//------------------------------//
// Chapter Fourteen - In the hoofprints of the fallen 
// Story: Where the Sunflowers Grow 
// by Bluespectre 
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CHAPTER FOURTEEN


 


IN THE HOOFPRINTS OF THE FALLEN

 
Celestia yawned. The sun was already broaching the horizon, and glinting off the snow capped peaks. Looking up at them she felt a slight chill run through her despite the warmth of her body; she didn’t want to think about what she had to do today, especially after…last night. She smiled and turned over to face the still sleeping Rush. He looked so young, so full of life and energy, and yet he had a depth to him that intrigued her. He was right of course; she really would need to do something about the way the palace was currently being run. Until the war, she’d shared the administration of the country with Luna, but now, it was just her. Surely she had ponies she could rely on to take over some of the more mundane tasks? The Chancellor was always droning on and on about taxes and repair works and this and that and…oh! All sorts of silly things! She smiled and gave Rush a kiss on the muzzle – just the very faintest of touches, but it was enough.
 
Rush’s eyes fluttered open sleepily, “Tia?” He stretched and squeezed his eyes shut before stifling a yawn, “Is it time to get up?”
 
“Mmhmm”
 
Rush clucked his tongue, “Do we have to?”
 
“We do” she replied gently, and gave his mane a stroke, “I’m sorry.”
 
“I don’t want to get up.” Rush’s mouth curled into a cheeky grin, “Can it wait?”
 
“No!” Celestia bopped him on the nose, “I don’t know where you get all that strength, mister earth stallion, but I’m just a frail mare you know, I’ve only got so much energy in me.”
 
“Pfff!” Rush laughed aloud, “Stop it!”
 
“Only if you ask nicely…” Celestia leaned down and licked his muzzle, making Rush squeak in surprise. “Come on you, I want to get this over with. It’s not something I want to do, but…”
 
“I know, love.” Rush gave himself a push, rolled over, and groggily began to get himself ready for another day, “But if it helps you-”
 
“-Just…just be there for me” the Princess said quietly, “Please?”
 
Rush shook his head, “You know I will be.” He gave her a nuzzle, “Anyway, I always say: ‘a cup of tea first, to start the day’.”
 
“No you don’t!” Celestia laughed, “I’ve never heard you say that at all!”

“Humph!” Rush huffed, “You never listen, that’s why…” He stuck his tongue out playfully, receiving a whack on the rump in reply.
 
Soon, packed and strapped in, Rush settled himself into the chariot while Celestia pulled them up into the chill morning air. Flying didn’t seem to bother him as much now for some reason. Maybe it was because of his trust in Tia, or the fact that he was distracted after they’d… Rush gave himself a shake; he still hadn’t stopped smiling happily to himself since he’d woken up, but he didn’t care. He peered over the side of the chariot at the crystal blue sky and forests far below them. This far north, the air felt different, even ‘tasting’ different somehow. Rush licked his lips – it was reminiscent of ice, a peculiar hint of winter that felt at odds to the beautiful scene around them of green trees, the river, and the fog shrouded mountains ahead: fog they were heading straight into.
 
“When we enter the cloud, close your eyes until I tell you” the Princess called over her shoulder, “It’s important, understand?”
 
The tone of voice said it all. There would be no discussion or debating now; Celestia was in complete command. Rush wasn’t sure what to expect in there, mostly because Tia had been evasive about the whole subject but, in fairness, Rush hadn’t exactly pushed her for information anyway. He was starting to wish he had, especially as they were now so close to their goal, but since this was clearly painful for her, he would put his trust in his mare and follow her lead. Rush checked his sword and flexed his shoulders; he’d heard bits and pieces of the story from the unicorns in the forest and snippets from the guards, but in reality he hadn’t found out much more than conjecture and rumour. In truth, nopony really wanted to talk about the war at all, and he couldn’t blame them. He’d seen war, he’d seen his fill of the brutality and cruelty people could inflict on one another, and he’d see the suffering it left on those it left in its wake. Tia would tell him the story when she was ready. He sighed; and that would be all too soon. Rush kept his eyes closed and waited. Over than the wind noise, he couldn’t hear much aside from the rhythmic sweeping of Tia’s wings, until eventually stray wisps of white caught his eye and he suddenly found his vision had all but turned completely white.
 
They’d entered the cloud.
 
The temperature plummeted; beads of moisture clung to his fur and soaked his muzzle. It was not especially unpleasant as such, but it was definitely uncomfortable. Rush put it out of his mind for now; when they landed he’d give himself a good shake and dry off. Fortunately they had towels and warm cloaks with them which Tia had told him to keep ready in the locker for when they landed in the pass and…
 
Something was tickling his ear. He reached up and gave it a rub - just water.
 
Rush took a breath and…
 
There it was again. What was that? There was nothing physical there, just…
 
“Rush? What are you doing here? You shouldn’t be here yet, it isn’t your time.”
 
The voice made Rush’s hackles go up and his heart skip a beat. It wasn’t Tia’s voice, it was…
 
“Mother?” No. It couldn’t be, it had to be a trick of the clouds or altitude or…
 
“Why are you here?” the voice asked again, “This isn’t the sort of place for you. Not now, you have so much left to live for…my Rush…”
 
“Don’t listen!” Rush opened his eyes in surprise as Tia yelled back at him, “Rush, keep your eyes shut and don’t listen! They’re not real!”
 
But it was too late. Rush stared into the large brown eyes of a mare with a chocolate brown coat and cream mane. In a way, it was like looking in a mirror – except for the eyes.
 
“Rush, my dear son” she reached out for him, “this isn’t the place for you.”
 
“Mother?” Rush shook his head, “But…” he paused and shut his eyes, “You’re not here, you’re dead, you’re with the herd now.”
 
“Your father’s here” the voice said peacefully, “He wants to see you.”
 
“No!” Rush hissed, “Go away! You’re not real! Gods damn it all, leave me be!”
 
“Hello, Rush” A heavy voice spoke on the other side of him, “You’ve grown to be quite the stallion. You have your mothers’ colouring.”
 
Rush shuddered, “F…Father.”
 
The voice spoke again, “We’ll meet again some day, my son, but not yet. Your mother’s right though, you shouldn’t be here.”
 
“I know!” Rush hissed, “But I have to be! Just, please, leave me alone…please…”
 
The voice of his father sounded surprisingly kind, yet carried a deep baritone that spoke clearly of his size and strength. He’d never met Silver Spark, but he’d heard about him from his friends. He knew how much ponies had respected him, he knew about the way he’d sacrificed himself to buy some time for the young soldiers to escape. Ultimately, had it been worth it? A few seconds, an indistinguishable pause in the maelstrom of battle that had lead to the death of the father he’d never known. Part of Rush felt oddly bitter towards him for allowing himself to be killed for ponies he probably didn’t even know, and now, now that Rush was home in Equestria, it was too late – his father was gone.
 
“We’ll meet again, Rush” his father’s voice said, “One day.”
 
The voice sounded fainter than it had, as though coming from a long way away.
 
“Goodbye, Rush” his mothers voice called, “Be safe. We love you.”
 
“Mother…Father…” Rush whispered, “Oh, Gods…I miss you so much…”
 
“RUSH!” Celestia’s voice slammed into Rush’s ears, “Wake up! Don’t listen to-”
 
Rush held up a hoof, “I’m fine, Tia” he called, “I…I’m fine.”
 
Celestia didn’t look convinced, but then there he was with his eyes wide open when she’d expressly told him not to, and… He blinked; the clouds had gone.
 
“My Gods…”
 
He’d never seen anything like it. He was used to mountain ranges, after all he had lived in them for most of his life, but to see them from up here was simply…breathtaking. Around him, mile upon mile of snow covered mountains stretched out as far as the eye could see. Above them the sky was an uninterrupted blue, a blue as pure as any he had even seen, and there, as if presiding over the world below, was the white light of the sun – Tia’s sun. Rush closed his eyes, feeling its warmth upon his face; he felt calm, peaceful and…happy. How could something so tragic, something so awful, happen in a place of such majesty? It didn’t seem real.
 
They began to descend, slowly spiralling down until Rush noticed they were heading towards something unusual sitting on the side of one of the mountains. As they approached, he began to make out regular patterns and shapes – ones that had clearly been made by hoof or magic – or maybe both. Even at this distance it reminded him of Canterlot and the royal palace, the beautiful towers and buildings of gold, silver and white marble - the way they seemed to be almost growing out of the living rock itself. Yet here, nearing this structure, everything seemed ‘off’ somehow, as though… Rush swallowed; now he knew, now he could understand… He closed his eyes; he didn’t want to see any more…
 
There was no life here.
 
They landed with little ceremony, in a snow covered area of the ruins. Rush waited while the Princess unharnessed herself and walked round to him,
 
“Rush? Are you alright?” Her voice was quavering and uncertain, “I’m sorry, I should have warned you about what we could encounter in the cloud.”
 
Rush took a breath and nodded slowly, “I’m fine. They were just voices, that was all.”
 
Celestia looked at him askance, reaching up to brush his mane out of his eyes, “I did my best to keep the magic at bay, but it has grown far more powerful than I’d expected.” She looked around herself at the blasted rock and the great holes rent in the stonework, “I created the barrier, years ago with the help of the elements of harmony, to keep ponies from wandering in here.” She hung her head, “Nopony should come here.”
 
“Tia, what is this place?” Rush asked, “Where are we?” He shook his mane and stared in amazement at the remains of a building that was, in sheer scale alone, simply unimaginable. Towers, or what remained of them, soared up into the sky where the remnants of bridges still clung here and there. Stones as large as some of the houses he’d seen in Paddock lay scattered around as though they’d been picked up and thrown about by some gigantic hand of the Gods. Gingerly, he walked forward a couple of paces and stared at something poking up out of the ground – it was white, but not the white of snow, and it had an almost ‘organic’ feel to it.
 
Bones.
 
Rush closed his eyes and stepped back. The more he looked, the more he saw…they were everywhere.
 
The Princess lay a hoof of Rush’s shoulder, “This is a place I never wanted to see again, let alone bring you here.” She took a breath, “This is, or rather was, the home of the wendigo - the Fortress of the Four Winds.”
 
“Madra mentioned a fortress” Rush said quietly, “I’d heard of these ‘wendigo’ too, but…” He shook his head; words seemed so pointless here somehow.
 
“The true wendigo are spirits, of a sort.” Celestia explained, “They are creatures of magic that exist between the planes of life and death, between the land of the living, where we live, and the land of the dead - the eternal herd.” She paused, “That dark place is the home of the thestrals, known as the Wither World.” The Princess continued, “Long ago, perhaps when I was little more than a foal, a tribe of unicorns allied themselves with the spirits of the Wither World in some strange bonding ceremony. It was with this, that they would willingly give themselves to one of the wandering spirits, bonding with it, and become monsters of incredible power.”
 
“What…what did they look like?” Rush asked, “Madra, Fathom and the others, they didn’t look like anything other than regular unicorns to me.”
 
“They were” Celestia said, “Not all members of the tribe of the Four Winds became full wendigo. Many remained as you saw: regular ponies.” She shook her head, “They tended to…breed…amongst their own.”
 
“They were all inbred?” Rush asked in surprise.
 
Celestia nodded, “Yes, although it was a practice not unique to them at the time. Once there were the three tribes: the earth ponies, the unicorns and the pegasi, all unique, and all fiercely independent of the others.” She sighed, “It all lead to war.”
 
“So the wendigo were, what, a fourth tribe?” Rush asked.
 
“Not really” Celestia said, “They were still unicorns. They just took a path that lead them here.” She held out a hoof, “One that led, ultimately, to their destruction.”
 
“They allied themselves with your sister” Rush said gently.
 
Celestia nodded, “They did.” She nodded towards the chariot, “Come. There is something else I need to show you.”
 
As he mounted, Rush asked, “So, what did they look like then? Grove said they could fly, but unicorns don’t have wings… Do they?”
 
Celestia shook her head, “No, but wendigo could somehow channel the spirits power, altering their bodies and giving them the ability to fly.” She looked back at Rush, “Wendigo held the very raw essence of winter within them. Combined with their natural magic, they used it as a weapon…a terrible weapon.” Celestia closed her eyes, “Many of us fell before them.”
 
The chariot lifted off, leaving that mournful last resting place of so many to its silent vigil. Rush stared back over his shoulder, wondering to himself just what it would have looked like before the war had taken its toll. He tried to imagine the wendigo flying through the air, swooping around the towers and battlements of that magnificent structure. Even now, even reduced to little more than rubble and ruin, the fortress glinted like silver in the sunlight, hinting at it once, now lost, majesty. In some respects the fortress appeared to be completely at odds to what Tia was telling him; after all, how could creatures capable of creating such a beautiful place be so warlike? So…evil? He scratched his muzzle in thought; Fathom, Madra, Harn, and little Cinder - they weren’t evil…were they? Sure, Madra was probably going to do ‘something’ to him just before Celestia swooped in and saved the day, so to speak, but it was highly unlikely to have been anything…’unpleasant’. He couldn’t help but feel a slight grin spreading across his face; if he’d been single and alone in the world, would it have been so bad? Living in the forest with a family of unicorns and spending his days weaving the natural fibres of the land as he always had? He gave himself a shake and came back to the present. It was all a fantasy of course – perhaps in another life, another world, things would have taken a different course. Here, he was with his mare, and there was little more he could ask for. Rush sniffed his foreleg and smiled; he could still smell her on his fur…
 
They landed silently in a snow drift in the wide space between two mountains. Rush looked over his shoulder; they weren’t that far from the fortress really. In fact, when he looked closely, he could just about make out what appeared to be a path leading from the direction of the ruined home of the wendigo to this very…pass. He froze, turning back to face Tia, and beyond her, the narrowing divide between the mountains, the very place Madra had spoken of…
 
“The pass of tears.”
 
Celestia closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, “You heard that from the unicorn mare” she said quietly.
 
Rush nodded, “Yes.”
 
“Do you remember what else she told you?” she asked.
 
Rush took a breath, gazing out over the rocky and snow covered landscape. He couldn’t see any evidence of fighting, but…there was something here, a feeling of…of emptiness. Whatever it was, it went far beyond the mere chill of snow, deeper than the bite of the wind, it was…inside, in your heart and your soul. This was a place were bad things had happened: terrible, unimaginable things. Gods, it was all he could do to stop his knees trembling. Rush closed his eyes and rubbed his muzzle,
 
“This was where the last battle was fought against the wendigo.”
 
Celestia looked out along the pass and spoke levelly, “It was. It was here, in this place, where we…that I, brought an end to the evil of the wendigo.”
 
Just like that. Rush didn’t know what to say; the implications, the words he’d heard from other ponies about what had happened here, just didn’t seem to encompass the magnitude nor the scale of what he was trying to come to grips with. Tia had…she’d…
 
“Come.” The Princess began walking away, “Stay in my hoofprints. There are spells here - wards that I placed long ago to keep others away.”
 
And to hide what she’d done.
 
The thought seared through Rush’s mind unbidden. The thought that Tia had been in battle had always struck him as strange, especially when he saw the gentleness in her eyes and the motherly kindness that emanated from her, and yet he’d seen her fighting the thestral, Rend, and he knew there was more to this mare than most of her subjects would ever know. Tia, the Princess of the sun, the ruler of Equestria who had banished her own sibling, was far from some wilting flower. She was the source of power in this land, a virtual living Goddess who would protect beloved people whatever the cost. Who could… his hoof caught on something, something hard and…crunchy. Rush closed his eyes and swallowed.
 
Oh, Gods…
 
He lifted his hoof and stared down at the snow covered bones, the partially charred and blacked remnants of… a foal. Rush squeezed his eyes and felt a shiver run through his body,
 
“Tia…” he whispered.
 
Celestia stopped and looked back at him, her expression unreadable, “Come. There is more to see.”
 
The two walked. As Rush’s eyes adjusted to the light, he began to see more than just the white of the snow, he saw…bones, a veritable swathe of them, leading away into the distance. There were dozens of them, hundreds maybe. Here and there lay the tragic remains of armoured creatures: some with wings, some without. Most were unarmoured - most were unarmed. Nearly all of them were heading in one direction: towards the blocked mouth of what had once quite clearly been a cave entrance. It was here, that the Princess stopped. She turned to face her stallion, her eyes glinting in the sun, her coat as white as snow, and her rainbow mane and tail billowing in the breeze that moaned through the fields of the dead.
 
“Do you see?” Celestia said quietly, “Do you see now, what I am?” She closed her eyes, “This, is what I am.” She gave a mirthless laugh, “I am the white witch, the slayer of young and old…the killer of foals…”
 
Rush shook his head, “Tia, I-”
 
“-You don’t have to say anything” Celestia said lifting her head, “I know what I did. I know why I did it.” She looked at Rush levelly, “They murdered my people, Rush! They slaughtered them mercilessly in their hundreds and thousands, aided by their foul kin and those traitors who served their self styled Goddess, Nightmare Moon.” She gritted her teeth, “I saw what they did, Rush, I saw them beheading and feeding my sons and daughters to dragons, dragons! Can you imagine that? Can you even comprehend what it was like to know what those beasts were doing?” She shuddered, “Such evil cannot be allowed to survive. It had to be wiped away; it had to be purged from our land to make our home safe once again.”
 
Was that Rush’s imagination? As Celestia spoke, the air around her seemed to shimmer and the light darken slightly. The temperature had dropped noticeably too. He raised a hoof, but the Princess continued,
 
“Yes, I slew them! I killed them all! It didn’t matter to me that they ran in fear, running from the vengeance of their enemy; they had brought all of this upon themselves!”
 
The wind was picking up even more, the darkness swirling around her,
 
“I killed them!” She cried, “I turned them to ash with the power of the sun itself! I hacked and cut down those who fled before me and smote their ruin upon the mountainside. All fell before me! All must…all…” The Princess’s eyes suddenly rolled up in her head and she staggered sideways before pitching forward into Rush’s outstretched forelegs,
 
“TIA!”
 
“Oh, how very touching…” A rumbling voice rolled out along the mountain pass making Rush’s mane twitch nervously. He looked up as the dark outline of the voice’s owner landed heavily nearby, sending snow sliding down the rock walls with the dull impact. A stray shaft of light illuminated the gigantic beast towering over the two equestrians,
 
“And so incredible fortuitous, is it not?” the beast added in its heavy tones, “Both the white witch and her mate together!” It let out a great hissing laugh, “I should thank her truly for this most gracious gift!”
 
“What…who are you?” Rush gasped.
 
The beast blinked its huge red reptilian eyes and stepped into the light. Scales as large as table tops glinted with every colour of the rainbow as the massive horned creature leaned down,
 
“I? My name is not for any mortal to know, Pony.” It smirked, displaying a terrifying battery of teeth, each one as long as Rush’s body including his tail, “But I know you…Rush, isn’t it?”
 
“How do you know me?” Rush asked, moving in front of Tia, “What do you want?”
 
“So many questions!” the creature chuckled, “So typical of your race: always trying to put off the inevitable with your incessant chatter.” It clucked its large tongue, “No matter. Know only that you have served your purpose…in feeding me.”
 
The mouth opened, long strands of saliva dripping off the enormous teeth as it drew nearer and nearer. Rush moved round, putting himself between the Princess and the creature,
 
“Eat me then,” he shouted, “but let Celestia go!”
 
The beast paused, surprised by Rush’s actions, “But why? I intend to eat you both.”
 
Rush closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, “Please, just…let her go.”
 
“Oh how infuriatingly noble of you” the creature hissed, “I always hated that side of ponies; so noisy and full of their own sense of self sacrifice!” It huffed a blast of smoke, “But in the end, all you are little pony, is a light…repast.”
 
The mouth opened again, while Rush stood and waited helplessly. This was it then, was it? Eaten by some gigantic scaled…what was it? Gods, he didn’t even know! He’d heard of beasts like this in the human world: huge scaled creatures that could tear mountains in half with their sheer strength. Of course, he hadn’t believed in them really, nobody in their right mind would, but then, who would have believed he was really a pony? Come to think of it, who would have believed that one day he would be standing in a mountain pass waiting to be eaten by a…
 
“Dragon” he muttered.
 
The jaws snapped shut with a hiss and a muted roar. Rush opened his eyes. Something shot past as high speed and swept away before banking and coming back into a dive. There was a loud crack and a thump; whatever it was resulted in the dragon suddenly rearing and clawing at its throat while emitting a howling cry of unbridled rage.
 
“RUSH! GET THE PRINCESS OUT OF THERE!”
 
A streak of purple tore past them, climbing rapidly and then banked hard while simultaneously reloading a heavy looking crossbow. Yule quickly loosed another quarrel, the steel bolt lodging right behind the dragons shoulder and sending the creature into a flailing rage as it tried desperately to pull it free. Rush didn’t waste any time:  in an instant he had the unconscious Princess up and onto his back. Unceremonious it may be, but getting her away from here was all he could think of now, and bouncing along on his back like a sack of potatoes would be something he could apologise for later. Behind him the dragon roared, and a blast of heat surged out along the pass, instantly turning snow to steam and singing Rush’s tail hairs. Thank the Gods he’d run when he had, or else the two of them could have been in the middle of that! He ran on. Rocks and snow flew by, but where the hell was he going to go now? He had no magic, no wings, and only his strength as an earth pony, but what good was that against a beast that looked to be half the size of the mountain itself? He gave his mane a shake and poured everything he had into his speed, keeping to Tia’s and his hoofprints the best he could.
 
The dragon shrieked, and shouted something Rush couldn’t understand. Whatever it was, the thing was beyond furious; Yule must have been putting up one hell of a fight. Dodging around another boulder, Rush reached the precipice, the sheer drop that would mean a swift and bloody death for the unwary, but there, off to his right, was what he’d seen earlier – the narrow path along the side of the mountain that lead back to the remains of the fortress. It wasn’t as if he had much choice left at this point; behind him the teeth and fire of the dragon, below the long drop to oblivion, or the path. He gritted his teeth, checked Tia was as secure as he could make her, and made his decision.
 
Step by step, Rush followed the mountain path. It was surprisingly clear of snow considering its location, and he was damned glad of it too. Both of them had their cloaks on, but it was still bitterly cold despite the sun’s rays. The light too was an enemy out here: the intense brightness was harsh on the eyes and the way it reflected off the white surface could effectively blind you. Fortunately, Rush was used to travelling in the snowy hills and mountains of the human world, and quickly found that four legs gave a distinct advantage when it came to traction. Still, overconfidence could lead to tragedy in such a place, so he kept his pace steady, measured, and tried to ignore the sounds of battle echoing out around them.
 
Rush moved on, negotiating the rock falls that had damaged the path here and there, trying his best to ignore the sad and forlorn remains of long dead ponies that poked up out of the snow, until finally, blessedly, he reached the end of the path. He paused, trying to catch his breath and stared up at the enormous archway before him. It was… immense, bearing still surprisingly crisp carvings of creatures that looked just like the elegant figure Madra had brought for young Cinder. Rush blinked away the sweat from his eyes and took a breath; he didn’t have time for this! He refocused his mind on the job at hoof and stared at the enormous pile of rubble and snow that blocked his progress. At some time in the past, countless tonnes of rock had slid down the mountainside and broken through the wall of the fortress, pushing into the entrance just beyond the archway and effectively blocking it. Cursing under his breath, Rush clambered over the debris, digging at the looser rocks, but there, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a gap that with a little effort he could just about squeeze through. Digging as quickly as he could, Rush heaved himself through the freshly exposed gap in a cascade of stones and snow; Celestia came next, unceremoniously dragged through and into the strangely lit cavern beyond. Rush checked his panniers and shook his head; they had precious few supplies with them as most were stored back with the chariot in the pass. They hadn’t planned on staying here longer than it took to…to what? To see if confronting Tia’s past would somehow free her of the darkness that was inhabiting her magic? Gods above, look where that had got them! What the hell had they been thinking?! And now they were trapped in a…in a graveyard! Rush could feel his heart rate increasing, his fur standing on end with the realisation that he was stuck here with nopony likely to get to them any time soon. Worse, that damned lizard was still out there, and as for Yule…he could only pray he would be safe.
 
Trying to calm his racing heart, Rush stared about at the cavern, or rather…hall. It was absolutely immense in scale even by palace standards, with a peculiar light that emanated from the icy walls providing an otherworldly illumination that made Rush’s hackles go up. Giving himself a shake, he carefully laid the Princess onto his cloak, wrapping her own around her and began checking her for injuries. Thankfully, there were no signs of anything other than a few scorched hairs where the dragon fire had caught them; it certainly could have been a hell a lot worse. Curious, he looked behind at his own tail and sighed; thankfully, that would grow out too. 
 
Rush got up and walked over to the one of the oddly glowing walls, touching it tentatively with his hoof. It felt…cool, but not cold. To his surprise, this wasn’t ice at all, but rather some sort of material similar to crystal that held an inner glow that filled the hall with an eerie blue-white light. Whatever it was however, it worked, and he was damned glad of it too. Darkness in this place, with no source of illumination, could well be the last thing he saw. Rush stared around himself, still trying to get his breath back and took a swig of water from his canteen while shaking his head at the incredible interior of the fortress of the wendigo. Here and there, a little worn through weathering, or in places - scorching, hung banners of all sizes and colours suspended by long golden chains. The effect was one of a strange sort of martial elegance and…taste. Rush’s eyes went wide with wonder; all around him was evidence that this place, despite its name, had once been a home, a place where ponies, or rather, wendigo, had lived. He trotted over to a nearby wooden table; it was magnificently carved with barley twist legs and had a delicately inlaid top depicting a floral design echoed by the neat flower vase that sat upon it. Further along a rack of spears had been knocked over, most of which were missing - no doubt grabbed in the final desperate hours of the fighting. The eclectic mixture of, dare he say, ‘feminine’ decoration and the trappings of war somehow came together in a blend that made Rush’s heart ache; this had been the home of Madra, Fathom, Harn and their people. Little Cinder had probably been born in the forest and would never know this place, but maybe…maybe it was just as well. To live in such a place, to call this amazing structure home, only to have it all taken away…he closed his eyes – it must have been heartbreaking.
 
There was a thump and the sound of something scrabbling at the partially blocked entrance.
 
“NOT COMING OUT TO PLAY?” The dragon’s voice boomed around the hall, echoing off the walls and sending the banners rippling with the immense wave of sound, “YOUR FRIEND DID. WON’T YOU JOIN HIM?” The dragon laughed, “HE WAS…DELICIOUS.”
 
Rush’s heart sank; Yule…had the dragon really…? There was a loud snuffing noise,
 
“I CAN SMELL YOU, EQUESTRIAN.” Suddenly a huge scaled muzzle shoved its way though the gap in the rock fall and sniffed loudly, “I CAN SMELL YOUR MATE TOO.” The beast rumbled out a laugh, “I SHALL ENJOY TASTING HER. PERHAPS I SHALL LET YOU WATCH…” the voice lowered, “As I devour her.”
 
Rush was already running. Behind him he heard the hiss of air, the shriek of flame, and then the roar of fire spewing into the space where he and Tia had been mere moments before. Thank the Gods the corridors and doors were mostly intact. Rush slammed the heavy door closed behind him and he took off running down a corridor, heading deeper into the fortress. Damned thing! Damn, damn, DAMN! But, oh Gods…Yule… The last pony he ever thought would help him was now inside that vile thing, and for what? For trying to help him and the Princess? Spirits forgive him, he had so much to learn about ponies, didn’t he? Now, for poor Yule, it was too late. He closed his eyes and took a breath, adjusting Tia on his back before picking up his pace once more. Corridor after corridor flashed past as Rush ran until eventually, completely exhausted, he was forced to slow to a walk.
 

*****************************

 
He’d been walking for what felt like hours. Rush’s hooves clopped wearily along on a mixture of tiled floors and elegant carpets as he passed row upon row of magnificent tapestries, rugs, tables and chairs. It was an absolutely incredible abundance of the most beautiful items he’d ever seen – more so than even the royal palace. This fortress, this home, had been cared for, loved even, and now it was reduced to this. He shook his head; if it wasn’t for the destruction above it would be easy believe that the fortress was still very much alive with life, and that at any moment, a pony would walk around the corner and…
 
“GAH!” Rush jumped back in alarm, fumbling to draw his sword.
 
“Rush?” The grey mare stared back at him, her eyes wide in shock, “Wha…what are you…?” Madra suddenly took in the figure draped across his back, “What is that creature doing here?! How dare you bring it here!” Magic began to build around the unicorn mare, her horn glowing ominously, “You brought that beast, that…monster into our home!”
 
“Madra, please!” Rush pleaded, “I brought her here, it’s not her fault. Listen, we were chased by a dragon and-”

“-A dragon?” Madra froze, her magic winking out, “I…yes, I saw one flying overhead yesterday.” She shook her head, “Look, I don’t know what’s going on my equestrian friend, but you’d better have a damned good reason for being here.” She adjusted her sword belt and glared hatred at the unconscious form of Celestia, “Follow me, and I suppose you can bring that with you.”
 
Rush didn’t reply, simply feeling relieved beyond words to see a familiar face - even if she wasn’t exactly what he might call ‘friendly’ right at that moment. After everything that had been happening since the dragon had appeared, his heart rate finally began to feel as though it were returning to normal. Now all he had to do was find a way to help Tia and get them both safely back to the palace. He took a breath and was surprised to find that the air was pleasantly warm, even in the bowels of the fortress; so much so that he actually felt quite comfortable.
 
Madra peered back at him and harrumphed. “The walls are made of a fusion of magic, ice, and the rock of the mountain” she explained, making a note of Rush’s look of fascination at his surroundings, “My ancestors used magic the likes of which the world has not seen in aeons. Now…” she said bitterly, “what you see here, is little more than a ghost – an echo of a time long since passed.” Madra’s voice dropped to a mournful whisper as she looked away, “Long since passed…”
 
“Madra, what are you doing here?” Rush asked, “The last time I saw you, you were in the forest with Fathom and the others.”
 
“Why am I here?” the grey unicorn asked in surprise. She huffed loudly, “Because this is my home, Rush.” Her eyes narrowed, “What would be a more appropriate question right now would be for me to ask what you are doing here? More specifically, what is she doing here?” Madra peered at the Princess and adjusted her glasses before looking her up and down, “What’s up with her?”
 
“She passed out.” Rush replied.
 
Madra raised an eyebrow, “Did she now.”
 
“Please, Madra, I know you and Celestia have, er, ‘history’, but-” Rush began.
 
The unicorn stopped dead in her tracks and span round to face him, “HISTORY?!” she roared, “Do you know what she did? DO YOU?” Madra’s eyes narrowed, “Have you walked through the pass? Have you seen what lies within the snow?” Rush nodded. “She is a killer, Rush, a murderer! She butchered foals and…and…” Madra sighed, rubbing a foreleg over her face, “Look, just…just follow me will you. There’s a place in the fortress we can have a look at her and then we can see about getting us all out past your dragon.”
 
Rush hung his head in relief, “Thank you. If you weren’t here, I don’t know what we’d have done.”
 
“Well, that’s simple” Madra said offhoofedly, “You’d have died.” She barked out a laugh, “You still may!” The unicorn stopped by a wooden door in the side of the corridor, “Come.”
 
The door swung open effortlessly, and, despite the passage of time since the war - silently. Rush’s hackles went up immediately; what was it with this place? It was like time hadn’t moved on at all, as though it had been locked away in kind of some protective bubble, just waiting…waiting for its-
 
“Are you listening?”
 
“Huh?” Rush huffed with a start.
 
Madra rolled her eyes, “Stop daydreaming and put the alicorn on the table.”
 
Blinking, Rush complied. The room they’d entered was made of the same material as the rest of the fort. Its walls however, were lined with row upon row of shelves, each one holding a mind boggling assortment of colourful bottles, boxes, and books. The smell in here though, was…familiar. Rush breathed it in; it smelled like his old medical chest, like the apothecary in the palace and the doctors surgery in Paddock. To some, that alone may make them feel decidedly nervous, but to him, it smelled of…home.
 
Lying on the table, Celestia looked like she was sleeping; her chest rose and fell normally, and her heart beat with a strong regular rhythm. Rush frowned, shaking his head to himself. Beside him, Madra snorted,
 
“I can’t see any physical injury” she said half to herself, “There’s more at work here, I suspect.” She turned to Rush, “You know something, don’t you.”
 
Rush stared at her blankly, unsure what to say. Finally he cleared his throat, “Her magic has been causing problems lately. In the pass it just sort of…’materialised’ around her like a storm cloud, sucking the very light out of the air. Before I knew it, she’d passed out, right before that bloody dragon came at us. I grabbed her, ran, and we ended up here.”
 
Madra stood and watched him for an uncomfortably long time before answering, “And that’s why you came to the fortress is it?” She smiled, “A little sight seeing? No guards, no escort; the two of you passing through a barrier protected by lethal magic designed to deter or kill intruders, just to have look at the graveyard of the wendigo, huh?”
 
Rush hung his head.
 
“For the Goddess’s sake, Rush!” Madra shouted, “You’d better start telling me the truth if you want me to be able to help your friend here. But of course, it’s up to you. I don’t give a flying buck for this murderer, and although it would trouble me to leave you behind, I’d happily feed her carcass to that damned dragon outside.”
 
“Madra…please” Rush pleaded, “I…we…need your help.”
 
“Then tell me the truth, Rush” Madra said levelly, “That’s all I ask.”
 
Rush closed his eyes and sank to his haunches, “I’ll tell you what I know…”
 
Madra listened. Occasionally she would stop Rush to clarify a point, but for the most part, she simply sat and listened intently. When he’d finished Madra shook her head in wonderment and passed Rush a flask of luke warm tea. Right then, it was like nectar from the Gods themselves.
 
“So, the white witch has come seeking absolution, has she? It was more than she gave my brothers and sisters” Madra shook her head, “Oh, don’t look at me like that!” She gave Rush a shove, “I didn’t say I wouldn’t help.” The unicorn began opening cupboards and drawers, pulling out equipment that was reminiscent of what he’d seen in Starswirl’s lab. Madra sighed, “Just…Oh, it doesn’t matter.”
 
“What?” Rush asked, lifting a hoof, “Madra, please…”
 
“I just want out family to be left alone” she said, adjusting a tripod, “That’s all.”
 
Rush nodded. He reached out and helped set up the legs of the brass and silver mounted device, following the unicorn’s instructions until finally, they were ready.
 
“Now” Madra began, “Let’s have a look shall we?”
 
“You know about alicorn magic?” Rush asked in surprise.
 
Madra shrugged, “It’s not so different. It’s just a matter of understanding how the flows of energy and spirit intertwine with one another. Alicorns are connected more to the world of the eternal herd, whereas wendigo have their link to the Withers.” She adjusted a head piece, flipping down the small glass plate attached to it that made her eye look frighteningly large, “Wendigo and alicorns are like night and day: opposite poles of the world’s spectrum.”
 
“Like the sisters themselves” Rush said quietly, “Night and day, the sun and the moon.”
 
“Same sort of thing, really” Madra replied, “In their case, it was a little more complex. They…” she frowned, “Hold that there for me, would you?” Rush nodded, taking hold of a long metal rod that pulsed with light. “They are sisters” Madra continued, “But by their very nature they cause division amongst their people. Some, those born beneath the sun, used to be known as the ‘children of the day’, or the ‘children of the sun’. Those born beneath the moon were known as the ‘children of the night’.”
 
“Were?” Rush asked, “But not any more?”
 
“Not since the war” Madra explained, “The term ‘children of the night’ took on a different meaning during that time. It began to be used to refer to those ponies who worked against the white witch’s forces.” She motioned towards the Princess, “The ones belonging to your marefriend here.”
 
“But surely not all the ponies in the tribe who became wendigo were born under the moon though?” Rush asked.
 
“No, of course not” Madra replied, “But wendigo by their very nature are creatures of war and of battle, giving them a stronger bond with darkness and of night. Being born under the moon gave our people a better chance of a successful joining with the spirits of the Withers, so mothers would try to time their foal’s birth to coincide with the moonrise. Whether our alicorn friend here liked it or not, wendigo thrived in the cauldron of conflict. It was when they felt most alive…” She smiled, “ah, if only…”
 
“Hmm?” Rush raised an eyebrow, “Only what?”
 
Madra shrugged, “Ah, If only I’d been able to achieve the joining, Rush. Then I too would have been a wendigo, as my father and mother had been before me.”
 
“Not all wendigo can…’meld’ with a spirit?” he asked.
 
Madra shook her head, “No, not all. I don’t know why, but for whatever reason the spirits never came to me, and thus,” she smiled, “I’m no more than what you see before you now.”
 
“You have magic though, Madra, and that’s a damned sight more than I’ve got.” Rush snorted loudly, “I couldn’t do a damned thing to help my mare back there, except run like a coward.”
 
“You think so do you?” The unicorn shook her mane, “Let me tell you something, Rush: earth ponies have a magic within them that is unique to their race. It stronger, more deeply connected with the earth, the rock, and all living things than any magic I can wield.” She gave him a wink, “It’s inside you, even now. Maybe one day, with a little training, you could use it as it was meant to be used. Perhaps, you already are.”
 
“I wish that were true” Rush said bitterly, “I can’t even write my own name without help.”
 
Madra raised an eyebrow, “I saw the work you did for my family, Rush; it was exceptional. For a pony who hasn’t really ‘been’ a pony for very long, I think you sell yourself short.”
 
Rush’s eyes went wide, “Very long? You knew about that?”
 
“I’m not deaf!” Madra snorted, “I do go into town with my bloody eyes and ears open! The whole place is abuzz with the Princess’s new coltfriend – the ‘magical monkey creature from another world’.” She sniggered under her breath, “magical monkey…!”
 
Rush muttered something until Madra slapped his shoulder, “Pay attention!” He nodded. “See here…” Madra motioned towards the array of magically lit rods around Celestia’s body, “Now watch.” She lifted a pot of what Rush thought was incense, and blew across it gently, allowing the smoke to waft out, building up around the Princess.
 
Rush stared in amazement. Before him, inside the smoke, shapes like…snakes, writhed and twisted, coiling and uncoiling as if they were alive. He took a step back in horror, looking to Madra who simply looked on in wonderment,
 
“Incredible” she breathed, “Absolutely…incredible.”
 
“Is this the imbalance Starswirl spoke of?” Rush asked, “He said there was some sort of disconnection between Celestia’s magic and her spirit.”
 
“Starswirl?” Madra asked, “Starswirl the bearded?” She barked out a laugh, “Now there’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time.” She reached past Rush and lifted up a long thin rod that was connected to a device by some sort of transparent tubing, “That stallion was a bloody idiot.”
 
“You know him?” Rush asked genuinely surprised, “I know he’s a bit eccentric, but I wouldn’t call him an idiot - far from it in fact.”
 
“Ha!” Madra tossed her mane, “If you say so. Now, enough chatter, let’s get to work. Do as I say, and we’ll hopefully get the white witch back on her hooves.”
 
“What are you going to do?” Rush asked.
 
“Do?” Madra said with a grin, “Why, we’re going to do some knitting, Rush. Of a sort…”
 

*****************************

 
Light slowly entered through barely opened eyes, allowing the first glimpse of a world unlike anything Celestia had ever seen before. Even so, there was an indefinable sense of familiarity about this place that had her on her guard immediately. Here, there was no ground, only blue sky - a sky thick with dark clouds swirling around her as though she were in the centre of a tornado. And silence. Celestia stood, stretching her legs and gave herself a shake; she had to be ready.
 
I KNOW YOU.
 
Celestia stared into the storm, calming her breathing, “Yes.”
 
YOU KNOW ME.
 
The Princess nodded, “I know myself.”
 
I AM YOU.
 
“And you are me” she replied.
 
Before her, the clouds began to change, to coalesce into a mass, defining themselves slowly into…herself.
 
The Princess stared at her twin, while the cloud Celestia stared back with glowing yellow eyes the colour of her magic. So, this was what she had come here for. This was the source of the storms, the mood swings and emotional instability – it was her.
 
The cloud creature spoke without opening its mouth, the words echoing in Celestia’s head, bypassing her ears and simply coming into being.
 
YOU AND I ARE ONE.
 
“We are” Celestia said quietly, “But we cannot be.”
 
YOU NEED ME.
 
Celestia shook her head, “I did, once. But the war is over and our home needs peace.”
 
PEACE? The cloud alicorn tossed its mane. PEACE IS FLEETING. WAR WILL COME AGAIN.
 
“Perhaps” Celestia said calmly, “But your power is too great for one alone. We used it to harm others.”
 
YOU USED IT TO SLAY YOUR ENEMIES. YOU USED IT TO PROTECT.
 
“I did” Celestia replied, “But look at what has happened.” The scenery changed to the snow driven pass between the mountains. She reached down and cleared the snow around the bleached bones of a child, one far too young to have known much in their short life - only the cruelty and mindless horror of war. The Princess shook her head, “Was this worth the price? Was all this death truly necessary?”
 
YOU KNOW THE ANSWER.
 
She nodded, “I do.” Celestia looked up into the sky above and sighed, “I had to protect my people.”
 
YOU DID.
 
“But so much death…” The Princess shook her head sadly, “Children, the weak, the old… these weren’t my enemy.”
 
THE EVIL HAD TO BE PURGED.
 
“I…I know.” The Princess closed her eyes, “But like this? I was so sure once, but now, now I don’t know.”
 
YOUR HEART KNOWS.
 
Did it? Her once strong resolve, her unflappable drive to protect her home and people had lead to the annihilation of an entire people, and the near extermination of another. She closed her eyes and took a shuddering breath.
 
“Show me…”
 
The cloud alicorn nodded, and changed before her eyes, into…
 
“Tia?”
 
Celestia bit back a cry, “Luna!” She lifted a hoof, “Oh! Oh, Luna…” Tears began to sting the corner of her eyes, “I…I’m sorry!”
 
“Why did you send me away, sis?” Luna asked, “I don’t understand! Why?”
 
“Because you were trying to destroy our home, Luna!” Celestia cried, “I didn’t want to do it! I didn’t, but you left me no choice!”

“Didn’t I?” Luna asked. She shook her head sadly, “I called out to you, sis, many, many times.” She smiled sadly, “You never listened to me. Even at the end, even as I lay broken and defeated at your hooves, you never listened.”
 
Celestia’s tears flowed like rain, “Oh, Luna!”
 
“Now, it is too late” Luna said with a gentle, sad smile, “I am…no more.”
 
“No…no, Luna…please!” Celestia gasped, “I’m sorry, I’m so, so, sorry…”
 
“Are you, sis?” the shadow Luna asked, “Do you know what it is to be sorry?”
 
“Yes!” Celestia shrieked, “Gods above, I do! I’m sorry!”
 
Luna smiled and began to fade away, changing, morphing into a creature so dark it was like a storm cloud. Wings rippling in an unfelt wind, its eyes burned as red as the fires of Tartarus.
 
“You betrayed me.”
 
Celestia shook her head, “You were my enemy.”
 
The shadow of Thorn shrugged, “Was I?” He shook his mane and gave her an appraising look, “Your enemy normally comes to your rescue, does he?”
 
“I…” The Princess snorted, “It wasn’t like that, Thorn; you were with the Legion. You and that monster chased me into the human world to hunt me down and kill me!”
 
Thorn shook his head, “Not I. My orders were to bring you back alive and unharmed. It was Rend who lusted for your blood.” He raised an eyebrow, “If it wasn’t for me, your body may well be a decaying corpse on a world that saw you as nothing more than an oddity – a freak of nature.”
 
“You were my enemy!” Celestia snorted, “If it wasn’t for you, I-”
 
“-Wouldn’t have found love” Thorn answered for her.
 
“Wouldn’t have…” The Princess caught herself, “found love?”
 
Thorn smiled, “You found the one you had been searching for all your life – your missing pony – Rush.”
 
“Rush…” Celestia hung her head.
 
“Regardless of what you may have thought of me, Celestia, I came to see you, both of you, as…friends.” He chuckled, “The two of you changed my heart, and if and if an old warrior like me can change, could you not also?”
 
“I…I don’t know.” Celestia said sadly, “But I know I shouldn’t have chased you away.”
 
Thorn shook his head, “You were grieving; your heart was in turmoil.” He reached out towards her, “It still is…”
 
The Princess squeezed her eyes shut against the wave of emotion threatening to overwhelm her, “Thorn?”
 
“Yes, Celestia?”
 
She closed her eyes and took a breath, “I’m sorry…I know what I did to your people was…unforgiveable”
 
Thorn laughed suddenly, making the Princess look up, “You are a warrior!” he said aloud, “A warrior as proud and strong as any I have ever met!” The thestral shrugged, “Being defeated by one as strong as you is no dishonour to our people, but you have something, some pony, who needs you now, and you must temper your strength with the love and gentleness I know is within you.”
 
“Thorn…”
 
The old warrior smiled, “Perhaps we shall meet again one day.” He lifted a hoof and scratched his mane, “I’d like to see this ‘pony’ Rush.” He grinned, showing off his battery of teeth, “Say hello to him for me, Princess.” He bowed, “Farewell.”
 
Celestia lifted a hoof as the warrior changed back into the cloud from which he came. She closed her eyes and choked back a sob.
 
“Weakness…such a typical trait of ponies” a new voice said, “You made yourselves little more than willing victims, ripe for the taking.”
 
The Princess’s eyes narrowed; she knew that haughty and imperious voice all too well, “Nightmare Moon.”

“The very same” the midnight alicorn replied, “Surprised? Do I not infuriate you with my mere presence?”
 
Celestia shook her head, “No.”
 
“Really?” The black alicorn smirked, “The mere mention of me used to send you into a rage once, correct?” Celestia nodded. “And you know why, don’t you?”
 
The Princess swallowed, “I…”
 
Nightmare Moon’s voice boomed out, “SAY IT!”
 
Celestia felt like her heart was breaking. All the pain, all the misery and grief she’d been storing up inside her, hiding from the light, burying it from her daily life, and most of all…from Rush, surged to the surface in a burning torrent,
 
 “I…I CREATED YOU!” She bellowed, “It was my fault! It was all my fault!”
 
Nightmare Moon reared; bolts of lightning flashing around her and causing thunder to rumble ominously,
 
“Yes…YES!” she cried, “At last! AT LAST! You finally realise that this, all of this…” she swung her hoof around in an arc, causing the scene to change to one of unimaginable carnage, “Is…all…your…FAULT!”
 
It was River Valley.
 
Celestia squeezed her eyes shut.
 
“No!” Nightmare Moon shouted, “Open your eyes! See what your intolerance and arrogance created, Celestia! See the suffering, the agony and death.” She lifted a hoof, “Your hooves are stained in the blood of thousands! A stain that can never be removed…NEVER!”
 
Celestia collapsed, covering her muzzle with her hooves, “No…”
 
“YES!” Nightmare Moon shrieked, “All of this is your doing! You brought this on your people yourself!”
 
The Princess opened her eyes and stared at her hooves; they were stained red with gore, the stench of iron strong in her nose. She was…she was covered in blood! She reared in shock, her eyes going wide in horror, and… she paused, taking a shuddering breath and slammed her hooves down, staring at the Goddess of the night,
 
“No.”
 
Nightmare Moon fell silent, cocking her head on one side, “What did you say?”
 
“I said NO!” Celestia snorted angrily. Her heart surged, her hooves itching with the anger she felt welling up inside, “I didn’t listen to Luna when she was in pain, and I didn’t listen when she told me of her feelings for that…creature. No, I brushed it all off as the foolishness of a youthful filly, but I was wrong. Gods above, I know I was wrong! But what she did, giving herself to that spirit, was something I could never have foreseen.”
 
“It was your arrogance that created me” Nightmare Moon hissed.
 
“Perhaps” The Princess said quietly, “Never a day passes where I don’t regret not spending more time with her, and listening to her.” She tossed her mane, “And maybe you’re right, maybe I was arrogant, but Luna still had a choice, she did not have to take the path she took.”
 
“Do not try to assuage your guilt, Celestia!” Nightmare Moon growled, “You had a hoof in this war as well you know! A hoof that will forever be steeped in the blood of your people! Of our people!”
 
“I know” Celestia said quietly. She lifted her hoof and stared at it, her voice carrying the weight of the pain she felt inside, “It is a guilt I will carry with me for the rest of my life.” She looked up, lifting her head proudly, “I will never forget those who lost their lives, and although I can never fully atone for my part in the war, I will not let that taint the rest of my life nor deter me from my duty to protect those who still live upon Equestria’s soil.” She snorted loudly, “I will honour the memory and sacrifice of those whose lives were given to defend our home, as long as there is a breath in my body.”
 
“Oh, how sickening noble of you!” Nightmare Moon snorted cruelly, “Look at you, so damnably self righteous and haughty: the mighty Celestia, the white witch, the white death, and the precious, fragile, virgin queen.” Her voice changed to a mocking tone, her expression to a derisive sneer, “But of course, that has changed now, hasn’t it?” Her lip curled up, displaying a flash of teeth, “You berated Luna for her tastes, and now look at you! There is a word for creatures like you, Celestia, and that word…is ‘hypocrite’.”
 
Celestia’s wings ruffled, a display of her mounting irritation. Nightmare Moon knew exactly where to strike her. She took a breath, “Rush is a pony and an Equestrian. Luna’s ‘taste’ was for a creature that was married and had a child. The two situations are completely different.”
 
“Are they?” Nightmare Moon sniffed, “They both have something in common, Celestia…” To the Princess’s shock, the night Goddess’s expression suddenly changed to one of utter loss and pain. Unbidden, Celestia’s heart surged painfully in her chest as the midnight mare looked at her with her sister’s azure eyes. Nightmare Moon’s word struck her harder than any blade, and more deeply,
 
“…Love.”   
 
Celestia closed her eyes and felt a shock of grief roll through her from muzzle to tail. She knew in her heart that this creature, this…’Nightmare Moon’, was no more than a construction of her own, of her subconscious mind and the magical malady that was afflicting her, but…but what it said… The Princess shook her mane; there were many forms of love: some were gentle and innocent, like a foal’s love for a pet or a school crush, but there was also the kind of love that could lead to pain and suffering, and…as in her sister’s case…tragedy.
 
“One day, you will see I was right, Celestia.” Nightmare Moon said levelly, “One day, you will understand.”
 
“No” Celestia replied, “I will never understand how the murder of innocents could ever be justified. Not when I have walked amongst those whose eyes will never again see the sun in Equestria’s sky, nor feel the wind upon their fur.” She locked her gaze upon the black coated Goddess, “Or sleep beneath Luna’s moon.”
 
The shadow creature shook its head slowly, gradually vanishing back into the emptiness from which it had arrived. The Princess let out a sigh and closed her eyes; she had little influence in the world of dreams: a few tricks she had been taught by Luna, long ago, but that power, that control, had always been her sister’s domain. Here, in this place, she could only wait and-
 
Something was pulling at her.
 
Curious, Celestia turned her head to look behind her, but there was nothing there.
 
It pulled again, harder this time.
 
Increasingly alarmed, the Princess shifted her weight, expecting an attack. In the dream world, it could be anything; she’d already spoken to memories, to echoes and shadows - was this another one? Perhaps an attack of some kind? But…there were voices this time too; indistinct certainly, but they were definitely there. She strained her ears to hear, swivelling them to try and make them out.
 
Celestia cried out in alarm.
 
Whatever it was, whatever was happening, it felt as though something had grabbed a part of her, of her very soul, and was trying to rip it apart. She reared, trying to gather her magic, trying to use whatever scraps of power could find in this alien place. Around her, the sky suddenly crackled with lightning born of both darkness and light; the normally unseen spectrum of magic that seared through her, leaving afterimages noticed only by her alicorn magic. The burning electric white and blue of bursts made her flinch away in fear.
 
What the force was, it pulled again…and something gave.
 
The Princess screamed, her cry splitting the sky and causing the darkness to implode with a mind crushing deluge of overwhelming nothingness and the light of the world’s magic. It was nothing short of terrifying. Celestia writhed in pain and horror as she felt herself dragged apart, her sub consciousness howling in fear and distress, helplessly pulled, grabbed, and pulled again. It was never ending…
 
“Rush! Move the wand to the second node…NOW!”
 
“Nothing’s happening!”
 
 “Keep it steady! Watch the energy flows…there! You see it?”
 
“I…YES!”
 
“Good! Now, get ready; when I say, pull as hard as you can, yes?”
 
“Right!”
 
“Good, now…PULL!”
 
Celestia’s cries howled around the artificially lit room, bursting out in a roaring maelstrom of magic that nearly blew Madra and Rush off their hooves. Thankfully, the magical shield the unicorn had in place in anticipation of this had contained most of the blast. Rush gave himself a shake and looked over at the bedraggled grey mare who was grinning broadly and nodding towards the glass jar that was suspended in another of the peculiar brass and gem contraptions. 
 
“Is that it?” Rush asked.
 
Madra nodded, “It is.” She tapped the glass jar with her hoof, “Concentrated darkness: a soul gem…” She shrugged, “Call it what you like, but at least it’s out of her.” Madra sighed, “Come, let us have a cup of tea. I have some Harvest Leaf that you may enjoy.”
 
True to her word, the tea was excellent. Rush sat back on one of the large cushions Madra had produced and sank into it gratefully. It was amazing just how organised she seemed to be; this place, whatever it was, had everything a pony needed: food, light, drink, books…and yet it had that cold that wasn’t cold… Rush shrugged; it may have been his imagination, but this place felt…’alien’ somehow.
 
“A bit for your thoughts” Madra said as she settled onto her cushion and blew on her tea.
 
Rush smiled, “I was wondering about this place, and the wendigo. I suppose I find it strange that a whole people would go to war when they had such a beautiful home as this.”
 
Madra smiled gently, “I wonder myself sometimes.” She stretched her forelegs and sighed, “But as I said, wendigo are drawn to conflict as a moth to a flame, and have a stronger natural affinity with the night than the day.” She took a sip of her tea, “Our Lord was Maroc, the Lord of The Four Winds, and a stallion of great power, strength, and a spirit that drew the gaze of many a mare, including the eye of a certain Princess of the night.” She huffed, “Regardless of the fact he had a wife.”
 
“He was married?” Rush asked.
 
Madra nodded, “To the Lady Arathea. They had a son together: Vela…” she smiled faintly, “Such promise in one so small.”
 
“What happened to them?”
 
Madra took a sip of her tea, “They died. All of them.”
 
“But surely some wendigo escaped?” Rush said curiously, “Some must have made it through the cave before it collapsed, after all, you and your family escaped.”
 
Madra nodded, “We did, but it more by sheer luck than anything else. We were in the caves collecting Ingleroot and Fallspire, two ingredients I use in my work; they only grow in dark, cold places, and the caves were ideal.” She pointed towards a row of jars on the shelf behind her, “When the fighting began, we were so deep in the caves we didn’t know what was happening until the first of our people began to appear, running for all they were worth. Of course, I knew something awful was happening outside, but all I could think of was getting back to the fortress with my supplies so I could help the wounded and injured.” She shook her head, “I never made it. The pass was choked with fire and smoke, and…” she trailed off, “I…I don’t want remember that, Rush…I’m sorry.”
 
Rush held up a hoof, “No, I’m the one who should apologise, Madra. I shouldn’t have made you recall something painful.”
 
“Curiosity is nothing to apologise for” the unicorn replied quietly, “And as for whether any escaped?” she shrugged, “Perhaps, but in the confusion and panic, I honestly don’t know. I hope so.”
 
“Were you a doctor?” Rush asked, “I’ve seen Starswirl working with similar things as these,” he swept a hoof across the room, “but you made it seem so effortless.”
 
Madra snorted, “Such flattery!” The unicorn lifted her head and scanned the many shelves, cases, and chests that lined the room, “Yes, I was a doctor. Any who failed the joining had to take up a profession to help the tribe and, well, this was something I had a certain talent for.” She yawned, “Even if it does take it out of me a little, especially dealing with…that.”
 
Rush smiled sadly.
 
“Oh, stop that!” Madra sniffed, “I’ve done what I can to help your marefriend, but I don’t have to like her, and I don’t think I need to explain why, do I?”
 
Rush shook his head. Pausing he looked up at her, “Madra? Why do you keep coming here when your family live in the forest? It’s so…empty.”
 
Madra’s eyes went wide before gradually letting herself relax. She sighed, “Because the forest isn’t home, Rush. Oh, it might be for my family of course, they were younger then, but for me, I’d lived here most of my life. My work was here, my memories were here.” She closed here eyes and chuckled sadly, “My heart is here.”
 
Rush closed his eyes, “I’m sorry.”
 
“It’s not your fault, Rush” Madra said, finishing her tea, “We went to war, and in war, people die. The thought of losing and the consequences of what that could mean for our tribe never entered out heads.” She laughed ironically, “Bit of shame it didn’t, eh?”
 
Rush couldn’t help but smile at the look on Madra’s face.
 
“Right then,” she announced, yawning once more, “I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for the knacker’s yard. I’m going to get my head down and some sleep, and I suggest that you do the same.”
 
Nodding his agreement, “Rush glanced over once more at the Princess lying on the table, enveloped in a bubble of blue magic the same as he’d seen in Starswirl’s laboratory in the palace that time. Fate seemed to be pulling her, and everypony around her, in every possible direction. Was this how things were in Equestria? Was this actually normal? Since he’d arrived he’d been living on a knife edge of stress and agitation unlike anything he’d ever experienced back in the human world, so, perhaps for ponies, this was normal. Horses were prey animals, but Equestrian ponies were different: they could fight, they had magic, and they could organise entire armies. And yet despite that, everything in this world seemed to be either trying to eat you, burn you to a crisp, drown you, or otherwise bring your life to a rather dramatic, and premature, end. What was worse though, was that now he was starting to accept all of this weirdness as normal! Dear Goddesses, he was…wait…’Goddesses’? Rush yawned and snuggled into the cushion; what the hell did it matter anyway…
 

*****************************

 
Everything was bathed in a strange glow; a sort of whitish-blue colour which was surprisingly calming and easy on the eyes - almost…peaceful. Celestia groaned softly and lifted her head; where was she? She was inside a structure, that much she was certain of, but where and how did she get here? That last thing she could remember was talking to Rush in the pass, a maelstrom of anger and fear burning through her and then falling, falling into an abyss of confusion, loneliness and…Rush?
 
“RUSH!”
 
A brown face appeared next to hers, a pair of bleary blue eyes blinking in the unusual light and gazing down at her with a look of unadulterated love.
 
“Morning” Rush yawned, “How are you feeling?”
 
Celestia reached out and drew him into an embrace, closed her eyes and just…breathed. It was such a simple act, such a basic necessity, and yet with that act it brought the scent of her beloved stallion. She could feel his heart beating in his chest, feel his breath upon her neck…
 
“Oh, Rush.” Celestia whispered, running her muzzle up to his ears, “I was so afraid…”
 
Rush squeezed her gently, “I know, love, but you’re safe now, we’ve done it.”
 
“Done it?” The white alicorn opened her eyes, focussing past Rush onto the grey unicorn mare who was lying down on a cushion reading a book, “What did you do?”
 
“What you came here for” Madra replied casually. She carried on reading without looking up, “If you need proof, it’s in the jar.”
 
Celestia’s brows drew down until Rush directed her attention to a cupboard beside the bed. On it sat a glass jar, little larger than a jam jar, but inside it sat something that made Celestia’s heart skip a beat. “What…?” She gave her mane a shake, “Is that…?”
 
Madra sighed, “Apparently.”
 
Rush leaned over and kissed Celestia on the forehead, “We did it love. You did it.”
 
“I…I didn’t do anything!” Celestia gasped, “How did you do that? How did you draw that from me?” She sat up on her haunches and ran her hooves up and down her body. Everything seemed to be intact, and yet…it didn’t – something was missing. Inside, in her heart, the light, the life of her spirit and of who she was, felt young again somehow, as though the weight of ages had been lifted away leaving her feeling as light as the air itself. A flood of emotion surged through her, threatening to sweep her away in its path. She looked around at Rush, tears filling her eyes, “Rush?”
 
Rush chuckled, “It was Madra, she knew what to do.” He shrugged, “I just passed her stuff.”
 
Madra turned a page in her book, “The words you are looking for are ‘thank you’.”
 
The Princess gave herself a shake, “I…” she took a breath, “Thank you.” A little unsteadily, she climbed down from the bed with a helping hoof from Rush, walked over to the glass jar. Inside, languishing in the bottom, was a crystal, a crystal that looked for all the world like a cut diamond, similar to the elements of harmony in dimensions, but this one was different. The crystal seemed to ‘pull’ the light from around it, sucking it in, tainting it, changing it, and then radiating it out. If ever there was a thing in this world that she would describe as evil, as the very embodiment of every cruelty and wickedness, it was this seemingly innocuous gemstone.
 
“How did you do this?” she asked.
 
Madra sighed and closed her book, “Wendigo can occasionally have trouble assimilating with their spirit partner following a bonding. Many things can cause it: sickness, a weakened constitution, or even a weak mind.” She took a breath, “It was one of the studies I undertook here in the fortress; to help our people and those who came to us with maladies of the spirit or soul.” She raised an eyebrow, “Not so much need for it these days, it seems.”
 
Celestia ignored the comment. “You were able to draw the darkness from my soul?” she asked in amazement, “How can a pony know magic such as this?”
 
Madra tapped the book, “Look.”
 
The Princess stared at the cover:
 

MAJICA OBSCURA


A TREATISE ON THE MAJICS AND MYSTERIES OF THE ETERNAL HERD

 
Celestia gasped, “This is from the forbidden library at the castle! You…you stole it?!”
 
“Hardly” Madra huffed, “Did you really think the author only made one copy?” She shook her head, “The arrogance of alicorns never fails to surprise.”
 
Rush held up a hoof to stop Celestia’s angry advance. Who did this creature think she was?! So she’d helped her, so she’d performed some strange and arcane magical procedure to…to… Reluctantly, Celestia hung her head and let herself relax. She didn’t like this creature, nor any of her kind. Inhabited by the spirits or not they simply couldn’t…
 
“Tia?”
 
The Princess hesitated and looked at Rush.
 
“We’ve just made a pot of tea” he said with a smile, and passed her a cup of the steaming liquid, “I think you’ll like it.”
 
She did. And strangely, unexpectedly, she felt a wave of calm flood through her along with the heat and earthy flavour of the tea. Her eyes went wide, “Rush! This…this is…”
 
He shook his head, “No. It’s not blackwort, but its close. Madra knows where to find it.”
 
The unicorn mare sat up and gave herself a shake, “It’s called ‘cacklewood’” she explained, “It grows at the base of the mountains near water courses. Easy enough to find, if you know what to look for.”
 
Celestia shook her head in amazement and took another sip. Dear Gods, it was like she’d been transported back to the cabin in the mountains: the flavour, even the smell…it was uncanny. How ironic that it was her enemy, one of the creatures whose brethren had stolen her sister away and slew her people, who had brought her this most simple, yet wonderful of gifts – even though she probably didn’t even realise it. She smiled; it was a strange world indeed. The Princess took another sip and closed her eyes; when she thought of the war now, it seemed as if it had happened in another age – another time – and perhaps it had. She shrugged; did it really matter anymore? Did any of it? What was the point of hanging onto bitterness and anger, when there was so much building to be done to make their world a better, safer, and happier place for all ponies. Celestia watched Madra and nodded – it needed to be a happier place for every pony. She took a breath and closed her eyes,
 
“Madra?”
 
The grey unicorn looked up from her tea. The steam wreathing her muzzle was steaming up her spectacles, but her bright yellow eyes shone as vividly as ever,
 
“Hmm?”
 
“I’m sorry.”
 
Madra blinked, “For what?”
 
Celestia hung her head, “For what I did.”
 
The unicorn stared at her for a moment and then rose to her hooves, closing her book as she did so, “I cannot forgive you” she said calmly, “What you did, was something that cannot be atoned for.”
 
“I know” Celestia replied heavily.
 
Madra nodded slowly, “But, for what it is worth…thank you.” She smiled, “I never thought I would hear those words from your lips.” The unicorn mare chuckled, “My family will never believe me.”
 
“Speaking of which,” Rush chipped in, “do we have another way of getting out of here?”
 
Madra raised an eyebrow, “Naturally. You didn’t think there’d only be one way in and out of the fortress did you?”
 
“But the pass-” Rush began.
 
Madra nodded, “-was the only route that was open at that time.” She took a breath and explained while she levitated her packs and cloak onto her back, “There was another way through the mountains once, one that was used by ponies and other people who came to trade with us. When the war began, Lord Maroc was concerned it may be found by our enemies and ordered it to be locked down with powerful wards. Of course, as it turned out we had inadvertently blocked up an escape route and were only able to use the pass and caves there.”
 
“Couldn’t the wendigo have flown away?” Rush asked.
 
Madra fixed him with a hard look, “And leave our people defenceless?” She shook her head, “Would you have?” Rush closed his eyes and shook his head. “No. I didn’t think so” Madra replied, “You have a warrior’s soul, Rush. I can see it in your eyes, as well as that sword you have at your side.”
 
Rush instinctively touched the hilt of his father’s sword and looked up into the eyes of his Princess…his mare…and smiled. He would fight to the bitter end, to his last breath and drop of blood, to defend her. By the Gods, Goddesses, spirits and whatever else lived in this land, he would protect the mare he loved with his life. Celestia peered at him curiously, as though trying to work out what was going on inside his mind, and frowned before giving a quiet laugh.
 
She knew. She’d always known.
 
“It’s time to leave” Madra said, “We have enough supplies for the journey, but we’ll need to reach the river and replenish our water as soon as we can; I didn’t exactly expect to have company.”
 
“Thank you, Madra” Rush said bobbing his head.
 
The grey unicorn huffed, heading for the door, “Thank me when we’re away from your scaled friend up there.” She gave her pack a shove and wiggled her hind quarters to settle it into place, “I never had much love for those things, but they were useful allies during the war.”
 
Rush froze, “Wait! We can’t leave Yule out there with that thing!”

“And what do you expect we can do, hmm?” Madra asked with a hint of sarcasm, “Your sword able to cut down a dragon while it’s breathing fire at you, is it? Some sort of enchanted weapon?” She laughed, “You won’t live long with that sort of death wish, my fine stallion. Your friend is a pegasus, isn’t he?” Rush nodded. “Then he has a better chance of getting away than anypony” Madra asserted with a toss of her mane, “Now, enough chatter, let’s get moving.”
 
Celestia placed the glass jar in her pack and gave Rush a nudge as they left the room, “Rush? What was that about Yule?”
 
Rush took a breath and explained everything that had happened to them since the Princess had passed out in the snow driven pass. Throughout it all, she just nodded and listened, shaking her head occasionally and casting fascinated glances at Madra as they followed her through the blue-white lit corridors, down long flights of stairs, past stands of armour, swords, spears, flags and pennants, as well as the now strangely expected bowls of now long dead flowers, elegant tapestries and magnificently woven rugs. A shudder ran down Rush’s spine: this had been a home, Madra’s home, and now, it was a graveyard. Gods, he hoped wouldn’t find any of the occupants…’intact’. He gave his head a shake to try and push the thought away – it didn’t do to conjure up fears when reality was doing a good enough job of scaring the crap out of him already. Celestia gave him a cheeky wink and he chuckled in response. Sometimes, a friend was all it took to put the light back into your heart.
 
“Tia? How are you feeling?” he asked.
 
Celestia closed her eyes and smiled, “Better, but my magic’s still not right, not yet. I feel as though I can use it – it’s there somewhere - but it’s like trying to catch a bar of soap in the bath: I can see it, but reaching it and catching it are just beyond me at the moment.” She yawned, “I’m so tired! I think I’ll sleep for a week when we get home.”
 
Rush smiled, “Breakfast in bed?”
 
“Mmm.” The Princess leaned closer and whispered in his ear, “I think I’ll take you up on that.”
 
The trio walked on. The fortress felt impossibly huge; the corridors, stairs and passageways taking them down into what felt like the very bones of the world. Rush felt a shock of cold that made his mane quiver – was that the touch of one of the spirits of the dead that inhabited this tomb? Were they even now, walking into the oblivion, to drop into the darkness of death and-
 
“Rush? Are you alright?” Celestia asked.
 
Rush started and turned to her, squeezing his eyes shut for a moment. He nodded.
 
“Madra?” Celestia called, “Are we nearly out of here? I’m worried about Rush.”
 
Madra stopped and turned, “What’s wrong with him?” she asked.
 
Celestia shook her head, “I don’t know.”
 
“Stop talking about me as if I’m not here!” Rush snapped, giving himself a shake, “I just don’t like it here, that’s all. It just…it doesn’t feel right, that’s all.”
 
Madra stepped forward and peered hard into Rush’s eyes, “Tell me, what do you feel? What can you see?”
 
“I…” Rush took a step back, “I don’t know. It’s like we’re walking into a grave…our grave…”
 
Celestia narrowed her eyes, her suspicion about the grey unicorn flickering.
 
Madra snorted, “I thought so.”
 
“What?” The Princess cocked her head on one side, “What is it?”
 
Madra raised an eyebrow, “You know, or at least you should; alicorns are supposedly part earth pony aren’t they?” she clucked her tongue, resigning herself to yet another explanation, “We’re nearing a grotto – the heart of the mountain and the source of magic for the fortress itself. Earth ponies are sensitive to that sort of thing.”
 
“A grotto?” Rush asked, “I don’t understand. All I know is I’m freezing cold, but it’s not the temperature outside, it’s…inside.” He tapped his chest, “I can’t describe it.”
 
Celestia took a breath and stared along the passageway to the doorway they were approaching. The cold was emanating from there, but Rush was right, this was no mere drop in physical temperature; this was an intersection, a point where the lines melded and blurred. She didn’t want to worry Rush anymore than he clearly already was, but she also respected him too much to conceal the truth, or lie. She knew all too well how hiding truths could come back to haunt you - and sooner or later, they always did.
 
“It’s a place where the worlds are thinnest” she said, “A point in our world where the barrier between the worlds of the dead, the living and the Wither World intersect.”
 
“And we have to go through there?” Rush asked incredulously, “What in Equestria would possess ponies to want to go through there?!”
 
Madra snorted, rounding on Rush, “And what do you think will happen to you, Rush?” she snapped, “The dead cannot hurt you – only the living can do that.” She paused, her expression softening slightly before she nodded to herself slowly, “Ah…of course. You are not from our world are you? Am I right in thinking that the monkey world held very different beliefs?”
 
Rush frowned, “Very.” He huffed, feeling his tail swishing irritably, “We monkey’s believed that a place such as this was something to be avoided. The dead should stay dead and leave the land of the living to those who are alive.”
 
“What a very narrow minded view!” Madra exclaimed, “Have you never wondered what it would be like to commune with somepony you’d lost, Rush? Have you never asked yourself what life is like in the herd?”   
 
“No!” Rush retorted with stomp of his hoof, “I don’t want to know either thank you very much. I’m rather attached to life, and as much as being dead may appeal to some, I’m quite fond of being here!”
 
Celestia sniggered beside him.
 
“What?!” Rush snapped.
 
“Nothing, Rush, nothing” The Princess’s face betrayed her attempts to hide her mirth.
 
Rush neighed loudly and tossed his mane, “Good!” He paused; did he just hear her mutter something under her breath? It sounded like… ‘Monkey world’? He span round to catch her looking away quickly and coughing into her hoof. Gods damn it all! Gritting his teeth, Rush pushed past Madra and reached the door first, “Right then! Bollocks to you two, I’ll show you what a stallion is made of…”
 
He turned the iron loop on the door latch and pushed.
 
Rush’s eyes went wide in shock. It was a room full of…light.
 
“Come on then ‘stallion’” Madra said sarcastically, “in you go.”
 
“Er…” The brown stallion swallowed. His pride was at stake here, and despite Madra’s slightly tongue in cheek goading, he would be damned if he stood there like a frightened colt. He took a deep breath, snorted, and with shaking legs forced himself to walk into the bright silver light of the room beyond. Rush stared in amazement; It was unlike anything he’d ever seen, but then in Equestria the unusual and strange seemed to be the accepted norm. In fact, now that he thought about it, something dull and boring in the land of colourful ponies would stand out as much as, say, a white alicorn had in his village. Speaking of which…
 
“Rush? You’ll be fine, just stick to the path.”
 
Rush nodded and glanced over his shoulder at Tia who smiled back at him gently. Madra however had different ideas, and pushed past him to take the lead with a prancing gait that would have left any observers in no doubt as to who was charge here. The grey unicorn reared and snorted loudly,
 
“Come now, don’t tarry. This place is not for those who do not belong.”
 
“Charming…” Rush muttered under his breath, and followed the eccentric mare as she trotted off along the well worn path. He played her words back through his mind: ‘Not belonging’ was it? Gods he knew how that felt, both in his old world and, perhaps to a lesser extent, in this one. Still, despite occasional attempts to dismember, eat, fry, or drown him, Equestria felt more ’homely’ than it had at first; either that or he was simply becoming desensitised to it all – he wasn’t sure. Occasionally he pined for his old life and longed for little more than to simply disappear into the forests and rebuild a little piece of his old world, living out his days in peace and quiet. But such thoughts were foolish; he could no more turn back the clock and unwind everything that had happened than he could bring back the dead. And why would he want to? Mother, Father - they were with the herd now, at least according to Tia, and she should know…right? After all, she was as near to an actual God as you could get; well, other than her mother of course who actually was one. Rush tossed his mane; why was he thinking like this? Gods above, this place was affecting his mind! He lifted his eyes from the gravel path and risked a glance around him.
 
All about were low bushes thick with silvery leaves and lush deep red fruits, rather like large cherries, but covered in a film of that odd silver making them look almost crystalline. They were quite beautiful really, in an ethereal and disturbing way.
 
“Don’t even think about eating them” Madra warned without looking round, “I know what you’re thinking.”
 
“Do you?” Rush replied automatically, and quickly regretted his sarcastic tone, “You brought some of those back to the cottage that time though, didn’t you?” He tried a smile.
 
“I see there’s nothing wrong with your memory” Madra huffed, “To a unicorn, the spirit berries can help enhance their magic, if only temporarily. They can also, in careful amounts, be used to distil into a type of brandy.” She raised an eyebrow, “I believe you may have indulged a little yourself?” Rush nodded. “Then you know how potent they can be” Madra continued, “But too much, and especially in their raw state, can kill an earth pony.”
 
“That drink could have killed me?!” Rush gasped, “Thanks for the bloody warning!”
 
Madra shook her head, “Too much of anything is bad for you, Rush. As a trained healer, even one who spent his life on a world of bald monkeys, I’d have expected you to know that.”
 
Rush’s face flushed as red as the berries and he fell silent. He could feel his ears burning with embarrassment, even as the barely restrained giggling broke out behind him. He closed his eyes, tossed his mane and carried on the seemingly endless walk through the world of silver bushes.
 

*****************************

 
Soon they’d left the grotto far behind them and walked on in silence through long rock walled tunnels, some of which held various side passages and rooms full of dusty barrels, boxes, and what appeared to be numerous rolls of carpet. Rush shook his head in wonder as he tried to take it all in; It was as though they were walking through some kind of ghostly market place, only…underground. Eventually, Madra waved them to a halt and Rush watched in amazement as the unicorn tapped a strip of glowing metal on the wall, and almost immediately rows of wall sconces, together with immense hanging chandeliers, burst into life with bright blue magical light. He let out the breath he’d been holding in and shook his head; Equestria…it never grew old…
 
They walked on for several more minutes before Madra again halted them with a raised hoof,
 
“The entrance isn’t far” she explained in her matter-of-fact manner, “Wait here; I’ll go and make sure the barrier is down.”
 
“Barrier?” Rush asked.
 
Madra nodded, “When the fortress was attacked, the magic Lord Maroc had used to block the entrance was disrupted, but not entirely. Fortunately, for some who have knowledge of such things, there is a way to pass through it unharmed.” She nodded to herself as if affirming something, “Even so, I’ll still need to make sure I can take all three of us through, or else we could be turned inside out.” Madra shrugged, “Nothing to worry about.”
 
Rush’s eyes went wide. Nothing to worry about?! He shook his head in disbelief as the grey unicorn trotted off and vanished round a corner.
 
“Rush?”
 
Celestia’s voice, barely a whisper in the vibrantly coloured hallway, made Rush jump in surprise. He looked back at her,
 
“Yes, love?”
 
“I’m sorry I’ve put you through all this.” The Princess hung her head sadly before looking back up at him, “I never meant for any of this to happen.”
 
Rush rolled his eyes and grinned mischievously, “And miss something like this?” He chuckled, “Tia, everyday with you is an adventure.”
 
The Princess snorted, “That’s not what I meant.”
 
“I know” Rush said quietly. He stopped and turned to face her, “But I don’t want you to feel guilty about anything. You saved me; you brought me home and gave me the chance of a new life many couldn’t have imagined in their wildest dreams.” Rush gave the uncertain looking alicorn a nuzzle, “You make me feel alive, and despite everything we’ve been through, I’d do it all again, to be with you.”
 
Celestia moved closer, “Really? Sometimes I…I worry about…us.”
 
“But why?” Rush asked.
 
“Because…because it’s so strange for you, because you don’t talk much about how you feel.” The Princess tossed her mane, “Ponies tend to be a lot more…’emotional’, and I’m afraid you’re bottling up your feelings and I’m not seeing…” she swallowed, “I’m not seeing the real you.”
 
Rush frowned, “It’s this place, isn’t it? It’s that and having that…’darkness’ drawn from you. That’s why you’re thinking like this.” He raised a hoof forestalling any retort from the Princess, “Tia, the people in the village where I was born didn’t often express emotion outwardly: not much anyway. It was something that was, by and large, frowned upon in our society. It wasn’t that they were emotionless of course, far from it in fact; it was just something that was instilled in us from birth. I didn’t know anything different growing up there, and I honestly hadn’t thought that much about it really, at least, not until I came to Equestria.” He chuckled, “Everypony here wears their heart on their sleeve, so to speak – even Grove, to a degree.” Rush bobbed his head and smiled, “I don’t know for certain, but I think I’ve changed, even if it’s just a little, but honestly Tia, I would never hide my feelings from you.” He closed his eyes, “When I say I love you with all my heart, I mean it...it’s not just words, as clumsy as they may be.”
 
Celestia gave him a nuzzle, “I know, my love, I’m sorry. I feel a little…vulnerable right now. My magic’s not settled down, my head and my heart are all jumbled up and…and I think I’ve done and said things that were influenced by that darkness.” She let out a loud sigh, “I’m going to have a lot of apologising to do when we get home.”
 
Rush shrugged, “Ponies will understand” he said, “When you have to contend with dragons, wendigo, thestrals and everything else that keeps trying to make you a tasty repast, then a miffed Princess is the least of your worries.”
 
Tia frowned and gave him a playful push, “I don’t know what it is about you” she said quietly. She moved into him, backing him up against the wall, “You do something to me…” Her lips moved closer, her mouth curling into a grin while her deep purple eyes melted into Rush’s, “…something…bad…”

Rush groaned and reached up to her, drawing her into a kiss. Gods, was it warmer in here all of a sudden? Celestia reared on her hind legs, pulling Rush to her, wrapping her forelegs around him until, gasping, she broke for a breath of air,
 
“Rush…” she whispered, and reached up to give his ear a nip.
 
Rush squeaked, feeling a shiver run down his spine, right to tip of his tail.
 
“Right” Madra said, “Outside looks clear. I’ve…oh!” She stared at the two, her eyes going wide, “I…” Rush and Celestia stared back at her, their faces flushed red in embarrassment. Madra quickly cleared her throat, “If you two want some time alone, there’s a room there you can use. Just make sure you shut the door so I don’t have to hear what you’re-”
 
“Madra!” Celestia choked, “Please, we…that is, I…”
 
The grey unicorn tossed her mane, “You don’t have to explain, Princess” she said raising a hoof, “I am a mare too, you know.” She grinned wolfishly, “I can’t blame you though, he is rather…” her eyes flashed in the magically lit corridor, making Rush swallow, “delicious.”
 
“Delicious?” Rush exclaimed, “Bloody hell, what is it with this world? Why does everything keep wanting to eat me all the time?!”
 
Madra and Celestia burst out laughing, filling the hallway with the most life the dusty place had seen in a very long time.
 

*****************************

 
Celestia lay back on the old rug that was still surprisingly intact even after years languishing in the long abandoned storage area. Despite the fine layer of dust that carpeted everything, the corridors, halls and rooms of what felt more like a market place than a store house, were remarkably clean and dry. She closed her eyes and concentrated; there was definitely ’something’ here, a background hint of magic, a ward of some sort in and around this place to protect it. Interesting. She tried tracing the magic’s aura back to its source to see if she could sense how the spell was woven and made fast upon the fabric of the fortress. Steadying her breathing, Celestia felt for the spell. It was tricky, but not too difficult; it was a little like teasing a scared kitten out of hiding – showing it you were it’s friend, that you weren’t a threat…yes! There…
 
She could sense Rush walking up and sitting beside her. Although he was an earth pony, he could still tell when she was casting magic and knew not to disturb her. She smiled to herself and felt her chest begin to warm with her love for the brown stallion. He did look smart too though, and even though his clothes had been changed for his travelling gear and packs before they’d left, he still had a strangely noble bearing about him that he didn’t seem to notice himself; it was probably something he’d inherited from his father. From what little she knew of Silver Spark, he had been a very fine stallion indeed. Of Willow however, she wasn’t so sure. That mare had been nothing but trouble, both for her and the country, but the price she had paid had been great…too great. Celestia traced the lines of the spell, recognising some, committing others to memory for later inspection: this would prove useful for their traders and cargo carriers when they returned home. She rolled her shoulders and settled back onto the rug, letting Rush manoeuvre some cushions beneath her to make her comfortable.
 
“Comfy?” he asked.
 
The Princess nodded, “Mmm…very.” She watched Rush as he shook out a beautiful blue blanket, one embroidered with silver and gold that had been sitting in a chest for more years than anypony alive would probably ever recall. For the two of them, it was just right.
 
Rush lay down next to her and smiled gently, “How’s your magic now?” he inquired.
 
Celestia gave him a peck on the nose, “Not bad. It’s definitely improving, but I fear it shall be a few days yet until I’m back to normal.”
 
Rush nodded and snuggled up to her, inhaling her scent, “You smell amazing” he purred, “I don’t know how you manage it, but you always do.”
 
She tapped him on the forehead playfully, “I can’t say…” she whispered, “It’s a secret.”
 
Rush chuckled, “Do you think Madra will be alright in the other room? I feel bad about leaving her alone in there.” He shuddered, “And what was all that stuff about ‘claiming your stallion’?”
 
The Princess gave a gently lilting laugh, “It’s an old tradition, that’s all, rather like becoming engaged to somepony you love. Didn’t you have such things on your old world?”
 
“Of course” Rush raised an eyebrow, revelling in the warmth and closeness of the alicorn beside him, “but there it was usually the males who dominated everything. If you ever saw the human nobility, it was exaggerated ten fold!” He sniffed, “Good bloody riddance I say.”
 
“You don’t miss it? Your old home?” Celestia asked.
 
Rush nodded, “Sometimes, but I think everypony looks back to earlier times in their life with a certain level of nostalgia, even if it never was quite how you remember it.” He gave her a kiss on her neck, “I’m happy here, Tia, and if you wish to claim your stallion then…well, I think you already have, my Princess.”
 
Tia huffed and moved away slightly before turning over to face him, “I have” she grinned, placing her hoof over his heart, “Rush, son of Silver Spark, son of Willow - I claim you as my stallion.”
 
“Do I…do I claim you as well, now?” Rush asked uncertainly.
 
Celestia shook her head slowly, “No. You accept.” She gave him a knowing wink.
 
“Then I do” Rush said quietly, his cheeks flushing, “With all my heart…I do.”
 
In the room opposite theirs, Madra pulled a pillow over her head and groaned,
 
“Bloody kids…!”