//------------------------------// // Homecoming // Story: CCC-Back Home Again // by Fresnor //------------------------------// We were able to get a few ideas going but until we found out exactly how many diamond dogs were available for the war. Until then the specifics would wait until we had an idea on numbers as well as what the enemy was looking like. As winter was about to start the enemy offensive would be on hold until spring so that they could bring their full might to bear on Manehatten, the current location of the Equestrian army with Luna and Cadence. It was a stroke of luck that we had the time to prepare for this last battle, and since the diamond dogs often traveled underground that meant winter was less of a challenge for them. Until the word was spread and the army gathered then we couldn’t do anything but make tentative plans, though to make sure the enemy doesn’t find out too early nothing was being sent to the front beyond a message to expect reinforcements. As for negotiations for repairing the alliance they went well even if Celestia wasn’t sure about turning over the old castle for our use as we rebuilt. Twilight pointed out that anything important there had already been removed, and it was better to have something there to guard the tree of harmony than to have nothing there. Since the other two princesses were injured, Selene volunteered to join me with examining the castle. The place was looking much better than it used to as at one point there were plans to restore the place for use as a historical museum. I guess with the loss of her friends as well as the war Twilight was forced to abandon that idea. I know that they had emptied a large portion of the castle for safekeeping until the place was ready. I wonder if they managed to clear out all the secret passages as well or if they may have missed something. I’ll have to check things over once I get my map back once again just to be safe. As we enter what used to be the library I look around at the empty shelves before chuckling as I look towards Selene. “What’s so funny, Flarenza?” Selene looks back at me questioningly. I just shake my head with a grin before answering. “I’m just remembering the first interactions we had with each other in this very room. You stole my lunch that day and a few times afterwards until I caught sight of you and began bringing you food on purpose.” Selene blushes at this as she flutters her ebony wings. It had been so long since I had seen her but she had grown well in my absence. She was slightly shorter than Twilight was, but just barely, and her dark blue mane was done up like her mother’s was when the two were split. Since she was created in her mother’s image by the Elements of Harmony she looked much like her but with the darker colors. Her cutie mark was different though, a crescent moon shaped dream catcher, which represented her dream-walking abilities. “I still have the things you left for me back in Canterlot. I sometimes take them out when I’m alone while I think back to those simpler days.” I reach out a paw to pat at her leg as we move through the castle towards its depths. I’m not sure about how many the castle is able to house, but it should do for a few months until some of the trees are adapted for use as homes. “What are the others of your kind like? Aunt Celly never really talks about the kitsune; and even mother avoids speaking of them since you left.” I raise an eyebrow at Celestia’s nickname but I’ve heard odder ones from Pinkie and now Surprise. “They really aren’t that much different from ponies if you can ignore the more omnivorous diet. We lost so many after the war, but I did what I could to preserve our future. While many of the nobles did what they could to save themselves and their property I organized the teachers, doctors, and specialists in various fields. Then there were the orphans.” I sigh as I worry about how they are doing on the ships now. “I had done what I could for them, but I’m hoping that a future here where they can meet and befriend ponies will make it where they can be helped through their loss of family.” Selene moves over and drapes a wing over me as we continue through the castle. We soon find ourselves back at the front gate and I remember one last place to look at. Looking around I spot the stairway that led down into the ravine and started down until we reached the cave at the bottom of it. I was about to enter but Selene raised a wing in the path to stop me. “Wait Flarenza, the Tree of Harmony has been sealed off since before the war started. Twilight thought that it was a good idea to protect the place since we have no idea what would happen if some random creature wandered in there.” I think about this and realize that I know little about the tree beyond what I was told by Twilight many years ago. In fact I don’t remember there being any information about it in the Sionnach library which was odd. “I think I’m going to just take a peek at what she used and maybe add something of my own. It’s strange that I haven’t found anything about the tree and that worries me a bit since this used to be our home.” Selene looks uncertain but nods as we enter the cave. Once we reach the part where the tunnel widens into the cavern we find the shield protecting the Tree of Harmony. I can’t really tell much about the tree from this distance, yet the feeling of its magic gives me no hints. I sigh as I’ll probably never have a chance to examine it closely but that’s probably for the best. Turning my attention to the barrier around the cavern I examine it closely to see what was done to protect it. I notice that there are five protective spells around the place, each with the magical signature of each princess, though there is something else that seems familiar about it. “Selene, something seems familiar about these spells other than each being cast by each princess. What did you do to this place?” Selene looks a bit uncertain but sighs. “We didn’t want to completely block it so we made it where it could be passed by those that matched one of the elements. Twilight of course was the Magic barrier, I was Laughter, Auntie Celly Kindness, Cadence Loyalty, and mommy was Honesty. We tried to find somepony else for Generosity but it never worked right and we can’t do two at once.” I contemplate this as I examine the barriers and how they don’t seem to be meshing up correctly as the spell is incomplete. I look at the barrier and think back on my life and I get an idea of what to do. Focusing on the times I’ve given aid to Selene without thinking of it, the times I threw myself into danger to help others, and my need to help others in any way I could, I start to try to copy the spells around the tree. My magic starts to take form and is strangely giving off a purple glow as it begins to merge with the others. When it looks as if it is about to be complete there is a white flash which temporarily blinds me and Selene. “Ouch, did that happen the last five times you put up a barrier?” I ask Selene as I try to clear my eyes from the flash. I may not be able to see, but my hearing is good enough to hear movement from her. “No it didn’t, oh I really hope you didn’t break something or auntie is going to get mad.” When we both recovered enough to see, we were rather surprised by the change that had come over the barrier. “Well, I probably should have expected something like this to happen considering what the spell was based around.” Before us now, instead of the light shimmer shat came from the previous barrier, was what could only be described as a rainbow of light blocking off the cavern. Probing at it lightly with my magic I found that I couldn’t even detect my magic on the barrier anymore and it appeared that the Tree of Harmony was powering it now. “Well I’m not sure exactly what happened, but the only way something is getting through that is if they can overpower the tree completely or if it lets them in.” Tapping at the barrier a couple times just to check I shake my head as I turn towards Selene. She’s looking at the barrier as well but she just shook her head before turning away from it. “Well Twilight is going to want to look at it still. You know how she gets when anything dealing with magic comes up.” As we leave the cave I get one more idea on how to protect the tree. <><><><><><><> Twilight came to examine the barrier around the tree but wasn’t able to find out much more than I did. She agreed with my assessment about what happened though she wanted to look into things more later. Until then I started modifying the front of the cavern by turning it into the makings of a portal. I knew that the forest wasn’t going to be safe to travel through for some time so I was going to need a way to get my subjects here from the coast. Over the next month I prepared for their arrival though I was able to get in contact with them after the first week as they came within range of my communication crystal, the one connected to it being with them. The Admiral didn’t like that we were headed into another war, but agreed that if we didn’t help now then we’d probably be drawn into one later. He mentioned having ideas of his own about potential help, but he was rather closed-mouth about them until he arrived. Other than the daily communication I used my time creating things to help with the coming war. It was after the third week through that month that I not only got word back from Butch, but he had brought visitors. I had finished clearing a path to my garden that day when the ground in front of me burst open revealing a rather large diamond dog in thick armor. I looked at him curiously until I started hearing a banging sound behind him. “Oh get out of my way you big oaf, I told you to stop standing in front of me all the time.” Peering around him I spotted the curios sight of a rather short and wizened female diamond dog that was banging on the larger one’s armor with a staff that was twice her size. She eventually spots me looking around her companion and she peers at me through her thick glasses. “Well what have we here? I guess that young whippersnapper was actually telling the truth. Greetings High One, I am Zirconia, the Lorekeeper of the Bloodstone Pack and the representative sent to determine the truth.” She starts circling me while I stand there being amused by her antics. “Hmm, well you are exactly what we were told, but you aren’t the High Alphas of legend that’s for sure.” She pokes at my side with her stick causing me to jump and glare at her as she raises an eyebrow. “Granted things do seem to be looking up for the future, don’t they? Hahaha.” I just glare at her before I just roll my eyes at the antics of elders of the short lived races. “Well I am thankful that you were able to show up, I just hope the representatives from the other packs show up soon.” I wave a paw towards the house and head back to show her in to have Cassidy get her room ready. “Oh they’re probably already here by now; we took the long way here to drop of some things at the packs that look to us. My granddaughter, the Pack Alpha, has grown up hearing of the legends of the High Ones and when she heard you were returning started preparing for war in case it was true.” I glance at her as we enter my manor and I am surprised to hear the sound of voices coming up from the basement. I was about to head down to see what was going on when Butch came out of the kitchen looking for me. “There you are princess; all the major pack leaders sending a representative have arrived. Shall I prepare for the meeting or would you like to rest first?” I think for a moment before answering. “Get things ready for it now. Have Cassidy prepare a meal and refreshments for them all during the meeting. Zirconia, if you’d follow me?” At her nod I lead her to the dining area and gesture to a seat for her use as I take my own at the head of the table. Soon enough the other leaders were shown in by Butch and each of them looked surprised at my appearance as if they didn’t expect me to be here. Once they were seated, and Cassidy brought in their meals, I began to speak. “Thank you all for coming. There is much to speak about but I’ll start with what you have all been wondering for thousands of years. Lord Inari and Lady Ogitsu, those you call the High Alphas, had saved who they could those many years ago in the hopes of one day returning. Unfortunately they no longer can do that as we were drawn into a war which ended with our loss. Neither of them could make it out alive, and even their son lost his life in the last days of the war.” There were many gasps of horror from the diamond dogs in the room when I say this and I can almost feel their spirits break. “The last thing I was told by the Lady Ogitsu was to bring the survivors somewhere safe and I knew it was time that we return home. Yet on arrival I found that our neighbors were in trouble and needed our help so I decided to call on all of you for help. You have always been loyal to the kitsune race, even after us being gone for so long you never forgot about us and waited for us to return. I just hope that things haven’t changed and that it is still true to this day.” After I finish the assembled diamond dogs start yelling over each other as they try to get my attention but one voice cuts through the rest. “How do we know that this isn’t just a trick to get us to forsake the High Alphas for you?” I look around trying to find who spoke, but I can’t see who it was as they were all talking rather loudly. I sigh and look downcast as I fight back my emotions. “Because their son, Prince Okami, was my husband; making them my mother- and father-in-law. And losing them was one of the most painful things I’ve ever had to go through.” I think they might have felt the emotion in my voice as I saw many pairs of ears drop down in shame. I’m not sure if they believe me but I have one thing left to say. “Even if you still don’t believe me the survivors of New Sionnach are going to be here in about a week. If you want to withhold making a decision until then to speak with the others then I’ll understand.” With that I leave them to discuss things amongst themselves and head to my room as I feel tears crawl down my face. <><><><><><><> The arrival of the Sionnach fleet had happened and I was waiting impatiently at the portal under the Everfree Castle. “How much longer until the portal on that end is ready, Admiral?” The small image of him floating above the gem in front of me shakes his head. “Oh calm down lassie, they are almost done over here. You should know that these things take time if you want it done right.” I sigh even though I know he is right. It takes about another hour for the other end to be set up, but when they finish we finally begin the process of linking the two together. It’s made easier than it normally would be as I use the communication gem to easily trace the location as I channel my energy into this end of the portal and send it out seeking the other end. Once the link is complete I pour in more power to open the portal which flashes in a burst of flame-like light before showing the kitsune waiting on the other end of the portal. I turn to now to the diamond dogs behind me as I step through the portal to meet my subjects at the cove the landed at, currently dubbed the Everfree Cove. Once through I stand before them in my full regalia as the diamond dog representatives follow through behind me, looking around in awe. I look around at the gathered thousands who had been looking to me to lead them home, and my gaze fondly settles on the orphans we had saved from New Sionnach. “Kitsune and diamond dogs of Sionnach, it has been over six thousand years since we have walked in the land of our homeland but now we have finally returned. Yet even though we have returned we have lost so much in the journey to finally come back. We lost so many of our friends and loved ones to get here and yet there is one thing that we still must do before we can move on.” I pause for a moment as music begins to start playing in the background from somewhere. “Let us finally take the time to remember those that we have lost and mourn their loss.” With that I begin to sing and, though it was gradual, the rest started to join in as well. As the song came to a close I reached out with my magic to a few nearby trees and reformed them into the shapes of Lord Inari and Lady Ogitsu, as well as their son, Prince Okami. I can feel the tears flowing down my face, but right now I don’t really care as my subjects split up to mourn in their own ways. Some of them start to move through the portal and I look on over it all from where I am. I hear someone walking over to me, but I just keep gazing out until he talks, identifying him as the Admiral. “I know it hurts lassie, but you’ve done a good job getting us this far. You’ve done so much for us, but you sacrifice so much of yourself to do it. At least this time I can do something for you that may help cheer you up a bit. Come on lassie, it’s time that you meet some of our old allies that we’ve kept in contact for a long time.” I look over at him oddly before I scrub at my face with a paw before I get up and follow him to the ocean. Looking around I can see some of the kitsune and diamond dogs starting to put together some small buildings in the area as they begin a permanent settlement in the cove. I can still here some singing, yet it sounds lighter than the song we just went through and it was coming from the direction of the ocean. As we neared some of the docks, which were built for temporary use until more permanent ones were put into place, I noticed some forms swimming around in the water. As we get closer I can catch a few of the words, yet they aren’t from any song I’ve heard before. “Shoo be doo! Shub shub be doo!” Getting closer I am surprised to see ponies in the water, but when one leaps out of the water I see not the usual hind legs, but a fish-like tail.