//------------------------------//
// Chapter 16 
// Story: Endless Sky 
// by Algorhythm 
//------------------------------//


-16-


"But I don’t get it," Dusk said, staring into the sky. "Why would somepony force us apart, just so we’d fight?"
The island was shrouded in fog - so much so, they could no longer see the ocean. Instead, Magic hovered over the fire, shrouded in her aura. On the fog, she displayed moving pictures of their collective memories, noting the differing accounts of certain events.
"Why wouldn’t mom tell us about Twilight? That’s why I left in the first place, on advice from Bright Light." Dawn said.
"Ugh!" Dusk threw up her forehooves in frustration. She sighed and stared at the pictures again. "Ok. So basically, Twilight - our other mom - comes back alive. Celestia sends her away for her to be safe?"
Dawn nodded.
"They send her in the middle of the night so I don’t find out. But you do. Instead of asking Luna, Bright Light tells you to basically jump into the cart."
"Pretty much. It was really good advice."
Dusk deadpanned.
"What? It was!"
"Anyway- Then some statues mysteriously disappear as soon as you leave and some freaky magic stuff replaces your note with a creepy message on your bed."
"Wait, what? ON MY BED?"
"Not, the point, Dawn."
"But-"
Dusk glared at her sister, who shied away with a nervous smile.
"Then I wake up and Celestia tells me Discord took you away. Then Bright Light starts teaching me more about magic. She encourages me to do it to save you."
Dawn frowned, "Something’s definitely fishy about this. I can’t put my hoof on it."
"It’s somepony close. That’s for sure."
Magic lowered herself back onto one of the benches around the fire. The memories disappeared, allowing the fog to disperse back into a sunny day. 
"What do you think, Magic?" Dawn asked.
"I cannot say for certain. But what I can say, is that from now on, you need to be careful. I can bring you here while you sleep, but I cannot protect you when you’re awake."
The sun began to speed its way across the horizon, dropping quickly from noon to nearly sundown.
"It’s almost time for you to wake," Magic said.
Dusk and Dawn looked at each other. Dusk dragged her into a big hug, which Dawn returned.
"I love you," Dusk whispered.
"I love you, too."
The sun went down over the horizon and the darkness surrounded them, bringing them back to the waking world.


--*--


Princess Celestia paced back and forth in the throne room. Last night was the deadline for the ultimatum and she had heard nothing. Not a peep from her spies or Bright Light’s network of colleagues. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead, taking her seat.
The doors in the front opened. The two guards on duty entered the room and bowed. "Desert Wind requests an audience."
She paused in her pacing to process the request. Perhaps he had a response from the north. Bright Light probably corresponded with him first. But that might mean they were plotting against her just like-
"Princess?" One of the guards asked.
She snapped herself out of her trance. It didn't do her any good to let her fragile state push her most trusted advisors away. Any overreaction on her part would put her ability to rule in question.
Taking a deep breath, she returned to her throne. "Send him in," she replied as she tried to get comfortable.
The two guards retreated back into the hallway, allowing the aging unicorn to enter the room. He slowly made his way over to the throne, swaying slightly to the sides.
A look of concern washed over Celestia's face. Desert Wind had always given the impression that he was always in good health despite his age. From time to time she suspected otherwise, but didn't truly know to what extent his age would affect it.
He bowed deeply. "Your Majesty."
She hovered a chair over from the table with all of the figurines. There was time to discuss that later. "Please, Desert Wind. There's no need for formalities. We have been friends for years."
He relaxed a bit, taking the chair gratefully. The wood creaked under his added weight.
"Have you heard anything from the message runners?"
Desert Wind shook his head. "Nothing. The scouts on the border have reported nothing out of the ordinary. I came to check on you."
She smiled warmly, "I'm fine, Desert, I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me."
"Princess," he said softly. Their eyes were locked for a moment before he closed them and let out a sigh. "You have been the sturdiest pony in the castle through everything that has happened in the last three weeks. But even the strongest of us have trouble. I just want you to know, I'm here if you need somepony to talk to."
Celestia's smile turned to that of a mischievous smirk, "I can remember a time when that would never come out of your mouth."
Desert Wind rolled his eyes. "You should be glad that ever came out of my mouth."
A small silence passed between them until they simultaneously burst out laughing. Celestia was the first to recover. "Oh, the things you put me through. You were quite the hoofful as my student."
"I always preferred 'Protege', if I remember correctly. A lowly orphan from the desert with immense magical potential had obtained one of the most coveted positions: being a student under your wing. I dare say the Canterlot elite were furious with your choice."
"You made sure to keep them that way." She stifled another giggle, "Though I must say, spiking the punch at not one, but two Grand Galloping Galas was quite the achievement."
"I was so rough around the edges then. I still don't understand how I became so proper." He leaned back in the chair, running a hoof through his mane. "I suppose it becomes second nature after seventy years."
She sighed, frowning a bit. "Has it really been that long?"
"Indeed. If it weren't for such leaps and bounds in medicine and magical remedies, I would have been dead and gone years ago. Such wonders science and magic can make together. It's interesting that our ancestors only lived to 40 or 50, and rarely at that.  They became adults so young too: at 6 or 7 years of age. Ponies don't become mares or stallions until years later now. You didn't send me out into the world until I was 12."
“For good reason, Desert. The world couldn't handle a younger you.”
“True. Although historically students have always studied to a certain age. In fact, the college in Stalliongrad-” He stopped abruptly, clearing his throat. “I'm sure you don't need a lesson in history or pony evolution.”
“No. But your passion for the past is endearing, much like another student of mine.” Her smile dulled.
Desert Wind placed a hoof on her shoulder, “She’ll be fine. Twilight Sparkle is your greatest student in seventy years, perhaps longer if I lose my talents.”
She giggled and gave a small smile. Her previous paranoia abandoned her thoughts. For the first time through the whole crisis she was relieved of some of her stress. While the ultimatum weighed heavily on her mind, she was able to approach it with a level head.
“Thank you, Desert. I needed that.”
“Of course, Princess.”
She stood from her chair, gently lifting the table, figurines, and empty scrolls from the previous night with her magic. “Now that I’m feeling rather refreshed, there are some important matters I would like to discuss. Care to accompany me, Duke Desert Wind?”
“Indeed I would, your majesty,” he replied, moving back into his style of formality. “I would offer to lead the way, but alas - I have only an idea of our destination.”
Celestia giggled, “How you manage to switch so quickly to being formal is beyond me.”
“Years of practice and a teacher with high expectations, your majesty. Also the looming threat of a lecture and a spanking.”


--*--


Bright Light knocked on the door to one of the smaller studies in the castle. This one in particular had an excellent view of the maze and royal gardens. It also had a view of the training grounds used by the castle guards, although it still had not returned to its original size from before the war.
“Come in,” a muffled voice called from inside. Bright Light opened the door and stepped inside.
The first thing he noticed was the sheer number of ponies the room could comfortably fit. He originally expected room for three, perhaps four ponies at most, but instead there were eight, including himself. Celestia and her two personal guards, Desert Wind, Peace Bloom, Quick Wit, and the Captain of the Guard, Whirlwind.
There was also a good sized table in the center of the room with figurines dotting its surface. Miniature clouds and weather effects hovered over the table as well. Small cities were set up on various places on the map.
Important locations, Bright Light observed.
“Now that everyone has gathered, it is time to begin. Quick Wit, if you would please.”
Quick Wit nodded, looking around nervously at the other leaders. She was never very good at public speaking, so working at the library was a more suitable job. Still, she needed to try. It was part of her newer job.
“Oh, um, yes. Let’s see. According to our scouts, there is absolutely no military movement along the borders. There are also no border guards although the crossings are closed in their border towns. We have many ponies trying to cross into Equestria from the Northern Province, but we have no way to support them all.”
“About how many are there?” Desert Wind asked.
Quick Wit looked through some of the scrolls, “Uh...” She tossed the ones that weren’t helpful. Bright Light rolled his eyes.
Celestia put a light hoof on her shoulder, giving her pause in her search. Quick Wit sunk back into her seat and pulled out her scroll and quill. One of the reports floated out of the pile, before settling onto the table. “There are about four million ponies that live in the northern cities - Hoofington, Stalliongrad, Marelin - and countryside. Forty thousand of those citizens are asking us for support. Ten thousand have fled to Gryffon territories. We cannot continue to block these citizens from re-entering Equestria.”
There were nods from around the table. Peace Bloom was the first to actually speak. “What kind of resources are needed to bring in the refugees? How quickly can we put up camps or some sort of place for them to live?”
Quick Wit added, “There are many still rebuilding Fillydelphia. Perhaps if we direct them to the city we could-”
“No,” Bright Light interjected. The others looked at him quizzically, while Quick Wit winced. “If we place them at Fillydelphia, it will be like a punishment. Those who helped liberate and reunite the kingdom will be faced with a ruined city, one they may believe was their fault for destroying.”
It took the others a moment for the realization to sink in. Of course that was a problem. But where else would these people be encouraged to settle inside of their borders? Celestia looked back at the map.
“Why not set them here?” She pointed with a hoof on the new road from Canterlot to Manehatten. Much of the terrain was mountainous and colder than the temperate zone below. Winters would be milder, especially with September coming to a close in under a week.
Some of them nodded their heads. “It would make another trade stop - there are plenty of jewels and exotic flowers in those mountains,” Bright Light muttered.
“Are we in agreement?” Celestia asked.
The others hesitated, but all nodded in agreement.
“We will need builders, volunteers, and perhaps ask some of the refugees to assist in its construction. Would the school lend a hoof?”
“Of course,” Bright Light nodded. “There are several ponies that want to do some hooves-on work who I trust not to make things worse. Some of the teachers will lend a hoof as well.”
“Excellent,” Celestia smiled. She looked back to the map, her smile quickly fading to a frown. “There is one last piece of business left to discuss: The safety of Equestria, including the safe passage of our refugees.
“As you all know, I sent out an ultimatum to the North. A letter requiring their surrender and reintegration to Equestria, or suffer dire consequences. I fear I did so in the midst of my anger.”
Bright Light fought back a look of horror. Cunning was practically floored. WHAT?! he thought.
“Although we are constantly patrolling for attacks within our state, I don’t believe it is a good idea to start a war without the consent of Equestrian citizens. Starfall was able to sway them with a sharp tongue all because of the monumental change my eversleep brought about. He used their fear and anger to fuel a war effort for full control of Equestria.
“I am not Starfall. The protection of my subjects is more important than chasing down a beast of chaos. That doesn’t mean I won’t do it from the background.”
Cunning was seeing red. It took everything he had to keep a straight face at the meeting. His simple command to shift blame to his brother should have done the trick. The whispers in her mind should be bending her to his will. But here she was - choosing to stay her hoof when she should be forced into war.
His hoof went into his forehead. He was too specific with the complicated princess. ‘Scour the world’ for Starfall’s minions was his command. A slip of the tongue he never corrected. Once Discord came into the picture, she was practically removed from his control.
“Bright Light? Are you alright?”
He looked up at the group, who stared back with concern. His hoof dropped back to the floor and he drooped his head. “No,” he began slowly, “I’ve been feeling a bit ill since this morning.” 
Celestia’s face softened, “Why don’t you go back to your study then? Quick Wit will deliver the last part of the conversation to you.”
“This is more important. I can take a nap la-”
Celestia held a hoof up to stop him, “Please, Bright Light. For your own safety. Running yourself ragged will make you a bigger target in a war. You’re too important for me to lose.”
Cunning nearly blushed, before he realized she was talking to Bright Light, not him. His anger simmered down long enough to bow and leave the meeting. 
“Now then,” Celestia turned her attention back to the table. “What would you recommend we should do to prepare, Captain?”