“Equestria has always housed the greatest beauty that thought has thus far been created on this world. Even in the darkest times, there have always been those among us able to preserve and protect this heritage of ideas.”
- Spry Acorn
Northern Equestria
Eight Months Later
When Celestia flew around the last bluff in the mountains, she let a contented sigh pass her lips. Nestled in its protected vale, Aqua’s school called out to her mind, welcoming her home. And even though she had lived more than thirty years under Discord’s shroud in Eridian, she felt more at home here in the mountains than she ever had.
It was high afternoon, and the Sun’s light gleamed off of every polished surface of the mountain commune, so that the air seemed to be filled with sparkling diamonds. There was another harvest hanging ripe from the trees, its scent intoxicatingly sweet. A light breeze rustled the leaves as Celestia set down at the base of Aqua’s grand tower, the noise mingling with the laughter of the brook as it danced carefree down through the glade. Here, here was home.
The grounds around her were a hive of activity, as workers rushed to bring in the orchard’s fruit. Virtually everywhere she looked, Celestia could spy a pony up on a ladder hard at work. But the one pony that she was looking for was nowhere to be seen. Somehow Atlas and Aqua had contrived to have Celestia and Luna change places without meeting each other, so it had now been a year since she had last seen her sister. Celestia had expected that Luna would be here waiting, and sorely desired to have a long chat with her concerning everything that had happened over the course of their studies.
But then, given the time of day, it was possible that Luna was still hard at work somewhere. More than a few times Celestia had lost herself within the forest of Aqua’s bookshelves. Perhaps her sister had merely lost track of time in her studies.
The library occupied the entirety of one of the tower’s upper floors, consisting of one giant circular room with bookshelves radiating outward from its centre like the spokes of a wheel. The aisles between the shelves had been built deliberately narrow at the edges of the space, and wider toward the centre, like tributaries of rivers carrying the knowledge of the shelves in toward the central lake. The reading tables all sat in the middle of the room, concentric circles around a tinkling fountain. It was all so grand and elegant, and every time that Celestia came in here, she had to set her head back and sigh, letting go of all the problems of the outside world. Here was a place that Chaos could not reach. Here there were no questions without answers. Here there was only knowledge.
It seemed like it had been ages since she had last had a chance to just stop and think. Out west with Atlas she had faced the truth of the world on a daily basis, and while it was a sobering reminder of why the Resistance had to exist, six months of it had been torturous.
When she came into the centre of the room, she quickly glanced around in all directions, hoping to see Luna stooped in silent concentration over a scroll. But her sister was nowhere to be seen. After a second, Celestia chuckled. Perhaps it had merely been wishful thinking to imagine that Luna could ever lose herself in a library.
But she did not see anypony else, either, so Celestia decided that she would wait here herself. There was no sense in running about looking for Luna, when somepony who knew her location was bound to come in here eventually. And there was one small thing that Celestia wanted to try.
She plucked a few random books off of the shelves with her magic, stacking them all onto a nearby table. Normally, organizing and cataloguing all of these books again would be a time-consuming process, but one afternoon a few months ago, while she had been toiling in some farmer’s field, she’d had an idea as to a way to expedite the process. Now she finally had a chance to try it out.
Celestia dipped her head, concentrating. Unlike pegasus magic, which she had spent the last six months unsuccessfully trying to figure out, unicorn magic required a clear mind. A haze of golden magic surrounded her horn as she worked her way through the spell. Smoothly, her magic once again picked up the books, and inside Celestia’s mind she could see the spell analyzing them, discerning their content so that it could figure out where they ought to go. One by one, each one of them was carried back to its destination.
When the spell was finished she raised her head again. In less than a minute, her spell had accomplished what would have usually taken nearly an hour. Celestia smiled broadly, glad to once again be back in her element. “Let’s see a pegasus do that, Atlas,” she muttered under her breath.
Celestia was about a third of the way through an advanced teleportation textbook when she heard the library door click open once more. When she raised her head, she immediately discerned Luna’s profile standing in the doorway. Seeing her, Luna ran in, a wide smile upon her face. “Celestia!” she cried.
“Luna!” Celestia said as she rose to give her sister a heartfelt embrace. “It’s been almost a year. How are things?”
“Well, things are all right,” Luna replied, but her voice didn’t sound like she meant it. “It’s actually strange,” she continued, releasing the hug. “Coming in just now to see you bent over a book reminded me of how things used to be, back in Eridian.”
“Hmm, I suppose some things never change,” Celestia remarked. “Just like I can tell that something’s the matter. One thing that it seems you haven’t learned is how to keep a secret.”
Luna sighed, and collapsed into a chair at Celestia’s table. “I can’t believe I lasted through six months up here! They’ve been the most boring six months I could ever imagine.”
Celestia remained silent, since clearly Luna still had more to say. Of course, while she had been struggling with Atlas out west, she had wondered how her sister’s free spirit would fare with the rigid discipline that Aqua imposed on her students. In a way, it was good to know neither one of them had had a perfect year.
Luna did not remain seated for long. When next she spoke, she vaulted out of her chair with a flutter of her wings, and began pacing the floor. “I joined with the Resistance so that I could help ponies. But all Aqua wants me to do is learn about history and magic! How is any of that supposed to help remove Discord from his throne? How is that supposed to make anypony happy? At least Atlas knows what it is that we’re trying to accomplish.”
About a dozen sharp retorts sprang to Celestia’s mind, but she bit all of them back. As proud as she was of everything that she had learned from Aqua, now was definitely not the time to start an argument. “Well, we made it through, didn’t we?” she said with a smile. “Now that our years are over, it’s time for us to move on to the next step.”
“But that’s just it!” Luna said. “Clearly I was supposed to be learning something useful if I spent six months up here. All of this time I’ve been trying, trying to figure out what it is about all of this that works towards our true purpose.” All of a sudden, Luna fell back down into her seat.
“Now that it’s over, and I still have nothing…” She looked up, and Celestia could see that Luna was close to tears. “I’m not sure if I’m ready.”
Celestia reached over and stroked her sister’s mane. “Come on, you’re not the alicorn that I know. Where’s that fire? Where’s that determination you always had? Things can’t be so bad.”
Luna sniffled. “Certainly they aren’t for you, I’m sure. You probably didn’t have any problems at all.”
Celestia pulled her chair in closer, and brushed Luna’s mane out of her eyes with a little bit of magic. She reached a hoof under her sister’s chin, and gently tugged Luna’s face up until she could look right into her eyes. “I’ll tell you a secret,” she whispered. “Right now, if Atlas told me to kick another cloud, I would turn his mane into straw first. If he told me to tend to another garden, I would make sure that all of the thistles ended up in his pillow.”
Luna chuckled at that one. “I never thought of that.”
“So cheer up,” Celestia finished, now that Luna was done crying. “Sometimes things just don’t work out the way we’d like them to.”
Luna took a deep breath, and wiped the last of her tears from her eyes. “So you’re anxious too then?”
“Certainly. But like I said, here we are on the other side,” Celestia said as she stood up, picking up her book with her magic. “Anything else that comes, we’ll just have to deal with, like we always have.”
Once again, Luna smiled as she joined her sister. “I guess that some things really don’t change, do they?”
“Never,” Celestia replied, and gave Luna another soft hug. “Now come on. We have to pick out our gowns for tonight’s ceremony.”
That evening, the whole of the school gathered on the grounds of the academy for the celebratory feast. Massive pots of steaming vegetables had been cooked for the occasion, and the freshest grains had been brought in from the outlying country. Unicorn chefs had been busy all afternoon, infusing the food with exotic flavours as they laboured over the preparations.
Celestia and Luna walked together through the assembled multitude, approaching the head of the proceedings down the central aisle. Both of them were dressed in their best fineries, long gowns that stretched down to the ground. Celestia had eventually chosen a snowy white configuration, decked in jewels to complement her shimmering mane. To show off her independence, Luna had opted for a more colourful arrangement, but it was nevertheless still haughtily formal. As the pair came up to the elevated platform that stood just under the tower, Celestia helped her sister up the steps.
Aqua and Atlas were there waiting for them. The unicorn had done up her mane into an intricate set of curls, framing her face perfectly, and matching her very conservative outfit. Atlas, meanwhile, had on a white suit jacket and red bowtie. His mane was parted casually to the side, although at least he had taken the time to comb it. Still, the two Masters stood out in opposition to each other: order and individuality.
When both of them were in place on the platform, Aqua called for order. Speaking in her usual commanding tone, the Master of Water began her speech to the assemblage.
“Students of Air and Water, esteemed guests, trusted companions, friends: welcome. We are gathered here tonight in celebration, for these two students here by my side, Celestia and Luna.” There was a moment of respectful applause, and Celestia tried to suppress a proud smile as she felt the warm attention.
“They came to us a year ago, and at that time we toasted their rebirth as free ponies: released from the shackles of Discord’s tyranny. Over this time, they have grown, and matured into new beings. They have learned the unifying harmony of mind and spirit, as emphasized by our separate disciplines. They have found power by looking inside themselves. They have excelled in their chosen fields. My children,” she stated, turning now to the two alicorns with sincerity in her tone, “you are students no longer.”
There was another outbreak of applause, which the Master of Water immediately quieted with the wave of a hoof. She now spoke directly to the two sisters, and Celestia felt the eyes of the audience drawn in toward her as well. “You go forth now to fight the battles that must be fought, to spread peace, justice, and harmony as far as you can, to reclaim this land in the name of all that have fallen in defending it. May Harmony stand with you.”
Reaching for a crystal goblet that seemed to appear beside her out of nowhere, the Master raised it in a toast. Her magic cascaded around the glass in an azure shimmer. When she looked down, Celestia was startled to see a similar glass in front of herself. With a tiny effort, she raised it with her own magic, and Luna did the same. The rest of the students joined them, and more than a thousand snifters glinted in the moonlight. With finality, Aqua finished her toast. “A year ago, we drank to new beginnings. Now, allow me to reaffirm that pledge. Celestia and Luna, you are once again born anew, free from the self-imposed prison of ignorance. We wish you the very best in future endeavours, as we work together for ultimate victory and a free Equestria once again!”
In unison, the crowd drank to the toast, and all four of the ponies on stage did so as well. The wine tasted, somehow, mystical, full and round while still sweet on the tongue. It was a majestic moment, one that Celestia wanted to go on forever. The light of the Moon glistened off the buildings of the school, casting its inviting aura over the congregation. The air was still, comfortably humid from the bubbling brook, which danced to its own music in the background.
Soon enough, the toast had completed, and the rest of the students got down to the business of the meal. But for the four on stage, the ceremony was not complete, or at least so it seemed. Aqua turned round to address the two sisters, speaking in a calm voice. “Come. We have something wonderful to show both of you.”
The four made their way down off the stage, and reverently climbed the curved steps that rose over the stream to the base of the tower. They came together under the structure’s base, on the small landing that straddled the river. In the background, the night air was broken by the ebullient sounds of dinner getting underway. But the two Masters had eyes only for their new companions now.
“Well, that’s finally over with,” chuckled Atlas as he hurriedly undid his bowtie and tossed it into the river. “Congratulations to the both of you. You’ve earned your spot here. Few are able to pass the trials both of you have faced; even fewer can reach your level within only a year. Aqua and I are both proud of all that you have accomplished.”
Luna beamed with satisfaction, and Celestia also couldn’t hold back a satisfied grin. It had been a rough year for the both of them, filled with trials. Finally, they had reached the end. Looking up, Celestia even noticed the barest hint of a smile on Aqua’s features.
Behind them, at the railing, Atlas spoke up again. “So both of you are probably wondering when you get to eat, right? I’ll admit it sure does smell good over there.”
Both of the sisters stayed silent, awaiting an answer, but Celestia did have to admit that the luscious aromas wafting over from the banquet had piqued her appetite. Aqua, however, merely summoned an orb of energy into their midst, holding it above her horn for a second. In a steady voice, she addressed the two sisters. “There will be time for all that later, but first there is business to attend to. The first stage of your journeys has come to its end, but now it is time to begin anew.” With a flash, she released the magical orb, which expanded out to envelop the four of them. In an instant, the mountainside around them disappeared.
Celestia felt herself floating in a shapeless blue void, with nothing but an infinite featureless horizon in all directions. She wanted to call out, find something or someone to hold on to, but suddenly realized that she didn’t even know if her voice would carry here. Was there even air for her to breathe? Celestia felt lost, on an instantaneous verge of panic. Then, Aqua’s calming voice emerged through the fog, giving clarity to the scene, drawing out recognizable shapes in her mind’s eye.
“Do not be afraid,” Aqua intoned steadily. “This is simply a magical construct, a visual way to experience a message. Now that you are ready to join us, you have earned the right to this vision, that of the power we face, and hope for that which once was, and that which may yet be.”
As Celestia looked on, lines of silver etched their way through the limitless void, forming into a recognizable outline. Colours inflamed the scene, and Celestia found herself looking at the city of Eridian, but different. It was older, and unadorned with the wicked towers of Discord’s castle. In their place was a brilliant triangle of golden stone, three slender pinnacles set round a central spire of straight lines and peaked arches, reaching upward to a dizzying height. Perched on its very peak was a massive statue: three ponies reaching skyward in unison, claiming the brightness of Equestria’s future.
Celestia gasped as the vision slotted itself into her memory. The Tower of the Triumvirs! This meant that the city could only be the legendary Equestrian Capital City, unspoilt in the early years of the free Equestria. Looking closer, Celestia could see that each of the secondary towers was adorned in its own way, put to the use of one of the pony tribes. The unicorn tower supported a powerful observatory, and was ringed about with banners and measuring instruments. Its ornate balustrades were etched with images of astronomical bodies, bright stars and exotic planets. Nearby, the pegasus tower was surrounded with clouds and lightning, as the masters of the weather directed the meteorology of the nation. And finally, the enterprising earth ponies had turned their tower into a centre of administration, and had even planted a small field on its roof, never letting a single foot of space go unused.
In the light, the city shone with all the glory deserving of its place in history. Celestia felt its reflection illuminate the depths of her soul, inspiring her as it must have inspired all ponies in ages past. But alas, for the vision was not finished. In an instant, Celestia felt darkness pushing at the corners of the utopia. Like a flood of serpentine wisps, grey evil flowed up into the vision. All at once, fate turned upon the city. The clouds of the pegasi turned upon the population, unleashing a torrent of rain and destructive lightning, igniting fires and sparking panic. Confused unicorns rushed out onto their balconies, but could only watch in dumbstruck awe as their own instruments of science transformed into fearsome weapons, assaulting the populace with focused energy. Even the earth ponies saw their machinations turned against them, as the fruits of their field suddenly grew to enormous size, caving in the roof of the tower. All throughout the city there was great distress, and nothing that the powers of any tribe could do to stop it.
Like a breath of cold stealing the life of a calm spring night, chaos spread through the city, robbing colour and creating only lifeless dullness. Finally, the malady became complete, and the Tower of the Triumvirs crumbled, falling to earth with a deadened crash. The vision morphed then into something all too recognizable to Celestia. It was Eridian: dead and broken in the place of what had once been great. She felt determination settle into her heart then. For such a crime, there was only one justifiable punishment. And now that she had the power within her, she vowed that Discord would pay the terrible debt that he owed her country.
When Celestia rematerialized in the real world, she felt a wave of nausea as her body attempted to readjust. Beside her, Luna was engaged in a similar process of acclimatization. But from the passion in her eyes, Celestia had no doubt that her sister had witnessed the same vision she had.
Once she finally got her head back in order, Celestia spared a glance around the area, but was immediately shocked. They most certainly were not up in the mountains anymore. The ever-present babble of the mountain stream had been replaced by a sort of living stillness, quiet, but not uncomfortably so. Taking another, longer gaze, she analyzed whatever she could.
They appeared to have materialized in a dense forest. The light of the Moon trickled down through the branches, illuminating a forest floor covering in loose grass. The trees were spaced regularly, growing in harmony with the world and allowing easy passage. The two sisters seemed to be on a worn path, which ran straight for several meters before disappearing over a low rise. The forest grew thicker ahead, so it was difficult to determine where the path led. Overall though, the place certainly seemed safe. Her confidence grew when the two Masters also phased into existence just in front of her.
Aqua and Atlas reintegrated with the real world far faster than their two students did, likely due to experience with the process. Both appeared quite pleased to be here. Atlas took a deep breath of the crisp air, letting all of his stresses fall away with every exhalation. Aqua did the same, but in a more refined manner.
Celestia realized suddenly just how much she had changed, and how well this moment encapsulated it. Here she was in an unfamiliar environment, and the Celestia of old would have immediately brought up her guard, distrustful of anything until she got answers. She realized how open she had allowed herself to become. It was certainly something to consider later.
Luna was the first to find her voice. “That vision… that was Equestria in the past?” she asked, directing the question to Atlas.
The pegasus was engaged in ruffling his mane and unbuttoning a few of his suit jacket buttons. “Yes,” he replied nonchalantly. “That was what once was, and what we hope to restore.”
“It was beautiful,” Celestia said in a voice edged with sorrow. “And thanks to Discord it is now all lost. Such an unforgivable tragedy,” she finished, hanging her head low in remembrance.
But when Celestia raised her eyes again, Aqua had on a knowing smile. Speaking in a mysterious voice, she addressed her students. “I knew that both of you were ready to see it though. Hopefully, both of you now understand the power that we face. All the might of our ancestors could mount no opposition to Discord’s assault. However, if you’ll follow me,” she said with a wink, “I think you’ll find that the future is not as bleak as it might seem.”
And without any more words, the two Masters walked together toward the small hill in the path. With a look, Celestia motioned for Luna to go first, and they followed. The wood was serene in the moonlight, almost heavenly. The elder sister managed to spot the occasional nocturnal creature about its routine, but soon sensed that her attention should lie ahead. Both Aqua and Atlas seemed to grow taller with every step, in clear anticipation of what lay just over the ridge. They paused for a moment just on the lip, and motioned backwards for the two alicorns to come forward. As Celestia laid her eyes on the grassy clearing below, she felt her jaw slacken in shock.
It was the Tower of the Triumvirs, rebuilt brick for brick from the original, standing tall and proud in lordship over the forest. The central spire was ringed with gold, reflecting the moonlight in a dazzling array of patterns as it stretched storey over storey high over forest. Each of the secondary towers stood atop its own independent mound, and each was adorned according to the individual sense of the tribe it represented. The unicorn tower was again bristled with telescopes, and the earth ponies once again grew their crops. Even the pegasus tower again bristled with clouds, undoubtedly the reason that the forest grew so lush around them.
“The Citadel of Everfree,” Aqua announced with a reverent voice. “Last bastion of the free ponies, and home to Terraria, Master of the Order of Earth.” Both she and Atlas were looking upwards at the amazing structure, with glassy, nostalgic looks on their faces.
For the two sisters, it was as if they had stepped from a dream into history itself. Aqua’s base in the mountains now seemed utilitarian, compared to this extravagant display of beauty. Even now, in such dark times, hope burned eternally. For beneath the structure, Celestia now beheld a multitude of ponies, heralding each of the distinct tribes in roughly equal proportion. They were dressed in varied robes, long and flowing garments of silk and cashmere. The crowd erupted in approval upon seeing the newcomers, pointing and applauding vigorously. For an instant, Celestia wasn’t sure what to do, but she noticed that Luna was merely smiling proudly at the adulation, and she decided to do the same.
The perfect completion to the scene reached her then, as the scent of exquisitely cooked fruits and cereals wafted up to the ridge. It seemed that they would get their celebratory meal after all. She looked over at the Masters: each of them seemed ready to forget all the troubles of life to settle into this one moment. Celestia realized that it was time she and Luna did the same. This was the celebration they had earned, their first night as truly free ponies in the new Equestria.