Vakama stared out of the stained glass window, looking over the countryside of Equestria with a weary look in his eye.
After their fight with the Makuta, and his banishment back to their home, the Toa had carried the Matoran pods up to the surface, stacking them atop one another. With the help of the Minotaur’s, and Celestia’s magic, all the pods were quickly transferred from the dank underground, to the glorious rays of the morning sun.
At the command of Castelian, the wounded were transported back to Canterlot, protected by the remains of the Lunar Guard and the Toa, to receive proper medical care. By the time they had begun to move back to Canterlot, Twilight had awoken, but so far, she had only spoken to a few ponies, Celestia, Luna, Shining Armour and Cadence being the only ones. Even her friends, the other element bearers, had been unable to coax words from her.
That had been two weeks ago, and yet, the army was still combing the outer edges of the Everfree Forest for remnants of the Shadow Ponies. So far, the army had come across sixteen different pockets of resistance, varying from finding ten Shadow Ponies defending the ruins of the Castle of the Alicorn Sisters, to a secondary force of over one thousand who had been marching towards Hoofington. That had taken place outside of the forest, and the fields surrounding the great city were now a graveyard for over two and a half thousand souls. It was safe to say that if the public hadn’t known about what had happened before, they did now.
Whatever anypony said about the Shadows, they could hold their own against greater numbers, and kill more efficiently than any other group. Well, almost any other group. In every confrontation with the Shadow Ponies, they had killed more than their own number, except for the first confrontation. There, where darkness had met darkness, the Lunar Guard claimed almost one thousand more lives than they lost, adding to the growing awe that surrounded them.
“You see that.” Celestia said, walking up beside Vakama, and indicating the landscape.
“It’s beautiful.” Vakama agreed.
“Yes, it is.” Celestia nodded. “Without you and your family, it would be a lot different.”
“I am sure you would have found a way without us, just like you did the first time.” Vakama said, turning to face the Alicorn.
“Possibly. But at what cost? How much of Equestria would have been devastated? How long would it take to get back to this?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Vakama assured her. “The Makuta failed in his attempt, just like last time, and if he comes back, if he somehow evades my family and me, you will find a way to defeat him again.”
“Let us hope, that the day never comes where that is necessary.” Vakama smiled.
“Agreed.” Celestia smiled. “How are the other Toa?”
“Surviving.” Vakama said. “Matau is overseeing the efforts to move the wreckage of our craft back to somewhere he can look at it, and try and fix it.”
“Can he fix it?” Celestia asked.
“Maybe, maybe not.” Vakama said simply.
“Perhaps my ponies and I can be of assistance. We have control over magic after all, perhaps with our magic and your technology combined, we can hasten the repairs to your craft, and your return home.” Celestia said.
“Hopefully. How is Twilight? Has she spoken yet?”
“My sister is with her now. She hadn’t spoken when I last went to see her.” Celestia said mournfully.
“She will recover, all things mend after enough time, and the right comforts.” Vakama reassured her.
“I hope you’re right.” Celestia smiled weakly. “I…”
“Princess.” Shining Armour said, walking into the room. “Oh, I am sorry, I didn’t know you were entertaining guests.”
“Not to worry, Prince Armour.” Celestia smiled, turning to face the new element of magic, and his wife, as Cadence walked in behind him. “What news?”
“The public wants an explanation of what happened. So many ponies died, and now Twilight is…” Shining Armour began, but couldn’t finish, his eyes filling with tears.
“It’s ok dear.” Cadence comforted, pulling him into a hug, before turning to face her aunt. “But it is true, the public wants, no, needs, to know what happened.”
“She’s right.” Vakama nodded. “They deserve to know. I will gather my brothers and sister, and we can organise another press conference.”
“No, not a conference. This requires a more public touch.” Celestia declared, before turning to face Cadence and Shining Armour. “If the pair of you would organise a public address, I would speak to Canterlot as a whole. I would like the pair of you at my side as well, along with the elements, the Toa, and Luna and Twilight, if they are able.”
“We’ll see to it.” Cadence smiled, before turning, and with Shining Armour still clutched tightly beside her, exited the room.
“I’ll go and find my brothers and sister.” Vakama nodded, before striding out of the room after Shining Armour and Cadence.
Left alone, Celestia sighed, and looked out of the window. Smiling weakly, she turned from the room, and set off to find the only two ponies she would really want at her side for this. Her sister, and her pseudo-daughter.
***
Matau grumbled as he looked over the wreck of the craft that they had arrived in. True, it wasn’t beyond fixing, and had actually survived very well, being knocked apart rather than broken, meaning it should have been simply a matter of putting the parts back in the right place, which had almost been done already.
No, what was wrong was the one bit that had broken, and the part that without which, they wouldn’t be able to return home.
“Hey, Matau.” Nokama said, walking over. “How long will it take you to fix this?” She asked, holding out the broken navigational-driver manifold.
“Well, at home, maybe six or seven days, with help from others. Here, longer.” He said, looking at it and sighing. They’d all been so obsessed with getting the Matoran back, they hadn’t even bothered to think about how they would get back.
“How much longer?” Whenua asked.
“Months stretching to years. It’s not going to be easy-fixing.” Matau admitted.
“What’s going on?” Vakama asked, walking into the courtyard and looking over the ship.
“The navigational-driver manifold is shot to pieces, and Matau says it could take close to a year to fix with the technology we have available.” Nuju said.
“What’s wrong with it?” Vakama asked, taking the odd looking piece of hardware.
The thing was tiny in comparison with the ship, but Vakama knew that without this piece, the engines wouldn’t fire, nav-software would fluctuate and fail, and the small amount of life support systems would just not function. In short, without this working, the ship was dead.
“This.” Matau said, taking the small box and opening a small panel. As he did that, a thick grey liquid slid out.
“What am I looking at?” Vakama asked, catching some of the stuff in his hand, before letting it fall onto the ground.
“That was holding the thing together inside. It formed the power matrix.” Matau explained. “It was made of Protodermis, but, ugh, when we came through the portal, it energised, and fried the other circuits. Unless we can get a substitute power matrix, I can’t even see if we can fix it in years.”
“That’s not good.” Vakama nodded. “But Celestia has offered us her help, and that of the alliance. Until we talk to them, let’s not loose heart. For now though, Celestia is going to address the public, and she wants us and the elements by her side.”
“Well, being here won’t help straight away, so let’s go.” Matau said, placing the manifold down and walking over to Vakama. “Lead the way.”
***
Celestia slowly walked down the corridor, passing by the few guards that had remained at the castle when they had sallied forth to defeat the Shadow Army. From what she had heard from scouts, the alliance forces were wrapping up their searches, and should be back in under two hours, perhaps three.
‘That was good.’ Celestia nodded to herself. Everyone in that army, pony, Minotaur Griffon, it didn’t matter, was a hero. The world owed them all medals, and the Lunar Guard were owed a lot more than that. Where ever ponies went after death, the Lunar Guard would already be kicking ass and taking names, and when the rest of them finally passed on to the eternal pasture in the sky, even Luna and Celestia, they’d be there to welcome them in, safe and sound.
This, had been their finest hour.
Finally, Celestia reached a large, ornate door, and with a second hesitation, walked inside, her eyes alighting on her sister.
“Sister.” Luna rasped, turning to face Celestia.
Luna was a wreck, she had been ever since she had been hauled back to the surface, but it had been emphasised when she had recovered enough to walk again. Even though the doctors had told her to stay in bed for another three weeks, she had refused, and had been out of bed and walking around for the past week and a half.
“How are you feeling today?” Celestia asked, walking over, and making sure to keep her wings by her side. The first time she had placed one around her sister for comfort, the dark Alicorn had burst into tears.
“Alive.” Luna said simply.
“We need to tell the public everything.” Celestia informed her. “The Hoofington incident pushed everything to the forefront of world news. I would consider it a great honour if you would stand with me in this.”
“I’m a freak.” Luna grunted, turning away from Celestia. “A one winged, no cutie marked freak.”
“Don’t say that.” Celestia said sternly. “You, and every other pony or creature who was injured in the war, are heroes. Never forget that.”
“But when the world sees me, they won’t see a hero will they? They’ll see me as the Nightmare, who was too weak to hold my own, and who let my entire guard die.”
“They will never see you as that. I will make sure of it.” Celestia assured her. “Now please, accompany me.”
“I…” Luna began.
“Luna. Please. You and your guard, of all the ponies on this planet, deserve recognition for what you did.” Celestia pushed.
“Fine.” Luna said dejectedly, before turning to face her sister properly. “On one condition. Twilight Sparkle is with us.”
“I, we now, are on our way to see her right now. If she agrees, she will come with us.” Celestia assured her.
“Lead on then.” Luna said quietly.
***
Twilight stared out of the window with a glazed look in her eyes, not really seeing the beauty that lay beyond. All she saw when she looked at Equestria, is what it would have been at her hoof had things played out just a tiny bit differently, and whenever she closed her eyes, she was greeted by the faces of the dead, both those deaths she caused, and those deaths that she had an active hoof in. More than once, she had awoken screaming. For other ponies, a nightmare was nothing to worry after they woke up, but Twilight was not like other ponies. Something deep within her had awoke over the past few weeks, and even without the vast magical reserves granted to her when she was the holder of the element of magic, she was still more powerful than even her brother, who held the element. When she awoke, screaming in the dark at the terrors beyond the veil of life and death, she could be heard around the world, and the lights could be seen all over Equestria. After the first fire, she had been moved to the secure vault of the Canterlot castle, where the most dangerous items in Equestria were housed.
Her ears perked up as she heard hoofsteps approaching down the corridor outside her, for want of a better word, cell, and she turned to face an adamantine slab. A moment later, the slab faded slightly, becoming incorporeal, and allowing first Celestia, horn still glowing from casting the spell, and then Luna to walk into the room. As soon as they were both inside, the metal slab became solid again, sealing the three of them in.
“Your magic is still gaining in strength Twilight?” Celestia asked, although it was more like a statement, and any unicorn who had met her before could have felt the change.
Twilight nodded, but didn’t open her mouth.
“Twilight.” Luna said softly, walking over to the mare. “Twilight, are you in there?”
Twilight nodded once more.
“I need an answer Twilight.” Luna smiled softly. “Please, for me.”
“Yes.” Twilight croaked, her voice coming out as a horse rasp due to disuse.
“Thank you.” Luna smiled, sitting down next to Twilight.
“Twilight.” Celestia began softly, sitting down on the other side of the mare. “Have you heard of the Hoofington incident?” Twilight nodded, and Celestia continued. “The ponies know that we are at war, or were, and demand an explanation. I would like you to be by my side when we address the crowd.
“No.” Twilight rasped, before standing up and glaring out of the window again.
“This room has one of the most beautiful views in the castle, wouldn’t you agree Luna?” Celestia smiled, walking over to stand beside Twilight once more.
“I would, especially at the setting of your sun, and the raising of my moon.” Luna nodded.
“All I see is blood.” Twilight said hollowly. “Armies clashing across the country. And I see me. I see me at the head of it all.”
“Stop. Now.” Celestia said sharply, turning Twilight away from the window and forcing her to look at the white Alicorn. “That, would never have happened.”
Twilight stared at the Alicorn, but her eyes had glazed over again.
“Twilight.” Luna began, turning the mare. “I understand what you are going through.” At this, Twilight gaze flared, and anger slipped into her eyes, but Luna continued. “And I understand if you do not want to see the public, but if you do not face the public, I will not either. I am placing this decision firmly in your hooves.”
By this time, Twilight’s anger had faded, and she looked at the princess of the night despondently. For almost two minutes, the three were silent, before Twilight finally opened her mouth again.
“I’ll come.” She rasped, before walking over to the metal slab.
With a wave of her horn, the metal immolated, melting into a pile of slag on the floor. Before it had even cooled, Twilight walked through the molten metal, not even flinching at the pain she should have been feeling. When she reached the other side, she wasn’t so much as singed.
Celestia and Luna stared at each other in shock as Twilight simply walked out of the most secure prison cell in Equestria, possible the entire world, before quickly following her. If she continued like this, she would become more powerful than both of them.
***
Cadence and Shining Armour, fully armoured in his old Guard uniform, stood just inside the door to the castle dais. With them, were all six Toa and the remaining five elements of harmony, and beyond the doors, stood thousands of ponies, along with correspondents from foreign countries as well as the press.
“Are we ready?” Celestia asked, approaching the group with Luna and Twilight in tow.
“We are Celestia.” Shining nodded, looking at his sister with a mournful gaze, but not saying a word.
“Good. Let us begin then.” Celestia nodded, and with a glow of her horn, the doors were flung open, revealing the crowd beyond.
The nine ponies and six Toa quickly made their way out to the large stage like dais that had been kept clear for them, Twilight and Luna keeping to the rear of the group all the while. Celestia quickly took centre stage, and cleared her throat, silencing the last few ponies who were mumbling amongst themselves.
“Citizens of Equestria, and members of the free world. I come before you today, to discuss a matter of great import. As I am sure you are aware, four days ago, a force of roughly one thousand ponies, shrouded in shadows, emerged from the Everfree Forest, and began to move to attack the city of Hoofington. Only the timely intervention of the alliance army, comprised of Lord Skrall’s personal Minotaur guard, elements of my own personal guard, and the Cloudsdale Rangers, stopped the advance of this army, and although the cost in life was high, the force was turned back.”
The ponies all began shouting at once as Celestia paused to get her bearings.
“Has Nightmare Moon returned?!” One pony shouted.
“Why is there an army of Minotaur’s in our country?!” Another shouted.
“Can you show us your butt?!” Another shouted, before guards found and removed the offending pony.
“Silence!” Shining Armour shouted, walking up next to Celestia.
“Thank you Shining Armour.” Celestia nodded. “This was not, however, the first time in recent history that these Shadow Ponies have been engaged. Two weeks ago, a force, led by my sister and five of the Toa, discovered a cave system deep underneath the Everfree Forest. Inside, was a force of Shadow Ponies larger than the one that engaged our forces outside of Hoofington. My sister, the Toa, and the Lunar Guard engaged the forces. It was the last battle almost all of them would see.”
Celestia paused again, and took a deep, shuddering breath, before opening her mouth to continue. Before she could however, Luna moved forward, placing a hoof on her sister’s back, and moving her to the side. The crowd gasped as they looked at the princess of the night, but Luna paid it no mind.
“The Lunar Guard, with the exception of twelve members, including all of the elite Moonlight Wardens group, and the Lord Commander of Equestria, has been destroyed.”
At this, Celestia took back over.
“My sister also received more than her fair share of wounds, but these scars are not to be feared. Rather, they are to be admired, as they represent a pony who gave herself, body and soul, to the defence of this great nation. This however, is not all that has happened to effect Equestrian future. My student, Twilight Sparkle, a mare you all know and love, as well as Vakama, the leader of the Toa, were kidnapped by the Makuta, the leader of the Shadow Army. Against their will, they were forced to fight in the army of the Makuta. When I arrived with reinforcements, Twilight Sparkle broke through his mental barrier, and fought the creature, giving up the element of magic and giving it to her brother, to allow herself to be purified by the elements, followed swiftly by Vakama.”
“Both are alive.” Cadence continued. “But Twilight Sparkle has suffered her fair share of mental and physical injuries. She is not to be feared, even with her new magical prowess. All that now matters, is that the Toa have defeated the Makuta. The creature has been banished, and as soon as they are able, the Toa are going to follow him once more, and take the fight back to him.”
“My team,” Vakama began, walking forward, “is currently working on our way to return home. As soon as we have fixed our craft, we will leave.”
“How do you know he isn’t working with the Shadow Ponies still?” One Griffon reporter called out.
“Much like myself, the elements of harmony purified him, and my sister’s student. Neither of them accountable for their actions, and should not be persecuted for occurrences outside of their control.” Luna replied simply.
“In recognition of their services to Equestria, and to the world of Equis, I, along with leaders from all other nations, have decided that they shall be granted the highest honour possible on this planet. I hereby bestow upon each of them, the core of harmony” Celestia announced, shocking the Toa.
“Henceforth, the Toa are to be known as ambassadors to this world.” Cadence continued. “Furthermore, every member of the Lunar Guard, be they still alive, or having passed on to the pasture in the sky, has been granted the Equestrian cross, the Minotaur Order of Merit, the Griffon commendation of bravery, and the Buffalo Imperial Order of crescent. It has been decided that from this day forth, any soldier, pony or otherwise, who shows courage in the face of extreme danger, shall be granted the Lunar Star.”
Celestia stepped forward, and nodded to a contingent of unicorn guards, who quickly came to attention, before marching to stand in front of Celestia, facing out towards the crowd, as Celestia delivered her final speech.
“For us, the storm has passed. The war is over. But let us never forget those who journeyed into the howling dark, and did not return. For their decision required courage beyond measure. Sacrifice, and unshakeable conviction that their fight, was then, and that our fight, was elsewhere. As we begin to rebuild all that we have lost in this fight, the cave system, and the field outside of Hoofington, shall remain barren, a memorial to fallen heroes, and to family, who are no longer with us. They ennobled us all, and they shall not be forgotten.”
“Guard of honour! General salute! Pre-sent, HORNS!” Shining Armour bellowed, marching forward and taking his place just behind the rank of guards already standing at attention. As he shouted, the unicorns all lit their horns in perfect unison.
At an unspoken signal, each Unicorn discharged their horn, firing a single flare each high into the sky with a loud crack, before each one exploded with a large bang in the air.
As the individual particles began to float towards the ground, Celestia and the others turned to walk back inside.
“Guard of honour! Extinguish, HORNS!” Shining Armour bellowed.
Instantly, the ponies did so.
“Guard of honour! Dis-miss!” Shining bellowed, before about turning and following the others.
As soon as the door shut, he let out the breath he had been holding, and turned to face the others.
“I thought it went very well.” Cadence smiled, nuzzling Shining’s neck.
“As did I.” Luna nodded, before breaking into a wide grin. “The ponies seemed to take everything very well. Although, that one pony did seem to find your flank interesting.”
“Laugh it up sister.” Celestia smirked.
As the ponies and Toa began to laugh between themselves, getting closer to what they were before the war, Twilight silently slipped off, separating herself from the main group, and heading up towards the roof. Only one pony noticed that she had disappeared.
“I’ve got to go to the ladies room.” Rarity said, quickly slipping off from the group, before hurrying after Twilight.
***
Twilight stood at the edge of the balcony on the tower of the sun, staring over towards the second tower, the tower of the moon. Briefly, she wondered if she could end her nightmares here, put a stop to all the pain she felt just from living these days. All it would take was a little push. One final effort. One, small, step.
“Twilight!” Rarity shouted, as she watched the mare take a step through the wall, which crumbled at her touch.
Instantly, her horn flared into life, and she reached out, grabbing hold of the falling pony, first with her magic, to slow her down, before managing to grab her by the hooves. The pair teetered on the edge of the tower, Twilight not responding, while Rarity struggled to haul her back up.
“Twilight! What are you doing?” Rarity grunted, struggling to hold the mare up. She wasn’t expecting an answer really, after all, Twilight didn’t speak anymore, but she needed to say something.
“Let me go.” Twilight said softly.
Rarity was shocked at this, and almost lost her grip on the purple pony’s leg, but managed to hold on, if barely.
“Twilight. Why are you doing this?” Rarity grunted, slipping closer to the edge, and looking around for help, but finding none. “Somepony!” She screamed, before turning her attention back to the mare, lighting her horn.
Quickly, Twilight was surrounded by a white light, as Rarity caught her in her magic. Slowly, the mare began to rise, before Twilight lit her own horn. Instantly, Rarity’s magic failed, and the Twilight dropped again, this time dragging Rarity over the edge with her. Only by the smallest of margins did Rarity manage to hold on, but her strength was fading, and holding herself, and Twilight up was getting difficult.
“Let me go Rarity.” Twilight said, looking up at the white Unicorn. “Murders shouldn’t go home.”
“You. Aren’t. A Murdered.” Rarity grunted, sweat pouring off of her.
“Did I kill?” Twilight said simply, releasing her grip on Rarity’s hoof, leaving only the white pony holding on, and slipping further from her grip.
“No.” Rarity groaned. “Makuta. Made you.”
“I did it.” Twilight said softly. “Let me…”
“TWILEY!” Shining Armour yelled, diving towards the edge and grabbing Rarity’s hoof, hauling backwards and helping the white Unicorn back onto firm ground.
“Hold on twilight!” Cadence shouted, before taking flight, and swooping towards the purple unicorn.
“Slipping.” Rarity grunted, before the sweat on her hoof finally made her loose her grip.
For a heart wrenching second, Twilight stayed in mid-air, frozen in a moment between life and death. Then, she fell. Faster and faster she went, with Cadence chasing after her.
She began to close the gap, struggling to catch up to the falling mare, as Shining watched in horror.
She was nine meters away.
Eight meters.
Seven meters.
Five.
Two.
Cadence grabbed hold of Twilight, pulling her close into her chest, before flipping over and landing hard on her back.
The Alicorn of Love bounced across the ground like a rock skipping across the surface of a calm pond. It was painful, but cadence refused to cry out, focusing her entire being on remaining on her back and protecting Twilight. After a few bounces, Cadence came to a halt, and slowly pushed herself to her feet. She was bruised and battered, with small grazes across her back, but nothing worse than a small cut.
“Twilight?” She asked nervously, looking at the purple mare.
When she received no word, she immediately assumed the worst, and dived down to lie next to Twilight, opening her mouth and preparing to give her mouth to mouth resuscitation. That was when she saw the mare’s chest rising and falling. Gingerly, she lifted the unconscious mare onto her back, before making her way back into the castle.
***
“She tried to jump.” Luna said, walking back into the room, and addressing the Toa. “She has been moved into intensive care again, in the black vault.”
“The black vault?” Vakama asked.
“Safest place on the planet. Usually only supposed to be used for dangerous artefacts.” Luna explained. “But for now, this is all we can do for her. You on the other hoof, need help, I hear.”
“Yes.” Matau said, holding out the disassembled manifold.
“What am I looking at?” Luna asked.
“The core of our ship. Without this, it won’t work. The Protodermis core liquefied when we arrived, and probably is why we crashed.” Matau explained.
“Could have been you’re driving.” Whenua grinned.
“Laugh it up rock-head.” Matau shot back.
“You love me.” Whenua grinned, blowing a fake kiss towards Matau.
“Anyway…” Nokama prompted, turning to Luna. “The core was a crystal of Protodermis. We tried to use just a normal crystal, but it couldn’t handle the energy transfer through it and melted.”
“And you want to see if there is any way we can find or manufacture a crystal that can handle the high level energy transfer.” Luna summarised.
“That is the general idea, yes.” Vakama nodded.
“Well. We should go and see my sister’s scientists. They are probably some of the only ponies who would know what to do.” Luna declared.
“Apart from Twilight.” Matau said glumly.
“Apart from Twilight.” Luna nodded morbidly, before leading the Toa through the castle.
***
2 weeks later
***
“I must say darling, I am so glad you allowed me to continue my work.” Rarity smiled, looking over Nuju. “Of, and Matau,” she said, looking at the green Toa, “you’ve been working so hard for your brothers, I just simply hand to find a way to repay you for everything you have done. I would have like to do it for the others, but…”
“We need to leave as soon as we can, which should be today.” Nuju finished. “Are we done?”
“I believe I have made the finishing touches.” Rarity said, levitating a parcel over to Nuju, and one to Matau. “Go and put these on, and then meet me outside. The others are waiting for the pair of you.”
With that, Rarity walked out of the shop, while Nuju and Matau walked behind a curtain to get into the outfits Rarity had given them. Truth be told, neither of them had overly wanted to do this, but the white Unicorn had a way of begging to the point where giving in was simply easier. Whining she had called it, not whinnying, as Matau had found out, much to his own pain.
A few minutes later, the door to Carousel Boutique swung open, and the small crowd that had gather outside quickly fell into a hushed silence. A moment later, Nuju walked out of the building, followed swiftly by Matau.
The white Toa was once again dressed in the void black Tuxedo, the silk shining in the setting sun, and the monocle glinting in the half light, and it too had been polished to a gleaming brilliance. There was more than just a monocle on his head now though, and the top of it was adorned with a matching black top hat, perfectly complimenting the rest of the outfit. A brown wooden pipe stuck out of the Toa’s mouth, and completed the look.
Matau emerged from behind his brother, and allowed the others to get a good look at him. The green Toa was adorned in his own tuxedo, the style differing slightly from Nuju’s in the fact that it was sleeker all over, as well as being a bright, vibrant red colour, with a trim that matched his armour’s colour perfectly.
“Brothers.” Nokama smiled, looking over the two Toa. “You are looking exceptional today.”
“Y’all really outdid yerself this time Rarity.” Applejack nodded, looking at Matau. “Hey, Onewa. How come you don’t scrub up nice like this?”
“I regret not being able to make one for all of the Toa.” Rarity cut in. “If you were here for longer, then I would. In fact, I am going to make you each one.” She declared, looking around. “And if you ever return, I can give them to you then.”
Smiling to herself, Rarity began to visualise the clothes that she would be making in the near future.
“Brothers, Nokama, I believe we should begin to make plans to leave.” Vakama said softly.
“So soon?” Fluttershy asked.
“Unfortunately, yes.” Vakama nodded. “Our ship shows that the portal may be able to be passed through again in the next hour, and we have no way of knowing when it will open again.”
***
The Toa stood just in front of the ship, doing final checks on it, while the elements, the remains of the Lunar Guard, each of whom was now a member of the Lunar Wardens, and would be used to rebuild the guard as a whole, Cadence, and Celestia, stood back to see them off.
“Are you all set?” Celestia asked, as Vakama walked back towards them, followed quickly by his brothers and Nokama.
“Almost.” Vakama nodded, before looking down at a slightly dejected looking Pinkie Pie. “Hey, chin up.”
“Do you have to go Vakami?” Pinkie asked.
“My duty is elsewhere.” He nodded, before reaching behind him. “But if you ever need anything to remember us by, take this.”
Drawing out what he was holding behind his back, Vakama placed the finished mask on the floor in front of him. Aesthetically, it looked like Vakama’s mask when he had donned the mask of time, but this was merely cosmetic, and the mask itself had no power. The effect it had on Pinkie however, was worth the effort. Beside it, he placed a pair of pads that would fit over her foreleg shoulders, once again, offering no protection, and being merely cosmetic.
The pink pony was instantly her old self again, scooping up the mask and shoulder pads up, and placing them on her own body.
“Vakami.” She smiled, hugging the red Toa.
Behind her, Celestia nodded in approval, before Vakama finally pulled himself from the hug.
“Since we’re giving gifts, eh, I…sorta…have one.” Rainbow said, walking forward awkwardly.
“You darling?” Rarity asked in surprise.
“Yeah, me.” She said dejectedly. “Matau, I was an ass to you. I just, wanted to give you these, to say sorry.”
Reaching behind her, Rainbow drew out a pair of sunglasses and tossed them to the red suited Toa, who quickly caught them, before putting them on, crossing his arms.
“Well…maybe if you say I’m awesome.” Matau grinned.
“Not on your life.” Rainbow grinned back.
“The portal’s open!” Whenua yelled, pointing at the sudden appearance of a silvery circle above the ship.
“Time to go.” Vakama said, and the others quickly turned, and jumped onto the ship. Vakama slowly got on board, before looking back at the ponies. “Celestia, thank you. For everything.”
With that, the ship slowly rose off the ground, before passing through the portal, which closed almost as soon as the ship had passed through it.
“I’m going to miss them.” Shining Armour mused.
“As am I.” Celestia nodded. “As am I.”
***
“Nokama! Where are we?!” Vakama roared over the wind and rain they found themselves in.
“Take a look!” Nokama yelled back, pointing away from the ship.
Vakama followed her finger, and looked outwards, peering through the murky weather. He could just make out a large tower in the distance, and smiled, as he recognised the landmark he had grown up around.
“Home.” He smiled.