The Parish District. It's now a sanctioned off part of Canterlot. It was where Flash Sentry had grown up in and managed to survive long enough to become a member of the royal guard.
And as it just so happens, the Parish District was built on top of the neighborhood where White Flame's past life as Gareth had lived. What's more, the ghosts of that neighborhood were the reason the Parish District Ponies had become bloodthirsty and unfriendly.
"White Flame did warn us that should Zanth obtain the Heart of Despair, then Zanth will have enough power to warp reality to his desires." Blueblood said as he led a team of excavation experts around the old neighborhood. "So how much you want to bet, that the very object Zanth craves was under his nose the entire time he was here?"
"I suppose such a thing could be possible. I'm more concerned over the lack of communication from Queen Nova of the Sea Griffons. She and I were quite close indeed." Celestia said.
"I almost wonder if something is going on south of Equestria's borders. And that worries me." Blueblood said. "But I don't want to leave any stone unturned here either."
Meanwhile on board the Storm King's own personal vessel, the tyrant in question was suddenly smacked in the face with a stone heart.
"I found this in your treasure vault. So, care to tell me where you found this?" Zanth said, voice clearly not happy.
"We found it a ways back, when we tried and failed to take the pearl from the Sea Griffons." The Storm King answered. "But I don't see what the big deal is."
"You fool. You've had the Heart of Despair this entire time." Zanth said.
"...This is the heart of Despair? Looks like just some stone heart object to me." Storm King admitted.
"I suppose I can't fault you for thinking that. Something has happened to the heart to make it no longer have its magical properties. And now, it lies dormant." Zanth said.
"Well, is there a way to reactivate it?" Storm King asked.
"...Actually yes; yes there is one way: The heart feeds on negative emotions such as anger and sadness. With enough negative emotion condensed into one place, the heart can be reactivated." Zanth said.
The Storm King chuckled. "Really? Then perhaps the invasion of Canterlot will cause enough sadness and anger amongst the populace to reactivate it."
If Zanth could grin, no doubt he would be from that. "Yes...that would be enough sadness and anger to feed the heart to reactivate it." Zanth said. And once it's reactivated, you'll have outlived your usefulness to me. the void being thought to itself.
At this same time in Ponyville, things have been hectic. What with Sunburst getting time with all of Starlight's Ponyville friends. The day had ended there, when Sunburst left back to the Crystal Empire.
He did take one book with him that was going to become important very, very soon.
As for Spike and Smolder, the two have been doing well; with no sign of their relationship stagnating. One day Garble had appeared, but he was quickly scared off by Spikezilla because he had tried once more to take his biological sister back by force. Safe to say, that didn't work. That was three days ago before today.
"By the way, I don't think Rainbow Dash will be the only one getting married soon." Smolder suddenly said as the two were reading their invitation to a giant wedding celebration planned for a week from now.
"Are you talking about Rarity and Fancy Pants? Yeah, I heard. And I'm happy for them." Spike said.
"Oh, I'm not talking about them." Smolder said, before she gestured over to a nearby resturant where Twilight and Flash Sentry were having a wonderful time together.
"...Huh. Could they be any more obvious?" Spike asked.
"I don't think they care. I mean, we did basically do karma on Shining Armor for waiting until the last minute to tell Twilight about his wedding. So, I think the lesson's already been learnt." Smolder said.
"Thanks for doing that my way, by the way." Spike said.
Suddenly the duo spotted Garble, but he just dropped off some letter in the castle of friendship's mail box and flew off. "Wonder what he's up to." Smolder said as Spike took out the letter.
"...Oh! It's a letter from Ember. Guess Garble got reduced to an errand boy." Spike said. "'Dear Spike, there is something I wish to discuss with you shortly after the wedding celebration happening in a week. Before you ask, yes, I got invited to it too. And there's something I want to discuss with you during the reception. So I hope to see you then.'" Spike read off.
"Huh. Wonder what's so important that the dragon lord would use direct mail?" Smolder asked.
"Don't know, but whatever it is, it's worth it just to see Garble be delivery boy because he went against the dragon lord's wishes." Spike said.
Smolder couldn't help but giggle at that. "Oh you." Smolder said before she and Spike shared a kiss.
As the dragon couple kissed, Garble was dismissed from Ember's chambers.
"So, your going to tell him." Torch said to his daughter.
"Yes. He deserves to know the truth. About who his father is, his sister is, and why his 'Spikezilla' form activates whenever he defends another." Ember said.
"...You think he's ready for the truth?" Torch asked.
"I'm more worried about how he'll react to the news more than I am worried about how ready he is." Ember said.
"...Fair enough..." Torch said.