//------------------------------//
// Chapter 18 -The Last Guardian- 
// Story: Shattered Skies 
// by Arctikfox 
//------------------------------//


-The Last Guardian-


"Cadance, stop this."

"Please don't push me away! I have been looking for you my entire life! I know you, you are Shattered Skies!" Cadance brought Skyfall into a fierce hug and started to cry. 

"You are… My father."

Sky's blood ran as cold as ice. He pushed her away gently and held her at arm's length. "Cadance, I think you have the wrong idea."

Cadance scowled. "Don't try to make this seem like I'm crazy. I know you are Shattered Skies. I've seen you transform!"

'When?' Skies thought back, he only times he transformed were in his house, the forest, and in the cave behind his house. All times he sensed no one around. '...sensed no one around.'

Breathing deep, Sky reached out with what little Spirit magic he could use as a Pegasus. But according to the magic, he and the other Spirits were the only ones in the house. He remembered Sif complaining about her inability to sense an intruder, leading her to blame ghosts. 'No.'

"I saw you." Cadance smiled deviously before trying to hug Sky again, only to wobble her arms weakly at her side while still at arm’s length. 

"SIF!" Sky bellowed, keeping Cadance well-away from him. 

"Yeah?" Sif shouted as she trotted inside from the forest and up the stairs before stopping outside Sky’s door. “What’s up?”

"Is there anyone else in my room?" 

Sif tried the locked door, unsure if she heard him right. She sniffed and continued on cautiously. "Um, no. Should there be?"

"No, I'm just being weird." Sky stared at Cadance as he replied to Sif. "That's all, thank you."

"Mhm, I'm eating the rest of the peanut butter for this." Sif said before trotting away.

Sky looked Cadance over. Believing this to be Celestia's doing, he cursed her for trying to lure him with memories of his daughter, cursed her to the depths of his being. As Cadance's smile wavered, he continued to stare as if her soul was laid bare for judgement. 

"Dad, you're starting to scare me."

"Don't call me dad." Sky demanded in a cold, serious voice. "If the Princess sent you because she thinks I'm her target, then go and tell her she is wrong and that I'm just a retired guard."

Cadance patted Sky's hoof. "I didn't come here at the Princess’s behest."

Her horn lit up and a small stack of journals bamf’d into view. "You have ones similar to these in your cave behind the waterfall."

Hesitantly, Sky grabbed one from the air and flipped a few pages. They were indeed the ones just like the journals in the crate that were recovered from the vault. "So you've been behind the falls."

"Mhm." Cadance hummed.

"Now comes the questions." Sky let Cadance go, but the instant he did, she tried to hug him again, only to be stopped by Sky's hoof. "Why do you think I'm the Forest Spirit."

"Fine. I'll tell you." Cadance sat down delicately and took a few deep breaths. "I've been your ghost. I wanted to learn about you because I had my suspicions. One day, you transformed to scan the house. I was under the couch. I. Saw. Everything."

"I still don't believe you." Sky lied. 

"You and Shattered Skies have never been in the same place at the same time."

"Coincidence."

"You live next to the forest."

"I like my privacy."

"Your all white housemate is named Sif."

Sky paused for a sec. "Unfortunate happenstance."

Cadance gave a wide grin. "You constantly have wolf and Spirit tracks leading in from the back door."

"Oh, really? I've never seen any."

"Because I clean them up!"

Skyfall smacked his forehead with a nearby journal, frustrated at his house guest’s quirkiness.

Cadance shuffled around on her hooves. "I can't believe you're real."

"Cadance, even if I was Shattered Skies, how would two Spirits breed and give birth to an Alicorn?" Sky mentally cheered as Cadance stopped her happy dance, she smiled and pointed to the journal Sky held in his hooves.

Skyfall started to skim Celestia's old journals. "Maybe you misinterpreted something."

One page had a unique, blue bookmark stick out from the top. Sky felt bad for Cadance and looked at the page, trying to help her through her delusions.



Year 1313, 8th of Frostfall.

This day troubles me. It has been many years since Shattered Skies went into hiding. His influence is still felt, even today. I have pushed his magic from many of the Equestrian forests, but today in my vain efforts to push it from the Everfree, something happened. The forest pushed me back with a burst of extremely violent power, powerful enough to almost overcome me. I saw an arc of Spirit magic erupt from the forest and land nearby. Believing it was my long awaited foe, I leapt toward it with all the power I could muster, ready to strike, but stopped when I heard the giggle of an infant. His infant.

There was no mistaking it, this foal was the child Shattered Skies thought he had lost. But the questions ran through my mind as much then as they do now. Where has she been? Why here? Why now?

I readied myself to strike. Everything about that Spirit needed to be removed from existence for the atrocities he committed. As I lowered my horn, I found myself unable to continue. I have done many things, but killing innocent foals purely because of her father’s identity isn't one of them. 

Her purple eyes stared at me with the same intensity as her father's. She giggled and grabbed my horn with her cloven hooves and tried to float up, but her four wings only waved weakly. Tiny nubs protruded from where her antlers would likely grow. Her tan fur was filthy and had caked on mud, the poor thing probably found herself looking for shelter in the storm the night prior.

For years I have hunted the Spirits down and dealt with them. And now I am staring at what is likely the last guardian. To hide her, I did the one thing I should have never done. I tried to force the foal into picking their disguise, but failed when an Earth pony couple interrupted the spell by stumbling on us. They believed her to be an Alicorn and now I am forced to deal with my mistake.

Please forgive me, Luna.



A tightness in Skyfall’s throat formed as he closed the journal. The way Celestia described his daughter was too accurate. Doubt still occupied his thoughts with only one way to dispel it.

"Cadance."

"Y-Yes?" 

Skyfall sighed, hoping he was right, because if she wasn't his daughter, then this night would get much worse. He dropped the form of Skyfall the Pegasus and transformed into Shattered Skies, the Warden Spirit of the Forests.

Cadance's eyes grew large at the enormous stag before her turned and cover the small distance between them in one stride.

"I'm going to bite you."

Cadance clutched at her neck. "What, why?"

"If you really are my daughter, then our blood will be the same." Skies moved closer. "I need to be sure."

Cadance hesitated and slowly exposed her neck. "I-I trust you."

Shattered Skies patted her hoof, distracting her before he surged forward, sinking his teeth into her neck. Cadance pawed at Skies’ chest and was released after a few seconds of sucking. She leaned back and fell against the bed, dizzy from the blood loss. She watched as he spit her blood into a cup sitting on the dresser before draining his own blood from a bite on his wrist.

"W-What are you doing?" 

Skies glanced over. "It takes a second, but if you are not my child, then our blood will separate. Your blood will clot and float to the top of mine, much in the way oil and vinegar separate when mixed poorly."

Skies heart dropped when he didn't see what he expected. The blood mixed.

Cadance watched as Skies set the cup on the counter before walking over to her slowly. His eyes started to well up as he picked her up and hugged her. 

"Anara." His voice cracked.

Cadance turned her head. "Anara?"

Skies nodded. "That's your real name. The name your mother and I gave you."'

"So you mean...?" Cadance’s eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.

"Yes, you are my daughter." Skies said, choking up and quietly started to release some of his pent up emotion through tears while he stroked Anara's mane. His mind was spinning crazily as he faintly struggled with the realization. But he held Anara tighter, and the tears flowed unbidden.

"Hey Rudolph, we need more...peanut... butter..." Sif trailed off as she entered with her empty jar. "Uh-oh. What did I miss?"





Skies and Cadance rested in a large pile of blankets, sitting in front of the roaring fireplace with hot cocoa in hoof as the snowstorm raged outside. 

"So wait, if Spirits can't reproduce, then how am I here?" Cadance asked as she grabbed a hoofful of chocolate marshmallows and started eating them dry.

"Just like your mother, never wants to actually put the mallow in the cocoa." Skies shook his head. "And to answer your question, Spirits can be allowed to reproduce with the help of the one who created us. If a Spirit tries without permission, then the female will miscarry. And that's a best case scenario. One day I'll tell you how the constellation monsters came to be."

Cadance swished her cocoa around in her cup. "So that's why every time Shining and I try, we fail."

Skies placed his hoof on Cadance's. "Yes, but Spirits do reproduce. It's rare, but they do. The Maker is a kind being."

"I'm not the only one? There are more Spirit offspring?" 

"Yes, but you are easily the most powerful." Skies grabbed a nearby pad and pencil and started writing. 

"Most powerful?"

"Yes, I imagine your latent power would be greater than either my or your mother's power combined." Skies gave the pad to Cadance to look over. "Now that you're here, I can start teaching you about our people."

"People? Is that what all the Spirits are known as?" Cadance asked.

"Kind of..." 

"In Celestia's journal, she said I was the last guardian. What does that mean?"

Skies moved closer to Cadance and placed the pad before them both. "It means you belong to the higher echelon of Spirits."

"I will teach you more when the time comes, but for now, know that there was at one time thousands of Spirits. We watched Equus and shaped the planet and did so for the better part of thirty thousand years. On the bottom rung of the ladder, you had the lesser Spirits, like Muses, Sirens, guides, and mediums. Next, you had the twelve Guardians who oversaw the planet's nature. Then you had the four Elementals that worked with the guardians and worked in the same way. And lastly, you had the two."

"The two?"

"Yes, Discord and Harmony." Skies glanced over at the room's archway and saw Nimbus and River trying to eavesdrop. "That was before the war, however."

"The war?"

Skies nodded and turned to stare at his house guests. "Why don't you two stop loitering in the hall and come meet my daughter?"

River audibly sputtered. "D-Daughter?"

Nimbus transformed and tsked. "Skies, are you okay? Have you fallen under a memory spell?"

Cadance opened her mouth to defend her legitimacy, but stopped when her father patted her hoof. "Celestia's journal and a simple blood test verified it. She is cursed, but no less my baby."

Storm visibly started to choke up while River started to squeal. "Oh my sweet baby Skies, I'm going to dress you up and do your makeup and force you to take pictures!"

River transformed into her natural otter-like form and pranced in place repeating ‘yes’ over and over.

Cadance smiled nervously at Skies, waiting for an explanation.

"Anara, these two are essentially your aunt and uncle." Skies waved to his companions. "Storm Front, the Lord of Storms. And Flowing Stream, the Lady of the Lake. They're Guardians, like you and I."

"Honos! Inko!" Streams bellowed. After a brief pause, door slamming was heard throughout the house.

"Yo?" Honos shouted from the foyer before strolling in with a sleepy Inko in tow. "It's like three A.M.! What gives?"

"And these two are the Spirits of Purity and Honor, Innocence and Feather of Truth." Skies said to Cadance, who waved sweetly in return.

"Princess Cadance? Boss, wanna tell me what's going on?" Honos asked.

"And this fluffball." Skies chuckled as Sif walked into the room in all her glory. "Is Sif, the only other woman in my life besides you and your mother."

"It's nice to finally meet the real you." Cadance's speech slowed as Sif walked over slowly and took one long deep sniff shortly before scruffing the love Princess.

"Ah, what are you doing? Dad, help!"

Skies smiled and watched and Sif walked in circles around her mentor, coming to a rest next to him, putting Cadance in the middle. 

"There, that's better." Sif smiled at a scowling Cadance. "What? You used to love that when you were a foal."

"Sif guarded your crib every night." Skies smiled widely.

"Yeah, when Crystal wasn't smothering you." Sif groaned. "I'm glad to see you don't act all pampered."

Cadance hung on to Sif's sentence. "Crystal?"

Skies nodded at everyone to leave, and leave they did.

"Your mother was the guardian of precious minerals. Crystals, ores, gems, anything that shined and glimmered. She tried to brighten up the world by showing love and she was loved by all in return." Skies brushed Cadance's cheek. "You're as beautiful as your mother was and twice as special."

Cadance leaned into Skies’ hoof. "Thank you."

Skies gave a long sigh.

"What's wrong?" Cadance asked.

"I have only just found you and already we are in a troublesome situation."

"The Princess?" Cadance watched as her father gave a curt nod. "What about her?"

"Aside from her hunting me with such desperation, she wants all Spirits gone and has let her nation fall to many of the vices that have swallowed some of the greatest civilizations in history." Skies grabbed a poker and stoked the fire before them.

"I grew up hearing how Spirits were evil and how they should be feared. I am ashamed to admit that I went along with this because it was what I knew the Princess wanted, but I didn't start harboring feelings of resentment towards that way of thinking until I found a crate of old, restricted books that were meant to be destroyed." Cadance smiled. "That's when I found out about you and some of your adventures."

"And how did you find this journal?" Skies asked as he held up Celestia's journal.

"I don't know." Cadance shrugged. "One day I was walking in the Canterlot gardens and I found it sitting on the ledge of one of the freakier statues."

"A question for another day perhaps." Skies smiled. "One day when there is less secrecy."

Cadance cuddled into Skies' side, prompting him to cover her with his large wing. She gave a large yawn and hummed. "I have...so many questions. I wish...everyone could start over."

Sleep took her as Skies kissed the top of her head. "Good night, sweetheart."

Even though the storm continued to rage, Skies could tell the sun was rising soon as the window grew lighter. He continued to stoke the fire while his daughter fidgeted in her sleep, shifting around until she found what position she wanted.

A soft clink caught Skies' attention. Cadance's crown had been laid on the fireplace's mantle, seemingly so she wouldn't forget something so noticeable in plain sight. It vibrated for a brief second and slide off the shoes it was sitting on before careening down onto Skies' head.

Fate was a strange creature. In one day, Skies found his daughter, had his whole world flipped upside down. And now his daughter's crown toppled, guided by no sensible force, down onto his head.

'This is her work.' Skies gave a soft laugh and turned to Storm Front and Flowing Streams as they entered the room.

"Poor thing fell asleep." Streams cooed.

Storm saw the look on Skies' face while Streams was too absorbed in Cadance's sleepy form. "I know that look."

Streams glanced back at Storm and then looked at Shattered's burning eyes. "You've made up your mind?"

Shattered Skies took a deep breath and brushed Cadance's hair with his hoof. "Storm, start laying the groundwork, figure out where our borders are and how to best defend them. Streams, get Feather and Innocence working on infrastructure while you look into the resources to get it done."

"And what will you do?" Streams asked.

"I will gather my power to make the Everfree a real forest. The same kind I used to make in the beginning."

Storm Front and Flowing Streams bowed and left.

"Cadance, you can stop pretending to be asleep now." Skies whispered.

"How'd you know I was awake?" 

"Heart beat." Skies smiled. "I thought you were tired?"

"I am, but Storm Front is loud." Cadance pouted.

"Yes, he's always loud." Skies readjusted Cadance's blankets. "Why don't you go back to sleep? I'll wake you in a few hours."

She shook her head in defiance. "No, I want to know what you and the others are planning. Are you building something?"

"Yes. To put it simply, we're going to start a nation."

Cadance stared up in shock. "I don't think I understand. You're going to start a nation? Where?"

"The Everfree." Skies smiled. "By the lake, in what used to be the castle of the Royal Pony Sisters."

She visibly gulped. "Are you going to try and fight the Princesses?"

"No. If I were to face them, especially the way I am now, I would lose." Skies stated firmly. "I am starting it for an entirely different reason."

"What's that?"

"A second chance." Skies booped his daughter on the nose. "Our reunion has spurred me to make a place where we don't have to hide, no one has to hide."

Cadance smiled, but that smile faded. "But only the forest will separate you?"

"Not for long." Skies said cryptically. "Give me a month and I'll show you something you'll never forget."

"Like what?"

"Nope, it's a surprise." Skies chuckled as Cadance playfully struck him.

"I want to help and I won't take no for an answer!" She said.

After a quiet moment, Skies tapped his chin. "To be honest, I don't know how you could help."

Cadance hummed and tapped her chin in the same way her father did. "If you're building a nation, I can get the dossiers of ponies and other species that could help it thrive. Ones that would be sympathetic to your cause. That would help, right?"

"Then that is what you will be in charge of." Skies said happily.

"What will it be called?"

Skies stared at the crackling fire, he had already had a name. "Farhaven." 

"Farhaven?"

"It means distant refuge. Your mother came up with the name." Skies smiled at her memory. "She didn't take no for an answer either."

Cadance grew quiet. "Can you tell me more about her?"





Hours passed as Skies regaled Cadance of funny stories from better times. Rays of light started to peek through the windows as the storm let up a little. Skies glanced out the window and saw a few wolves pacing outside, keeping guard. 

"Wow, morning already? Let's have some breakfast. I bet you'll love a cheesy omelette covered in salsa and-"

Sif barged in through the back door. "Skies!"

"Mmyes?" 

"Storm Front tried forcing his way into the vault and we need you to break the bindings." Sif huffed and sat down. "It's too early in the morning for his antics."

"Vault?" Cadance asked.

"Hunny, I need to go break your uncle out from his mess. Would you like me to bring you back something?" Skies held Cadance's chin with his hoof.

"No, I want to come with you."

Skies thought about it briefly and relented. "Okay, but wear my cloak. If a pony sees us somehow, I don't want you facing any political blowback."

Cadance scurried off to the broom closet, leaving Skies and Sif alone. Sif shot him a look that mixed happiness with fear.

"What?"

Sif chuckled. "Nothing."

"I know that look." Skies grimaced.

"I know you do." Sif walked closer to her mentor. "Don't get reckless now that she's back. You're still not back to how you were before getting stabbed and you're definitely nowhere near how you were in the war."

Skies took a deep breath. He knew full well that she was right. He looked at his body. Light scars criss-crossed his skin under his fur and he was thinner. "Maybe I should start training harder." 

Sif kissed Skies' head. "Just don't outdo me, okay?"

A loud crash was heard from the other room. "I'm okay!"

Sif snickered. "She has your clumsiness."

"That she does." Skies wore a solemn look. "It will only get more difficult from here. She'll want to stay here in Ponyville and I won't be able to leave her alone for long. And the longer all this-" Skies motioned in all directions."-continues, the harder it'll be to keep up my supposed neutrality."

"You aren't thinking what I think you're thinking?" Sif asked.

"From that reaction, I know you're thinking the same thing." Skies mused. "Captain Fury has extended a special offer to me and I'm going to accept it."

"It's reckless."

"I've done this kind of thing before, Sif." Skies raised an eyebrow. "Thrice, in fact."

"Yes, but joining Ponyville's guard unit?" Sif ran her paw over her face. "I know it's the best cover, but you'll be right under her nose and too close for me to help if you get exposed."

"And that's why it's perfect. We both know Celestia never expects these things." 

"And Luna?" Sif asked. "She's the tactician of the two. With her, Celestia can root out any spy or traitor at a whim. She thinks, and that's dangerous for someone in your position."

"Learned too well, didn't she?" Skies said proudly.

"Yeah, take pride in your student when she exposes you and tries to kill you, again." Sif jeered.

"Kill?" Cadance asked from the doorway, looking incredibly upset, even though she was stuffed into layered snow jackets with a dainty cloak barely covering her bloated form. "Who's trying to kill you?"

"More like who isn't." Sif yelped as she was swatted on the butt.

"Stop scaring her." Skies scolded and turned to his daughter. "No one at the moment hunny. We were discussing me joining the local guard to have a better cover and the consequences if I get caught."

"Why don't we just move to Farhaven then? Just you, me, and the others?" Cadance asked.

Skies nodded at Sif to follow and made his way towards the back door with Cadance. "Anara, it isn't that simple. I need to keep an eye on the active world, and if we're shut away in the forest, then it would only help us for a short time until Celestia burns her way in."

"I don't think she would do that." Cadance said. "She's always been more than understanding, I'm sure if you talk to her you could make her see."

Skies waved his daughter to follow as he started the long trek to the castle, a column of freezing wind assaulted them as the door opened.

The storm whipped around them as they walked to the woods and died down the instant they entered the treeline. "I tried talking to her already. She is blinded by someone close to her. When I talked to her, I noticed her power had grown, and she fought past an age-old trick I used to use to make even the most powerful creatures immobile."

"She didn't listen?"

"No. Towards the end she started to boil the bath water." Skies said and glanced back to Cadance's questioning look. "Don't ask."

Skies covered Cadance with a wing to protect her from falling snow. The pitter patter of paws on the snow could be heard before two wolves sprinted into view.

"Lady Sif, the seal is starting to expand and is dragging Storm Front into the vault." An enormous blind wolf barked.

"Thank you, Irmac." Sif said.

"Sif, continue the walk with Anara. I'll go start the releasing process." Skies smiled before turning to the two predators. "You two, lead the way."

When Skies and his two wolf companions disappeared, Sif and Cadance continued their slow trek through the quiet, sun blotched forest.

Cadance kept opening her mouth to start a conversation, but could never find the right words, so Sif started one for her.

"Your father hasn't been this happy in a very long time." Sif peered down at the stumbling Alicorn. "It brings me great joy to see that you survived as well."

"Lady Sif-" 

"Please, you are my master's child, call me Sif." Sif commanded.

"Master? My father owns you?" 

Sif nodded. "In a way, yes. He doesn't see it that way, but I owe him a life debt and have sworn to serve him until the end."

"A life debt?" Cadance asked. "I've only ever heard about that stuff in stories like the 'Sky Wars' Trilogy?"

Sif raised an eyebrow. "It is very often I hear those words. 'I've only ever heard about that stuff in stories.' It's a shame that our way of life has become a fable."

"I'm sorry." Cadance said. "I try and learn about other places as much as I can, but the libraries are very sparse when it comes to other cultures’ histories."

"It isn't your fault, young mistress." Sif said. "It's your aunt’s."

"H-How did you...?"

"I have eyes everywhere. I knew about you becoming the adopted niece of Celestia some time ago, but I never would have guessed that you were actually Lady Anara Mi Amore."

"You've been watching the Princesses?" Cadance asked.

Sif wore a grim expression. "Not because I wanted to, but because I had to, to keep your father safe. I didn't find out until recently, but she believes Shattered Skies lead a Spirit army against the Alicorns, resulting in their near extinction. That's why she hates Spirits."

Cadance remained quiet at the disturbing news. "Did he?" A sudden yelp escaped Cadance's lips as Sif whipped her pink flank with her tail. "What was that for?"

"That dumb question." Sif growled. "Your father values life. He raced to the Alicorns’ capital as soon as he found out about the seige. But he arrived too late."

"Sorry." Was all Cadance could say.

"No, I should have kept my anger in check." Sif said, mentally scolding herself. "As I'm sure you can tell, I am overprotective of your father."

Cadance bumped into Sif's side. "And I thank you for it. I'm sure without you, he might have fallen into a hole he couldn't get out years ago."

"Funny you mention that. He did fall into a hole once and needed my help getting out." Sif and Cadance started laughing together. "Yeah, that was before Celestia and Luna asked him to be her court advisor."

Cadance finally remembered something she meant to ask. "How long have Celestia and Skies been at odds? They seem pretty familiar towards each other."

Sif sighed. "I probably shouldn't tell you this, but it may help you to understand a little more about your father." She looked down to Cadance and smiled. "He has known both of them since they were born."

"Really?" Cadance said in surprise. 

Sif slowed her walking to prolong the conversation as they neared the castle. "Oh yes. When the Alicorn Capital was attacked, he rushed the capital and found both of them in the storeroom of a fruit vendor. Celestia was in a banana box and Luna was eating a pumpkin pie."

"You were there?" Cadance followed Sif as she entered the castle.

"Yes, as well as your mother. Storm Front. Bering, the Ocean Spirit. And two of the four elementals." Sif smiled down. "Luna took an automatic liking to your father, but she was always the more popular of the two."

"Princess Luna was more popular than Celestia?" Cadance asked skeptically.

"Oh yes; she was loved by the Spirits and many of the mortal creatures. She used to dance in the moonlight at the Spirit festival, and when she took the floor, no one dared to look away." Sif said happily. "Celestia on the other paw, tried to fit in, but in her youth, she was socially awkward and acted like a spoiled brat when no one paid attention to her. Skies spent a lot of time with her so she wouldn't feel left out. She probably tried to keep it a secret, but she loved him for it."

"Wow. That's..."

"Surprising?" Sif asked. "Don't get me wrong; your father loves them both equally, but there are times I know he wanted to spank both of them."

Cadance chuckled at the mental image of Celestia, bent over and being spanked like a foal. "But wait, if Celestia grew up around my father, then why does she want to kill him?"

Sif sighed. "I don't know the specifics, but the lie she believes is so rooted in her mind that she may disregard evidence to the contrary. I don't know who is responsible, but I know a Spirit is involved."

"Discord?"

Sif stopped at the top of the steps that lead down to the basement and took a seat. "Discord would be my first guess, but if it were him, I think he would make it more obvious."

"Get me out of here!" Storm Front's yell echoed through the chamber.

"Seems like he’s getting upset." Sif chuckled.

"But wait, I don't understand." Cadance said. "Why can't dad and Celestia just meet and clear this up?"

Sif patted Cadance on her head. "So innocent. Please, never lose that about you. You'll never regret it."

Cadance only sat there giving Sif a baffled look.

"If Celestia has been brainwashed, then the instant she sees Skies, she'll charge in and try to lop his head off. She is much more powerful than Skies is, and while he may be able to hold his own in a one on one against that living sun spot, he would eventually fall." Sif said. "We both fear this and have taken steps to avoid them meeting."

"Then why does he live in Ponyville?" Cadance asked, trying to be a smartass.

"He wants to clear his name, and this way he can hide in plain sight." Sif stuck her tongue out. 

"Agh! Watch it that hurts!" Storm Fronts voice echoed through the stairwell.

"Sounds like they're having fun." Sif declared.

"Don't you want to help?" 

"With getting Storm Front out of another trap?" Sif asked rhetorically as she walked down a hallway. "No, nice intent, but no. That stallion gets into too many traps because he rushes in head first."

Cadance copied Sif and left the stairwell. "What else can you tell me about my father that he wouldn't admit?"

"Oh my, you really are like your mother." Sif cackled. "Always looking for dirt on your father."

Sif told Cadance a few stories about Skies as they entered the throne room. Since Skies had decided to build Farhaven where the royal pony sisters used to call home, Storm had started preparations.

Cadance whistled as she looked into the large room with wolves and Diamond Dogs filing in and out of the rooms.

"Work fast, don't they?" Sif puffed up, making it clear she was extremely proud of her kin.

"You're their mother?" Cadance asked.

"I've never had pups, if that's what you're asking." Sif said. "I am their chief, the head of the clan, making me their mother wolf. Had I been male, then it would have been father wolf."

"How did you do that?"

Sif gave Cadance a wide, toothy grin. "I defeated my father in single combat. I cast him out once I won."

"That's horrible!" Cadance said in shock. "Why?"

"I was born too small and he left me on a mountain to die." Sif said bluntly. "Banishing him to the mountain he left me on was still too good, but Skies warned me against killing him."

"Lady Sif!" Called a young, female wolf.

"Quiet, what's going on?" Sif asked.

"There is a Thestral from Canterlot here with a message. We caught him as he flew low and dragged him here as per your orders in case a guard made it through." Quiet bowed.

"Excellent! Bring the lunar guard in." Sif snarled before turning to Cadance. "Conceal your features, we don't want your identity getting out yet."

Cadance brought her hood back up to hide her face and looked down the hall to see her the other Spirits followed by her father approaching. This elicited a happy giggle as she ran to hug him.

"There's my girl." Skies said happily. "So how about it? Some cheesy omelettes with some chunky salsa and some banana bread?"

"Food’s gotta wait, m'lord." Sif only called Skies 'm'lord' when non essential company was around. "Message from Luna."

All eyes in the room scanned over to the doorway as the aggrieved looking guard was carried in by the nape of his neck by a particularly muscular wolf and dropped unceremoniously before Shattered Skies. The wolf started wagging his tail, waiting for Skies to throw the guard, but chased a giant log instead.

The guard tried his best to look fearsome as Skies walked down the steps. "I-I have a message from her Eminence, the Lady of the Moon, and bringer of the night-"

"Give me that." Skies rolled his eyes and snatched the scroll from the guard. "I guess I have a message from Lunar love."

Skies turned to ask the guard a question, but he was shakily downing a vial of glowing blue liquid. "Stop him!"

Two wolves rushed, but were only able to break the guard’s fall as he collapsed. His head started to glow and he cringed in his sleep before going still.

"Memory potion." Skies said monotonously.

"Memory potion?" Cadance asked.

"Take the guard to the edge of the Everfree and watch him until he is recovered." Skies ordered before turning to his curious daughter. "Memory potion is used for when one wants to remove a section of their memories. From what I suspect, that was a powerful one that will remove all of today's memories permanently."

Streams looked over the guard before the wolves took him away. "Oh yeah, that's some powerful stuff.” He sniffed. “This is some A grade potion. No doubt Luna brewed this. This stuff was created to help disaster victims. Wonder why she gave it to him."

Skies looked down at the scroll. "At least she respects our wishes to stay anonymous."

"That's why we like her." Sif whispered to Cadance. "Respect."

Skies hoofed the scroll to Quiet. "Please take this to the old study room here; I will read it when I get back."

Quiet gave a muffled bark before sprinting down a hallway.

Storm Front approached Skies suddenly. "I completely forgot, but the guard unit asked me to come by and help them in their training, since they're under-staffed."

"You accepted their invitation?" River snarled.

"Do you have a better way to access their military strength and strategies?" Storm Front transformed and started running in place, clearly ready to take on the thirty mile sprint from Farhaven to Ponyville. "I know a thing or three about military experience. Don't I, dog face?"

"You're just mad ‘cause you didn't get the winningest division." Skies gave Nimbus and large proud grin. "Nous Resterons La!"

Nimbus scoffed and started running. "Tropic Lightning is better!"

"What are they talking about?" Cadance whispered to River.

"Old world stuff, best to forget about it." River nuzzled Cadance before disappearing down one of the long hallways.

"Now that that's done." Skies smiled over to Cadance. "You and I have a breakfast date with cheesy omelettes."

"And salsa!" Cadance cheered.





In a spare bedroom in Canterlot castle, which was actually kind of spacious as far as guest rooms go.





Princess Celestia and Princess Luna stood before a large mirror.  It was out of place in the modestly decorated room. Ornate fixtures and complimentary mints was the standard for Canterlot, but Celestia knew their guest wasn't a fan of being pampered.

"Are you sure this is a good idea, sister?" Luna asked. "I still think a meeting would be for the best."

"I have few other options, Luna. You and Discord have refused to aid my efforts in bringing the Forest Spirit to justice. Even my own Captain of the Guard has been unable to find him." Celestia had grown more sullen with every report of her guard's failings. She silently thanked the maker that none of her guards suffered permanent damage, but the aggressive response from the wolves proved to be too jarring for some resulting in letters of resignation. 

"And what about the Elements?" Luna asked.

"Luna, I told you I will hear no more of this argument." Celestia stated. 

"Why, because it makes sense?" Luna demanded. "The Elements refused to fire! Doesn't that tell you that there is nothing wrong with Shattered Skies?"

"You know he is a genius, Luna." Celestia stood and walked to the balcony, beckoning her sister to follow. "He never told us, but I know that he is one of the oldest Spirits on Equus. My council told me that he may have found a way to trick the Elements."

"And you trust them over your own sister?" Luna asked.

Celestia nuzzled Luna. "It's not like that. They are older than they appear and they helped me after your transformation. They have made Equestria a better place."

Luna looked into Celestia's smiling face and scrunched her own before looking out onto Canterlot's crowded morning streets. "Debatable."

A loud knock echoed from within the room. "Princess, Princess Twilight, the Elements of Harmony, and Captain Fury have arrived." 

"Wonderful. Send them in." Celestia smiled sweetly. When the doors opened, in walked seven tired beings and one very awake, Captain of the Guard. "Good morning everypony. I trust the late night train ride wasn't too taxing?"

"It was fine, Princess. Is everything alright?" Fury asked.

"Yes, everything is more than alright." Celestia cooed and sat down next to the giant mirror as the castle staff walked in with a large vat of coffee on a trolley.

Twilight smelled the wonderful aroma of study juice and processed the image in front of her. "Princess, isn't that the mirror to another universe?"

Celestia nodded. "Yes, I have recently reconnected with an old student of mine and asked her to come and aid us."

Suddenly the mirror started to glow and spewed out a screaming unicorn. She skidded for a second and toppled over, sticking her flank in the air. "Yep, that's harder than it looks."

"Sunset Shimmer?" Everyone asked in unison.

Sunset Shimmer scrambled to a more dignified position sitting on her haunches. "H-Hi."