Home had changed. The dark magic fallout from the fight so long ago had changed the surrounding forest. No sane pony would dare enter, for fear of the feirce animals that lived there. And that was why this was the bat ponies home, after decades of being nomads. Nopony remembers that time. Except Queen Night Lily. Generations had gone past, and finally Lily started seeing the signs of her return. She had felt hope for the fist time in ages. And then it had been crushed. Lily saw the rainbow coming from her old home, now forgotten ruins. The elements had banished her again. But she had to move on. She had a people to rule.
Lily was walking through the castle garden, which she had planted herself. That was her special talent, gardening. Not ruling. She had planned to step down once they finally settled in the Everfree, but the others had said they would ignore everything any other ruler said. Lily heard hoof steps coming toward her, and saw her assistant walking toward her.
"Inked Parchment. How is the situation with the Timberwolves."
"They've attacked again, Your Majesty."
"I've told you before, just call me Lily."
"It's against protocal. That's not the worst thing, however. They attacked the agricultural district. We're already in the middle of a shortage."
"So we need to find a way to get more food."
"That would be a different problem. Somepony has to volunteer to leave the settlement."
"I'll do it."
She needs to see her family again. Lily misses her. And these years of isolation are starting to get to her. She had also been receiving letters from some of the other settlements, reporting that some ponies had left after Nightmare was banished again. Lily wanted to see what had happened to them.
"We've all heard the stories, what if you get killed?"
"Set up a democracy."
"Your Highness, don't be so flippant. This is a serious issue."
"I am being serious. I can't ask someone else to risk their life doing this."
"Your suppose to be our ruler, now act like it instead of being a foal!"
"No I'm not, Parchment. See my cutie mark?! Im a gardener, not a queen!"
Parchment had never seen Lily like this, she was usually so calm.
"Parchment, you will rule in my stead while I'm gone."
Lily turned away from her and trotted back to her chambers, not quite galloping. It.. It felt good to yell at Parchment like that. To voice the thoughts she'd been thinking since they arrived here.. Lily had been thankful she changed her mind about bringing her diary. Sol knows she needs it.
She dug through her chest of clothing before finding the bracelet she was looking for. It was a gift to her mother from the Empress of the Crystal ponies, before she had been over thrown by the Shadow King. The crystal was enchanted to disguise the wearer. Lily walked past her guards, making her way to the edge of her queendom. It's been centuries since she's stepped outside.
Slipping the bracelet into her hoof, Lily stepped out of the Everfree, into the sunlight.