//------------------------------//
// Chapter 35 -One Long Day- 
// Story: Shattered Skies 
// by Arctikfox 
//------------------------------//


-One Long Day-



Honey's chest fell heavy, seeing her husband's pain burned her mind. She had not seen him for two thousand years, yet his looks, speech, and even the way he carried himself were untouched by history.

"Skyfall." Honey's voice came out a whisper, terrified of Skyfall’s response.

Skyfall felt his hooves strain as he held her in a vice grip, at realizing this, he slowly let go of her. His eyes darted over her, he did not want to believe that the being that saved him in the forest a weeks prior had been his wife, but some cruel illusion. Happiness and dread both filled his thoughts.

"Captain Skyfall?" Desert was the first to shatter the silence. "If I may, who is this?"

"That's right, you wouldn't have heard the rumors." Skyfall’s voice droned on as if talking to himself, knowing that Desert never partook in meaningless rumors. "This is Honey Bee, my..."

Honey smiled nervously and cut in. "I am his ex-wife."

"Oh, this is like one of my romance novels." Rarity said to herself, but audible enough for everyone to hear. Upon realizing everyone heard her, she tried to pretend it was on purpose. "Next, you-you tell us that you have evil siblings bent on destroying you."

Some of the ponies started to laugh, but Honos chuckled nervously and looked at Skyfall. In their experience, when ponies started to make extremely accurate guesses like Rarity's, it was often an omen of time growing short among mortal lives.

"Honey Bee!" A sudden bark pierced the air, drawing everyone's attention to the front gate as a black mare with a rust colored mane charged in. "I warned you that this was a bad idea."

"Psalm!" Skyfall called, letting the anger in his voice known.

"H-Hi, Skyfall." Psalm tripped up in her trotting to slide to a halt a few yards from her brother. She smiled up at two golden eyes glaring down at her in anger. “S-Surprise?”


"A very big surprise." Skyfall added, curtly nodding to Honey sitting by his side. He held out his hoof and waived her forward and waited as she sauntered up with a wincing smirk.

"She made me swear to not tell you." 

"Now who's this?" Sunset asked under her breath.

Pslam lowered her head and a loud clunk noise echoed after Sky brought his hoof down on her crown. 

"Sky, that hurt." Psalm teared up. "That wasn’t very nice. I'm telling Sif on you."

"Tell her, she's right there." Skyfall jabbed his hoof to the waving mare. "You're lucky I don't ground you for this little scheme you cooked up."

Skyfall paused and glanced over to the confused group of ponies. He couldn't make eye contact with Fluttershy, something in him started to feel like an open wound, gapping and sore. "Sorry, everyone, but this is Psalm-"

"Another ex-wife?" Rarity asked skeptically, with a small trace of tragic hope in her breast.

"No, my little sister."

All of a sudden, Twilight appeared out of nowhere like a smiling demon from Tartarus. "You don't say!"

"No." Skyfall scolded, ponking Twilight on the nose. "Back, tiny, library demon."

By this point, Twilight had clung to Psalm's leg and started to pout. "No, I need information."

"No, you want dirt." Skyfall accused. He jabbed his hoof into Twilight’s armpit to force her hooves off a laughing Psalm. He placed Twilight back before a confused Celestia like a foal before its mother. Skyfall adopted a worn look, as if stress had finally bore a crack in his facade. "I'm sorry, but I need to go home. As you can see, there is a lot I have to deal with."

He turned to Celestia and smiled. "Princess, feel free to come by later. I understand there is something about a mirror you want to talk to me about. I'll put on some tea, just in case."

With a knowing smile, Celestia accepted his offer with a slight bow of her head and let Skyfall take his leave.

One by one, the ponies started to wave, but not Fury. Fury wore the most enraged look he could muster and he was directing it at Psalm who smiled right back at him while brushing up against Skyfall.

Applejack stepped out of the crowd before Skyfall and was immediately eyed by Honey Bee. "Skyfall, there's some stuff I need to speak with you about. It's about the workers and a very angry Clydesdian pony named Maddy. She demanded that you be at the meeting."

"When's the meeting?" 

"Thursday at three." Applejack smiled.

"I'll be there." Skyfall turned and started to walk, knowing he would see at least some of them later.

Honey Bee swayed in her stance and approached Applejack slowly.

"H-Hiya there." Applejack smiled, but Honey looked down at her old pendant. Upon realizing that Honey was staring the pendant, Applejack hissed and went to remove the necklace. "Oh, this belongs to you."

Honey smiled and placed a hoof on Applejack's. "No, keep it. If Skyfall gave it to you, there's a reason."

Applejack stuttered as Honey walked away slowly after Skyfall. 

"This is going to be a mess." Pinkie mumbled to everyone's horror.

"How could you say that?" Rarity scorned. "I'm sure it's all just one big misunderstanding."

"Is that why Skyfall started to cry and demand to know why she wasn't dead?" Pinkie reasoned, dropping her ditsy pony routine in favor of speaking what she really thought. "I can tell he's going to have a long night, I'm going to make him some food and a pot of extra strong coffee. I can tell he'll need it."

"I'll help." Fluttershy offered as she flew up slowly.

"Ditto." Sunset said. “Plus, I need some coffee right now."

Twilight looked up to her former mentor and smiled, seeing her give a warm nod of approval. "Why don't we all go? Maybe we can all pitch in to help? Do you think it'll help, Nimbus?"

Nimbus raised an eyebrow at Twilight. "I'll help you girls out, that house is going to be a war zone for the next few hours."

"It'll be that bad?" Rarity gasped.

With a shrug, Nimbus sighed. "No idea, but I've known those two for most of my life and there are few things in this word that can drive that stallion crazy and that mare is the fuse for most of it."

Fuji bit her lip. "I must agree, they're only complete when they're with each other. I saw him at the gala and saw a glimpse of how he was and thought he had found someone new that could compete with her, but everyone said he is still single."

Fluttershy felt her heart go numb at the conversation, she landed and started to walk out a separate gate and caught a glimpse of Skyfall looking back at her when suddenly, someone poked her.

"Hey, Shy."

"Sif?" Fluttershy asked. "H-Hi."

Sif chuckled and waved her to follow as they separated from the group. "Don't give up, I'm still rooting for you. I also have four hundred bits riding on your win."

Fluttershy blushed before shaking her head. "It's over, Sif. How can-"

With a crack, Sif whipped Fluttershy's flank, making her yelp. "Yes, I nailed the tail whip. Anyway, sorry." Sif tried to fight off her achievement to continue. "What makes you think it's over?"

Fluttershy gulped, knowing she was supposed to keep their dating a secret.

"Come on, Fluttershy." Sif laughed. "I can smell your perfume on him when he comes home. I see the candies and flowers, and I know he makes special trips to see you. I know you two are dating."

"You approve?" Fluttershy asked.

"Of course I do, I can tell he loves you and that's how I know he won't give up on you." Sif said. "But I ask for you to be patient with him and to trust him. He’ll fight for you as long as you fight for him."

“Really?”

“Yes.” Sif said, but paused to give Fluttershy a serious look. “However, be warned. I know him, should you ever leave him for another or give an inkling that you no longer care for him, he will never come back.”

Fluttershy nodded slowly. Under Sif’s cold gaze, she felt fear and anxiousness. “I… understand. I don’t think that will ever happen.”

"Okay?"

"Okay." Fluttershy smiled.

"So now that I know your secret." Sif said. "Tell me about some of the romantic stuff he does when I'm not around."

"Promise you won't tell him?" Fluttershy winced, eager to have someone to gossip with besides her animals.

"Nope!" Sif chirped as they started to make their way into Ponyville.

What neither of them saw was the cloaked stallion in the Everfree grinning at Fluttershy. He had heard everything they said before disappearing back into the forest.





"I missed you." Honey cooed as she pressed herself against Skyfall.

"I missed you too." Skyfall ran his hoof over her mane. For millennia, no one on Equus had ever been as close to him as Crystal had. Having her back filled a void he never wanted to admit was there. "I'm going to put on some tea, you still take honey in yours?"

"Sure do." Honey smiled and waved before hearing a ragged gasp from the stairwell. She looked up and River leapt from the Bannister and glomped on top of her. She had left the engagement early and missed Honey’s return, otherwise the already outrageous scene would have been made infinitely more awkward.

"When you two are finished, I'll see you in the kitchen." Sky turned to the kitchen, a draw of concern across his face. He forced a hollow smile, but his mood was anything but happy. True, he felt a good ache in his heart at having his love back, but too much time had passed and too many questions hung in the air about where she had been and what she had done. 

He knew what he was going to hear wouldn't be easily accepted, but luckily, Spirits had time on their side.

"Want any help?"

Sky glanced back to Honey as she smiled nervously from the hall, having escaped River’s deathgrip. "You should go to my study and wait for me to fill you in on everything. I would accept, but there are some things that need to be arranged before she gets home."

Honey squinted playfully. "She? Have you taken another wife?"

"No." Sky said solemnly. He started to stir the water slowly. "I'm guessing Psalm did not tell you? Did you Psalm?"

Honey glanced back at the figure behind her to find that her sister in law, Psalm, had been preparing to sneak away. "What is he talking about, Psalm? What have you not told me?"

"Dad, I'm home!" The kitchen door clattered opened and the light clogging of hooves echoed through the marble halls. A pink alicorn trotted into the room wearing a flower crown on her head. “I made a hat from the flowers out back.”

He watched as Cadance disappeared into the walk in pantry, too cheerful to notice the presence of guests, he waved Honey and Psalm away.

Honey froze in place, had it not been for the slight trembling, she would have resembled a statue. Psalm pushed at Honey's chest to get her to move her into the hall, but she did not budge.

"Honey, Psalm, it's probably best if you two take a seat while I introduce you." Sky turned the stove off and cleaned his hooves, the opportunity for discretion now passed. "That way, the shock is a little lessened."

As soon as they sat in stoles just opposite the prep area, Cadance trotted back in, happily. "Dad, I figured you would want to know what happened today so I wrote up some notes and put them in your desk. Also, the mail route has been established and the proposal for delegates will be arriving at the end of the week."

Cadance smiled, but soon followed her father's gesture to two ponies behind him. "Oh, we have guests. Hello, I'm Ca..."

Cadance's eyes paused when they met Honey Bee's. She looked to her father, but he continued making his tea. Slowly, her heart started to beat like it pumped thick cream.

“I know you.” Cadance said. Memories of her father showing her dated photos from an old album flashed in her mind and one of the few photos she kept was of a blonde mare she came to know as he mother.

Honey Bee stood and shakily walked over to Cadance. "My name is Honey Bee. You may not remember but me-"

Words failed her as she stared into Cadance's watery eyes. They stood staring at each other for a full minute as they tried to speak. Soon after, Skyfall sighed, getting their attention.

"Anara.” Skyfall cooed to his daughter. “This is your mother, Honey Bee."

Like an overflowing stream, Cadance start to cry, which caused Honey to start crying. Skyfall set the tea to cool and strode over to Psalm. "You and I have a little reunion of our own, Missy."

"What? No happy crying?" Psalm smiled, tears welling up in her eyes at the sight. “No climactic reunion and stories?”

"That comes later, missy." Sky chuckled as he tapped Psalm on the head. "C'mon, there's a nice coffee shop in town you'd enjoy. Plus, there's a stop I need to make."

"Does it involve coffee cake?"

"Of course." Skyfall quietly exited the house after kissing his daughter on the head. He left Cadance and Honey to talk to each other in quiet tones and to come to terms with each other’s existence. "I think it's best to let them catch up."

Psalm nodded and followed her brother until they had stepped onto the road leading away from his estate. Every now and again, he would look at her, only to have it turn into a small smile.

“You’ve always been mentally resilient. I dare say too much for your own good.” Psalm complimented. “I can tell you hurt, talk to me.”

The request went unanswered as she watched her brother slow his pace.

"We should be good here." Skyfall mused before stopping and turning to Psalm, bringing her into a loving hug. "Please, let this not be a dream."

Psalm slowly returned the embrace. "It's not, BB."

"How are you here?" Sky asked. "I have come to know all of the Spirits on Equus, you should not be here."

Psalm smiled. "Neither should our brothers and sisters, but they are."

Skyfall had to accept it now, their brothers and sisters were on Equus, and all of them had the same power as a Spirit. Rage, Unfaithful, River's End, and Lonely Grave, and now, Psalm.

"I trust you've run into them by now?" Psalm asked.

"I have." Skyfall said. "I seem to be their motivation for acting the way they do."

Psalm nodded, cutting to the chase. "You are. Like them, I too hated you, but a certain someone came by and reminded me of who I was. More importantly, however, she reminded me of you, the real you."

Skyfall smiled, knowing of the being she alluded to. "She always had a knack for sticking that muzzle where it didn't belong."

"She said you'd say that." Psalm smiled. "She said to remind you who saved whom."

"How is the Maker?" Skyfall asked.

Psalm bite her lip. "Not good, she waits for you to find a way to her. A way that doesn't use the portals."

"I've been trying to get to her, is there a reason she can't use the portals?" 

"With every use of the portals, a little more poison seeps through each time, killing her." Psalm said. "A rancid magic has crept into the world and it gets worse as the days go by."

Skyfall closed his eyes and accepted his sister's words and remembered the words of the Maker all those years ago.

"There will come a day where I may no longer hold sway over Equus"

Skyfall thought aloud. "Had she really seen all this happening, even then?"

Psalm poked her brother. "She showed me your end and then your beginning, in the end, it was what brought me out of that horrible hold the monster held over me."

Skyfall brushed his sister's mane aside. "So there is someone behind the scenes pulling their strings?"

"Yes, but I dare not speak his name here." Psalm said. 

"Would a meeting chamber deep within a castle do the trick?" Skyfall offered, but Psalm shook her head. 

"Unfortunately, no." Psalm motioned to the surrounding lands. "We need a place that is cut off from this world."

"Like another realm?" Skyfall asked. "Perhaps a dream?"

"Perhaps, but I have no connections to the Princess and I fear she may be in line with him." Psalm turned her head to Skyfall's chuckling.

"It looks like our sibling's intelligence isn't as strong as they believe it is." Skyfall smiled and started walking again. "I will send a letter and Luna will tell us where we can meet. Then we can start making plans to save our family."

"Big Brother?" Psalm asked as she leaned against Skyfall. "I'm happy you're back."

"Me? I'm happy you're not trying to cut me in half." Skyfall began to laugh at his sister's indignant glare, but all joy was cut away as the sound of shouting was echoed through the forest. He saw Applejack arguing with a very large, very angry stallion by their front gate with Scootaloo cowering behind her. "I think we better hurry up."

Psalm and Skyfall trotted along the path and the voices of Applejack and her unwanted visitor grew louder.

"Get off my land!"

"Give me my daughter!"

"She doesn't want to go with you, you creep!" Applejack growled. She lowered her head toward the massive guard, but noticed Skyfall trotting towards them and gestured him forward. "Skyfall, I need your help."

"No Captain, I need your help." The stallion said, his scowl turning into a smug grin. 

"What is going on here?" Skyfall looked to both parties and then down to Scootaloo. He stared closer and a bruise had started to form under her wing, try as she might, Scootaloo couldn't hide it.

Before Applejack could respond, the Stallion barked up. "This inbred cow-mare has taken my daughter. I was coming by to pick her up and when we exited the gate, she rushed us and assaulted me. I demand my daughter to be given over and for this, thing, to face charges!"

"Interesting situation narrative." Skyfall took a moment to breath in the air. It didn't take long to notice the scent of alcohol wafting from Scootaloo's father. With slow, deliberate movements, Sky looked down at Scootaloo and addressed Applejack. "Applejack, could you take Scootaloo to my place and have Inko take a look at her? My estate is closer than Ponyville General."

Applejack nodded and looked to the stallion staring her down.

"Applejack, go now." Skyfall commanded as he stepped between the two. As Applejack, and Scootaloo left. Long Shift, Scootaloo's father started to smile deviously.

"Sir, I do believe that you are in violation of Equestrian Guard Regulation six seventy dash-"

"If you know what's good for you, you'll keep your mouth shut." Psalm commanded.

"And who is this civilian that assumes she can order me around because she's related to my Captain." Shift smirked. He knew he was in the wrong and was used to throwing around regulations to muddy the issue.

"Who said I was a civilian?" Psalm asked sharply. 

Shift scoffed and looked to his Captain who wore no emotion as his golden eyes pierced through the conversation.

"I am tired of this." Skyfall said. "You will relinquish your hold over Scootaloo or I will have you transferred out in the morning." Skyfall turned and started to walk away, but Shift turned to attack in a rage, fueled by his inebriation.

Skyfall turned and let Shift connect his hoof to his jaw. What Shift didn't know, however, was Skyfall hardened his stance and hitting him now was tantamount to hitting an ironwood tree.

Shift collapsed to the floor, growling in pain.

"Guardsman Long Shift, you've hit a superior officer and disrespected not only an officer of an allied country but your own. Based on the damage I've witnessed done upon your foal, I am ordering her out of your custody. I order you to turn yourself in for judgement. Should I find that you have not surrendered, I will retrieve you." Skyfall said coldly as he turned. "Do not tempt me."

“Please. Don’t.” Long Shift asked. “I need her.”

At hearing an honest request, Skyfall grimaced. “I should have you locked up without another word, but I am honor bound to listen. Report to me in the morning in full dress uniform at first light.”

Psalm glanced down at the seething stallion before catching up to her brother.

"So where to?" Psalm chirped.

"Today has been a very, very long day." Skyfall sighed, his mind racing with tasks. "I have so much on my plate right now; I have my daughter, her mother, you, our siblings, Farhaven, civil unrest, an army of undead, suppressed species all over Equus, crossbred foals, and a Solar deity trying to use me as her personal antlered ashtray. It's actually quite comical."

"What about that back there?" Psalm motioned to the stallion seething and sobbing in the dirt.

"That was a problem that is now finished." Skyfall sighed in relief. "No climactic fight where I tackle him through a window, no heartfelt conversation where I tell Scootaloo it’ll all be okay. Just an order and a possible arrest warrant should he not show up tomorrow. Worst that’ll happen is Scootaloo lives with a friend and I foal sit every now and again to ensure her recovery."

Psalm started to giggle and bumped her older brother. She tugged on his scarf and tried to whip it around like a mental patient. He rolled his eyes and pulled his scarf back before he saw her pout. "I'll make you your own."

"And coffee and a talk?" Psalm asked hopefully.

"I would like that, very much." Skyfall smiled.





Skyfall Estate
Several Hours later.





Skyfall sighed happily at his desk, taking another long sip of coffee from his small cup. It was late at night and everyone was asleep, or in the process of getting there. The appearance of both Crystal and Psalm on the same day made for a very interesting dinner. True to form, Skyfall insisted on cooking everything, and like always, Crystal butted in and tried to help only to burn soup.

During the entire dinner, Skyfall remained silent, not for some dark reason or a sense that something was wrong, but because Cadance wore a brilliant, engaging smile. He understood why, for most of her life, she had to make due with ponies that pretended to like her for status, but here she was with a real family that was growing. So he sat back and watched his daughter be happy, in content silence.

Three light taps pinged off of Skyfall's study window, ruining his focus on the night's events. The taps were too loud to be a regular Pegasus. And considering who needed to speak with him, he chuckled and gestured the being in. "You can teleport in, if that's what you're asking."

Before Skyfall could deliver the final word, Celestia teleported into his study and before his desk. 

"Evening, Princess." Skyfall greeted.

"Greetings, Skyfall." Celestia smiled weakly. "May I speak with you?"

"Very odd request coming from royalty." Skyfall said. "Typically, ponies of status demand meetings."

Celestia nodded slowly and waited for his banter to stop.

"You may." Skyfall accepted. "I take it there are more than mirrors on your mind?"

Celestia sat down slowly and warded the room so that no one could eavesdrop. The windows frosted with illusion magic and a slight chill fell over the room. "I have much on my mind, Skyfall." Celestia started. "But first I have questions."

Slowly, Skyfall put his coffee down and faced Celestia, knowing that the question could be of great consequence. "If you have questions, I have answers. Just ask."

Celestia smiled, but turned her gaze away from stallion before her. "Who are you?"

"What do you mean?" Skyfall asked, knowing not to tempt her anger with any foolishness.

Two magenta eyes snapped up to meet Skyfall's with a new intensity of her own. "I know you're much older than you appear. I spoke with Sombra after the Gala about you nearly attacking him. You clearly knew him. That would make you over fifteen hundred years old."

"Princes-"

"And I had the population of the Crystal Empire registered immediately after its return. It took some time, but after a thorough search of the records..." Celestia's sudden rage extinguished. "Your name was not found." She sighed and looked up to her host. "I ask again, who are you?"

"Cursed." A new voice called from behind a nearby door. Celestia averted her gaze and watched as Honey entered the room. "We both are."

"You're cursed?" Celestia asked, voice thick with unease and skepticism.

Honey strode past Celestia and up to Skyfall, coming to a rest by his side. "Years ago, we lived in the far reaches of the world and our work led up to a power crazed warlock. He ensnared the souls of an entire kingdom's population to create a special stone. We stopped him, but in return we became doomed, fated to watch everyone we held dear whither away. I'm sure your reports get extremely, uncomfortably detailed?" She asked Celestia, who looked on with a slight nod. "He made us unable to reproduce; I am barren, and he is sterile. Cursed to watch the ages."

Skyfall glanced over to Honey, unsure of the lie she was spinning, but knew that it had been rehearsed by a few disguised Spirits.

"Are you speaking of Grogar's sacking of Gryphus?" Celestia asked. 

"The same." Skyfall said as he brushed his hoof over Honey's shoulder. "Honey, it's okay. The Princess just wanted to talked business."

"You sure?" Honey asked. Skyfall, despite being away from her for so long, still picked on Honey's subliminal signals of concern. "It's fine, go and catch up with Sif."

"We'll talk later?"

"Yes, my love." Skyfall cooed as she stood to leave.

Reluctantly, Honey left, but not before glaring at Celestia.

"She doesn't like me very much." Celestia said while looking at the closed door.

"No, seems odd, but you are in the political spotlight, so that comes with the status." Skyfall shrugged. "But back to the reason why you're here. What are your other questions?"

“If what she says is true, that answers many of the questions I’ve built.” Celestia took a deep breath. "I take it you know about my council?"

"I do."

"And that I've been spying on you?"

"Unfortunately, I do." Skyfall shook his head in mock disappointment. "It was bold to make me a guard captain out of the blue, even if I had a little Spirit knowledge. It was hasty, if you had suspicions, you should have confronted me, my reactions would have told you everything." He slowly grabbed his tea, believing that any possible danger from Celestia was, for the time being, put to rest. "But I never expected you to go the cloak and dagger route, you're more keen to stomping your hooves and making shows of power."

Celestia wore a slight smile as she leaned her chair. "Only one other stallion has ever spoken to me like this."

Silently wincing as he forgot to feign fear, Skyfall held up his hoof and tried to apologize, but Celestia shook her head. "No, please don't apologize, you're right." She looked to the kettle beside Skyfall. "May I?"

"You may." 

Golden magic started to grasp the tea as Celestia made herself a cup, but she relented when Skyfall grabbed the cup and kettle. "Perhaps it is better if I make you tea, Princess."

"Just Tia is fine, and thank you." Celestia sat back and waited to be served, but nervously reached out for the cup when she realized Skyfall wouldn't bring it to her. With a tentative sip, she hummed and continued sipping. "Only one other stallion made tea this well."

"I don't suppose that I could have this stallion's name?" Skyfall chuckled. "Gotta know my competition for snarky, tea making stallions."

The smile faltered on Celestia's face. "Shattered Skies."

Skyfall nodded and internally noped away from that line of thinking.

"Did you know that once Shattered Skies was the court advisor for Equestria?" Celestia asked. "Sometimes he would disappear for months, but he would always return, usually to scold either myself or Luna."

"I didn't know that, he sounds like a hard taskmaster. Is that why you hate him now?" The question cut deep and Skyfall knew it, he suspected that Celestia didn't know why she hated him so much, only that she felt she had to. 

"I want to hate him, I've hated him for so long, but since seeing him at the Gala, I don't know anymore." Celestia said. "My council wants me to go full force into the forest, but I know Skies, he and the other Spirits would decimate our forces. In the end we would lose thousands just getting in the front door, they’re all too old to not see it coming."

"I take it you're against attacking him?"

"At first, no, that's what the Ponyville guard base was built for. Had everything gone to plan, then today would have been the day to attack Farhaven, but I chose to turn it into a test battle instead." Celestia reached up and took her crown and collar off. "Skies always told me to remove my crown by hoof, he said that it showed acknowledgement of my position and respect for its weight. I remembered this a couple of weeks ago and cancelled the attack."

Celestia ran her hoof over her crown. "Aside from being our advisor, he was our teacher. He spoke at length about a great many things. I wish I paid more attention to his lectures, maybe then I would be the shrewd politician my sister is."

Skyfall interested in his former pupil's news perked up. "Luna is a shrewd politician?"

"Yes, nothing gets past her." Celestia said. "She blew an entire companies cover for tax evasion just because their representative asked a question wrong. He used the wrong wording, something my sister said was a parapraxis, a slip of the tongue that revealed what the representative really wanted."

With a warm, sad smile, Celestia beamed at Skyfall. "She was always better at figuring stuff out than I was. Thanks to her, we saved hundreds of ponies and set right the criminal element in one of Canterlot's white-collar districts. I praised her, but she gave credit to Skies, saying that had I payed attention to him more, I would have seen the problems too."

"W-Why are you telling me this?" Skyfall asked.

With a delicate shrug, Celestia huffed. "I don't know. I need someone to talk to, someone that will just listen without an agenda. Someone that will tell me that I'm an idiot when I'm being an idiot."

Quietly, Skyfall stood and strode over to the large diarch and reached forward to hold her hooves. Celestia could feel his warm fetlocks around her’s before a hoof touched her chin to crane her face towards his. "Celestia?"

Nervously, Celestia answered. "Yes, Skyfall?"

"You're an idiot." Skyfall deadpanned before flicking her nose. "Now drink your tea, it's getting cold."

A giggle rose from Celestia as she sipped on her beverage.

"I believe it is my turn to ask questions." Skyfall said as he sat. "I take it you no longer trust your advisors?"

"No, I don't know if it's my sister's constant voice of protest or if it was the blast from the elements, but I'm starting to disagree with them more." Celestia said. "And these dreams I'm having are almost too much to bare."

"Dreams?"

Celestia shook her head. "Poor choice of words, when I sleep, it's as if I'm reliving a parts of my past. Some are recent, but one in particular was one from my foalhood."

Skyfall's stomach fell. "Explain."

"As I'm sure you know, Alicorns are created, when we achieve great feats, the Maker grants us with either wings or a horn."

'You're wrong, but continue.' Skyfall thought as he nodded. "Go on."

"But these memories are of me playing with a large alicorn couple in a city of Alicorns." Celestia rest her head in her hooves and continued. "Then screaming. A thick fog started to assault the city and feral Alicorns started to attack the populace, then horrible monsters emerged from the fog and cut down everyone in sight." Celestia took deep, calming breaths. "Then the images of a large, blue Alicorn placing me and Luna in a fruit pantry just outside the inner gates as a large bell rang desperately in the distance."

Celestia rang her hooves behind her head and looked up to nothing in particular. "Then crying and silence."

"I wake up every night in a cold sweat. Even Luna can't enter my dreams, nor can she stop them." 

Skyfall closed his eyes, knowing that the memory block had finally been undone. "What else do you remember?"

"I remember a group of ponies coming to rescue us and then we were wrapped up in a thick scarf. I'm guessing so we wouldn't see what became of our home." Celestia said. "Spirits attacked us and out of all the Spirits that I imprisoned, some spouted what seemed to be false statements about Alicorns being destroyed by Discord. Now, that doesn't seem so outrageous."

"Do you believe you were wrong to attack Spirits?" Skyfall asked.

An awestruck look moved across Celestia’s face. She went to chuckle, but found the breath to do so had escaped her and instead fell short.

‘What is she thinking?’ Skyfall thought, seeing her conflicted state. “You’ve seemed a little dazed since the Gala, Celestia, so I will ask once more. Do you think it was right to put the Spirits on trial as you did?”

"Yes.” Celestia answered, the temperature of the room climbed. “They were unnatural and hurt everypony they came into contact with." Celestia's firm, mental composure cracked as a light red haze grew in her eyes. "The best option was to separate us."

Skyfall now knew it was his brother, Fury, that amplified her hate, but even so, there was still immense hate for Spirits. "Princess, may I speak freely without you trying to incinerate me or erase my family from history?"

"I would deny you, but I know you'd just find another way to scold me." Celestia chuckled, taking a deep breath to diminish her anger. Beads of sweat formed on her brow as her heart pounded in her ears.

"I do not know what happened with you and the Spirits, but from what I can gather of the sparse documents out there, they were put on trial and sentenced to imprisonment for no discernible reason." Skyfall said. A simple statement tore Celestia deep inside, he could see resentment in Celestia’s glare, not for what she did, but that it was questioned. "You need to take steps to fixing the world you threw into imbalance."

"I threw the world into imbalance? I’m keeping it in balance."

"I learned long ago, Spirits keep the world in balance. They need to be able to maintain the world, if not, the power on their aspects here on Equus will run rampant. A river spirit watches the river and makes sure it doesn't dry up or overflow, without them to maintain it, you'll have droughts or flooding. I read the paper and these issues are on the rise. Recently Discord has been able to help, but even he can't handle what it takes all Spirits to achieve."

Skyfall looked Celestia in the eye. "You need to take steps to bringing Spirits back."

Celestia chewed her lip and nodded. “There are Spirits in my employ in Canterlot aside from my council. I will convene with them.”

Skyfall sighed, slightly annoyed at her flippant reaction. "You cannot treat this like picking out your next stained glass window, Princess. If something is not done…”

He took a deep breath, it seemed as if Celestia trusted him, but pressing too hard may undo the trust placed in him. Falling short of words, he closed his mouth and reclined back calmly.

“If something is not done, what?”

“What does your sister say about all this?” Skyfall asked.

Celestia looked to the night sky through one of the tall windows in her host’s study. “Free the Spirits.” Despite the possible cataclysms of the country and individual problems, the room was calm as if two ponies were merely enjoying a game of chess. “Skyfall, can I confess something to you?”

“Are you sure you want to, Princess?” Skyfall asked. “I’m a guard captain, not a deacon. I don’t feel I’m important enough for something like a royal confession.”

Taking that as her permission to speak, Celestia tittered in amusement at Skyfall’s newly found respect for her position as Dierarch. “Luna and I grew up around Spirits.”

“That is a complete and utter shock. What a twist.” Skyfall feigned shock with a flaccid voice. “Tell me more.”

“Smart-flank.” Celestia chided, shooting him a dirty look. She looked into her cup of tea and swirled it in silence, concentrating on the tiny mint leaf floating on the surface. “As a filly, Spirits visited us and taught me and Luna. Alot of them were disguised, but it’s hard to hide one’s identity when from day to day you act the exact same.”

She dipped the end of her hoof in her tea and did this over and over for a short time. “Fair Watch, and then his son Clever Watch, raised me and Luna. Both grew to dislike the Spirits and had been possessive over my sister and I. I have thought about it for a great many years, my love of them may amplify my attitude towards Spirits.”

“That is a dangerous mindset.” Skyfall said.

“I know.” Celestia curled her hoof, stretching the ligaments within as more of a nervous tick then purposefully. “Luna always tried to remain logical about things when growing up. She was amazing at every subject she picked up, the perfect student. Everyone loved her, and not me.”

“Why do you think that is?”

“Luna is loving. She thinks things through and was always able to take responsibility easier and more effectively than I ever could, even now.” Celestia giggled. “I remember I used to sneak out and get caught which always lead to me getting punished, something she would join in alongside me so I wasn’t alone. Perhaps if I went to the moon instead of her, the world wouldn’t be as bad as it is now.”

"It's not as bad as it looks." Skyfall said as he took a brief pause. "Have you considered going to speak with Shattered Skies? From what I hear, he was more than willing to speak with you."

Celestia laughed, throwing Skyfall off a bit. "You do not know him as I do. He'll talk his way around it and toy with me. In the end, I'll have more questions than answers."

"Maybe he'll listen, now that the world is on the brink of war." Skyfall said forcefully. "I overheard a great many delegates at the Gala, Equestria has fewer allies than they would like to admit."

Celestia magicked a map from the corner and levitated it above while magically highlighting three countries. "The Griffon Kingdoms, the Pony colonies of the east, and recently, Neighpon. Those are our only real allies."

"Then you must find more." Skyfall said. "And before you ask, I'll be blunt, you need to ally yourself with Farhaven."

Celestia chuckled. "That would need to take years to be done safely."

"A show of good faith?" Skyfall asked. "I know of a great many slums in Equestria, filled with species from other countries. Let them migrate to Farhaven unhindered, it will only bode well for you."

"I doubt they would want to move to Farhaven." Celestia's skeptical tone was not lost on Skyfall.

"I've heard the opposite, they're being kept there by someone in Canterlot's high command. A Spirit" Skyfall said, planting the seed in Celestia's mind. "I read that many Spirits were imprisoned and few remain in Equestria, but I digress. To put it simply, I surmise that the bulk of the Spirits are kept in this realm Sunset comes from."

"You know she lives in the mirror, don't you?"

"I do." Skyfall said. "I also know you're trying to get in contact with an elemental there. I guess what I'm trying to say is, in short, I'm throwing my name into the hat."

"You would venture into a foreign realm to help me?" Celestia's voice sounded weak and unbelieving.

"Yes, but my motives aren’t strictly altruistic." Skyfall laughed, trying to play off his self-invite. "I make it a point to explore the world and collect things, and this allows me to pursue a hobby of mine."

"Then you're the second to raise their hoof in support." Celestia said. "It makes me happy to have found another friend that doesn't want something from me personally."

"They're out there, you just can’t surround yourself with snakes." Skyfall mused as he stood and strode to his armor stand. "May I ask, who's my partner?"

"Sunset Shimmer."

Skyfall cursed mentally, some random pony he could deal with, but Sunset was a sharp mare; not as observant as Pinkie, nor was she as meticulous as Twilight, but when it came to intuition and tenacity, Skyfall surmised that she was on par with historically great detectives. "Wonderful, I enjoy her company, anyone else?"

"The fewer ponies we send through, the less strain on the gate there will be." Celestia stood and replaced her regalia. "I was going to send Fury and Shining Armor, but I believe you're the best fit so they will stay in Ponyville."

Celestia walked over to Skyfall and wrapped him up in a hug, she rested her head on his and sighed in relief. "Thank you for this, Skyfall. I hate to impose on you, but may I come by every once in a while to let off steam. This felt good."

Skyfall reached up and rested his hoof on hers. "Any time, Tia."





Farhaven
The Next Day





"So who are we waiting for?" Cadance asked as she stood on the bulky shipping dock, looking out onto the bays mouth that lead to Baltimare's Horseshoe Bay.

"We're waiting for Minerva, the Spirit of knowledge." Streams called up from the water as she lounged in her large otter Spirit form. "Although, she may have just flown in."

"Princess Anara!" A Griffon called as she raced towards the shore. "Trouble at the museum!"

"What's wrong?" Anara asked from beneath her cloak.

"There's a huge bird tearing apart the book section, screaming about something called the Dunkin' decimal cyst!" The Griffon coughed out through their labored breaths.

"The dewey decimal system." Streams said as she rested her upper body on the dock as her tail and legs kicked in the water. "That would be Minerva, our psychotic librarian."

"Another one of dads friends?" Cadance asked.

"Hardly, they have respect towards each other, but for about three thousand years, she and him fought over an overdue book." Streams started to sink into the water. "Good luck."

"Good luck?" Cadance asked and was struck by a realization. She ran to the ledge and peered down at Streams. "Good luck! You're sending me after her alone?"

"You're much better at dealing with crazies than I am. Just picture Twilight, but on steroids.” Streamed bobbed in the water and shooked her head. “On second thought, just imagine Twilight on a lot of coffee and sugar. Steroid Twilight brings really weird, really sweaty images to mind." Streams started to sink under the water. "Just quote something for me when you see her?"

"Will it help me?" Cadance asked in desperation. "What is it?"

"I'll never let go, Jack. I'll never let go." Streams said with a devious smile. "That will get her to stop freaking out about books.”

"I'll never let go, Jack. I'll never let go? Got it." Cadance said as she turned to follow the Griffon.

"Poor kid." Streams giggled as she sunk beneath the water. "So worth it."