//------------------------------// // Chapter Twenty-Eight – Closure // Story: The Scion of Harmony // by Thornwing //------------------------------// Fresh off the boat, there were smiles and hugs all around. The moment I made mention of Spike’s father, everypony stopped dead in their tracks. The secret was out. The truth that Celestia had kept for over a millennia, the promise I had recently discovered for myself, came out into the open. Spike was a Dragon Lord, descended from the assistants to the ancient race of beings that conceived the universe and set the foundation for everything that followed. The One become many; those who lost sight of their goals and slipped from the path of friendship. Conceivably, he was the last of his kind. Before they could ask, I waved off any questions owing to the personal nature of things. The letter contained a private message, an apology of sorts, something that deserved a certain level of privacy and decorum. I, myself, was able to read what it said, and I had a feeling that Spike would as well. The magic of the Element of Friendship helped me to understand. There was a lot more that I understood now in the wake of my change. “Take a moment in private, and read what it says,” I said, still looking down with a warm enough smile on my face. Spike stared up at me, the scale clutched tightly to his chest. I wasn’t sure if he looked more surprised or scared. He gave an abrupt nod and darted inside the tower. The look of shock on Celestia’s face may not have been solely a result of the letter and revelation of her secret as much as the sight of Starswirl crossing the gangplank and triumphantly spreading his new wings. She nearly fell over as the wizard ambled his way forward. “Greetings to you once again, my fair Princess Celestia,” Starswirl said with an overdramatic flourish and bow. “I hope that my return is met with celebration instead of the usual foreboding ‘doom and gloom’ as it were.” “I see you have a few new surprises for us yet,” Celestia said, adjusting her footing and giving a tip of her head indicating her acceptance, if not yet complete understanding, of the new appearance of an old friend. “Will you be staying with us long this time around?” “I shall for as long as the Guardian would have me,” he replied, giving a wink in my direction. “She carries my heart, and I serve by her will.” The royal gallery, all the way from Celestia and Luna down to Cadance and my brother, perked their ears and turned to catch my reaction. My face must have lit up like a torch. Their knowing smiles showed that I would be unable to hide our budding relationship now that everyone’s secrets were being tossed out in the open. Even turning toward my friends, ever so dependable and ready to assist, brought the same kind of reaction. Shining Armor broke the awkward silence. “So, sis. Are you going to introduce me to your new coltfriend?” Following the most awkward introduction in the history of awkward introductions, I introduced the crew of the Flying Dutchmare to the Princess. They rolled out the royal welcome mat, and soon, everypony was busy unloading the cargo and tending to the tasks of their assigned station. Luna took Seachelle on a tour of the castle. Rainbow Dash and Applejack helped Buckaneer with unloading the ship. Rarity and Pinkie Pie headed off to help plan for the banquet that would be held in my honor that evening. Fluttershy slipped away in all the bustle and commotion. Owing to her condition, Celestia retired to her chambers to rest up for the evening. With everypony else departing, Cadance subtly approached. “Twilight,” she began in a whisper, “it’s great to have you back.” She gave me a quick hug and pulled away. She sighed and her eyes darted over at her husband still lurking in the doorway and not entirely fitting in with the crowd. “When you have a moment, do you think you could take a look at Shining? His horn…” She dropped her head and stared at the ground. “He isn’t getting any better.” I laid a hoof on her shoulder and turned to face my brother. His half smile and dampened spirit returned my gaze. I gave a nod. “Of course! Let’s go find someplace quiet and out of the way.” I lifted my head and circled the crowd. “Starswirl! I need you!” His gray coat and scruffy beard were at my side in an instant. I took my brother and his wife, along with Starswirl, and made our way into the castle. We walked past a half dozen rooms full of ponies going about their business. As we came across a closet, the door slightly ajar, I came to a stop. The sound of sniffling and sobbing caught my attention. With a wave of my horn, the door gave way easily enough. In the far corner, barely able to read by the light of the sliver of open doorway, sat Spike with his father’s scale. Before I could say anything or react at all, Starswirl leapt in front of me. “Let me handle this. I knew his father best, and I should be able to help most of all right now.” “Thank you,” I said. Starswirl lit his horn and walked into the closet closing the door behind him as he went. I gave a second thought to joining him before checking to make sure I hadn’t lost sight of my brother. Two rooms further on, Cadance signaled that we had a space to ourselves. I picked up my step and hurried forward. The sitting room that she had found fit perfectly for the procedure I had in mind. Unfortunately, I had lost my second opinion along the way. I motioned to my brother to take a seat on the couch, and Cadance came to rest in a chair opposite the window. The door closed behind me and I drew in the curtains while lighting the sconce lights about the room. “I want to apologize again,” I began to say. “No need,” Shining Armor cut me off. “It’s my fault this happened, and I’m not letting you take the blame.” He always was a stubborn stallion. “Fine,” I replied, “but I still feel responsible.” I walked over to my brother and sat down on the ground next to his couch. “Is there anything you can do to help?” Cadance asked. “It’s alright if you can’t.” Her countenance fell once more. “Celestia and Luna tried to help, I’ve even tried a little myself, but we don’t really know where to start.” I turned between both of them, back and forth. “Give me a minute to think about this. If nothing else, I can try and find the answer in my new memories.” I closed my eyes and began to concentrate. The noise of the castle fell away. The other’s breath calmed to align with my own which faded to quiet. All I could feel was the beat of my own heart and the draw of my magic swelling within. Quietly, I searched for the answer within myself. For all I knew, my brother’s magic was gone, drained from his core in an attempt to perform a feat beyond his capacity. There was no way he would be able to recover it on his own. The only option I had left was obvious. Within my Heart, I knew there was only way to restore what he had lost. I would have to share some of mine. This was magic I had never performed, and using magic of this magnitude always comes with a price. Starswirl may have counseled against it, but he wasn’t here to do so now. I was willing to pay whatever price if it came to that, but I wasn’t sure if my brother would allow it. Better not to tell him. I opened my eyes and rose to my hooves. My horn came aglow with the energy I focused from within. “This may hurt a little, but it’s the best I can do. Try and remain still.” My brother gave a nod. I glanced over at Cadance and she did the same. Turning back, I lowered my horn toward the tip of Shining’s. My magic aura coalesced into a few droplets of pure energy that dripped down onto his horn. He winced as the magic bore into the shaft like acid. Instead of eating away at it, the drops absorbed into the shiny white surface. A second later, his horn lit with a purpleish-blue glow. His breathing quickened. Sweat bore out on his forehead. He clenched his hooves, mangling a pillow in between them. And just like that, it was over. I stumbled away, a little dizzy with my vision slightly blurred. Cadance rose from her seat. “Are you alright?” She dove forward and helped me steady myself before quickly attending to her husband. I turned back to see their embrace. The radiating glow from both their horns filled the room with more light than all the candles, torches, and sunlight would have been able. I felt relieved, if only a slight bit exhausted. Nearly an hour later, I found myself in another room in an even quieter corner of the castle. Fluttershy hummed to herself from a seat in the corner. I appreciated what she had done, but now it was time to focus. I reached across the bed, pouring out pure healing magic against several visible wounds. The burned flesh ran deep. I wasn’t so sure I could heal any deeper than what I could see, physical or not. Discord lay, eyes closed, clammy and pale under a half dozen blankets that I had peeled back just to make sure the rest of him was still there to treat. I could feel the progress that I was making, a slow, steady flow in the magical rhythm surrounding him. He coughed. Fluttershy paused. One eye opened, and then the next. He rolled his head to the side looking straight at me. “I can’t tell if this is real, or part of the nightmare. Did the universe implode?” “Nope, everything’s back in balance,” I said, catching his glare turned smile with a smile of my own. “Maybe Chaos will fare better next time, but Harmony wins this round. How are you feeling?” “I’m miserable, thanks for asking,” he replied. He had a bit more color in his cheeks. I pulled the blankets back over him. “Why don’t you get some more rest? Princess Celestia is hosting a feast tonight, and she wanted you to know you are invited, if you feel up to it.” “I’m sure I can’t make it—got big plans for this evening.” His smile turned into more of a sarcastic grin as he tugged the sheets up close to his chin and settled back into the bed. “Well, if you change your mind, feel free to stop by.” I turned and stepped toward the door. Before I left, I leaned back over my shoulder. “Thank you for all you did to help. I really appreciate it.” “Don’t mention it.” He nodded once and shut his eyes. A more peaceful look on his face than before gave me a small assurance that everything was nearly back to normal. “Congratulations to you as well.” I was nearly halfway out the door, but circled around to find Discord deep in a pretend snore routine before I could respond. Fluttershy went back to her humming. I quietly shut the door to his room and let him have his space. Whether he wanted to freely admit how big a part he played or receive the praise due from all of his friends was something to discuss another time. Another thought weighed heavily on my mind as I left the room and walked back toward the royal chambers. I searched for something more to say to Spike about his father, about the letter that he had left for his son. Spike didn’t take the news well, although he did seem okay with sitting down with Starswirl and talking about the parent he never knew. He found the scale easy enough to read. It seemed that merely being descended from the great race of Dragon Lords imbued him with the ability to understand their language. I stopped in briefly when I passed a room where they had moved to escape the confines of the closet. I tried to add what conciliatory praise I could give, but questions remained. His egg being part of the great plan, and hatching when the spark of friendship ignited the fuse that would lead to Aeon’s ultimate departure from this world, held a conflicting message about Spike’s role in all of this. Starswirl knew his father best, and imparted what he could of the memory of the timeless Lord to his young offspring. I wasn’t sure what more I could add, yet I knew there would be time to address things later on. The guard at Celestia’s door parted allowing me entry. I walked in. On the great white bed, under the warming rays of sun flowing through the window above, she sat, resting. “I just want to say how sorry I am for all the problems I caused.” I paused and looked up at the forgiving smile on my teacher’s face. “Are you going to be alright? Should I cast a healing spell?” “Twilight,” she said shaking her head, “you don’t need to apologize for anything. You did what you had to do, and I’m glad that I was able to help in whatever way I could. I am deeply proud of you and everything that you have accomplished. Do not burden yourself with my recovery. I will heal, in time, and I actually prefer doing it the old fashioned way.” “But I could just—“ “Please, Twilight, let it be.” She raised a glass off her nightstand and lifted it up to take a drink. After replacing the cup, she leaned back into her pillow. “I would hope you could take the time to relax and be with your friends. We don’t often have these moments in which to celebrate, and this is as good a time as any bask in the glow.” “I wish it were that simple, but I feel like my work is just beginning. There’s so much to do and not a lot of time in which to do it.” “Be that as it may, you should always take the time to celebrate the moments you have together with your friends. Go, be with them. I will see you tonight at the banquet.” “I don’t know if I can.” I stopped as the words came out. I wouldn’t have questioned a chance to spend time with my friends before now, but things were different. “Why is that?” Celestia asked. “Because,” I said, “I saw more than I should have, and I don’t know how to tell them. No pony should know their destiny, but that’s the question they all want to ask: ‘When will I become an alicorn?’.” Between Spike, and Discord, and making apology to Celestia, the looming question hanging over the castle didn’t have anything to do with the past, and everything to do with the future. “I wouldn’t worry about that, Twilight,” Celestia replied, confident and reassuring in her tone. “Destiny has a way of working things out on its own. Don’t feel like you hold all the keys and can’t share them with your friends. If it is meant to be, it will happen in the proper time. If not, well, then it wasn’t meant to be. There is no use worrying over a future that hasn’t been written when what really matters is everypony that is here with you now.” I considered her words, true as always. “Thank you, Princess. I should probably make sure they have their questions answered. It’s the least I can do for my friends.” “I’ll see you tonight. Have a wonderful day.” Celestia waved a hoof as I left the room. The guard closed against the doors as I went. With a party in the works, I knew exactly where I could find my friends. The banquet table stretched the length of the great hall. The crew of the Flying Dutchmare, family, friends, anypony and everypony that could fit into the space was there. Only one empty chair remained near the head of the table, straight across from me. I sat and stared at the space, wondering if he would actually be joining us. A hoof fell gently on my shoulder and I broke from my gaze. “You should really try and smile,” Starswirl said. “Everypony else is having a good time and you’re not fitting in with that frown.” I leaned into him. The smile on my face drew up in his embrace, nuzzling his cheek with my own. “It’s not a frown; it’s my thinking face.” A soft flash of light from the head of the table signaled that the Princess had something to say to everypony gathered. The hall quieted down, all attention brought to the fore. “Fillies and gentlecolts, thank you for gathering together this evening in celebration. It is most wonderful to see all of you here. First of all, I must extend the warmest of welcomes to our honored guests: Captain Seachelle and the crew of the Flying Dutchmare. It is thanks to them that we have this tremendous feast set before us.” A soft clapping of hooves rumbled through the hall. “Next, I would also extend a hoof in welcome to a very old friend, Starswirl the Bearded.” Celestia pointed past me and Starswirl rose and took a bow. “Congratulations to him for finally growing a set of wings.” After a second wave of lighthearted giggling and hoof clapping settled down, Celestia took a moment of silence. Being so close, I could see her lip tremble and tears welling up in her eyes. She looked straight at me and spoke as though she and I were the only ones there. “Last, but certainly not least, it gives me great honor to present the new Guardian of Harmony, Master of Magic, and Queen of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle.” My heart skipped a beat, or three. The entire room burst into cheers. Celestia moved off her chair and came around to my side. Whispering into my ear, she said, “Why don’t you say a few words?” She motioned to the head seat she had just vacated. I swallowed hard. Every eye was glued on me. Starswirl gave my hoof a squeeze and pulled back my chair in his magic. I reluctantly rose and walked up to the head of the table. Celestia took my seat between Starswirl and Spike as I quickly thought about what to say now that my thoughts had scattered to the wind. Taking my place, I motioned for calm. “Thank you, everypony. Thank you.” The tumult softened to a dull roar and then to absolute silence. I faced Celestia in the same way that she had addressed me. “I appreciate the honor, Princess, but this isn’t the time to focus on titles or what may come in the future. Tonight, we honor the past.” I stood as tall as I could and addressed the room. “I don’t deserve any honor or fancy titles for my part in all of this. Instead, I want to give thanks and praise to the one who made all of this possible. Not many know of him, and only a few here ever had the privilege of being in his presence. That doesn’t change the fact that we owe everything we are to the legacy that he helped preserve. Without him, we would not be here to celebrate; friendship and harmony would be a bygone memory of the ancient past. Without him, I wouldn’t have all of you, especially my best friend of all.” I nodded at Spike. He smiled and nodded back. “Without the guardianship of Lord Aeon, the Magic of Friendship would be lost, forever.” I pulled up a glass. “Tonight, let us remember and celebrate as friends. May his sacrifice remind us that Friendship is Magic, always and forever. To Lord Aeon!” My glass was joined with the rest of the hall, and we drank to the memory of the last guardian. Under my breath, I spoke mostly to myself. “And to Discord, a true friend though he may not wish to admit it.” I raised my glass a second time to the empty seat and took another swallow to finish off the cider.