the Unicorn Guard, along with a few of their officers and lieutenants, did prompt questioning in higher echelons. But it was ultimately put down to general dissatisfaction among the guard ponies with the rule of His Royal Highness Electrum. And the officers who left were generally martinets, who'd always believed they could do better than their superiors. Consequently, the whole thing was quietly hushed up for the good of morale and the sake of the regiment. Certain shipments and categories of goods would now and again be unaccountably redirected, or be suddenly harder to come by. But such things were not unknown. Trading was risky business, and such events were simply treated as an opportunity by middleponies to briefly hike prices without worrying about the details. All in all, it was expertly managed, with a coldly unerring precision. No notice was taken of the founding of an entire Empire, deep in the Frozen North. Which was precisely how Sacanas wanted it... ------------------------------ In the square beneath the diamond-like Crystal Palace, the Royal Sorcerer waited patiently, together with an honor guard of the ape-like soldiers and a few pony guard officers as well, as Palladium concentrated on feeding power into the heart-shaped gem, spinning in its sconce. Finally silencing her horn, and taking a weary breath, Palladium smiled weakly at the group of waving and cheering citizens assembled around the Palace to watch the near-daily ritual. Then the Princess looked up at Sacanas. "I'm glad that's over," she said. "I'm not sure, but it seems to be getting harder, with all the new ponies living here." Sacanas nodded. "Don't worry, Highness. I have an idea about that. And a way to make it easier on you." "Oh? What?" The sorcerer glanced around. "Not here, Highness. Let's return to your throne room to discuss it." So saying, Sacanas flourished her forehoof, which erupted in blue flames. The pony guards cringed nervously, even though they'd been through this before. The ape-like soldiers merely came to attention, readying themselves. A brief, scarlet flash, and the entire group was instantly teleported upstairs, into the diamond-walled Audience Hall of the Palace. The Audience Hall was dizzyingly high. Its buttressed roof rose far into the sloping spire of the tower itself. The walls were supported by multi-faceted crystal columns. A richly woven carpet led down the length of the hall and up the multiple tiers of the Amethyst Thone, standing at its far end. Near one of the tall, arched windows a small group of earth pony decorators were putting finishing touches on the curtains. "Gingham!" Palladium called, trotting over to them. The elderly unicorn, now dressed in a fine brocade cloak, turned and smoothly led the group in curtseying deeply to their sovereign. "Your Highness," Gingham replied. "We were just finishing up in here. Do you like it?" Palladium looked around at the graceful silken curtains, the small decorative vases on crystal plinths, the general feeling of clean, thorough polish on everything. "It looks marvelous! Thank you all so much!" "Our pleasure, Highness." Noticing Sacanas's disapproving scowl at her earth-pony staff, Gingham gently shooed the other ponies ahead of her, out of the Hall, following them out herself. The unicorn guards shut the doors behind them. And Palladium, still a little nervous, trotted up the ramp and sat down on the high platform of the Throne. She felt a little small and lonely sitting way up there. But looking down, she saw Sacanas standing proudly before her, smiling up at her. And Palladium felt better, having her best friend close by to help. "Ahem," the Princess said, adopting a firm, commanding tone. "Sacanas. You said there was a way in which we might make it easier to keep the Heart charged. Please proceed." Sacanas smirked, and bowed her head compliantly. "Highness." With a gesture of a hoof, she conjured an image in the air beside her. "From what you've told me, the Crystal Heart appears to be powered by love itself, the boundless, unconditional care and affection that you display towards everypony in your realm. And as there are more and more ponies in your realm, it becomes harder to project that same level of care to all of them, unceasingly." "It sure does!" Palladium agreed. Then, remembering, she cleared her throat. "Pray proceed, Sacanas." "What I propose," the sorcerer said, "is we reverse that. You, Princess, should be the focus of the attention, the loyalty, the love of your subjects. We can make use of that to power the Heart. A simple love charm, but in reverse and on a much larger scale. Your subjects give their love, their allegiance to you. You add your love for them, and then channel it all into the Heart. And with that, the Heart can be charged to a level sufficient to maintain the protective shield over the Empire, all on its own, nearly indefinitely." "Nearly indefinitely?" Palladium looked worried. "For how long, do you think?" Sacanas thought for a moment. "Without trying it, it's hard to say. But I think it would be many moons at least, before recharging would be needed." "So... maybe once or twice a year?" Palladium asked. "Just to be safe?" "That would be adequate," Sacanas agreed. "Hmmm... and we'd need to bring everypony together," Palladium said, thinking aloud. "Here in the city center. The nobility, the artisans, the farm ponies..." Sacanas wrinkled her snout, "I suppose it would be necessary, to bring every kind of pony here. So that they can all contribute their love and allegiance," she added quickly. "Wait! I've got it!" Completely forgetting herself, Palladium bounded in place excitedly. "We could have a grand celebration! Right here, in the city center. A yearly Royal Faire, just like we used to have back home. Everypony in the Empire gets together to celebrate, and there'd be games, and crafts, and events, and wonderful food... wow! It would be so perfect!" Sacanas appeared surprised by the idea. Then smiled craftily. "An excellent suggestion, Highness. That would work nicely I think. An opportunity for you to demonstrate your kindness and generosity, inspiring your subjects' adoration all the more. Yes, indeed, it would be perfect." "Oh! I love it!" Palladium said, nearly unable to contain herself. "When can we organize it?" "Hmmm." Sacanas considered it. "Immediately, if you like. Though I have an suggestion, Highness. We should combine it with a proper coronation for you -- as Empress. To mark your ascension to the throne of your new Empire. A touch of grandeur like that would be the icing on the cake." "I hadn't thought about that," Palladium said. "I suppose we should have a proper coronation. Though I'd feel a little strange being called 'Empress'. I mean, everypony is already so kind and loyal to me, it's not like I need some big title." "It makes it official," Sacanas said, "in the minds of the common ponies. And that is essential, Highness. We need their trust, their loyalty for this to work. We need that loyalty to be absolute, unquestioned. They need a ruler whom they adore and trust. And that ruler, Highness... is you." "I guess," Palladium said doubtfully. Then she brightened up. "Hey! I want to go find Gingham again. I know she'd have some wonderful ideas for crafts and games and such. For the Faire, I mean." Sacanas bowed submissively. "As you wish, Your Highness." Without another word, Palladium raced down the ramp and down the length of the Audience Hall, then through the doors still being hastily opened by the pony guards for her. And Sacanas remained where she was, eyeing the empty throne, with thoughtful amusement. Sometimes, it was almost too easy... ------------------------------ A few days later, Palladium gradually came awake in the warm, comfortable canopied bed in her Royal Suite. The suite was situated even higher in the Castle, high in its tallest spire, accessible by a spell that only Sacanas knew. The suite was round, panoramic. Through its grand, arched windows gentle breezes brought distant sounds from the city far below. The sounds of ponies talking and laughing, the occasional tap of a hammer or rasping of a saw. And wonderful aromas too: flower bouquets, and baked goods, and sweet treats... A bird suddenly flew across the room, chirping loudly. And then swooped away again. And Palladium sat up, excited. She'd just remembered: This is it, she thought. My coronation day. She looked down at herself. She didn't feel any different. She was exactly the same pony she'd always been. It was kind of like a birthday: they snuck up on you and felt the same as any other day... except that they weren't, because they were special. Because ponies who knew you remembered them, and celebrated them. Palladium got up and crossed to the nearest window arch, to stand at the small balcony looking down. Below, the Empire gleamed like a polished jewel setting. There were banners and bunting everywhere. Around the base of her Palace the Faire grounds were set up, with booths and stalls and ponies bustling about getting it all ready. The Princess felt both excited, and frightened, all at the same time. This is the day, she thought. The day I've been waiting for all my life. I'm going to be crowned Royal Princess -- no, Empress, she hurriedly corrected, of my very own Empire. There was a sound of armored hoofsteps, coming from the stairway leading down. Palladium turned to see Sacanas march up into the Suite, sternly and proudly, her mage-armor polished until it shone. She was accompanied by Gingham Square, and a small squad of seamstress ponies, carrying Palladium's coronation dress and robe. "Are you ready then, Your Highness?" Sacanas asked with an enigmatic smile. "Am I!" Palladium bounded with joy. "I can't wait!" Which made the final fitting itself seem to take forever. Palladium had to steel herself against fidgeting, since it was unseemly for a Royal Princess to appear impatient or overeager. At last it was done and she stared at herself in the mirror, at the beautiful sky-blue gown, the elegantly sculpted mane-style with dozens of small gemstones, and a small blue crystal heart, hung right over her forehead. "It's beautiful..." she breathed. She smiled at Gingham and the others. "Thank you so much, everypony!" The Royal Designer dimpled, and curtseyed. "Our pleasure, Your Majesty. You know that. We all want to help you look your best." Properly attired, Palladium allowed Sacanas to teleport the two of them down to the proclamation balcony, situated on the Palace's sloping front facet. From here, Palladium had an even better view of the activity below. She could barely contain her excitement. She wanted to rush right down there and check it all out. But of course, she had her own duties to perform first. With a glance at Sacanas, Palladium cast the amplification spell she'd learned, and then stood with her hooves upon the balcony railing, calling out to all the ponies below -- to everypony, throughout her new Empire: "HEAR YE, HEAR YE! I, PRINCESS PALLADIUM, DO CORDIALLY INVITE EACH AND EVERY SUBJECT OF MY EMPIRE TO THIS, OUR VERY FIRST CRYSTAL FAIRE! COME ONE! COME ALL! ENJOY, BE MERRY! AND ABOVE ALL ELSE, BE WELCOME IN THE EMPIRE WE HAVE ALL BUILT TOGETHER!" A rousing cheer went up from the ponies gathered below, and they waved and smiled up eagerly at her. Palladium beamed down at them, overjoyed. Then she cast a glance at the shield overhead. It was looking a little thin to her eye, and normally she'd have gone straight down to the Heart, and charged it back up again. She looked to Sacanas. "Shouldn't we strengthen the field, just a little?" she asked. "Just to be safe?" Sacanas shook her head. "It will serve for this morning, Highness. And given we are not entirely sure what the Heart's capacity is, it would be best to have it at as low a level as reasonably possible before your subjects power it up again." "All right." Palladium grinned. And then gave in to eager desperation. "Now can we go visit the Faire, Auntie?" "Who am I to stop you, Your Highness?" Sacanas said indulgently. With a wave of a hoof, Sacanas teleported them both down to ground level. And Palladium threw dignity to the winds, as she darted from stall to stall throughout the Faire's market area. There was so much to see. And she felt like no matter what she was looking at, there was something else equally wonderful nearby that she was missing. There were the stalls selling hoofmade crafts: carvings and tapestries, and pottery, and hats woven of fine straw. There were all kinds of foods, from berry pies to candied apples to wonderfully sticky, stretchy taffy. And too, Palladium's personal favorite, rock corn. The angular, almost mineral-looking cobs of corn looked utterly inedible... until you bit into one, and then the honey-coated, battered crust was just so crunchy and buttery, the taste just exploding in your mouth... Palladium just couldn't get enough of it. "I think we should make this the Empire's national dish," she told the surprised amber-coated farm pony running the small corn-cart. "Call it... I don't know, 'crystal corn', or something. It's just so perfect!" "Uhh... just as you say, Your Majesty," the pony replied, in awed amazement. There were a few surprises at the Faire, even for Palladium herself. The pony regiment of the Palace Guard had set up a small jousting arena off to the side, and were doing a few practice runs, their armor and lances gleaming under the warm summer sunlight. Seeing Palladium standing at the counter-tilt fencing, they swiftly came to attention and bowed formally to her. The Princess waved back excitedly, then moved on, not wanting to interrupt their practicing. Over on the other side of the Faire, the farming ponies had set up a presentation area, almost a small county fair of their own. They had rides, and traditional games like ring-throwing, chicken-chasing, and even a pig-toss. And there was a petting zoo with miniature sheep, which the farm ponies tended for their fluffy, pastel-colored wool. Palladium found it hard to tear herself away from the sight of the sheep and their lambs, milling about in their pen, munching hay and blinking innocently at everything. "They're so adorable!" she gasped, smiling at the shepherd ponies who'd brought them along. "I just want to hug all of them!" The shepherds smiled back gratefully, feeling their spirits lifted even as the Royal Princess hurried off to the next thing that had caught her eye. It was like that all morning. Everywhere the Princess went, her eager, childlike excitement made the gathering ponies nod, and smile, and feel warm and contented. The new Empire might be a little strange, it might be far away from everything they'd ever known all their lives. Yet even so, it felt like home now. With a ruler like Palladium, so caring and generous, so unashamed to show how happy she was to be among them, they themselves felt proud to be subjects of a dominion like this. One they had helped build, whose sovereign was always there for them. This is our home, the thought ran through the mind of every single pony at the Faire. And she is our sovereign. This is how it was meant to be. And right behind Palladium, everywhere she went throughout the Faire, the black-armored sorcerer Sacanas was never far behind. Watchful, silent, the mage pursued the excited filly around the Faire, her forbidding look and chill manner unnerving and unsettling everypony she passed. But then Palladium would come running up to Sacanas, excitedly sharing some new discovery, or breathlessly suggesting something for her consideration. And the sorcerer would smile indulgently, bowing her head, and whispering gently back to her. And everything felt just perfect again. The Princess and her powerful, enigmatic Sorcerer had created this Empire. And so long as the two of them were together it seemed, no harm could ever come to it. At long last the great moment arrived. The citizenry assembled in the open area around the base of the Palace. Here, a grand platform had been erected, directly in front of the diamond-white spire of the Crystal Palace, in sight of the Crystal Heart, spinning gently in its sconce, gently glowing and softly thrumming. On the platform stood Princess Palladium, accompanied by her honor guard, both the armored Palace Guard and Sacanas's own hulking furred soldiers. Near to the Princess was Gingham Square, holding a silken cushion, on which was Palladium's crown, a delicate confection of shimmering blue crystal. And standing right beside Palladium, as always, was Sacanas. The sorcerer gazed about smugly at the excited citizenry. She could hardly have asked for better. "Have you decided?" she asked Palladium quietly. "On your coronation name? I'm going to have to tell them something." "I think so," Palladium said. "I think I'll just keep my own name. After all, if I'm Empress Palladium, they'll still know that it's me. That I haven't changed any." "As you wish, Highness," Sacanas replied, unconcernedly. "Though I'm pretty certain they won't think any differently of you... afterwards." "I hope not." Palladium sighed. "Are you ready, then?" At Palladium's nod, Sacanas signaled to the heralds to sound their flugelhorns, and winced a little at the piercingly flat notes produced by the curious, curlicue trumpets. Then she stepped forwards, into the sudden silence that had fallen over the entire audience. "Citizens of the Empire," Sacanas called proudly, "by the authority vested in me, as Regent and Royal Sorcerer, it is my very great privilege to present to you, Her Royal Highness, Empress..." The solemn moment was suddenly interrupted by a loud crackling sound, coming from overhead. Looking up, Sacanas saw that the shield dome was flickering, its sky-blue coloring fading and sharpening, revealing whenever it faded brief glimpses of the chill gray skies of the Frozen North. The sorcerer took a step back, moving closer to Palladium. The Princess herself was staring up at the shield. She glanced behind herself, at the Heart, turning steadily in its sconce. "What is it?" Palladium asked. "Is it the Heart? Is the shield spell running low?" "I think not," Sacanas said, crossly. "The shield itself is under attack." She stared around at the onlooking crowds, worriedly looking up at the shield, and then looking at Palladium, seeking answers. The jubilant, abandoned atmosphere was slipping away. Sacanas snorted angrily. So close! she fumed. The spell is almost complete! But there may yet be time... She swept up a forehoof, which blazed with blue fire. She cast a scrying spell, and directly above her hoof, a shimmering sphere materialized, displaying a fish-eye view of the distant boundary of the shield. Sacanas swept her hoof round, in a tight circle, using the image to scan the boundary's circumference, everywhere it touched the ground. And she found the cause. There, on the northern boundary: a large crowd of heavy, hairy, horned creatures were attacking the shield wall. They were waving banners and bellowing fierce war-cries. And, as usual, eschewing common sense for noisy belligerence, and calling it bravery. "Yaks," Sacanas snarled. "Displaying their usual poor understanding of timing or tact." Palladium gasped. "What do they want?" "Who can tell?" Sacanas sneered through her teeth, "with such unruly, noisy barbarians? With foreigners..." She swept her hoof down sharply, terminating the scrying spell. Her jaw was set, her gaze sternly grim. She growled under her breath furiously. "But they will not interfere, Princess. Not this time! I will not let them... they will not harm you..." "Huh?" Palladium asked. "What do you mean?" Sacanas wasn't listening. Her breath was rasping, her eyes were staring, horrified, at something only she could see. "Never again..." she breathed, shaking her head, her eyes damp with tears. "Never again..." And then her voice rose in an anguished shout, which echoed across the Faire-grounds: "NEVER AGAIN!" And then, it was like a wall came down and her expression turned coldly, horribly fierce. She swung round, glaring at the attending guards. "Watch her!" she growled, pointing at Palladium. "If you value your lives at all, let nothing happen to her -- nothing!" Before anyone could speak, the sorcerer's horn blazed. There was a blinding flash of scarlet light... ... and she was gone. "Sacanas!" Palladium called, too late. Then she stared about in shock, unable to understand. Why was Sacanas so upset? She sounded almost... scared. But that was impossible. Nothing frightened her. Palladium glanced at the guards, then at the worried crowd. And saw that everypony was looking at her, looking to her, as Princess, to tell them what to do. To know what to do, for a start. She had to do something. She was the Princess. But what? Then she nodded, knowing what she ought to do. Sacanas was her sorcerer. And she was the sorcerer's friend. And if there was something wrong, something that terrified the one pony that nothing frightened... ... then she needed help. And Palladium would provide it. Turning, she stared at the Heart. Its power was perilously low but she only needed a boost for what she had in mind. She put up a hoof and concentrated, summoning the power back from it, even as she concentrated very hard on a spell. She glanced at the guards around her. "Hang on," she called. "I'm still practicing this one..." A large flash of cyan light lit the stage. And when, blinking their eyes, the crowd of onlookers could see clearly again, Palladium and her guards had vanished too. ------------------------------ Prince Sunderland roared with delight, and tossed his horned head proudly. This what yaks live for! he thought. A show of Yak strength, a battle for glory and honor. It be something new to talk about while smashing logs round campfire. It get truly boring some nights, the Prince added ruefully, hearing same tales over and over... The massive blue dome that had appeared over the Forbidden Plain seemed to be weakening under the continued assault of the front-line hoof-soldiers. The yaks pounded it with their hooves, their armored horns struck sparks when they head-butted it. The roaring of their battle-chants echoed from the distant mountains like unleashed thunder. Yes, indeed, Sunderland thought. It good day to be Yak! Shouldering his way through the melee to the front line, he brushed back the mane falling over his eyes to peer through the blue wall of shimmering energy. He thought he could just see, in the distance beyond, huge gemstones the size of houses. Hundreds of them, leading off into the distance. Good, thought Sunderland. Something interesting to smash. Troops will want something relaxing to smash, to wind down after concerted attack on magic shield bubble. Then there was a flash of crimson light, in the blurred distance beneath the dome. And something approached, faintly visible through the shield glow. Something tall and dark, with a gleaming horn on its head. Ponies. Sunderland nodded grimly. The strange and powerful equines from down south had of late been making new inroads in the northern lands. Though he had to admit, few had yet dared to come this far. Sunderland was about to call to his troops, to rally them, to ready them for a fierce, unyielding assault that would brook no challenge. But then a voice spoke. Almost pitifully soft compared to Yak battle-cries. Yet it somehow managed to be heard over every single Yak voice shouting at once. HOLD. An invisible force, a giant invisible claw, grasped every single one of the warriors. It hauled them off their hooves and into the air, where they hung helpless, unable to move, unable to call to each other, almost unable to breathe... The approaching dark shape strode straight through the blue wall as if it wasn't there, to stand before them. It was a single, scowling, maroon-coated unicorn, with a blood-red mane and tail, dressed in some kind of dark battle armor. Its face was lividly scarred, its horn shone with the crackling electric-blue power that had pinned the entire Yak army. The ponies, it seemed, had sent their champion to the fight. Sunderland was not afraid. Yaks did not fear. Yaks believed in calculated risks, trusting their innate boldness would carry them through. Yet somewhere deep in his heart of hearts, the Yak leader was troubled. This strange, arcane magic of the unicorns, their inscrutable, sometimes capricious whims, made dealings with them very difficult. With magic ponies, Sunderland thought sourly, Yaks always get sharp end of horn. This armored unicorn was glaring about at the pinned yak warriors. Her gaze was fiercely, lividly outraged, as if offended beyond reason somehow. Her gaze fell on Sunderland. She stalked over to stand snout to snout with him. "Would you look at this..." she rasped coldly. "Look what's come knocking at our door this time, Princess!" Her eyes glared insanely, and she seemed to be talking to herself. "A miserable, ragtag band of Yaks. And, oh look, They're unable to smash, unable to shout, unable to damage so much as a single blade of grass..." Her eyes narrowed. "Are we sure they're still Yaks?" The unicorn snorted, derisively. "How would one tell, in all this unbroken, unsullied quiet?" Now Sunderland was afraid. That look in her eyes, it wasn't mere fury, wasn't battle-rage, wasn't just posturing... ... it was the look of a very sharp axe, about to fall. "This time, Princess," the unicorn hissed, "this time, they will not harm you. This time, they will not even get near you. We will see to that... we won't even give them the chance!" The unicorn wasn't even speaking to Sunderland now. Her wild-eyed stare wasn't focused on him at all. Instead, it was like an open gateway down into the depths of a lost, empty soul... a tortured, merciless pit of despair... It was Death itself, glaring at him, out of a pit of tortured darkness. The unicorn's horn, already shimmering with power, blazed alight. It spat blue crackling bolts of energy, becoming a miniature thunderstorm atop her forehead. Sunderland mentally prepared himself for the end. He wished he could give one last rousing cry to his warriors, or even just shut his own eyes against the killing blow. And then... "Sacanas!" Through the shimmering blue shield wall, another pony hurried out, a small filly with a rose-colored mane. She hurried up to the armored unicorn, staring up at her in shock. "Get back, Princess!" Sacanas snarled. "I won't let them hurt you! Not again! I will slaughter them first! I will annihilate them! All of them! No pity! No mercy!" She was in tears now, screaming with uncontrolled anguish. Palladium guessed that reason would not work now. The sorcerer was beyond it, lost in some horrible place in her own thoughts. Well, if reason wouldn't work... ... then we'll just have to try the other way she taught us. "Sorcerer!" Palladium stood tall, proud. She stamped a hoof. "You will stand down now. And get a grip! I will not have such a display from you, today of all days!" Sacanas turned to glare at her, hotly, furiously. For a moment, Palladium feared the Sorcerer would attack her as well. But then Sacanas's expression shifted... to astonishment. She stared at Palladium, as if seeing her for the first time. "Princess?" she whispered. "I know you're upset," Palladium soothed. "I know you're angry at the Yaks for interrupting the Faire. And for... whatever else happened. But maybe the Yaks had a reason." Taking a breath, Palladium lifted her chin. "And I wish to hear them. You will let them speak, Sorcerer." Sacanas swung her head to glare at the Yaks, unwilling to release them. "Now, Auntie!" Palladium insisted. Sacanas's horn abruptly fell silent. The energy holding the Yaks vanished, and they plummeted to the ground. They shook themselves, staring around in surprise. And the Sorcerer turned to her Princess. And knelt subserviently. "I am yours to command, Highness," she whispered. Palladium trotted through the drifting snow towards the largest of the Yaks, who appeared to be in charge. And Prince Sunderland took a cautious step back. If this small pony could command obedience from the black-armored demon who had nearly slaughtered his entire army... then she was somepony worth listening to. "Now then," Palladium said, "A pleasant day to you. I am Royal Princess Palladium. And you are?" "Prince Sunderland!" the yak bellowed in reply, as boldly as he dared. "Leader of Yaks!" "Well, Prince Sunderland," Palladium replied, "you should know that I'm kind of cross with you myself. I mean, you did interrupt my coronation and everything. But my Empire is based on everypony being happy and safe together, so there's no need for arguments or fighting. And I'd want the same for the Yaks as well. So tell me, is there something wrong, something that we did, that makes you so angry at us?" Sunderland considered his words carefully, not wanting to appear weak or appeasing before his warriors. "Yaks not angry!" he protested. "This Forbidden Valley. No yak live here!" "Oh?" Palladium winced. "Are we trespassing, then? Why is it forbidden?" "Yaks not know." Sunderland shrugged. "Nothing live here, not for longest time. Then one day, yaks see ponies living here. Yaks think, if ponies live here, where nothing live, ponies must be bold, brave warriors. So yaks come to fight with new neighbors. Offer chance to show prowess in battle. And afterward, swap stories over traditional beverages. Is all good." "Really?" Palladium looked confused. "You say hello... by fighting?" "Of course!" Sunderland nodded. "Is yak way!" "Wow. Well, I'm not sure ponies do things quite that way, but..." Then her eyes went wide. "Oh my gosh! I just realized! Today's my coronation day... and you're my first visiting foreign dignitaries! Yes!" She scampered eagerly in a circle, overwhelmed by the idea. "I'm so sorry we didn't think to invite you. We should have! After all, if we're neighbors, it would be only proper. And we'd want to be the best neighbors we can be." Coming to a halt, she drew herself up again, properly. "Prince Sunderland, would you and your brave warriors do us the very great honor of being our guests, at the Crystal Faire, and the royal coronation? It would make it just so perfect, having our new neighbors from the Yak lands here to celebrate the day with us! Oh, please say yes!" She stared up at him with childlike eagerness, as if begging for sweets. Sunderland was utterly baffled. This strange sort of challenge. Not traditional battle at all. But if this was how ponies did things, by skipping the battle and going straight to celebrating together, he would demonstrate his great honor and leadership by obliging their odd ways. "Yaks approve!" he shouted. "Yaks honored to be first guests at pony royal ceremony!" "Thanks! And... does this mean that yaks and ponies can be friends?" Sunderland nodded. "Yaks and ponies friends! For a thousand moons!" he added imperiously, waving a hoof to his soldiers. Who immediately began stamping and shouting their approval, making the ground shake and the distant mountains ring with the echoes. And Palladium, overjoyed, turned to Sacanas, to see her reaction. But the sorcerer was staring at the ground, looking ashamed. Palladium trotted over and cautiously reached up a hoof to touch her shoulder. Sacanas looked at her -- and winced. "I'm so sorry, Your Highness." She looked about to speak, then fell silent again. Palladium nodded understandingly. "It's all right," she whispered back. "You can tell me later. If you want to." Together, she and the Sorcerer led the party through the shield, and back to the city center and the Faire. And it quickly became a sort of triumphal parade, even though there had been no battle. The Princess and the visiting yak Prince marched proudly in the middle of the group, surrounded by both Palladium's Royal Guard escort and the jingling, noisily cheering yak warriors. And Sacanas trudged right alongside the Princess, avoiding her gaze all the way back. ------------------------------ "Citizens of the Empire," Sacanas called. As before, the sorcerer stood tall on the stage beside Palladium, before the Crystal Palace. But her voice held none of its earlier arrogant pride. She spoke formally, stiffly now. "By the authority vested in me, as Regent and Royal Sorcerer, it is my privilege to present to you, Her Royal Highness, Empress..." "Princess," Palladium quickly interrupted. And then she looked up at Sacanas, smiling reassuringly as she added: "Princess... Amore." Sacanas stared at her, surprised. A hint of a smile appeared on her lips, then almost immediately vanished, as she turned back to the crowd. "Princess Amore!" she called. "Royal Princess, of the Crystal Empire!" The crowd before the stage shouted and cheered eagerly, ponies and yaks together. And then they knelt, one and all, before the newly-crowned sovereign. And the spell worked. The simple love-charm, amplified by the power of the leylines, and the Princess's unusual form of magic, suffused the entire land. The very ground beneath the kneeling citizens glowed with power, as their willing devotion to their ruler flooded from them, and spread through it, towards the Heart. The crystal artifact drew the power in, glowing brighter and brighter still, thrumming as it spun in its sconce, its glow ramping up to near-blinding brilliance as it became suffused, then overcharged with magic energy. And then when it could take no more, it overflowed. The power channeled upwards, through the tower of the Palace, spilling into the sky in aurora-like streams. It struck the shield dome, energizing and renewing it. The shield became rock-solid once more, became like the very sky itself over the Empire. And throughout the crystal city, there was an overwhelming sense of warmth, and peace, and caring. As if in sign of it, there was a great wash of energy outwards. It swept through the guards, through the citizens, outwards to the very limits of the Empire itself. And everything, everyone that it touched, ponies and yaks alike, suddenly glistened with a breathtaking crystalline shimmering. As if they were somehow made from crystal themselves. Everyone, that is, except Sacanas. Alone of all those present, she was unaffected by the bizarre crystalline effect. While the ponies and yaks all stared at each other, admiring the strange illusion, shouting eagerly about it, the sorcerer stood alone, in her black armor, entirely excluded and looking utterly devastated. "Auntie?" the new Royal Princess stared up at her, concerned. As if she suddenly could not take it any longer, Sacanas turned and bolted from the stage. Shoving her way through the crowds, she hurried off into the distance, along one of the avenues. Not using her magic, not teleporting away. Just running, as if trying to escape from something, just trying to get away from whatever was tormenting her. And behind her, the newly-crowned sovereign called to her anxiously: "Auntie! Auntie Sacanas!" ------------------------------ It was late in the evening, very late. Princess Amore sat alone, tucked up in her comfortable bed, in the grand Suite high in her Crystal Palace. Far below, she could hear her subjects still celebrating the coronation, the powering of the Heart, their own unusual crystalline appearance, loudly and exuberantly. Among the voices Amore could hear the distinctive ear-splitting bellows of the Yaks, boisterous and unabashed as always. She smiled at that. The Yaks weren't such bad company after all, at least not when noisy celebration was called for. Amore slurped quietly at a mug of warm cocoa that Gingham Square had brought for her. The Royal Designer had sensed something was troubling her newly-crowned sovereign, but would never dare intrude on her thoughts. Amore watched the stairwell leading up into the suite, hopefully. There was one pony who would dare, she knew. One who would make a point to ask what troubled Palladium, teach her how to deal with it, help her when she needed help the most. Amore desperately wished Sacanas would reappear, sudden and unannounced. Stalking into the room triumphantly, as if she owned it. Scowling imperiously, at anypony who dared get in her way. But the sorcerer hadn't been seen, not by anypony, all day. She hadn't been in her workroom. Hadn't been in the library, or anywhere else in the palace or the surrounding city. Amore had looked all over for her, but it was like she'd vanished entirely. And Amore couldn't settle down and go to sleep, not knowing where she was, not knowing whether she was all right. Finally, finally, there came an unusually quiet tapping of armored hooves on the stairs. Amore quickly put aside her mug, and sat up hopefully. "Sacanas?" The sorcerer came into view at last. Her face, when she glanced at Palladium, was uncommonly drawn and hollow. She looked lost. "Princess?" she asked. "Sacanas!" Amore called, smiling welcomingly. The sorcerer reached the top of the stairs, and then stood there for a moment, uncertainly. Then she crossed to the bed and sat down on the edge of it, hunched and withdrawn. "Auntie?" Amore asked nervously. "What is it?" "I wanted to apologize, Your Majesty," Sacanas said, uncomfortably. "For my behavior earlier with the Yaks. I was not setting the best of examples, not being the tutor you need me to be. I wanted to apologize for that..." Before Amore could reply, the sorcerer held up a hoof for silence. Then she sighed, forlornly, and continued. "But... I realized I couldn't, Highness. I couldn't apologize! Because of how I feel, how I think! And I think... I think I finally understand why..." She fell silent. And remained quiet for long enough that Amore reached out a hoof to touch her shoulder. "Do you want me to tell you a bedtime story, Auntie? That usually puts you in a good mood." "No." Sacanas shook her head. "Not this time, Princess." She eyed Amore, with an unreadable, flat gaze. "This time, let me tell you a story." "All right." Amore settled herself comfortably to listen. "Once upon a time," Sacanas began, "there was a powerful sorcerer... with a red mane." She eyed Amore with a touch of her old sardonic humor. "And she lived by herself in a forest. She studied and researched magic, learned everything she could. And she was happy... so happy... just to be left alone, all by herself, with no one to bother her..." Sacanas fell silent again, breathing harshly. Her eyes pooled with tears. She swallowed uncomfortably. "And then... and then something awful happened. Something horrible..." She shut her eyes, shaking her head, briefly unable to continue. Then she hauled herself up sharply, like a puppet yanked by its strings. "So horrible in fact, that she could no longer feel anything, care about anyone... apart from herself." Amore nodded, wide-eyed. But she said nothing, not wanting to interrupt. "So this sorcerer, she threw herself into her work, since it was all she had left. She studied, practiced, became the most powerful, most feared mage in all the land. None could challenge her. She could terrify ponies just by walking into a room." Her expression turned dark, cold. Her voice turned icy, heartless. "And she laid plans... intricate and subtle plans..." "... for vengeance!" Amore drew back, despite herself. That look, on Sacanas's face... as brief as it was, it was terrifying. The look of a wild animal baring its teeth, threateningly, fierce and uncontrollable. "She laid plans," Sacanas went on, her tone flat and unrepentant, "for acquiring power, and influence. Dominion over an empire, which would serve as the means for her revenge. And ponies who would serve as her army. And a Princess who could rally them, serve as a focus for their admiration and their loyalty." Sacanas paused. She seemed... puzzled, almost. "And for the longest time, it all seemed to be going so well. A few minor setbacks. A few twists and turns to be dealt with." "And then?" Amore cautiously asked. "And then the Yaks attacked the shield." Sacanas sounded almost wondering as she spoke, as if she was merely talking about something odd she'd seen in the market square the other day. "And to the sorcerer, it was as if she was back in the past again. It was as if she'd accomplished nothing. Like it was all happening again..." The sorcerer took a long, shuddering breath. "And I could think of only one thing, Princess, one thing. I had to stop them. I had to stop them, keep it all from happening again. I had to keep her safe... keep you safe," she quickly corrected, staring at Amore. "Make certain they could never harm you again." "But the Yaks didn't want to hurt me," Amore objected. Sacanas nodded, and looked to Amore. Who nodded back in understanding, and went on. "And then I stopped you," she said. "I made friends with the Yaks. I invited them into my Empire... when you wanted like anything to keep them out. That must have felt awful." Sacanas nodded in sad agreement. "But that wasn't the worst of it. Afterwards, at your coronation, when the entire Empire gave their love and allegiance to you, powering the Crystal Heart, filling it with their adoration, their love... you saw the result. All of them shared in it, even the Yaks. All of them... except me. Because I can no longer love. I can no longer love... anything. Because it might be taken away again. And for all my ability, all my wisdom, all my power... I would be unable to do anything to stop it..." Sacanas looked at Amore. But this time the Princess looked back at her silently, waiting for her to continue. "It made me ask myself," Sacanas went on. "Something I'd never asked before, since it all started. What if... what if I was wrong? The way that I feel, the way that I think. All these plans I make, all these schemes. Sometimes..." She winced, and lowered her head. "Sometimes I wonder whether I should be your regent, be your teacher at all. Sometimes..." She shook her head, stared at her hooves. "Sometimes, Princess, I wonder if I'm quite sane..." Sacanas felt a hoof touch hers, and looked up. Amore was smiling up at her, reassuringly. "If you weren't here, Auntie, if you weren't my teacher, I'd miss you. You've always been here for me. You've always stood up for me, defended me. You always cared about me, always listened, in a way nopony else does. And you've taught me so much, how to think for myself and everything. I would never have been able to deal with the Empire, the Yaks, any of this without you. You've helped me find my way to everything I always wanted, helped me to be everything I've wanted to be. And it all feels like something I've earned -- it wasn't just given to me on a platter." Amore smiled then, her wonderful child-like smile. "You've made all my wishes come true, Auntie. You truly are my best friend, in all the world." Sacanas stared at her, looking miserable -- but smiling a little. "So... you'd still want me as your advisor? As your regent?" "Are you kidding, Auntie? Obviously!" "But what if..." Sacanas cleared her throat uncomfortably. "What if I forget myself? Lose my temper again?" "Everypony does." Amore nodded reassuringly. "But even so, you've always been here for me, Auntie. So I'll be here for you. We'll help each other, the way we always have. Like you said, you and me, the two of us against the world. Come what may, no matter what happens." Sacanas stared at her, astonished. Then nodded gravely. "Thank you, Your Majesty." Amore beamed, and put up her forehooves. Sacanas drew back, hesitating... ... and then leaned in, to hug the Princess gently. Amore hugged her back, tightly, unreservedly. "I love you, Auntie Secanas!" she whispered. Sacanas hesitated. Amore could feel her tense slightly. "You know, Princess..." the sorcerer warned, "I may not ever be able to truly love you, to care about you, the way you want me to. I'm not sure I'm able to, any more..." "It doesn't matter," Amore whispered back. "I love you enough for both of us, Auntie. I always will..." And Sacanas seemed to relax then, and willingly hold her close. "Then I love you too, Princess." "Princess Amore," the Princess softly corrected. And Sacanas sighed, nodding. "Princess Amore," she whispered back, just as softly. "Mi Amore Cadenza..."