• Published 19th May 2020
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Rekindled Embers - applezombi



Hundreds of years after the death of Twilight Sparkle, a brutal theocracy rules over ponies with an iron hoof. A young pegasus mare slowly learns the truth about her world, and the lies her faith is built on.

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Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Letter, sent from Ambassador Turquoise to High Inquisitor Steadfast Word

Steadfast-

I was heartbroken to receive your last letter. Emberglow missing in action? I wish I’d been there. I’m sure you’re having a difficult time; she spoke of you frequently, and I know the two of you were close. I will remember her, and you, in my prayers and beg the Saints for her safe return.

You probably already have, but could you please take a moment to check in on her parents? They’re lovely ponies, and I’m sure a visit from you would be welcome. This will be even harder on them.

I wish I had good news about the Crystal Empire to cheer you up, but things have been difficult. I have been trying my best to get through to the Crystal Ponies, but I’m smart enough to know when I’m being ‘handled’. On the surface, they're are polite and open-minded, but it’s an act; they’re only pretending to be cordial. I don’t know why they agreed to allow this embassy, but it appears as if they have no intention of actually cultivating a closer relationship with the Diarchy.

Nothing proves this more than my lack of contact with their princess, Flurry Heart. I have met her twice in the weeks I’ve been here. The first time was our welcome visit, a purely ceremonial affair where I was unable to speak with her. The second was when I submitted a request to begin building a cathedral in the Empire. The request was approved, on the condition that it not contain any statues of the Saints. I suppose we could use their cutie marks instead, but what kind of cathedral is that? In any case, I wasn’t allowed to speak much with her at all.

Instead, the highest government official I interact with regularly is Princess Flurry Heart’s personal student, a unicorn named Lightning Bug. This is perhaps the most uncomfortable thing about the whole situation; I’ve met Lightning before. She was one of the pirates Emberglow, Delver, and I fought a few months back.

She pretends not to remember me, but I see the fury in her eyes every time she looks my way. I certainly can’t blame her; I remember she called the zebra captain her father. Adopted, obviously. But as long as she ignores our shared history, I’m not going to bring it up.

I’ve sent a more complete report back to my superiors, but I thought I owed you an explanation why I haven't made much progress on your request. Don’t worry, I’m including as much information as I have obtained on both alicorns, and on the other races that inhabit the empire. Our contact with groups like the yaks and the ‘diamond dogs’ has been limited, and I’ve never even caught a glimpse of the creatures referred to as ‘changelings’ (more handling by our ‘hosts’, I presume) but I’m taking as many notes as I can. I’ll send you the highlights.

Stay positive. I’m not giving up yet. We’re beginning construction on the cathedral soon, so if nothing else I’ll have that as a legacy for my time in the Empire. But I have faith something will change soon; the Saints would never have sent me here if it was all for nothing.

Signed,

Ambassador Turquoise.

1113 AF, New Canterlot City

Ever since he had become a Squire, Lofty had been a regular lucid dreamer. Before his faith in the Saints had dried up and dribbled away like a stream in a drought, he’d assumed it was a gift from the Diarchs, through them. Now when he dreamed, he searched for Luna. She had spoken to him in his dreams before, even led and guided him on occasion. Now, he needed answers. In every one of his dreams, he would look for the moon, but every time, She would be silent.

Tonight, he dreamed of sitting on a grassy hill, looking up into the starlit, moonless night sky. Idly, he tried to imagine the moon appearing in the sky, imagining its comforting glow. Nothing happened, again. Though he was certain he was dreaming, and therefore should be able to control certain parts of the dream, he was never able to summon the silvery orb of the moon to shine down on him. Maybe the moon only appeared when She was visiting.

“I could really use your guidance now,” he called out into the darkness, hoping for an answer, though he didn’t really expect one. “I don’t know what comes next, but I’m worried. Mostly about my son. He’s innocent. Is there any way you can make sure he doesn’t get caught up in my problems?”

For a moment he thought he saw a flash of silvery light, as if Luna was struggling to reach out to him, to touch his dreams as if from a great distance. But as he waited, his eyes poring over the glittering stars, there was no further hint of Her presence. He sighed, standing up and stretching. From what little information he’d been able to glean from the dream mare, he had concluded that something kept her from contacting him as frequently as she would like. She probably wouldn't appear to him tonight.

“You’ve met her, then?” came a voice from behind him, and he jerked in shock. This was Lofty’s dream; nothing should be here except what he created. He spun to face the intruder.

Topaz Glitter stood on the hill, just slightly downhill from Lofty’s perch. She was nude, except for a golden torque around her neck, with a centerpiece of a blue gem, shaped like a sun half-risen over the horizon. He couldn’t help but glance; the gem was the same shape as her cutie mark, though the sun on her flank was yellow, and had a smiling face with closed eyes.

“You’ve met the moon princess? Princess Luna?” Topaz repeated. Lofty stared, openmouthed. If his subconscious mind had been able to conjure her up here, apparently he didn’t have as much control over his own dreams as he had thought.

“Topaz? Huh. I wish the real you were here.” He stepped towards the beautiful mare. She laughed.

“I’m not real?”

“It’s a dream. My dream.”

“Oh, then maybe you’re right,” Topaz giggled. “Maybe you’re just dreaming about me. Nice to know I’m in your dreams, though.” She glanced down at herself and her grin widened, though she started blushing. “Huh. Looks like I’m naked. Not that I mind, really, but this is how you dream about me, Lofty?”

“I didn’t… but what…” he floundered, while Topaz laughed. “Um, sorry?” He didn’t know why he was apologizing; it wasn’t the real Topaz, after all, just a dream.

“You don’t need to be sorry,” Topaz cooed. “It’s your dream. Admire away.” She swished her tail, and for a second, his eyes were glued on her swaying flank before he jerked his gaze down and away. She laughed again. “If you’re uncomfortable, I can put something on.”

“N-no,” Lofty stammered. Though they were rare, he was no stranger to the odd erotic dream. He felt the need to change the subject, though. “You were asking about Luna?” He never hesitated over Her name in his dreams.

“I asked if you’ve met her, in your dreams,” the flirty, teasing note in her voice was gone, and she merely sounded eager and curious. Lofty wondered what part of his subconscious she was representing right now.

“Sometimes,” he replied. “I could really use her wisdom right now.”

“Can I help?” Topaz asked.

“I don’t know,” Lofty admitted. “I’m not sure my own subconscious can help.”

“Try me,” Topaz grinned. “The subconscious mind can be very wise, sometimes.”

“Okay,” Lofty said carefully. “I’ll try. I’m… afraid. Terrified. I’m learning all sorts of frightening things. You, uh, the real you that is, told me about alicorns. The perfect unity of the three pony races. About the truth of Twilight Sparkle, the unicorn, not the earth pony. My friend Emberglow told me something even more stunning. That for a thousand years, Rarity, not the saint, but the real unicorn pony Rarity, has been trapped in a stasis spell. Emberglow woke her up, and now she’s alive and active. A literal voice from the past, living proof that we’ve been lied to.”

“W-what?” Topaz stammered. “Rarity? The Rarity? Alive!? That’s incredible! Where is she now? What’s she doing?”

“With the heretics, apparently. Emberglow would know more, but I didn’t ask her.”

“Drat. You dangle something that interesting, that fascinating in front of me, and don’t give me any more?” Topaz mock-scowled at him. “Tease.”

“You’re one to talk,” he smirked, taking a moment to eye her flank once more. She wiggled her eyebrows and swished her tail again. “Wow, if you’re my subconscious, you’re far more worried about relieving my extended dry spell than you are easing my worries.”

“Sorry,” Topaz blushed. “I’ll try to be a bit less flirty.”

“No, it’s fine,” Lofty sighed, turning back to look up at the moonless sky. “Luna isn’t coming tonight anyways. She usually doesn’t, I was just hoping. Besides, the flirting is making this dream much more fun than I expected. It’s been far too long since I’ve enjoyed a riveting conversation with a beautiful mare.”

“Even though you’re basically just flirting with a figment of your own imagination?” Topaz giggled.

“Maybe I’m just considering this practice for the real thing. I do enjoy flirting with Topaz in real life.” He smiled. “Whatever this exchange really is, it’s distracting me nicely from my worries.”

“But what about your questions? Your fears? You still need to talk to Princess Luna, right?”

“Perhaps, but I can’t make her appear on command. I think…” he paused thoughtfully. “I think she has a hard time connecting with my dreams sometimes. The only time I was able to have a clear conversation with her was when I was in Old Canterlot. She told me she's stronger there.”

“Maybe that’s where you should go, then,” Topaz suggested. Lofty snorted.

“It’s not that easy. There’s only one train line up, and only Knights and squires can ride. Then imagine I get there safely. Then I do… what? Find a nice, cozy spot in the ruins and fall asleep?” He sighed. “It’s not like I haven’t thought about it before. It just doesn’t make any sense. Just like now, I end up talking myself in circles.”

“How badly do you need to speak with her?” Topaz asked. Lofty thought about it for a moment, then shrugged.

“I don’t know. Pretty badly.” He sighed. “I can’t sleep most nights because of worry. Everything is changing. I’m on edge all the time. I can’t even talk about this stuff with the real Topaz, for fear of being overheard.”

“You can talk about it now, though. With me, here, safe in your dream.” Topaz walked up to stand alongside him, pushing her body against his, and wrapping a forehoof around him to pull his head in for a nuzzle. He let himself sink into the comfort of the gesture for a second, burying his nose in her scent. “If you could share all your worries with the real Topaz, what would you say?”

The question made him think. “I don’t know, exactly. I’d probably vent all my worries. I’d talk about the stress of knowing the Mystics could be watching at any moment. I’d talk about my deteriorating relationship with my family. I’d talk about how my faith has more-or-less disappeared in the last few weeks, and I have no idea what to do about it.” His eyes found hers, and he wished he could just stand, silently, staring into them forever. “I’m frightened every day, Topaz.”

“You’re a brave pony, Lofty Tale. You’re clever, and kind. You’ve drawn the favor of the Princess of the Night, and you’ve got a sexy crystal pony falling for your charms.” She giggled at the last. “You can do anything you need to. You can figure out all of this.”

“Flattery? From my own subconscious?” Lofty laughed. Oddly enough, talking to himself this way did actually make him feel better. “This is really one of the most surreal conversations I’ve ever had with myself. I really do have a high opinion of myself.”

“You should,” Topaz said, moving away from him so she could look him in the eye. “You’re an incredible pony. I’m lucky to have met you.”

“I wonder if the real Topaz would feel that way,” Lofty whispered. He couldn’t take his eyes from the dream in front of him. There was something in her expression, in her earnest eyes, the slight flush of her cheeks, the slightest upturn of her lips, that drew him in. “Can I… can I kiss you?”

“You need to ask?” Topaz breathed, and their lips met. It was no chaste peck, but a passionate union of lips and tongue, a desperate, hungry kiss. She moaned in pleasure, making needful little noises that fanned the flames of his passion. His hooves trailed down her body, first to twine in the silken strands of her mane, then further down her back towards her flank.

Suddenly there was a flash of light, and Topaz’ entire body changed, becoming luminescent. Lofty broke their kiss, gaping at her in openmouthed shock. She beamed back at him, her entire body twinkling and shining with crystalline reflections.

“I guess you know why they call us crystal ponies.” She laughed as he stared at her. “Now where were we?” She closed the distance between them again, and their lips met for a second time.

* * * * *

Lofty awoke, uncomfortably unsatisfied. His bedsheets were damp with sweat, and he groaned in frustration. He glanced at the clock sitting on his night stand; it was just after eight in the morning. He still had nearly three hours until his lunch date with Topaz Glitter.

The thought brought a vivid recollection of his dream, and he groaned again as he jerked himself out of bed towards his bathroom. A cold shower was definitely in order before he could do anything else today.

He stepped into the bathroom and turned the faucet on to a frigid blast. He steeled himself before stepping into the bracingly cold shower, though it did provide just the cooling down he had needed after that dream. Idly, he wondered if the real Topaz kissed anything like the dream one. Perhaps he’d be able to find out someday.

A loud knock on his bathroom door interrupted his shower. Shivering, he turned off the water and quickly toweled off before donning his bathrobe. He stepped over to the door and cracked it open.

“Yes?”

“Sorry to interrupt your shower, sir,” came the voice of his butler. “It’s your sister. She’s waiting for you at breakfast, in the dining room.”

“And this morning started so nicely,” he sighed. His butler discreetly said nothing. “Let her know I’ll be there momentarily. I don’t suppose you took note of her mood?”

“I daresay it wasn’t my business, sir,” the butler said, and Lofty sighed again. That meant not good.

“I’ll be down soon.”

Briefly, he considered dallying, just to make Grace upset. It was petty, but most of his interactions with his family were these days. He decided not to, however; if there was going to be some sort of tense negotiation with his sister, he wanted it to at least start out on the right hoof. He quickly got dressed and trotted downstairs to the dining room.

Grace was there already, as was True, strapped into his high chair and making an absolute gleeful mess of his pancakes. Grace had no plate in front of her, instead merely a steaming mug of something and a closed file folder. She glanced up at him as he entered, and Lofty could see that her eyes were puffy from crying. He felt a brief pang of relief that he’d decided against antagonizing her.

“Grace. It’s lovely to see you,” he said politely, and the flash of annoyance in her eyes said she didn’t believe him. True looked up and grinned as his dad, his face sticky with syrup.

“Daddy! Goomornin!” he managed with his mouth full, and Lofty couldn’t help but grin. True pointed at Grace. “Aunty’s here!”

“Yes she is. Have you been a polite host to our guest?” Lofty asked. A puzzled look flashed across his muzzle, and he glanced back and forth between Lofty and Grace.

“He’s been a perfect gentlestallion. Very polite and well behaved,” Grace said softly, reaching out to ruffle True’s mane. Her voice sounded hoarse and tired. Lofty walked over to the table and sat down, on the other side of his son from his sister. It wouldn’t hurt to have a buffer between the two of them, to keep them both polite.

“So, what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?” he asked. Grace cleared her throat awkwardly, and slid the folder over in front of Lofty. He eyed her expectantly, but she simply rested her head in her hooves with exhaustion, staring into the contents of her mug. With a shrug, he flipped open the folder and glanced at the legal document stored inside. Silently, he glanced over the contents, his surprise growing as he read.

“This is…” he looked up in shock. “You’re naming True your heir apparent?”

“I am,” Grace muttered.

“But—“

“I’m barren, Lofty,” she choked out in a whisper. “I can’t have foals.”

Lofty gaped at her. “You’ve been to see a doctor?”

“Four. Four doctors. Telomere gave his diagnosis first.” Telomere was the family doctor. “I fired him, then went to get a second opinion. Then a third. After I got the fourth opinion, I rehired Telomere with an apology.” She gave a bitter laugh. “He forgave me.” She finally looked up at him, over True’s head. “True will lead this family if I retire or die. Most likely, his oldest daughter will be the one to inherit the title.”

Lofty was stunned to silence for a few breaths, staring at his sister, who met his gaze with a tired, broken sort of look.

“Why?”

“I have no other choice,” she hissed. “I’m barren, didn’t you hear?” Her eyes were wet, and flashed with a sudden fierceness. “But I need to warn you, Lofty. True is the future of our family, now. That means you have to take his raising seriously.”

That provoked a spike of irritation from him. “I am,” he said, trying not to snarl at her. Grace scoffed.

“Are you? From what I hear, you’ve been spending your free time with some mystery crystal pony mare from the embassy.” She huffed. “Have you learned nothing from your disgrace?”

“My life is none of your business, Grace,” he spat.

“It is now.” She stood, knocking her chair over with her sudden movement. She was trembling with emotion. “This is your warning, brother. Shape up your behavior, or I’ll take legal action.”

True had paused in his breakfast, looking back and forth between the two adults. It was clear from his look of confusion that he didn’t understand, but he could sense the tension in the room. Lofty took the opportunity to take a slow, calming breath.

Deep down inside, he knew she could do what she was threatening. With Lofty’s disgrace, and True now her heir apparent, Grace could take steps to obtain legal custody from Lofty if he were declared an unfit parent. It would be barely an inconvenience for her. The thought brought a bitter stew of emotions to a boil inside him, from frustrated, bitter rage to cold, churning terror.

“Is that all?” he whispered. Coolly, she nodded. “Then maybe you should say goodbye to your nephew.”

“I have a gift for him, before I go,” she replied. True’s ears perked up at the word “gift”, and Grace managed a thin smile. She reached under the table, where Lofty saw her rummage in a pair of saddlebags he hadn’t noticed before. She withdrew a small box, wrapped in bright green and gold paper. “Here you go, little one. Enjoy the rest of your breakfast.” She set the box before True, then put on her saddlebags and turned to leave.

“You’re not going to stay for him to open it?” Lofty asked, but she shook her head. He shrugged. “Tell your aunty thank you, True.”

“Fanks!” True managed, his earlier concerns forgotten in the face of a mouthful of pancakes and a brightly wrapped present. “Byebye!” he waved a sticky hoof at his aunt, though his eyes never left the box. He glanced up at his father questioningly. Lofty waited until Grace was out of the room before nodding at his son, who clapped his hooves together before snatching the package.

The flimsy wrapping paper was no match for a determined toddler. Lofty couldn’t help but laugh as a green and gold flurry exploded around the colt and his present. Finally, he revealed a blank white box, which he held up questioningly to his father.

“Need some help opening it?” he asked fondly, and True nodded. Carefully, he took the box from him and opened it, only to gasp with surprise.

Smarty Pants was a family heirloom. The doll looked battered, but a powerful and ancient enchantment had kept the stuffed toy intact for generations of Tale foals. It was grey, with one purple button and another blue button as eyes. It had passed from parent to foal through the Tale family longer than the family had recorded.

There was no way True would understand the significance, though Lofty was touched. Grace would never have given True the doll unless she had truly given up all hope of having a foal of her own.

“This is Smarty Pants,” Lofty told his son, who pulled the doll out of the box. It flopped limply in his hooves. “He’s a very special colt. He has an enchantment that protects him from getting torn or dirty. He’s magic.”

“Magic?” True whispered, sounding impressed. He carefully dipped the doll’s hoof in the syrup on his plate, and Lofty had to suppress the urge to stop him. Wonderingly, the foal touched the hoof, which was completely free of sweet goo. “It’s magic!” True crowed with glee, and began dancing Smarty Pants up and down on his breakfast plate. Lofty couldn’t help himself; he burst into laughter at his son’s behavior.

* * * * *

“Really? It repels dirt and grime?” Topaz asked incredulously. The two sat on a picnic blanket in the center of a park in the Everfree District, sharing a light meal prepared by Lofty’s cook. Both ponies watched True bounce about on a nearby playground, stopping every so often to turn and wave brightly at his father.

“You should have seen True. He was making the doll dance up and down in his pancake syrup. It was the cutest thing!” Lofty snickered, and Topaz laughed along. “But no matter how many times it got dipped, the doll was bone dry.”

“I wish I’d been there,” Topaz said. For a moment, Lofty wished she’d been there too, but then remembered that would have meant Topaz meeting Grace. He quickly suppressed a shudder at the thought. “My morning wasn’t nearly as interesting. Well, besides the dream I had.”

Lofty’s heart skipped a beat, forgetting all about his sister. “O-oh? What did you dream about?”

“Not much, really. I was on the most beautiful starlit hill, alongside a devastatingly charming young stallion.” The look in her eyes was utterly cheeky, and he was sure he looked like he’d just been knocked upside the head with a club.

“Really? That… sounds interesting,” he managed. Her grin widened.

“Oh yes. He was dealing with some personal issues, but I’ve always been attracted to stallions who can be honest about their concerns and their problems. And then” — she blushed, deep red over her orange fur — ”and then he kissed me. And it was incredible.”

“Uh… gah…wha?” Lofty was fairly sure his brain was short-circuiting. “How?” Topaz giggled.

“How was it incredible?” Topaz held a melodramatic hoof up to her lips. “You need details? Lofty, I didn’t know you were such a voyeur. But if you insist.”

“That’s not what I…” Lofty squawked. He was brought out of the conversation for a short moment when True let out a cheer of glee as he slid down the playground slide, and it gave him a moment to calm himself. “I meant, how were you in my dream?” he whispered.

“What?” Topaz cooed, mock surprise thick in her voice. “You dreamed of me? Lofty, that’s so sweet!” She leaned in close, her face brushing a hair’s breadth away from his. His heart pounded, and his thoughts were incoherent. As her lips passed his ear, her words were the merest breath. “It’s okay. You don’t need to speak about your dream if you don’t want to, after all. Dreams are private, personal, and intimate.”

Her warm breath tickled his fur and made his ear twitch, and she drew closer to give him a peck on his cheek. He flushed brightly, but somehow was able to catch the hidden implications of her message. They separated, and his eyes found hers. Silently, he nodded, and she grinned.

He felt a sudden rush of relief. He had had many worries the last few days, from the increasingly probing sessions with Sir Tarpit to Grace’s new ultimatums. It was nice to know that one of those worries, finding a way to speak with Topaz without any chance of being overheard, was now gone.

“I am rather interested in continuing my cultural education while we watch your son play, though.” It wasn’t the most graceful of subject changes, but Lofty sensed that it was somehow related. “Specifically, I’d like to learn more about what you know of Saint Rarity.”

She didn’t really want to know about his religion, he was sure. She wanted to know more about what he’d mentioned in his dream. The dream she had somehow been inside. The questions burned in his mind, but he set his curiosity aside for now. Maybe later, there would be a way to ask Topaz about how it all worked. For now, he had to focus on telling her what he knew without revealing anything suspicious to prying ears.

“Unfortunately, there’s not much I can tell you. I only know the most general of Saint Rarity’s teachings, the ones found in the Book of the Saints. You’d really need to speak with a Knight Radiant. Like my friend Emberglow.” He sighed sadly. “She’s been missing in action for weeks now. Some secret mission down in Manehatten that she couldn’t tell me much about.” He could at least let her know where Rarity was found. He saw the glint of understanding in her eyes and she nodded.

“I’ll have to ask her if I ever get to meet her,” Topaz said slowly. Lofty wondered if she could somehow contact Emberglow in her dreams.

“I really wish I knew if she were safe or not,” Lofty said slowly. “It’s hard without any sort of closure.” It was a bit vague for a request for information, but Topaz nodded confidently, and Lofty felt his heart surge with hope. He hadn’t heard a peep from Emberglow after she’d stayed at his manor for a month. Knowing whether she was safe would assuage a worry that had been bugging him for far too long.

“Um, I don’t know much about your faith,” Topaz began, rubbing her hooves together slightly awkwardly. Lofty looked at her curiously. “But I’m sure if you believe, and trust in the Diarchs, everything will be fine? I mean, it may seem like they’re silent sometimes, but they’re always watching, right? That’s… what the Confessors teach?”

It felt like she was trying to subtly say something else, but Lofty wasn’t catching the message. He looked at her, a bit confused.

“Well, yes, I suppose. I do pray to the Saints daily for my friends’ safe return.”

“Can I… join you?” Topaz sounded hesitant, but Lofty didn’t see any reason to say no. “I haven’t seen the inside of a cathedral yet.”

“We could stop by one on the way home,” Lofty said. “There’s one near the park.”

“Okay. That sounds nice.” Topaz sounded nervous, but she shook her head at Lofty’s questioning look. “We can go as soon as True’s done playing.”

“You don’t know my son well, yet,” Lofty laughed. “He’ll never stop. We could watch him forever.”

“I could, really,” Topaz giggled. “He’s too cute.” Currently the colt in question was attempting some feat of engineering in the sandbox that surrounded the playground equipment. His tail lashed about in the air as he dug with his forehooves, spraying sand everywhere.

“A few more minutes couldn’t hurt,” Lofty said indulgently. He took a deep breath, and for the briefest of seconds, he let all of his worries fade away. For a moment, he could pretend that everything was fine. That he had no worries. That the Mystics weren’t trying to make him report on Topaz. That his friend Emberglow wasn’t in danger somewhere. That his faith wasn’t falling apart into shattered pieces all around him.

For that moment, it was just him, his son, and the mare who was very quickly becoming an ever-growing part of his life.

“Daddy!” True called out, waving a hoof from the inside of the hole he’d just dug. It was deep enough that True’s head and shoulders were just barely visible.”Dig’d deep hole!”

“Lofty, he digged deep hole!” Topaz repeated, giggling. Lofty rolled his eyes. “C’mon, let’s go play in the dirt with your son.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Lofty laughed. There was something so effortlessly cheerful about Topaz that made him feel lighter. He felt as if he were drawn to her orbit, helplessly trailing in the wake of her bright personality. He didn’t mind in the slightest. It didn’t hurt that over their last few meetings, she’d developed an easy, friendly report with his son.

True was, in fact, completely filthy. He sprayed sand about as he bounced around the sandbox, digging and building sand piles. Topaz didn’t shy away from the mess for a second, instead diving right in.

“True, that’s a deep hole!” she cooed to the foal. “Can I help?”

“Yes!” True cheered.

“Okay. Should I dig deeper?”

“No!” the foal called brightly.

“Well, what are we building, then?” Topaz asked. True screwed his face up thoughtfully, plopping down into the sand on his rump as he considered.

“Hmm, the foreman has begun construction before the blueprint was completed,” Lofty mused with a smirk.

“Quiet, you,” Topaz scolded. “This is so cute. True, should we build a castle?”

“Yeah!” True clopped his hooves together brightly.

“Okay, well, since you’re so good at digging holes, maybe you should make the moat?” Topaz suggested. “I’ll get to work on the walls.”

“What’s a moat?” True asked, and Topaz immediately went to work showing him how to make a sand moat. The playground sandbox was such a different world from a sophisticated reception ball, and yet Topaz seemed just as comfortable and in her element playing with a foal as she had when he’d first met her.

Watching her interact with his son, Lofty was absolutely enchanted. She brought a warmth to his chest, a glowing light inside that spilled out in the form of a smile that would not leave his lips. He found himself lost in her eyes, the musical sound of her laughter...

He shook his head, suddenly unsettled. The feelings that stirred within him were distressingly familiar, the same feelings that he had felt for Emberglow, all that time ago. This would be no passing infatuation — he had fallen for Topaz utterly and hopelessly. He realized this, understanding it with a certainty that gripped his chest with a sudden fear.

Love was a dangerous thing, and especially so for him. Any pony connected with him would be caught up in the trouble that seemed to float around him constantly. But what could he do? He could hardly try to distance himself; whichever shadowy Knights Mystic Sir Tarpit was in contact with would certainly be upset.

Topaz looked over and seemed to notice something in his expression. There were questions in her eyes, but he shook his head slightly. There was a time and place for discussions such as these, and he certainly didn’t want to speak of what he was thinking about here.

Shrugging, she beckoned him over. “C’mon, Lofty. It’s your job to build the bailey.” He leaned down to start playing in the sand, and Topaz darted over to give him a sudden peck on the cheek. His expression must have been funny, because she laughed.

“What was that for?” he asked.

“You looked upset, like you needed a smile.” She said it matter-of-factly, with a bright smile, and his worries faded a bit. “You okay?”

“I’m fine.” He shook his head, and glanced significantly at True. “Now, Foreman True, how should I build the bailey?”

* * * * *

True was reluctant to leave the masterpiece of toddler architecture he had created in the sandbox, but on the promise of frosty treats, Lofty managed to convince him to head home. The park was busy enough that various food and treat vendors were scattered about, and it was easy enough for Lofty to find an ice cream vendor and pick out a cone for True.

“Now he can be sandy and sticky,” he remarked to Topaz as he gave the vendor a few bits for a foal-sized cone.

“We already know how much he appreciates bafftime,” Topaz commented, and the two adults shared a laugh. They began strolling towards the Everfree Cathedral, Lofty leading the way and Topaz walking beside True.

“This isn’t the cathedral you attend, is it?” she asked, leaning over with one hoof to realign True’s ice cream cone before there could be a tragedy.

“No, not regularly. Each pony is usually assigned a cathedral close to their home, but all are open to anypony who needs to step in for a quiet moment with the Saints. I’ve been to the Everfree building a few times. It’s beautiful, and quite peaceful.”

Most cathedrals towered over the buildings around them, but the Everfree Cathedral instead incorporated itself comfortably into the foliage around it. While all the other cathedrals seemed to have been built to instill awe in its occupants, this one just projected its own brand of quiet wonder. He recalled that this particular cathedral was also Emberglow’s favorite. The three ponies walked inside (taking a brief moment with a handkerchief out of Lofty’s pocket to clean the worst of the ice cream disaster from True’s muzzle).

The green interior of the cathedral was silent and still; there was only one other pony present, kneeling in front of the statue of Saint Rarity. It was an earth pony mare with a red mane, complete with a pink streak, wearing a pale linen dress. Lofty thought she looked vaguely familiar, but she was deep in prayer, and he didn’t want to disturb her.

“So, you can just come in and pray to whichever Saint you want?” Topaz whispered to Lofty. He nodded.

“You sit in the middle if you’re making a general prayer, but most ponies pray to specific Saints.”

“Who do you pray to for your friend?”

“Saint Rarity. Emberglow was a member of her Knight order.” Lofty began making his way towards the statue of Rarity.

Suddenly the praying pony’s ears perked up, and she jerked to her hooves, spinning to face them. The light of recognition suddenly turned on in Lofty’s memory; it was Emberglow’s mother. He’d met her briefly, once, several months ago. Before True’s mother had showed up at his door.

“Did you say Emberglow?” she gasped, rushing over so quickly that Topaz flinched back.

“You’re Needle Point, right?” Lofty said softly, looking around the room. There was nopony else there, but he was still reluctant to make a scene. “I’m a friend. We met once, very briefly. I’m Lofty Tale.”

“Sir Lofty!” Needle Point gasped in recognition.

Lofty shook his head sadly. “Just Lofty, now, ma’am. I’m no longer a Knight.”

“But… um…” Needle Point stammered, glancing about nervously. “How…” She took a deep breath, appearing to collect her thoughts. “Have you… have you had any word? About my daughter?” Her voice broke Lofty’s heart, and her eyes were full of hope and bitter tears. She reached out, desperately grasping him about the shoulders.

“I… um, I’m so sorry.” Guilt burned in his chest, and the lie stuck in his throat. He did have word. But there was no way he could tell Emberglow’s mother. “No, I don’t have any word.”

“No…” Needle Point whispered. “No, it can’t be…”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Needle Point. I wish there was something I could tell you,” Lofty whispered.

Needle Point sighed, letting out a sob. “I’m sorry.” She sniffled. “I didn’t mean to pounce on you like that. I’m just so…” She waved a hoof, trailing off sadly.

“I understand. She was a dear friend to me, ma’am.” He gestured at True and Topaz. “We were just coming to pray for her safety.”

“You were?” Needle Point blinked, and with a blush of embarrassment, reached into a pocket in her dress to pull out a handkerchief. She dabbed at her eyes. “That’s so kind of you, Lofty. Um…”

“I’d like to introduce you to Ambassador Topaz Glitter of the Northern Empire, and to my son, True Tale. We were just on our way home from the playground, and I wanted to stop in and say something for Emberglow.”

“I had icecream!” True chimed in, having no sense of the room’s mood. Needle Point gave a startled laugh, and leaned down so she was eye level with the colt.

“Ice cream? Well, you deserve it, young colt. Such a thoughtful foal, to come with your daddy to pray for my daughter.”

“He’s a good boy,” Lofty patted his son on the head, who was beaming. Lofty was sure True had no idea why he was being complimented, but True clearly didn’t mind the positive attention.

“Thank you too, Miss… Glitter,” Needle Point said, much more cautiously, to Topaz. Topaz curtsied gracefully. “My daughter Emberglow was squiring for the Knight who was working on opening relations between your country and ours. If she were here now, she’d be delighted to meet you.”

“She was the squire for Ambassador Turquoise?” Topaz asked. “I never met the ambassador. We both left for our respective posts at around the same time. I’ve heard positive things, though.”

“She is a kind soul. The perfect mentor for my Emberglow.” Needle Point sighed. “It’s kind of you to come as well,” she said. “Even if you don’t share our faith.” She sounded deeply uncomfortable at the end.

“No matter what my faith is, I can still hope for a happy resolution for your daughter,” Topaz said kindly, and a bit of the discomfort faded from Needle Point’s face.

“Thank you,” Needle Point said, bowing awkwardly. “Thank you both. I… I should go. I’m sorry I’ve been taking your time. I should leave you to your own prayers.” She took a step towards the exit, but hesitated. “Emberglow spoke of you, a few times, Lofty. I… I don’t know what happened, to make you leave the Knighthood, but I don’t care. You can come by our shop any time, and find welcome.”

“Thank you.” Lofty felt a lump in his throat. Her offer was so genuine, so honest, and he hadn’t been. He couldn’t be. But there was something about the complete and utter lack of judgement in her offer that touched him deeply. “I’ll stop by sometime.”

“You do that,” Needle Point said firmly, and Lofty grinned at the motherly command. “I’ll get out of your manes, then. Saints bless you all.”

With a wave, Needle Point left them alone in the small cathedral. Topaz’ eyes never left Lofty’s. They were full of concern.

“That was hard for you,” she whispered, and Lofty nodded.

“C’mon. Let’s go pray.” He didn’t want to speak about it. At least not right now. He led True and Topaz up to the statue of Saint Rarity.

“So what do I say?” Topaz whispered.

Lofty glanced at her in surprise. “You’ve never prayed before?” It seemed alien to him; prayer was something he’d been doing his entire life, and yet it was a brand new experience for her.

It made him wonder; she didn’t believe any of this. He didn’t even think he did, not any longer. Why was she even going through the motions?

“Never.”

“We believe that the Saints can respond to our earnest requests, if it is their will,” Lofty said, then he turned towards the statue of Saint Rarity. “Saint Rarity, your children need your help. We are heartsick with worry about your child, Lady Emberglow. We don’t know where she is, or what she’s going through. Can you keep her safe? Keep her from harm, if it is your will. All Saints keep us.”

“Um, Saint Rarity?” Topaz prayed awkwardly. “I don’t know if you’re listening. I haven’t even met Emberglow. But whatever she’s doing, she needs your help. Could you keep her safe, please?” She glanced at Lofty, who nodded.

“Just like that,” Lofty said. He honestly couldn’t put his conflicted thoughts into words. On the one hand, prayer had always been a comfort to him. But what did it matter now, given what he knew about the real Rarity? “True, would you like to pray?”

True toddled up to the statue.

“Saints keep us,” he mumbled reverently, his young gaze on the tall stone figures above him. Lofty suddenly felt another pang of uncertainty; what was he now going to teach his son? A belief system that he knew was a lie? But if he didn’t, True would never be safe.

Lofty had never considered himself the most faithful of ponies, but leaving a cathedral after an earnest prayer had always lifted his spirits and calmed his worries. Now, he simply felt unsettled. There was a gap in his soul, a vast chasm, and Lofty was terrified it would never be filled.

* * * * *

“Same hill, huh?”

Lofty was dreaming again. He hadn’t even realized he’d been dreaming, and that his dream had created the same starry hill, until he heard Topaz’ voice.

“I guess it is,” he said, turning to face her. She was once again unclad, except for the same jewelry she had worn last time. Rather than making him nervous, though, it filled him with desire and anticipation. She noticed his appreciative look and glowed under his attention. He smirked slyly. “Sorry, would you prefer somewhere more comfortable?”

“Lofty!” She rose a hoof to her mouth dramatically. “Did you just invite me to your bedroom? How scandalous!”

“That would indeed get me in trouble,” Lofty noted. “If we were in fact going to my actual room.” He made a dramatic flourish with his hoof, and suddenly the scenery changed to Lofty’s bedroom. Topaz gave a yelp of surprise, and for an instant Lofty was worried he’d overstepped, until Topaz started laughing.

“Oh dear,” she giggled. “You might be moving a little quickly, colt.” Lofty smiled back, and with a shrug, returned the dream to the hill they’d started on. Topaz glanced around, then stepped in close to him. “Not that I mind, really, but we do have business to talk about.”

“Yes,” he said, putting his libido on hold in favor of his curiosity. “I want to know about this.” He gestured at her. “How do you do this?”

“You mean dream walking?” she said. “Honestly, I don’t have a lot of answers for you, Lofty. I know so little myself, and most of what I do know is second- or third-hoof. Princess Luna was the greatest dream walker of all time, and I’ve only dreamed about her once.”

“Only once? How did you learn, then?”

“According to…” She paused, eyeing him carefully. “According to my mentor, it’s something you have to be born to. It may have something to do with—“ She came to a very sudden halt, and her eyes searched his.

“What is it?” he asked, suddenly nervous.

“I—“ She glanced up at the stars. “I want to hear about her. Tell me about Luna.”

So he did. He told her about the first dream he’d had, right after Emberglow’s rejection. He told her about his dreams in Old Canterlot, and the nighttime venture that led him and Emberglow into the ruined city, and the skeletal pony they found. Topaz gasped when he spoke about it, but waited patiently as he told the rest of the story.

“I’ve dreamed about her after Old Canterlot, but nothing substantive,” he admitted. “No real conversations, just impressions.” He paused. “I dreamed of her once after I took in True. I felt bolstered. As if she were silently approving of me, and my son.”

When he finished speaking, Topaz was clearly itching to ask questions, practically vibrating with excitement.

“Can I ask questions now?” she asked with an excited grin, and Lofty nodded. “Okay. Wow. Sorry, I know I was being cagey earlier. It’s hard to know who I can trust. But wow. You’ve met Starlight Glimmer.”

“Starlight Glimmer?”

“It’s the only explanation for the pony you met.” Topaz nodded confidently. “Empress Cadence tasked me with finding her, if I could.”

“E-empress Cadence?” Lofty felt like he was flailing about. Topaz gave him an apologetic look, patting him on the shoulder.

“Sorry. I’ll go back to fill in the gaps. It’s my turn for a story.” She paused, and her smile brightened. “Or... maybe I could show you!”

“Show me?” Lofty still felt lost.

“Close your eyes, Lofty,” Topaz said, reaching out and taking his hoof. He complied warily, though he did like the warmth he felt from her touch, even in his dream. A second later, he felt her lips on his, and he jerked his eyes open in shock.

“Sorry,” she giggled. “Couldn’t help myself. Now really, close your eyes, and try to clear your mind of all thoughts except me. I’m going to try to bring you into my dream, rather than me visiting yours.”

“So just stand here, and fantasize about the sexy mare that keeps kissing me?” Lofty teased, and when Topaz laughed back he felt her breath, warm on his neck and ear. “That sounds super easy and fun.”

A hoof draped around his shoulders, and he felt something change around him. There was a dizzying sensation, as if the entire world had dropped out from underneath him for a second. He stumbled, but before he could take stock of the sensation, he felt solid ground beneath his hooves. It wasn’t the grassy earth of before, but instead felt like... carpet?

“Open your eyes, lovercolt,” Topaz’s voice said. “Welcome to the Crystal Palace. Well, the one in my dreams, at least.”

He did as she asked, and gasped at the beauty that surrounded him. The walls were made of crystal, luminescent indigo and violet and blue. The floor was a perfectly kept carpet. To the left and right were a pair of shrines, with busts of unicorns. One was familiar; Lofty realized he was looking at the true, unicorn form of Twilight Sparkle. The other was a unicorn he didn’t recognize, a stallion with a small smile. The walls around the shrines were covered with crayon drawings, most of which depicted a pink mare with wings and a horn.

The room’s centerpiece was the mare from the pictures. To Lofty, the mare looked drained. Dark bags of exhaustion sat underneath each closed eyelid, and he thought he could see the outline of her ribcage. Her forehooves rested upon a device of some sort. It looked like a heart made of crystal, resting in a framework that seemed to be made of solidified yellowish green amber. A pair of cloth straps held the mare’s hooves to the device, though it didn’t look like she was held against her will.

“So this is a memory,” Topaz said warningly. “But memories in dreams aren’t perfect. You’ll be seeing this from my recollections, but it will be tainted by my perceptions, my biases, and my own hindsight.” She smirked. “Please hold all your questions until the end of the lecture.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Lofty mock-saluted, and Topaz giggled silently as she walked over to the mare on the pillows. There was a sudden shift in the dream, a sort of jerking twist, and Topaz was ignoring him, as if he weren’t even there. He suddenly felt out of place, like he was intruding in something private, and he had to remind himself that she had invited him here.

“Good to see you again, Topaz,” the winged unicorn mare rasped. Topaz bowed low, and the mare laughed. “None of that. Did you bring what I asked?”

“Yeah,” Topaz said, after nuzzling the mare familiarly. Lofty suddenly realized she was wearing saddlebags. She hadn’t been before. She set her saddlebags down, pulling out a half-dozen glass bottles in a cardboard case. “Escher wouldn’t let me pass without searching my bags. He didn’t believe that you’d asked me to bring you something until I showed him the note from Princess Flurry.”

“Escher sounds like a dutiful guard,” the mare said. “Next time, invite him in with you.”

“That would blow his mind,” Topaz burst into laughter. “‘Hey, Escher, the Sovereign Goddess of the Crystal Empire wants to share a beer with you. Wanna go AWOL from your duty so you can get smashed with the Empress?’” She pulled a bottle opener out of the saddlebags and popped one of the bottles open, passing it over to the Empress before opening one for herself. “So what’s the story here? Why beer?”

“Shiny and I used to disguise ourselves and sneak out into the city and go bar hopping,” the Empress said, raising her bottle in salute to the bust of the male unicorn before taking a sip. “Neither one of us was born to nobility. We both appreciated the more” — she laughed — “low brow pleasures, like cold, cheap beer.” She paused, her gaze unfocused. “It’s been centuries since I could just sit down with somepony and have a real conversation. Or share friendship over a cold drink.” She glanced at the bottle, her snout twisting just slightly as she read the label. “Imperial pale ale? Hmm. I thought you’d be more of a lager mare.”

“Who, me?” Topaz shrugged, taking a sip of her own. “Nah. IPA’s are fine, though I usually prefer wine. Or hard cider.”

“I wish you could have tasted Sweet Apple Acres cider,” the Empress sighed. “It was never the same after Big Mac and Applejack passed.” She raised her bottle in another salute.

Lofty watched the scene unfold with a sort of bizarre detachment. On the one hand, it was completely surreal to watch Topaz share a casual drink with an alicorn, a creature that defied belief. On the other hand, it made the mysterious Empress seem completely and utterly real.

“Do you want to talk about them?” Topaz asked carefully. “I-I mean, I know you don’t get to talk to ponies much. Or at all, really.” The Empress shook her head.

“No. Not now, Topaz. You’re sweet to offer, and I’ll probably take you up on that someday.” The Empress’ eyes twinkled with amusement. “You’re awfully bold for a therapist who’s still got wet ink on her diploma. Trying to get your Empress to open up?”

“N-no! I mean, if you want to, I-I…” Topaz’s voice twisted with panic. “I’d never p-presume…”

“Relax, Topaz. I’m only teasing you.” The Empress reached out and patted Topaz with a hoof. “I would love to tell you all about my friends someday, but we have limited time. I wanted to ask about your dream walking.”

“I’m sorry.” Topaz’ head sunk in shame. “I don’t… I can’t do any more than lucid dreaming yet. Are you sure I can do what… what you say I can?”

“How often do you lucid dream?” the Empress insisted, ignoring Topaz’ question.

“Um, every night, now,” Topaz said.

“Then you’re progressing nicely. Much more quickly than Auntie Luna. She once told me it took three decades of practice before she could consistently control her own dreams every night.”

“You’re just saying that to make me feel better.” Topaz blushed.

“Not at all. I’ll be expecting to speak with you in my own dreams, soon enough.” She took a long pull from her bottle, giving out a satisfied sigh afterwards. Once again, Lofty was struck by just how normal and down-to-earth the Empress seemed. “I wish I could help you more. I was never born with the talent.”

“Can I ask you something?” Topaz sounded worried. The Empress nodded. “Why are we pushing so fast?”

“Because dreams will be the only way we can communicate, when you’re down south in the Diarchy.” The Empress was matter-of-fact, but Lofty saw Topaz’ jaw drop.

“Down… but how… I’m not planning on…”

“Please, Topaz. I need you to go. You need to be my eyes and hooves down south.” The Empress was pleading, her rough voice earnest. “Even if I were to stop powering the Apparatus, and brought the shield down, I still would not be able to go myself. It’s not my destiny to help save the world, it’s yours.”

“You mean, because of the Element of Harmony I bear?” Topaz asked, and Lofty gasped. Element of Harmony? Topaz had an Element of Harmony? Now he understood why she’d told him to hold his questions until the end.

“There will be five others. You’ll need to find them, to connect with them. If you can reach out and touch their dreams, it will be easier. If you can reach out to mine, we’ll be able to stay in touch.”

I need to find them?” Topaz’s voice was sinking. “Empress Cadence, I’m no leader.”

“Perhaps I misspoke,” the Empress said thoughtfully. “It will not be your destiny to gather the Elements and their bearers, but you do need to connect with them. I don’t know for sure, but I think they’ll be having their own adventures, and their own trials. But with your inborn talent for walking dreams, you’ll be the connection that binds them all together, even though they may be separated by physical distance. Don’t worry, you won’t have to lead them; that role goes to the Element of Magic.”

“Do you know who that will be?” Topaz asked, but the Empress shook her head.

“I don’t have any idea, really,” she said. “It doesn’t matter, though. Whoever it is will fulfill their destiny, I’m sure. But that’s not the only thing I need you to take care of down south.”

The Empress’ tired gaze drifted slowly to the other shrine in the room, the bust of Twilight Sparkle. Her voice grew soft and distant, and Lofty wanted to reach out and comfort her.

“There is so much wrong down south that it would be impossible to fix everything,” she said. “Trying to change their society would be like treating symptoms, while leaving the disease unchecked. Your destiny will be to cure the disease, but at the same time, there’s at least some wrongs you could right, if you try.”

“Anything for you, Empress,” Topaz said reverently, and the Empress beamed.

“There is a mare. Her name was Starlight Glimmer, and she was a friend. One of the last things Twilight asked me to do was to try and find her, and help her.”

“Empress, that was hundreds of years ago, right?” Topaz sounded confused. “Wouldn’t anypony alive back then be, um, dead?”

“I was alive back then, young mare,” the Empress said chidingly. “So was Princess Flurry.”

“So this Starlight Glimmer is an alicorn?”

“No,” the Empress said, her ears drooping slightly as she looked away. “She took a different path to immortality. Dark magic, though I’m sure she would regret it now, if she even remembered.”

“What do you mean?” Topaz asked, but Lofty found himself nodding along. This was starting to sound like the creature he’d met in Old Canterlot.

“It was a forbidden spell. Wicked, twisted magic that allowed a pony to live far beyond their own lifespan, powered by the pain and loss of other ponies. Only Starlight Glimmer was too good, too kind, to pay the price with the pain of others. She decided to use her own, and modified the spell so that she could pay with her own memories.”

“Her own memories?” Topaz recoiled. “What does that mean?”

“It’s exactly what it sounds like,” the Empress said. “Every time she cast the spell, she gave up memories. Sometimes hours of memory, sometimes even days or years. In the end, she got what she felt like she needed; an eternity alive, at the expense of nearly every memory she held. Every friendship, every happy moment, every good time gone.” She took a long drink from her bottle, tipping it far back to get the last few drops before gesturing for another.

“Why did she do it?” Topaz asked breathlessly as she hurriedly opened a second bottle for the Empress.

“Guilt. Twilight asked her to go to Manehatten, to observe an experiment at the university there. She was sick with the flu, so she asked Rarity to go in her place. There was an explosion, and Rarity was lost.

“Starlight blamed herself. For decades, she dedicated herself to trying to find Rarity. She was convinced Rarity was still alive, somewhere. Her friendships fell apart, her health, I think even her sanity. She even created a bit of sentient dream magic, a ‘tantabus’, to torture herself in her own dreams. Finally Twilight found out about the memory spell and the tantabus. She and Starlight fought, bitterly, and Twilight banished her from Ponyville. It was the last time they ever spoke. Twilight regretted it instantly. It was one of the last things Twilight asked of me, to try and find Starlight and apologize. Maybe even help her, however I can.” Lofty could see the twinkle of unshed tears in the Empress’ eyes.

“But then everything else happened. The Empire declared independence from the Diarchy, and the shield went up. I couldn’t do anything.” Topaz reached out tentatively to the Empress, and was pulled into a tight embrace. “I have many regrets over my many long years, but this one eats at me, Topaz.”

“What do you need me to do?” Topaz said. Lofty could see the love and affection in Topaz’ eyes. “Where can I find this Starlight Glimmer?”

“I think she’s down south. I’ve instructed Flurry to ask our intelligence agents to look out for her.” The Empress sighed. “She’ll be hidden, but you’ll know her when you see her. No pony body, besides an alicorn one, was designed to live this long. She’ll be nothing more than bones and magic, held together by an iron-strong willpower and crushing guilt. She’ll be lingering in places connected to Rarity.

“It has to be you, Topaz. Your talent for walking dreams will allow you to enter her dreaming mind and exorcise the foul creature she created to scourge herself. You will be able to bring laughter to Starlight Glimmer.”

The voices of Topaz and the Empress began to fade. The entire room was growing hazy, and suddenly the dream Topaz stood up, and trotted over to Lofty as her bottle disappeared into mist. The expression on her face was nervous, perhaps even a bit frightened as she approached.

“Please tell me I didn’t just mess something up,” Topaz breathed. “Please tell me I can trust you, that I didn’t just share some of my deepest secrets with a pony that’s going to turn me over to the nearest inquisitor.” Lofty smiled at her. His thoughts were churning, his brain was overflowing with thoughts and ideas, but he simply reached out and took hold of her shoulders, pulling their faces close.

“Not only are your secrets safe with me, Topaz,” he said, excitement growing in his chest. “I think I can help you fulfill your mission. I can take you to Starlight Glimmer.”

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