The play ended to thunderous applause, every pony in attendance stomping their pleasure. The closing song had gone over very well, though Starswirl was a little unsure about the Heart Carol's lyrics. Still, it tended to be the simplest songs that stood the test of time, so even if the play were to be forgotten, the song might live on spreading the message of friendship and togetherness. Having been granted glimpses into the myriad possible futures of Equestria through his own experimentation with travel in both time and dimensions, Starswirl was sure that such sentiments would be pivotal in times to come. It was tempting, indeed, to skip ahead in his own timeline to discover what might become of Celestia and Luna, but he feared learning too much about the mares they might become could ruin the relationship he had with them in the here and now. Celestia, often seemed the more poised of the two, but once you got to know her she had a somewhat silly and studious side that bordered on what younger ponies would consider geeky. Luna, ever the more distant and unapproachable, was actually extremely kind to animals and enjoyed sharing a good laugh, though this could lead to some rather vexing pranks. It was these two he now sought as the great hall slowly drained of audience members.
"Ah Starswirl, a marvelous performance was it not? I didn't know it would be so exciting!" said Celestia enthusiastically as the old unicorn made his way through the press of admiring nobles. "It was clever of you to sneak the new flag of the unified Equestria in at the end."
"Don't listen to my sister, she was complaining about the flags presence being inaccurate when our royal selves had not yet been introduced," chimed in Luna, rolling her eyes. "Given the overall tenor of the play, however, I very much doubt accuracy is all that important to the overall message," If possible, it seemed the younger sister had enjoyed the play almost more than her older sister. But her smile faded slightly as she saw the look on Starswirl's bearded face,"Pray tell, is something wrong dear Starswirl? Was the play not to thy liking?"
"Oh, no, the play was wonderful of course," chuckled the old unicorn, doing his best to allay not only Luna's concern, but those of the nearby nobility as well. "I was simply hoping to have a word with the two of you. In private perhaps?" Though the crowd was trickling out of the building, there were still many ponies on all sides. Such a request was ludicrous. Or at least it would've been coming from any other pony.
"Why of course Starswirl, we always have time for your valued advice," spoke Celestia in golden tones.
"Naturally, I agree with my sister. Shall you do the honors or shall I?" asked Luna.
"By all means, allow me," said Starswirl, before a large cloud of smoke enveloped the trio. Dancing starlight swirled through the thick blue haze, dazzling those nearby and leaving every pony gasping and coughing in mild dismay.
"That was a bit showier than usual Starswirl. Felt like making a grand exit?" asked Luna, as they stood in the highest tower in Canterlot Castle. The air up here was frigid at the best of times, but right now it was downright freezing. Celestia and Luna both couldn't help shivering as the wind tugged at their thin evening gowns. The few stars above that could be seen through the cloud cover twinkled merrily enough, but at this time and in this place, they seemed far more distant and cold than usual. Starswirl, for his part, stood as if the elements could not so much as touch him save for his cloak and long beard. The look in his eyes made the alicorn sisters cringe inwards. The powerful unicorn was their friend, but he had also been something like a teacher to them. Clover the Clever may have been his apprentice, but she was not the only powerful little pony Starswirl had watched over and guided. More than anything, they feared that a lecture was forthcoming.
"No, fair Luna, it was merely the most expedient spell I knew to get us away from the crowd. As you may have gathered I have something of import to impart to you," The old mage paused, taking a deep breath and gazing up into the frosty night. "But first, tell me, what do the two of you think of the weather?"
"Why, tis most glorious," hazarded Luna. "Though perhaps a bit bracing upon these high towers and ramparts."
"I agree with Luna," added Celestia. "It is rare for us to have ice and snow this early in the season. The pegasi have outdone themselves."
"The pegasi have done nothing at all," A flash of blue magic burst from the unicorns horn, spreading across the sky and penetrating the clouds. An echoing, terrifying scream spread across the sky, before it was blended with the howling wind. Something ethereal took shape just above the tower, like a ghostly horse outlined with ice and shimmering with snow. The apparition was there and gone in an instant, as a flaming heart took shape in the air and dispelled the chilly aura, but both the Alicorn sisters knew what the creature was on sight. They had been visited by a Windigo. "Our frosty evening is no work of pegasi."
"But I don't understand. I thought you had said the Windigos would keep to the northern wastes," said Celestia, her brow knitting in worry. "That so long as we stuck to the principles of unity and harmony, they would have no negative emotions to feed off of here in Equestria."
"I and my sister have kept to your principles Starswirl. We have guided this fledgling nation through many trials already, and we have not strayed from its founding edicts of love and tolerance for all ponykind!" shouted Luna, both flustered and attempting to be heard over the rising wind.
"I know," said Starswirl, a grim cast to his face. "However, the pegasi have been disturbed. Ever since we lost Private Pansy, it seems Commander Hurricane has abandoned our plans to instead pursue those of his own. In time, he will begin to rebel openly against you. We cannot afford a schism among the tribes at so early a stage in Equestria's history, lest we risk this realm being blanketed by the same frozen death as the old lands. The Windigos are far too numerous for us to keep at bay without preserving harmony and working together to overcome them. I'm afraid you may have to intercede in this matter."
"Commander Hurricane has been distant since poor Pansy's tragic passing, but I thought he was merely taking time to grieve. I did not know he had so abandoned his duties," said Celestia sadly.
"Nor did I," spoke Starswirl with a deep frown, "I'm afraid I've been overly absorbed in finding a cure for the Candy Curse. I worry that there may be other spell work at play here, old spells unknown to Unicorn or even Alicorn magic. As much information as the journal Pansy recovered was able to relate to us, and as much information as we were able to glean from the pegasi that cared for her before she... before she turned, I'm afraid we're still in the dark as to what can be done to stop this menace," the unicorn's eyes drifted over the city below. "I fear that it may be my lack of progress that has led Commander Hurricane to consider more mundane and militaristic solutions."
"Is that not as it should be?" Asked Luna curiously. "If there is no magical solution and there is no apparent negotiating with this monster, this Candy Mare, then surely it is up to the military might of Equestria to put down this threat. The Pegasi, after all, traditionally defended the other pony tribes in times of peril."
"Yes Luna, but that is our job now. We are the Guardians of Equestria. I believe I see why you brought us here now Starswirl," said Celestia, her head bowed low. "Though we spent so much time on it, and though it was truly delightful, our play alone cannot be expected to hold together our alliance. No, we are the guardians of Equestria, as its rulers, and it is time we dealt with matters to allay the fears of our people and to lay to rest the problem of this shadowy threat that looms over us all. For Commander Hurricane's sake most of all, it should be we who take on this burden."
"Well spoken Celestia," said Starswirl, a smile brightening his dour expression. "I confess, though I've made little progress in neutralizing the curse itself, I have considered other methods that we might be able to use to thwart this monster."
"Would they perhaps involve the tree of Harmony?" asked Celestia. "I've been doing more research on the symbols of the tree since Luna and I received our cutie marks. That they match two prominent marks on the Tree of Harmony can be no coincidence. I suspect that there are others out there who will also find that they represent certain 'elements' of harmony, and that with their aid we might come to better understand the awesome power offered by that most ancient of artifacts."
"In time Celestia, I believe that will be true in time," said Starswirl mysteriously, "But in the here and now, there are other solutions we could consider. In my studies with travels through time and dimensions, I have stumbled across a world where magic does not seem to naturally exist. At first I dismissed the realm, as introducing so wild a force as my own magic into a plane that is not adapted to its existence could have dire consequences. I have come to have second thoughts about this, however, and I think that it may prove a boon to us in times to come. With it's complete lack of magic, it's possible that it would have a dampening effect on any curse or magical creature that was banished there. This would have the double effect of removing the creature from Equestria as well as weakening it to the point it would pose no threat, even to the other world."
"Ingenious," smiled Celestia. "Yet you have not mentioned this before? I fear an unspoken 'but' is in our near future."
Starswirl's expression turned sour again, "It is true Princess. I am afraid the portal to the realm I speak of is only open once ever thirty moons. The last cycle ended not long ago, so I'm afraid this would not by any means be a speedy solution, but rather one we could plan for and work towards over the coming months-"
"That is unacceptable," said Luna with a suddenness that startled Starswirl, causing the erudite unicorn to sputter to a stop in mid-sentence. "If this matter is as dire as thou portend, then we should act swiftly to stop this candied abomination. If I understand what you've been saying, she is less a living pony and more a living nightmare. Since taking stewardship of the Moon and the night of Equestria, I have become acquainted with new powers that my vocation provides. As you said to us before Starswirl, the spell to raise the moon rejuvenates and recharges my Alicorn magic, but it has done so much more! I can now cast spells of transmogrification with ease, change my own shape and that of others like an ever shifting shadow," her eyes glowed as she spoke, the night seeming to grow darker around them, lightning dancing through the snow clouds. "And yes, I believe I have learned something of how to deal with nightmares. I believe I now a faster way to handle this being that threatens Equestria."
"Er...that's good, isn't it?" asked Starswirl uncertainly, not entirely sure it was. This was a side of Luna he had never seen before.
"Quiet good I should think, but that is only the first step," said Celestia thoughtfully. "The Candy Mare has already become a boogie-mare, striking fear into the ponies of Equestria by word of mouth as much as by deed. I think that poor Pansy was sacrificed to sow such fear amongst us. It is this unease that is likely responsible for the Windigo's appearance here tonight. I think it would be wise to suppress the tales of the Candy Mare."
"Forbidding the spread of such tales may have the opposite effect of what you desire Princess," said Starswirl matter-of-factly.
"Then what do you suggest Starswirl?" asked Luna, her gaze unsettling the unicorn slightly.
"Perhaps we replace the tales with a new story. Maybe about you brave Princesses and how you defeat the monster, how much you love and cherish your people to face such a nightmare? Once the deed is accomplished of course," he added as an after thought.
"Hah! I like this plan! Tis one of which I approve very much!" spake Luna, once again her more cheerful self.
"It is decided then!" said Celestia, her serious demeanor fading away as well, "Now enough of this skulduggery. I propose we get out of this cold and get ourselves some mugs of hot cocoa. It is still Hearths Warming Eve, an official holiday if I recall the declaration, and we will still have many guests to attend to in the Palace below. There shall be much merriment, and I am given to believe there may be a gift exchange as well. A novel idea, but one I hope becomes a tradition."
"That sounds delightful, but I fear it may be time for all good little ponies to be heading to bed," said Starswirl, his age showing for the first time since they had arrived on the tower. Neither Luna nor Celestia bought the exaggerated 'frail old pony' act for a moment. With a crafty smile, the powerful sorcerer vanished in another puff of blue smoke, leaving the sisters alone atop the Alicorn Citadel.
"I swear, these ponyfolk are always sleeping through my beautiful nights. It strikes me as downright ungrateful. I shall have to do something about that as well in the future," said Luna, mostly to herself.
"A problem to be dealt with another time dear sister," replied Celestia, gathering her smaller sibling under her sheltering wing. "For now, let us merely see to our guests, and wish them all a happy Hearths Warming, and to all a good night."