There was something distinctly strange about walking alongside Rightly as we worked our way through our own lines. Certainly we attracted no shortage of attention, as many of Rightly’s clanmates fell into step behind us, watching with undisguised curiosity. No doubt if we had not been moving so purposefully they would have swarmed o’er us, bombarding us all with endless questions that would consume hours. Hours I had no intention of allowing Swift Blade. Best if we struck him down ere he could conjure some scheme to thwart us.
Rightly strode through the camp confidently, looking at our tents and soldiers with a most satisfied smile. “Ah, it is good to be back in a war camp once more. Certainly a far better fate than languishing in a cell. I finally feel like a warrior again.”
“Who could have imagined that?” I answered him with a dry smile. “The Acting Commander of Pegasopolis doesn't like lying around in a room the size of a large closet for months at a time while others are fighting and dying.”
The commander’s smile was equally flat. “Aye, ‘twas most unexpected I am sure.” His eyes came to rest upon the Avatar’s command tent. “But escaping my cell was but the first step. Now I must reclaim mine army.”
“Something I think we all look forward to,” I agreed. If not for my wariness that Swift might not be so easily undone, I would be scampering about the campsite like an eager child. The prospect of seeing Swift Blade finally brought down and the war ended was almost too sweet. I could scarcely e’en believe it might truly be happening.
All conversation ceased as we strode into the command tent. The Avatar was first to respond, greeting us both with a warm smile “Dusk! And ... Rightly?! How is it that thou hast returned to us? How didst thou escape from Celestia? What of Dawn?”
I lifted a hoof to forestall any further questions. “Dawn is safe, though still within the city. The enemy knows the value of a skilled chirurgeon. As for the rest of your questions, I will answer what I can, but there is much to be done.”
“Aye,” Rightly agreed with a sharp nod. “It seems we have returned not a moment too soon. Much as I would enjoy some time to rest at ease, we are at war.”
“Indeed we are.” Swift grinned down smugly from his seat at the Avatar’s right hoof. He attempted to affect the tone of a magnanimous patrician, and succeeded only in sounding like a self-important fool. “’Tis good to see you again, Rightly. Your clan will certainly be glad to see your leadership restored, and I look forward to having you serve under me within the Ephorate. Tell me, how did you succeed in escaping the Sun Tyrant’s grasp?”
“I did not escape. I was released.” Rightly’s eyes narrowed. “Released, so that I might put an end to the travesties thou hast wrought, the mockery thou hast made of our noble cause, and the crimes thou hast committed which have stained the good name of Pegasopolis.”
Swift blinked, recoiling in shock and attempting to look innocently offended. “Me? What do you speak of? What lies have the Sun Tyrant and her miserable lackeys fed you? What cruel tortures have they inflicted to confuse you so?”
Rightly scoffed. “I think you know full well what I speak of. Consorting with warlocks. Black magic and blood sacrifice. Murder most foul. Need I go on?”
“No, it is plain enough that your time in captivity troubles you still.” He stepped down from his seat, something no doubt intended to be a sympathetic smile plastered across his face. “Our allies are only warlocks by the decree of our enemy. I am sure that in Canterlot they told you all manner of fanciful lies. Do they claim that I consort with demons? Sacrifice the innocent upon dark altars? Murder and feast upon unicorn foals? Or perhaps all three at once? Surely you cannot believe such transparent lies.”
“No, I do not.” Rightly scowled at him. “But I am not blind. I can judge your wickedness for myself. If e'en a quarter of what Dusk tells me is true, thou hast profaned the office of Ephor like no other before thee.”
“Everything I have done was for the good of Pegasopolis, as always,” Swift lied, shifting to shoot a baleful glare towards me. “I am sure you also know that Dusk has long been mine enemy. Tell me, my friend: what crimes has he leveled 'gainst me?”
“Commander Rightly is not your friend,” I growled in response. “For that matter, I expect there are none here who would wish to be known as such. As for thy crimes, let us begin with the obvious: thou hast consorted with practitioners of the forbidden arts and murdered unarmed captives to fuel blood magics. Dost thou deny either of these charges?”
“I deny nothing!” Swift declared, tilting his head back proudly and raising his voice that all might hear it. “Aye, the Sun Tyrant would label me a criminal for mine acts, as she would condemn all who dare stand against her monstrous reign! If I have sometimes acted harshly, ‘twas only because such acts were necessary to win this war and ensure the freedom of all Equestria from her despotism!” He whirled upon me, dramatically levelling an accusing hoof. “As for thee, ingrate and traitor, I will remind thee that thine own mother would be dead if such drastic measures had not been taken.”
“That is true,” the Avatar allowed with a cold smile. “Howe’er, thy more recent performance has been less than exemplary. Nor does a single justified crime earn thee full pardon for any future or past acts.”
Swift’s jaw dropped. “W-what do you mean?” He recovered quickly enough, drawing himself up proudly and standing as tall as one of his limited stature could manage. “I have more than ably helped keep this army supplied with both materiel and fresh soldiers, not to mention personally winning us invaluable allies to prosecute our campaign against Canterlot. Under my leadership we have pushed the Sun Tyrant’s forces to the brink of utter defeat! What more must I do to prove myself?!”
“Oh, let us not forget your other accomplishments,” I cut in, smirking. “I have heard it said that you quite bravely and nobly fled in terror from an honor duel. Against an earth pony. Truly, no other Ephor in all the history of Pegasopolis can claim to have accomplished such a deed.”
Swift winced as my barb struck home, though he was not long in rallying. “Fortune did not favor me. It happens to all warriors eventually. Wert thou not captured during the same battle? From the tales I heard, thou didst lie down and surrender instead of fighting with the hetairoi that so desperately needed thy leadership.”
“I shared the fate of the soldiers under my command,” I snapped at him. “That is more than can be said for thee. Certainly thy performance makes it plain enough thou wouldst have ordered the hetairoi to cover your own withdrawal at the cost of their lives.”
“An experienced commander is a valuable and precious resource,” Swift answered proudly. “We are at war, and skilled battlefield leaders are all the more vital in such times. Sacrificing thyself for a point of honor was beyond foolish.”
I could not hide the smile on my lips at his misstep. “Ah, and there we have it from his own lips. The honor and decency of Pegasopolis is foolish. If that is the wisdom we abide by, then name me a fool! I shall wear the title proudly.”
“As will I!” Rightly called out.
“And I,” the Avatar murmured, to my surprise.
Swift glanced about the tent, his eyes widening as he realized the depth of his error. He swallowed and gamely tried to recover. “I am merely saying, sometimes misfortune befalls us in battle. I was defeated by an unusually talented earth pony. Rightly and Dusk were captured by the enemy. Such things happen in battle, where nothing can be predicted.” He turned to the Avatar. “Even you were defeated by Shadow when—”
The Avatar slammed her hooves on the table, shattering it in half. “Shadow did not defeat me!”
Swift’s shoulders instinctively hunched like a beaten dog at the Avatar’s fury. “Neigh, of course she did not. You were the one to walk away from your first battle against her. She was the one slain in battle, while you survived. And in your second clash you only withdrew from the field because ... because Shadow resorted to fell and dishonest trickery to gain an unfair advantage against you.”
The Avatar nodded, seemingly placated by his scrambling. “Just so. No victory at all.”
Rightly, howe’er, was more interested in another of Swift’s remarks. “Shadow slain? I think thou art plainly mistaken. She was alive and well when I left Canterlot. I spoke with her myself; indeed, ‘twas she who saw to my release.”
“You did not know?” Swift turned upon Rightly with a cold smile. “Bright slew her 'pon the battlefield to avenge the murder of her daughter, Lance. Though I suppose 'tis not surprising you were unaware. Our spies have reported that Sunbeam did everything she could to hide Shadow's death from everypony within the Sun Tyrant’s city, lest it damage morale.”
Rightly met the claim with a skeptical frown. “And yet she seems alive and well when I last saw her. And I knew Shadow well, both from our early service in the Patrol and our time together on the Ephorate. No mere impersonator could fool me.”
“Aye,” I agreed. “I cannot claim to know her as well as Rightly does, but she spoke with us at length. I noticed nothing amiss.”
The arch-warlock Hidden Facts stepped out from the shadows within the tent, clearing his throat to demand attention. “'Tis not surprising that you were fooled.” He lifted a hoof to cut off any objections we might offer. “If you will allow me a few moments to explain myself...” He waited, then continued when neither Rightly nor I interrupted him. “Both the Avatar and I have seen what you believe to be Shadow. What you interacted with is a being called a lich, or at least a close enough approximation of one. 'Tis a form of undead where the soul has been bound to a magical vessel called a phylactery—in this case, her armor. If it works as I suspect, the true essence of herself now rests within her armor. She merely animates the body she walks within as though ‘twere a puppet, giving her certain advantages that she has displayed in battle. Such as the ability to shrug off blows that would slay a mortal.”
Rightly scowled, shaking his head. “That ... that cannot be correct. I would have known if Shadow had become such an abomination.”
“Oh but it is,” the Avatar answered with a cold smile. “I saw her. I faced her in battle myself. She is no longer the mare you once knew and respected, Rightly. She is naught but a twisted mockery, an undead monster created by Sunbeam and my sister Celestia.”
“But ... that...” Rightly stumbled for a moment, then shook his head and snarled. “It changes nothing! If Celestia and Sunbeam have committed such crimes, then all the more reason to see them removed. And all the more reason to set our own house in order, so that all the world might see which of the two sides in this war is righteous.”
“I have done nothing wrong,” Swift stubbornly insisted. “Surely you have not forgotten the ancient wisdom of Steelhelm the Victorious? ‘In battle, nothing is more honorable than victory.’ I have won our victories in the battle to free Equestria, and that justifies all that I have done.”
“How fitting that thou wouldst quote one of Lyequinegus’ greatest rivals,” Rightly grumbled. “I suppose ‘tis no surprise, when thou hast plainly abandoned the path of honor. I name thee a coward and a villain, here before all these witnesses. Dost thou deny it?”
“Of course I deny it!” Swift snarled. “If not for me, Pegasopolis would already have lost this war. I and I alone had the strength to do what is necessary to lead our armies to victory. If not for me this army would have crumbled and starved within weeks of beginning the siege! Your loss harmed the war effort not at all, but without me there would be no food within our soldiers’ bellies or fresh steel for their weapons! A villain?! I am Pegasopolis’ savior!”
Rightly scoffed incredulously in the face of such ridiculous claims. “Then it seems we must resolve the dispute in battle. Face me, if thou canst.”
Swift grimaced, knowing full well that he could not win such a clash. “This is foolishness. When we battle one another it is the Sun Tyrant who profits. Disapprove of mine actions if you must, but we cannot afford to divide our ranks in the midst of a war. There is no reason for you to stand against me when we have so many common enemies.”
“I can think of no shortage of reasons,” I snapped back. “Let us begin with the fact that thou art a craven villain who would sacrifice ponies for thine own ends. That thou hast made a mockery of our cause. Let us remember all the ponies that have died because of thine evils.”
Rightly scowled and nodded sharply. “I should have removed thee from thy post when first thou didst consort with evil. I shall correct that mistake now.”
“You do not have the right!” Swift snapped. “You are not the commander of Pegasopolis. You were only e’er Acting Commander, and that post is no longer relevant now that our true leader is here.” He levelled a hoof at the Avatar. “By the Ephorate’s vote Luna is the true Commander of Pegasopolis, and Luna stands before us.”
“Indeed I do.” The Avatar smiled, slowly leaning back in her seat. “Howe’er, I have no objection to allowing Rightly to challenge thee to honorable combat. E’en a commander’s authority is limited in such private matters of honor, and I do not believe allowing the two of thee to resolve it ‘tween thyselves would critically damage the war effort.”
Swift drew back as though he had been struck across the face, turning to the warlock instead. “Will nopony stand by me?”
Hidden answered with a disinterested shrug. “This seems like an internal matter amongst the pegasi. As such, it would be improper for the magi to interfere.”
I could not restrain myself from grinning as all of Swift’s allies abandoned him. “Reap what thou hast sown, Swift.”
Rightly stepped forward, spreading his wings aggressively. “Face me in battle. Thou hast not lived a life worthy a warrior of Pegasopolis, but mayhaps thou canst at least die with honor.”
That declaration drew an enraged snarl from Swift, his lips curling up in disgust. “Ah, so that is the way of it. You wish to corner me and force me into a duel so that I might be slain whilst keeping your precious honor intact.” He stalked forward. “Let us be honest with one another, I deserve at least that much. I know I am no great warrior. I have ne’er been one, and ne’er shall be. Any battle ‘tween us is not a fair and honorable one, for I cannot equal your skill. I know it. You know it. Everypony here knows it.” He cast aside his weapons. “Forcing me into a duel is little different from ordering mine execution. You wish to murder me because you do not agree with my methods. Worse than that, you want to pretend that just because I am armed and told to defend myself, there is something honorable about killing me in a battle all present know I cannot hope to win. No, I will not give you that satisfaction. If this is to be mine execution, let us not pretend it is anything else.”
Swift cast aside his helmet and unstrapped his armor, leaving him in nothing more than his padded underclothes. “Well? Why do you hesitate? Did I strike too close to the truth? Have I stripped away too much of the decorum and civilization that we wrap ourselves up in?” He ripped his shirt open, exposing his chest. “Go ahead! If you are all so very righteous, strike down a stallion who stands no chance ‘gainst you in battle. If I am as villainous as you claim, then you should have no qualms about smiting me as though I were some common reiver. Put my head on a pike for all to see as an example to our fellow pegasi. Let all the world know how you bravely and honorably cut down an unarmed stallion who could not e’en defend himself.”
I confess that I was sorely tempted to accept his offer. His wicked heart and dark deeds were certainly such that he deserved death a thousand time o’er. And yet, I could not bring myself to strike. At the time, I felt that doing so would have left me little better than he was. Neigh, not that; ‘twas that it would have convinced Swift that we were no better than him. That for all our talk of honor and decency, we were just as foul as he. I refused to give him the satisfaction of believing that he had dragged me down to his level. Perhaps ‘twas foolishly prideful of me, but the warriors of Pegasopolis have always been a proud breed.
Rightly seemed to be of a similar mind. “Leave. Leave now, and ne'er return. I strip thee of thy clan, thy name, and whate’er tiny shreds of honor may remain to thee. I cast thee out of Pegasopolis now and fore'ermore. I confess that I am almost tempted to have thee Clipped as was done in ancient times, but such an act would only serve to dirty the blades used to perform it.”
Swift drew back his head and spat at Rightly’s hooves. “I hope you reap what you have sown, Rightly, I honestly do. You sanctimonious fool. See how easy ‘tis to keep this army together without me. See how much soldiers care for your precious honor when their bellies are empty. I will enjoy watching your cause collapse like so much sand falling through your hooves.”
By way of answer, Rightly smote him across the cheek, deliberately striking with the back of his hoof. (1) “Do not speak so to thy betters, exile.”
1: Striking with the back of the hoof was viewed as especially insulting in Pegasopolan culture, as it indicated that the attacker viewed their target as inferior.
Swift slowly picked himself up off the ground, glowering balefully at us all. “All of you will regret this. There will come a day when you wail and gnash your teeth and beg me to return and set right what you have wrought. But I will not.” He turned an especially hateful look upon me. “Enjoy thy victory for as long as you have it, Dusk Charger. I assure thee, 'twill become nothing but ashes in a month's time.”
I decided to follow Rightly’s example, and struck him across the cheek Rightly had not. As Swift lay upon the stone floor, I could not resist one final barb. “I have heard it said that thou hast a good mind for supplies. Pack well, for 'twill be thousands of miles ere thou dost find a place thy crimes are unknown and thou art welcome.”
Swift rose once more, stumbling slightly as he dragged himself out of the command tent. The Avatar nodded, and a pair of surviving hetairoi followed him to ensure that he would abide by the terms of his exile. She then turned to both of us, smiling. “Well done. Well done indeed. Swift had his uses, but I was beginning to find him tiresome e’en before thou didst bring his crimes to light. He was so small, so obsessed with such petty things when we have far grander works in store.” She strode forward, wrapping a wing around me. “I am ... relieved that you are well, Dusk. Thy loss was ... difficult.”
After a moment’s hesitation I embraced her, ill at ease with how different she was from the mother I had once known. “I am well. As Dawn will be.”
She nodded shortly, then turned to my companion. “‘Tis good to have thee returned to us, brother. Thine absence has been keenly felt.”
She offered her hoof, and he grasped it. “Aye, I felt it as keenly as thee. It is good to be back, Bright. E'en if a great deal has changed.” His eyes pointedly took in the horn adorning her head, and the other signs of the Nightmare’s influence.
The Avatar met his scrutiny with a warm smile. “So they have. But they are good changes, I assure thee.”
“I hope so,” Rightly murmured. “I have heard no shortage of dark rumors regarding thee and thy new form. And while many of them were no doubt fanciful tales concocted by Sunbeam Sparkle and her ilk, some of them came from more reliable sources.”
The Avatar bowed her head. “Ah, but of course. Much has been said of me, I am sure. Some lies, some truth, and some a mix of both.” She spread her wings, pointing to two of the empty seats around the table she had shattered. “Please, join me. I will separate truth from fiction and set thy mind at ease.”
“I would welcome that.” Rightly strode forward, taking the seat Swift had once occupied at the Avatar’s right hoof. “I have had no shortage of worries of late.”
“I can only imagine the troubles that have beset thy mind,” she answered with a sympathetic smile. “I am glad that thou didst not return in the midst of a full council meeting. The duties attendant to our positions would have interfered in our ... more personal desires.” She turned to me, once more draping a wing o’er my shoulders. “‘Twould be a terrible thing if I had to welcome my son back as the Commander of Pegasopolis greeting a captain, rather than as a mother greeting her child. Or thee, Rightly.”
I nodded mine agreement. Though her brother and mine uncle through marriage rather than blood, family was family to Mother. If anything, her sister’s death had only drawn the two closer in their shared grief. “It is surely good to be back,” I agreed, though mine enthusiasm was soon tempered by the ugly realities of our situation. “Mother, you should know that there were conditions to our release.”
The Avatar’s eyes narrowed. “Ah. I should have expected as much. Shadow would hardly have returned two of my best soldiers to me purely out of the goodness of her own heart. Well, out with it then. The sooner ‘tis stated, the sooner it can be addressed.”
Rightly grimaced. “Shadow extracted a high price, though not so high as she would have liked. I am honorbound to open negotiations with Celestia and her forces and make a sincere effort to bring the war to an end.”
The Avatar remained silent for some time, frowning in thought. I had begun to wonder if she was lost within her own mind when she finally spoke. “I see. That is simple enough. Our objectives in this war have not changed, neigh? We seek to free Pegasopolis and the earth ponies from her manipulations, and to remove her as a threat to our own freedom. Surely you agree that we cannot accept anything less than that?”
“To do otherwise would be to betray our cause,” Rightly agreed. “While honor demands that I treat with her fairly, I would ne’er have agreed to surrender our armies simply to gain mine own freedom. Not that I can imagine the army following such a command.”
“I am afraid I would have to override such an order if thou didst give it,” the Avatar agreed with a faint smile. “I do hope thou wilt not find serving under me too onerous.”
“‘Twill be something of an adjustment,” Rightly conceded, his eyes once more lingering on her horn. “But thou wert always a mare of considerable courage and honor. So long as that has not changed, I would be honored to serve under thee.”
She chuckled softly. “Oh, I have changed a great deal, but I am still the mare who stood at my sister’s side when you wed. But now I am much more as well.” She shook her head. “But now is no time for fond reminiscence. So we are agreed on the terms we offer Unicornia? Freedom for ourselves and the earth ponies, and Celestia’s abdication?”
I hesitated a moment ere I joined the conversation. “I am less than certain we should remove her from the throne. It seems that the unicorns wish to continue being ruled by her. If we fight for our freedom, we can hardly win it by denying the unicorns theirs.”
Hidden Facts cleared his throat, reminding us that the warlock was still present. “Regardless of our ideals, ‘tis foolish to think we can leave Celestia on her throne. Not when she is gifted with eternal life. Given time, she will work to worm her way back to power in Pegasopolis and the earth pony government.” He let his eyes rest upon mine. “You ask if we have the right to depose her? Aye, we do. For one, we shall hold Unicornia by right of conquest. For the second, we have every right to punish her for the crimes she has committed against Equestria. And finally, we must remove her because our freedom will ne’er be secure so long as she rules o’er e’en one of Equestria’s realms. We and our descendants would live in constant fear of her somehow taking control of the earth ponies or Ephorate again. E’en if our treaties bar her from acting directly, it is simple enough to use proxies and catspaws to advance her agenda.”
Rightly’s eyes narrowed. “I do not think I care to hear what counsel a warlock cares to offer. I have not forgotten the part thou didst play in Swift’s crimes.”
The Avatar lifted a hoof to forestall any response. “Hidden has been a loyal servant and knows more of Unicornia and its affairs than any of us. He is here at mine invitation.”
Rightly scowled, but did not openly dispute his commander’s ruling. I acted swiftly to resume the previous conversation ere it could become a point of tension ‘tween them. “But what of the wishes of Unicornia? You say we may dictate their fate by right of conquest? I do not think we should treat our fellow ponies as a conquered state.”
Hidden shook his head. “Dusk, my friend, I must also point out that your claim that Unicornia supports Celestia is ... uncertain. I am living proof that not all of us do.” He heaved out a dramatic sigh. “Alas, most unicorns have been led astray, and cannot imagine removing the queen they have known since their grandparent's grandparents. ’Tis not like in Pegasopolis or among the earth ponies, where leadership must be earned and there are rules for removing unworthy leaders. Celestia holds the throne by right of blood, and rules for life.”
The Avatar continued his line of thought. “And e’en then, how much of Unicornia truly supports her is unclear. I think thou wouldst be surprised to learn how many unicorns dream of a world without Celestia holding dominion o’er all.”
Rightly was silent for some time, then reluctantly nodded. “Aye, much as I do not care to agree with anything a warlock says, I do not think we can afford to leave Celestia in a position where she might wage war against us once more. I agreed to negotiate a true and lasting peace with the unicorns, not a twenty year truce.”
“I have no intention of seeing my grandchildren fight a second civil war,” the Avatar agreed. “It is plain to see that there can be no lasting peace so as long as Celestia holds the throne. E’en if we reduced her legal authority until she was naught but a powerless figurehead, ‘twould only delay the inevitable. Time is a potent ally, and one that favors the immortal.”
“And I think we have a far better choice for a queen of Unicornia,” Hidden declared, his eyes resting on the Avatar. “If we ... well, I do not wish to presume, but surely if Celestia is removed from power the throne would fall to her sister? I can think of none who hold a stronger claim.”
I sighed, shaking my head. “I am all but certain that Celestia and her loyalists would ne’er accept such terms.”
“And I would not accept less,” the Avatar rejoined. “Not after the death of my daughter, my son, and so many others who have sacrificed themselves for our cause. Especially when we hold all of Equestria except for one city, and Canterlot itself is not far from falling. We will offer them reasonable terms, when considered in light of the overall strategic situation and our own war aims. If they refuse reasonable terms, then the failure lies with them.”
“Though we should retain some room for flexibility within our offered terms,” Rightly argued. “As with all negotiations, we must have some points we are willing to concede in order to gain that which we truly care for. I am sure we can discuss all the finer details with the full Ephorate.”
“It seems foolish to debate the details when we know the negotiations will fail,” I groused. “We know they will not agree to forcing Celestia from the throne. Do we declare honor satisfied simply because we offered terms we knew they would ne’er accept?”
Rightly grimaced, shaking his head. “I will make every effort to negotiate in good faith with Celestia, but it may well be that we will not be able to find enough common ground for peace. Despite our best efforts to do so, we may not be able to forge an acceptable agreement. Some disputes simply cannot be resolved by words alone.”
Much as I did not care to hear it, I could not refute his answer. If a few simple minutes of conversation could have resolved this war, then the conflict would ne’er have begun in the first place. Mayhaps it had been naive of me to think that we could put an end to the war, but I was just so tired of it all. I wanted it to be over so badly that I would welcome any hope that there might put an end to it, no matter how slim it might be.
The Avatar must have guessed at the troubles within my heart, for her eyes rested upon me as she spoke. “Mine apologies, my son. I know this war weighs heavily 'pon thee, and I know the ache in thy heart, for I suffer the same wound in my chest for the loss of Lance and Thunder. But sometimes we shed some blood now so that more will not be shed later.” She sighed, shaking her head. “We are committed to this war now, and we cannot step away from the task that lies before us. If we do, then we dishonor the sacrifice made by the fallen.”
“And how many more must die for that to happen?” I demanded. “I would think that the best way to honor the dead would be to ensure that we do not add to their number needlessly. If Lance could share her thoughts with us, she would not want us to kill in her name. She would want us to ensure that no more of her kin join her in death.”
“I will do all that I can to ensure that it is so,” the Avatar answered gravely. “But we cannot abandon the cause that my daughter fought and died for when we are so close to victory. Thou didst see the Loyalist lines, and nearly broke them with thine attack. Another one such as that may very well end this war.”
“Or we bury more of our own for no measurable gain,” I answered bitterly. “I did not nearly break them. I broke them. But it accomplished nothing, for e’en as I drove forward we were defeated on other fronts. All the soldiers who died under my command died for nothing!”
Rightly sighed softly. “Aye, such things happen in war. It is one of the cruelest realities a captain can face: to know death and defeat despite flawlessly executing his own part of a larger battle. Do not think that thou hast failed those under thy command, Dusk. There was nothing more that thou couldst have done.”
I did not—I could not accept his words. I should have withdrawn my forces rather than commit to the attack. Then Sierra would still be alive. Dawn would still be free. And so much more.
The Avatar spoke gently to me. “I do not care to continue this war, placing my children upon the battlefield. Yet what else can we do? Surrender to Celestia? Put ourselves at Sunbeam's tender mercies? Invite Shadow to return to the Ephorate, as though all her murders and betrayals were forgiven? Neigh, there must be justice and Equestria’s freedom must be secure. If the enemy is unwilling to grant me that, then there will be no peace.”
I saw little point in arguing it further. It seemed that Mother and Rightly both were bound and determined to maintain their current course. For all that they claimed they desired an end to the war, they were unwilling to offer the enemy enough concessions to gain peace. And mayhaps unlike me, they still believed that it was possible to win this war. But e’en if we captured Canterlot in the next assault and gained all that we hoped for, I would not count it a victory. Too much had been lost already.
The only thing left for me was to do all that I could to ensure that nothing more would be. “There was one other term to our release. Gale must be exchanged for Dawn.”
The Avatar scowled, her teeth clenching. “A prisoner exchange? After she murdered Lance at the last such attempt? I should send her Gale’s head!” She closed her eyes, taking several long breaths and slowly regaining her composure. “Howe’er ... she does hold my daughter. What do the rest of you have to say on the matter?”
Rightly wasted no time in answering. “Dusk and I accepted the arrangement as part of the terms of our release. More than that, though, I do not think the Bright Charger I once knew would find any pleasure in slaying Shadow’s daughter. Especially if it cost her yet another of her children.”
“It does seem like a fair exchange,” Hidden offered. “Rightly, Dusk, and Dawn for Gale. If anything, we have the better end of the arrangement.”
The Avatar grunted, her glower only deepening e’en as she considered the words. “So it does. And ... thou art correct, Rightly. I will see Shadow dead for what she did to my child, and Sunbeam as well, but their crimes do not pass on to their children. I confess that I have been ... tempted to harm Gale simply to pain her mother, but as Dusk once reminded me such dark thoughts are better left unindulged. Else I shall be the monster Sunbeam’s lies claim.”
“Then it seems we are agreed on the matter,” Rightly intoned.
“So we are.” The Avatar favored him with a sanguine smile. “I look forward to fighting by thy side again, my brother. There were times beyond numbering where I have keenly missed thy presence on the battlefield.”
“And I thee,” Rightly agreed before pointedly adding, “Should peace negotiations fail. I know that Dusk feels they are doomed, and I agree he might well be correct, but we must still make the attempt. If there is any way to stop this bloodshed and find an honorable peace, we would be remiss to leave it unpursued.” Rightly cleared his throat. “Howe’er, I think the precise terms we offer them are a matter to be discussed with the full Ephorate present. And I would prefer a day to rest, restore myself, and learn what has passed in mine absence ere we meet with them. For now, I believe there is only one more matter left to resolve. And it does not regard Shadow or any deals struck with her. Rather ... thy choice in allies.” His gaze pointedly shifted to Hidden Facts. “I do not care for association with warlocks. I have tolerated his presence thus far because it is thy wish, but I will not fight alongside him.”
Hidden scoffed contemptuously. “Warlock. A dated term made by hopelessly conservative and narrow-minded magi. A label to slap upon political enemies and those who dare to press the limits of magic rather than submit to establishment dogma.”
The Avatar’s gaze shifted between the two of them, and her tone was carefully neutral. “Hidden and his followers have been ... useful to our cause since they joined us. We could not have destroyed Polaris’ army so easily without him, nor come so close to breaking Canterlot in the last battle. ”
“Just because they are of use does not justify their crimes,” Rightly countered. “Or shall we open the gaols to put murderers and criminals in our armies too? Surely they would also be useful.”
“Actually, Swift already did that,” I murmured to him. “His battle plans often called for ‘disposable’ forces, and to his mind there were few soldiers more disposable than ones culled from a gaol.”
“All the more reason not to continue following his example,” Rightly declared.
“And what crimes have I committed?” Hidden demanded, bristling indignantly. “What laws have I violated? The ones made by Queen Celestia? The same laws that brand everypony here as rebels and traitors. Or am I a criminal by the Magus codes? A code o’erseen by Sunbeam Sparkle herself, and which she seems willing enough to twist whene’er ‘tis she who commits a crime.”
“Laws against murdering helpless prisoners and practicing black magic long predate both Celestia and Sunbeam,” Rightly countered. “How many have you slain while practicing your dark arts? How much innocent blood have you shed?”
“Only as many as much as was necessary,” Hidden answered gravely. “And only in the direst of need. ’Tis not as though using such magics are my first choice to accomplish a task. The price they carry often weighs heaviest upon the caster. Howe’er, sometimes the magics forbidden by Celestia and her shortsighted servants are the only tools capable of achieving mine ends.”
“A crime is a crime,” Rightly answered firmly. “If a thing can only be done by using dark magic, then perhaps it should be left undone.”
“So I am to be punished for slaying our foes, now?” Hidden demanded. “And make no mistake, Copper Spark was our enemy, e’en if he was bound and helpless when I took his life. A sad necessity, that. 'Twas the only means I had available to save the life of your sister and give her the power she needed to avenge the death of her children.”
“An act for which I am duly grateful,” the Avatar acknowledged with a nod. “Copper died so that I might live. Had we met on the battlefield, I am sure thou wouldst not have hesitated to cut the unicorn down if he was on the verge of defeating me.”
“There is a great difference between combat on the field of battle and murdering a prisoner to fuel a magic ritual,” I pointed out.
“Yet both examples end with Copper dead, and your mother alive and well.” Hidden turned to me, smiling. “And let us not forget the other services I have offered. Have you not discussed our collaboration with the Ephor, Dusk?”
I grimaced as Rightly’s gaze shifted to me. I had hoped my brief collaboration with the warlock could be forgotten, but I was not so fortunate. “It is so,” I reluctantly confessed. “We would not have been able to breach the enemy walls in the last battle without the aid of Hidden and his magi.” Ere the warlock could make too much of my words I added, “Howe’er, the aid we received was not of a nefarious nature. Merely standard unicorn arts.”
Rightly frowned in thought for several seconds before asking me, “In thy judgement, can we win this war without magical support?”
“It is hard to say.” I sighed, shaking my head. “Certainly our soldiers will fight far better under your leadership than they did under Swift’s. That said ... the nature of the tunnels has made it difficult to deploy our siege engines as well as we would like. And our miners have done their best to attempt to undermine or bypass the enemy defenses, but Celestia’s miners know Mount Avalon far better than ours do. Not to mention our own experts were often busy reinforcing caverns and digging out fresh supply tunnels.” Much as I disliked the conclusion, I could not deny it. “Regardless of whether we can win without them, I think the war will go better with magi supporting our forces.”
Rightly was silent for some time, his eyes closed in contemplation. “Then it seems we are at an impasse. We must have magi, but I will not allow warlocks. A compromise, then. No more dark magic shall be used by any forces under our command. All crimes committed by warlocks must be properly punished. Howe’er, any good and honorable service for the duration of the war will be ... given consideration when deciding how crimes committed at Swift Blade’s behest shall be addressed. If these warlocks show us noble hearts and perform good deeds, ‘twould go far in showing that Celestia’s laws may be excessive, and allow some measure of redemption for any past crimes. There must be justice, but it can be tempered by mercy if these warlocks prove that they have bettered themselves.”
Hidden scoffed, shaking his head. “And how would you define dark magic? You do not have mine own knowledge of the arcane arts, and I think myself far more qualified to judge on what should and should not be allowed.”
“Honor is plain enough for any with eyes to see,” Rightly answered. “When in doubt, ask if an act would be proper if ‘twere done without magic. Murder is still murder, whether done for simple reasons or to fuel a fell ritual.”
The warlock chuckled and shook his head. “Ah, such a delightfully straightforward view of the world. You must understand that magi work by different standards than the warriors of Pegasopolis. In the future, I would advise you to leave the issues of magic to the magi, just as I would not presume to dictate battle strategy to you. Each to their own spheres.”
“Battle tactics,” Rightly corrected under his breath. “Strategy concerns broad campaigns, not individual battles.” He sighed, turning to the Avatar. “Bright, might I ask for thy thoughts on the matter?”
The Avatar looked between two of them, rubbing her chin as her eyes narrowed. Mayhap 'twas just me, but I would swear her pupils contracted into slits—e'en if e'er so slightly—while she looked between them. After some time, she finally answered. “I think 'twould be best to put aside the use of the more questionable forms of magic for the duration of the war.”
Hidden’s jaw dropped open and he blinked several times, as though he could not believe what he had just head. “Avatar, if you would allow me to explain—”
The Avatar cut him off before he could e’en begin. “I have heard thy words many times in the past, Hidden. For the moment, I find thine arguments wanting. I have spoken with many of the common soldiers, and they have often mentioned how unsettled they are by the use of magics that have long been forbidden. It hurts our morale and our ability to bring the common pony to our side. We must not only consider winning this war, but maintaining the peace. And ponies will remember how we won this war. If we win through means they believe evil, they will believe we are evil rulers.” She grimaced and shook her head. “We cannot have that. So for now, I am declaring that black magic is forbidden among our forces. We can review the validity of the black arts and revise the outdated laws thou hast protested so many times once the war is finished.”
Rightly received the news with a satisfied nod, but Hidden did not take it nearly so well. He spluttered indignantly for several seconds ere he finally formed a coherent sentence. “Neigh! That is simply not acceptable!”
The Avatar’s eyes narrowed, and I was very glad I was not seated too near the warlock. There was a decidedly dangerous calmness to her tone. “Oh?”
Hidden did not know the Avatar as well as I did, and thus missed the warning signs, rising indignantly to his hooves. “I will not be told what to do because some ignorant pegasus is ... uncomfortable with the magics I wield.”
“I have made my ruling,” the Avatar announced, steel entering her voice. “Thou wilt abide by it.”
Hidden quivered indignantly, his temper getting the better of him. “No! I will not allow it! I have not sacrificed so much just to have my work undone to placate a pony who locked me away for aiding his cause! When I joined your cause, you promised that you would help me remove the tyranny of the Laws of Magic! Are you breaking your word?!”
The Avatar rose to her hooves, towering over him and glowering balefully. “I will do whate’er I think is best for our cause, and for Equestria. And thou wilt accept it. Is that clear?”
The arch-warlock hesitated for the briefest of moment ere he defiantly shouted, “Aye! ‘Tis quite clear that you would cast aside the idea of magical freedom if it suits you. Have you forgotten that if not for me, you would not e’en exist?!”
The Avatar remained calm in the face of his fury. “Dost thou think that thy role in mine apotheosis gives thee power o’er me? The right to issue demands? If so, then thou art gravely mistaken. Do not force me to correct thee as I would an insolent child.”
“Correct me?!” His horn lit as he cast aside all reason. “I will not be cast aside and my desires trampled upon simply because you feel you can take my loyalty for granted! Do you think that I serve you without question, that I will continue to do so when you betray all that I stand for?”
The Avatar’s eyes narrowed. “I think that if you do not cease spellcasting immediately, you will not care for what follows.”
Hidden drew himself up defiantly. “Thou art no master to me! I am a free magus; Archmagus Hidden Facts, Master of—”
Whate’er proud declaration he was about to offer came to an abrupt end as the Avatar lashed out with a beam of moonlight, striking him in the chest. The Archmagus did not e’en register the impact, his outraged expression disappearing with the rest of him as his body … vanished. With a noise not unlike a branch against leather, the unicorn’s body vanished in a pink froth which exploded outwards like an o’ercooked potato. Save for the Avatar, the entire tent was bathed in gore—my jaw slackened just as I registered the event, and I gagged when I felt the giblets ‘pon my tongue. Try as I might, I could not dull my sense of taste as I spat out the last mortal vestiges of Hidden Facts.
For a moment I marvelled at his madness in daring to challenge the Avatar. Mayhaps ‘twas as she said, that he believed that he held power o’er her as her maker. Or mayhaps ‘twas simply the last defiance of a man who felt he was being cast aside now that the Avatar no longer needed him. Given his own betrayal of Swift, ‘twas no surprise that he feared receiving the same treatment.
The Avatar strode to where Hidden had stood only moments ago, plucking out the only reasonably intact part of his body: his skull. “Know thy place, warlock. For I am the Commander of Pegasopolis, Queen of Unicornia, and the Sovereign of all of Equestria. To defy me is to declare thyself a traitor, and so invite the consequences of thy treason.”
“M-Mother...” I gasped out in shock. I had seen her in battle before, but there was quite a difference ‘tween seeing her skewer a foe with a lance and the violence she had wrought using her new magical abilities. Not to mention the sheer suddenness of it. One moment Hidden Facts had been alive and well, the next...
The Avatar turned to me, her gaze cold and distant in a way I had ne’er seen on my mother’s face. “Mine apologies. Howe’er, I am sure that the both of thee saw that Hidden was about to cast a spell. I know not what he intended, but I doubt it boded well for any of us. ‘Tis no secret that the best way to defeat a magus is to slay them ere they can begin casting spells. I would not risk having either of thee harmed in an extended battle.”
She drew herself up to her full height. “You were right to be wary of him, for his words and actions brought his treasonous nature to light. I would have preferred to deal with him in a more official manner, but capturing him alive and holding him would have been a difficult task. He only allowed his first arrest because of his confidence he could manipulate Swift. Absent that ... safer to slay him than risk attempting his capture.” She sighed, shaking her head. “And now it seems we must pick a new leader for the magi, and hope that he will prove more reasonable than his predecessor.”
“I shall leave that choice to others,” Rightly answered, scrubbing at his face. “I know little of the unicorns bound to our service, and expect I could not properly come to know all of them ere the needs of the war required a new leader. So long as they are willing to conduct themselves with honor, I see no reason to object to thy choice, Bright.” He grimaced, looking down at the remnants of Hidden Facts. “In any case, I am glad to be rid of one warlock.”
“I am of the same opinion.” I flicked my wings, trying to remove as much viscera from them as I could. A part me could not help but reflect that, in his own way, Hidden had actually been quite an honorable pony. Much as I disliked dark magic, the nature of his demise made it plain that Hidden had truly believed in his ideals. When faced with the choice of compromising his integrity or suicidal defiance, he had embraced his own destruction. Ironic that a warlock would meet his end for being an idealist.
“Such helpful advice the both of thee offer,” the Avatar murmured, a thoughtful frown on her lips. “So be it then. I believe that for the moment the post shall go to Moonwatch. He has pleased me with his loyalty and will surely accept whate’er terms I ask of him. Not an especially brilliant or accomplished magus, but he has his talents and lacks Hidden’s ... numerous flaws.”
I blinked in surprise at her choice. “But ... but he is slain. I was there when dozens of crossbow bolts pierced his body, and then the fire gem...”
The Avatar’s lips curled in an amused grin. “Neigh, he yet lives.” She chuckled at the confusion writ o’er my face. “Thou canst ask him how he still walks this world, but I fear the magi do like to keep their secrets.”
“So they do,” Rightly agreed with a shrug. “I would like to meet him ere I offer mine approval, but so long as he accepts the terms and shows no objectionable traits I will support thy choice for the post, Bright.”
“I do not doubt that he will do so,” the Avatar assured him. “Moonwatch knows how to follow orders. He will abide by thy terms.”
I had no reason to doubt that Moonwatch would do exactly as she claimed. From what I had seen of him, he was an unimaginative, simple-minded sycophant. He would obey the Avatar’s command with equal fervor whether she told him to act with honor or dishonor. Hardly an ideal leader to my mind, but such blind obedience would no doubt seem preferable compared to Hidden’s stubborn idealism. Moonwatch certainly would not e’en dream of scheming against or defying the Avatar as Hidden had.
“It seems the magi are attended to for the moment, then.” The Avatar’s horn lit, and Hidden’s remains slid off the tent’s walls, coalescing in a single gelatinous mass in the center of the tent. “Was there anything else that troubled thy mind, Rightly, Dusk?”
For a brief moment I envied her newfound powers as I flicked a piece of the former archmagus from my mane. “Mayhaps a bath?”
The Avatar looked the tent o’er with a wry grin. “Aye, a fine suggestion. I am afraid Hidden has made a mess of my council and my council tent. I suppose I will have to offer an apology on his behalf to the aides I set to the task of cleansing it all. For the moment, let us attend to ourselves.” She paused, levitating the warlock’s skull. “Though I believe I shall keep this. It shall serve as ample warning of the consequences of treason, and it is only proper that a warrior claim trophies from their defeated foes.”
Rightly responded with a single raised eyebrow. “Surely that is a rather morbid trophy? Couldst thou not find something that does not require desecrating his corpse?”
“As if there were a corpse left to desecrate,” I murmured under my breath.
The Avatar must have caught my remark, for she let out a soft chuckle. “I did take quite a few trophies from Corrodius the Blightbringer. A dragon’s bones and scales make a fine addition to any set of armor. That said, a pony’s bones are far less useful.” She turned Hidden’s skull about in her hooves, studying it. “Still, I might find a use for this. Mayhaps bind him to prevent some plan to defy his own death. He was skilled in necromancy, and his apprentice Moonwatch has already shown remarkable resilience.” She sighed, and shaking her head. “And if such measures prove needless, the skull can be given a proper burial at some point. Hidden may have been a fool and a warlock, but he did provide our cause a few useful services between his crimes.”
Rightly grimaced, but slowly nodded. “If his skull is required to counteract some dark magic he might have wrought, then so be it. I know little of such things, and do not care to learn more. I only ask that it be treated as decently as possible. Whate’er his crimes, we should not blacken our own names by mistreating his mortal remains.” He sighed, looking down at his blood-spattered body. “For now, I think I shall follow Dusk’s most excellent suggestion. ’Twill be good to enjoy a proper bath once more. ‘Twas only one of many luxuries my jail cell did not allow me, and one I missed keenly e’en before...” He waved a hoof o’er the blood staining his armor and body, “This.”
The Avatar nodded understandingly. “Aye, I am sure thou art eager to wash away any reminders of thy captivity. Do not worry, thou wilt be treated with all the dignity and respect thou dost deserve now that thou art amongst thy fellow warriors again.”
Rightly answered her with a relaxed smile. “I am glad to hear it, Bright. It has been too long since I saw any pegasus other than Shadow herself. A part of me can still scarcely believe all this has happened. A day ago I was a prisoner with no hope of freedom save an end to the war, and e’en then I feared Sunbeam would kill me out of spite first. Now I am restored to all my honors, and once more leading an army in a righteous cause. A rather sudden and disconcerting change, but certainly a welcome one.”
“We live in times of great change,” the Avatar agreed. “This war will change the very nature of Equestria itself. And once ‘tis done, all ponykind will know that ‘twas Rightly Doo who led the war for the freedom of ponykind.”
“Thou dost flatter me,” Rightly answered with a modest grin.
“If thou dost find the truth so flattering, then it speaks well of thy humility.” She chuckled, then gently shooed him out with a wing. “Now, I would not keep thee from the baths any longer, and I would have words in private with my son.”
“Of course, Bright.” Rightly’s eyes flicked once more to her horn, but this time I did not see any unease in them. “I am glad to see that while thou art ... changed, thou art still the mare I know so well. There were times when I feared there might be some truth to the lies my gaolers told me in Celestia’s dungeons.”
The Avatar answered him with a wry smile. “Well, when last I asked my chefs were preparing several unicorn foals in a lovely orange sauce for dinner tonight. Though in light of thy return, it seems I should alter the menu to something we would both enjoy. I trust that the same stew our soldiers subsist on will suffice?”
“Aye, it will.” Rightly chuckled softly. “Simple fare, but likely better than what they enjoy in Canterlot. I have not had anything fresh in weeks, and I do not think that was simply because they gave their prisoners the worst food available.”
“I hope so,” the Avatar declared. “If their bellies are beginning to empty, they are much more likely to accept our peace offer.” She waved dismissively. “We can formalize our terms once thy bath is finished, and the rest of the Ephorate is present. Now, I believe I have already urged thee to the bathhouse once. I hope thou wilt not force me to repeat myself.”
“Is my smell that offensive?” Rightly lifted a wing and took a loud sniff, grimacing. “Ah. So it is. Good day, then.” He turned about, departing.
With his departure, I was alone with the Avatar. I confess, I was not entirely certain what to do. For all that she appeared as my mother and bore many of her mannerisms and beliefs, I could not shake the feeling that she was simply ... too different. When I looked upon her, I did not see the mother who had borne and raised me. Though Rightly seemed to have accepted her changes readily enough, in my heart I had not. When I looked upon her, my heart saw the Avatar of Luna, not my mother.
Howe’er, it seemed that she did not draw such distinctions. I felt her magic wash o’er me, a cold but not unpleasant tingle as it swept away the stains left by the warlock’s blood. She smiled proudly as she cleansed me. “Thou hast grown a great deal during this war, my son. Ere the battle began, thou wert young and mayhaps a touch more foolish than thou wouldst care to admit. Yet it seems that the fires of battle have tempered thee, and now thou art a strong and honorable son that I am incredibly proud of. As I am sure Lance and Thunder would be.”
Lance, mayhaps. I suspect Thunder would have envied mine accomplishments, as younger brothers are wont to do. Pity I would ne’er have the chance to know that for certain. “I ... thank you for your kind words, Mother.” Though my heart still questioned her identity, I would not call her otherwise. If she were my mother ‘twould wound her, and if she were something else ‘twould still be taken as a mark of disrespect.
Her magic continued to flow o’er me, removing mine armor as she carefully inspected me. “I hope thou wert not mistreated. If any harm has been visited upon thee or Dawn...”
“Neigh, for prisoners, we were treated quite well.” I could not meet her eyes as I confessed. “Better than Gale would have been treated, if Swift had his way.”
“Aye, I was a fool to e’er consider following his suggestion.” She sighed, shaking her head. “Rightly had the right of it. Much as I burn to avenge my children’s deaths, harming Gale purely to spite Shadow would only have blackened my name and damaged our cause. I am glad to be rid of Swift and Hidden both.” She nodded, seemingly as much to herself as to me. “Aye, with Rightly and thee by my side, we can bring this war to an end. Rightly is ten times the warrior Swift e’er was. He will surely find victory where Swift failed.”
“Easily,” I agreed. “Though I do hope ‘twill not come to that. Regardless, I will feel much more at ease once we regain Dawn.”
“As will I,” the Avatar agreed. “I do not care to see my children in peril, e’en though I know thy skills are vital to winning the war. And I could not in good conscience demand that any other parent send their child to war if I refused to do the same.” She took a slow, deep breath. “We will send Gale to the Loyalists on the morrow, once we have decided on the terms we will offer. We might as well save a messenger and have her deliver our offer. If all goes well, we should have Dawn back ere the sun sets.”
A wistful tone entered my voice as I confessed, “Glad as I will be to have Dawn returned, I do think I shall miss Gale once she is gone. I suspect she was almost beginning to tolerate my continued existence. She e’en expressed a slight preference for my continuing to live rather than seeing me suffer a horrible and exquisitely painful death.”
“The two of thee are as good as wed, then,” the Avatar remarked dryly. “But aye, I will be glad to have Dawn returned to us as well. And not just because she is my child, but...” She trailed off uncertainly, her eyes flicking downward. “There are ... other matters where her advice would be of considerable value.” Her horn lit once more, and I felt a thick blanket of magic settle o’er the tent. After several seconds she nodded, seeming satisfied with her spell. “I presume I can trust thy discretion in this matter?”
“Of course,” I answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“Very well.” She said nothing as she removed her armor, and then the padding beneath it. To my horror, open gashes criss-crossed her body where Shadow’s blades had struck her earlier. Worse still, the area around them was yet charred from the magic of Shadow’s wing blades, and I could … see into Mother, see the soft, steady movements of her bones and muscles and viscera as she drew breath. Queerer still, though, was that her injuries did not bleed—blood flowed and ebbed without spilling from her body, somehow tracing a path from one end of a severed or burnt vein to another without interruption. “The wounds I suffered in my battle with Shadow are not healing. Neigh, more than that, they will ne’er heal. Despite the damage, there is a curious strength within me. In truth, I feel e’en mightier now than I did before. I suspect ’tis a result of Luna’s power flowing through me. Howe’er ... there is no way to be gentle with this, and thou art old enough to bear such terrible burdens.” She took a deep breath, then slowly released it. “Dusk, I am dying.”
“Dying?” I could scarcely credit mine own ears. “Why? Can you be saved?”
She answered me with a sad shake of her head. “I fear 'tis a result of ... my condition. Though it pains me to admit it, it seems that e’en I cannot contain the full might of an alicorn. I believe Hidden hoped that my strength of body and will would suffice, but this is not a matter of simple might. I lack certain special qualities, qualities that only a precious rare few possess.” She chuckled, though ’twas a sound devoid of any humor. “’Tis ... ironic, mayhaps. Luna’s power sustained me when I might have died, and further strengthens me when mine unhealing wounds would cripple a mortal pony. Yet drawing upon that very strength is what shall ultimately destroy me. I fear my battle with Shadow only accelerated the process.”
I could not accept it. Not my mother too. Lance ... Thunder ... Sierra ... too much had already been lost. I refused to accept that I had no choice but to stand idly and watch as yet another member of my family perished. “But ... surely there must be some way to undo this?” I struck upon a desperate hope. “Celestia. Shadow said she might be able to undo the changes wrought upon you. Surely she could reverse the damage your connection to Luna has caused. We could make it one of the terms in our peace offer—”
“Neigh!” Mother shouted. “We cannot let the enemy know of this! How dost thou think they would respond if they learned of my condition? ‘Twould only serve to embolden them, and ‘twould spread uncertainty and despair in our own forces. Mayhaps I could ask for aid once Celestia has surrendered and Canterlot is ours, but until then they must all believe that I am whole and healthy.” She grimaced and shook her head. “E’en then, I am reluctant to trust myself to Celestia’s aid. She would be able to destroy me with a thought if I made myself so vulnerable to her.” She paused for a moment, then declared. “Nor am I prepared to surrender my fate to another when there may yet be a way to save myself.”
“What way?” I asked, wondering what dire acts must be performed to stabilize Hidden’s dark magic. A part of me suspected ‘twould require acts as foul as those Hidden committed to alter my mother to her current form. Yet ... if the alternative was to lose her as I had lost so many others... “What must we do?”
Mother locked her eyes upon mine. “There is a filly in Canterlot with a special connection with Luna. While I am ill-suited to bear Luna's power, this child was created for the specific purpose of serving as Luna’s agent on Equestria. I can think of no better host for Luna’s strength, and if she could wield Luna’s full might without the negative consequences I suffer, she might well be able to restore me to my former self.”
I could already feel the beginnings of a desperate plan forming in my mind. “Tell me more about this child...”