Starlight was a bit woozy after using the Elements, but she soon got a hold of herself, and took a good look around. Her friends- which, she noted she seemed to no longer mind considering them that- were coming to their senses, aside from Maestro, who seemed barely phased. She noticed that each of them wore a platinum necklace- or tiara in her case or crown in Maestro’s- which bore a gem of the color of light that had surrounded them, carved into the shape of their Cutie Marks- Thunder Blitz had a ruby lightning bolt, Cherry Cobbler had a topaz cherry cobbler, Crescendo Dream had a tourmaline baton, Serenity had an emerald perfume bottle, Berry Punch had a sapphire grape bunch with strawberry, Maestro Spectrum had a covellite music note and paintbrush combo, and Starlight Glimmer had a violet four-pointed star. She then saw two figures in the corner of the room, which she wasn’t all to happy to see. She angrily spat as she pointed at them. “What are they still doing here?”
Maestro stepped between Starlight and the two cowering alicorns, shaking his head. “They’ve changed, Starz. They’ve let go of the darkness that consumed them, bringing them back to their old selves- Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.” He turned to the two alicorns in question, who were smaller than they had been earlier, and their manes were no longer flowing with magic, revealing their natural colors. He tilted his head downward with respect. “It is good to see you two back to your old selves, Princesses.”
Thunder glared at the two alicorns, huffing. “Well, that’s all fine and dandy, but that doesn’t bring the king back.”
The two in question hung their heads in shame, and were preparing to accept any punishment when a deep chuckle came from the windows, a sound that soothed the ponies. “Oh, I wouldn’t know about that. Perhaps it did.”
The majority of the ponies bowed, save Starlight, who displayed her surprised quite differently. “Your Majesty! But how-!”
Maestro chuckled as he drew closer to the King. “Well, he was released when the darkness was removed from the hearts of his daughters when we used the Elements. Really, what did you expect?”
Eclipse regarded Maestro, raising an eyebrow. “Oh? Maestro, my old student. What are you doing here? I didn’t expect you to become part of the Elemental Bearers. Does this mean that you have no commission for this event?”
Maestro lit his horn, summoning in a stain-glass window that depicted the seven fighting the Twins of Terror, colored beams coming from each of them. He smirked. “Never underestimate the Maestro, Your Majesty.”
The King took the stain-glass in his magic, and teleported in a chest full of bits in front of Maestro. Before Maestro could object, King Eclipse held up his claw. “You’ve earned the extra, for your efforts in helping restoring my daughters.” He then turned to his daughters. “Come, let us explain this to the populace. They may be a bit hesitant at first, but they will forgive you in time.”
However, before the group could leave, a cloaked figure with a obsidian snowflake around its neck appeared in a flash of black light. She chuckled, and spoke. “Really, how interesting. I half-expected that you would lose. Oh well. This works for me, too.”
Maestro took a good look at the yellow-furred hooded mare. He spoke. “Just who are you? What do you want?”
The mare shook her head, tsking in disappointment. “Oh, Maestro. You really don’t see it, do you? And Dad always said that you were the perceptive one of the four of us.”
Maestro’s eyes widened as he gasped in recognition. “No! It can’t be! You died! How can you-!”
The mare laughed, a haunting and hollow sound that cut Maestro off. “Oh, there is powerful and ancient magic keeping me here- my benefactor wants me to set thing up for his return to power. He agreed to give me life as long as I worked for him.”
Maestro looked again at the obsidian snowflake around the mare’s neck. He then realized what she was talking about. He shouted out his disapproval. “Servo! How could you trust him, of all beings! You know that he feeds on despair! If he comes back, it means the end of Equestria as we know it! A return of Windigoes, along with their king!”
The others were shocked, to say the least. Hadn’t he said earlier that Servo had died? If so, what was she doing here now? The mare who he’d called Servo chuckled darkly. “Oh brother, you don’t understand- The insufferable elites took my life in the most painful way for our family. It’s time I had payback! I was lucky that most of me had been flung to the Temple of Frost in the Frozen North! His power keeps me alive, even if it is in this broken state! No matter what, I will rip the elites of this world a new one!”
Starlight stepped forward. “Stop! Revenge isn’t the answer! Please, let go of your hate! You can-!”
“Servo” blasted Starlight with a black beam of magic, hurling her against the wall. “I don’t care for your preaching! So shut it!” She stole one last look at Maestro, and grinned. “The next time we meet, I will bring you to my side. No matter what.” In a flash of black, she was gone. The group then exited the ruins, trying to put the disturbing thought of dealing with a zombie out of their heads.
Maestro hung back a little, and looked to the spot Servo had occupied. Had anyone been near, they would’ve heard what he’d said to the air. “Servo… I never thought you could come back… And when you did, you were against us…” He shook his head. “I will find a way to bring you a peaceful rest, ma chère sœur. I promise.” He then galloped off, to catch up to his friends.