//------------------------------//
// Chapter II: Cold Front 
// Story: The Coltic Prince 
// by Keldeo de Sol 
//------------------------------//

	Rushing inside the towering castle gates, slamming the doors behind him, Keldeo shivered as he put his hooves up to his face, heaving deeply as he tried to warm himself up. He was thankful to be within the walls of what he called home, but the chill couldn’t be removed from his bones quick enough. The blizzard hadn’t let up through the entire day, even though overhead the pegasus ponies of the weather team could be seen skittering about, trying to redirect the clouds. Any time they removed one, two more just took its place. Mother Nature was being quite adamant with her decision to drown Canterlot in a deafening white plush. Though the wind bit harshly, plenty of ponies were still found outside, playing. Namely, the ponies that got the day off from school to go sled riding, build forts, and organize snowball fights. Keldeo spent most of the morning going over their project, early afternoon attempting to drag Twilight around outside after some friends invited them to some team based snowball fights, and then part of the later evening back to Twilight’s to test their hypothesis. Results were mostly positive, though still needed fine tuning when the letter they sent came out in a burst of flames through the wrong end of Spike. Twilight wished to continue working out the kinks and asked to watch Spike for the night, which of course just meant she wanted to continue testing her potion and her partner’s spell until it was just perfect. Keldeo preferred to try and get home as the sun had already set and it wasn’t getting any balmier outside.

Off to the side, a couple of guards stood by a large wooden door. Inside was one of the many conference rooms, frequently used for meetings throughout the day. On either side of the door, a soldier stands, clad in golden armor, spears by their sides, and looking stone faced. In their minds, it is difficult to imagine what they are thinking, but most claim it is normally along the lines of how much longer remains on their shift so they may take a load off. Standing motionless for hours is rough on the legs.

As Keldeo continued to heave into his hooves, that door off to the side opened and the guards stepped aside, facing one another. Trotting out were various advisors in company of the Imperial Three, Equestria’s commanding generals. We’re already familiar with General Dust, commanding officer of the bulk of armed forces in Equestria. With him were Generals Ena and Cumulus, whom were responsible for the battle mages and magical lore, and intelligence gathering and air forces respectively. Between the three, they each represented the trinity of ponykind; earth, unicorn, and pegasus ponies. Following up the rear was Princess Celestia. She spoke to her generals a moment more before sending them away. From the corner of her eye, she spots the prince and approaches him.

“You’re home,” Celestia said, feigning a smile as she approached her son. “Sunshine, you look near frozen. Are you alright?”

“Yes. Yes, mother. I’m fine. Hindsight tells me I should’ve worn more than just a scarf today is all,” said Keldeo. “So, what’s going on? You were meeting with all the Imperials. I don’t think you’ve ever had to meet with all three of them at once before.”

The weak smile faded from Celestia’s face. Pausing a moment to think, she averted her gaze over towards the two soldiers who were standing guard outside the conference room. A quick tilt of her head gave order that the two may be excused. Taking Keldeo under her wing, holding him close to help him warm up, Celestia proceeded to walk forward and up a flight of stairs in the great hall, proceeding up a path to the right until they were out of earshot of the guards.

“My Sunshine… tell me, how well do know the story of Hearth’s Warming Eve?”

Keldeo raised a brow at the question. “What, the story of the founding of Equestria? Well, it happened over thirteen hundred years ago and was caused by the windigos. They fed off the negativity of the ponies back when and tried to drown the world in blizzards.” Pausing for a moment, something in his head clicked. “You’re not saying the windigos are responsible the recent storms, are you?”

Celestia shook her head. “No. That’s only what the stories say. The truth is that the blizzards from when were only a front to hide the windigos as they did their assigned tasks. The source came from their master.”

The windigos’ master? “You mean they were working for someone?” Keldeo asked.

“A powerful entity, my son. Vacuus, a mighty dragon capable of plunging the world into eternal darkness. Born of nothing, embodiment of the void, Vacuus is something to take very seriously.” The tone of Celestia’s voice gave way to how heavy her heart sank. “And what we know about him is limited.”

To call Vacuus a “dragon” would be inaccurate, as the truth of the being has no true form. Having existed hundreds of years before Celestia was born, prior to the foundation of Equestria, he existed in a time where history was recorded in detail and often left the telling of such things to an oral tradition, warping and tarnishing the truth based on the teller. Master of the windigos, Vacuus harvested the feast of negativity to grow ever stronger, expanding his influence. He was only stopped when a unicorn by the name of Clover the Clever befriended the pegasus Pansy and the earth pony, Smart Cookie.

Indeed, while Clover and company stopped the windigos as the stories of Hearth Warming Eve suggests, it was only because they conquered their master, Vacuus. The triumph was only possible due to a mysterious set of artifacts that was stumbled upon whilst exploring the newly discovered lands that became Equestria. From a tree, shining fruits that resembled gemstones, possessing the ability to amplify the positive feelings and the bonds of friendships. Taking the fruits for themselves and wielding them against Vacuus, they were able to split the monster’s spirit into two shards and seal the body deep within a forbidden mountain, henceforth name “Vacuus Rest.”

“Reports of powerful quakes spiked from Vacuus Rest last month and recent scout reports say there are landslides and avalanches within the region of the mountain. Unnatural looking destruction, like as if something broke free,” said Celestia.

“That’s it?” Keldeo seemed almost relieved, thinking he’s already solved the mystery. “Something broke out of the mountain? Nothing unnatural there. Lava. Gases. Volcano. It was only a volcanic eruption. …right?”

Celestia let out a long sigh with a grimace. “If only that were the case. But very few know of Vacuus Rest and what lies within. If that wasn’t enough, there have been sightings of something that resembles the description of Vacuus and nothing of the likes we know today fit it. And he is on the move.” From an envelope of papers kept under her opposite wing, Celestia presents Keldeo with a letter.


Your Majesty,


It is difficult to assess exact visual confirmation. We followed the trail from Vacuus Rest eastbound, encountering blizzards that only get worse the more we travel in pursuit. The tracks show two large claw marks on either side of a slithering stroke in the snow, like as if made by a gigantic snake or serpent dragging itself across the land, no legs. When at last we reached the source of the markings, the wind was billowing, the snow in the air heavy and thick, and temperatures well below zero. We could only gaze upon brief moments of a silhouette before we had to turn back, or else we’d never be able to get you these reports alive. From what little we were able to see, the physicality has confirmed suspicions of a serpent-like body, but there may also be wings. Length estimated between 18 to 21 meters, approximate width between two to three meters. Prints in the snow, however, are inconsistent with the general size, suggesting the target is less than one ton in weight. Accuracy is lost as snow quickly fills in the tracks, making more acute estimates nearly impossible. Target continues heading due east. Currently no towns or other recorded areas of residency are in immediate vicinity, but will be on the watch for any changes that may put civilians at risk. We will continue our mission by your order.


                                Long Live Equestria

                                        -X

“That’s… vague,” Keldeo said, returning the letter with the stamp “CLASSIFIED” to it.

“But it is enough for me to confirm the identity of such a beast. He matches the description just as my great mother has told me. And I have seen him in my dreams as of late. I trust what I see in these visions and do not wish to waste any time. Vacuus put the world at risk before and he must be stopped before winter is over.” Celestia removed her wing from Keldeo, marching forward with a sense of determination.

But winter hasn’t technically started…

“Wait a moment, mother!” Keldeo galloped briefly to catch up with his mother, her longer legs able to take greater strides with less effort. “I’m just throwing this out there, but we don’t need to involve the Imperials, do we? If this Vacuus is such a big threat, why don’t we just get out the Elements? You said you used them on… Dissonance? Now look. He’s just a posing, laughing goat sculpture out there in the rose garden! And that time, when you used it on-”

“Do not remind me of that memory,” Celestia butted in, stopping. She looked down at her son. “Even so, it is exactly the reason why since the last time I used the Elements of Harmony that we cannot use them. Until your aunt has returned, they are inert. Even if we wanted to use them, we can’t.” Suppressing thoughts of Luna as best she could so she may remain focused on the current threat, her tone turned sympathetic. “…so our best hope right now rests on the shoulders of our great generals, which includes Dust. He’s got a sworn duty.”

Silence took the hallway. On the otherside of the windows, jack frost nipped at the windows, chilling condensation to decorative little snowflake patterns as the snow continued to blow about outside in a wintery fairyland. Knowing he offended his mother by speaking of Luna like a villain, he adverted his gaze away. Her tone she took when speaking of General Dust also left a pit feeling Keldeo’s stomach. Maybe it was an emotion brought up by her sister, but how she spoke sounded like she reluctantly had to give an order for the generals to march to their death.

“I’m… I’m sorry, mother. I got ahead of myself again,” he said.        

“No, it’s fine. It wasn’t your fault. It was mine,” Celestia replied, standing next to the prince and gazing out the window with him. “I shouldn’t have worried you with this. We’re not without any good fortune by our side, at least. I had mentioned that upon his defeat, Vacuus’s spirit was expelled from his body and split in two. That means his body right now is an empty, discarded husk. No thought, no intelligence. And without much of his former power. The Imperials are skilled at what they do. Working together, I don’t have any doubts they’ll come up with a plan.” A warm, soft smile returns to Celestia’s face as she lowers her had to meet side by side with Keldeo’s. “After all, I also still dream of when you’ll get to meet your aunt at long last. I still believe that this is a vision and the sun is warm in them.”

“And the Imperials… they’ll all return home.” Keldeo knew already what his mother was implying.

“I do not think General Dust would dare miss on that camping trip you two embark on every spring. He thinks of you as much his son as I do.”

Keldeo smirked. “Yeah… you’re right. A thousand years on the throne and you’ve had nothing but peace all this time. Vacuus feeds on negativity, right? Bad time to come back, during the jolliest time of year. And in Equestria? The Nation of Friendship? There isn’t a way the Imperials will lose to this thing.”

A mischievous grin splashed across Celestia’s face. “Oh, I wouldn’t be too sure. If Vacuus goes to Applewood, he could very well feed on the frustrations of the ponies there who have to wear scarves for warmth and not fashion.”

“Make sure you keep him away from ol’ Blue Blood, then! If he were to miss a hooficure, Vacuus would have enough raw negative emotion to freeze the oceans solid!”

The hallway, lit only with holiday lights and festive candles, echoed with the soft chuckles of the princess and prince of Equestria. It even looked like Discord, outside upon his pedestal, was howling with laughter as well. Keldeo could only hope that his mother was telling the truth. She keeps a good face when speaking to subjects, but was always willing to be a bit more sincere of how she felt when in company of her son.

“Now don’t let it trouble you any more, my sunshine. You just leave this issue to us and we’ll make sure that spring will still arrive right on time.” Celestia moved in and gave Keldeo a soft kiss on the cheek, followed with a comforting embrace as she held him close. A thought then quickly crossed her mind as she noticed something was amiss. “Where’s Spike?”

“Oh, he’s staying with Twilight tonight,” said Keldeo.

“Poor guy. He’s going to be subjected to your project testing all night, isn’t he?”

“When it comes to research, I don’t think even Vacuus could stand in her way.”

Mother and son shared an exchange of giggles before an awkward silence fell between them. As much as they tried to entertain and lighten the mood, Celestia wasn’t able to keep some level of worry hidden. Just knowing how much General Dust meant to Keldeo, she feared most to what he was feeling. She wasn’t heartless, but it has been such a long while since she felt such emotions. It has been nearly a thousand years since she personally raised a foal as her own.

“When are they leaving?” he asked,

“We’ve been talking this over since yesterday and they’ll be departing at sunrise tomorrow, along with some of our finest,” replied Celestia.

“And when will they be back?”

“If I could have it my way, everyone would be home in time to unwrap gifts Hearth’s Warming Morning. But weather will only worsen the closer they get to their target, so probably won’t be set to return until past the new year.” If Celestia could truly have had it her way, she’d have preferred if this whole ordeal were to have never happened in the first place.

“If it is acceptable, would you be willing if I delivered General Dust the present I got for him tonight?” Keldeo asked modestly. “I’ve really been wanting to give it to him and since he won’t be here Hearth’s Warming morn… better early than late for this, right?”

Celestia smiled. “I do not see why not. I’m certain that your gift will be a much needed lift for his spirits. Why don’t you run ahead and get that to him? And when you’ve finished, return back for dinner. We’re having it in about an hour.”

At the thought of the reaction General Dust would give in response to what he’d give him, Keldeo beamed. “Thank you, mother! I’ll try not to take long!” Taking anything he can get to keep thoughts refrained of what Dust’s mission has in store for him, the Prince of Equestria bolted down the hall, making a mad dash for the residential quarters of the castle.

His first stop was the den. Decked out with tinsel and lights, Keldeo went directly for the monster of a pine tree with several presents boxed up and packed with ribbons and bows. Leaning up against the wall next to the tree, a slim, rectangular box rest. Nabbing it with magic, he held it parallel to himself and went to exit the room. As he was about to leave, he passed the hearth and caught eye of the stockings there. This reminded him that he had prepped a stocking stuffer for Dust as well, but Keldeo had left it up in his room. What was inside the stocking was just as important to give, as the two gifts were meant be given together. Setting the box down outside the den so he wouldn’t have to haul it upstairs with him, Keldeo ran up the stairs, invaded his room for the stocking labeled “Dust” that hung by his own fireplace, and hastened the pace back downstairs, picking back up his package. He had everything he wanted to gift to General Dust.

Swiftly through the halls and down several flights of stairs, Keldeo made way to the facilities closest to the mountain itself, for this is where the city of Canterlot’s militia took up space. Most of this place was restricted without special permission, but Keldeo found himself here quite frequently. He was never trained to be a soldier specifically, but he was often here for various activities. Studying, fencing lessons, and of course the occasional tour to meet with the guards and raise moral. New recruits who have come from far to train in the royal Canterlot guard are honored when in the presence of royalty, so it was a duty not even Princess Celestia dared neglect. It wasn’t long before Keldeo stood outside the chambers of General Stoic Dust.

“Knock knock!” Keldeo said in sync with his rapping on the door. From the other side the bolt unfastened and the old, wooden door creaked on it hinges as it opened. General Dust stood towering over the prince, a bushy brown beard hanging half way down his tan pelt chest.

“Ah, Your Royal Highness. To what do I owe this honor?” Dust opened the door further, stepping further into the doorway.

“At ease, General. This is a social call, not business,” Keldeo said with a chipper tone and a teasing salute. Caught between being bated and anxious, Keldeo held his gift and stocking stuffer behind himself. “So, mother told me of your mission. About… y’know.”

“Yes, I about figured you’d know by now. I appreciate your keeping the details of my business trip mum,” Dust shared a common living quarter with plenty of other soldiers, most of which know nothing of what Keldeo was only just recently brought up to speed on. “I’d like more time to visit, I honestly would. I do not wish to be rude, but I must finish my packing my council meeting.”

“Of course, General. I figured since your… meeting will keep you busy all through the holidays, I’d pay you a quick visit to surprise you with your gift this year!” His horn glowing a light blue, Keldeo summoned forth the stocking and slender gift box. General Dust’s beard couldn’t do a worse job at hiding a smile.

“I suppose it would be impolite to not accept, wouldn’t you agree?” Dust stepped partially behind his door, inviting the prince in and closing the door behind him. A duffel bag sat opened by Dust’s bed and a large box behind the door, housing no doubt the general’s specialized body armor.

“I want you to open the big one first,” Keldeo said, offering the up the slim, four-foot box. General Dust grinned as he silently took the box, removing the snowpony wrapping paper. A quaint wooden box, made of cherry wood and stained, closed tight with a copper buckle. The wood had burned into its surface emblems of the sun and moon, orbiting one another in synchronized orbits with one another. Loosening the buckle, inside the box was a red velvet fabric, cushioning a beautifully designed, yet practical scabbard for a sword.

“I had this planned for a long time, y’know?” Keldeo said wide-eyed, watching closely as Dust picked up the blade, removing it from its scabbard to examine the quality. “I wanted to return the favor when you got me that sword to commemorate my win of my fencing tournament last summer. I know you always have that sword you got when you were promoted to general forever ago, but I also know you like to collect these, so…”

“S7 shock steel, isn’t it?” Dust held up the blade, closely examining its craftsmanship against a light fixture overhead. Flawless.

“Yes, it is! I remember when you told me about the different types of steel and how to avoid cheap and brittle blades. A broken sword is of no use, right?”

“Well, in most instances, but I’ve read a scenario or two where a shattered sword won the day.” Stoic inserted the sword back into its holding and set it down next to him. “Here I was, debating which arm to take with me for my trip and you’ve just gone ahead and made the choice for me. She’s beautiful.”

“Absolutely perfect for that political assassination on your trip.”

Dust slapped himself in the forehead. “The cat is out of the bag! And here I thought you were smart enough not to speak aloud top secret information!”

“Well hey, let’s just pretend I didn’t say that and open up your stocking now!” With the big gift out of the way, Keldeo wasn’t as hyped about the over sized novelty sock, but still enjoying himself all the same. Dust reached inside to pull out a fresh new whetstone, no doubt a bundle to keep his no sword nice and sharp. A small bag of various candies, almost childish in the idea, put a harmless joke that will still be eaten. And lastly, something more befitting to Dust’s pallet; a fine bottle of blueberry whiskey. His favorite.

“Pray tell, how did you manage to get your hooves on this? You might be prince, but you’re still a minor,” suspiciously jested Dust.

“Hey, I only get one sip of wine on special occasions. That is actually from my mother,” Keldeo replied, almost defensively.

“At ease yourself, Your Royal Highness. I was only asking.” For one with a first name like Stoic, he is anything but true to his name, grinning like madman.

Digging a hoof into the woodwork bellow, Keldeo glanced off to the job, acting coy. “Soooo… do you have anything for me?”

“You’ll get your gift from me on the twenty-fifth, just like everypony else,” replied Dust all matter of fact.

“Oh, come on! After all this great stuff I just gave you?”

“With all due respect, Your Royal Highness, the only way I’d give you your gift early would be if you went through parliament, changed the date of the holiday to right now, and in turn make it right on time. Best of luck getting them to move to make that happen.”

“You’re absolutely no fun,” pouted the prince, folding his forelegs across one another.

“Didn’t work when you were six. Still not the case for sixteen. Nice try,” chuckled Dust.

“Worth a shot. I’m just glad I got the chance to see you before you left,” Keldeo said, slight worry spreading across his face. “Mother was a little nervous telling me this. But you’ve got this under control, right?”

Without a second wasted, Dust put down his gift from the princess and put a hoof on Keldeo’s shoulder, looking him in the eye. “Prince, I’d drag myself out from Tartarus if you gave the order. The other two generals you know would also do the same. And we are also going to return everyone home who accompanies us in time to savor that piece of pie left over and preserved for them. To that, I swear upon my honor.”

Keldeo put a hoof on top of Dust’s hoof that lay upon his shoulder. “Good. Because if you don’t make it back, I will be expecting you to crawl back out of Tartarus, like some sort of freakish P-800 robot.”

The two gave one another a hug, not letting go for about ten, fifteen seconds. It wasn’t a fun idea having someone miss out on the holiday festivities, but it is even less fun with the thought knowing just exactly what kind of mess the Imperials would be getting themselves into. Yet through the hug, Prince Keldeo felt better from the words spoken by General Dust. Perhaps Stoic really was stoic after all.

“Thank you for visiting, Your Royal Highness,” Dust said, escorting Keldeo to the door. “I must finish getting packing for the trip. Behave yourself and don’t give Her Majesty any grief, you hear?”

“Yes sir, General Dust, sir,” replied Keldeo, shooting off another little sassy salute. Keldeo exited the room and paced back down the hall, trying not to look back with a mild sulk. He inevitably did when Stoic called to him before turning a bend.

“Prince Keldeo,” he shouted.

“What?”

“I’ll be back.”

Keldeo looked a Stoic Dust with a smile. It was bittersweet, his father figure forcing to look back one more time. This wasn’t a funeral, but the worry his mother voiced was still weighing in his heart. But General Dust didn’t seem bothered. He seemed absolutely normal. Perhaps they were just over reacting to it all. With one last wave, Keldeo left. He had dinner to catch.

The following week, Keldeo and Twilight presented their letter delivery system using Spike’s dragon fire. It took a lot of work, but the two were able to finalize their system right in time and receive an A+ on their work before excused for holiday break. It is only a shame that the letters could only be calibrated to be be sent to one individual, but it is a great bit of research for a couple high school students and a baby dragon. Hearth’s Warming Eve arrived and Keldeo spent it visiting with Princess Cadance, home for the holidays from Germaney. The next day, Keldeo paid a visit to Twilight’s household to deliver the stocking stuffer he had for Twilight and to deliver a parcel from Cadance last minute to Shining Armor. One week later, the year changed to 996. Even through the constant snowy weather, Canterlot was as festive as ever, setting off fire works.

        One month passes by quickly as the ponies of Equestria occupied their wintery, frozen world with the festive holidays and cheer. For Keldeo, however, he had to hold quietly onto the nagging feeling of how General Dust and the rest of the Imperials were doing. He was adamant about attending as many of the meetings involving any news updates, relieved upon hearing positive news. First the Imperials arrived safely at the rendezvous point, followed up shortly with the pursuit of Vacuus. For the next three updates, it detailed how piercing cold it would get as they tried to intercept the hulking, slithering mass. By the fourth report to come into the castle had ran behind by several days. The pit feeling that a deadline was missed left a pit in the stomachs of the Royal Family.

        Keldeo had attempted to assure himself that things were going well. The previous report said that they were going to attempt to intercept the beast in a mountain pass. They just need some time, is what he told himself. These things take time. They’ll be home by next week. That was his hope, until he returned home after another day of school. The court steward awaited the prince, ready to direct him toward the same meeting room where the Imperials were given their briefings just about one month prior. Princess Celestia sat at the long, mahogany table, in a seat closest to the door. Her eyes were filled with grief. The steward saw herself out, closing the door to leave the prince and his mother alone. The soundproof room guarded well the silence the room held. So quiet was Celestia, it felt like Keldeo was in the presence of a ghost. Mustering her courage, Celestia spoke.

        “We found why the report was running late. The scout… his name is Fancy Quill. He was admitted to a hospital after being halfway frozen. He was unconscious for several days, suffering from frostbite and hypothermia. When he woke up, it took eight ponies to keep him pinned to his bed. He had to have… amputations. But he was insistent to return to Canterlot and deliver his report. We only got word hours ago. The Imperials and most of their soldiers… they’ve been reported missing in action.”

        Since stepping into the room, Keldeo knew whatever this was about wasn’t good news. His mother to completely avoid all eye contact; the silence wasn’t even broken by the beating of his own heart. It felt more like he had gone completely into cardiac arrest caused by the tension in the environment. In the following befuddling silence, Keldeo had to mentally tell himself to start breathing, for he held it since walking into the room. Panting quickly, but softly to regain his breathing patterns, his eyes darted about, trying to catch imaginary figments of his mind that darted on the carpet. To find a mental grounding, he asked.

        “How… is he doing? Uh, Fancy Quill. He’s… he’ll get to return home. Eventually. To… to his family. Yes?”

        Celestia grimaced a smile, one that looked much more like an inverted frown, for it held no joy. She just knew that her son was trying to find any kind of silver lining to grasp. “He will need plenty of time to recover. But… yes. Eventually, he’ll get to return home. I’ve already charted for his kin to be there for him. I won’t permit him to be alone.”

        “Good. Good… that’s at least one pony.” At a thought rate trying to rationalize what he’s just heard, Keldeo just couldn’t contain his emotions any longer. “Mom, what happened?! Stoic… what in the founding fathers has happened to him?! You promised me he’d be back! That they’d all be back!”

        He charged the princess, losing the fight to hold back his tears. For the past month, Celestia knew of the worry that grew in her son’s heart. She dared not speak in his presence the nightmares she had to endure. She wanted to spare her life’s pride from any sort of hardship that she herself has had to cooperate with for one thousand years. Head first, Keldeo dove into his mother’s ribcage, his horn poking uncomfortably into her chest. No wound was made, but her heart still bled.

        “We’re going to find them. We’re going to bring back every single soul.” Holding tightly to her son, with forelegs and wings she sheltered Keldeo close. She stroked his mane, dampening it with her own tears. For an eternity of suffering that followed through as one of the pinnacle worst moments of her long life, her son was reduced to nothing but strong, incoherent cries that explained all too well of a heart breaking. It was something that Celestia knew all too well, but never once has she ever become accustomed of. “I want you to know, I will not stand for this. I will put this matter to rest myself. I need you to be strong for me…”

        “NO!” Keldeo broke from his mother’s embrace, taking a standoffish stance. He trembled heavily on his weakened legs, tears streaming down his face. “Vacuus will only kill you, too! Don’t go!”

        Celestia herself trembled, nearly choking on her words. “We don’t have any other choice…! If Vacuus is permitted to roam freely, he’ll only recollect his broken essence! Even with just one half of it, he may very well be out of my strength. We don’t have any other means to take him on… not now. We don’t have the time! Equestria may very well perish by the time the Elements of Harmony are active again!”

        “Yeah, and if you’re killed by Vacuus, what then?! When Nightmare Moon eventually returns, what happens then?! The Elements would still be a bunch of garbage if you’re not here, won’t they?!” Just raw, without any pause to even think anymore, Keldeo rages on. “Mom, you’re just too important! What are we supposed to do if you leave?! I don’t know how to run Equestria! Cadi isn’t ready, either! And don’t even get me started about how useless Blueblood is!”

        “Keldeo, don’t you dare speak of your family as such!”

“Or else what, mom?! Do you really think Blueblood could do your job?! For the love of the sun, he can’t even trouble himself starting his own bath water without messing it up royally! And too many ponies in Equestria depend on you! I can’t lose you, too!”

I can’t lose you, too.

How often those words have haunted Celestia’s mind. There hasn’t been a single time through the centuries that this exact phase didn’t reemerge as she accompanied dearly beloved friends and family to the verge of death, only to watch that ship once more set sail without her. Every fiber of her being was put into fostering new relationships, always fearing the day she’d again be once more be left behind. She never did regret loving new friends and family, but nobody else understands better why immortality is nothing short of a curse. The only thing that got her out of bed every morning was the commitment to make it up to Luna, who forcibly must spend a millennia isolated from the world. Everything Celestia has done was to one day atone for her sins. Thinking of what may happen to herself was inconsequential, for she’d give her life to protect Equestria. It was this thought of making her son, something she hadn’t held so closely to her in nearly a thousand years, suffer from losing both parental figures in his life. She already knows he suffered this once before, that day she found him washed up on the waterfront of that pond…

“What are we going to do?” Celestia said. “This couldn’t have happened after the Elements have been rekindled… we don’t have any other choice. Our best have went missing. This is a threat that nopony is armed to confront…”

Keldeo held up his head, flicking his wrist to try and remove whatever tears lingered on his face. Unfocused, the pelt still showed streams that flowed down his face. His legs were still weak and trembling, but he did what he could to embody determination. “I want to go. Mom, I want to go find Stoic- General Dust. Not just him, not just the Imperials, but all of them. If we’re sending anyone, send me.”

“Keldeo, no!” Celestia tried to grab the prince and hold onto him for dear life, but the prince defied her approach and stepped away when she tried. Her hoof outstretched before her, Keldeo had his head lowered, horn forward, and retaining strong eye contact. His blue eyes did not tremble, though they were welling up. He looked almost primal, a creature pushed to a moment of fight or flight. And Keldeo wanted to fight.

“Mother… let me do this. I know you always tried to treat it like King Deo was my father. But… he’s not here. I’ve never met him and we know I never will. General Dust, as far as I feel, is my father. He’s taught me so much… and he might still be out there.”

Celestia’s breathing hastened, fearing debate. “But you don’t have the power to fight him! You’re gifted, but you don’t have what it takes to fight Vacuus!”

“Then I won’t fight him! I don’t even care to! But we can’t send you! If the Imperials are still alive… maybe we don’t have to send you yet! Just send me to find them and… and…” Keldeo was barely even able to focus his thoughts correctly. He knew what he wanted to say, but he didn’t want to say it. He struggled to even think of what he’d do if he came across the cold, cold bodies of Equestria’s defense forces.

“My Sunshine… what will it take to change your mind?”

“The Imperials to kick down that door, that’s what.”

Celestia held her breath. Keldeo pointed behind him at the door, but kept his eyes fixated forward. His glare was intense, so much so that Celestia looked towards the door, trying to strike up some mental bargain that her wish would be fulfilled and the Imperials would proudly march in, announcing that their mission was accomplished. Hell, she would settle to just have some aid interrupt and bring word that everyone is being hospitalized; anything to just deter Keldeo’s teary eyes away. But the doors remained shut tight and budged not for any wistful desire to end the tension. She caved.

“If I do this…” Celestia choked, already deeply regretting the choice. “You… you’re to strictly follow through with what I tell you. You’ll have a small extraction force. Just enough to perform a rescue. I don’t want any heroics. And regardless of what you discover, you’re going to come home. Do I make myself clear?”

The prince quivered, embracing his mother once more with a siege of bittersweet cries of gratitude. Again, Celestia sheltered her son with her wings and held him close, stroking his curly ginger mane. But her eye’s stared off beyond the horizon, seeing only how this would soon be another regret to plague her for the rest of her life. Yet if her son wasn’t permitted to at least try to do something, he’d suffer from his own series of regrets. She only could pray that Keldeo’s hopeful dream of finding the Imperials and their team comes to fruition, that they’d have something to share. That they were still well and unharmed. But for them to go missing in the first place, Celestia already feared the worst.

Heavens, forgive me. I’ve committed another irredeemable sin.

At long last, Celestia pulled to bring herself to look down, to take in one of the last times she felt she’d get to view her bundle of sunshine. One way or another, sacrifices of some sort were going to need to be made. To her, this was just Nightmare Moon all over again. Celestia hugged Keldeo tight, giving him a kiss on his forehead. Quietly into his ear, she sang a lullaby she had many times throughout his life.


You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you
Please don’t take my sunshine away