They left early the next morning. Silver left Bottom and Bright on the boat, and departed with Celestia and Shei. It wasn't hard to find the carpets, all spread out and dazzling in their colors, and protected by a dozen horses.
Their approach was noticed swiftly and a sultan of a horse stepped towards them with a smile. "Princess Celestia! A rare honor. How can we be of service?" He bowed low before her as he spoke, then righted himself.
Celestia tipped her head at him. "A fine day to you. We need a carpet large enough for the three of us for one day's time."
The horse was only too happy to start pointing out rugs large enough for the task, and suggested some especially luxurious ones that came with secure seating arrangements. "It wouldn't do to have royal persons slipping while in the air, would it?"
"I should think not. I'll take this one." She pointed at one with relatively simple, but secure-looking, seats. "We'll have it back by sundown."
Bits and pleasantries were exchanged before they all clambered onto the rug and settled onto the cushioned seats. Shei smiled, looking a touch giddy despite her nervousness. "I've flown a carpet once before. Allow me." She placed her hooves solidly on the floor and with some unseen signal, the carpet lifted into the air, and they were on their way. "Are you certain this plan will work, mistress?"
Celestia tilted her head. "As sure as anything. Allow me to have the first word with them. Let me be the bearer of the news, not you. In fact, try to stay as unobtrusive as possible. Play up the servant angle."
Desert flew past beneath them, Silver watching as signs of life revealed themselves. Horses could ride camels, it turned out, as ridiculous as it looked. They eventually came across a small town. Shei pointed to one of many little buildings made of stone. "That one."
Silver perked an ear at it. He'd expected bigger, for some reason, but decided it was Shei's fears of their rejection that was large.
They settled the carpet in front of the house with a smooth landing. Some curious faces peeked out of windows and around corners, gaping at the sudden royal visit to the little town. Celestia rose to her hooves and approached the door, only to find it looked worse up close. The door was off its hinges, and a scent of sand and disuse came from within.
"They're gone." An older mare came trotting up towards them. "Are you looking for the Windsongs?"
Shei's expression brightened. "Auntie!" The old mare recognized Shei and they met with a warm exchange of hugs. "Auntie! What happened? Why does the house look so run down?"
The mare frowned. "They died, little Shei. They've moved on. Oh, and here you are with such esteemed guests... If only they could see it."
Shei staggered back, then fell to the rug. "H-how?"
Auntie pointed at the house. "Nothing too dramatic. They just got sick, didn't recover. We sent a letter to you and your sister. Where is she, by the way? Did you two part ways?"
Shei's face went drawn. "Yes... we... we parted ways..."
Auntie could apparently read between the lines effortlessly, and advanced to embrace Shei tightly. "Oh you poor thing... I'm making it all worse..." She looked to Celestia and Silver, their plan entirely invalidated. "Hello. I feel I should recognize you, but you'll forgive an old mare her foibles."
Silver pointed at Celestia. "This is Princess Celestia, and I am Prince Silver Stars. Shei is our servant, and we came to deliver news of Aila."
Auntie frowned a little. "Well... it's delivered... You go on now, Shei, you don't need to mourn the dead when the living still need you."
Shei shook her head violently. "No! You are the last family I have left... You always forgave me. You... Please, come with us."
Auntie and the others looked surprised. "What? What would I even do? Your employers don't need an old crone. I'm sure they have plenty of seamstresses already."
Shei pointed at Auntie. "You're lonely, aren't you? You looked so sad. Please, let us be together, for what time we have. As a family."
Auntie smiled. "Oh... I..." She looked to Celestia. "Is any of this alright with you? I don't want to impose."
Celestia held up a hoof. "I would be ashamed of myself if I stopped this reunion."
Silver shook his head. "This is not... what I had in mind, but no, please. Shei obviously cares for you, a lot. If you're alright moving to Equestria, you're welcome."
Auntie squeezed Shei tightly. "I told those fools to not chase you away, girl. You're a good soul, and look at you, working for such kind royalty. But you're a mean one, asking an old mare to up and move across the world." She lifted her nose high. "Not that she plans to say no, mind you. Let me fetch my things." She trotted away, looking a bit more energized then when she first arrived.
Shei let out a soft breath. "Already dead... After... After all that... I... I feel terrible for thinking so ill of them."
Celestia gestured at the house. "Now is the time to set things straight."
Shei nodded a little and stepped forward before sinking to the sands and closing her eyes in prayer or deep thought.
With a rush of cold wind, a form of a stallion appeared with a scowl in front of Shei. "You think you can ask forgiveness, now? You return with a dead sister, the same sister who threw away her life just to protect you?"
Shei recoiled, scrambling to her hooves. "Father?"
The ghost followed after Shei. "I held on long enough to have a few words with you. Even Hades can't drag me away until I'm good and ready. Tell me, girl, tell me what you've done with yourself, and what shame my other daughter has experienced."
Celestia stepped in front of Shei. "She serves honorably for the crown of Equestria, as the first servant of Prince Silver Stars. Your other daughter perished of poison meant for his same lips. We came to thank you for such fine mares you produced, and to apologize for her sacrifice, but she will be remembered well."
The ghost backed away from Celestia and her bright aura. The touch of the sun's presence seemed to ward him, and he backed away into the shadow of the house. "A fine thing!" He leveled a hoof at Shei. "You should be dead! She should be the honored servant! Why did you steal her life!"
Shei broke down, collapsing to the ground in tears. Silver felt a new rage build in him and advanced on the ghost. "Your time is done! We've said what we came to say. Do you intend to make peace with your daughter?"
The ghost turned away. "I have no daughter. She died of poison."
Silver trembled with building rage. His heart crystal shone bright purple as his magic swirled dangerously. "Then I banish you! Go away and trouble the living no further!" He reared up and struck the ground with his forehooves, his magic exploding outwards in two waves through the sand.
The ghost tried to back away, but found the waves pulled him in like quicksand. The earth magic of the earth pony tribe could not be denied, and his soul was forcefully swallowed and entombed. There were hushed whispers from the sparse crowd that had witnesses the event.
Auntie returned with saddlebags filled with things that made them bulge. "I'm--" She tilted her head at the weeping Shei, then hurried forward to embrace her, holding the younger mare as she wept while whispering gentle things.
Celestia shook her head. "That was a powerful magic, Silver. I didn't see your horn glow. You'll have to tell me more about it after we return." She moved to the carpet and settled. "I think we've seen enough. We should be off, as soon as Shei is ready."
Silver moved to join Shei. Every step was a torture of its own. The potent magic left him stiff to the point of being sore, but anger and concern muted his desire to act on it. "Shei, he's gone. He's gone and doesn't deserve your thoughts. He gave up on you years ago, and he was wrong, dead wrong. You're a fine mare, my mare. Stand tall and know that."
Shei looked up at him, then aside at Auntie before she nodded. Slowly she climbed to her hooves. "I'm... sorry for making such a scene. I'm alright." She rubbed at her face with a fetlock.
Silver snorted. "You're not OK, and that's fine. What you saw would have rattled anyone. Cry and let it out, but know that he was wrong. You deserve to live, and are worth celebrating."
Auntie perked an ear curiously. "Would someone tell me what happened? I was barely gone a few minutes."
Silver nuzzled Shei gently. "He's wrong." He let her cry and turned to face Auntie. "Her father appeared, a ghost, and taunted her."
Auntie scowled. "That stubborn oaf! I told her he was bad news... To defy the very nature of the world, out of pettiness!" She moved in on Shei. "I never got a chance to talk to you since you ran off so suddenly, but you should know, your mother never stopped loving you."
Shei blinked open her eyes at Auntie. "What?"
Auntie nodded. "It's true, cross my heart. She... she chose a bad mate, and suffered for it. She never had the bravery to tell you, but she was proud you were willing to stand up on your own. She loved you, dearly, all the way to the end." She pulled out a small locket. "She wanted you to have this."
Shei's reddened eyes went wide as she nuzzled into the open space, wearing the locket easily. "You're just... You're just saying that. There's no way she'd leave this to me."
Auntie put a hoof over her chest. "It is the truth. She gave it to me on her deathbed, said your name clear as a bell. She knew you'd sort things out in the end." She smiled gently. "Now we should be going. We've kept these nice ponies waiting long enough."
Shei nodded in agreement and took her place on the carpet before patting the empty space. Auntie settled onto it and secured herself. "It's been years since I've been on one of these! The price on 'em keeps going up."
Celestia smiled gently. "Equestria has fewer flying carpets, but I'm sure we'll find other things."
The carpet lifted under Shei's control, and they left the town behind in the desert. Auntie whooped and waved a hoof in the air, clearly enjoying herself. Silver couldn't help but think of Granny Smith, though Shei's Aunt was a pale brown color with faded blond mane and tail done up in curls. She had a good energy about her, and Silver decided he liked her, as a person.
"What's your real name?" asked Silver.
She pointed at herself. "Me? Patty Windsong, at your service."