//------------------------------// // Chapter 41: Wrap // Story: Avatar: The Last Alicorn. Book 3: Unicorn // by Jeweled Pen //------------------------------// Twilight let out a high pitched squeal as their destination came within view. Wagons were lined up outside, many loaded with supplies and the cliff side now had a massive tunnel carved into the front. Pegasi flew out to greet them, quickly honoring her with a bow. She could feel the excitement building within her as their ship descended. Dragons. Real honest to goodness dragons. Well, other than Spike. But this was a whole nest of them. One day, there would be hundreds. Maybe even thousands. It made her heart speed up. When they came closer she got ready to jump off, but to her surprise was beaten by two ponies. Applejack and Big Mac leaped from the ship and landed in the sand, it bent and caved around them to dampen the fall. “Are you two okay?” “Ah'm fine,” Applejack yelled as she stormed forward. Her brother followed closely behind. “Where is this... lil sister of ours?” She struggled to keep her voice calm, though a little anger seeped into it. “Ummm, follow me,” the stallion said, though he sounded confused. She didn't blame him. She'd been doing her best to hide her anger, but it was near bursting out now. How dare this pony toy with her family like that. They were Apples, family was one of the most important things in the world to them. The fact this mare was trying to use these bonds to spy on them just made her furious. Flowerbloom. Even the name sounded fake. Grew up bucking cherries, who did that? Obviously the mare had spun the farm angle to make herself more relateable. Earth bending, well, they had a whole country of earth benders. The destruction of the farm was probably a bit more difficult to find out about, but that would just require them to track down the Water Nation soldiers who were there that night. Not too hard. The soldiers probably remembered every detail, such a glorious victory killing civilians. Once they had the story, bam, just send the mare in and have her get 'captured'. Heck, supposedly Flim and Flam were part of the ponies who had tried to 'kill' the mare. Probably only there to give the story more credibility. That's all it was, after all. A story. A useless, half-baked, evil, wicked, lying, deceitful story. Cooked up by the Water Nation to make her turn on her friends. It made her sick. Her family might believe it, but that's just because they wanted to believe. They wanted to think that somehow their little girl had survived. That she had gone on to live a long, happy live. But she hadn't. She was gone, forever. Applejack knew it and she'd prove it. She glared at her brother as he led her through the caverns. She barely paid any attention as they walked, ignoring the dragons, fire benders, pegasi training, everything. She just focused on him and honed her anger and rage like a blade, one she'd use to cut this deceit open and expose it to the world. No pony would get away with this. None. She was an Apple. She would not let her family be pulled around on strings. ------ Rarity shook her head as she watched the cavern. “Whatever she wanted to do must have been pretty important I imagine.” “I guess,” Rainbow said with a shrug. “Listen, you still worried about assassins and stuff?” “Huh? No. I have that... settled now. I was just being paranoid. Nothing to worry about. Nothing at all. Completely great. Marvelous even. Why I--” “That's good,” the pegasus interrupted. “Listen, there's some things I wanna check out. Apparently there's this really awesome pegasus trainer here and...” She trailed off and gave pleading eyes. The princess rolled her eyes. “Go on. Have fun.” “Sweet, bye!” the pegasus flew off. “Ummmm, actually,” Fluttershy said softly as she hugged Angel to her chest. “I... I'd really like to go see the baby dragons, I mean, if that's okay. I-I can stay and--” “It's fine, I don't need an escort. I'm just going to go see my aunt,” Rarity said with a shake of her head. She then glanced to Pinkie as the yellow pegasus flew off. “Let me guess, you too?” “What? Nooo! Well, sorta. I wanna go see my sister who isn't really my sister but is kinda my sister but not in this world but in the--” “Please, just go before I have a headache.” “Okay, bye bye!” The pink mare disappeared. Rarity shook her head and slowly trotted down the ship's plank. Ponies walked by her, moving things on and off the ship. It was a large organizational nightmare, trying to get almost everypony onto the ships and then get them to Manehatten. But it would work, it would be fine. Things would be cramped for a bit and the ships would fly low, but they had enough benders and ponies to deal with any situation that could arise. All she had to worry about was her aunt. It took her a few seconds to realize she had frozen in place. Ah. Right. Her aunt. The mare who tended to her for most of her life, even after the rest of her nation had abandoned her. The pony who she had insulted, betrayed, attacked, pretty much been the most unlikable brat to ever have exist to. Was just in that cave, waiting for her. Now that she wasn't thinking about a certain pony who was, to her delight, not dead, she realized just how horrified and terrified she was. In fact, she was quite certain she was going to throw up. The desert seemed to be spinning. She closed her eyes and took deep, calming breaths. She could do this. She had to do this. Her chest was feeling very tight. She... She opened her eyes to darkness. A pony was standing over her, fanning her down with a hat. “You okay, miss? You gotta be careful. Heat stroke will sneak up on you out here.” “Huh? Heat...” Now that she thought about it, she did feel very hot, dry and had a bit of a headache. Her cheeks turned red as she realized how foalish she had been. “When was the last time you had something to drink?” “I ummm... what?” She looked down at the water she carried with her. She'd barely been drinking anything, her emotions had been going up and down since she'd found Blueblood. Drinking had been the last thing on her mind. “I... had a glass of water with breakfast?” “That was hours ago,” the pony said with a roll of his eyes. “Drink something, stay in the cave for a while. If you stop sweating, drink more. You need to be careful in this heat.” “Right, sorry,” she mumbled before taking a mouthful of water and slowly standing up. Heat stroke. She could barely believe how silly she was being. She was standing in the middle of a desert and she let her thoughts and emotions take over so much that she almost killed herself by overheating. She took a deep, calming breath followed by a deep, cooling drink of water. It was her aunt. Her aunt who loved her. She could do this. No. She would do this. Celestia would not be mad at her, in fact, she'd never seen her aunt get mad at anypony aside from... well, okay, not true. But she was making the right choices for once. Her aunt had to appreciate that. She looked around the cavern and became distressingly aware of one key thing. “I have no idea where I, or anything else, is,” she said softly as she glanced about. “Huh. I really didn't think this through.” She started walking down the halls, looking around. Ponies were milling about, dragging things and helping ponies get outside. There were a few in slings, some in little wheeled chairs. She even saw one being hauled around in a full body cast, she couldn't help but pity them. The first stationary ponies she found were working with little baby dragons. She slowly moved closer and let out a little gasp. “Oh my goodness, they are just adorable!” One of them was sucking on its tail as it rolled on its back spines. “To imagine, something so small will one day become the size of a building.” “Dragons age very slowly, but they never stop growing,” a unicorn said before her horn glowed and a little flame went down to envelop the area around the dragon. It giggled softly and batted at the flames. “Truly marvelous creatures. Who are you?” “Me? I'm Rar-- a companion of the avatar's. I just arrived with her from Manehatten and I'm looking for the ponies who returned from the invasion. Could you direct me to them?” “Oh, the injured? Yeah, you wanna...” After a few minutes to take careful directions, the princess gave a small nod and trotted off deeper into the caverns. Her mind raced with possibilities as she took another sip of her water. What if her aunt was mad at her? No, impossible. The elder mare had done so much to help her. Though, the princess had left her poor aunt to rot in a cell. But Celestia had escaped on her own. That had to mean she had expected all this, right? After all, her aunt was a brilliant strategist. She'd taught Rarity everything that the young princess knew. She stopped and took another slow, steady breath. She could do this. She would do this. Her aunt would be there, they'd talk, and it would be wonderful. She couldn't imagine anything going wrong. Nothing. With a lifted heart she headed into the medical ward. “Aunt Celestia? Where--” “Eeee! Niece!” Before the princess could react she found herself grabbed in the greatest of hugs and her cheeks pinched with the most loving of pinches. “Ow, ow ow! Auntie! Stop, I'm not, ack!” The princess squeaked indignantly as she was hugged. The medical ward was filled with dozens of ponies, as well as healers. Healers from all four elements were moving around the room, helping ponies suffering from things as minor as broken bones to as major as a mangled body. Still, an air of calm and relaxation permeated the room as the dozens of ponies seemed content. Most had probably been undergoing treatment for a while, so the worst was over. However, her aunt was as strong, energetic and loving as ever. And her hooves were like metal clamps around the mare, holding her tight and cuddling her until she popped. “I knew you would make the right choice, I just knew it. Has your journey been well? Have you used your element?” “N-not yet,” she wheezed, shaking her head. “I-I've joined the avatar and please stop pinching my cheeks!” “Awwww, is this your little niece you were talking about?” a unicorn asked as she trotted over. Something about the mare was oddly familiar, but Rarity couldn't place it. “I do believe it must be,” an earth pony said as she trotted over besides the mare. “I doubt she'd do that to any random unicorn. I do not believe we've met. My name is Octavia, this layabout before you is known as Vinyl. A pleasure to meet you.” “Err, hello.” The princess tried to pull herself from her aunt's embrace, but it was no use. The mare would not be denied the ability to show her niece her love. So instead the princess sighed and went into the hugs, giving one of her own. “I'm happy you're well, auntie. I wish I could have tried to help you break out but... I was knocked out in the attack and somehow ended up outside the city. I--” “Worry not, dear niece,” the elder mare said with another tight hug. “I am merely happy that you have finally made it out of that city and have joined the avatar. All I've ever wanted was for you to become the great, kind, loving mare that I knew you could be. The mare that could one day rule the nation with a hoof of--” “Whoa, wait!” Rarity shook her head rapidly. “I-I've already thought a lot about this. Not a chance. When this war is over, you're going to rule the nation. Auntie, there is no mare better. You've taught me and so many others so many things and--” She was silenced by a hoof on her mouth as her aunt finally pulled away. “Oh, my dear, young, naive niece. Do you not understand? I've been training you all your life. Guiding you. Showing you the way to become the great ruler I always knew you could be. It is not my destiny to rule the Water Nation, it is yours.” “W-what? But look at what I've done! I've made a mess of everything. I almost got the avatar killed, I spent years tracking her down. I helped destroy Fillydelphia, I--” “You are one of the Elements of Harmony. You will stand beside the Avatar when the time comes to stop your mother. You will be a beacon for all ponies, the future that our nation can have. One of peace, free of this awful war.” The princess stared up at her aunt, her mouth hanging open. “Y-you can't be... I'd be a horrible ruler. I... I can't do this, I--” “I'd just like to remind you two that you are in a medical ward filled with ponies hurt by the nation you're currently divvying up,” Vinyl said suddenly, making the two look up to see the many, many angry glares they were getting. The tranquility was slowly evaporating. “Mighhhhht wanna take this somewhere else.” Rarity nodded. “Err. Right, of course. Auntie, how about you show me around and we can talk more?” “Of course, niece. This really is quite a wondrous location and you won't believe who else has joined us here. Your little sister's friends.” The two walked out and were nearly toppled over by an alicorn. “Twilight? What are you doing here?” Rarity asked in confusion. “Here to find Octavia and Vinyl. I got lost.” “I'd guess so, I left the ship after you did,” Rarity said with a shake of her head. “I may have also been distracted by lots of ponies running up and hugging me. It's been a busy arrival.” She gave the two a wave as they trotted off. “We're over here, Avatar. Or should we call you chickenwings?” Vinyl called out with a grin. Twilight let out an exasperated sigh. “Of course you two know about that. Who told you? Rainbow? Spitfire?” “Rainbow, of course. So, I know what you want to ask and let me just go ahead and nip it in the bud now,” Vinyl said as she raised a hoof. “Yes, stopping the tidal wave was awesome, but it was a team effort. You can have my autograph after all this is finished.” The alicorn chuckled and shook her head. “Not what I was going to ask, but that was pretty amazing. I did want to thank you two for saving me and I really can't say enough how happy I am to see everypony got out okay. Though, I...” She lowered her gaze. “I can't apologize enough for failing. After everypony worked so hard to get me there, I failed to stop this when I had the chance. I--” “You did your best,” Vinyl said with a shrug. “Relax. We're totally winning, easy peasy. We have the Water Nation where we want them, all we need is for you to go in and do the finishing blow with all your boom powers and stuff.” Twilight nodded slowly. “Ahhh, well, we haven't... exactly figured out how they all work yet. I mean, we're close. We have three figured out and we think we have Applejack's figured out. But Rarity and Pinkie are still have problems with theirs. Actually, now that I think about it, I wonder where Pinkie is. I hope she isn't getting in any trouble.” ------ “Boulder likes you,” Rock Knight said as she stared, dead pan, at the strange pink pony that had found her. “Boulder doesn't normally like strangers.” “Ohhhh, that's because Boulder knows exactly who I am,” Pinkie said happily as she kept making her rock candy necklace. “I see... You're my...?” “The daughter of your aunt's niece's sister-in-law's aunt's cousin twice removed brother.” She happily kept making the candy. “Though in alternate story lines we're sisters.” “I see...” the earth bender said as she kept making her own necklace. Her back legs were broken so it wasn't like she had much else to do. “I like rocks.” “I like rocks too! You know, the avatar was stuck in a rock for the longest time. I bet you could write really good poetry about it.” “The avatar was in a rock?” “Yup!” “I like the avatar.” ------ “Ehhhh, I'm sure she's fine,” Vinyl said with a shrug. “But don't you worry. We've got this all handled. All you need to do is focus on the big things. Your power is going to be what stops all this in the end.” The alicorn gave a slow nod, but sighed. “I... appreciate the support, but how can you all be so sure? I mean, what if I fail? What if things go wrong?” She glanced back towards the door. “What if... what if we stop them and something else happens? So many of the countries are vulnerable and weak now. What if when the Water Nation is at its weakest, the others try to... swoop in and end it, for good?” Vinyl frowned. “That won't happen. Twilight, trust me. We've all worked too hard and too long to allow this to go south.” “But what if it does? What if I can't do this? What if our allies fall through? What if the other nations decide to abandon us? What if--” Octavia raised a hoof to the mare's mouth and smiled. “I think it's time we discussed some... important matters, dear Avatar. The coming battle will be difficult, but I think it's best you know just how many allies you have, spread throughout every country.” Vinyl cocked an eye. “You sure? She's still pretty young.” “She's done more than enough to prove she's ready for this knowledge. It is a heavy burden but... well, I do believe you are ready, Twilight. In fact, I believe you may be more ready to know it than when I learned of it, even thought I was... slightly older.” “Slightly? More like--” “Enough, Vinyl. Twilight, if you would retire with us, please. We must speak somewhere private.” The alicorn nodded and followed the two out from the room, confusion etched on her face. She wondered what they could possibly have to tell her that was so important. ------ So many wonderful baby dragons, Fluttershy could barely contain her excitement as she flew around them and stared. They were adorable, nice and didn't terrify or breath smoke and fire at anypony. “If you're gentle, you can pick one up,” one of the caretakers said. “They like eating the small, round gems. The older ones can have some of the sharper gems, but feed them mostly the round ones. Easier for them to swallow.” The pegasus gulped and slowly reached out to pick up a small red one, with golden spikes. It cooed adorably up at her as she gently held it in her hooves and rocked it gently from side to side. With her other hoof she grabbed a small, red gem and held it to the baby's mouth. It gave it a little lick before biting down, making her giggle as it crunched the gem and swallowed. “Aren't you just precious...” Fluttershy asked softly as she rocked the baby. “Wow, you're a natural,” the caretaker said. “We could use some extra hooves getting the babies into the ships and keeping them calm. Would you like to help?” “I... I'd love to,” she said gently as she kept rocking the baby. ------ Applejack had to struggle to stop her hooves from crashing through the floor as she stomped. The closer they drew, the more angry she felt. A spy, a bucking spy. As if her family hadn't suffered enough, now they'd have to deal with the pain of losing their hopeful little girl all over again. But she'd make it quick. She'd step into the room and crush the mare, make her spill all her dirty little secrets. It wouldn't take long. As angry as she was feeling she wasn't even sure she'd be able to stop at just breaking the spy. Big Mac stopped outside a large stone door and took a deep breath. “She's in here. She was hurt in the raid, but nothing serious. Just resting until now. She knows you're coming. Ah can--” “Ah'll speak with her alone,” the mare said quickly. It was best they didn't have to see this. “Is Granny Smith okay? Is she resting somewhere else?” “Yeah, she won't be near. Jus' the two of yah.” He kept a smile on his face, though he still looked confused. “Good. Thanks big brother. Ah really need some... alone time with her.” “Ah understand,” the stallion gave her a curious glance, before smiling and trotting off. She stared at the door and took a slow, steady breath. It was time. She'd face this spy and end her torment. That was all there was to it. Nothing more, nothing less. She hoped her brother and granny would be able to forgive her for tearing the wool off from over their eyes, but it was for the best. She stomped her hooves and the door opened. The room was dark, though a quick tap of her hoof made the stone hole across the room open wider, letting more sunlight in. Then her eyes fell on the small, yellow pony sleeping on the bed. Laying on her side with a big, red ribbon in her mane. The mare looked at the younger pony and froze. She's a spy, ah have tah-- She's got an Apple mane. Bein' an earth bender doesn't-- She knew things about the farm she shouldn't, only somepony there that night could have. Could have been a soldier who-- She's got ma's coat. Applejack stepped forward, making the younger mare stir, her eyes popping open. “Who?” Flowerbloom asked, staring at the mare. She's a spy, a dirty-- She's got our eyes. Don't fall for it, she's not-- Mah little sister. Ah have a little sister. She's alive. Applejack rushed forward, making the young mare lift a hoof to defend herself. However, the elder mare was a stronger bender and brushed the attack aside. She was on the little pony in seconds and her hooves wrapped around her as tears started flowing down her face. “A-Applebloom. Ah thought... for so long ah... ah thought yah were... ah thought...” Flowerbloom stared for a few moments before her voice came out in a soft squeak. “A-Applejack?” “A-ah'm here. Ah... ah'm never lettin' yah outta mah sight again. Ah'm so... so sorry...” the elder mare sat down hard on the bed, holding tightly to the younger mare as tears flowed down her face. ------ Rainbow veered to the right, barely avoiding the wing clip from Scootaloo. The other pegasus quickly touched back down before back flipping, bringing a hoof down at the speedster's head. The bender pivoted to the right, barely avoiding the strike and twisting around to kick the pony in the side. Scootaloo rolled with the kick, spinning in the air before landing on the ground and launching back at the other pegasus. Her hooves moved out, striking at the blue pegasus' pressure points, but she quickly jumped over and struck at the younger mare's back. The pony hit the ground, but swept her legs out, tripping the air bender up before launching into a counter assault. Rainbow struggled to roll away, crashing into the ground hard and barely avoiding the striking hooves. She jumped back to her hooves, spinning in two tight circles before launching another kick as Scootaloo charged in. The younger mare was forced to jump back, barely getting out of range as the two stared intently at each other. Then, just as promptly, the two burst into laughter and moved forward, giving each other a high hoof. “That flip kick was awesome!” Rainbow said with a happy chuckle. “Are you kidding? That whole double loop kick you pulled off was amazing!” “Are you two finished?” Hornclipper asked, his eyes narrowed into annoyed little slits. “Oh, relax, we weren't going to hurt each other,” Scootaloo said with a roll of her eyes. “Don't mind him. He's just jealous because he wanted to be the one to take you on. Or maybe he misses having me kick his butt.” The stallion gave an exasperated sigh. “We really should get to packing. Wasting time on these little... tests of your are just that. Wasting time. Our students are already working too--” “Yeah yeah,” Rainbow said with a roll of her eyes. “Come on, I'll take both of you on this time. It'll be fun.” Scootaloo snorted. “You sure that's wise? Those training blade on his wings may be dull, but they'll still hurt.” “I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't certain,” the pegasus said with a crack of her neck. “Besides, the others are still busy. Unless you two are afraid?” She made a mocking clucking sound. Hornclipper frowned darkly. “Very well. If you... insist on such, we will humble you.” “Bring it,” Rainbow said as she took a few quick steps back. The other two pegasi shared a look, before charging forward. ------ “You should be the one to rule the Water Nation,” Rarity said from her sitting position in the main chamber, overlooking the dragon eggs. She could barely believe how many there were, her mother would have had a fit to imagine so many of the creatures still alive. Many of the babies would be coming with them, but the youngest and the eggs would remain here, guarded by a select few. “Even if I should, it is not my destiny,” Celestia said with a gentle shake of her head. “That is yours. If I was to take the throne, it would do nothing but cause more internal strife and civil war as ponies across our nation would see me as little more than an interloper, a jealous sister stealing from her family. Our nation can ill afford another meaningless war. You are Nightmare Moon's own daughter, one who has returned even from banishment. You have fought besides the avatar and will do so much more in order to save this world. There are many ponies who will stand by you, who would do nothing but raise their arms against me.” “But... I-I can't. I'm not smart enough, strong enough. I'm not... good enough,” Rarity's eyes lowered. “You are all those things and more, my dear niece,” Celestia said as she gently reached a hoof out to place on the princess' withers. “I have trained you in all I know and you have learned much on your own. You have traveled across all the nations, learning how the world works and seeing first hoof the effects this war has had. You know and understand so much that the previous rulers could never have imagined. I know that when the time comes you will not just make me proud, but all the nations with the way you will rule.” “But... I... I...” “Once this war is over, the Water Nation will need a pony like you. A pony all the other nations can look to and side with. One who can draw our home away from this endless war and back onto the road of peace and prosperity. You may not believe in yourself, but I do and I know you will make the right choice when the time comes.” Rarity whimpered and stared up at her aunt. “How... how can you say this? After all I've done? After every time I've failed? How can you still have such faith in me?” “You've made mistakes, we've all made mistakes. Mine are far worse than yours are, dear niece. Even then, you have made up for many of them. You have worked tirelessly and gone far, far further than I ever had. You have not allowed your errors to stop you. Instead, you have pushed forward tirelessly, always trying and achieving whatever you had to. No ruler is blameless, none should believe they are. But a good ruler should accept their faults and move on, until they can do whatever needs to be done. That is what will make you the ruler the Water Nation needs. You won't be like those before you, who believed the ends always justified the means. You will be the one to find the right means to find the best end for all.” Rarity sighed and gave a slow, weak nod. “I... hope you're right. I just wish I could hold the same confidence you do.” Celestia smiled and gave the mare a pat. “Very few of the great rulers are confident in themselves. When you care as much as you do, it's hard to believe you will do everything right. That is yet another reason you will make a great ruler.” Rarity gave another exasperated sigh. “I get the feeling you'd say that no matter what I did. What if I was covered in slime and wore belts on my head?” “I would merely ensure you took a bath and smile at your new fashion statement. As ruler of the Water Nation, the belts would become the new popular trend within days.” Rarity rolled her eyes, but smiled none the less. “You're probably right. The upper classes are certain to follow the choices of those above them.” She laid her head against her aunt's chest and sighed. “If... I am to rule, I wish for you to be by my side. I... will need your help. I can't do this on my own.” The elder mare nodded. “You can, and you will one day. But yes, I will help you as long as I am able. Until you no longer need me.” The princess smiled and closed her eyes. “Thank you, auntie...” ------ Twilight took a seat at a small wooden table, while Vinyl and Octavia sat across from her, going over charts and maps before laying them out on the surface. The maps made up most of the known world, with a few regions marked off. Places like the Everfree Forest, the bad lands, generally places ponies didn't travel to. Usually for good reason. They showed all the remaining cities and many had little yellow flower tokens on them, each with a number on it. “Are you sure these are accurate, Vinyl?” Octavia asked as she looked them over. “As of our last check, yeah. Might be off by a few, but not enough to matter.” Vinyl placed a few of the tokens on the Water Nation cities. “What are these supposed to represent?” Twilight asked. The Water Nation ones seemed to have the highest numbers. “Welllll... there's something we've been hiding from you for a while, Avatar,” Octavia said as she tapped the map. “The past avatars have usually known, but it was something rarely shared with them until they were far older. After they had mastered all the elements and seen all the world. We are part of an organization known as the Yellow Daisy. As are many of the ponies you've met during your trips, especially those who have offered you help.” Twilight gave a slow nod. “I see. And what exactly is this organization?” “Old as buck,” Vinyl said quickly. “I mean, seriously. There are ancient trees going 'oh my gosh, seriously? You ponies are still around? Get a life!'” Octavia rolled her eyes. “While technically true, that is not all the organization is. It was created many, many, many life times ago by one of the avatars. We no longer even know which one, but that isn't what's important. The organization was created in order to aid the avatar in maintaining balance between all the nations. Many of its members have found their places into key roles in the military and ruling caste of the countries. Sometimes the rulers themselves have become members of the organization as well.” Twilight gasped, staring at the table. “But there are so few. If the organization has lasted so long, how is it that it's so well hidden?” “We've had dozens of names. The Yellow Daisy came into effect soon after your disappearance. I am sad to say the first Nightmare Moon was aware of us and did all in her power to eliminate the organization. As far as she knew, we were merely an organization allied with the Avatar and had been completely eliminated.” “If I created your organization, why hide it from me?” Twilight asked softly. “Why didn't you let me know before, when I became the avatar? I--” “I can't know why my predecessors hid it from you a hundred years ago,” Octavia said quickly. “But, while the avatar was the pony who created us, we have since changed and developed. We work with the avatar to keep the countries safe, all of them. When the avatar is the enemy, however...” “When I'm the enemy? What does that mean?” Twilight asked harshly. Vinyl sighed and shook her head. “I'll explain. I know you're not going to like this, but Twilight, you're still just a pony. Avatar or not, you still feel the same as any of us do. With your own morals. There have been more than a few avatars over the years who believed, well... I'm sure you've felt the temptation. When you had great power, the idea that you could do anything? That you knew everything?” Twilight thought back to the times she'd been in the avatar state, especially during the Summer Sun Celebration. “Yes. I... have had times like that.” “Not every avatar resists the urge as well as you have. There are a few avatars who... frankly might have grown up to become horrible tyrants. Either they were alone, or surrounded by the wrong kind of ponies. The avatar is strong and can call on lots of wisdom from past lives. But that doesn't make you invincible nor does it make you infallible.” Twilight nodded, driving her hoof into the table. “So you hid this from me so you could make sure I was the right kind of avatar then? Well I'm happy to know I meet your expectations.” The sarcasm dripped from her voice. “We've thought you were a great avatar since we first met you,” Octavia said, shaking her head. “Nopony wished to get rid of you, either. But it was not our place to tell you about us, without discussing it with our other members. You had enough on your hooves without worrying about our organization. But now, you need to know. This is why you won't fail.” She motioned to the map. “Throughout the nations there are still ponies ready to rise up with you. They will slow the military, fight the occupiers. They will do everything they can to help you. To end this war peacefully.” Twilight nodded slowly as she looked over the map. She frowned when she got to Canterlot. “There's no tokens there, why?” She motioned with her hoof. “That's, well...” Vinyl looked a little nervous. “A bit of a problem. You see, getting ponies in close to Nightmare Moon has never been easy. Sneaking soldiers in to the outer areas and recruiting them were fine, but in the capital it was next to impossible. We had under a dozen there a few months ago. However, after your... fall, every single one of them has disappeared. We have no idea how they were found or even what happened to them. They might even be in hiding. But, for the moment, we have no eyes in Canterlot.” “What about the summoning of her forces?” Twilight asked softly. “Everypony has been given orders to either hide or find someway to not go there. It's too dangerous. We don't know how she's finding them, but she is and we can't risk all our soldier's lives on it.” The avatar nodded as she looked over the map. “So if the Water Nation is defeated...” “That's all that will happen,” Octavia said with a nod. “They'll be defeated and the boundaries between the nations will return as they once were. The Yellow Daisy will not allow the Water Nation to be devoured, the balance would be set off too far if that were to happen.” Twilight gave a smile before nodding. “Thank you. This... does make me feel better.” She looked over the map and nodded. “Celestia and the Emperor are members of the organization, aren't they?” “Indeed. As are Spitfire and Soarin. Many ponies realize the necessity of balance, especially after the last hundred years. There are very few who would wish for this conflict to continue.” Twilight nodded and picked up one of the tokens before examining it. “Well then, I guess I have nothing to worry about. We'll win this war and everything can return to the way it was a hundred years ago. I guess we should go help to pack, huh?” “Yes,” Octavia said before walking around the table and putting a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. “This war is almost over, Avatar. You need only fight for a little longer, then we'll have won. I know you can do it.” The alicorn nodded. “I sure hope so. I guess now we should return to Manehatten. I'll go help everypony prepare for the move. Thanks for telling me about this, albeit later than I'd have hoped. I guess onward to victory, right?” “Yes, perhaps,” Octavia said with a smile. “You must learn how to tap into your full powers though, Avatar. We will need them in the coming battle. The Water Nation is weak, yes. But they are not defeated. Not yet. A cornered animal can still do quite a lot of damage, even with a side filled with spears.” Twilight nodded and started trotting away. “Don't worry, I know. We'll figure out how to use them. I just wish I had somepony who knew how they worked.” “Shame yah can't just ask the previous avatars, huh?” Vinyl asked with a shrug. “Yeah, I--” Twilight froze in mid word, before face hoofing. “I am an idiot. There are no words. I can't believe I... oh my gosh.” “Avatar?” Octavia asked softly. “Nothing. I just need to find the others. I can't believe I never thought of that, it's so obvious!” Twilight said before galloping off. She felt hope welling up within her, yet again. She wouldn't be able to do it, at least not yet. But she had a plan now when they returned. The elements would finally give up their secrets to her. ------ “Really?” Twilight asked as she stared at Applejack and Flowerbloom. Her eyes were cocked in the universal sign of disbelief and she was leaning slightly to the left, the universal lean of disbelief. “She's your little sister?” “Eeyup. Born but not raised, hundred percent Apple,” Applejack said with a smile as she gave the little mare a noogie, despite her objections. “Ah ain't ever lettin' her outta mah sight again. Tah think, had it not been for me comin' with yah all, ah might never have found her.” Twilight nodded slowly. “So... ummmm, no offense. But can we trust her? She was a member of the Water Nation.” “Ah still kind of am,” Flowerbloom said softly. “But, ah'm loyal tah Sweetie Belle. The real Sweetie Belle, not this... thing that's become of her. Ah'll help yah all as best ah can, an' ah already have been. The Water Nation needs tah be stopped, but not everypony in its bad news.” Twilight gave a soft sigh before glancing to Scootaloo. “I see. And you?” “Hey, she's cool,” Rainbow said with a shrug. “All there is to it.” “Anything else you'd like to say about it?” the alicorn asked. “Nope. Just she's cool.” Pinkie giggled and waved a hoof. “Oh! Rock Knight is cool too! We shared poetry! Hers rocked!” “I... see,” the avatar glanced back towards the airships awaiting their arrival. It was almost time, soon the ponies would depart for Manehatten, along with plenty of baby dragons and fire benders. They were entering the final leg of their journey. All she had to do now was find out how the elements worked and the battle was done, they'd win. She could barely believe how short the time had been. It felt as if it had been decades since she first awoke from that giant rock, but it had been less than a year. Now, here she stood, on the edge of victory. All they had to do was make that final leap. “We should go, the ships are waiting for us,” she said before trotting towards them. Just a little longer, she only had to hold out for a little longer.