//------------------------------//
// 12. Neostar (Epilogue) 
// Story: Arête - Princess Alicorn of Hackers 
// by Lise 
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At precisely midnight on the seventh day of May nine years after the return of Princess Luna, a large group of hackers launched a massive attack on Conglomerate and other assets on the Dream Web. The scale of this attack was unprecedented, causing whole sectors to shut down. Thousands of users experienced significant Web problems, including severe lag and connection difficulty during the event. According to some sources, over twenty thousand ponies alone were locked out, having to wait hours until services were fully restored.

I closed the aether window. The Conglomerate's PR department was good — way too good. Not a word about the Multi Run, or that Prince Luna, Princess Twilight and Zecora had been present, or even about the questionable Web practices that had been uncovered as a result. In the large scale of things it was all explained away, as a splinter group of rogue employees who wanted to further their personal gain. A few dozen employees were fired, and the ice factories were opened to public scrutiny, and an apology ‘to all concerned’ was issued.

I, however, knew the truth. I had been there during the run, as we breached our way through firewalls, rock, and any type of ICE the Conglomerate had thrown at us. It was bucking awesome — the stuff of legends unfolding before my eyes. I could live to be a hundred, and I still doubt I would see anything of the sort ever again.

"Dink?" I heard somepony say behind me. "Really sorry for bothering, but it's almost time."

"It's fine, DD," I closed the aether window. "Nothing but trash to read anyway. Is everypony there?"

"No," she replied, her crystal avatar glowing a bright pink. Usually I didn't like effects, but right now I thought it was cool. Hay, this was a special occasion, after all! Not everyday did one get to see the making of a new Princess. 

"Anypony we know?" I went beside her as we trotted towards the mountain.

"Some. MaDster is there, along with the Boomdrops, most of the big names too..."

And some rising stars like us. I added mentally. Actually, that wasn't a bad name. The Rising Stars. Had a ring to it, and also clearly showed what we had done. By helping rescue a Star Pony we had become just that. Or maybe Star Risers would be better?

The mountain we were heading to — until recently — had been Arête's prison. With the ICE disabled by the Web goddess, princess Luna had used used a considerable amount of power to literally split the mountain in two. Of course, it had also helped that the sector had somehow become marked for collapsing. How that happened remained a mystery. After the ceremony I was going to ask Derpy about it. Knowing her, she would probably treat me to a bowl of muffins instead.

"Will you be alright at school?" DD asked. "Want me to give you a hoof there?"

"Web and real life don't mix." I tried sounding cool, but deep inside was screaming in agony. Two days absent, one after the other. Cheerilee was going to flip. Then she would tell my sis and she would flip, then I would lose my Web privileges for a month and will have to... Actually, buck it! Everything was going to be fine. If Derpy could convince my sister that she had allowed me to spend a night with my ex-foalsitter, then I certainly could come up with some explanation for Cheerilee.

"If you say so," DD shrugged.

Arête’s 'throne room' was impressive if nothing else — the hollowed chamber of an ICE factory, with nothing but sky above. At the distant end I could see a crystal dais glowing in a soft electric light. Very techno. 

"I heard Princess Celestia might be here," DD whispered as we approached our benches.

"I doubt it," I glanced about. "The Web never was her thing. It'll probably just be Luna and Twilight, possibly Zecora — actually, Zecora for certain. Maybe some minor nobility as well — Canterlot ponies, a Crystal or two. Possibly..." Several shushes made me stop. Thankful that my avatar hid my blushing, I sat quietly on my bench.

Moments later, the ceremony started. This was possibly the polar opposite of Twilight's coronation. No huge crowds, no flashy ceremonies, just a few cool hackers whose real life identities I had no idea about, and a... Buck it to the moon! DD turned out to be right! Five figures had appeared above us — five shining beings against the magenta sky. Unlike us, they didn't have any avatars — they didn't need them. Their power alone was enough to allow them to enter the Dream Web.

"Told you," DD whispered smugly. I kicked her hoof.

Princess Celestia was there! And not only her. All four Princesses were descending gracefully towards the four corners of the dais. Between them was a fifth alicorn, her magenta coat and mane making her almost invisible against the Web sky. So that was her, the creature we had busted out flanks to rescue? She looked quite different outside the web of dream strands. Sort of similar to Luna, but also different. Her body frame was sort of similar to the Princess', but her face, hooves and mane were nothing alike. 

Arête — the pony of the stars, that had helped Luna escape her imprisonment. I still wasn't certain whether that made her good or evil. Maybe she was neither? Still, the Princesses had gone through a lot to free her, so that had to count for something. Also, she was no friend of the Conglomerate, so that was always a plus.

"Arête of the Stars!" Luna's voice boomed throughout the entire zone. I had almost forgotten she could do that. My ears didn't appreciate it rather. "Centuries ago, you were one those who agreed to free me. I then made a promise that you and the other stars would share my rule of Equestria. And although my nature has changed since then, I shall keep my word. I may no longer have the desire to cast eternal night over Equestria, but I give you this world — a place where neither my Moon, not the Sun of my sister will bother you. This is to be your domain, to rule if you wish, a domain of Dreams and Logic that you can help shape as you desire."

There was a slight pause. I could hear DD clapping her hooves nervously. This time I couldn't blame her. Starstruck by a literal star was one cool combo.

"Henceforth you shall be known as Arête, Princess of the—"

"No," Arête interrupted. Everypony fell silent. Whispers emerged. What was she thinking? I felt a slight chill pass through me. Had I made a huge mistake?

"I already have a name!" the magenta alicorn said. Her horn lit up in an incandescent blue, sending bolts of energy towards the sky.

I readied my escape protocols. The deep magenta became a shade lighter. Scores of tiny blue dots burned their way through the smooth surface, like fire sparks through silk. For the first time since its creation the Web had stars. So very different from the real thing, and yet so beautiful.

"I am Arête!" the alicorn proclaimed, her horn returning to normal. "Princess Alicorn of Hackers!"
What the buck?! Did you just steal my phrase, goddess?

And as the crowd around me exploded, filling the air with cheers and stomping, I continued to sit silently, staring straight above me. I doubt that anypony else even noticed. I doubt they could. 

There were letters under one of the stars — letters I and a few others were able to see.

Buck it all! I smiled. I just got my very own star...