White Rabbit Object

by L0rd0f7hund3r

There's No Place Like 127.0.0.1!

Princess Celestia had just finished reading her faithful student's latest missive. Actually, that that fifth time she read it in the last hour. For the co-ruling monarch of the land, she was surprised that her protege would write a letter so full of demands. What shocked her most, though, was the content of those demands. Princess Twilight had sought for answers in to the presence of an antediluvian human facility discovered buried at the fringe of the Whitetail Wood. She also called for any knowledge her mentor had of a material referred to as White Rabbit Object.

That was the point that put dread in Princess Celestia's heart: that foul weapon that should have never been used. Of her many actions since becoming the premier leader of the planet, those she did in the wake of the horrible piece of ordinance were the ones she hoped to never, ever repeat. She and Luna did everything in their formidable power to stop the blight, though some were lost in the madness of the times and others… No, she did not want to go back there. That was so many lifetimes ago… She still had that memory- the sound of a pistol discharging- the screams of abject terror- they still haunt her. A failure if there ever was one.

She seriously didn't need to be falling back into terrible memories, not now of all times. He was coming. She wanted above all else to be in the present when he came. If only to look into the golden eyes of his again and feel, for the first time in centuries- home.

Sol was roused from- what, he couldn't tell. He was breathing hard and his brow was soaked in sweat. He felt a flush in his face that had nothing to do with embarrassment. And why was his throat so sore? He hadn't even realized his eyes were closed until they opened of their own accord. He was in the throne room with no memory of having gotten there. This was not the most disturbing of the news he was no processing; the scene before him was one he had hoped wasn't real. The vision before him was a shattered and weeping Princess Celestia. What in the fuck just happened?

His memory of the last several minutes was a blank, a complete an utter void. He remembers walking into Canterlot Palace, he remembers seeing the guards… After all of that, he can't recall anything until just now. Did I say something to upset The Princess? Sol thinks, I can't remember- Whatever it was he uttered, Princess Celestia is visibly upset. He doesn't think he's ever seen her cry like this. He doesn't think ANYPONY has ever seen her cry like this. He sought now, with every fiber of his being, for the words that seemed to cut The Princess to the quick. And he hoped he could take them back…

Before he could ask her, though, she run off from her royal seat, cantering out of the throne room at top speed. The Royal Guard followed dutifully, giving him baleful stares as they proceeded out. He didn't understand… When he turned, he saw Princess Twilight and her friends. (Ponies he now considered his friends, too.) The look on their faces was not what he hoped. Every one of them looked at him contemptuously. Dash glowered at him; Rarity was on the verge of tears herself; Applejack was fighting mad and was only held back by Pinkie Pie and Twilight.

"How could you?!" the Purple Princess asked.

Sol had no answer for her. They turned to leave, all but Fluttershy. She did not follow, instead, she came closer to him, eyes swimming. She sniffled, obviously rent between two choices. She opened her mouth a few times, unable to speak.

"Flutters, what's wrong? What happened?"

She attempted to speak again, then bawling loudly, she turned about and ran.

"Flutters-?"

There was now no pony in the throne room but himself. He was lost and confused. He had no idea what had just transpired. His mind was fuzzy… Something happened, something that not only upset The Princess, but also his friends as well. He didn't know what it was, which was the worst part. He couldn't want to return to Ponyville. He might not be wanted to in Ponyville anymore. Hell, he probably wasn't wanted anywhere within sight of anypony, once word of this got out. Ashamed, for what he couldn't tell, and feeling abandoned, Sol walked the halls of the palace, alone. He did so for quite some time; to him it felt like an eternity. It was probably no more than a few hours, for the light in the day was diminishing. Still, for him it felt magnitudes longer.

Along the corridors he went, lost in mind and in thought. He encountered no others ponies, save for the Royal Guard. Even these ponies gave him a wide berth. Something he had done caused them all to steer clear of him. It worried Sol that they would react this way; previous visits were met with much greater hospitality.

"Come with me."

The words came from a pony Sol hadn't met before. He stopped his mindless wandering to see who had spoke. It was a mare with a sapphire coat. Her mane was the magnificent hue of cobalt and resembled, to Sol's eyes, like a star field on a flag. He thought she was beautiful but he sensed something about this mare that was both familiar and welcoming; it was most prevalent in her eyes. Sol had seen eyes like that before, but he was now not certain when.

"Sure."

He followed in the wake of the sapphire mare through a great many corridors. As they walked, he saw that the sun was now setting. They continued walking until the sun was nearly set in the west. This is when she stopped, having reached a balcony overlooking the east from a height above the Canterlot skyline.

"I usually do this by myself; there are few who watch as I raise the moon at night. Normally, only my Night Guard is here. You are the first pony to witness as I bring the night upon Equestria."

Recognition flashed in Sol's eyes as he recalled who his companion was.

"You're Princess Luna."

The Night Princess nods, then turns her head to face the twilight. With a burst of medium cobalt, she raised the Moon above the eastern horizon, causing night to fall over the land. As the Moon rose, he saw Princess Luna grow in strength; it was akin to the way Princess Celestia drew upon the Sun for power. In a way, Sol thought they both drew out the respective energies of their celestial bodies: Sun for Celestia, Moon for Luna.

"A blue moon, Princess?"

Luna nodded, saying, "They only happen so often."

She then beckoned Sol to follow her further. This time, it was not to higher climes within the castle, but to a chamber where a several poufs were laid out around a central table. Upon said table was a pitcher, chilled Sol thought because of the dripping condensation, a platter of oranges, and a bowl of sugarcubes.

"Would like to sit down?" Princess Lun asked.

"Yes, I would," Sol answers, "It feels like I've been on my hooves all day."

He promptly deposits himself on a pouf; The Night Princess follows suit on a pouf nearby. Her magic raises the pitcher and also magicks two flutes into existence. She pours the contents of the pitcher into the flutes; Sol smells the sour/sweet scent of lemonade. She tilts one of the flutes in Sol's direction. He nods and the flute lands in front of him. He slurps some of it down; he still hasn't gotten used to drinking without hands.

"I can imagine that this whole ordeal has troubling for you." Luna says.

"That it has."

"I can also imagine that there are times when you know not where you are or what you are you doing?"

"There too many of those than I care to count or admit to, Princess."

The Princess of the Night nods, and Sol sees a measure of understanding in her cyan eyes.

"Forgive me for being forward, Your Highness, but, have we met before? You seem- awfully familiar to me."

Princess Luna stares at Sol, unspoken memories flashing behind the cyan of her eyes. Sol is getting a powerful sense of deja vu that is hard to ignore. He feels, almost in an intimate way, that he knows Princess Luna. The sense is so strong that it damn near overpowers him.

"Would it be overzealous on my part to ask you if you're feeling a familiarity you can not link to anypony in your memory?"

Sol shakes his head, saying, "No, it wouldn't. It's like- I've known you all of my life or maybe most of it, but I can't remember when."

The Night Princess then conjures something else into the room: a small vial, no larger than a test tube filled with a creamy orange liquid. She unstoppers the vial with another burst of her magic, than sends it Sol's way.

"Drink this; it is a potion that relieve you of much confusion."

Sol does as bidden, draining the vial in one. Immediately, his memory clears, and to his horror, he remembers the vicious tirade he made against Princess Celestia earlier. Not just tidbits, but every agonizing second of it. He also remembers the vitriol that fueled his complaints against his pony friends. He struck each of them with accusations that he would never in a sober state of mind say to any of them, especially to Fluttershy.

"Oh, Good God, I didn't-! Did I say such things?! Wha-? My goddess… WHY DID I EVEN SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO FLUTTERSHY?! Oh, God, she'll never forgive me…"

"I think they may all forgive, once the realize it was not you who was speaking."

"Whatcha talkin' 'bout, Willis?"

Luna doesn't answer him, instead she starts humming a tune. The tune is familiar to Sol; he has a feeling it was a song he sang or hummed to when he was human.

"I know that tune," he exclaims, "that's 'Scalliwag' by Gaelic Storm!"

"You do remember…" Luna adds cryptically.

"Wait, how do you know that song? That should have been years before your time-"

Again, Luna doesn't answer Sol's question. Instead, she tells him something about her father.

"When I was young, before my sister and I went to sleep, my father would read us a poem. Sometimes he would read for us a story, but he usually told us a poem. It was a beautiful poem, but mysterious all the same. I would like to recite that poem for you now."

Without an invitation to start or a indication that Sol was interested, she began.

"''Tyger Tyger, burning bright, In the forests of the night; What immortal hand or eye, Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
"In what distant deeps or skies. Burnt the fire of thine eyes? On what wings dare he aspire? What the hand, dare seize the fire?
"And what shoulder, & what art, Could twist the sinews of thy heart? And when thy heart began to beat, What dread hand? & what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain, In what furnace was thy brain? What the anvil? what dread grasp, Dare its deadly terrors clasp! "

Sol, entranced by her recollection, continues the poem:
"When the stars threw down their spears And water'd heaven with their tears: Did he smile his work to see? Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tyger Tyger burning bright, In the forests of the night: What immortal hand or eye, Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?"

Recognition washes over Sol as he looks deeply into Princess Luna's face. He then sweeps in close to her, grabbing her face with both of his fore hooves. Her guard arrives at once, spears flashing in the moonlight at the stallion that has dared laid a hand on their Princess.

"Stand down; all is well." she tells her protectors.

"Lydia…" Sol whispers.

"You do remember."

"I do, but I don't think I understand-"

Luna puts a hoof to his lips, quieting Sol.

"All will be revealed tomorrow. I must explain to my dear sister why you acted the way you did. I do not think it would be outside of polite for you you to send a letter of apology. No doubt that will clear your consciousness and alleviate her worries."

"Consider it done." Sol says, releasing his grip from Luna's face, "but- how did this all happen?"

Luna answers, "Claudia and I will tell you all, tomorrow."

*Knock, Knock, Knock!* "Twilight?"†
*Knock, Knock, Knock!* "Twilight?"
*Knock, Knock, Knock!* "Twilight?"

The door of Golden Oak Library opens, the fury of one pissed off Alicorn filling the doorway in a rush. Princess Twilight is not in a good mood. Her attitude is less to do with late hour of Sol's arrival, though that does factor into it; it is more that he is here at all, considering his performance earlier in the day.

"What are YOU doing here?"

"Two things: One, I need to apologize to you and everypony else for happened back at Canterlot; Two, I need to write a letter to… someone important."

"Apologize?" Twilight questioned.

Sol nods, then says, "I- don't remember all that I said this afternoon. I don't- think I was in my right mind at the time. Even so, I want to say I'm sorry if I said anything insulting to you or that insulted your mentor. I met with Princess Luna and she gave me something that awoke a WHOLE STACK of memories for me-"

"When did you speak with Princess Luna?"

"Nearly forty-five minutes ago."

Twilight nods and lets him continue.

"Anyway, I didn't mean anything I said. What I said was- paranoia fueled delusions that came about from the difficulties involved in my transformation."

Twilight looked at him, confused.

"I'm sorry- There's a lot I don't fully understand. White Rabbit Object, my temporal displacement, my subsequent transformation, there is much that is just outside my scope of understanding. I need to exercise some patience before answers are forthcoming. But soon, I'll know and you'll know, everything that needs knowing about this all. Now, that said, would it be too forward of me to ask to borrow your adjutant?"

Twilight felt Sol was sincere in his apology and consented to his request, calling forth her assistant from the door.

"Spike! Wake up, Spike! Sol is here!"

Spike let it be known what he thought Sol should be doing; it was rather vulgar for the little dragon.

"Oh, I know I didn't hear that."

"I'll get him down here."

Twilight ascended the library stairs to the living space above as Sol entered the building. A fresh recollection of his days here in fever and chills struck him as Twilight came back down with her baby dragon in tow. He was less than pleased to see him here.

"Hello, Sol, are you here to insult us again?"

"No, Spike," Sol replied, "I came here to make amends," Sol then produces the largest piece of turquoise that Spike had ever seen, "But only if you want to."

Spike needs no further incentive. He grabs the turquoise out of Sol's hooves and devours it.

"Now if only you could bribe the rest of them…" Twilight deadpans.

"Don't need to. Already spoke with AreDee, AyJay, Pinkie, and Rarity. You , Spike and Flutters are the last on my list, though not the least important."

"Good thing, too! This turquoise is so fresh, I don't think it would have lasted another minute."

"Not with you around, Spike."

All three have a laugh, then Sol gets down top brass tacks.

"So, Spike, up for a little dictation?"

Spike scrambles for a quill and some parchment. After a moment or two, he's back, prepared to write.

"Ready when you are!

"Okay, here's what I want you to take down:"

'To My Little Lady, Claudia,

In light of yesterday's events, I feel it prudent to send this epistle begging for your forgiveness. It seems I was not in a mind of temperance the day before and I was speaking from a well of imagined slights. I have since seen your sister, Lydia, and managed to squelch all those misgivings. I would hope that we could meet in order to reestablish ties. It has been too long since we have seen each other in close company. I await your reply with baited breath.

Your father, Moexatl Ana'Ra.'

"Okay, done. Who is Claudia, by the way?"

"Someone I think you know."

"Don't you mean 'somepony?'"

Sol nods.

"Who do I send this to now, Sol?"

"Princess Celestia and before either of you ask, The Princess will know who I'm speaking to. Now, if ya'll excuse me, I need to see a man about a wallaby."

Several minutes later, Sol is back where it all began, at the place he has come to know affectionately as The Menagerie: Flutterhsy's Cottage. He had hoped to come here first, but then he found he couldn't think of what to say. His loss for words made the whole venture that much more the painful; there was much he wanted to be made known but he had not a clue of how to voice them. Still, being a Southern gentleman (his mother, while she lived, saw fit to teach him about proper manners, even if his father was one for manners or social niceties,) he knocked on her door. He was not surprised to see no lights in the cottage; he was the only reason she would spend any time awake at this hour.

He recalled a lovemaking session they had when, for a reason he could not discern, he and Flutters ended up on the ceiling while she climaxed. She hadn't been flying; her wings were were pinned under his forelegs. How that had happened, only Celestia and God knew; neither was telling. What he remembered of the incident was that Flutters flipped out; it appears he had fallen in love with another acrophobe. He calmed her, whispering assurances and telling her he wouldn't let go of her, no matter what. When his climax came and he filled her marehood to sopping with his seed, the effect of the gravity reversal ended and the two gently returned to the bed they shared. Good times. He cleared his throat, knowing that even at this hour, the Everfree Forest was filling the night silence with noise, and then spake.

"Fluttershy? It's me, Sol. Listen, about earlier, I- I sounded like a mean meanie, didn't I? I must have broken all the trust you placed in me, huh? Flutters I- I love you. Whatever I said, whatever insults or accusations I may have levied against you, I didn't mean them. What I mean to say is, I love you too much to ever accuse you of being anything than being the best damn thing to ever happen to a schmuck like me. I know I hurt you and truesbob, I shouldn't ask for forgiveness. What I should be doing is earning your forgiveness, step by step. I know- I know I haven't been that easy to get along with; I take a lot of getting used to. But if I spend my entire lifetime making it up to you, it won't be enough. I love you, Fluttershy and to the ends of the Earth and to the very pits of Hell I would go to prove it to you. That's- that's all I have to say. I have to go now. Got a meeting with Princess Celestia tomorrow and swallow my medicine, as it were."

Sol turned to go away. In his mind, he didn't think he rated a second chance. As for staying here, he didn't know if that was in the cards, either. But just as he was making his way back to the road did he see the lights in the cottage go up. Soon, a beam of candle light swept over him; Fluttershy's shadow could be seen crossing the ground beneath him.

"Sol-?"

He turned around to see Fluttershy in the doorway, Angel at her heels. She was wearing a cardigan nightgown, a present he gave her for her birthday. Her face was swollen with tears; to his estimation, she had cried all day and into the night.

"Flutters?"

The golden Pegasus runs to him, almost trampling him. Angel follows in her wake, a scowl etched on his rabbit face; the white hare and Sol have never been eye -to-eye on anything before.

"Sol! SOL!"

The midnight stallion laughs, happy to be in the presence of his goddess again; it feels like a million years since that had been.

"My goddess-!"

"Sol," Fluttershy says, though her normal whisper is sharpened by either tears she's shed or the happiness she feels, "I have something I need to tell you."

Sol smiles, and says, "What are you pregnant?"

The smile on Flutterhsy's face ebbs, replaced by a look of surprise.

"How did you know?"

Sol is no longer smiling; a dawning realization has just come to him.

"Wait, Flutters- You- We- have a bun in the oven?"

Fluttershy nods, saying, "I'm going to have a foal!"

For a moment, the two ponies stare at each other, lying in the grass heedless of the white hare or the wind which has picked up in the last few minutes. Soon, they are dancing like no one is watching, oblivious to time or tide or Angel's chittered protests. They enter the cottage together, the events of the last few hours all but forgotten. The promise of new life seals away any doubts for either of them. By the time the Moon has reached its zenith, the two are fast asleep in each other's embrace.

The next morning, Sol, Princess Twilight and Company were headed back to Canterlot. The day before, the tumult of Sol's temper tantrum almost divided the mares from the stallion; now, with fences mended, they rise together on the Ponyville express. (Both Fluttershy and Sol expressed disinterest in taking to wing after the the last time. Sol, who still went by Ana'Ra then, tossed his cookies in mid-flight, splattering Rarity and Applejack with the remains of lunch. Sol still gets his balls busted for that.)

When the train comes to stop in the Canterlot Railway station, the Company is met with a small contingent of Royal Guards. Their orders are to guide Sol and his friends to the palace. Sol learned during the ride in that his outburst yesterday, he managed to overpower sixteen Royal Guards on his charge to the throne room. Apparently, the Captain of the Royal Guard wasn't going to make the same mistake again regarding Sol.

"Damn, I was a badass and I don't even remember it!"

The Company soon made their way to the palace. Along the way, the Canterlot ponies stared invariably at Sol. He heard a number of them whispering things like, "How could a blank-flank colt over power so many guards?" and other such comments. He had a good idea what they meant by "blank-flank." He had had many encounters with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Sometimes, he would join them in their misadventures. They had explained to him what the term meant. When he joined them one afternoon for a quest, he also encountered Silver Spoon and her counterpart, Diamond Tiara. As much as he wanted to correct the girls behavior towards his little filly friends, he knew they were just some misguided brats with too much attitude and not enough brains. (Not unlike a Chihuahua.) He did, however, managed to get them good with a clever little trick he has since not been able to repeat. Somehow, he managed to darken the area he was in and in the next minute, blind both mean fillies with a staggering burst of light. He wasn't sure if his rampage yesterday included such a stunt, but he certainly would take notice if somepony said he did.

When they reached the throne room, Sol noticed that the table he and Lydia had talked over was here. So, too, was Lydia, in all her finest royal garments. Celestia/Claudia was there, as well. Now the whole story of Sol/Ana'Ra's presence here would be told. He never felt more nervous in his life…

"Hello, My Little Ladies, how goes your war?"

Celestia answers, but not in the way the any of Twilight or her friends would expect, "Our war goes well, Father Dear. Doesn't it, Lydia?"

Luna nods, replying, "Yea, verily, our war goes well, Papa. And you? Does your war go well?"

"It's seen better days."

There is a brief pause, where Celestia motions for the ponies to sit. They all comply, even as the Royal Guard fall in ranks around the chamber.

"From your last communique, I can assume you received my expression of regret over the course of events yesterday?"

"Yes, I did. I had almost forgotten that you received a hot dose of White Rabbit Object. It has weakened since it was first activated, but it can still do on a number on a pony's sanity."

Sol nods and waits. In point of fact, Twilight and her friends are waiting as well. The Sister Princesses share a look. It is relief and regret blended beautifully.

"I guess I should begin… from Day Zero, when the Rabbit came out of it's Hole. Well, actually, a few weeks after Day Zero…"
It had been two weeks since you disappeared, Daddy. We tried to warn you about the rabbit, but it was lost in the confusion and then, before we knew what we were doing, we Displaced you. I thought we had Displaced you ten minutes in time. We would learn that it wasn't ten minutes, or even ten hours; ten days passed, and nothing came of it. We were afraid we killed you… It was the first time we had tried Displacement, Daddy. I hope you can forgive us… Anyway, two weeks after Zero Day and Earth was going to Hell in a hand basket. Somebody, we think it might have been someone from within Five Sides, decided to let the truth be known. People panicked. America was hit with Rabbit within days after it was out of its hole. And that's when things went insane.
Do you remember Matt Lauer? The co-anchor of the Today Show? Well, I saw his last broadcast and I do mean last. By that time WRO had made him into something like the Elephant Man. I wanted to laugh, but it wasn't remotely funny. Somewhere between commercials, he had bought a gun, a Beretta 92 I think. When the show restarted, he went on a rave, it might have lasted four minutes and not even Al Roker could get him to quiet it down. Then he pulled the gun out and shot himself. Right on national TV. There were brains and blood all over the studio; people out on the plaza saw it all. I remember seeing a little girl who was becoming a cardinal and her eyes, they were pregnant with tears…
Lydia never saw it. I made sure of that much. Then the door rang. Miss Abigail was gone; she went out to get some food one night and never returned. Poor Miss Abigail… We had to lock the doors and barricade the windows. We also had to open up the armory. The people in the neighborhood- Well, let's say there was a lot of looting. I heard rumors of a few girls getting raped by the Changed up the road- They thought if they made it with an Unchanged, they would get better. How little they knew… Anyway, Lulu and I thought it best to be armed. I used one of your H&K USPs and your Remington 12 gauge. Lydia took up a Taurus 9mm and one of your .30-06 rifles. We didn't know who was at the door, but we weren't taking any chances.
I unlocked the door but not the chain. I knew we could hold the door with chain on, but still put the barrel of the shotgun through the break. We were not going to get killed or raped. At any rate, the person at the door was an officer. He at least looked like an officer; his uniform was in tatters but not because of poor treatment. He was Changing, too; he was already most of a hawk. He had the beak and the feathers and one his arms, the left, was now a small wing. I saw he had a badge, Lydia saw that there was no cut line or tell tale Photoshop marks on it. It was laminated on both sides, by the look. He saw us staring through the gap, startled a bit, then cleared his throat.
"Miss Claudia Moe-ex-at-all?" he asks.
I say, it's Moe-ex-atoll, and yes, I'm Claudia. Whoever may you be?
He says, "I am Lieutenant Gruber, Army Chaplains. I'm afraid I have some bad news for you and your sister."
Lydia asks, What news do you bring, Lieutenant?
"Ahem," he says, "I'm afraid it's bad… We've not been able to find you father in Myanmar. He is not AWOL, we just can't find him. He has been declared Missing in Action, with a reservation for Killed in Action, I'm so sorry…"
You best be sorry, we say, for we should shoot you for bringing such sad tidings here midst this misery.
"Don't shoot the messenger!" says he, "I just came to inform you of your fathers status and to bring you this documents confirming his Missing in Action status. If you would just sign-"
I was angry; I didn't want to hear about you missing in action. Hell was right next door and I didn't want to burden myself or Lydia with further woe. I think he got the message and turned tail. Wouldn't you know it? He had a tail! After that, we decided we needed to find you. But we were changing, too. So we spent the next three years finding an antidote to the Rabbit. We never found it; we did find a counter-agent, which stabilized the transformations of the Rabbit.

"While we developed the counter-agent, the world outside- fell apart. Nations divided, war and rumors of wars were abundant. It's almost as if the history leading to 'The Hunger Games' was coming to pass. Once we did have the counter-agent ready, and as soon as we were able to deliver it wholesale, we went out to look for you. We went everywhere. I think we spent- what, nineteen years, Lulu?"

"Nineteen years, give or take. You see, Papa, we were still Changing. The counter-agent, which you've had last night, can't stop the effect of WRO. You do know that the Rabbit is a transgenic nano-tech weapon with breeder capacity?"

Sol nods, "I got that idea from the Lake Ontario files."

"Well, we kept changing, just like you will. Seeing as both Tia and I are both Evolved, our changes were more drastic. Thus the wings and horns."

"But, I'm, or I was, human! I'm already an Earth pony; what more can I expect of this shit?!"

"Daddy, swear jar-"

"I can't believe you still remember that," Sol said, digging out ten bits from his saddle bags and placing them on the table, "the swear jar was your mother's idea of making me civilized…"

The bits disappear as Celestia/Claudia continues, "Nevertheless, Daddy, we can't brook such profanity here. Now, where was I-? Oh, yes, we searched for you. We hadn't realized we had Displaced you so far ahead in time. Meanwhile, the Earth we all knew was changing, too. The Polar caps melted, numerous governments arose and fell while we ran our errand."

"Remember the Eternity Bridge, Tia? The one that was supposed to span the ocean gap between Old Detroit and Seattle? That was a fiasco! Ask Tia about it sometime, Papa, she'll tell you all everything. Anyway- We came upon places were the Changing hurt a lot of people. We did what we could, helping like you taught us to. Eventually, people starting seeing us as goddesses, We tried to dispel that idea, but it stuck in the people's minds as things grew worse. Then came the asteroid… and Discord…"

"Asteroid? There was an asteroid?!"

"Yes, Papa, there was. It broke the world up. Europe, Asia, The Americas, Australia, all those continents are gone in any recognizable way. When the waters and the dust subsided, the world as we know it now was forged. It still needed a leader, though."

"That's were Discord came in. Mind you, we had discovered our new forms were nigh unto immortal. Almost two hundred years had passed since Day Zero. Discord- we don't know what he was before, but we believe he was a Psilord on the verge of going Akira‡ before Day Zero. After that, his powers stabilized with the changing, we think, but he never found a form to stabilize into. His- personality might be an effect of WRO wreaking havoc on his mind. Or maybe he was already stark raving mad in the first place; we just don't know. He set out to rule what was left of the sentient populace and we sought to thwart him. To do so, though, we needed to amplify our powers. Thus we devised the Elements of Harmony."

"Wait, Princess, are you saying YOU developed the Elements of Harmnoy?"

"My sister and I developed them yes, Twilight. The Elements are really a series of Psionic Amplifiers designed to draw out certain qualities in the psion they're assigned to. We were able to use them to defeat Discord because we were also Psilords with greater skill then he as well as the Elements. Then, well- I suffered a mind break. That's when I became Nightmare Moon."

"That was when I 'banished' Lydia to the moon. The reality of it was I sent her to the Lunar colony long established there. I assumed it was unaffected by White Rabbit Object. What Lydia has told me since her return was that the colony was another Rabbit testing sight. By the time she was sent there, the place was ruined. No one survived. Again, Lulu, I am so sorry. I thought there would be someone there to keep you company."

"It's okay, Tia. I was a terror to behold. Mind break, my little ponies, is not to trifled with. I was- well, dangerous would be an understatement. That is water under the bridge, now."

"So, now we're at the present."

"Yes. I had forgotten you in the hustle to unify the peoples remaining after the asteroid hit. It really should have killed us all, but it didn't. I would spend another millennium keeping peace in the realm. I honestly thought you were dead. Then, just after Lulu came back, Cadence was married, and I made Twilight a princess, you returned."

"You have to imagine our surprise, Papa. We both thought you hadn't made it, then all of sudden, you arrive! Although we thought that WRO wouldn't affect you. When Twilight told us you were ill, that's when we knew. You were changing as well. It's good that we invited Zecora here, huh, Tia? Her people still had records of the time before Zero Day. She is an accomplished herbalist who would recognize the signs. Did you send a note of thanks to Zebrica? Zevera would love to know that our cultural exchange has paid off."

"So, what now? You two said that I was still undergoing changes. Just what am I in for?"

"You will stay an Earth Pony for a while, Papa. Eventually, though, you'll gain Pegasi wings and shortly after that, a unicorn horn. It will take a while, especially if you're ingesting the counter-agent on a regular basis. It took Tia and I a good fifty years before we finalized. It might not take that long; we were burning though counter-agent almost as fast as we could make it."

"So, I can expect to become like you and you sister? Does that mean I'm royalty, too, now?"

"Yes, Daddy. If you want, we can announce it right now-"

Sol shakes his head, "It's a nice offer, My Little Ladies, but I'm afraid I have to decline. Before you object, I should state why I'm declining. One: I'm afraid I'll bring old skool male misogyny to this paradise you created. Two: I've seen what you've done in the absence of lesser men and I approve of what you've done. Your mother would be proud. Three: I have never sought to lead. Even now, all I want in my new life is spend time with my daughters. Four: This is probably not the best place to announce such things, but Fluttershy is pregnant. I proposed to her this morning, and she accepted. In a few weeks we'll be getting married. With a new family, I dunno if I would have the strength of mind to rule over a whole world. Lastly: if my transmutation is still affecting my mind, then it's sure bet I could lose my sainty and start pushing buttons. You know, the BIG, RED, DON'T PUSH ME buttons. You two have done fine without me, so I feel I'm leaving the world in competent hands."

There was a beat, then everyone at the table screamed, in unison, "FLUTTERSHY'S WHAT?!"

"Papa, would it be too much to ask if Tia and I could officiate the ceremony?"

It isn't Sol who speaks, but Fluttershy.

"We would be delighted, Luna!"

Sol woke up to a warm sun cascading its beams into the room. It glistened on the rack of vials set on the bedside table. Sol got out of bed, shook the sleepiness from his eyes and picked up his daily dose. Lydia had told him that for as long as his change was in still in effect, he would need the counter-agent, code named "Orange Juice Napalm," until such time as his transmutation was stable. She also informed him that, because he had Evolved genes (nascent genes, not active) in his genetic code, that it was expected that he, too, would be an alicorn. She just wasn't sure when.

He shot the serum down in one; the taste, like every time he took it, was horrendous. This, at least, would keep him sane and far less prone to rampages. For that, Sol was thankful. He did have to ask Claudia whether she preferred that he use their current names or the ones he remembers. True to her current moniker, Claudia felt it would be prudent to prevent mass confusion and advised her father to use their titles and current names. He agreed and started using those names from then on.

Flutters was still asleep. He laid a hoof on her shoulder, caressing her down soft coat of gold. She wasn't showing yet; according to good sources, she wasn't going to show for another five months. The anxiety he expected to turn up when he was told of her pregnancy never came. Must have used all that up when Claudia and Lydia were born. Good thing, too. Flutters is gonna need me to be her rock. Angel decided to show up at that moment. He would never come upstairs unless he was hungry.

"So, silly rabbit, are Trix still for kids?"

Angel cocks his head to one side. Sol can see, even without telepathy the EXACT moment that Angel decides that he is looney tunes.

"Get used to me, boyo. I'm gonna be around here for good long time. This filly and I are gonna be parents. Frown all you want, but I'm here to stay."

Fluttershy begins to stir as Sol finishes his speech.

"Is it morning already?"

"Yea, verily, 'tis is. Are we awake?"

"We're not sure. Are we… midnight?"

"Yes, we are."

"Then we're awake… and very nauseous."

"Should I hold back your mane?"

"Oh, yes."

Sol helps Flutters to the toilet, where she promptly vomits. He holds her mane back to keep it clean then afterward helps her downstairs and assists with the morning rounds. By the time noon comes around, Flutters is back to her old self and singing cheerily. Sol is right by her side, a smile on his face. There will be rest for the wicked. By hook and by crook, Sol will make himself a good life here. He has come full circle in his journey. He is home, because he never left… And God save the fool that tries to take that from him!