At long last it was time! Starlight Glimmer had just announced she was well enough to send a message to the pony resistance and now the group was sitting in a clearing, waiting for her magic. Rosa was especially curious what it would look like. She'd seen her horn glow a few times before, when she moved things or made some light for them to see where they were walking, but this was going to be serious magic. On the other hand, Rosa noticed that Luna didn't seem all that interested, which was probably because she was a unicorn herself and had seen things like this so many times that it had become mundane. Rosa and Sky Light, however, were staring. It was a good thing Starlight didn't get nervous with all that scrutiny.
Starlight took a deep breath and closed her eyes. A moment later her horn filled with light, first with a dim, turquoise glow, which then brightened. Pretty soon Rosa couldn't look at it directly, so she glanced over at Sky Light instead. The pegasus apparently had the same idea and their gazes met. They both smiled. Starlight's glow continued for a while longer, then suddenly winked out and the mare sagged. For a moment it looked like she might fold down to the forest floor, but she managed to remain sitting. Sky was the first to react and went to offer support.
"There, that should do it," Starlight announced, giving the group a weak smile.
Luna nodded slightly in approval, but she didn't otherwise comment.
"So, now what happens?" Rosa prompted.
"We stay put and Cadence will come to us. I'll take a few hours, I think."
"Why a few hours?"
If all these questions were annoying Starlight, she didn't show it. "Because, a pegasus scout has to fly all the way over here."
"Why a-"
This time Luna chuckled in amusement at Rosa's apparently insatiable curiosity. Rosa blushed a little and looked to the Princess to apologize, but she just answered the question instead of Starlight.
"The reason, Rosa, is twofold. On the one hoof, Cadence has to be sure that Starlight Glimmer has not been compromised and is not under human control. That is why a scout will find us first and observe before showing him- or herself."
That made some kind of cold, military sense and Rosa saw Sky Light nodding slightly in agreement.
"On the other hoof, opening a Bore with any kind of precision requires a focus. The scout will bring a magical item - something we call a Beacon - upon which Cadence can focus."
It sounded complicated, but Rosa didn't think she was supposed to fully understand. She'd only learned that magic was real some twenty-four hours ago, after all! "Oh."
"Do not worry, they will find us and then we shall see."
"See what?" Sky Light asked.
Luna shrugged a little. "See what to do next," she replied.
The pegasus came over to Rosa and draped a wing across her shoulders. "Next," Sky continued, "me and Rosa will go back and look for Terry. He's probably worried about us. What do you say, Rosa? The ponies at the truck stop, Arda Karim, Mario - you know the gang." Rosa looked uncertain, so the mare's voice took on an urgent tone and she squeezed Rosa tighter with her wing. "You found what you wanted, right? Maribelle, you said she was okay. Once she's got her job, we'll look for her and go visit, right?!" It felt almost as if Sky was pleading.
"I- I don't- Sky..." Rosa whimpered, suddenly undecided. Earth was where all her friends lived. She was still hopeful she'd find Paolo someday and Rosa did wish to see the gang at the truck stop again. She was suddenly torn between wanting to stay with the familiar and seeing Equestria - the real home of pony kind.
Starlight was looking at the pair strangely, as if she didn't quite understand what they were talking about. Of all the people, it was Princess Luna who came to her aid. She placed a hoof with surprising finesse on Rosa's back and murmured: "Worry not, Rosa, there will yet be time to decide. This is not something you can answer right now."
"Decide what?" Sky Light asked, "what is she talking about?!"
Rosa turned an already tear-filled expression on her friend. "I thought we would go to Equestria together."
"What?!" Sky Light nearly toppled Rosa, so quickly did she jump away, as if afraid she might catch the same kind of insanity that plagued her friend. "Rosa, that's- Equestria isn't real!"
Starlight opened her muzzle to respond, but it was Luna who answered again: "Equestria is much diminished by the war, Sky Light, but I assure you that it still exists. My sister and her pupil, Princess Twilight Sparkle, have kept control and protected what could be protected. In time, Equestria will undoubtedly be rebuilt to its former glory."
Sky Light kept opening and shutting her muzzle, as if thinking up arguments to that claim and then realizing they were no good ones she could make. "I don't know- I have a lot of friends on Earth..." the pegasus mumbled and for a brief moment Rosa's heart lifted. She might come! Sky sounded open to the idea!
Just as Rosa was about to go hug her and try to convince her again, Luna placed a wing in her way and then delicately lifted Sky Light's muzzle with a gentle hoof. "The same applies to you. Rosa's decision cannot be made here and now, yours cannot either. Think it over. In time, your friends might be able to join you there. I do not know the full extent of my sister's plan, but I do know she will welcome back all ponies who wish to come."
"Some of my friends are human..." Sky Light said quietly.
Rosa felt like that could be the problem point, but to her surprise, Luna just shrugged. "There are some humans already living in Equestria," the Princess responded. "If their heart is pure, your friends will be allowed."
Sky Light looked up at Luna and for a moment Rosa caught a glimpse of hope. It faded and Sky shook her head free "I'll think about it."
That seemed to be it and Luna went on to discuss something with Starlight which Rosa didn't even try to overhear. Instead, she came over and gave her pegasus friend a hug. "Like she said, neither of us has to decide now. Let's meet up with this Cadence and the resistance, maybe someone there will be able to tell us more about what Equestria is like. Then we decide, okay?"
"Yeah, good thinking, Rosa."
Rosa released the other mare and looked around for a comfortable place to lie. There was not a lot of choice, but she spotted a bit of clean-looking grass and walked there. Starlight had said it might take a couple of hours and Rosa was perfectly fine with waiting. After all the unexpected exercise, her legs were killing her. Not that she'd admit it to any of her friends, not with the pride of all earth ponies to uphold, after all.
After a minute or so, Sky Light came closer. "Room for one more?" she asked. Rosa shuffled aside and the pegasus flopped down next to her. "Good thinking. Who knows how much further we'll have to walk."
Rosa remembered that her friend had spent most of the time walking as well, something she probably wasn't used to. She was a pegasus so her first choice would be to fly any significant distance. Unfortunately, Starlight hadn't wanted to take unnecessary risks, so Sky Light had only been allowed short flights to look for water or danger up ahead.
The forest floor wasn't all that comfortable, but the combination of exhaustion and Sky Light's warm body pressing against Rosa's side had enabled her to sleep for a while. Nothing much had changed by the time she woke up, except that it was nearing dawn and her ribs hurt from the deceptively hard ground. Rosa could have sworn it had felt a lot softer when she first lay down. Now she got up and stretched out each leg in turn. Starlight Glimmer was leaning against a tree trunk, apparently asleep, and Princess Luna was standing some distance away with her wings half-spread.
Since there was only one other person awake in the vicinity, Rosa walked over to the Princess, curious to see what she was doing. It crossed her mind that it might be something private, but Luna could certainly hear Rosa approach, and would doubtlessly caution her if she was acting inappropriately.
When Rosa reached the royal mare she could see that her eyes were closed and her head was held proudly upright. It felt as if she was intruding on something.
"Speak." The command came out of nowhere and almost made Rosa jump a little in surprise.
"Oh! H-Hi! Sorry. I didn't mean to-" She fell silent when the other mare opened her eyes and gave her a bright smile.
"You were meaning to ask a question," she told Rosa.
"I was just wondering, um, Princess, w-what are you doing?"
The smile stayed put. "Enjoying my freedom."
"Oh." It did make a kind of sense. Rosa didn't know how long exactly Luna had been trapped, but it was several months at least.
She opened her mouth to say how sorry she was about the misfortune, but Luna's head snapped up and she stared out among the still-dark trees.
"We are being watched," she said.
The proclamation made Rosa's skin crawl and she inched closer to the alicorn even while she stared wildly around. "W-Where?!"
"I am not sure. It isn't a threat."
Despite her assurance, Rosa didn't feel any better. Who knew what could be lurking in the forest. A twig cracked off to Rosa's left and she spun around to face it. There was a shadow under the trees! Rosa could see it, but she couldn't tell what it was!
Princess Luna spoke up before Rosa could work up the nerve to ask: "Zephyr Gale, it is good to see you again."
The creature stepped forward and resolved into a pony. The reason Rosa couldn't see anything was quickly apparent: he - a proud, stoic pegasus stallion - had a dark uniform that covered most of his otherwise white fur. His mane looked black in this light, but that was a rare color for ponies and Rosa suspected it was just dark. Maybe navy blue or violet.
Walking up until he was standing right in front of the alicorn, the pegasus dropped into a smooth bow. "Princess Luna, it is good to see you are free."
Rosa looked from the newcomer to the Princess in surprise, only now fully understanding what they had said. "You two k-know each other?!"
The stallion gave Rosa a shocked stare at the way she was addressing Luna, but the alicorn didn't even bat an eyelash. "Indeed, Rosa. I make it a point to personally know all the ponies under my command."
The pegasus soldier cleared his throat pointedly, but didn't say anything.
"Forgive me," Luna continued smoothly, as if nothing had happened. "Princess Cadence's command. Come," she invited and turned back to the others, who had woken up at all the noise and were looking warily at the newcomer. "I can't offer you refreshments, but we do have water."
Sky Light had kept her bucket and made sure to fill it before they had all settled down to sleep. Following, Zephyr Gale inclined his head. "Thank you, Princess."
"You already know Starlight Glimmer, sergeant, you've just met Rosa, and that over there is Sky Light."
The mare in question just waved a hoof silently.
"Actually, it's captain now, ma'am!"
"Congratulations, captain."
Much of this had gone above Rosa's head, but she recognized military talk when she heard it. The pony was a soldier for the resistance. He was probably the scout Starlight had mentioned. She went to sit beside Sky Light while the stallion took a sip of water.
"Captain," Sky Light said to herself softly, her eyes never leaving his well-toned, lithe body.
Shaking her head a little in amusement, Rosa nudged her in the ribs. "Not now," she hissed.
"What?!" the other mare asked with a deceptively innocent smile and exquisitely crafted tone of innocence.
"Report, soldier," Luna commanded after the pegasus had drank his fill.
He glanced over at Rosa and Sky Light, but didn't comment on their presence. Rosa felt he would prefer if they didn't overhear, but he also didn't want to disobey an order. "The resistance is hiding in a national park, two-fifty northeast. Princess Cadence remains in command. After your-"
The next word seemed to be giving him some issue and Zephyr paused. Luckily Luna came to his aid: "My capture."
"Ma'am," the pony confirmed, bowing again. "We are holding strong and moving camp each month to avoid detection."
Luna nodded to herself in satisfaction, then asked: "How many ponies have you gotten home in the time I was... absent?"
Now the captain shifted uncomfortably and lowered his gaze. "Uh, none, ma'am."
"None?!"
He gulped in fear and stammered out an explanation: "Princess Cadence has decided our first priority was to reacquire yourself, Princess. We have been focusing all resources on that goal."
Even in the dim light Rosa could tell that Luna was worried by this news. "This doesn't sound like Cadence," she said, but mostly to herself and the soldier didn't reply. "Why did you not tell me this, Starlight Glimmer?"
Starlight also shifted uncomfortably, but she stood her ground and answered simply: "I was focused on bringing you back, Princess. Cadence should be the one to fully brief you."
If she was satisfied with the answer Luna didn't show it. Instead she turned her attention back to the pegasus. "You have assured yourself that I am real, Zephyr Gale?"
"I have, Princess."
"Undoubtedly you have a Beacon about your person. Activate it so that Cadence might find us. I, for one, could use a hot meal and something other than ground to sleep on."
"Of course, ma'am!"
Rosa watched closely as the soldier fished inside his jacket and brought out a small, golden pendant on a piece of string. He pressed it between his hooves for a few seconds, then let it fall. "Shouldn't be more than a few minutes, ma'am."
Luna just nodded and came to stand before Rosa and Sky Light. She was watching the pegasus in particular. "Both of you should come with, so that the humans do not find you around here. From there, we can send you on to Equestria or bring you near a human city if that is your decision."
The guard looked up in confusion, clearly unsure why the Princess was giving them this choice, but he didn't speak up. His gaze met that of Sky Light and he hurriedly looked away. Rosa thought he was blushing, but it was hard to see in the dim light.
"I- haven't decided yet," Rosa admitted. "I'd like to come with and, um, talk with a few ponies."
"Very well," Luna said, then transferred her gaze back to Rosa's pegasus friend.
"I guess I should come too, if only to keep this filly out of trouble!"
Rosa almost groaned in exasperation, but both Luna and Starlight chuckled at the joke, so she let it pass.
Everything seemed to have been said, so the group just sat back down to wait. Zephyr Gale walked over, his eyes slightly narrowed with curiosity, focusing on Sky Light. As soon as he was near enough, the stallion sat on his haunches and tried to look as nonchalant as possible.
"Hi," Sky Light greeted him with a wide grin on her muzzle.
"Zephyr Gale, at your service," he replied and gave a little bow. Not nearly as deep as the one he'd given Luna, Rosa couldn't help noticing, but probably more he'd give just anyone, she was willing to bet.
It was working, too! Sky Light looked flattered by the gesture, although Rosa didn't think anypony else could tell. She could barely see it herself in the tiny shifting of her wings and the slight parting of her mouth.
"You do realize both those things mean 'wind', right?" Sky asked.
Rosa suddenly realized she was correct.
The captain barks a laugh. "They do! Overeager but unimaginative parents, I'm afraid."
"And how old are you, captain Gale?"
"Twenty-eight!" came the immediate reply.
Rosa could see the contemplative look in Sky's eyes and so she decided to get up and out of their way. She had had that same look when she had been talking about Bluegrass' flank. Rosa just hoped she wouldn't cause the gallant pegasus too much trouble, but it was probably already too late for him.
As Rosa was leaving, her friend quickly switched to the offensive: "Married? Marefriend?"
Rosa hurried her steps so she wouldn't have to hear any more. Instead she joined Luna and Starlight, who were sitting next to each other and watching the stars. They were probably discussing something important, but Rosa had no place else to be, so she just sat nearby and listened.
"Nothing?" Starlight asked.
Luna shook her head. "No. They are different stars, different sky. Perhaps whatever the humans put in me also suppresses my alicorn gifts. My dream walking had faded too, remember?"
"What if it doesn't come back?" Starlight asked.
"It will," Luna said. "I doubt the humans have a means to suppress magic forever. Magic is a living force, you should know that more than anypony, Starlight Glimmer. It will find a way. Besides," the Princess said with finality, "Celestia can handle both the sun and the moon - she had done so for a thousand years during my captivity."
"T-Thousand years?!" Rosa couldn't help squeaking out in surprise.
The two seemed to notice her for the first time and Luna turned slightly to accommodate Rosa into the conversation. She seemed surprised by her outburst, but Starlight explained: "Ponies on Earth are not taught History. Well, except for human history."
"Ah. No doubt you will rectify this in time, Rosa," Luna told her, but then she gave at least a quick explanation: "A long time ago I became evil and my sister had to trap me on the moon. It took me a thousand years to escape, during which time Celestia controlled both the Sun and the Moon."
"Controlled as in-?"
"Raised the former in the morning and the latter in the evening. Controlled."
Another thing stood out in what Luna had just said. A very important thing. "E-Evil?!"
The Princess gave her a small smile. "Worry not. The Elements of Harmony purged the darkness from within me when I returned."
It was all too much to take in. Most of it sounded like fairy tales, but Rosa didn't want to appear too much of an idiot, so she managed to keep her muzzle shut. Hopefully someone at the resistance camp or whatever they had, would be willing to tell her some of this 'common knowledge'.
"Ah, I believe the way is opening," Luna proclaimed.
Rosa turned around to follow her gaze and saw Zephyr Gale with a faintly glowing, humming pendant around his neck. Sky Light was watching it in surprise while the soldier quickly pulled it over his head and tossed it away. Just before Rosa could ask why he was throwing it, she got her answer. A... hole opened up where it had landed. There was no other word for it. Just a black hole, which grew to little more than Luna's height. It stopped, then pulsed for a moment and the darkness inside resolved to reveal another pony.
She was pink, with a horn nearly as long and pointed as Luna's. Rosa leaned to the side so she could see down her body. Yes, she also had wings. Princess Cadence, then. The image in the hole smiled widely when she saw Luna and rushed forward to throw herself into a hug.
"Auntie! I was so worried!"
The two embraced for a few moments, then Cadence parted from - Rosa assumed - her aunt, and beckoned with a hoof. "Come through, quickly. There is food and shelter!"
Both of those sounded very welcome and Rosa shuffled her hooves impatiently. Of course Luna should go through first, with Cadence right behind her. Then it would probably be Starlight Glimmer. To her surprise, though, Rosa saw that Zephyr was hanging back and ushering Sky Light through. She recovered quickly and joined her pegasus friend so they both stepped through the opening. The feeling was tiny bit disappointing. Rosa had been expecting a flash of light or something. A tingling sensation, at least! Nothing of the sort happened. It felt like any other step she'd taken, except that this one was hundreds of miles long.
Once she was through, Sky Light turned around to wait for the captain, but he stayed firmly on the other side. "You're not coming?!" she asked him, voice full of worry. She lifted a leg to go through again and stay with Zephyr, but he held up a hoof.
"No. I have to fly the long way and bring the Beacon back. I'll be fine. Four hours! I'll hurry, for you!"
Despite his meaningful wink, Sky's ears went flat with disappointment and Rosa almost rolled her eyes again. Her friend really did sometimes behave like she was twelve.
Sky Light kissed the frog of her hoof and held it out to the soldier. This time he really did blush a vivid red. For that matter, Rosa herself was at the same time mortified and a bit charmed, and her muzzle probably matched the captain's! Luckily, all Zephyr could do was wave and then the hole closed. Rosa turned around and saw Cadence, her horn shining with a light blue aura. As she watched, the glow winked out.
She was looking at Sky Light with a faint little smile on her muzzle. "I see you've met captain Zephyr," she commented.
Sky was still staring at where the portal had been, wings drooping a little, so Rosa took it upon herself to answer: "Y-Yes, Princess Cadence!" She remembered what Zephyr had done when meeting Luna and dropped into a bow.
The Princess didn't say anything until Rosa came back up. "Don't worry, he is one of my best. He will make it back safely."
The mare even smirked a little! Rosa was willing to bet on it! She had seen exactly what was happening between Sky Light and the captain and she approved!
"Come, breakfast is being served and then I will arrange a tent for you two to rest. Equestria owes you its gratitude for your help in rescuing Princess Luna."
Again Rosa was reminded about her growling stomach and she nudged Sky Light to get her to move. As the Princess turned around, Rosa caught a glimpse of her cutie mark. It looked like a blue heart and she wondered what that meant. Luna's had been fairly straightforward and Starlight was good with magic, obviously, her mark reflecting her name. A heart, though - did that mean Cadence could see into ponies' hearts or something? Was she a good judge of character? It would explain how she had been able to figure out Sky Light that quickly.
The day had been long and hard and full of bewilderment, and the exhaustion of their weary trip finally caught up to Rosa. "God, I just want to eat something and then sleep for a week..."
"Yeah, same. Let's go see what they're cooking and then bunk up somewhere."
"Princess Cadence said she'd get us a tent," Rosa explained, unsure if Sky Light had been listening.
"Sweet!"
Rosa could see the campsite a few dozen steps away. Of course it made sense they would open their holes through space some distance from the camp, so that ponies didn't walk in by mistake. It looked quite cheerful, with a fire burning in the center and the tents set up around it. Rosa even spotted a few larger ones, with tables inside. There were a number of ponies walking around, some carrying things and others just rushing hither and tither. Chaos, but organized chaos, she decided. Everything she'd expect from the military. She hurried to catch up with Cadence.
Luna and Starlight were already gone from sight, which made Rosa feel a bit apprehensive. It was a good thing Sky Light was there. Ponies or not, Rosa was wary of all the strangers.
Luckily Cadence paused near the fire and waited for her. "This way," she said and headed for one of the larger tents. Rosa saw a few ponies sitting inside, eating. She realized that it'd be time for breakfast soon. A quick glance around showed her that stars were already vanishing as the sky was filling with light. Then the smell of something fried hit her right between her eyes, and her mouth almost overflowed with saliva in expectation. As long as they fed her and gave her a soft place to sleep, Rosa would be okay with strange ponies.