//------------------------------// // 20: For Those Who Carry On // Story: For the Hive // by law abiding pony //------------------------------// It was a long and grueling week before the Day of Mourning could be held. Between ferrying and temporarily housing the imperial refugees, Phoenix’s Roost was busy night and day. Close to an army of relief workers and administrators from Equestria had arrived to help. It was a rather peculiar situation where the changelings found themselves the minority in their own hive. For today, however, Twilight pushed the refugees out of her mind to focus on the Linkscape before her. A vast landscape of gently rolling hills of grain swayed in a gentle breeze as the hour of twilight cast the skies above in a cascade of purples and oranges. Far to the east, and opposite of the setting sun, sat a full moon and the Silver City rested before it. Cadista and Rainbow Dash stood at Twilight’s side, with close to six hundred drones arrayed in a semicircle around the ethereal forms of every changeling who died in Rookhaven. Their numbers weighed so heavily on Twilight’s heart that she found it difficult to maintain her regal bearing throughout the week. Today however, she let it fall away completely. Even Rainbow Dash’s brash nature was greatly dulled by the Day of Mourning’s effect upon the hive mind. The grief that permeated the Link was so intense, that she found it difficult to project her signature awesomeness. Twi, always said the DoM hit you in the gut, but I never expected it to be so… She couldn’t stop the snivels no matter how hard she tried. So intense. Drones had been coming and going all day to pay their respects. Unfortunately, not everyone could attend the main ceremony due to the need to keep the hive operating. Rainbow briefly scanned the drones standing in attendance. Profound grief was the expected thing that hit her first, but she wasn’t their emotions that caught her interest. Every last one of them are clutchmates of those who died. She spotted Aegis and her squad had positioned themselves nearby. While Twilight loved each and every drone, Rainbow couldn’t help but notice Riposte was the closest spirit. Rainbow Dash felt an immense feeling of déjà vu powerful enough to stop her breath for a moment. This is just like realizing I was a royal bug in the hatchery… A shudder of dread ran through her as her mind’s eye saw all the dead purple drones shift to a cyan coat for a brief moment. A fresh wave of foreboding washed over her, only with a much darker tone. Rainbow chased it away when Cadista began addressing the gathering. The elder queen scanned the fallen, and those that still lived. “Sacrifice. It’s a word that has different meanings to different cultures. For other hives, sacrifice is a fact of life. Built right into each and every changeling. For Equestria, it is the highest act of service any pony could perform. This is something too often overlooked by the other queens about ponies. After all, there is something to be said about a generally peaceful race willingly going into harm’s way to preserve their way of life. For our hives however,” Cadista glanced at Twilight Sparkle, who was absorbing every word Cadista said. Rainbow Dash listened intently to learn Cadista’s view on Equestria. Her opinion of the elder queen hinged on what she would say. Even as Rainbow scrutinized Cadista, the old queen’s thoughts drifted to her. Loyalty. Such a thing is difficult for those in high places, Rainbow Dash. I pray you are able to stand firm. Cadista refocused on the speech and on the drones in particular. “We mesh both worlds. The hive is everything, but none of you serve mindlessly. Take pride in knowing that your brothers and sisters died securing your hive’s future. Their sacrifice, their legacy, is Phoenix’s Roost itself.” “And the crown upon my head,” Twilight interjected, surprising Cadista for a moment. The elder queen let her daughter take the front. Twilight let her changeling crown materialize in a raised hoof. “I never wanted this to carry a blood price, but…” She felt Rainbow lay a reassuring hoof on her back. It helped keep the steel in her voice from fading. “Fate saw otherwise.” She placed the crown upon her brow and looked up at the sleeping ghosts of her children. Her heart felt like it was ripping in half trying to force the next words out. “Go to your f-final rest.” She started weeping, but refused to avert her gaze from the spirits. “My beloved children, I hope to see you all again when my time comes.” At her silent command, a few of Twilight’s drones flew a few meters into the air and had several instruments manifest before them. As the first notes of the song played, the dead coalesced into wisps of light and started to drift off towards the Silver City. Twilight kept her bloodshot eyes fixed on the spirits as her legs collapsed out from under her. Each passing wisp was a needle in her heart. Rainbow Dash could be as outwardly tough as anyone possible. However the one thing that could always burrow past her tough exterior was music. Although embarrassment made her try to keep a stoic expression, even she broke down before the song was halfway through its first playing. Cadista stayed at her daughter’s side, ever ready to lend moral support. The memorial stone Twilight had created earlier stood a few meters away from the gathered changelings, and sat under the drifting spirits. As each one passed, the names carved on the stone started to glow faint silver, denoting their honorable final resting place. Her crown felt as heavy as the massive stone. I must bear its weight so that their sacrifice has meaning. For her part, Rainbow Dash said little. Not by choice however. She opened her mouth only to close it right back several times. Each time she thought of something to say, it soured on her tongue. Grr! I’ve never been good at moments like this. The words never come. Resolving to let her actions speak for her, Rainbow Dash sat down next to her sister and nuzzled her. Twilight was quick to reciprocate, and leaned against her. Cadista would have attempted to join them, but the sight of the royal changeling sisters together like that summoned memories of Yumia. The hundreds of years and multiple lifetimes spent with her soul mate turned to old pain at knowing she would never feel Yumia’s presence again. Tears she had never been able to heal fell as her eyes turned to the Silver City. As before, she tried to see if Yumia was standing at the edge, waiting for her. Were it not for Twilight and Rainbow, you know I would rejoin you in a moment, Yumia. Twilight would be a good queen to my children, but she has a long way to go before she can stand against the other hives. A ghost of a wry grin pushed through her grief. But she will one day. That night, in the valley containing the Tree of Harmony’s cave, Twilight held a memory crystal the size of a grapefruit in her magic. A pedestal of stainless steel with a conforming bowl allowed her to place the object onto it so the crystal was eye level with her. There, now no pony can ever forget them, not even through rebirth. A golden plaque was attached to the basin, and faced the path leading to the Tree. The honored dead of Rookhaven. Seeing that the memorial’s exterior was in order, Twilight nestled down on the carved path to the hatchery, and dove her consciousness into the crystal. The separated Linkscape was a recreation of what many equestrian artists depicted as the Summerlands, the pony afterlife. It mirrored the landscape she had recreated during the ceremony earlier. The rolling hills of golden wheat were interrupted only by a single monument: the stone. Nearly two hundred names marked its diamond cut surfaces. Her eyes paused over each name until stopping at Riposte. Sorrow mixed with vexing confusion, but it took a backseat when Twilight noticed someone had joined her. Turning around, she found Aegis at the Linkscape’s entry point, who then phased over to be next to her mother. “Hello, momma.” “G – Evening, my child.” There was little ‘good’ about today, save for finally being able to release all the grief from the events in Rookhaven. Yet it continued to surprise her how much better she felt after every ceremony she’d been a part of. Twilight laid down on her belly so she could be eye level with her very first daughter. “I suspected you’d join me tonight.” Aegis was not about to let time with ‘momma’ Twilight slip by and latched onto her. The two shared several quiet seconds until Aegis spoke. “Something’s been bothering me ever since Rookhaven. Besides the obvious, I mean.” With all the time they’d spent together, Twilight knew Aegis better than she knew herself. “You mean why Gethar let us win?” “Exactly!” Aegis threw her hooves up in exasperation. The moment replayed in her mind like it was taunting her. “I mean, as much as I hate to admit it, my flamer barely did anything until he charged us and then all of a sudden it burned right through to him.” Twilight’s shoulders sagged. The whole battle pained her just to think about it. “At the end, he told me ‘May you bring the rest of your cursed kin to justice’. I'm convinced that his mind was close to breaking after what the failed nation-wide alchemy array warped him into.” “He was pretty messed up,” Aegis admitted. The image of Gethar’s twisted form brought a shudder out of her. “I guess I never thought to put two and two together on that.” Twilight gave her daughter a weak smile. “We were under quite a bit of stress.” Her smile fell into a slight scowl. “Still, what he assumed about what we queens are like, was mostly correct. We end up warring with each other more often than not.” Even if I’d rather not. “Aside from us and granny, you mean.” Aegis scowled so hard she would have pulled a muscle in the waking world. “Of course, if Sticky Spit has anything to do with it, war’s inevitable.” “Sadly, you may be right. Mother’s spies have noticed a spike in activity among Chrysalis’ hive, along with those of her allies.” Aegis gave her a worried look as Twilight continued. “We believe she’s stepping up egg production. Far more than should be possible.” Aegis jumped to her hooves. “I thought they were in a love drought. Have they been foalnapping ponies again?” “If it was that simple, Celestia would have already called to arms, or at least deported what love collectors we know about.” Aegis tilted her head as Twilight rose to her hooves. “No. Chrysalis and her allies have been taking prisoners, and not just from Equestria.” “So what is Celestia’s response? Even prisoners have rights in Equestria, right?” Twilight huffed in agitation. She looked off into the distance. She weaved a dark cloud to focus on. “You don’t give Chrysalis enough credit,” she said bitterly. “She went after all of those who have life imprisonment, and went through all the paperwork to do it legitimately. Not to mention prisons cost serious bits, and when Chrysalis offered to take them for free, the local governors jumped at the opportunity.” A perfectly scheduled breeze started blowing in from the south, temporarily making the swaying wheat a little too noisy for normal conversation, so Aegis had to speak a little louder. “And Celestia just let it happen?” Aegis started pacing in the air. “I can’t believe that.” Twilight couldn’t help but be reminded of her own penchant to pace while nervous. I think there used to be a rut in the library back in Ponyville. “Her options are limited. On one hoof, she could decree the transfer contracts void, and get her citizens back. However,” Twilight grumbled as she contemplated the issue. “All she’d be getting back are the worst ponies society has to offer. This isn’t petty criminals we’re talking about, but murderers, psychopaths, and generally unpleasant company. The citizenry is going to be split on the issue no matter what her ultimate decision will be.” “I bet Luna was pissed about missing that one.” Aegis’ comment reminded Twilight of just how irate the diarchs had been. “I have little doubt. She’s launching an investigation, or will very soon.” Twilight’s ear flicked as Rainbow pinged her mind. “We can discuss this later. Right now, I have queenly matters to discuss with my sister.” Queenly? That can only mean one thing. “Good luck with that,” Aegis snapped a playful salute. “You’ll need it.” Twilight watched her daughter phase over to the Linkscape’s entrance before fading back to the waking world. “Bah, Rainbow’s intelligent enough to understand.” She repeated her daughter’s steps and exited the memory crystal in the same manner. Unlike normal Linkscapes, the one forged inside a memory crystal could only be exited through a specific location. By the time Twilight’s awareness returned to the waking world, Aegis was already flying off and Rainbow Dash was landing nearby. “Hey sis,” her tone was anything but pleasant. “You said you wanted to talk about eggs.” Twilight summoned a mixture of sibling warmth and regal seriousness. “I did.” “Isn’t this something that can wait til morning at least? We barely sent the dead off to rest.” Twilight walked over to be side by side with her sister and draped a wing over her and started walking towards the hatchery. “I’m sorry, Rainbow, but time is not on our side. Chrysalis is on the move. She’s slow and methodical, and I have no doubt she’ll act when she’s ready.” Rainbow eyed the Tree of Harmony with half-wonderment as they passed by it and into the tunnel below. Even now, it still sparked an aura of mystery about it. “You really think she’ll go to open war with Equestria? Even she’s got to realize attacking either Equestria or us is basically stirring up a hornet’s nest.” Twilight noticed much of the downward sloping tunnel’s floor had been coated in resin to reduce noise. “Which only makes her activity all the more troubling. As…” A wave of nausea at her next statement gave Twilight pause. “Horrible as our losses have been, it does open up an opportunity, as Gentle Touch pointed out to me yesterday.” Rainbow’s expression soured. Her time in the Bolts had given her some measure of strategic vision. “Our food problem, is no longer an issue, am I right?” “I prefer to think of it as giving the fallen’s sacrifice just one more boon to the hive.” She looked her sister squarely in the eyes with steel that gave Rainbow a slight shudder. “My children gave their lives for us all. You can bet that I’m going to squeeze every drop of worth out of that sacrifice.” Rainbow Dash’s scowl abated slightly. “They deserve no less.” She nodded slightly, but that only made a pit sink in her stomach at what she knew Twilight was implying. “Alright, Twi.” She ran a hoof through her mane to chase away her reservations about egg laying, not that it worked all that well. “I don’t like it, and you know I don’t, but.” She preemptively waved her sister’s reassurances away with a hoof. “I’ve… gah! I’ve been putting this off for far too long as it is.” She stopped walking towards the hatchery and ground her teeth together. “I know I’ve already laid a ton of eggs, but I didn’t have much choice, and now I do.” Twilight wasn’t sure if she should hug, nuzzle, or simply lay a gentle hoof on her sister’s back, so she opted to simply keep her tone pleasant. “You’re right, it is a choice, and part of what it means to be queen.” She took a deep breath as Rainbow looked at her intently. To Twilight, it felt like Rainbow’s future role hinged on what she said next. “I personally feel that you, and you alone,” she tapped Rainbow’s chest for emphasis, “should want to lay eggs. Whether we split the egg laying right down the middle is entirely up to you, Rainbow. I can’t make this choice for you.” Indecision warred in Rainbow’s mind as she sat down. Is this what I really want? I mean, I’ve gone this far haven’t I? Twilight and the whole hive already sees me as co-queen. And I gotta admit, I really like the little buggers. But laying eggs… The thought of three groups of a dozen eggs growing inside of her, and their eventual laying still made Rainbow’s skin crawl. To top it off, all of her reasoning felt like duty-bound excuses rather than personal desire. She was about to give her answer when Blitz and a few other cyan nymphs brushed upon her mind, seeking a mother’s love. Rainbow’s heart melted instantly and she gave all that she could over the Link. That reminder hit her like a sledgehammer. In for a penny, in a for a pound. “Twilight? How about I take the egg laying a bit slow to start off?” Twilight reached forward and squashed her sister in a tight hug. “Take all the time you need, Rainbow.” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and pushed her clingy sister off. “Enough with the mushy stuff already.” I get enough of that from the kids. The fact that she enjoyed such contact with her nymphs rankled her ego. “So are we making a bunch of soldiers or what?” Twilight started walking again, with Rainbow Dash quickly chasing after her. The fork in the tunnel came and went as Twilight led her sister towards the hatchery, leaving the nursery alone for the time being. “Not quite. We’ll need to increase our military power, true, but I don’t want our hive to be militaristic.” “Whew, I was hoping you’d say that.” When Twilight gave her a quizzical eye, Rainbow elaborated. “Don’t get me wrong, I love the military, but I still think civilians should be the lion’s share of our hive’s population.” Rainbow thumped her chest with a smirk. “Makes us military mules stand out and shine better.” “Heh, of course. Then it’s a good thing I’m in complete agreement. Besides, personal combat is not our strong suit.” Rainbow’s eyes turned upwards, but she wasn’t looking at the rocky ceiling. “You want to build more airships.” “Exactly. Luna and I discussed this matter briefly. With our alliance as unbreakable as it is, if war was to come to either of us. We would provide the navy while Equestria supports us with infantry.” “Combined arms doctrine. I like it. But that’s a long way off,” Rainbow replied with concern. She looked back down at her sister. “Building ships takes a while, not to mention requiring an industrial base we don’t have yet.” “Then we have our work cut out for us,” Twilight declared as they finally arrived at the hatchery. The chamber was almost depressing. All seven hundred and twenty five incubators were completely empty. A sight that made Twilight’s muzzle wrinkle in disappointment. “As queen-mothers, we must accept the cycle of life and death. Death has had its day. Now is the time for life.” She looked to her cyan sister who nodded in agreement. “You said it.” Rainbow furrowed her brow in concentration to remember Twilight’s teachings. A minute later, both queens were producing eggs once more. A few days later, Applejack was proving to the world that she was a mare of habit. Wake up at the crack of dawn to the rooster’s crow. Bathe, eat a hearty breakfast, brush her teeth, apply her tried and true Stetson hat on her brow, and step outside to begin her chores. She was so immersed in her routine of chores that she almost missed spotting a quartet of lavender drones flying in from the Everfree. They arrived by the time Applejack finished setting up the wooden baskets around the first few trees of her orchard. She waved them over with a friendly smile, causing the quartet to veer away from the farmhouse and land in front of the orange mare. “Howdy y'all.” She arched an eyebrow at their lack of hovercarts. “Ah’d say your supply of apples is in the second barn, but some’n tells me you’re not here for fruit.” The lead drone introduced himself with a firm hoofshake. “Good morning, Madam Applejack, my name’s Plied Trade. I’m, or I should say, we’re here for you actually.” That made her tilt her head. “Don’t call me madam, it feels weird. And what’cha want with me?” Plied Trade gave a nervous chuckle. “Well the thing is. Mother’s in a bit of an agricultural bind, and she wanted to hire your help in the matter.” “Farm’n?” Applejack’s face lit up like the sun. “Well shoot, Ah’d love ta help out. Butta… Why does it take four a ya to gimme a message?” “Well that’s the thing,” Plied Trade started with an academic tone. His gaze started wandering all over the place. “Mother knows how busy you are this time of year, what with it being apple buck season and all, so my siblings and I came here to help your family with the chores while you’re away. She didn’t know how long it might take, and she didn’t want your crop to suffer for it.” Applejack chuckled. “Well that was mighty thoughtful of ‘er.” She looked towards the farmhouse to see her brother, Big Mac, walking out to do his half of the day’s labor. Applejack raised a hoof to her mouth and shouted at him. “Hey Mac! We got farmhands, show’em the ropes!” Her brother waved in acknowledgement. “Seein’ how there’s four a ya, Ya can forget the bits and we’ll call it even. It’s the least Ah can do for her loss.” One of the drones in the back ribbed her brother, who grumbled and gave up a coin pouch. Plied Trade’s friendly nod recentered Applejack’s attention on him. “My queen sends her thanks, and a shuttle will be here soon to pick you up.” Applejack’s ears perked up at the prospect. “Ah gotta say, those fancy flying machines a yours are a hoot to ride in.” The group of drones started to fly off, but Applejack grabbed Trade by the tail before he could leave. When she had his attention, she spat his hairs back out. “So while Ah’m wait’n, what’s this farm’n problem she’s got?” “Oh, right, I should have told you,” Trade laughed at himself. “Have you ever heard of Jiyya trees?” Applejack’s throat caught before a mask of deep thought crossed over her. “Yeah, Ah know a’them. Granny and Ah heard how profitable selling that fruit would be, and we tried to raise the money to buy a few seeds. Sad to say, we couldn’t raise enough. Ah knew the fruit was expensive, but the seeds were even worse. It woulda bankrupted us to front the kind of money the Thestral Agricultural Community was ask’n for. Then they had the gall to say it’d be a waste to sell them to us anyway cause our farm couldn’t support it.” The farmer snorted in anger. “Well as luck would have it,” Trade flew down and cast his eyes back and forth conspiratorially before leaning his mouth towards Applejack’s ear. “We picked up a few cases of the fruit from the Chaos Lands, along with a few saplings and ten crates of soil samples. We also have a greenhouse ready for use.” He leaned back up to speak normally. “And mother knew that the only way to make it work was to get the best orchard farmer in the business to help figure out how to grow them.” If there was one thing Applejack and Rainbow Dash shared, it was a stadium sized helping of pride. “Well, you came ta the right place, friend. Ah’ll figure them out licitly split. That’s on my honor as an Apple.” The chopping and whooshing sound of an approaching shuttle could be heard coming over the tree line as the pilot located a clearing to land. Applejack had to admit it was all happening a bit too fast for her. “Trade, Ah need to tell the family where Ah’m go’n. Don’t want them frett’n none if Ah’m gone for too long.” “Take all the time you need, Miss Applejack,” Trade called out to her. With his message delivered and accepted, he flew on over to join his kin milling around Big Mac. I really can’t wait for the farming nymphs to mature. I was meant to be a trader, not a tree bucker. He tried to bury his sour mood before reaching his destination. Applejack entered the farmhouse to find Apple Bloom helping Granny Smith with the dishes. “Granny, you won’t believe what just happened!” She ran up to the wrinkly green mare with a smile cleaving her muzzle. “Twilight got ahold of some Jiyya! The fruits, seeds, soil, and even some saplings ta boot!” “Huh, wha?” Granny had to lift an ear with a hoof. “Mah hear’n must be getting real bad cause Ah think you said Jiyya.” Applejack gave a goodhearted chuckle. “Ah sure did. Twilight said she got a bunch of the plants and seeds! Could you image what that would do for the farm if we could grow them right here!?” Apple Bloom forgot her chores and zipped over to jump up and down between her kin. “Ooo oo oo! That’s that stuff bat ponies eat! It’s all super rare too! Canna come too? Please! Please! Please!” Applejack put a gentle hoof on her sister’s head to keep her from bouncing. “Maybe next time, Bloom. You got chores to do, and Ah don’t want you walk’n the forest. Twi’s kids may be work’n on making a safe road between Ponyville and her hive, but it’s not ready for travel yet.” Granny waved a dismissive hoof. “Oh hogwash. Ah think it’d be good for the youngin. These old bones ain’t good for much no more, and iff’n we do get these Jiyya trees goin’ ya’ll need somepony else in the family who can do it. Big Mac can tend to the farm fer now.” “Thanks Granny Ah’m going to pack!” Apple Bloom blasted out of the kitchen before Applejack could try to object. Granny playfully smacked Applejack on the withers. “Well get along. This is an opportunity the family’s been wait’n fer. Go on and make us proud.” “Ah will, Granny.” She hugged the Apple matriarch as tightly as she dared. She let go and yelled up the stairs to put some fire in her sister. “Apple Bloom! Ya better hurry up or Ah’m leaving ya behind!” General squeeling and screams escaped the upstairs. Applejack departed the house and got four steps before Apple Bloom and a large suitcase lept out of the second story window. Apple Bloom and the suitcase bounced down the stacks of hay bales before ending up as a jumble of hooves and luggage at the bottom. “What did ya pack anyway?” Applejack asked as she helped her sister up. “Rarity’s been hanging around PR for a while now, so Sweetie Belle’s there, and Scootaloo went over to see Rainbow Dash. So Ah packed crusading stuff!” “Oh. Joy. Well come on.” Even after getting their cutie marks, the sprouts still call themselves the Crusaders. A short walk later, the pair boarded the shuttle and were ferried off to the not-so-distant hive. Twilight Sparkle stood on top of the battlements of the Castle of the Two Sisters with the titular siblings at her side. They were watching the thestral refugees below who temporarily called the stone walls home. Very little restoration work had been done so far, but that mattered little to the newcomers. By Luna’s command, only her modern thestrals were providing relief aid aside from the odd drone, and pegasi transportation. She wanted familiar faces to help them acclimate to modern times for a month or so to ease them into interactions with the other tribes. In the end though, racial relations were not the royals’ chief concern. “I’ve always been seen as the custodian of the sun,” Celestia began with a note of concern, “but to be viewed as its avatar is a bit much.” Luna’s wings fidgeted in annoyance. “At least you’re not outright worshipped as I am.” Her roving eyes fell upon a small personal shrine dedicated to the moon. Her scowl deepened slightly as several thestrals were bowing and praying to it. “I’m worried how they’ll react to modern views.” “Have faith, sister,” Celestia replied calmly. Luna detected a note of sarcastic mirth. Celestia smiled at the generally positive mood of the ponies below, even if there was still an air of tension hanging over them. “They’re proving to be adaptable. They may yet surprise you. Not everypony is as deeply entrenched in tradition as the nobility.” “I’m not getting my hopes up.” Luna fought the urge to outright ban the practice. Things were really bad before Tia and I took the thrones. And to think all those years ago I was begging to have anypony love my nights. Now I think I have too many in the wrong manner. Twilight saw the troubled looks the sisters were giving each other as a good excuse to switch topics. “Speaking of avatars. Are you two sure that you remember nothing of your lives as Celesti and Lūn?” Both alicorns tried for a moment to dive into the depths of their memories. Celestia was the first to shake her head. “I’m afraid not, although I wish I could. It would have prevented so much death,” she added forlornly. “Thank you, Celestia,” Twilight added quickly with a weak smile. “I know you would have, but you needn’t worry about me. The Day of Mourning is remarkably therapeutic.” Both Luna and Celestia eyed the rather serene queen with studious gazes. She certainly didn’t look like someone who had lost nearly two hundred children. “I’ll take your word for it,” Luna replied at length with a touch of good humor. Yet it quickly soured. “I however, did have a specter of that old existence for much of my life.” Celestia gave her sister a worried look, yet when Luna glanced her way, Celestia gave her a reassuring nod. “The thing is, Twilight, Sweva was a separate part of me all the way up until you and your friends cleansed me with the Elements.” Twilight turned to Celestia who nodded that she knew of it. “I take it Sweva didn’t remember anything either.” “No, she didn’t,” Luna confirmed. “She didn’t even go by the name Sweva, and instead simply called herself ‘The Dreamer’ because of her ability to dreamwalk. I used to tease her about giving herself such an unimaginative name.” Luna’s brief lapse of bemusement fell quickly. Twilight took the hint and silently ordered the local drones to make sure they were not disturbed. “Back before my…episode, Dreamer was the real reason I knew that our subjects shunned the night.” Luna wrestled with old pain. Celestia rested a comforting wing across her sister’s back. “You knew of her?” Twilight asked Celestia. “I did, yes. I had always known the two, well, three of us were far from the norm. I simply thought Dreamer was a natural part of our unnatural status.” Luna gently pushed her sister’s wing off. She glanced at Celestia, silently communicating that she wanted to speak without handholding. “Dreamer was also dramatic to a fault, and often exaggerated tales of how much our subjects vilified the night. She and I became so… caught up with ourselves that we… did what we did.” She took a long deep calming breath. A shame I cannot participate in a Day of Mourning. Given how Twilight’s acting, I could certainly use a week or so of it. “So is Dreamer still with you?” “No, and at the same time yes,” Luna replied bitterly. It was more at herself than anyone else. Twilight became rather concerned at the reaction. “When we were struck by the Elements, the feeling is… difficult to describe. I felt the Elements’ power tearing away at our minds before merging us into one consciousness.” A shiver of dread crawled up her spine at the memory. “I’m not sure what parts of me are the original Luna, and what parts are Dreamer. But I still feel like I identify more with the old Luna, so I kept the name.” Twilight turned to Celestia who was poorly hiding her aching heart. “I admit it was difficult to handle once we learned the truth of the matter.” Luna’s head dipped bit while casting her sister a mournful glance. “I still see much of Dreamer within you, your ability to dreamwalk chief among them.” Celestia’s face warmed and she nuzzled Luna affectionately. “I think you are much stronger now, more… balanced than before.” Judging from Luna’s flat look, Twilight couldn’t decide if Luna agreed or was simply tired of hearing it. “I suppose it was easier for the public to accept the fused you, since no other living pony knows how you used to be.” Luna’s face softened as Twilight’s words struck an old chord. She turned away from them to look at the clouds above. The untamed weather of the Everfree was cooperating for once, and she basked in a sunbeam that broke through the cloud cover. “You mean, besides the refugees? I suppose so. After all was said and done, I do feel happier this way.” She smirked and looked at Twilight. “I know Tia is certainly glad for it. I prefer to use my dreamwalking to banish nightmares rather than spy on our subjects like Dreamer did.” Celestia allowed a brief moment of snootiness. “Humfph, she was a witch. Unlike you, dear sister, Dreamer could never acknowledge the importance of the sun. I dare say she was a bit touched.” “Careful, Tia, Dreamer technically is half of who I am.” Luna chuckled lightly at Celestia’s dismissal before leaning into Twilight’s ear. “When Dreamer controlled my body during the day, she would always prank Tia rather heinously.” Twilight took one look at Celestia’s rare bouts of overt fuming to see the bad blood. “I see. Thank you, for telling me about this, Luna. I’ll keep it in the strictest confidence.” “Oh there’s no need for that anymore,” Luna waved dismissively. She beckoned everyone’s eyes to look more closely at the altar to the moon below. “They will undoubtedly spread word about Dreamer’s existence, and every being has a right to free speech in Equestria.” “Censorship in this modern world always backfires spectacularly,” Celestia added. A cloud of pegasi bearing chariots was coming in from the north. Celestia looked to Twilight who passed the word on. Acknowledgements resounded in her head. Yet before she could speak further on the matter, the Golden Harvest caught her eye as its shadow passed over them. “Say, Luna.” The alicorn in question hummed inquisitively. “With such a massive jump in the thestral population, rations of Jiyya fruit are going to become spread rather thin.” Luna’s ears fell flatter than her scowl. “Yes. With Mount Boom and the heavy winds you encountered, retrieving more fruit from natural sources will be next to impossible. And our current gardens won’t be sufficient.” Twilight’s ear flicked and temple throbbed for a moment at the mentioning of the volcano’s nickname. Oh no, not Luna too. Hiding her Profound Irritation of Righteous Scholarly Indignation, Twilight remained pleasant. “Well, the Deception can make the journey, and should be operational enough to fly back within a month. After some time spent in dry-dock, it can make regular trips to the Chaos Lands for more fruit.” Celestia gave a short giggle. “That is wonderful to hear. After the reports your ship’s crew gave to our own ship captains, our airships could never survive such winds. But such work is hardly befitting such a venerable warship. Even if I prefer it having a more civic use.” Rainbow Dash briefly told Twilight about how exuberant Applejack was at finally being able to work with real Jiyya trees. “That’s Rainbow’s sentiments as well. Which is why I brought over some Jiyya trees along with the fruit, and enlisted Applejack to learn how to grow them in the Golden Harvest. If she can pull it off, we can build more flying specialized greenhouses for you, so you’ll never have to worry about Jiyya supplies ever again. You can ground them where ever they're needed.” Luna’s eyes lit up like the stars in her flowing mane. “Truly?! By the stars that would solve so many problems!” She tapped her chin and looked down in thought for a few seconds. She looked back up when she came to an idea. “Once again, Queen Twilight Sparkle, you aid Equestria on your own initiative. A gift of this magnitude cannot go unrewarded.” “I agree, Lulu,” Celestia added. The next group of refugees below were already moving into the waiting chariots. Oddly enough, several thestrals were gathering around the Ashes of the Phoenix where several drone guards were attempting to find out what they wanted. All it took was a short conversation with one of the guards to figure what what. Some of the thestrals want to stay in the hive!? Given how they reacted to our appearance, surely this is a joke in bad taste. Twilight put the matter aside to focus on Celestia. “I say, since this is a joint effort between you and an Equestrian citizen, namingly Madam Applejack, which means this falls under the purview of a research agreement between allied nations.” Twilight hummed in agreeable understanding. “Grant funding. It’ll be like old times back in my Canterlot tower. I can use the extra funds to accelerate the hive’s infrastructure and the industrial center’s construction.” “Thus allowing you to build more flying greenhouses,” Luna added, “I like it. I’ll have my aides draw up the accord as soon as I return to Canterlot.” At Twilight’s earlier command, a drone arrived carrying three wine glasses and a bottle of Domane Leroy Chambertin from Prance. He poured the beverage and brought a glass to each royal before placing the bottle on the battlement and taking his leave. Celestia rose her glass, prompting the others to gently tink against it. “Here’s to Equestria and Phoenix’s Roost. May our two nations be united forever.” “Hear, hear,” Luna and Twilight replied happily. The instant Twilight started drinking from the glass, she just remembered she was currently producing eggs. In a panic she spat the rather expensive red wine out as fast as possible, only to discover Luna had been directly in her path. Twilight’s ears fell along with her jaw at the sight of a frozen Luna. The lunar diach was just standing there, with her glass still raised to her lips, which had partially shielded her face. Her mane and front were dripping with wine. “I’m so sorry, I forgot I was ovipositing!” Celestia had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing uproariously when it was obvious Twilight was in no danger. Twilight’s brain was misfiring in her frantic attempts at summoning a drone with a towel. Luna gathered her wits first, and simply lowered the glass. “You know, Twilight, if you dislike Domane that much, how about you leave the rest of the bottle with me?” “Wha - huh?” “Twilight, I thought you spat salve, not wine,” Celestia snickered behind her hoof. “I know Blueblood would think it an improvement,” Luna jested as a drone finally arrived with a towel, only for her to dry herself off with a spell. The drone looked to her queen only for Twilight to wave her away. She knew Luna would still need to bathe, drying spell or not. “Why don’t I show you to my personal baths. It’s the least I can do.” Luna nodded in agreement. Before she took to the air, Twilight gave a harmless scowl and levitated the wine bottle over to Luna. “It’s too expensive for my tastes anyway.”