The voices echoed throughout the vast cave as Star Bolt got closer to the ponies that were discussing the situation, “Princess, has thee slipped into madness?”
Princess Platinum looked at Chancellor Puddinghead and replied, “Discord rules Equestria now… Tis no place for the elements be hidden… unless…”
Chancellor Puddinghead replied, “Unless thy life be sacrificed for sanctuary. Is this thy intention?”
Star Bolt spoke up, “Wait! Discord? What do you mean by Discord rules Equestria now? What are you talking about?”
Without acknowledging Star Bolt at all, Princess Platinum sighed, “Our intention is to keep the elements safe until the day the princesses will rise to claim them and deliver Equestria from Discord’s chaos. I only ask that thou must raise them well. For tis thy task now to ensure that the princesses will mature to claim the elements in days far from now. Till then, I shall lie in wait.”
Chancellor Puddinghead continued his plea, “Tis a fool’s errand! Our queen entrusted thee with the safety of the princesses. To give thy life before her trust is fulfilled… is disgraceful! Thee… We… Must stay together and protect them in life! Commander Hurricane died to ensure their safety… why must thou do the same when thy task still needs to be done!”
Princess Platinum approached Chancellor Puddinghead and placed her hoof on his shoulder, “Chancellor… With thee protecting the princesses, thyn task will be fulfilled. But thou must protect them till death, and by then, the princesses will be old enough to properly and safely use the elements to vanquish this vile beast. Discord only seeks misery for thy life… he doesn’t seek death like the shadow. So please… fulfill thy pact and promise that my sacrifice will not be in vain.”
Chancellor Puttinghead lowered his head as he replied, “Of course… thy sacrifice shall not be forgotten.”
Princess platinum kissed his cheek as she turned around and replied, “Raise the princesses well chancellor, for the future of Equestria… shall be in thy hooves.”
As she turned around, Princess Platinum pulled out six gems from a saddlebag then began to chant, “Let thy harmony shine forever bright, and let thy magic, protect thee with light. Thyn elements I bear, from now till one day, when alicorn light come shineith thy way… and banish all darkness till its dying day.”
After the spell was casted, the gems started spiraling around the unicorn’s body as her royal robes and crown disintegrated in the light. Star Bolt tried to hide his eyes from the blinding light but as he did, he still got a glimpse of the spells work as it caused the gems to slowly merge with her body and turn her entirely into crystal. After the merge was complete, each gem started gathering at the sides of her body as they started to grow crystal branches that stretched out the side of her body as if she were a tree. With the branches growing out of her back, more began growing from her hooves and dug deep onto the ground slowly changing the shape of her now crystalized body into what looked like a tree that could be found in any forest. With the light of the spells actions starting to fade, Star Bolt looked at the once living unicorn as she now looked like a simple tree made entirely of crystal. Now, nothing remained to let anypony know that this amazing spectacle was once a pony. As Chancellor Puddinghead looked at the newly made tree, he started to tear up as he spoke, “Fare-thee-well dear princess… as the last of the three rulers of Equestria… I shall see to it that thy princesses will know their destinies, and reclaim Equestria, from the demon of chaos.”
As Chancellor Puddinghead continued looking at the tree, Star Bolt started to speak, but as he did, another voice said the exact same words at the exact same time, “What is this?”
Both the chancellor and Star Bolt turned around to see both the filly princesses galloping up as the chancellor replied, “Princesses… this… um… tis the Tree Of Harmony that stands before thee. Princess Platinum created this tree to protect The Elements of Harmony from Discord until thou are old enough to wield them.”
The young Princes Luna replied, “And, where is the princess?”
Chancellor Puddinghead sighed then replied, “She went to seek… support of the unicorn community of Equestria. With Discord claiming control over all, thou must make haste to gather allies for thy survival.”
The two princesses looked at each other as Celestia replied, “Then… what shall I and sister accomplish? We wish to help save thy kingdom too.”
The chancellor smiled as he placed his hoof on her shoulder, “Young princess, thou needn’t worry for the lives of those below thee. Thy only concern is to understand that when thy time is near, thou must return to this place and claim The Elements of Harmony to defeat Discord, but this is a task that only be accomplished after I pass from this world. For in this day, thou are too young and frail for such a feat. Now come… the elements shall be safe from darkness in this now sacred place.”
As Chancellor Puddinghead and the young Princess Celestia turned to leave the cave, the young Luna stood there and looked directly at Star Bolt, “Why have you returned? I told you that this is no place for you. Please leave.”
Star Bolt looked at the young princess and replied, “What is this? Is this a dream… or something else?”
The young filly approached Star Bolt, “This is what you see it to be… however, you don’t belong here.”
Star Bolt gave her a confused look as he tried to reply, “What I see it to be? What do…”
Before Star Bolt could finish his next question, the ground started to shake as Chancellor Puddinghead yelled, “Princesses! Tis Discord! He’s here!!!”
As the ground started to shake, Princess Luna rushed to her sister as the three began galloping through the tunnel towards the exit. As they left, Star Bolt started to follow until he saw a blinding light coming from the Tree of Harmony. As Star Bolt looked towards the light, it started to get brighter and brighter until Star Bolt had to shield his eyes from the immense light.
Star Bolt held his hoof over his eyes as he tried to look at the glowing tree but as he lowered his hoof, he found himself looking at the ceiling of the room that he was staying in. Star Bolt quickly sat up and looked around at his surroundings as he started mumbling to himself, “Why do I keep having these dreams?... and… are they really dreams?”
As Star Bolt thought through these questions, he started to hear a loud ringing coming from next to him as he looked to see an alarm clock with Discords face, sitting on the nightstand. Knowing what he was looking at, Star Bolt sighed as he reached up and bashed his hoof against the top of the alarm clock as it stopped ringing and turned into Discord, “ouch… I’d like to think that you would be a little more gentle with things that don’t belong to you.”
Star Bolt gave Discord a dull look as he replied, “And I'd like to think that you would go home… why are you still hanging around me?”
Discord smiled as he stood up and saluted Star Bolt, “As I said yesterday… I’m your biggest fan and if you will have me… I want to become your dark assistant in whatever chaos you intend to bring.”
Star Bolt put his hoof on his head, “I told you yesterday… I’m not that kind of pony anymore… all I want to do is get on with my life. I don’t need the bringer of chaos hanging around me when I could be turning my back on my past and giving myself a name that other ponies could one day respect.”
Discord turned himself into a dog and laid at the end of the bed that Star Bolt was sitting in, “I respect you commander…”
Star Bolt sighed, “Oh… goodie… that makes feel a lot better.”
With his dream in his mind, Star Bolt started to ask, “Um… Discord? I remember Princess Luna telling me that you ruled Equestria a number of centuries before the nightmare crusade right?”
Discord turned back into himself as he nodded his head, “Yea… I did, back before I became an overgrown garden gnome.”
Star Bolt nodded his head, “Okay well, when you ruled Equestria… did? Um…”
Discord gave Star Bolt a curious look as Star Bolt just shook his head, “Never mind… just a strange thought crossed my mind but I guess it was a stupid question anyway. I’m just going to see if Rose needs anything done today. Applejack is supposed to be going to Canterlot today so I'll be out of work till she gets back.”
Star Bolt then climbed out of the bed and made his way downstairs to see if Rose was awake. As he made it down, Roseluck was reading one of his books with an expression of interest in what she was reading. Star Bolt approached her and spoke, “You’ve been reading that book for days… is it really that interesting?... Rose?... Rose… Roseluck!”
Roseluck snapped out of it and looked at him, “Oh, Star Bolt… good morning. Wait, what time is it?”
Star Bolt replied, “It’s almost ten…”
Roseluck placed a bookmark on the page she was reading as she closed the book, placed it on the table, and stood up, “I better see to my garden I meant to water it around nine but I lost track of time.”
As Roseluck started to leave the room, Star Bolt opened the book to the bookmark and saw an image of the fountain in the plaza that Gem Stone died at. As he looked at the page in the book, Roseluck stopped just before she was out of the room, “Um… Star?”
Star Bolt closed the book and looked back, “Yes Rose?”
Roseluck started thinking about what to ask, but she didn’t know how to word her question so she just went out and asked, “Why did you fall in love with Gem Stone… and Princess Luna too?”
Star Bolt knew that when he saw the page in the book that a question like this would eventually pop up, so he just sighed as he replied, “You’re asking me to understand love… to be honest, I just don’t know. Gem, was always by my side pushing me to accomplish anything in my path, and she was always there to help me when I started to question myself too. I don’t know how, but she was so confident that I could take on anything. And for a while… I believed it. But I was wrong… we both were.”
Roseluck continued, “And… Princess Luna?”
Star Bolt thought to himself then replied, “Luna… she and I had some kind of… connection. I can’t quite explain it… but…”
Before Star Bolt could finish his sentence somepony knocked on the front door so being closest to it, Roseluck started trotting to it to answer. As soon as Roseluck opened the door, she saw two royal guards standing there with their usual serious expressions. Without giving them a chance to say anything, Roseluck called out, “Star!... It’s for you!... “
Star Bolt approached the door as he sighed, “you realize that I have to kill you two… right?”
Without saying anything, the two guards stepped to the side so Star Bolt could see Princess Celestia stepping off a carriage in front of the house, with a large number of royal guards surrounding her.
Star Bolt stood silently as Princess Celestia approached the door and spoke, “It’s good to see you Star Bolt… even if it’s under such tense circumstances.”
Star Bolt stared seriously at Princess Celestia as he replied, “That makes one of us.”
Knowing that she deserved that comment, Princess Celestia nodded her head as she spoke, “Star Bolt… I’ve come here because, Equestria is facing a crisis that requires the upmost attention.”
Star Bolt nodded his head, “Then feel free to explain it to me. However that doesn’t mean I'll necessarily help you.”
Princess Celestia looked around at the ponies that started to gather at the sight of the large force of guards surrounding the home, “Gladly… but not here. This is something that must be discussed in private. I would like you to come back to Canterlot with me so I can explain in full detail.”
As Star Bolt stood there thinking over his situation, Roseluck put on her saddlebag and slipped the book inside as she added, “If he goes… then I go too.”
Star Bolt smiled at Roseluck as he turned back to Princess Celestia and spoke, “You heard the mare. Besides this is insurance. So you won’t put me in a cell when my back is turned.”
Princess Celestia sighed, “So you still don’t trust me?”
Before Star Bolt could reply, a voice echoed throughout the house, “Like a dragon with a temper problem…”
Discord appeared behind Star Bolt as he continued, “Can I go too? I wanna help… wait… oh yea… I can’t. Why can’t I again?”
Princess Celestia gave Discord a serious look as she replied, “You know perfectly well why you can’t be a part of this Discord!”
Star Bolt nodded his head as he continued, “Well… then I suppose we should get going, then shall we?”
Princess Celestia replied, “So you’re really going to come with me? Just like that?”
Star Bolt smiled as he put on his sword belt and his cloak, “Even you wouldn’t put the ponies in Canterlot at risk by bringing me in, unless you had good reason the way I see it, I’ll listen to what you have to say… for now anyway.”
Princess Celestia understood his caution so she stepped aside and allowed both Roseluck and Star Bolt to pass her as all three of them trotted to the carriage and climbed on. Just before the carriage took off into the sky, Discord asked in a whining manner, “What about me?”
Princess Celestia sighed as she gave Discord a dull look, “Discord? You’re going to meet us there anyway. Why not wait for us in the conference room?”
Discord crossed his arms and pouted, “Way to spoil it Princess. I wanted to surprise Commander Bolt when he arrived.”
Princess Celestia gave Discord an annoyed look as she replied, “Then why were you whining about it, if you were going to meet us there anyway?”
Discord smiled as he held up a battle planning map, “Even Commander Bolt knows this strategy… it’s all about misdirection. A lot like when he attacked Canterlot and made you think he was going for the front gate, but then he…”
“ENOUGH!”
Discord stopped pointing at the map after hearing both Star Bolt and Celestia yell. Then he rolled the map up and sighed, “Sorry… I know you two were there but you don’t have to be so cross about it. It’s unbecoming of a princess and a commander.”
As the carriage took off into the sky and made its way to Canterlot, Star Bolt and Princess Celestia kept their silence making the ride awkward for Roseluck who was curious about what she will discover in Canterlot. As soon as the carriage landed in the courtyard inside the castle grounds, a guard galloped up to Princess Celestia and spoke, “Your majesty, good news! Princess Luna has returned to the castle this morning. According to her she was in the palace of the alicorn sisters this whole time.”
Princess Celestia nodded her head and replied, “That’s good to hear. I’m glad she returned.”
As Princess Celestia stepped off the carriage she looked at Star Bolt and spoke, “You remember where the conference room is located right Star Bolt?”
With no concern in his expression, Star Bolt replied, “You mean the old war room? Yea, but don’t let my company stop you, you’re the princess so by all means, lead the way.”
Princess Celestia nodded her head and began leading the two visitors into the corridor of the castle.
Not long after the group was inside the castle they saw Princess Luna turn the corner ahead so Princess Celestia spoke, “Sister… it’s good to see you’re alright. You had us all worried.”
Princess Luna replied with a tone that showed she was still angry about what happened, “really… well what sort of princess would I be to abandon my kingdom.”
Princess Luna looked at Star Bolt then spoke with an annoyed tone, “Commander…”
Star Bolt replied with the same tone, “Princess…”
She then spoke with sarcasm, “Didn’t I banish you from this city? I thought a princess’s word was always final.”
Star Bolt ignored her angry stare as he replied with no expression, “Trust me… I don’t want to be here anymore then you want me here… but your sister apparently had something important to ask me so… here I am.”
Princess Luna gave Princess Celestia an annoyed look as she replied, “Well… I suppose that just makes everything fine then doesn’t it?”
Princess Celestia tried to speak, “Sister we need his help if we…”
Princess Luna put her hoof up to stop Princess Celestia as she interrupted, “I’m too tired to deal with this right now… if you will excuse me sister, commander, and… guest… I need rest for tonight. Enjoy your visit commander… however long it may be.”
As princess, Luna began trotting past them with a serious expression, Star Bolt replied, “Have a good rest… Your majesty.”
Then with tension filling the air like a thick fog, Star Bolt started trotting away with no concern as Princess Celestia and Roseluck tried to keep up. With the distance between the group and Luna getting bigger, Star Bolt continued with absolutely no concern in his mind. However, after about ten steps, Princess Luna’s expression of pride faded into sadness as she stopped trotting and looked back at the stallion she used to love. Praying he would also stop, Princess Luna watched in disappointment as Star Bolt continued down the hallway and turned the corner with no hesitation or regret in his steps. After she lost sight of him, Princess Luna sighed, as she turned back to the direction she was trotting and continued on her path with her head held low and tears in her eyes.
It wasn’t long before the three finally reached the conference room deep in the very center of the Canterlot castle. As soon as the doors opened Star Bolt was amazed that almost everypony he had met in his travels was in this very same room. Captain Spitfire and Soarin were talking with Rainbow Dash in one side of the room, while on the other, Princess Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Applejack, and Rarity were talking with Prince Shining Armor, and Princess Cadence. And at the very back of the room, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Zecora were having their own conversation too. As Star Bolt and Roseluck entered the room, all three groups stopped talking as both Rainbow Dash and Shining Armor yelled at once, “What is he doing here!”
Star Bolt smiled innocently as Princess Celestia answered, “Star Bolt has agreed to listen to the situation before deciding whether or not to assist. Therefore, I brought him here so that everypony could hear it at the same time. And now we only have two more to wait for so once they arrive, we can begin.”
Star Bolt and Roseluck began trotting through the room as Star Bolt looked at Spitfire, “Long time no see Captain. Have ya learned to swim yet?”
Spitfire’s face went beat red as she replied in anger, “Wh… i… Sh… SHUT UP STAR!!!”
Star Bolt could only smile as he replied, to her embarrassed outburst, “Um… I'll take that as a no then… right?”
As Spitfire glared at Star Bolt in her embarrassment, Rainbow Dash was amazed, “Wait… you mean you two really do know each other?”
Spitfire sighed as she replied, “Unfortunately yes… he is the only pony that we allowed to slip through our hooves.”
Star Bolt smiled at what he took as a compliment as Zecora spoke next, “I’m glad you decided to come here today, for a second I was worried, you would have gone astray.”
Star Bolt nodded his head as he replied, “Well, since it seemed like every day somepony I didn’t want to see kept popping up at my doorstep, I decided to knocked them all out at once. How else am I supposed to enjoy my life as a free stallion?”
Feeling that she was being overlooked, Roseluck cleared her throat loud enough to be noticed, “Um whose doorstep?”
Star Bolt smiled innocently as he replied, “Oh… right… your doorstep Rose. Um… by the way… thanks for letting me borrow it… hopefully I can get one of my own and you can go back to the peaceful life you used to have.”
Roseluck sighed as she replied, “Oh… it’s alright Star. If it wasn’t for you, things would be boring around my home anyway.”
Star Bolt then looked at Princess Cadence and spoke, “So… you must be Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Your name definitely says something about your beauty. Prince Armor is a lucky stallion.”
Princess Cadence blushed a little as she replied, “Oh… um thank you. Well you seem different from the last time we met.”
Shining Armor got angry, “Um! Excuse me Commander Bo…”
Star Bolt smiled as he patted Shining Armor on his head, “Oh, you’re excused Armor. It’s not every day that a thousand year old stallion compliments your wife now is it.”
If looks could kill, then the look Shining Armor was giving Star Bolt would have killed him a thousand times over, while all Star Bolt could do was smirk in a way that was insulting Shining Armor to his face. Princess Cadence and Roseluck couldn’t help but laugh at the argument between the two stallions before Roseluck’s laughter was interrupted by an unusual movement in her saddlebag. Out of curiosity, Roseluck opened the side of her saddlebag as Discord popped his head out and spoke, “Are we there yet? It’s getting a little cramped in here.”
Roseluck sighed as she spoke calmly, “Okay… one, how did you get in there? Two, yes we are here. Three, how can it be crowded in there when all I packed was a single book. And four… GET OUT OF MY SADDLEBAG!!!”
Discord quickly climbed out of the saddleback as another voice was heard, “Sorry I’m late everypony! I had to close up before leaving the library.”
As everypony looked at the door, they saw a dark blue unicorn with a black mane enter the room as Princess Celestia greeted him, “Ah, Niether we’ve been waiting for you. Alright my little ponies, now that everypony is here we can all take our seats.”
As the ponies all took their seats, Star Bolt had to speak as he began pointing the ponies out, “Okay… just so I’m on track… I know you, you, you, I hate you, you, and you. I just met you so you’re ok. You’re a good friend, you’re a good friend, you four all good friends. I work for you and you won’t leave me alone… so who is this guy?”
Niether nodded his head as he replied, “Oh, how rude of me… My name is Niether. I happen to be Princess Celestia’s top historian.”
Princess Celestia continued, “Niether has been helping Princess Luna and I gather all the information we can on the upcoming crisis. In fact other than Princess Luna and myself, Niether knows more about our foe than anypony else.”
Discord crossed his arms as he spoke up, “Um… I believe you left one name out of that list Celestia.”
Roseluck started thinking to herself, “Niether… Niether… Oh!”
Roseluck reached into her saddlebag and pulled out the history book as she looked at the cover, “I knew it. You wrote this book didn’t you?”
When Niether looked at the front of the book in Roseluck’s hooves, he smiled, “why yes I did. I was always fascinated with the history behind Commander Bolt and the Nightmare Crusade. In fact, when Princess Celestia told me his story from start to finish, I had to write all I could to keep it as true as possible. I hope that Commander Bolt will work with us during this crisis. With his help, I bet we will come out of this without any problems whatsoever.”
Star Bolt gave the knowledgeable unicorn a serious look as he replied, “Well, as flattered as I am… I didn’t agree to anything yet… but we’ll see.”
Princess Celestia nodded her head, “Alright my little ponies, now that we are all here, I wanted to tell you all that you were not selected by accident. Each and everypony in this room has some kind of skill that can help us in this future events. However, since I have been keeping specific details from you that may seem too dangerous. I will let you know that if at any time you feel you can’t complete what I ask of you. Then I will allow you to leave at your own discretion. In return, I only ask that you will keep what I’m about to tell you silent so that panic will not spread through the kingdom. I will warn you now… what awaits us in this fight, will be more dangerous than anything you have ever seen before… and that includes all that I have seen as well.”
Princess Celestia looked at the reactions of everypony in the room, Star Bolt, Shining Armor, Niether, and Spitfire had expressions that showed that they weren’t concerned at all, however the rest show simple expressions that were easily hiding their worry. That is except Fluttershy, and Spike who were holding each other shivering in fear. After seeing the ponies expression, Princess Celestia continued, “Alright everypony, for you to understand what’s about to happen within the next few weeks… you must first know what happened more than two thousand years ago. In the city of my and Luna’s birth… the city, of Eden…”