The light dimmed, and the group of seven groaned as they staggered to stay steady. Janice looked around, and spoke. “What just happened?”
Maestro was the first to regain his composure. “Well, we obviously just defeated the Dark King. Otherwise, I don’t think we’d have these pieces of jewelry.” He then tapped something metallic on his head, which drew Janice’s eyes upward. Upon his head sat a platinum crown which was embedded with a covellite in the shape of his cutie mark. He then spoke again. “My only question is why you and I got head ornaments while the rest of the gang got necklaces…” Janice then raised a hoof to feel something metallic on her own head. She removed it, and took a closer look at it. It was a tiara made of platinum, and embedded in it was an amethyst shaped like her cutie mark. She then looked over to the rest of her friends, which had now gotten their wits about them, and were admiring their new accessories. All of the necklaces were made of platinum, and all had gems embedded into them. Melia’s had a ruby cloud, Zecora’s had a topaz spiral sun, Cloudckicker’s had a tourmaline sun somewhat hidden by a cloud, Roseluck’s had an emerald rose, and Concerta’s had a sapphire G & F clef combo. The group then heard a moan from over to the left. The six mares gasped. There, by the wall, was Eclipse. He looked a smidge shorter, but otherwise, he looked no worse for wear.
Janice then spoke out. “Didn’t we defeat him? Why is he still here?”
Eclipse raised his head, and gasped, then drew back. “S-stay back! I mean thee no harm! I’m not corrupt anymore, so leave me be!” He then clenched his eyes shut.
The mares murmured, but Maestro drew close to Eclipse. Janice hissed as Maestro started to bow. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Maestro just ignored her however, and spoke to Eclipse. “Oh, my king. It is good to see you back to your old self, your highness.” He then stood up, and continued after Eclipse opened his eyes. “I know that it wasn’t your fault that you did all those horrible things, my king, but it will take much time for others to forgive you for what has occurred. For the moment, I believe that the care of Equestria is best left in the hooves of your daughters.”
Eclipse then spoke. “But, I entrapped-”
He was cut off by a familiar voice. “That is no longer the case, father. We were freed when the darkness was lifted from your heart.”
The group turned, and there they were: the Royal Pony Twins. Most of the mares bowed, but Janice cried out. “Princess Celestia! Princess Luna! You’re alright!”
Maestro just chuckled. “Of course they are, sis. After all, we did just save the day.”
Celestia turned to face Maestro and raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t expect to see you here, Maestro. Does this mean you couldn’t do the commision?”
Maestro tsked and lit up his horn. “Never underestimate the Maestro, your majesty.” Suddenly, a stain-glass window appeared in their midst. It depicted the seven heroes standing up against the Dark King with beams of colored light coming from each pony.
Celestia gasped. “How did you pull this off? You were fighting at the time!”
Maestro shook a hoof in the air in a “no” motion. “The Maestro has his ways, your majesty.”
A chest appeared before him, and as he opened it, his eyes widened. Celestia cut off his response. “You deserve a little extra, seeing as you’re one of the ones to save the world.” Celestia then turned to the others. “As for the rest of you, you can expect a package in a day or two to be at your door. It’ll contain your portion of the reward. Now, let us go-”
Just then, they heard cold laughter. “Ohohohoho! Just wonderful job, just wonderful.”
Maestro narrowed his eyes. “Show yourself!”
The voice snorted. “Oh, fine. Ruin my fun. Very well then.” The air chilled, and a wind blew through the room. The wind spun in a circle, coalescing the cold into flakes of snow. The snow was then arranged into the shape of a unicorn stallion’s head. “There. You happy now, Maestro?”
King Eclipse snarled. “YOU!”
The head chuckled. “Ahahaha! Hello, Eclipse. Nice to see you again.”
Eclipse growled. “Why did you tell me to go here? What was your plan for me?”
The head tsked. “Are you daft? This is what I planned for you, right from the very beginning.”
Maestro blinked. “What? Why?”
The head chortled. “Hah! You see, Eclipse was just a disposable pawn to me. A means to an end, if you would. It was his very purpose to be defeated, but even if he won, it would still benefit me.” The head grinned. “So you see, no matter what, I would have my bases covered. Brilliant, no?”
Maestro spat. “Just who are you, and what are your aims?”
The head shook. “My aims? Maestro, that’s for you to piece together, not for me to tell you. But, I’ll give you a hint: It has something to do with Equestria’s real problem.” The head then smiled. “As for who I am… you can call me Cold Heart.”
Luna then spoke. “Cold Heart! Why did you use our father?”
Cold Heart sneered. “You really think I’ll just reveal everything to you? I’m not cliché, you know. However, let me tell you one thing: This isn’t over yet.” Cold Heart then grinned. “After all, I have more pawns for you to play with in my game.”
As Cold Heart’s apparition was disappearing, Maestro called out. “Wait! Do you know anything about what happened to Chessmaster?"
The apparition smirked as it faded. “You could say… That I know all too well what happened to him…” As his image faded completely, he spoke one last word. “Farewell.”
The apparition then faded into nothingness.