Nightmare's Heir

by johnnycajxrt

First published 8th of August, 2013

A jilted prince comes back to Equestria after his banishment to try and finish the work he started.

A prince that nopony knew existed, banished for his crimes against the crown long ago, is able to find a way back to Equestria. What follows is a tale of lies, deception, and murder, and that's just the beginning.

This evil prince finds out just what awaits him due to his brash, unthinking ways.

Big thanks goes to Soson-Sensei for the cover art.

Special thanks to my favorite Brony author Tweak aka Jake the Army Guy for allowing me to use his OC, Agent Bentgrass.

From Earth, Back to Equestria

Brooding, anger, a thirst for revenge against my aunt for what she did to me so long ago. For nearly 50 years I have been trapped in this horrid place called Earth, waiting for the chance to take my revenge.

I haven’t introduced myself, I apologize. My name is Prince Francois of Equestria; Cousin to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Prince Blueblood, Nephew of Princess Celestia, and Son of Princess Luna. 50 years ago, I attempted a coup of my Aunt’s kingdom and nearly succeeded, but I was defeated and instead of banished to the moon like my mother, I was sent to this horrid place called “Earth” and transformed into a human.

One bright sunny day, I was outside one of my homes, tending my small garden, when I heard as much as felt a loud boom echoing in the sky. I looked up and saw something flying right towards my home, making a rainbow trail in the sky behind it. I had barely enough time to get clear before whatever it was collided with the house. When it hit, I was thrown into a ditch and had the breath knocked out of me.

As I crawled out of the ditch, gasping for air, I saw something that begged the question of whether or not I hit my head Sitting in the wreckage of what was formerly my house, was a cyan pegasus mare.

I shook my head and rubbed my eyes, trying to convince myself that what I was seeing wasn’t real, but I knew deep down that it had happened. After all this time, another pony had either been banished, or had found some kind of magic that sent her to Earth. What happened next though made me just about pass out in shock.

The pegasus turned around toward the forest that surrounded what used to be my house and said, “You okay princess? I guess it’s pretty lucky I was in the area when that spell went wrong.”

To which a voice I hadn’t heard in many years respond, “Yes Rainbow, I’m fine, I landed in something soft,” When I heard that voice, I fell to my knees, unable to speak, it was the voice of my mother, Princess Luna.

“Are you okay Rainbow? I see you hit something not so soft, and completely obliterated it,” My mother said as she stepped into view.

To which the pegasus replied, “Nah, I’m fine, this happens to me all the time. Where are we anyway?”

“I’m not sure, but I don’t think we’re in Equestria anymore.”

Finally able to speak, I stood up and asked, “Mother? Is that really you?”

Visibly surprised, both ponies looked over at me, “You talkin’ to me?” asked the one called Rainbow.

“No Rainbow Dash, he’s speaking to me,” Said my mother. “Francois? Is that you? I’d heard you’d been banished, but I never thought I’d see you like this.”

“Yes mother, it’s me, Francois,” I said, going on to explain what had happened to me when I attempted my coup. “What happened to you two anyway?” I inquired as I finished recanting my story.

“It was my fault, I had been experimenting with a spell to make the stars shine brighter so the ponies at night could see better. I had the gist of it, but when I tried it full scale, it backfired on me. Rainbow Dash here was in the area and flew as fast as she could to get me out of the way of the backfiring spell, but we were both caught in it and were sent here,” My mother explained.

I turned and looked at Rainbow, who was standing behind my mother, “Hello Rainbow Dash, my name is Prince Francois of Equestria, I thank you for what you did in trying to rescue my mother. It’s nice to meet you,” I said as I offered my hand to her. She backed away and gave me a strange look.

“Did I hear you right? Because it sounded like you said you attempted to overthrow Princess Celestia 50 years ago. She hasn’t told us anything about it,” Rainbow Dash said, with what sounded like contempt.

I regarded the mare for a second, then said, “Yes, you heard right, my attempted coup, the elements being used to send me here, all of it. Though I am surprised that nopony realized I was gone. I was a popular figure, and a skilled negotiator, especially when it came to foreign diplomats.”

“The Elements of Harmony? I have one of those, I represent the element of Loyalty and my five friends have the other elements,” she said with what seemed like smugness.

“Do you think that Princess Celestia will allow you back, even if you do find a way?”

I decided to use my negotiating skills to embellish on why I wanted to go back, “Yes, because I have seen the error of my ways and I wish to make amends to my aunt and cousins for what I did. I do believe that with you two being sent here via my mother’s magic, I now have a way to return to Equestria.”

“How?” Rainbow Dash asked

“Isn’t it obvious Rainbow?” mother asked.

“Not really,” she replied

“All mother has to do is perform that spell again, and when it backfires, we stand in the ‘blast zone’ as it were, and voila, we’re back in Equestria,” I explained to the confused-looking pegasus.

“I’m not sure I can do that spell again so soon, it took a lot out of me. Plus, it’s the middle of the afternoon, this spell is meant to be used at night to help brighten the night sky,” My mother explained.

“I understand, I just wish that Rainbow hadn’t crashed into my house, now the only place I have where we could stay is across town,” I said. “On top of that, there’s too much of a risk of you two being seen, either flying or on foot, to get over there right now,” I continued.

“We also need to get away from this area because I know the police and news crews are already on their way to see what caused that loud boom, and they saw where that rainbow trail hit. The way I see it, we have two options: One, we go deeper into the woods and lay low there until nightfall, but I know that would only exhaust you and keep you from getting the rest you need. Or, we hide in the woods until the news crews and police get here, and Rainbow here does another rainbow trail thingy-”

“Sonic Rainboom,” Rainbow interrupted.

“Sonic Rainboom, of course, which will lead the police and news crew away to a park that’s about 2 miles away, and while they’re on their way to the park, you and I sneak off to my other place and hide there,” I said, turning to the pegasus, “Rainbow, as fast as you are, you should be able to easily get away from the park before anyone else shows up right?”

“No problem,” the cocky mare said with a smile. “Just tell me, where is the park and your place?”

“Sure, the park is about 2 miles west of here, just fly that way,” I pointed, “And you’ll see a big sandbox and some other miscellaneous playground equipment, after you do your Sonic Rainboom, head away from the setting sun, you’ll see a bunch of houses with wheels, my place is the blue one with a Fleur De Lis on top of it, you can’t miss it. A Fleur De Lis looks like this,” I said as I drew a rough equivalent of one in the dirt with a stick.

“Alright then, gotta dash!” The young mare said as she flew away towards the park. As she flew off, my mother and I waved.

“Mother, it’s so good to see you again, I only wish I could have been in Equestria to see you back,” I finally said.

“Francois, if you had been in Equestria to see me, that would mean you would’ve succeeded in your plan to seize control, and I would still be the evil Nightmare Moon,” My mother replied.

“Good point mom, I do have a question though.”

“What is it my son?”

“It’s been 50 years for me, how long has it been in Equestria?”

“According to Celestia, 200 years.”

My mouth dropped open in surprise, I couldn’t believe what I had just heard. “Wh-What all have I missed?”

“I escaped from the moon as the prophecy foretold,” She started, going on to tell me about how the evil in her had been wiped out by the Elements, about Rainbow’s friends wrecking the Grand Galloping Gala, and how Discord had returned, but thanks to Rainbow and her friends, had turned him back to stone.

“Anything else of note?” I asked.

“A few,” She said, going on to tell me about Mi Amore Cadenza’s wedding and how Celestia had been incapacitated by the changeling queen.

“Wow, Princess Celestia was beaten by the changeling queen? The love that she must have been feeding on must have been great indeed.”

“Yes, for it was the love of Shining Armor that she was feeding on, she was posing as Princess Mi Amore Cadenza”

I stood, amazed at everything that I had missed in the 200 years that I had been banished, when suddenly, we heard the raging explosion that could only have meant that Rainbow had completed her task.

I was snapped out of my stunned silence when I saw the large rainbow spreading. Quickly, I got on my mother’s back and she took off towards my trailer home.

Luckily, there weren’t any neighbors around when my mother and I landed. A few minutes passed before we saw a streak of cyan and then stepped back as Rainbow Dash landed in front of us.

“Hey guys, I see you got here alright.”

“Yeah,” I said, “nice job with the rainbow too. Did you have any trouble finding us here?”

“No, there aren’t a lot of blue buildings, and that drawing you showed me helped me easily find this one.”

“If you two are done, let’s get inside before anypony sees us,” my mother cut in.

“Good idea mom, let’s go in and I’ll see if I can get something to eat for us.”

We went inside (mother almost hitting her head on the top of the doorframe) and both of the ponies had to fold up their wings so they didn’t knock anything over. Mother went and sat on the sofa while Rainbow Dash went and sat down on the recliner. I went into the kitchen to look around for something that the two ponies could eat, but came up empty except for an old bag of baby carrots and some milk that had turned into yogurt. I silently cursed myself for not keeping this place well maintained as far as provisions went, but it couldn’t be helped because I hadn’t planned on coming to live here for a while. I decided to see if the two mares would be alright staying by themselves for a bit, while I went to grab some food for us.

“Mother, Rainbow Dash,” I called out to them.

“Yes?” Mother replied.

“Would you two be alright if I ran to grab something to eat for us? I’d be gone about an hour, but it’d probably help you get your strength back sooner,” I said to them.

“Okay, Francois, but come right back,” Mother said.

“Will do, mom, what would you guys like to eat?”

“Hay fries, extra crispy!” Rainbow said eagerly.

“Fries do exist here, but they’re made out of potatoes, not hay. Would those be alright Rainbow?”

“Yeah, they’ll work, as long as they’re extra crispy,” She said, mouth already watering. I chuckled to myself.

“I’ll have whatever you’ll bring, because I know it’ll be delicious,” Mother said with a smile, causing me to blush.

“Alright, I’ll head to the store and grab something that I can make that we all can eat,” I said, grabbing my keys and wallet.

As I walked down the road to the local supermarket, I couldn’t help but feel somewhat annoyed at Rainbow Dash for the way she acted toward me, especially in front of mother. To speak to me in such a disrespectful manner when I was perfectly nice and cordial towards her. It had me wondering if I had her trust or not.

I walked through the supermarket, drawing the occasional second look, I didn’t live in a very big town, and I lived alone and didn’t go out much, so it was always “newsworthy” when I went somewhere. I bought fries for Rainbow, as well as some food for myself and Mother.

I walked into the trailer with the food and got to cooking. I cooked a few of the fries and gave them to Rainbow to see if she liked them, she said that they weren’t as good as hay fries, but they’d work. I cooked up the rest of the bag of fries, as well as fixing up a nice vegetable dish for Mother and I.

After finishing our food, we hung around and passed the time talking, Rainbow doing most of it, bragging about how she was going to join the Wonderbolts one day. Mother mostly stayed silent, and more than once I caught her just staring at me, as if she could never see me enough.

Around midnight, mother said she was feeling up to trying the spell again. I didn’t want my only other place destroyed in case the spell went awry, so we went about a mile away to a clearing in the woods.

“Alright mother, let’s see what happens,” I said hopefully.

Her horn started to glow as the magic began to build. Slowly but surely, the glowing moved through her body and covered her from head to tail. The sky started turning brighter and brighter, then went pitch black, with even the moon and stars blocked out by whatever magic mother was conjuring. Suddenly, lightning bolts started shooting down, striking very close to us, I then looked and saw that all three of us were surrounded in the same aura that had surrounded my mother. There was a white flash, and we were suddenly flying through a pitch black tunnel. I felt my mother and Rainbow Dash on either side of me, and then I looked forward and saw a small light. We were moving towards it, and finally, there was another bright white flash, and we all landed on hard masonry.

I laid there for a minute before deciding I was okay, and then I slowly opened my eyes and saw something I hadn’t seen in 200 Equestrian years - Canterlot Castle. Mother had done it, we were all back in Equestria.

Back in Canterlot Castle

I heard hoof steps running towards the balcony we landed on, then the door burst open, and there stood, with a worried look on her face, my aunt, the ruler of Equestria, Princess Celestia.

“Luna? Rainbow Dash? What happened to you?” she asked frantically. She then looked over and saw me, she did a double take before getting an extremely angry look on her face. “LUNA! WHY IS HE HERE? DID I NOT TELL YOU WHAT HE DID?! HOW DID YOU GET HIM HERE ANYWAY?!”

“Sister, please forgive me, I was trying a new spell for the ponies at night to see better…” she recanted the whole story about how she had been sent to Earth, how she and Rainbow Dash had landed on my house, and how we had gotten back. Celestia didn’t really seem interested, she just kept glaring at me.

“Please aunt Celestia, I implore you to forgive me for what I did all those years ago, I have spent the past 200 years regretting what I did to you and the other ponies of Equestria” I said as my mother finished her story. My aunt glowered at me, obviously still angry that I had found my way back before she decided it was time.

“Rainbow Dash, what do you think?” Celestia asked, turning towards her.

“Honestly, Princess, I don’t have any opinion on the matter. You could send him back, keep him here, execute him, whatever you want to do, it doesn’t matter to me,” she said.

When she said that, my heart sank, for I knew what was going to happen. Celestia was going to either send me back, or imprison me in the castle so she could keep a closer eye on me. I fell to my knees as tears began to fall out of my eyes.

I felt something warm falling onto my shoulder. I looked up and saw that mother was crying as well.

“Prince Francois, get up, you look pitiful.” I heard my aunt say.

“No, whatever horrendous thing you’re going to do to me, do it here, on this balcony in front of my mother,” I said, not looking up.

“Sister, please, I beg you, forgive him and let him come back to where he truly belongs,” Mother said pleadingly

“Luna, if you wish to help his case, you will stop talking now. He did what he did while I was ruling Equestria alone, so I alone will decide his fate,” Celestia replied harshly.

“You watch your tone with her, Celestia!” I said, jumping to my feet and glaring daggers at my aunt. “I may be a human right now, and you may be able to send me back, but that doesn’t mean I won’t fight for my mother!”

Celestia seemed surprised at my outburst, and then, for some reason, smiled.

“I see that you have changed, Francois. The prince I remember cared for nopony but himself and his own ambitions. It seems that your time alone on Earth really has made you regret what you did.”

“There’s a lot that you don’t know about me Celestia. Do what you’re going to do with me, I don’t care anymore.” I said flatly

Celestia turned around and started walking back into the castle, “Come inside and come to the throne room,” She said as she crossed the threshold.

I didn’t know what she had planned for me, but I followed her inside and into the throne room anyway. She walked up the stairs to her throne and turned around to speak to me.

“Prince Francois of Equestria, I hereby revoke your sentence of banishment and allow you to return to Equestria to live amongst the ponies you belong with. Take heed, though, for if you waste this chance, I will not be so lenient, you will be banished to a place that only I have knowledge of, and I will make sure that your mother will not be able to follow you. Do I make myself clear?”

I couldn’t believe what I had just heard, I was going to be changed back into the pony I was born to be.

Celestia’s horn began glowing bright yellow, it then shot a bright, concentrated burst of energy that surrounded me, lifting me into the air. As the energy spun faster and faster, I could feel myself being changed back into the Unicorn I once was. I landed on the soft carpet and look a good look at myself in the reflection of a nearby window. I was exactly how I looked 200 years previous when I almost accomplished what I had been dreaming of doing. My midnight blue coat, my coal black mane with a small red highlight, cut very short, my long black and grey tail, my grey-blue eyes, and finally, my gold Fleur De Lis cutie mark.

“Thank you Celestia, and I promise, I shall not do anything to try and usurp the throne again,” I said to my aunt, but secretly I thought, at least not until I get re-used to this pony body and able to perform greater magic than before.

“You have missed much in the time you have been gone. Go and see the rest of your family, as well as your new family members, Shining Armor and Dusk Shine.” My mother said warmly.

“Dusk Shine?” I asked, confused.

“Mi Amore Cadenza and Shining Armor’s new foal. She looks like her mother, but has her father’s mane, tail, and eye color.”

“How long ago was she born?”

“About 3 months ago, luckily, she hasn’t shown any major magic outbursts, but we have heard a few loud bangs and things breaking, but no worse than when you were a colt,” she said with a hint of nostalgia.

“I think I will go and see them. Mother, will you show me where their respective rooms are?”

“Of course I will, my son. Follow me, and I’ll show you to Blueblood’s quarters.”

As we walked out of the throne room, I stopped and noticed the new stained glass windows, taking the most notice towards the one of the element bearers defeating Nightmare Moon.

“Francois? Are you coming?” Mother asked

“Sorry, mother, I was just noticing the new windows, I’m coming.”

Walking down the hallways of Canterlot Castle brought back so many memories; Running down the hallway, trying to find my mother while we would play, practicing my magic in the library, locking myself in my room, crying my eyes out when I found out my mother had been banished to the moon, and sneaking through the halls, taking down guard after guard as I made my way to the throne room to challenge my aunt.

“Here’s Blueblood’s room, he should be home. He’s been on self-inflicted lockdown since Rarity threw chocolate cake on him at the last Grand Galloping Gala, convinced that he has cake stuck in his coat,” She said, chuckling.

“Rarity? Who is that?” I asked.

“One of Rainbow Dash’s friends and the bearer of the element of generosity. Don’t worry, you’ll meet her and the other element bearers tomorrow when we take Rainbow Dash back to Ponyville.”

I knocked on the door, and was rewarded with my cousin screaming, “GO AWAY!! I LOOK HIDEOUS. I HAVE CAKE ALL OVER ME!!” I shook my head and pressed a hoof to my forehead. Same old Blueblood.

“Blueblood, open the door, it’s been two hundred years since we’ve seen each other, dear cousin,” I responded through the closed door.

“That voice… Francois? Is that really you?” He said, opening the door a crack.

“Who else would it be, dear cousin?” I said, stepping back from the opening door.

The door fully opened, revealing Blueblood, his mane disheveled, slowly stepping towards me as if he’d seen a ghost.

“Hello Blueblood, long time, no see. Why are you in such a sorry state?”

“Some bucking mare from Ponyville named Rarity threw chocolate cake on me,” he said angrily.

“Now why would she do that, I wonder?” I said sarcastically, knowing how uptight he was.

“I don’t know, at the Gala, a cake was flying right towards me, so I grabbed the nearest pony to me so as not to get dirty. Apparently, she took offense to that and decided to shake herself off right next to me, right after insulting me.”

I facehoofed, it really WAS the same old Blueblood, not caring about anything but his own appearance.

“Blueblood, it’s great to see you again, but I just got back, and I want to settle back in. I just wanted to see you, Mi Amore Cadenza, our new in-law, Shining Armor, and our niece, Dusk Shine.”

“Alright then, Francois. It was nice to see you again. Hopefully the next time you see me, I won’t be in such a state.”

We hugged, Blueblood not really returning it as usual. Then mother and I went off to meet my new in-law as well as see Mi Amore Cadenza.

As we went off towards a section of the castle that I never went into, I found myself looking at every nook and cranny for possible places to hide for when I was ready to finish what I started. I guess that’s why I didn’t notice the pony that I ran into until we were both knocked onto our flanks rubbing our respective heads.

“Francois, are you alright?” Mother asked, concerned.

“Yes, I’m fine,” then, turning to the other pony I asked, “Are you alright? I must have been distracted...” I trailed off.

Then I noticed his eyes, one a dull gray, like a normal eye. But his other eye, a bright, neon yellow, with a long vertical slit, was what made me stop talking.

“Special agent Bentgrass, what a surprise to see you here,” Mother said to the stranger.

“Hello, your majesty, we both must have been distracted, I was reading my case file, and I bumped into your friend here-”

“Son,” Mother corrected him.

“Ah, so this is the fallen prince that I’ve heard bout. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Special Agent Bentgrass, R.I.S. Division Six, and you are Prince Francois, Princess Luna’s only child... Who seems to have inherited a little too much from her, considering your banishment two hundred years ago.”

“You seem to be pretty well informed for somepony that wasn’t born when it happened,” I replied with annoyance, angry knowing that somepony else had a detailed record of my past.

“I pride myself in knowing history of great crimes. It’s like the saying goes, ‘Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.’ I’m just doing my part to make sure we don’t repeat it.”

“I do have one question for you though, Agent Bentgrass-”

“Is it the eye? That’s always what everypony wants to know,” he said, cutting me off.

“No, I already know what the deal is with your eye; You were in my mother’s royal guard. My question is why did you decide to bow out?”

“It wasn’t by choice, I’ll tell you that much. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a case in Hoofston that requires my immediate attention. Good day your majesties.”

As he walked away, I got the strange feeling that it wouldn't be the last I ever saw of him, though I wasn’t entirely sure why.

We continued down the hall, mother telling me about how the wedding was almost destroyed and Canterlot almost overrun by changelings until we got to Mi Amore Cadenza, Shining Armor, and Dusk Shine’s suite.

I knocked on the door three times, then heard a thump and a tired voice call through the door, “Who is it?”

“Hello Shining Armor, it’s Princess Luna, could you open the door? There’s somepony I’d like all three of you to meet.”

The door opened, revealing a white unicorn stallion with a pink unicorn foal sleeping on his back.

“Shining Armor, I presume?” I asked the stallion.

“That’s me, Captain of the Royal Unicorn Guard. And that’s PRINCE Shining Armor to you. Who are you anyway?”

“I’m Prince Francois, Princess Luna’s son. I just returned after a very long stay away and my mother was bringing me around the castle to see my cousins, as well as my new in-law and niece. By the way, since we’re both princes, we can call each other by name rather than title,” I replied with annoyance.

“Sorry about that, Francois, I didn’t know who you were or what your title was, hence my annoyance, I’m used to everypony calling me either ‘captain’ or ‘your majesty’. Come on in, Cadence is making some lunch for us, and I’m sure she wouldn’t mind making some extra for you two.”

“Ummm, Cadence?” I inquired.

“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza’s preferred name. Sorry, Francois, I should have told you sooner. Let’s go in, I’m sure your cousin will be happy to see you after all this time,” said mother.

“Alright, lunch actually sounds good anyway. Lead the way PRINCE Shining Armor,” I said, accentuating the word “prince” intentionally to annoy him.

“Alright, you made your point. Come on in, do mind the mess by the way. We do have a 3-month old running around,” he said, walking into the suite.

“Cadence, where are you? I have somepony that wants to see you.” Mother called out.

“I’m in the kitchen, but please do be quiet, Dusky finally is taking a nap.” I heard my cousin call back.

“I’ll go in and see if she needs help. You rest mother, you’ve had enough of a day already bringing me and Rainbow Dash back,” I told my mother, walking towards the kitchen.

Walking toward the kitchen, I could smell the distinct smell of fresh baked bread as well as the wonderful scent of fresh cut daisies.

“Cadence?” I said, peeking around the corner.

“Yes?” she said, turning around.

CRASH

The tray she was levitating fell to the ground.

“Francois? Is that really you? How and when did you get back?”

“Yes Cadence, it is really me, I just got back about forty-five minutes ago. As far as how… It’s a long story, I’ll tell you later. What matters is that I’m back, and apparently missed a lot. I’ll help you out in here so we all can eat, and I hope that crash didn’t wake up Dusk Shine,” I said, levitating the tray off the floor along with the two sandwiches that were on it.

With both of us working, we had six fresh daisy sandwiches ready within a few minutes, and in that time, we heard a foal start crying in the other room, but it was quickly turned into laughter thanks to Shining Armor and my mother.

“Hey everypony, lunch is ready.” Cadence said as she walked into the living room, where mother and Shining Armor were taking turns levitating various toys for Dusk Shine to play with, causing the little filly to laugh with delight as she grabbed at each toy, only to have it be pulled just out of her reach.

“Shining, will you put Dusky in her chair so I can feed her please?” Cadence asked her husband.

“Sure thing Cadence,” he said. Then, turning to the filly he said, “Come on Dusky, up you go!”

The filly laughed with delight as she was lifted into the air by her father’s magic and placed into her high chair.

As we sat down to eat, we each took one sandwich, Shining taking an extra half sandwich to feed Dusk. It didn’t take long for questions to start arising from Cadence and Shining Armor.

“So, Francois, where exactly were you? All Celestia told me was that you ‘were going to a far-off land for a while’ but wouldn’t go into any further detail than that.” Cadence asked.

I looked toward my mother while I decided whether or not to answer honestly, deciding in the end to answer with the truth.

“If you must know…” I started, sighing, “I have just returned from a place called Earth. A place that I was banished to for attempting to overthrow Celestia two hundred years ago. I deeply regret doing what I did, and I am so happy that Celestia allowed me to come back. I didn’t realize what I had here until it was taken all away from me. I had family members that love me, the many loyal subjects that adored me, and most of all, knowledge of the prophecy that mother would return. But foolishly, I threw it all away for my own selfish ambitions, and for that, I am deeply sorry and I hope that you all can forgive me in time.”

I looked up, and noticed that everypony had stopped eating and was absorbing what I had just told them. Shining Armor was the first to speak.

“Francois, I think that you should leave, now. Knowing what I now know, I don’t want that kind of pony around my daughter. You say that you ‘regret what you did’ but I don’t see it. I may see it in time, but I don’t see it now.” Then, turning to talk to Dusk he said, “Come on Dusky, let’s go into daddy’s room and we can play,”

“Shining, be reasonable! He’s family, don’t be so quick to judge.” Cadence said, coming to my defense.

“No, Cadence, it’s fine, I understand his viewpoint and I’ll respect his wishes and leave. Mother, I remember where my room is, you go rest for raising the moon. I’ll be in my room if anypony needs me,” I said, rising off the chair that I had been sitting in.

“Are you sure, Francois? It’s no problem for me to show you everywhere else in the castle,” Mother said, concerned.

“Yes mother, I’m positive. I’m tired from all that’s happened today and I’d like to get some sleep, especially considering that I won’t be able to see and play with my new niece.”

“I’m sorry, Francois. I’ll talk to Shining and see if I can get him to be reasonable,” Cadence said as she led me to the door.

“Thanks Mi Amore Cadenza, I hope he sees sense soon. See you later dear cousin.”

As the door closed behind me, I heard Cadence shouting at her husband, all I really heard before I was out of earshot was, “WHAT THE BUCK WAS THAT ABOUT SHINING…”

Turning to my mother I said, “Go rest up mother, I’ll be fine on my own. I’m only going to my room.”

“Alright, Francois, I’ll go get some rest for raising the moon. You need to get some rest as well.”

“Why?” I asked

“Because you’re coming with me to Ponyville tomorrow to see off Rainbow Dash and I want you to meet the other element bearers, that’s why.”

“Okay, mother, I’ll go get some rest for our trip tomorrow. I’ll see you in the morning. I love you,” I said, hugging her.

“I love you too, my son,” she said, returning the hug, then turning around and heading toward her room.

As I walked through the castle back towards my room, I thought of how angry I was at my treatment by Shining Armor. Even though I understood his concerns, I had been nothing but nice and cordial with them. I had a feeling that this was only the beginning of something big brewing between Shining and myself, but like earlier, I couldn’t really explain why.

As I walked into my room, I finally started feeling the fatigue from everything that had happened to me. From being thrown into a ditch, flying on my mother’s back to my trailer, being brought back to Equestria, being changed back into a pony, going around Canterlot Castle to meet my family, and subsequently being kicked out of Shining Armor and Cadence’s room. I magicked the blankets up and crawled under them, falling asleep quickly despite so much that was on my mind.

The Trip to Ponyville

“Francois, wake up dear cousin,” I heard a voice say, rousing me from my slumber.

“Mmmm, goway, five more minutes…” I said, drowsily, waving my hoof.

The next thing I felt was a weight dropping unceremoniously onto my chest, jerking me out of my drowsy state. I opened my eyes slowly, meeting a pair a big blue eyes.

“GAH!” I said, jerking back to see Dusk Shine sitting on my chest and Cadence standing next to my bed with a huge smile on her face.

“Mi Amore Cadenza, please don’t do that, you nearly gave me a fucking heart attack,” I said to her, clutching my chest, waiting for my heartbeat to return to normal.

“Francy! Francy!” Dusk Shine said happily, bouncing on the bed next to me. The sheer adorableness of hearing her say that made me smile.

“So you taught her to say my name. That was fast, it’s been less than a day.”

“She’s really smart, she’s learning new words every day, and I’ll thank you to watch your language around her,” My cousin replied.

“Sorry, Cadence, I was startled. It won’t happen again. So, judging that you’re here, I take it that you made Shining Armor see sense?”

“Actually, no, he’s so stubborn sometimes, but I still love him with all my heart. I disagree with what he said and did, though I understand his concerns, I’m not going to deprive you of seeing your new niece.”

“So let me get this straight; you came here with Dusk, against your husband’s wishes, because you thought he was being unfair towards me. Call me crazy, but don’t you think that if Shining were to find out, he’d be pretty mad, right?” I asked

“Yes he would, but he shouldn’t find out, he’s already on guard duty on the other side of the castle, and there were no guards around your room.”

“Not that I’m unappreciative, but I think Shining just needs some time to realize that he jumped to the wrong conclusions.”

“While I agree with that, I’m not going to wait until he realizes that he’s wrong and let you miss out on Dusk’s life. Aunt Celestia forgave you and let you come back, so I don’t see why he can’t,” My cousin said

“Francy, play,” Dusk said, bouncing next to me.

“I wish I could, sweetheart, but Uncle Francois has to go to Ponyville today with Luna to drop off Rainbow Dash,” I said to the filly

“Oh, you’re going to Ponyville? Let me know when you’re leaving so I can give you something for Twilight,” Cadence said.

“Who’s Twilight?” I asked

“Shining’s little sister-”

“Auntie Twi!” Dusk yelled out happily, cutting off her mother.

“Sure, I can take whatever it is to her. What is it? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“A picture that Dusky hoofpainted for her,” my cousin said, smiling.

“Okay, that shouldn’t be a problem, I’ll take it to her.”

“Alright then, I’ll let you go grab breakfast and get ready for your trip,” My cousin said. Then, turning to Dusk, “Come on Dusky, let’s go get the painting you made for Auntie Twi. Say bye-bye to Uncle Francois.”

“Bye-bye, Francy!” The filly said, waving.

“Bye Dusky, I’ll see you later,” I replied to her, waving as well

I walked into my bathroom to bathe and brush my mane. After doing so, I went to go grab something to eat from the kitchen. Walking in, I saw the buffet line set up with many delicious looking treats. Grabbing a plate, I piled it high with the apple-blueberry pancakes and added an orange scone, a banana nut muffin, and finishing off with a nice tall cup of white grape juice.

As I went to go sit down, I noticed a very pretty pegasus mare sitting alone at one of the tables, her nose into a book as she ate. I decided that now was as good a time as ever to make everypony’s acquaintance. As i approached, I really took notice as to how pretty she was. She had a gentle aqua-colored coat, a royal blue mane with red highlights with matching tail, wearing a pair of matching red glasses that made her look even more attractive.

“Hello there, do you mind if I sit here with you?” I said to the mare.

She looked up, startled, then nodded and went back to her book, which I saw was titled, “History of Equestrian Royalty”

“Not a bad choice for reading, I can see why you’re so enthralled with this book,” I said, trying to start a conversation.

She looked up, “Well, I heard that a prince just came back yesterday after being gone for two hundred years. I’m just trying to learn a little about him,” she replied.

“Well, what a coincidence this is,” I said with a smile.

“How?”

“Where better to learn about the prince than from the prince himself?” I said.

“Wait, you don’t mean to tell me…” she trailed off.

“Prince Francois of Equestria, a pleasure to meet you,” I said, extending my hoof.

“Oh my goodness, a royal prince speaking to me. I don’t know what to say,” she said.

“How about telling me your name? Or have you forgotten it?” I said with a joking grin on my face.

“Of course, your highness. I’m Cloudflower, I’m from New Horsleans, but I’ve been studying Equestrian history for the past year here,” She said, starting to blush, but extending her hoof to shake mine.

“No need for formalities, Miss Cloudflower, Francois is fine. What would you like to know about me? Other than where I’ve been, I’ll answer whatever questions you have.”

“Why would you care about me asking where you’ve been?” she asked.

“Because it would take too long to explain and I’ve got a trip to Ponyville with my mother today,” I replied.

“Understood, I’ll try to be quick so you aren’t late for your mother.”

“Don’t worry about being quick, I won’t be leaving for another one or two hours. Besides, I’m sure mother wouldn’t mind me being a little late because of talking to a pretty mare like you,” I said flirtatiously, causing her to blush again.

“That’s very sweet of you to say, Francois, I haven’t had anypony, much less a Prince, say something like that to me before,” she said with a smile.

“Oh, I don’t believe that, I’m sure you were quite the heartbreaker back at your high school.”

“No, not really, I was never one for having a coltfriend, and besides, I was always the outcast. I didn’t have many friends other than my close-knit group and I was always very shy,” she explained, blushing even darker, but regaining her composure to ask her questions.

We chatted back and forth, her asking me mainly about how the kingdom had been run when I had left, as well as a few personal questions.

After about an hour and a half, I had finished my breakfast. I looked up the clock and saw the time, “Well, Miss Cloudflower, it was nice to meet you, but I should really be heading off,” I said, rising from my chair.

“Wait, I still have questions for you,” she said, surprised that I was leaving.

“Miss Cloudflower, I really don’t have time, but I’ll give you one more question,” I said, turning back around toward her

She thought for a moment, then said, “Do you have a marefriend?”

This caught me by surprise, “How fast do you think I move, Miss Cloudflower? I only got back to Equestria yesterday.”

“I see your point. How about this; will you have breakfast with me tomorrow?”

“Ah ah ah, you had your one question. You’ll just have to wait until breakfast tomorrow to ask me more questions,” I said coyly.

She smiled, then got up from her chair and walked over to me, “It’s a date then,” she said. Then, blushing, she leaned in and kissed me on the cheek.

“I thought you didn’t have much interest in getting a coltfriend,” I said, raising my eyebrows.

“Call it breaking out of my shell, if you will,” she said flirtatiously, then turned and walked out of the dining room.

As I walked out of the dining room toward where I was supposed to meet mother, I suddenly remembered that Cadence needed me to bring Dusk Shine’s painting to Twilight. I took off at a gallop to Mi Amore Cadenza’s room. As I arrived at the door, two guards stopped me.

“Prince Francois, we have orders from Captain Shining Armor to not let you through,” The unicorn guard said to me.

“I understand that you gentlemen have your orders, but Princess Mi Amore Cadenza asked me to deliver something to Twilight in Ponyville, and I don’t think that she’d be too pleased if it never made it to her,” I replied.

“I’m sorry, your highness, but we can’t let you through,” The pegasus guard re-explained.

“Then knock on the door and ask Princess Mi Amore Cadenza yourself,” I replied angrily.

The unicorn rolled his eyes, but turned around and knocked three times. The door opened in a minute and Cadence stood there holding Dusk Shine. She seemed none too pleased about the guards outside her door not allowing me through.

“Corporal, you better have an explanation for not letting my cousin knock on my door, or so help me Celestia, I will have you sent to Saddle Arabia,” She said to the unicorn.

“Forgive me, your highness, but Captain Shining Armor ordered us to stand guard and not allow Prince Francois through. He said that you had something to give to him to deliver to Ponyville,” the guard said apologetically.

Cadence rolled her eyes and muttered to herself, “Sometimes that husband of mine…” Then, turning to me she said, “Wait here Francois, I’ll go get Dusky’s painting.”

She returned a few moment’s later, levitating the picture and passing it to me, “Thank you, dear cousin. I’m sorry about these two,” she said, looking at the guards, “I’ll make sure to talk to Shining about this.”

“It’s fine, Cadence, I understand how Shining feels, he’s only trying to protect you and Dusky from ‘big bad Francois’,” I said in a mock scary voice.

“I know, but it’s not fair to me and Dusk. I understand what you did was wrong, but Celestia forgave you, why can’t he?”

“I wish I could answer that, but Shining has his reasons. Anyway, I have to head off to meet mother and Rainbow Dash. Goodbye, dear cousin, bye Dusky,” I said to them both.

“Bye Francois, I’ll see you when you get back,” Cadence said to me.

“Bye bye Francy,” Dusk said, drawing another smile out of me.

We hugged, then she headed back into her room, while I went to the castle’s entrance to meet with Mother and Rainbow Dash. On the way, I stopped at my room to grab my saddlebags so I could keep Dusk’s painting safe.

As I ran out of the castle, Mother and Rainbow Dash turned to greet me, “Hello Prince Francois, nice of you to finally join us,” Rainbow said with slight annoyance.

“Sorry, I would have been here sooner, but Princess Mi Amore Cadenza asked me to bring this hoofpainting that Dusk Shine made to Twilight, and I had a little trouble with the guards outside her door,” I explained.

“Alright then, if everypony is ready, let’s call the carriage and head off to Ponyville,” mother said. She whistled, and in a minute or so, her carriage landed, being pulled by two members of her royal guard.

“Next stop, Ponyville. Come on everypony, get in,” mother said.

The ride over was uneventful, nopony talking much, especially with what had happened the previous day when Rainbow had voiced her indifference at what should happen to me. As we got closer to town, I saw a very large cloudominium complex above the entrance to town.

“This is my place, you can drop me off out front.” Rainbow said as we approached the cloud building.”

“Alright, Rainbow Dash, I’ll see you later,” mother said as she got out of the carriage.

“Yes, hopefully next time we meet, you won’t be considering telling my aunt to execute me,” I said sarcastically, drawing an angry stare from my mother.

“Francois!” mother said sternly.

“What? I was kidding.”

“Whatever, I told Celestia my feelings on the matter,” Rainbow said, rolling her eyes.

“Yes, besides which, you’re here and you weren’t executed, and that’s all that matters,” mother chimed in.

“Alright, you made your point, can we go and meet the others, I would like to get home tonight, I have a breakfast date tomorrow morning.”

“Of course, my son,” mother said. Then, turning to her guards, “Let’s go to Fluttershy’s cottage.”

We took off, flying right over the town and landing by a small cottage on the outskirts. Mother and I got out of the carriage. We walked up to the door of the cottage and mother knocked. We heard light hoofsteps and then the door opened a crack.

“Hello Fluttershy, I do hope you’re doing well,” My mother said.

“Oh, hello Princess Luna, I’m doing alright,” Said a shy little whisper of a voice. As the door opened, I saw a yellow pegasus pony with a long pink mane and matching tail. She looked right at me and quickly ducked back behind the door. “OH! Princess, who is this? I’ve never seen him before.”

Mother opened the door and was about to introduce me, but I touched her shoulder and introduced myself. “Hello Fluttershy, my name is Prince Francois. Princess Luna is my mother.”

As my mother and I walked in, I saw that she was trying to hide behind the curtains. My mother and I chuckled to ourselves before my mother finally convinced her to come out.

“Um, hello Prince Francois… I’m… Fluttershy,” The shy pony managed to whisper. I smiled and walked over to her.

“I don’t mean to impose on your cottage, Miss Fluttershy, my mother just wanted me to meet the ponies that now wield the Elements of Harmony, your cottage was the closest one to where we dropped off your friend, Rainbow Dash,” I explained, she seemed to relax a little and she went and had a seat on her couch. I took a seat next to her and mother decided to stay standing. As i sat down, a little white rabbit hopped over to the couch and glared daggers at me.

“Angel! Be nice to our guest,” Fluttershy said to the rabbit.

“Yeah, I’m not coming to take her away, I’ve got enough problems without having a jealous rabbit out to get me,” I said with mock-scaredness. Which seemed to satisfy him as he jumped up onto the couch and rested on Fluttershy’s back.

“So where have you been, Prince Francois? Why have I never met you before?” Fluttershy asked.

“I’ve been in a far away land for the past two hundred-years. As far as where… it would take too long to explain and I would like to get back home after meeting your other friends,” I said, narrowly dodging the question.

“Oh my goodness, two hundred years? What could possibly take that long?”

I cursed myself for letting out the two hundred years part. As I was coming up with a response, mother chimed in, “He really liked the culture and wanted to see what living there was like. It’s much too far to get a carriage out there. So I had to teleport out there to pick him up and bring him back.”

“Besides which, I didn’t really want to live in Canterlot Castle while mother was banished, it was just too many bad memories,” I added.

“On that note, we should probably head to Sweet Apple Acres. It was nice to see you Fluttershy, I’m sure we’ll see you later,” Mother said, stopping the conversation before it could go any further.

“Goodbye, Miss Fluttershy, it was very nice to meet you,” I said as I leaned down to kiss her hoof.

We walked out of the cottage and got back in the carriage before I turned to mother, “Thanks for that.”

“What are mothers for, sweetheart?” mother responded. Then turning to her guards, “To Sweet Apple Acres, boys.”

As we landed, a little yellow filly came out to meet us. “Hiya Princess Luna, who’s yer friend? He sure is handsome!” I blushed and smiled and my mother answered, “Hello little Apple Bloom, this is my son, Prince Francois, we’re actually here to see your sister, is she around?”

“She sure is! She’s out in the grove helping Big Macintosh buck apples, I can show ya where they are if ya like,” The excitable little filly said eagerly.

“Thank you Apple Bloom, that would be nice,” My mother answered.

Apple Bloom led us behind the barn and out into one of the groves, not too far into the grove, we came upon a large red stallion pulling a cart loaded down with apples. “Heya Big Mac, is Apple Jack ahead of ya?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Eeyup” Big Macintosh answered as he headed back the way we came.

Apple Bloom continued leading us down the path until we started hearing hoof kicks on trees, we came around a tree and I saw a dark orange mare, with a long blonde mane and tail, both tied in ponytail style, wearing a wide brimmed cowgirl hat. She was kicking at the apple trees when she saw us coming.

“Well howdy Princess Luna, nice of ya to drop by, who’s yer friend?” The mare asked as she walked up to us.

“Hello Apple Jack, good to see you too. This is my son, Prince Francois, he has just returned from a far off land and I wanted him to meet you and the other ponies that control the Elements of Harmony.”

“Well, it sure is nice to meetcha Prince Francois, it’s a good sight to see someone that Princess Luna cares for. My name is Apple Jack, and yer mother was tellin’ ya the truth, I represent tha Element of Honesty,” She said, holding out her hoof. I took it and we shook.

“It’s very nice to meet you Apple Jack; you are a very friendly mare, as is your family. Apple Bloom was very nice, and showed us where you were. Big Mac may not talk much, but I can tell he’s a gentle giant. Any other family out here on the farm?” I asked.

“Well, there’s Granny Smith, she’s probably in tha house makin’ her Zap Apple Jam. It’s famous all over Equestria,” She said, my mouth watering at the mention of Zap Apples, it had been too long since I had had one of those amazing apples.

“Say, Apple Jack, I’m pretty hungry, and it’s been much too long since I had some delicious Zap Apples, would you mind if my mother and I stay for lunch?” I asked.

“No problem Francois, I’d be happy to have ya’ll here for lunch. The jam should be just about ready, so let’s head on back to the house and we’ll eat,” Apple Jack replied.

I looked around for Apple Bloom, but didn’t see her. “Hey, where did Apple Bloom go?” I asked, “She was just here a minute ago.”

“She’s probably going around to check and see if she got her cutie mark for being a tour guide or something. I swear that filly is obsessed with getting that cutie mark,” Apple Jack said, rolling her eyes.

“Is she now? Let me have a talk with her and I’ll see if I can help you guys with that,” I said

“You would do that? I’d be mighty thankful if ya could, it would sure stop all the racket that she and her friends, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo make around here in their clubhouse,” Apple Jack said with a sigh.

The walk back to the house was uneventful, we ran into Big Macintosh on the way back to the house, Apple Jack asked him if he needed any help, to which he responded with “Nope.”

As we went into the house, I noticed a few… odd things. Polka Dots on the walls, a bunny suit crumpled on the floor, a couple cracked jars in the trash can, among other things.

I looked inquisitively at Apple Jack, and she answered my gaze with, “Granny Smith knows what she’s doin’ when she makes Zap Apple Jam,” I shrugged in response, and then noticed the wonderful aroma of the Zap Apples wafting across the house, which got my mouth watering yet again.

“Granny Smith!” Apple Jack called, “Where are ya? I got a couple of guests with me to taste some of yer Zap Apple jam! It’s Princess Luna and her son, Prince Francois. Come on out and meet ‘em!” From the kitchen emerged an elderly mare, apple green in color, her white mane and tail tied into a bun, an apple pie cutie mark on her flank.

“Granny Smith, I presume?” I asked.

“That’s me, young ‘un. Who might you be? I don’t reckon I recognize you,” Granny Smith replied.

“I am Prince Francois, Princess Luna is my mother; she brought me here to Ponyville to meet the ponies that wield the Elements of Harmony, I’ve met two of Apple Jack’s friends, and I must say; everypony here is very friendly.”

“Well, Ponyville is one of the friendliest places around, I should know, I helped found it, all thanks to these.” She said, holding up a Zap Apple. Upon seeing it, my stomach responded with a loud growl, drawing snickers from Apple Jack, my mother, and Apple Bloom, who had just come from upstairs. “Why don’t we all sit down and have some of my Equestria-famous Zap Apple Jam” Granny Smith suggested.

“What about Big Macintosh? I reckon he wouldn’t want to miss out on your first batch.” Apple Bloom said as she got off the stairs.

“Good point Apple Bloom, go get him” Apple Jack told her little sister.

“I’ll go with her; we can talk on the way.” I said, winking at Apple Jack

“Alright! Let’s go Prince; Big Mac shouldn’t be too far from the house.” The excitable little filly said eagerly.

As we stepped out of the house, I turned to Apple Bloom, “So, Apple Jack tells me you and your friends are getting very frustrated because you haven’t gotten your cutie marks yet.”

Apple Bloom’s ears lowered in sadness. “Yeah, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and I have tried everything to try and get our cutie marks, but nothing we’ve done has worked.” She replied glumly.

“I understand your frustration, Apple Bloom, but there is probably something you haven’t tried yet.”

“What’s that?” She replied.

“Stop trying” I said, prompting an “are you crazy?” look from the little filly.

“I know that sounds crazy, but trust me on this. Stop trying to get your cutie mark and you’ll find that you know exactly what your special purpose is. Same goes for your friends. Tell you what, tomorrow, bring me to your clubhouse and I’ll have this same conversation with your friends. Deal?”

“But-” she stammered

“No ‘buts’ Apple Bloom.” I cut her off, “What I’m telling you is going to help, it may not sound like it, but it will.”

“Okay Prince Francois, I’ll bring you to my friends tomorrow.” The filly said, somewhat dejectedly.

“Good girl, now let’s find your brother, okay?” I said, changing the subject

“Alright, let’s get him” She said, picking back up.

We found Big Macintosh about 5 minutes later, putting up the cart. Apple Bloom let him know that the jam was ready and asked if he was hungry. To which he responded, “Eeyup”.

We went back to the house, sat down, and ate. It was the most delicious Zap Apple jam I’d ever had. Everypony mostly ate in silence, but as the meal started to wind down, conversation started up.

“So, Prince Francois, where exactly have you been? Princess Celestia never told anypony about you, and Princess Luna never mentioned you,” asked Apple Jack.

“Nope,” said Big Mac.

“The reason I never mentioned him is because it brought back bad memories of my time spent on the moon, missing him so,” mother replied.

“I’ve been away for the past two hundred years in a far off land. I haven’t come back until now for two reasons: I only had just found out that mother had gotten back, and since it’s too far away for a carriage, mother needed to teleport to me there and teleport back.”

“Why did you go out there in the first place then?” Apple Jack asked.

“It was too painful for me to live in Canterlot Castle while my mother was banished, I managed for a while, but eventually, the pain was too much and I decided to leave,” I explained, hoping she would change the subject.

“So how are you liking my Zap Apple jam?” Granny Smith asked, thankfully changing the subject.

“It’s incredible, much better than I could ever do on my own. How do you make it?” I asked.

“Now that’s a family secret, I can’t tell you.”

“I completely understand, I do have another question though. Do you sell the Zap Apples themselves? Or do you make it all into jam?”

“Why of course we sell the actual fruits, why wouldn’t we? Ten bits for a bushel, and the jam is two bits per jar,” Apple Jack answered.

“Alright then Apple Jack, let me get a bushel of the Zap Apples so I can make my special Zap Apple Cider as well as four jars of jam to take back to Canterlot. I’m sure Cloudflower will enjoy having some of that for breakfast tomorrow,” I said

“Who is Cloudflower?” mother asked.

“A pegasus mare that I met this morning. She’s been studying Equestrian history for the past year in Canterlot. She’s the pony I have a breakfast date with tomorrow morning,” I answered.

“Francois, you only got back yesterday. Aren’t you moving a little quickly?”

“Mother, can this wait? We aren’t exactly alone,” I said, looking at the Apple family apologetically.

“Alright, but when we get back to Canterlot, we’re talking about this,” she said sternly.

“Yes mother. By the way, could i borrow some bits? I left my wallet at the castle.”

Mother rolled her eyes, “Okay, but you better pay these back.”

“Of course I will, mother, as soon as we get back to the castle, I’ll grab my wallet and give you your eighteen bits.”

“We really should be going, though. We still need to meet Pinkie Pie, as well as the unicorns.”

“Alright then, thank you Apple family for the wonderful lunch and the Zap Apples,” I said to all of them. “Apple Bloom, remember what I said and what you agreed to, understand?” I then said, turning to her.

“Yes, Prince Francois, I’ll make sure to get the clubhouse ready for your visit tomorrow,” Apple Bloom replied.

“I’ll walk you two out, Big Mac, go and get the bushel of Zap Apples and load it up for them,” Apple Jack said, turning to her older brother.

“Sure thing, AJ, I’ll be right back,” Big Mac answered.

After they loaded up the apples and the jam, we waved and took off toward the actual town.

When we landed in town we got the reception I was expecting, bows to my mother, and questions about who I was. My mother didn’t answer the questions of the ponies that asked who I was, but she did stop and chat with a few that didn’t gawk at me. We eventually ended up at a shop that looked like a gingerbread house. My mother and I walked in and were greeted by a light blue earth pony with a pink mane that looked like cake frosting.

“Hello Princess Luna, how can I help you today?” the mare asked.

“Hello Mrs. Cake, my son, Prince Francois and I are here to see Pinkie Pie, is she here?” my mother asked.

“Sure, she’s playing with Pound and Pumpkin right now, I’ll get her.” Mrs. Cake said, walking upstairs. “Pinkie Pie, Princess Luna is here to see you.” We heard her call.

The next thing I remember seeing is a pink blur coming down the stairs, and the next thing I knew, both my mother and I were caught in an ursa hug.

“Hiya Princess Luna! It’s great to see you here, who’s your friend? Is he new? I’d love to welcome him to Ponyville-” My mother wrestled free from the hug and pressed a hoof to Pinkie’s mouth.

“Pinkie Pie, if you would kindly slow down and let go of him, I’ll explain everything.” My mother said.

“Please… let go… I can’t breathe.” I choked out. She let go, and I fell to the floor in a heap, trying to catch my breath.

When I was able to get to my feet, I introduced myself. “Hello there, you must be Pinkie Pie, I am Prince Francois, and Princess Luna is my mother. It’s very nice to meet you.”

“Well hi there Prince Francois, my name is Pinkie Pie, are you new to Ponyville?” the very excited pink mare asked.

“Yes, I am, I’ve been away for 200 years, and when I left, Ponyville didn’t exist yet.” I replied.

Pinkie got very excited and started jittering. I asked what was she shaking for and she replied, “I LOVE WELCOMING NEW PONIES TO PONYVILLE!!! Let me go get my welcome wagon. I’ll be right back!” She said as she ran off. I looked at my mother quizzically, and she only smiled and shrugged.

The next thing I knew, Pinkie was back and pulling a small wagon. She pressed a button on the side, the wagon opened and music started playing. All I could do was smile as she started to sing.

“Welcome, welcome, welcome, a fine welcome to you. Welcome, welcome, welcome, I say how do you do? Welcome, welcome, welcome, I say hip, hip hooray! Welcome, welcome, welcome to Ponyville todayyyyy!” As the music finished, there was a loud boom, and then cake batter, confetti, and streamers were strewn all over the store.

“Oopsy. Looks like I loaded it wrong again. Mr. and Mrs. Cake aren’t going to be happy if I don’t clean this up.” She said, getting a worried look on her face.

“Don’t worry, I’m on it Pinkie” I said, my horn lighting up. I levitated a mop, bucket, and several rags into the room and made them come down and get right to work. Within a minute, the entire bakery was spotless.

“Gee, thanks Francois, that was really nice of you.” Pinkie said gratefully.

“No problem at all, happy to do it, anything to help a friend.” I replied.

“If you two are done, we still need to go visit the unicorns.” My mother interrupted.

“You’re right mother, let’s go. It was nice to meet you Pinkie. Have a good day.” I said as I waved goodbye.

“Bye Francois, it was nice to meet you too.” Pinkie said as we departed.

We didn’t go back to the carriage; instead, we walked down the street to a fancy looking dress shop called “The Carousel Boutique”. As we walked in, we were greeted by a small white filly with a pink and purple mixed mane and tail. She looked at my mother and said, “Well hi Princess Luna, how can I help you today?”

“Hello Sweetie Belle, I’m here to see Rarity, is she around?”

“Yes, but she doesn’t really want to be disturbed right now, she’s busy making about a dozen dresses for Fancypants and she doesn’t even have time to spend with me.” She said glumly.

“I think she’ll make time for me, as well as my son, Prince Francois.” My mother said, moving aside so that Sweetie Belle could see me.

“Hello Sweetie Belle, it’s nice to meet you, I met your friend Apple Bloom today as well. I have some very important things to tell you and your friends, will you meet me tomorrow at your clubhouse?” I said, introducing myself.

“Ummm, okay. I’ll be there tomorrow anyway as well as staying over at Fluttershy’s house with them tonight. Let me go tell Rarity that you and Princess Luna are here to see her.” She turned and started walking upstairs. “RARITY!!! Princess Luna and her son are here to see you!!!” I heard her yell to her sister as she ascended.

“Sweetie Belle, what have I told you about making up stories? I’m very busy working for Fancypants up here! Princess Luna doesn’t have a son!” I heard a contemptuous voice yell back.

I rolled my eyes, “Had she not thrown cake on him at the gala, I would imagine that she and Blueblood would be a match made in heaven,” I said sarcastically, drawing a snicker from my mother.

Sweetie Belle came back down with a bigger unicorn. She had a snow white coat, a long, curled, purple mane and tail, blue eyes, not quite as dark as mine, and a cutie mark of three diamonds. When she saw my mother, she blushed and apologized profusely.

“I’m so sorry Princess; Sweetie Belle sometimes will make things up to get me to spend some time with her when I’m extremely busy. What can I do for you?” The mare asked.

“It’s alright Rarity, I have a sister too. I came to Ponyville to introduce my son to the ponies that hold the Elements of Harmony.” She said, stepping aside so Rarity could see me. “This is my son, Prince Francois.”

Rarity saw me and blushed even darker than before. “Well, hello Prince Francois, it’s always nice to meet a handsome stallion such as yourself, especially royal ponies.” She gushed to me.

“Yes, I’m sure you do, mother told me about how you acted towards my cousin, Blueblood.” Causing Rarity to blush even darker, “Truth be told, I’m glad you did it. He needs to lighten up.” I said with a smile.

“Well, yes he does, there’s no excuse for treating a lady of my social stature in that manner.” She said, throwing her mane back in an obvious attempt to show off her beauty. “I don’t want to sound too forward, but would you consider taking me to dinner in Canterlot later this week? I have to bring these ensembles I’m making to Fancypants on Friday.” She asked.

“Miss Rarity, I only got back to Equestria yesterday and you only just met me. Don’t you think that we should get to know each other first?”

“Well of course I do. how easy will it be to get to know each other over dinner in Canterlot?”

I facehoofed, “Miss Rarity, while I appreciate you asking, I have to decline. I just got back to Equestria yesterday, and I’d like to get settled first.”

“Why don’t you tell her the truth, Francois?” mother chimed in.

“What are you insinuating, mother?” I said to her, hoping she would drop it. She didn’t.

“Does the name ‘Cloudflower’ ring a bell, my son?”

“Mother, could you do me a huge favor, and shut up about it!? Cloudflower is a history student that has been asking me about how the kingdom was run when I left,” I said, angrily.

“Well then, Prince Francois, all you had to do was tell me that you had a mare already back in Canterlot and I would’ve dropped it,” said Rarity

“No, Rarity, it’s not like that, I swear. I’m just trying to get re-adjusted to life back here in Equestria. Mother is jumping to conclusions because I told her that I have a breakfast date tomorrow.”

“Are you sure? You seem awfully nervous about it,” she replied

“Yes, Miss Rarity, I’m quite sure,” I said. Then, turning to mother, ‘Shouldn’t we be going to see Twilight now?” I asked her.

“Yes, we really should be going before I have to be back in Canterlot to raise the moon. Goodbye, Rarity, it was nice to see you again.”

“Miss Rarity, it was very nice to meet you, but I suppose we should let you get back to work. Come visit me in Canterlot castle after you deliver those clothes to Fancypants, alright.” I said as my mother started to nudge me.

“I may take you up on that offer, Prince Francois.” Rarity replied with a curt bow, as she rose, she extended her hoof; I took it and kissed it. I waved goodbye as my mother and I walked out of the shop, and Rarity seemed to be swooning. I chuckled to myself as we walked out the door.

“After the door closed, I turned on my mother, “What the BUCK was that about!? Didn’t you tell me at Sweet Apple Acres that you would drop it until we were back in Canterlot? So why bring it up in there after I turned her down?”

Mother seemed surprised at the way I was speaking to her, but kept her composure, “I don’t like seeing somepony blatantly lying to get out of a date request, especially out of YOU!”

“I was telling the truth. I just got back yesterday, I’m not looking to jump right back into a relationship with ANYPONY! Especially not a carbon copy of Blueblood!” I said to her.

We were drawing stares from everypony passing by, but mother and I may as well have been on the moon for all we cared.

“Excuse me? Rarity is a much better pony than your cousin. While she can get that way sometimes, it is nowhere near the level that he’s at,” Mother responded.

“Not from what I saw, and I’ll thank you to not make relationship decisions for me. Let me get settled first, as well as show Shining Armor a good reason to let me see my niece! Maybe then I’ll be interested in a relationship, but I have more pressing matters at the present moment that I need to take care of. Is that clear?” I said, getting everything that was frustrating me out in the open.

Mother calmed down after hearing that, “Alright, Francois, that’s all I needed to hear. I honestly thought you were lying to Rarity about wanting to settle in before going on a date. But that does not excuse you calling her a ‘carbon copy of Blueblood’. She is nothing of the sort.”

“Well, you’ve known her longer than I have, so you have more insight. My first impression, however, was that she’s like Blueblood. Granted, knowing what she did to him at the gala makes me like her already.

We continued down the road, occasionally drawing a stare from somepony that didn’t know who I was, until we made it to a large tree-house. My mother knocked on the door, we heard scuffling, and then the door opened and a small dragon stood in the doorway.

“Hello Spike, is Twilight around? I would like her to meet my son. Prince Francois” my mother said to the dragon.

“Yeah, she’s here, she’s studying up on a few different things. I’m sure she’ll make time to see you, and your son.” The dragon replied.

He walked back into the library and called out for Twilight to come out and see Princess Luna. Out from behind a large pile of books, emerged the pony I figured to be Twilight Sparkle, a dark purple unicorn with a darker purple mane with pink highlights, a cutie mark of a large purple star, with some smaller white stars around it.

“Hello Princess Luna, good to see…” She stopped mid-sentence, “SPIKE, SEND WORD TO CELESTIA! FRANCOIS IS BACK!” she turned and shouted at the dragon.

“Twilight, my sister already knows, she’s the one that turned him back into- ” My mother tried to explain.

“GET OUT! GET OUT NOW! I KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DID PRINCE FRANCOIS!” Twilight yelled furiously, picking up books with her magic and throwing them at me. They mostly missed, but the few that came close; I stopped with my own magic.

“TWILIGHT, STOP!” Mother yelled at the frantic unicorn. She froze at my mother’s voice.

“I’m sorry Princess Luna, but Princess Celestia told me about what happened 200 years ago, I’m sorry about that.” Twilight said, calming down.

“It’s fine Twilight, I brought Francois here to meet the ponies that control the Elements of Harmony, you are the last pony that we needed to see.” Mother explained.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea Princess? You know what he did and why he was banished. So why let him meet everypony so quickly?”

“Because he convinced my sister that he is truly sorry for what he did and he wishes to atone for what he did. You should give him a chance, unlike your brother...” My mother said.

“What was that about Shining?” Twilight asked.

“When Francois told Shining about where he had been and why he was gone, Shining immediately threw him out of their room and he also won’t let him see Dusk Shine.”

“Speaking of Dusk Shine,” I said, reaching into my saddlebag, “Dusk made this for you, Miss Sparkle,” I said as I pulled out the hoofpainting. She raised her eyebrows as I levitated the picture over to her.

“Miss Sparkle, please allow me to formally introduce myself, as you know, my name is Prince Francois, you know what I did 200 years ago, but I have regretted trying to usurp my aunt Celestia since I was turned into a human and sent to Earth.” I said to the unicorn. “I completely understand your trepidation in seeing me, knowing what you know, but I would never attempt something like that, if for any reason other than I would never wish being changed into a human and sent to Earth on my worst enemy. That was the worst experience of my life and I would not wasn’t to jeopardize the trust that Celestia has given me, especially since I just came back to Equestria yesterday.”

“If Shining kicked you out, how did you get this picture that Dusky made?” she asked.

“Cadence told me to come by and get it. She’s been on my side since coming back, she even brought Dusk to see me this morning,” I explained.

Her look softened towards me, but I could tell from her eyes that she still didn’t trust me. With that, I realized that she was going to take some major convincing, or a well-timed sneak attack, but I’d cross that bridge when I came to it.

“Is there anything else you needed, Princess? Because I’m a little busy at the moment,” Twilight asked.

“Not really, I just wanted you all to meet him and he wanted to give you the picture that Dusk made for you.”

“Alright then, if that’s all, I’ll see you both later,” Twilight said.

“Goodbye Miss Sparkle, hopefully next time we meet, you won’t try to kill me with your books,” I said, causing her to slightly blush.

“Well, next time we meet, I’ll be expecting you and I won’t be surprised that you’re in Equestria,” she said as we walked out.

As we got back to the carriage, I thought about how the day had gone and decided that I needed to try and convince Twilight that I had changed so I could prepare myself for taking down Celestia without looking over my shoulder for a certain lavender unicorn and her stupid brother.

“Mother?” I said.

“Yes Francois?” my mother responded

“You go on back to Canterlot without me, I’m going to stay the night here and see if Twilight will warm up to me.”

“Are you sure Francois? What about your breakfast meeting with Cloudflower? Where will you stay and who with?”

“If you could find Cloudflower and tell her that I decided to stay in Ponyville to take care of some business, I’d be grateful. As far as where to stay, I was going to ask Apple Jack, Fluttershy, or Twilight because I noticed that they had extra room.”

“Alright then, if that’s what you would like to do. I will see you tomorrow. What does Cloudflower look like?”

“She’s a teal pegasus with a blue mane and tail with red highlights, she wears matching red glasses and she’ll be waiting for me in the dining room tomorrow morning,” I said, describing the beautiful pegasus I had met that morning.

“Okay then, meet me in front of Sugarcube Corner around noon.”

“Alright mother, take care, I love you” I said with a hug

“I love you too, my son” my mother said as she returned the hug. She turned to her royal guards, “Let’s get back to Canterlot.” With that, she took off, while I headed to Fluttershy’s cottage.

Author's Notes:

If anyone would like to see what Cloudflower looks like, here's the General Zoi code.
3Z2S00201028ABBCFFC49D002014A6DF7UN1837000000003312200CCC92A2A0L107F3FCC004CB2

Also, big thank you to everyone that has helped me so far. My friends Brandon and Doug for critiquing the story before publishing, My friend Jon for proofreading and editing, to Tweak for allowing me to use Agent Bentgrass Chapter 2 and beyond, and finally to one of my favorite authors on this website, RainbowBob for adding this to their favorites, knowing that an author as good and well respected as you are feels that this is up to their standards to give it a favorite makes me extremely happy.

Death of an Element

As I walked down the road towards Fluttershy’s cottage, I thought about how the meetings with the ponies today had gone. Fluttershy seemed a little too scared to really talk at all. The Apples were nice and at least dropped the issue of where I had been after they saw me being uncomfortable about talking about it. Pinkie Pie had nearly strangled me. Rarity seemed to be as superficial as Blueblood. Finally, Twilight Sparkle had tried to kill me by throwing books. All in all, the trip to Ponyville had been pretty bad, and that wasn’t even counting the argument with mother about Cloudflower.

I was pulled out of my thoughts as I saw Fluttershy’s cottage up ahead. As I got closer, I heard fillies laughing and running around; getting even closer, I saw Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and a little orange pegasus filly. As I got closer, Apple Bloom saw me and waved me over.

“Hello again, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle,” I said to the fillies, “and who might you be?” I asked the orange pegasus.

“I’m Scootaloo, and all of us are the Cutie Mark Crusaders,” the orange filly responded.

“Well then, it’s a good thing that I came by, I was going to talk to you all at your clubhouse tomorrow, but I guess what needs to be said can be said here, right Apple Bloom?”

“I guess so,” she said, turning to her friends, “okay, crusaders, Prince Francois here wants to tell all of us something important that’ll help us.”

“Thank you Apple Bloom. Now, I understand your frustrations with you not having your cutie marks yet. I had these same frustrations, until I received the advice I’m about to give to you. I don’t want to hear any back-talk, and I definitely don’t want to see or hear about you NOT following this advice. Understand?”

“Yes, Prince Francois,” the three fillies said together.

“Alright, if you really want to earn your cutie marks, you have to do this simple thing. And that is… Stop trying-”

“But-” Sweetie Belle started

“I said ‘no back-talk’ Sweetie Belle. What I’m telling you is going to help. Stop trying to find out what you’re good at and look inside yourself. Do that, and you’ll realize what your true calling is. Like I said earlier, I don’t want to hear about you three NOT following these instructions. Trust me, I will find out,” I said sternly.

“Alright, Prince Francois, we’ll do as you say,” Scootaloo said.

“Yeah, we will,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Good, now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go speak to Miss Fluttershy,” I said to them as I walked to the front door.

I knocked three times, and in about a minute, Fluttershy opened the door. She seemed surprised that I was here, but at least she didn’t try to run and hide behind the curtains this time. So that was an improvement.

“Oh, hello Prince Francois, what can I do for you?”

“Hello again, Miss Fluttershy. As I’m sure you noticed, mother isn’t with me. I’ve decided to stay here in Ponyville for the night. I was wondering if you had a spare bedroom that I could stay in.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, but with me taking care of Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo, I’m afraid that I don’t,” she said apologetically.

“Alright then, off to Apple Jack’s I go then,” I said with a sigh.

“You’re not mad are you? Please don’t be mad!” she called out as I walked off.

As I arrived back at Sweet Apple Acres, Apple Jack came out to greet me.

“Well, howdy again, Prince Francois. What brings you back here?”

“Hello again Apple Jack, as I’m sure you noticed, my mother isn’t with me. I decided to stay the night in Ponyville and I was wondering if you had any extra room.”

“I’m mighty sorry, Prince Francois, but with it being Zap Apple season, all our extra space in the barn and the house is being taken up by either our Zap Apples or what we use to store them,”

“Alright then, thanks anyway Apple Jack, I’m off to Twilight’s house.”

“Sorry I couldn’t help,” Apple Jack said as I turned around

“It’s alright, AJ, I know that you’d help if you could.”

By the time I got to Golden Oaks Library, mother had raised the moon and it was starting to get a little chilly out. I knocked on the door, and expectedly, Spike answered.

“Well hi there Prince Francois, did you forget something here?”

“No, I was hoping I could talk to Twilight alone for a few minutes. She is still around right?”

“Yeah, she’s here, she’s waiting on a response from Princess Celestia on what’s going on.” The baby dragon said as he led me inside. “TWILIGHT! Francois is here and he wants to talk to you!” he called up.

I heard her moving around upstairs, and then saw her coming down the stairs, never taking her eyes off me, obviously not over her original mistrust of me. “Alright Prince Francois, let’s step outside and we can talk.”

As we stepped outside, she closed the door a little harder than necessary, we walked a few feet before stopping, then she spoke, “Alright, Francois, what do you want to talk about?”

“You’ll notice that I didn’t go back to Canterlot tonight, the reason being is because I know that you don’t trust me-” I started.

“Don’t trust you?” She said, cutting me off. “Of course I don’t trust you! You tried to do what Nightmare Moon did and take over Equestria! I really don’t understand why Princess Celestia allowed you to stay back here.”

“It’s because my mother has expressed to her how much she misses me being here, and she sees that I truly am sorry for what I did and that I wish to make amends for it. If you don’t trust me, fine, but understand that your teacher may not look favorably on that,” I told her. “I also don’t understand why you don’t trust your friend’s judgments either.Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Apple Jack all trust me and see what Princess Celestia sees,” I continued.

She got an indignant look on her face, but I saw her look soften somewhat. “Is that all you wanted to talk about, because if it is, then we don’t have anything else to talk about. The fact remains that I don’t trust you and it’s going to take a lot in order for me to do so.”

As soon as she said that, I decided that the only way to neutralize this unicorn would be a sneak attack, and a plan formed in my head, but I kept my act up. “No, that isn’t it. I don’t have anywhere that I can stay tonight. Fluttershy is taking care of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Rarity is busy with a big order, Apple Jack and Pinkie Pie have no room, and I can’t walk on clouds, so I can’t stay with Rainbow Dash. I noticed that you have some extra room in the library, I was hoping I could sleep here tonight.”

Twilight thought for a moment before saying, “As a favor to Princess Luna, I’ll let you stay, but only for one night, and only if you pick up all the books that I’ve used today and put them back in the right places.”

“Deal,” I said, starting to move towards the library door. Twilight blocked my path.

“No help either, Spike has been busy all day and he will be going to sleep soon.”

“Fine, no problem Twilight, can we go inside now? It’s getting a little chilly and I need to start picking up your books,” She nodded and started to move towards the door. As we came inside, I looked around and saw just how many books there were out of the shelves, I sighed and started to pick them up, looking at the titles and then putting them away.

“Hey, Twilight?”

“Hmm?”

“A couple things before you go off to bed. First, thank you for letting me stay here, even if it’s just as a favor to my mother. Second, where are your advanced magic books? I’d like to read up on a few things before I go to sleep.”

“The advanced books are on that shelf over by the window,” She said pointing. “And if that’s all, then good night.”

“Good night, Twilight, see you in the morning,” I said to her.

I got to work, but it didn’t take very long, luckily, the books were all stacked in the same subject, so I had all the books in the shelves within an hour.

As soon as I was finished, I walked over to the shelf with the advanced magic books, and after looking for a minute, found the one I needed. After searching through the book, I found the disguise spell I had been looking for. I stepped outside, checked to make sure nopony was around, and used the spell to make myself look like Rarity, then made sure that a couple ponies saw me outside of the library, then went in.

As I went back into the library, I listened to make sure that Twilight wasn’t up. As I silently opened Twilight’s door, I was overjoyed that the unicorn was fast asleep. Sneaking over to the bedside, I started working my magic for the spell that I had created to take out the guards before storming the castle, the Sound Proof, Airtight, bubble-head spell. I snuck up to Twilight’s bed and said to her right as her eyes started to flutter,

“You were right not to trust me!”

As I casted the spell. Her eyes went wide with horror as she started to scream, but not a sound was heard thanks to my spell. The sheer terror and betrayal was the last thing I saw in her eyes before she passed out, then completely going still a few minutes later. I kept the spell on for about ten minutes more to completely make sure that she was gone, then removed the spell.

As I went downstairs, I thought about how too easy that was. I had just single-handedly taken down Celestia’s top student, the bearer of the most powerful element, and the biggest obstacle in my path to taking the throne other than my Aunt.

As I drifted off to sleep, I dreamed of taking down my Aunt, as well as that stupid in-law of mine, Shining Armor. Though, I’d have to do something special for him, something that would teach him not to screw with me.

I awoke the next morning to a loud scream coming from upstairs. I jumped up and looked around, Spike came running down the stairs in a panic. “Prince Francois, come quick, something terrible has happened!”

We hurried upstairs and we saw Twilight’s body in the same position it was in last night. I walked over to her, put my hoof to her neck, and felt no pulse. I turned to Spike and shook my head. He fainted and I ran outside and called for somepony to call a doctor to get over here quickly because something terrible had happened.

When the doctor showed up, he said exactly what I expected him to say.

“She’s gone, it looks to me like she died due to asphyxiation, but there’s nothing blocking her throat and no marks on her neck that says she was strangled. It probably magic that took her life. I’m estimating time of death, sometime last night. I’m getting the authorities involved.”

“Thank you doc,” I said as he left. I turned to Spike, “Spike, how are you feeling? I know this must be a huge shock to you,” The dragon just shook his head and kept pacing around as if he were trying to wake up from a bad dream.

We stayed until the police ponies got there and I told them that after I had cleaned up the library, I had gone to bed and hadn’t heard anything until Spike had screamed that morning. After interviewing us, the police ponies left to go and find more witnesses, while Spike and I went to go break the news to Twilight’s friends.

We had them all gather at the library, they arrived in the order I expected due to their distance from the library. First Rarity, then Pinkie Pie, then Apple Jack, Rainbow Dash, and finally, Fluttershy showed up. They chatted for a few minutes, but they fell silent when Spike and I came downstairs.

“Everypony, thank you for coming,” I said

“I’m afraid that I have some bad news for you all. Your friend, Twilight Sparkle, died last night. The medical examiner said that she died due to asphyxiation, and that it was probably some sort of magic spell that did it. The police are currently investigating all the unicorns in town, as well as trying to find anypony that was out last night that could be a possible witness.”

They all stood there, in shock at what I had just told them. For a while, nopony moved, then, Pinkie’s hair deflated as she started to cry a waterfall of tears, Fluttershy and Rarity fell to their knees and started sobbing, Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash remained standing, but tears welled up in their eyes.

“I know how hard this must be on all of you, but we need to stay strong. If Twilight were here, she’d want us to stay strong for her and find the pony that did this.”

“Wh-what’s going to h-happen t-to the b-b-body?” Fluttershy finally sputtered out.

“I don’t know, honestly. It depends on what her parents and brother want to do.”

At that moment, four police ponies galloped into the library, “THERE SHE IS! GRAB HER!” one of them said as they all tackled Rarity, but her into shackles, and started to take her away.

“What are you doing? Let me go! What have I done?! Ahhhhh!!” Rarity said as they started to drag her outside.

“Officers, wait!” I said. They stopped and looked back at me

“What’s going on? Why are you taking Miss Rarity away?” I asked

“We have three witnesses placing her outside the library last night, around the time of the murder, she’s being charged,” One of the officers answered.

“Rarity, don’t say a word to them, I’ll come down to the station and help you any way you can.” I said, feigning concern for her.

The other four ponies stood there in shock as their friend was taken away in shackles for killing another one of their friends. It was so much for them to take in, Fluttershy actually fainted. After waking her up, we all decided that we would head down to the station together, once Rarity was allowed to have visitors.

As they left, I smiled inwardly, the PPD would be busy trying to gather evidence against Rarity, I would be getting off scot-free, and be free of distractions while I planned out how to take down my aunt… Well, at least the unwanted distractions. I wondered how long it would take for Cloudflower to open up to the idea of a sexual relationship, but that didn’t really matter. As much as I felt I needed to give that mare a good rutting, I needed to keep up the act while I was in Ponyville.

“Spike? Are you still here?” I called out

“Yeah, I’m still here, I’m in Twilight’s room,” I heard him call back.

I walked upstairs and saw him sitting on Twilight’s bed, “Hey, do you think you’d be up to sending a letter to Celestia?” I said to him.

“Sure, as long as you write it, I’m still in too much shock that she’s gone, just like that,” he said snapping his claw.

“I understand Spike, I’ve had somepony that I care deeply about taken from me as well,”

“What makes it especially hard is that I’ve had a crush on Rarity since we first came to Ponyville. I know that she couldn’t have done this, but now I can’t even see her at the boutique.”

“I understand Spike, when my mother was taken from me, I didn’t have anypony to talk to or see. Give me a minute and I’ll write the letter.”

I levitated some parchment over to the desk and started writing,

“Dear Aunt Celestia, something terrible has happened down here in Ponyville. Your student, Twilight Sparkle, died last night and Rarity has been arrested for killing her. I know as well as you that Rarity could never do such a thing.

I know that I just got back, but I would like to ask a favor. Don’t tell Shining Armor or the Sparkle family and allow me to break the news to them when I get back to Canterlot today. Signed, your nephew, Prince Francois.

PS, please tell my mother that I’ll meet her after visiting hours are over at the jail, instead of at noon.”

I handed the letter to Spike and he blew green fire onto the scroll, sending it to its destination.

“Thanks, Spike, I know that this is tough for you, but do you think that you can stay here alone for awhile while I go to the police station to visit Rarity and speak to the lead detective on the case?”

“Yeah, sure, you go ahead,” he said vacantly as I walked out of the room.

As I walked out of the house towards to Ponyville Police Department, my head continued to dance with images of me sitting on the throne, having taken Equestria from my aunt.

When I got to the station, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Apple Jack, and Pinkie Pie, were already there and while they went to go visit Rarity, I went to speak to the lead detective to see what kind of case they had against Rarity. I was directed to the desk of Detective Colt Phelps

“Detective Phelps?” I asked a tan stallion with a short black mane as I walked into the offices.

“Yes?” he replied.

“Hi, I’m Prince Francois, I’m here on behalf of Miss Rarity, I was told to talk to you to see what kind of case you had against her,” I said, extending my hoof to shake.

He took it and we shook, “Sure, the file’s right here, I gotta tell you Francois, it’s gonna be pretty hard to get her off. We’ve got three witnesses that say they saw a pony that fits Rarity’s description outside the library late last night, around when the M.E. says the murder occurred. She doesn’t have anyone to corroborate her alibi because the one person that lives with her was staying at a friend’s house because she apparently was busy with a large order of clothes. Like I said though, nopony can attest to her whereabouts last night at the time of the murder. Plus, because of the M.E.’s report, only a unicorn could have committed the murder because there were no marks on her that suggested that she was physically attacked.”

“How does the M.E. know that it was a murder? Maybe she died from natural causes,” I suggested.

“Because the adrenaline level in her blood was too high for it to be natural. She was in distress when she died. The M.E. says that this case seems pretty cut and dry. We have witnesses placing her at the scene around the time of death, she has no alibi that can be corroborated, she had the opportunity because you and the dragon were sleeping,” The detective said.

“And what, pray-tell, Detective, do you have as a motive? What possible reason could she have to want her best friend dead?”

“From what I’ve seen, jealousy.”

“Jealousy? What could she possibly be jealous of?”

“Well, for one thing, there’s the dragon assistant that she’s used before to dig up gems for her.”

“That seems a bit of a stretch, don’t you think detective? Spike has a crush on Rarity, he has since he and Twilight first came to Ponyville, he’d do anything for her!” I retorted

“While it may be a stretch, it’s the motive that we can see, and I think that a jury will agree. We have motive, we have opportunity, she has no alibi that can be corroborated, and we have witnesses placing her at the scene at the time of the murder. It looks pretty simple to me,” The detective said conclusively.

“Okay, what about me? I’m a unicorn, I was staying in the library with Twilight. Why have I not been arrested?”

“From what the ME has told me and from what I saw at the crime scene, there were no signs of a struggle, which means she knew and trusted her attacker. From what I’ve heard around town, you only got back to Equestria yesterday, correct?”

“Yes, what about it?”

“I also got a report that she started throwing books at you when she first saw you, right?”

“...”

“So it’s pretty obvious if she was attacked by you that we’d see some defensive wounds on her as well as a bruise, black eye, etcetera on you,” Phelps said almost patronizingly.

“Even so, that doesn’t mean that it was Rarity.”

“Well, the DA thinks that it was, otherwise he wouldn’t have placed a warrant for her arrest and charged her with the murder.”

“Well, I guess we’ll see when the trial happens won’t we?”

“Sure will, anything else I can do for you?”

“No, that’s it detective, thanks for your help” I said as we shook hooves as I turned to leave. I smiled as I left; knowing that I had the police department completely fooled and it looked like I was going to get off scot-free.

I then went to go see Rarity to let her know what was happening. As I walked into the visitation area, I noticed them over in the corner. I walked over and waved to Rarity. I then turned to the other four ponies, “Hey guys, can you give Rarity and I a minute? We need to talk alone about what I heard from the lead detective on the case.”

“Alright, c’mon girls, let’s go back into the lobby,” Apple Jack said.

“Good luck Rarity, we know you’re innocent, you could never do something like that to your best friend,” Rainbow Dash said as she left, but I noticed her eyes lingering on me for a few seconds, almost as if she suspected me.

“I hope you’ll be okay in there Rarity, I’ll come visit you every day,” Fluttershy said.

“I’m going to get my party stuff ready for your welcome back party,” Pinkie Pie said.

After the ponies had left, I turned to Rarity and told her everything that Detective Phelps had told me about the case, as expected, she raise the same objections I raised, and I responded the same way that Detective Phelps had. She seemed dejected after I told her everything, but she stayed strong because she needed to for her friends.

“Rarity,” I said finally, “I know this is a tough time right now, but I promise it will get better. I’m a prince, I have some sway, and I expect once Aunt Celestia starts to trust me again, I’ll be able to get a pardon for you even if you get convicted of this.”

Me and your friends know that you could never do something like this, and their case against you is pretty weak. So don’t expect to be convicted, and I will personally make sure that for the short time you are incarcerated, you will have no trouble while you wait for your trial and almost definite acquittal.

“Alright Miss, your time is up, it’s time to head back to your cell,” A guard said to Rarity.

“Rarity, stay strong and you’ll get through this; we’ll come see you tomorrow,” I said as she was taken away.

The other four ponies had apparently gone home, as it was getting late and visiting hours were over. As I walked out of the police station, I was grinning widely. I had the total trust of at least four of them, and had eliminated the strongest of them. It was only a matter of time before the throne was mine and Celestia received the same punishment as I did two hundred years prior.

I made sure to put on a frown and a concerned look when I got to Sugarcube Corner to meet mother so I could get back to the Castle. As I approached, I saw the remnants of tears in her eyes.

“Mother, are you alright?”

“Yes, Francois, I’m fine. I just remember how it was Twilight Sparkle that helped me fit in after my banishment…” then going on to explain what had happened on Nightmare Night the previous year.

I was surprised by this, especially considering the way that Twilight had acted when she saw me, I would have thought that she would have acted the same way towards mother.

“I understand mother, It’s been hard on everypony here, especially since Rarity has been arrested and accused of killing her.”

“WHAT?!” Mother exclaimed.

“Yes, Rarity is sitting in a cell at the Ponyville police station awaiting trial for Twilight’s murder. Did Celestia not tell you?”

“No, she didn’t, but then she was extremely distraught when she came to tell me that Twilight had died and that I needed to come get you after I had raised the moon.”

“Well, I wouldn’t be too worried about Rarity being convicted, the case they have on her is very circumstantial and relies on the testimony of three ponies that claim to have seen a mare that matches Rarity’s description outside the library last night while Spike and Twilight were sleeping,” Upon me saying that, she relaxed.

“Well then, I will sleep better knowing that she won’t be convicted. Come now, Francois, let’s go home.”

“Sure thing mother, did you speak to Cloudflower this morning?” I asked

“I did, actually. She seemed disappointed, but she understood why you stayed in Ponyville and she looks forward to meeting with you tomorrow morning.”

“Okay then, thank you mother, and I apologize again for blowing up at you yesterday when you pressed me about her.”

“It’s alright, my son,” then turning to her guards, “Back to Canterlot, boys.”

As soon as we landed in the courtyard of Canterlot Castle, I walked over to the nearest guard and asked him where Shining Armor was because I had some bad news I had to give him. He told me that he had already gone home for the night, which meant he was in his room with Cadence and Dusk. I thanked the guard and started walking to their room.

Walking down the hallways of the castle again made me think about how satisfying it had been to kill Twilight Sparkle; the sheer look of terror in her eyes as she heard her final words, the way she struggled uselessly against my spell before succoming to lack of air, and how easy it had been to keep the Ponyville Police Department off my flank. I even thought of how Rarity was faring in her jail cell. How delightful I felt, knowing that the Elements couldn’t be used against be this time.

I was snapped out of my pleasant memories as I saw the door to Shining Armor, Cadence, and Dusk’s room up ahead. As I knocked, I made sure to put on a sad face and force a tear or two, just to make it convincing.

“Who is it?” Shining asked through the door.

“I-It’s Prince Francois, Shining… I-I’m afraid I have some bad news for you,” I sobbed through the door.

The door opened revealing a very tired and very annoyed-looking Shining Armor, but his expression softened when he saw the tears in my eyes.

“Francois, what is it?” He asked, worried.

“Y-you may wanna sit down. Get Cadence because she needs to hear this too.”

“Um, alright, come on in and sit down and I’ll go get her.”

I walked in and sat down on the same chair I had sat in two days previous when Shining had thrown me out. Cadence and Shining came out of their bedroom moments later.

“Francois, what a surprise to see you here,” my cousin said as she saw me.

“Alright, Francois, what do you need to tell us?” Shining said as he and Cadence sat on the sofa.

“There’s no real easy way to say this… So I’ll just say it; Twilight died last night.”

They sat in stunned silence for a few moments, then Shining Armor fell off the couch onto his knees and started sobbing. Cadence was able to keep her composure slightly better than her husband, but she too sat on the sofa, head in her hooves, crying.

“H-how d-did this happen?” Shining finally said.

“I don’t know the details, but Rarity has been charged with her murder. I-I don’t know how anypony could have done it. I was sleeping on Twilight’s couch when it happened-”

“YOU WHAT!!” Shining yelled unexpectedly, tears still streaming down his face.

“I was sleeping on her couch. She let me stay at the library because I had nowhere else to stay in Ponyville,” I explained.

“And do you expect me to believe that you didn’t hear anything, or even did it yourself?!” Shining said accusingly.

“That’s enough, Shining!” Cadence yelled out, “I know you’re upset about Twi, but that doesn’t give you the right to speak to him that way!”

“Cadence, you can’t expect me to believe-”

“He has been nothing but nice and cordial to everypony since he came back, and you’ve treated him with nothing but hatred and shunned him for a mistake he made TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO!!! Let it go, forgive him and let him see our daughter,” Cadence yelled at her husband, finally snapping after his treatment towards me. She was rewarded with stunned silence from both me and Shining. The silence was then broken with the sounds of Dusk crying.

“I’ll go take care of Dusky, good night Francois,” Shining said quickly as he left the room.

“Umm… I’ll just see myself out and head back to my room. I just wanted to tell you the news. If you want details, talk to Detective Colt Phelps at the Ponyville Police Department,” I said to Cadence, who was still fuming at her husband.

“Alright then, good night dear cousin. Hopefully that got the message through that thick head of his,” she said, calming down.

“I can only hope, see you and Dusky tomorrow.”

As I walked out, I breathed a sigh of relief that Cadence had stood up for me in there, because I had been hoping he would have been a little too overcome with grief to start throwing accusations around like that.

As I walked down the hall to my room, I fantasized about teaching Shining the last lesson he learned before I would send him to Tartarus to be reunited with his sister:

DON'T FUCK WITH ME!

Author's Notes:

Sorry about the re-post... I'm going to kick my brother's ass for deleting this chapter.

Another Day, Another Death

I awoke the next morning to the sound of laughter. I slowly opened my eyes and for the second morning in a row in Canterlot, I was met with a pair of big, blue eyes. Only these belonged to Cloudflower.

“GAH!!!” I said as I jumped back, drawing another laugh from the pegasus standing next to my bed. As I regained my composure, I realized what was going on and who was in my room, “Miss Cloudflower, would you mind telling me two things: How did you find my room and why are you here?”

“Princess Luna told me where your room was, as far as why I’m here; You didn’t show up at breakfast this morning and I wanted to know why.”

I looked at the clock on the wall and cursed, it was almost one in the afternoon. I shook the drowsiness away and then turned to her, “I’m so sorry Cloudflower, it wasn’t my intention to sleep in like this, and I’d be more than willing to make it up to you by taking you to lunch, my treat.”

She smiled, “That would be nice, though you should probably take a quick shower and comb your mane. I’ll wait at the entrance of the castle.”

“Alright then, I’ll meet you there in about a half hour,” I replied.

As I stepped into the shower, I relished the feeling of the hot water hitting my coat as I got busy to cleaning the sweat and dirt that had built up on me the previous day in Ponyville. So much so that I didn’t hear the bathroom door open. I didn’t even know that anypony was there until the shower stall opened, revealing Cloudflower, a very seductive look on her face. I jumped back in surprise and hit my head on the shelf that held bottles of shampoo and conditioner, causing them to fall to the floor with a crash.

“Miss Cloudflower… Is there a reason that you have interrupted my shower instead of MMPH-” I was cut off as she stepped into the shower and kissed me. I hadn’t been expecting it, so it knocked me off-balance again, causing me to hit my head on the marble wall of the shower. Stars enveloped my vision as I stumbled back to my feet and tried to regain my balance as well as clear the stars from my vision.

Rubbing my aching head, I looked up at Cloudflower, who was blushing so darkly I wondered how she was still conscious, “Miss Cloudflower, would you be so kind as to tell me what you’re doing?” I said as I turned the water off.

“Well, I was thinking that maybe I could have you for lunch,” she said seductively.

“Well then, all you had to do was ask instead of making me hit my head twice,” I said as I toweled off, causing her to blush again.

As I finished, I turned to her, “Now, are you sure you want to do this? You told me that you’ve always been shy and never really had a coltfriend. But now after knowing me all of two days, you’re willing to jump in bed with me. Seems like you’re moving a little fast.”

“I can’t really explain it, but something about you makes me feel like you’re the one I’ve been after, the pony that completes me.”

“I don’t believe that, Miss Cloudflower. You don’t want a pony like me, not after everything I’ve done. Would you like to know why I was gone for so long?”

“What do you mean? You told me that you had been in a distant country to keep away from the bad memories of your mother being banished,” she asked, confused.

“No, that was something that my mother and I came up with in case somepony started asking about it,” I started to explain. I took a deep breath and continued, “I’ve been gone for the past two hundred years because I attempted a coup on Celestia. I killed no less than twelve guards and injured I don’t know how many more, as well as severely wounding Celestia herself. She used the Elements of Harmony against me and sent me to a place called “Earth” and changed me into a human… The only reason that I’m back now is because my mother used some unstable magic that sent her and Rainbow Dash to Earth. It was sheer luck that they found me.”

Cloudflower stood there, absorbing what I had just told her. I looked down at the floor, tears falling off my muzzle, positive that she wouldn’t want to see me again after what I had just told her. After about a minute, I heard her start to move, then felt her hoof raising my chin. As I looked into her eyes, I was surprised that I didn’t see hatred or anger. Instead, I saw compassion, and something I had only seen in my mother’s eyes when she spoke to me… love.

“What you did in the past is the past. What matters is that you’re here now, and while I may not have been sure before, I know it now. Francois, I’m in love with you. While we’ve only known each other a few days, everything that I’ve seen from you and everything you’ve told me shows to me that you are everything I could ever hope for in a coltfriend. You’re sweet, handsome, caring, and above all, honest about the mistakes you’ve made and your willingness to make up for them,” she said to me, wiping a tear off my face.

“Thank you Cloudflower, you don’t know how good that feels to hear. Especially from a mare that I care about…” I trailed off as I looked back into her eyes. As I leaned in to kiss her…

*THUMP THUMP THUMP*

“FRANCOIS! FRANCOIS! OPEN THIS DOOR RIGHT NOW!” I heard my mother yell through my bedroom door.

“Foal of a bitch…” I muttered, “Cloudflower, you hide in the bathroom, and I’ll take care of my mother.”

“Alright,” she whispered back, kissing me on the cheek as she hid in the shower stall.

Stepping out of the bathroom, I saw the door shake on its hinges again as mother continued to pound on the door, “Door’s unlocked, mother, you can come in.”

The door was shrouded in an azure glow as mother’s magic opened it. As she walked in, she looked extremely worried.

“Mother, what’s wrong? I was a little busy, as I’m sure you can tell from my mane and tail being wet.”

“Sorry if I interrupted anything my son, but I just received a letter from Rainbow Dash.”

“What about it?” I asked, concerned.

“It says that she thinks you were behind Twilight’s murder,” she replied, looking even more worried than when she came in.

I wasn’t surprised by this, considering the way she had acted towards me and the look she had given me at the police station, “And what evidence does she have to show that I was involved?”

“She doesn’t, she just says that it’s a gut feeling. Maybe we should go and talk to her about it.”

Realizing what I needed to do, I replied, “Let me go and talk to her alone. She won’t air any real accusations at me if you’re standing next to me the whole time.”

“Are you sure, Francois? It’s no trouble to go with you back to Ponyville to speak to her.”

“No, mother, I’ll be fine. I think she’s just upset that Twi is gone and she’s trying to think of someway that I was involved. Trust me, I’ll be back before Aunt Celestia raises the sun. Could you do me one favor though?”

“What is it?”

“I’m aware that there’s a spell that will allow me to walk on clouds temporarily. I haven’t gotten the chance to practice it. Will you cast it on me so I can meet Rainbow Dash in her Cloudominium?”

“Of course I can. Just hold still and I’ll cast it,” she replied, relaxing slightly, focusing her magic on the spell at hoof.

Her horn started glowing, much like Celestia’s had done a few days prior. A bright burst of magic erupted from her horn and hit me square in the chest, knocking me to the floor. As I rose to my hooves, I felt extremely light on the soft carpet, it was a very strange feeling, and I felt slightly off-balance.

“There you go, my son. Don’t worry about your balance, you’ll get used to it. I’ll go get my guards and tell them to get a chariot ready.”

“Thanks mom, I’ll be out there in a few minutes.”

“No problem, Francois… By the way, Miss Cloudflower, you can come out of the bathroom,” she called out.

Were it not attached to my head, my jaw would have hit the carpet, “H-how did you know she was there?”

“I’m your mother, I know you sometimes better than you know yourself,” she said with a sly grin.

Cloudflower then emerged from the bathroom, blushing darkly, “Hello, your majesty,” she said nervously.

“Hello again Miss Cloudflower. No need to be nervous, I know that you two weren’t up to anything; though I’m sure that whatever it was was leading up to something.” Drawing a blush out of me and causing Cloudflower to turn a darker shade of red.

“I’ll go get that chariot ready for you, it’ll be ready in about ten minutes.”

“Alright, I’ll head over to the kitchen and grab something to eat on the go,” I said, starting toward the door.

“I’ll come with you, besides, I need to get back to the library and keep studying for my mid-terms,” Cloudflower chimed in.

As we all walked our separate ways, mother to her guards’ chambers, Cloudflower and I to the kitchen, I thought of how to handle the Rainbow Dash situation. Should I commit another murder and further increase the suspicion on me? Should I try and reason with her? Should I bring up the fact that I took her into my home and fed her so she could come back to Equestria?

I was pulled out of my contemplations by a royal pegasus guard walking up to me, “Prince Francois?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said, looking at his rank, “sergeant, What can I do for you?”

“I’m sorry for disturbing you, but Princess Celestia has ordered your presence in the throne room. I’m to escort you there now, if you’ll please come with me.”

“What is this about? I have important matters to take care of, both here in Canterlot and in Ponyville!” I sharply responded.

“I’m unaware of the details, but she wishes to speak to you. Please, come with me.” The guard answered.

I rolled my eyes, “Fine, let’s go,” I said, irritated that I wouldn’t be able to grab a bite to eat until I got to Ponyville.

The walk to the throne room was uneventful and the Sergeant walking next to me wasn’t much of a conversationalist, merely introducing himself as, “Sergeant Steel Sword”. When we got to the throne room, the two guards outside the door nodded to Steel Sword as they stepped aside and let us through.

As we walked up to the throne, Steel Sword bowed low, “Your Majesty, I have brought Prince Francois as you requested.”

“Thank you, Sergeant Sword, you can go back to your squad now.”

“Yes ma’am!” the guard said, saluting.

As the guard left Celestia and I alone, I decided to start the conversation, “Alright Aunt Celestia, what is this about? I have some important matters to take care of today.”

“I received a letter from Rainbow Dash today, and she says-”

“That she thinks I had something to do with Twilight’s murder, I know,” I interrupted, “I also know that she has no evidence to show that I did have anything to do with it. And if you, Rainbow Dash, or anypony else has a problem with the way the Ponyville Police Department is conducting their investigation, then speak to Detective Colt Phelps.” I finished.

“Now see here, Prince Francois, Twilight was my most faithful student and the bearer of the Element of Magic. You, Twilight, your mother, and Rainbow Dash all know about what you did. Do you really expect me to believe that you didn’t have anything to do with it?”

“I don’t expect you to believe anything. But ask yourself this: Why, the day after you allowed me to come back, would I try to betray the small amount of trust you gave me, by killing your student and a bearer of the Elements? Going to Earth was absolute Tartarus for me, and it’s something that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy, and I certainly wouldn’t want to jeopardize trust by stepping out of line. Now, if this is all, then we have nothing else to talk about. I have some matters to take care of, goodbye Celestia,” I said, turning around and walking out the door without another word.

I stepped out of the castle and started walking towards the back of the castle where the chariot that mother was readying for me was. As I got closer, I heard the night guard captain complaining, “Your majesty, I really wish you would let my guards and I know ahead of time. We do guard the palace at night and I can’t really afford to have two of my best guards sleeping in because of Prince Francois.”

“Excuse me?” I heard mother say, “Are you questioning my reasons for my son going to Ponyville, Captain Starshine?”

“No ma’am, I was just asking why I wasn’t informed that we’d be going back-”

“Because I was only informed that Francois needed to go back fifteen minutes ago.” Mother interrupted, “If you have a problem with my son needing to go back, then perhaps I need to find a new guard captain. One that won’t argue with my orders, what say you, Lieutenant Nightfall?”

“Your majesty, there’s no need for that. I trust your orders, and I will follow them. “ I heard the captain say as I walked around the corner.

“Good, then mother won’t need to come up with a new captain and she can spend her time on worthwhile things like her royal duties,” I said as I stepped into view, drawing an irritated look from Captain Starshine.

“Hello, Francois, what did Celestia want?” mother asked.

“I don’t want to talk about it here, I’ll tell you when I get back. Right now, I’d like to get to Ponyville so I can straighten everything out with Rainbow Dash,” I said as I climbed into the chariot.

“Alright then, I’ll see you when you get back, I love you.”

“I love you too, mother.” then, turning to the guards, “Let’s go, Ponyville cloudominium is our destination.”

We landed at the complex within a half hour. As I climbed out of the chariot, I turned to the guards, “Thanks guys, you can go and have a drink or something while you wait, I dunno how long this will take. I’ll send a signal when I’m ready to head out.”

“Yes sir!” one of the guards said, saluting.

I walked to the office and found where Rainbow Dash’s condo was and started heading that way, drawing stares from the pegasi that weren’t used to seeing a unicorn walking on clouds, but I ignored them, I had business to take care of.

I knocked on the door of Rainbow Dash’s unit and within a minute, the door opened, revealing Scootaloo.

“Hiya Prince Francois, I guess you’re here to see Rainbow Dash, right?”

“Yes I am, Scootaloo, how did you know?”

“Because she’s only the most awesome, amazing pony there is… That, and she told me you might be coming over,” the filly replied.

“I see, is she here? I do need to speak to her.”

“Yeah, she’s here, come on in, she’s making lunch right now.”

As we walked in, I noticed many nice possessions decorating the walls, mostly Wonderbolt memorabilia; autographed suits, goggles, and pictures among other things.

“Rainbow! Francois is here!” Scootaloo yelled out.

“I’m in the kitchen, bring him in here,” Rainbow Dash yelled back.

As we walked into the kitchen, I saw Rainbow making a dandelion salad with a side of hay fries, which only made me more aware of how hungry I was.

“Hello Rainbow Dash, I know you were expecting me to show up, and I would like to talk to you about the letters you sent my mother and aunt today,” I said to her.

“Sure, just a minute,” the pegasus said. Then, turning to Scootaloo, “Hey squirt, go play outside for a bit, Francois and I need to talk. I’ll call you when lunch is ready.

“Okay Rainbow Dash, I’ll be out by the pool,” the orange filly replied as she walked out of the kitchen.

When I heard the door close, I turned to Rainbow, “Would you like to tell me what that letter was all about? What reason do you have to accuse me of killing Twilight?”

“Hmm, let’s see,” she said sarcastically, “Oh, I know, how about the fact that you were sent to Earth for trying to overthrow Princess Celestia.”

“For your information, Twilight knew that information as well, but she still let me stay at the library that night. I don’t know what problem you have with me, I’ve been nothing but nice to you and everypony else since I came back. You more so because I let you stay in my home after you obliterated my other one.”

“As if we both know you didn’t have an ulterior motive for that!” she yelled back.

“You underestimate what my mother will do for me, Rainbow. All I had to do was say the word and you could have been left on Earth to be poked and prodded by the humans for the rest of your miserable life.” I replied, “But you know what? I didn’t, and how do you repay me? You tell Celestia that you don’t care if she executes me, and now you accuse me of killing Twilight with no evidence to support it and no reason to do so other than what I did, TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO!!” I finished, my anger rising.

“And I haven’t seen how you changed-”

“Okay, Shining Armor,” I interrupted sarcastically.

“Excuse me?” she replied.

“You heard me, you’re behaving the exact way Shining Armor was when he found out about what I did. I haven’t been able to spend any quality time with my niece because of him. And you’re acting the same way.”

“Justifiably so, I would say…” Rainbow trailed off

“I don’t know what your problem is with me Rainbow, and frankly, I don’t care. I’ve been nothing but nice to you and your friends, and I’ll tell you the same thing that I told Celestia, Shining, and anypony else that thinks I had something to do with Twilight’s murder: If you have a problem with the way the PPD is conducting their investigation, then bring it up to Detective Colt Phelps.” I told her. Then, moving closer, until our muzzles were almost touching, “Until then, stay the fuck out of my way and don’t throw around baseless accusa-” I was cut off as she punched me in the lower jaw. I stumbled back, surprised, but furious.

“Oh, so that’s how it’s gonna be. Then come on, bitch, I got a few hooves with your name on them,” I said, readying into a fighting stance.

She pounced toward me, but I had been expecting it and dodged, watching her go nose-first into the back of her couch. She got up quicker than I expected and swept my legs out from under me, putting me on my back. She jumped again, elbow aimed at my chest. I only had enough time to brace myself as it connected with my ribcage. I gasped as I felt my ribs crack, but I rolled away from the assault and got back to my feet.

“Seems you aren’t much of a fighter, Francois,” the pegasus said, blood trickling out of her nose from when she hit her couch.

As I got my wind back, each breath sending another wave of pain through my abdomen, I quickly looked around for something to use as a weapon that she wouldn’t expect.

“What’s wrong, your majesty? Had enough?”

“I have not yet begun to fight,” I wheezed out, grabbing a bust of a Wonderbolt in my hooves and throwing it at her. She ducked and dove at me again, but I was expecting it this time, and rolled out of the way, grabbing the bust in my magic before it hit the wall and sending it at Rainbow Dash again, hitting her in the left wing, smiling when I heard the “pop” that could only mean at least a dislocated wing.

“ARGH! YOU BASTARD!” she yelled in agony, running at me and headbutting me in the ribs, sending me flying back toward the kitchen, flipping over the window and landing on the hard tile floor, feeling something cut my forehead, just over my right eye, quickly making my vision on that side go totally red.

As she made her way back to the kitchen, I felt something metallic underneath my back hoof, I quickly looked and saw the knife that Dash had been using to chop the vegetables. Thinking fast, I grabbed it and hid it under my chest.

“Had enough yet? Or do you want another sonic rainboom?” Rainbow said as she stepped from around the corner.

Not getting up, I looked at her, “Bring it on bitch,” I taunted, wiping the blood from my eye.

“Alright then, you asked for it. YAHHH!” she yelled, jumping.

The next few seconds felt like hours, as she jumped at me, I flipped over and held the knife up, aiming right for her chest, she realized her mistake a split second too late. The knife plunged deep into her chest as she landed on top of me. As I rolled her off of me, I heard ragged breathing.

Struggling to my feet, I looked at the pegasus on the tile floor, the color draining from her face by the second. I looked her in the eye and smiled devilishly, “It would seem that the knife missed your heart, but judging from your breaths, it got your lung. Enjoy suffering for the last few moments of your life.”

She coughed in response, blood spraying from her mouth, “Y-y-you w-won’t get away w-with th-this,” she said weakly. I laughed in response.

“I already have, Rainbow, you attacked first, that makes this self-defense. Before you die, though, would you like to hear a secret?” I said, looking down at the knife protruding from her chest. “You’re accusations were true. I killed Twilight, too bad you’ll never be able to tell anypony.”

“Y-you bast…” she trailed off as she took her final breath.

I limped out of the house and quickly tried to find somepony to call the police and EMT’s about the fight that injured me and killed Rainbow. The EMT’s were the first to show up, followed by the police. After the EMT’s patched up my eye, which had been cut open by the corner of the counter, the police came to get my statement.

“I must say, Prince Francois, I’m surprised to see you again so soon, and with another dead element,” I heard a voice say.

I looked up and found myself looking into the bright yellow eye of Agent Bentgrass of the RIS.

“Special Agent Bentgrass, what are you doing here? I thought you were taking care of a case in Hoofston.”

“Princess Celestia alerted my superiors that she wanted the best that the RIS had to offer to investigate the death of Twilight Sparkle, when I arrived at the PPD, they got the call about Rainbow Dash, so I decided to come and offer my expertise,” he responded.

“Well, you aren’t going to find out much. I came to talk to her about her false accusation against me about Twilight’s murder, she punched me, there was a fight, and it ended with a kitchen knife in her chest. As you can see from my face and ribs, it was self-defense, the only injuries you’ll find on her is a bloody nose and the knife wound,” I said, giving him a quick overview of what had happened.

“How I wish I could believe the story of everypony, it would make my job so much easier. Thank you for your statement, but I’ll be conducting my own investigation and drawing my own conclusions. Have a good day, your majesty,” he replied with a quick smile.

As I watched the white earth pony walk off toward Rainbow’s condo, I wondered when I’d be able to wipe that smug smirk of his face, but that thought was quickly pushed away when the PPD came back to get the rest of my statement.

After they were satisfied with my statement, I sent a signal to tell the guards to come get me. When they landed, they were dumbfounded to see the police and EMS as well as my battered and bruised self.

“Umm, your majesty, if you don’t mind me asking…” the guard trailed off.

“Rainbow and I got into a fight, I need you to take me to the hospital, now.” I replied, climbing into the chariot.

We landed at Ponyville general hospital within a few minutes, as I walked in, I was immediately swarmed by nurses and orderlies asking what had happened. I told them that I had been in a fight and I thought I may have some broken bones. I was quickly taken to an examination room where the doctor took a full-body X-ray.

“Your majesty, you were partially right about having broken bones. From what I can see, you’ve got three cracked ribs and a hairline fracture on your right eye socket. All of that in addition to you needing stitches over your eye.”

“Alright, what are my options?” I asked.

“For the eye injury, it won’t be hard for one of our nurses to fix it up. The ribs are a different story, with all the internal organs around the ribs that are cracked, all we can do is wrap them up and wait for them to heal by themselves.” The doctor responded.

“How long until the ribs are healed?” I inquired.

“It really depends on how severely they’ve been cracked. In your case, however, you should be okay within a month, but if you develop a persistent cough or start coughing blood, you need to see a doctor right away, as those are signs of the ribs causing your lung to collapse,” he replied.

“Okay then, I’ll make sure to avoid any overly stressful activity,” I said, “Can you get the nurse in here to fix my eye? I would like to go back to Canterlot tonight.”

“Sure thing, your majesty, I’ll send in Nurse Redheart to stitch your eye and then send in one of our unicorn nurses to repair the fractured socket.”

“Thanks Doc, I appreciate the help.”

“No problem, your majesty, always happy to help anypony.”

A few minutes later, a white earth pony with a short pink mane that I assumed to be Nurse Redheart walked in and quickly stitched up my eye, she then called for one of the other nurses to come in and fix my eye socket. After doing so, I thanked them both and walked out of the hospital.

As I walked out, the two guards came down with the chariot, “So, your majesty… back to Canterlot?” one of them asked.

“Not quite yet, I need to go to Golden Oaks Library and send word to my mother about what happened.”

“We already took care of that. While you were getting patched up, we flew back to Canterlot and told Princess Luna about what happened, but said that we’d leave the details to you,” the guard responded.

“Thank you Lieutenant, I appreciate it. That’s all I needed to do, so let’s head back to Canterlot,” I said as I climbed in.

“Mind if I catch a ride back?” I heard a voice say.

Spinning around, I found myself again staring into the bright yellow eye of Agent Bentgrass, I jumped back at how close he was.

“GAH! Agent Bentgrass, could you stop doing that?” I said, clutching my chest.

“My apologies, your highness. Nevertheless, my question stands, may I go back to Canterlot with you?” the detective asked.

“Uh, sure, I guess. Climb on up,” I said.

“Thank you, your majesty… And to think, I almost was driving this thing not more than a year ago,” he said with a hint of nostalgia as he climbed into the carriage.

“Let’s head back to Canterlot,” I said to the guards.

While we were in the air, enjoying the cool night and bright moon that my mother had graced everypony with, I turned to Bentgrass, “So, back to Canterlot already? Did you already finish your investigation about Miss Sparkle and Miss Dash?” I asked

“Oh yes, it wasn’t very difficult. I was even able to get Miss Rarity released from jail.”

“How did you manage that?”

“I showed the PPD a way to detect whether or not somepony’s magic was used or not. When I performed the test on Miss Sparkle’s body, it showed that it was, without a doubt, NOT Rarity’s magic that took her life.”

“Is there any way to tell which pony it came from? Or can it just show that it was not a specific pony’s magic?” I said, slowly edging towards the edge furthest away from Bentgrass.

“It can show who it was, as long as the pony in question is there.”

“Ah, I see. And how did your investigation of Miss Dash’s death turn out?” I asked.

“As you said, it looked as if a fight had broken out, and judging from your injuries, you got the worst of it… other than the kitchen knife of course.I did find something that you didn’t tell me about, though.”

“What’s that?” I asked, inching closer to the far end of the carriage.

“Miss Dash had a dislocated wing, which is something that you neglected to tell me or the PPD,” he said, turning towards me.

“Must’ve slipped my mind, I kinda had a big gash over my eye as well as some cracked ribs,” I said sarcastically.

“Now, your majesty, there’s no need for sarcasm. Would you mind telling me when exactly she dislocated her wing?”

“Sure,” I said, finally reaching the edge of the carriage, “after she hit me with the blow that cracked my ribs, I picked up a bust of a Wonderbolt and threw it at her, she didn’t get out of the way in time, and it hit her wing, that’s when she ran and headbutted me through the window back into the kitchen.”

“Well, it certainly seems like you’re capable of defending yourself, but that’s something that should come naturally to y-AHHHHHHH!!!” he screamed as I kicked the door behind him open with one leg and pushed him with the other, sending him flying out of the carriage to his almost certain demise below.

As we landed, the guards looked at each other, then at me with worried expressions. I walked right up to both of them, “Not a word about what happened on the ride back. What happened needed to happen. He knew too much for his own good. If you follow these orders, you both will be handsomely rewarded when I take the crown from Celestia, if you disobey… Well, you saw what happened to Bentgrass. Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal, sir!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Good, now go knock off for the night, I’m sure you both are tired and need your rest,” I said as I walked towards the castle.

As I walked in, I thought back on everything that had transpired, from Cloudflower’s wake up call, to killing Rainbow Dash, to kicking Bentgrass out of the carriage, everything seemed to have started to hit the fan.

“FRANCOIS MIDNIGHT!!” a voice yelled out, pulling me out of my thoughts. I spun around and found myself staring at Princess Celestia.

I rolled my eyes and responded, “Yes, Aunt Celestia?”

“You have been back for not even three days and two of the Elements are dead?! How stupid do you think I am?”

“Excuse me? Look at the bandage over my eye, take a quick X-ray spell and look at my ribs, as well as the various bruises on my face and body. Rainbow attacked me, I fought back, and she ended up dead. I had nothing to do with Twilight’s death, and thanks to you wasting the time of the R.I.S. now the Ponyville Police Department knows what everypony already knew, that Rarity had nothing to do with it either. The P.P.D. is continuing their investigation, and they’ve already cleared me of having anything to do with it. Unless they get some reason to suspect me, they aren’t going to arrest me. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to try and get some sleep, which is gonna be Tartarus because of these cracked ribs. Good night, Aunt Celestia,” I said, turning and walking toward my room without another word.

As I turned down the hallway that led to my room, I saw a teal blur and then was tackled to the floor, sending a fresh wave of pain through my ribs. I groaned in pain as Cloudflower lay on top of me.

“Hello, Francois, I saw you land and thought I’d meet you by your room.” I groaned again in response.

“Cloudflower, please get off me, I’m in a lot of pain right now.”

“Oh! Sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you,” she said, climbing off me.”

“It wasn’t anything you did, I got into a fight with Rainbow Dash and I cracked a few ribs, other than that, I’m fine.”

“You got in a fight? What happened?” she asked frantically.

“I don’t really want to talk about it. It’s just been a hard day today and I want to relax in my room until morning. You’re more than welcome to stay with me tonight, though I can’t really do much because of these ribs.”

“Oh, it’s alright Francois, I’m tired too. I’ve been working all day too, and sleep sounds like just what I need,” she replied, leaning her head onto my shoulder.

I returned the gesture, sneaking a quick peck on her cheek as I did so, “Well then, shall we?” I said as I started towards my room.

“Such a gentlecolt you are.”

“Only to the pretty mares,” I replied with a smile.

“Oh, stop it, you’re making me blush,” she said with a playful jab to my flank.

“But you’re so cute when you’re blushing,” I replied with a mock whine as I opened the door to my room.

As I climbed into bed and stretched out, feeling every bruise from the fight with Rainbow, I had the strange feeling that my time was coming to take the throne. But was pulled out of those thoughts by Cloudflower sliding next to me and resting her head on my chest. In response, I put my foreleg around her and pulled her closer.

“Good night, Francois,” she said, closing her eyes.

“Good night, Cloudflower. I love you.” I said, leaning down to kiss her.

Looking up to return the kiss, she replied, “I love you too, Francois.”

Author's Notes:

Sorry about the long delay between chapters. I had nothing else pre-written after chapter 4. I hope to have Chapter 6 out sooner. But I dunno how long it'll take, I'm going to Nightmare Nights Dallas in November on top of all my other responsibilities. So I hope that you guys will keep your interest while I juggle what life throws at me.

Special thanks to for this chapter: My editors, Jon (RVB504), Brandon, and Doug. My pre-reader, Lars (Card Shuffle). Tweak (Jake the Army Guy) for allowing the use of his OC, Agent Bentgrass. Finally, special thanks to all of you, my readers, for giving me the motivation I need to continue with this story.

Until next time... Stay Safe, Stay Alert, and Secure, Contain, Protect.

A Frantic Wake-Up

I awoke to the clock ringing 10 AM. I opened my eyes to see that Cloudflower was no longer in my bed. I quickly sat up and looked around, I didn’t see her. However, I noticed a piece of paper sitting on the nightstand. I quickly levitated it over to me and started to read:

Dear Francois,

Thank you for letting me stay and I’m sorry that I won’t be there when you wake up, but I had to leave and here is why.

Last night, I couldn’t help but feel like you were hiding something from me, and I couldn’t get to sleep because of it. So I spoke with Princess Celestia about what all that has happened since you came back.

My heart sank at reading those words, knowing that Celestia would tell her everything, especially when Cloudflower would have told her about the relationship that was blossoming. I hoped against hope that it wasn’t the case as I continued reading:

How could you hide so much from me? Before you fell asleep last night, you told me that you loved me, and I truly thought that you meant it. But after what Celestia told me, I have to question that.

I’m sorry, but I have to think about what’s best for me. I thought that you had completely changed for the better, but it turns out I was wrong. I can’t feel safe knowing that I slept in the same bed with you, only hours after you killed somepony else.

Don’t look for me in Canterlot, because I won’t be there, I am taking the first train back to New Horseleans.

Goodbye forever,

Cloudflower.

As I finished reading the letter, I jumped up and started at a gallop out of the castle, hoping that her train hadn’t left yet.

I burst out of the castle, running at a full gallop, only stopping to ask a guard where the train station was. Luckily, it wasn’t very far from the castle, and I knew that Cloudflower would have had to at least wait until Celestia had woken to raise the sun before speaking to her, packing and leaving for the train station.

As I arrived at the station, I looked around the small waiting room for any sign of Cloudflower. Seeing none, I went up to the ticket counter.

“Hello sir, how can I help you today.”

“Have you seen a teal pegasus with a pink and red mane, cutie mark of a dandelion growing out of a cloud?”

“As a matter of fact, I have. She bought a ticket to the train to New Horseleans, and it leaves at… Eleven o’clock from platform three.”

“Thank you!” I yelled as I took off towards the platform, checking the clock as I ran; 10:30, I still had time.

The distance to the platform was further than I expected, because as I got there, I heard an announcement, “Attention Canterlot Station, Eleven O’clock train to New Horseleans boarding now on platform three. Eleven O’clock train to New Horseleans boarding now on platform three, thank you.”

I continued running, dodging ponies so I could try and catch Cloudflower before the train left. Looking around, I saw her in line to get on the train on the other end of the platform, “Cloudflower!” I yelled out, running toward her. She didn’t hear me.

“CLOUDFLOWER!” I yelled out louder when I was closer. She looked over and gasped when she saw me running towards her.

“Francois, what are you doing here?” she asked, surprised.

“I came to talk to you about the letter you left me and to try to explain myself-”

“There’s nothing for you to explain!” she shouted back, cutting me off.

“Cloudflower, please, let me at least hear what Celestia told you and I’ll tell you the real truth.”

“I can’t, the train is leaving soon and I need to be aboard when it does.”

“And if you miss the train, I will personally have the royal night guards give you a private carriage flight back to New Horseleans if you so wish. Just let me explain myself, please.”

She stood there for a moment before speaking again, “Why did you even come out here? Are you worried that I’ll tell anypony else about what you’ve done?”

“NO!” I yelled back, “I came here because I care about you. I love you Cloudflower. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have run all the way out here to at least TRY to convince you to stay. Please, I’m begging you, give me a chance to explain myself,” I said.

She thought for a moment before responding, “Fine… I’ll give you one chance. If for any reason other than I’ll get a private carriage ride back home if you don’t convince me.”

“Thank you, and I promise that you’ll get nothing but the truth from me. Let’s go to the cafe and I’ll explain everything.”

“Lead the way.” she replied.

We walked in silence until we got to the Moonbuck’s cafe right outside the train station. We ordered our drinks and sat in a booth in the corner, far away from anypony else.

“Alright Cloudflower, you first. What did Celestia tell you that I did?” I asked.

“To keep it short... Princess Celestia told me that you went to Ponyville yesterday specifically to kill Rainbow Dash because she had voiced suspicions of you being involved in another murder.”

“Okay, here’s the truth: I went to Ponyville yesterday to see Rainbow Dash, yes. But I went there to talk to her and to ask why she would accuse me of murder with no evidence that shows that I did anything. The discussion got heated, and she threw the first punch. She ended up cracking three of my ribs when she dropped an elbow into my abdomen, fracturing my right eye socket, and gashing my right eye when she knocked me into her kitchen counter. She kept coming, despite the fact that she was overpowering me, and I ended up putting a kitchen knife into her chest when she jumped at me again. I fought back in self-defense, Cloudflower. It wasn’t my intention to kill anypony, much less one of the Elements of Harmony, and even less because I know that if I step out of line, Celestia will banish me again without a second thought.”

Cloudflower sat there for a moment, slowly sipping her drink, taking in everything that I had just told her. I sat across from her, worried that she wouldn’t believe me, despite me having just told her the truth.

It felt like hours before she finally spoke, “Francois, I honestly don’t know what to say…”

Upon hearing those words, I hung my head in sadness, tears starting to form because I knew what she was going to say next… Or so I thought.

“My head is telling me that you’re still hiding something, but my heart believes you. If you really wanted to hide everything from me, you wouldn’t have run out here to stop me from leaving.”

I looked up, tears still in my eyes, “Of course I ran out here to try to stop you. I love you Cloudflower, and I’m not going to let someone I love leave my life without a fight. If you’ll pardon the expression.”

She laughed, “Alright Francois, what would you like to do today? I don’t have anything planned and you’ve convinced me to stay.”

“Why don’t we go out to lunch like we planned to yesterday before mother interrupted us?”

“Okay, that sounds nice. Where do you want to go?”

“Let’s walk around and see what sounds good to us.”

“Okay, that sounds good, maybe after lunch we can go by ‘Donut Joe’s’ and get us some dessert.”

“Okay, let’s go, mare’s first,” I said, opening the door of the coffee shop.

“Still such a gentlecolt,” she said with a smile.

After a nice lunch at one of the less-fancy Canterlot restaurants and a very sweet dessert from Donut Joe’s shop, we decided to head back to the castle and just spend the rest of the day together.

As we walked into the castle, it seemed that Cloudflower had something else in mind as to how to spend the day.

“Francois?” she asked

“Hmm?”

“Since I didn’t really stay and sleep with you last night, I’m kinda tired already. Do you think we could go and take a nap in your room?”

“Of course we can. I got woken up by my clock at ten and I’ve been running on adrenaline since I read your note. So I’m kinda tired too.”

As we walked down the hall, I half expected for Celestia to come out and start yelling at me for something else she thought I did. But we got to my room without a hitch.

As I got back into my bed, I looked and saw Cloudflower lock the door, “What was that for?” I asked.

She opened her wings and flew right at me, kissing me hard and passionately. The kiss went on for what felt like hours, but was probably only a minute or so. As we broke the kiss Cloudflower smiled and said, “That’s why I locked the door…” she trailed off as she leaned forward to kiss me again.

I’m surprised we didn’t have anyone come knocking on my door with all the noise we made that afternoon.

Author's Notes:

Sorry for such a short chapter, but this is all I could get onto my keyboard and I want to have the big conflict have it's own chapter.

Thank you all again for reading, liking, and favoriting. I love all of you.

Until next chapter.

Stay Safe, Stay Alert, and Secure, Contain, Protect.

Gathering Allies

I woke to a pain in my ribs, I looked down and saw Cloudflower with her head resting on the ribs that I had cracked the previous day in the fight with Rainbow Dash. I considered the pros and cons of moving or not, but in the end, the pain in my ribs won out. I gently reached down and put her head on my shoulder, giving my ribs some relief. In doing so, however, I accidentally woke her up.

“Hello Francois, what time is it?” she asked sleepily.

I looked at the clock on the wall and saw that it was a few minutes after two. I turned and looked out my window to see darkness, “It’s just after two in the morning. Let’s go back to sleep. Sorry I woke you up, you were laying on my injured ribs.”

“That sounds good to me. Sorry about the ribs.”

“After the time we had this afternoon, you don’t need to apologize for anything. I had no idea that you were that flexible.” I joked.

“It just comes naturally from me being a pegasus.” She replied with a smile.

“Well, maybe you can show me more in the morning. But for now, let’s go back to sleep, you wore me out.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, you wore me out too.” she said. Laying her head back on my shoulder and falling asleep almost instantly. I kissed her forehead and lay back on my pillow and fell asleep a few minutes later.

I awoke again to the sound of somepony pounding on my door, I sat up and looked at the clock; 9 AM. Cloudflower was still sleeping, but had moved off of my shoulder during the night.

THUMP THUMP THUMP

I quickly jumped up and ran to the door to see who it was. I opened the door and saw Sergeant Steel Sword standing in the doorway.

“What do you want Sergeant? I was asleep.”

“I apologize, your majesty, but Princess Luna would like to see you in her room.”

“Alright, give me a minute.” I replied, walking back into my room.

Walking over to Cloudflower, I gently shook her awake, “Cloudflower, wake up.”

She slowly opened her eyes, “Hmmm, what is it?” she asked drowsily.

“Hey, I just wanted to let you know that I have to go see my mother. So if I’m not back by the time you get up, you know where I am.”

“Okay, Francois,” she replied.

“I shouldn’t be too long. I love you.”

“Love you too,” she said, drifting back off to sleep as I walked back to the door.

I stepped out of my room and said to the sergeant, “Lead the way.”

As we walked out down the hallways that led to my mother’s room, I couldn’t help but wonder why she sent a guard instead of coming to my room herself. I decided to ask her when we got to her room.

Unexpectedly though, the pegasus guard made a turn that I knew didn’t lead to mother’s room. I called out to him, “Sergeant, my mother’s room is this way.” I said, pointing.

“She’s not in her room, she’s in her study, which is this way,” he replied.

I started to follow when I got the feeling that I was being watched. I spun around just in time to see two unicorn guards disappear in the hallway that led back to my room. I quickly fired a counter-spell to reveal them again as I readied into a fighting stance.

“Your Majesty? What are you doing?” I heard the sergeant call out. I ignored him.

“Sergeant, no need to play along anymore, I think he realizes that his mother didn’t send you.” I heard an all-too-familiar voice call out.

I turned and looked down the hallway that led to my mother’s room and saw Celestia.

“Celestia, what’s this about?” I demanded.

“I think you know, Prince Francois. Does the name ‘Agent Bentgrass’ ring a bell?” she sharply responded.

“I know that he’s the R.I.S. agent that you sent to Ponyville. As for what he has to do with me, I don’t know.” I lied.

“I just spoke with Director Top Notch from the R.I.S. and he told me that Agent Bentgrass has not checked in. I also spoke with the Ponyville Police Department and they told me that they saw him getting onto your carriage two nights ago.”

“What about it?” I asked

“When you landed that night, you were alone. Care to explain? Or should we just waive the formalities and put you right in jail where you belong?”

“You’re gonna have to do better than that Celestia. You can’t prove anything.” I said smugly.

“She may not, but I sure can.” I froze at that voice, it couldn’t be…

Agent Bentgrass stepped into view from behind my aunt. His yellow eye bandaged over, his left foreleg and right hind leg in a cast, but unmistakably alive.

“How!? How could you have survived that?! You fell what had to be a hundred feet!” I yelled out, unable to control myself.

“I’m more durable than you give me credit for, your majesty. I’ve taken worse punishment before,” he coolly responded.

“Enough talk, Francois! You are under arrest for the attempted murder of a law enforcement agent. Are you going to come quietly, or does this need to escalate further?” Celestia yelled out.

“You’re gonna have to catch me first.” I said, charging directly at sergeant Sword. As expected, he braced himself. A split second before I would have collided with him, I teleported onto the windowsill behind him. As Celestia and the two unicorn guards came around the corner, I gave a quick, mocking salute, and jumped to the ground outside the castle.

As soon as I hit the ground, I took off at a gallop towards the Lunar Guard barracks, knowing that Lieutenant Nightfall would be able to help me lay low for the time being.

I ran into the barracks and quickly looked around for Nightfall’s room, finding it, I ran to the door and knocked. A moment later, I heard hoofsteps and the door opened, revealing a tired-looking Lieutenant Nightfall.

“Prince Francois, what’s this about?” he asked groggily.

“No time to explain, you’ve gotta hide me. Celestia and the solar guards are looking for me, I need somewhere to lay low.” I said quickly.

He looked around to make sure the coast was clear, then waved me in and led me to a trapdoor in the corner of the room.

“You should be able to hide down there. First though, you need to explain what’s going on. Why are Celestia and the Solar Guards after you?”

“Agent Bentrass is stronger than I thought. Somehow he survived that fall a couple nights ago. Now I need somewhere to hide until I can get out of Canterlot.”

The lunar guard stood there for a minute before saying, “Alright, get down there, I’ll be down tonight when the guards change shifts so you can get out. There should be some food, water and some beds down there so you can sleep if you need to.”

“You have my eternal gratitude, Lieutenant.” I said as I climbed down the dusty ladder.

The trapdoor closed and I was plunged into darkness, I remedied this by lighting my horn and continuing to climb down. Upon reaching the bottom, I found just what Lieutenant Nightfall had said was down here: a small cupboard with enough food for about a week, a well that seemed almost full, and a few old beds.

Before laying down to sleep, I decided to look around and see if there was anything else I could find. I walked around, casting the light from my horn into every corner I could find until I saw something. Moving closer I saw that it was a desk, and upon further inspection, found it well stocked with parchment, quills, and ink.

I suddenly remembered Cloudflower and decided to at least give her an explanation about what had happened.

Dear Cloudflower,

I know that this letter will both hurt and enrage you, and while I don’t deserve it, I ask that you try to find it in your heart to forgive me.

I am leaving Equestria because of crimes that I committed. Two nights ago when you saw me land alone, I didn’t take off on that carriage alone. When I left Ponyville, I had Special Agent Bentgrass of the R.I.S. aboard. While he was aboard, my anger got the best of me and I threw him from the carriage in an attempt to kill him. He ended up surviving and telling Celestia, which is necessitating my leave of this country.

From the bottom of my heart, I am sorry for everything that I have told you that was a lie. But know that when I told you how I felt about you, I told the truth. I love you still Cloudflower, and I always will. My only wish is that you will find happiness in whatever you pursue.

Love always,

Prince Francois Midnight.

I finished the letter and sealed it, making a mental note to give it to Lieutenant Nightfall when he came to get me. I stood up and stretched out, drowsiness starting to set in as I came down from the adrenaline rush. I walked over to one of the old beds and used a quick spell to get rid of the dust that had accumulated on the sheets. I laid down and soon drifted off to sleep.

I was woken up what seemed a few minutes later by Lieutenant Nightfall and the other Lunar Guard that drove the carriage the day I killed Rainbow Dash.

“Your highness, It is now night and the shifts have changed, it is safe for you to leave now. However, Lieutenant Nightfall and I cannot stay either. We know that you cannot hope to defeat Celestia and the Solar Guards by yourself, and we know of allies that would be more than willing to help.”

“Who might they be, Corporal…?”

“Moonlight, sir, and they are our kind; the Thestrals, or as we are mocked, the ‘Bat Ponies’. They have been oppressed since your mother was originally banished to the moon, and are only allowed to leave our underground cities when Princess Luna needs more Lunar Guards. Our numbers are many, most of them with military experience because of your mother only taking the best soldiers for her guard.”

I stood there for a moment, stunned at what I had just heard, overwhelmed at the information just given to me.

“Corporal Moonlight, I honestly don’t know what to say…” I trailed off.

“Just promise us this, when you take down that tyrannical overlord of the sun, you allow our kind out into the world. We have been underground for far too long and would like to have the freedom to explore,” Lieutenant Nightfall said.

“Corporal Moonlight, Lieutenant Nightfall, I promise that when the throne is mine, the Thestrals will have all the same freedoms as any other pony,” I replied to the night guards.

“Well then, shall we be off? We have a good day, maybe day and a half trip ahead of us to get to our territory.”

“We? Us? What are you talking about?” I asked

“Think about this, your highness. You attempted to kill Bentgrass and he survived. We, as per your instructions, did not tell a soul. We’re leaving Canterlot with you not only because if we don’t, we’ll most likely be put in jail. You also don’t know where the entrance to our territory is, and the Thestrals will be a little more receptive to two of their own kind with a royal pony rather than a royal pony by himself,” Lieutenant Nightfall explained.

“...Good point,” was all I could say in response.

“Good, now let’s go, we need to get out of here before daybreak,” Moonlight said.

“Wait, shouldn’t we get some provisions or-”

“We’ve already taken care of food, water, saddlebags, and we even managed to snag an old carriage,” Nightfall interrupted. “We need to leave now. Why are you stalling?”

I sighed as I pulled out the letter to Cloudflower, “I felt I deserve giving her an explanation before I just dissapear.”

“Fine, we can delay for about five minutes. If you aren’t back by then, we’re gonna have to wait another day,” Moonlight said impatiently.

Without waiting for another word, I ran to the ladder and started climbing, hoping I could get to my room and back without being spotted and in enough time that I wouldn’t have to wait another day. As I climbed out the trapdoor, I immediately used a teleport spell to get me closer to my room, but not so close that I would be spotted if there was a guard or two outside.

I did everything I could to keep quiet as I walked on the hard marble floor of the castle on the way to my room, making sure to keep my eyes peeled for any of the solar guards, or even Celestia herself. As I approached the hallway that led to my room, I took a quick peek and saw what I feared, a unicorn solar guard standing outside my door, and no doubt another one inside.

Realizing that I didn’t have much time to get back, I decided to risk it and teleport into my room, drop the letter off, and teleport out. If there was another guard in the room, I could quickly evade him and hopefully get back in time to take off. I braced myself for the worst, thought hard about the inside of my room and casted the teleport.

“What the hay?!” I heard a voice say as I landed, I didn’t give whoever it was a chance to react. I dropped the letter, teleported back outside and took off at a gallop back towards the barracks where Nightfall and Moonlight were packing up the carriage.

“Guys! We need to leave, there was a guard in my room, I don’t know how long we have until they start looking for me again,” I panted out as I ran up to them.

They looked at each other and nodded, “Alright, let’s go now, luckily we’ve been packing up the carriage to go hide it, but he have enough time to leave,” Moonlight replied.

“Alright, then let’s go. It’ll be nice to be back home.” Nightfall said.

They hooked up the carriage and we took off into the night.

Author's Notes:

Hey everyone, sorry about the long delay between chapters, but with all the holidays that have gone on and will be happening this month (including my son's birthday on the 20th) I just haven't had the time to write much. I hope that this short little chapter will sate you guys for now.

Love you guys always and until next time.

Stay Safe, Stay Alert, and Secure, Contain, Protect.

The Land of the Thestrals

We flew across Equestria until just after sunup. Nightfall spotted a cave on the edge of a forest and we stayed there for the day so the guards could get some rest. Since I had slept on the carriage, I decided to keep a lookout for anypony that might come out this way.

After about three hours of watching nothing but rolling green fields and not a single creature having crossed into my view, I decided to look around the forest on the outside of our small shelter to try and find something to occupy my time.

I stepped out of the cave and headed into the forest, going only far enough in so I wouldn’t lose view of the cave. The foliage was thick, but I managed to walk around without too much trouble. Once I got my bearings, I started to look around; I didn’t find much, a few big moss-covered rocks, a bunch of trees, and an old rotten log covered in mushrooms.

I was about to head back to the cave when I saw a green glow about fifty feet away. While it would take me out of view of the cave; I decided to check it out anyway. I couldn’t figure out what it was, and still couldn’t as I got closer. When I was about ten feet away, it suddenly moved; when it did, I saw another five green glows from elsewhere in the forest. I then suddenly got the feeling that I had just been led into a trap. My suspicions were confirmed when five timber-wolves came springing out of the bushes around me.

Not giving them a chance to surround me, I immediately took of running back towards the cave, the timber-wolves hot on my tail. I jumped over the thick foliage as best I could, but I ended up tripping over a vine and falling next to one of the big rocks that I had seen earlier. I couldn’t believe that it was going to end like this, devoured by a pack of timber-wolves in some backwater jungle. I closed my eyes and thought of Cloudflower and my mother; the two ponies I loved the most…

“YAAAAAHHH!!!!!” I heard a voice call out, then heard a crash as something knocked one of the timber-wolves to pieces, followed by four more crashes as whoever my savior was quickly kicked apart the others in the pack.

“Hey there, stranger, you alright? The timber-wolves are gone,” a feminine voice said.

I slowly opened my eyes to see a pony dressed in dark blue armor, holding a spear in her hooves.

“I think so…” I said, getting up and checking myself for any injuries. Other than some soreness in my shoulder where I hit the rock, I was fine.

“What are you doing out here? These woods are more full of Timber-wolves, manticores, and a bunch of other monsters than even the Everfree Forest. You’re lucky that I was around and heard you fall and hit that rock, or you’d be in five different stomachs right now!” The pony said, scolding me as if I were a child.

“My companions and I are taking shelter in a cave back that way, we’re on our way to the land of the Thestrals and they have been flying all night. I decided to go look around while they were sleeping to try and pass the time until nightfall.”

“Well, it seems you’re in more luck than you thought,” she said, pulling off her chest armor to reveal her wings, long and leathery, just like a thestral’s.

“Y-you’re a thestral? My companions said that there was still another day for us to fly to get to your territory.”

“Just who are your companions anyway?” she asked.

“I know them as Corporal Moonlight and Lieutenant Nightfall, both members of Princess Luna’s royal guard.”

“Did you say ‘Nightfall’?” she asked.

“Yes, why?”

“Can you take me to the cave? I think I know Nightfall.”

“Sure, I guess, it’s back this way. Come on.”

We walked back to the cave to find Nightfall and Moonlight in the same positions as when I left them. “They sure are hard sleepers,” I murmured to myself. The stranger thestral walked over to Nightfall and looked hard into his face.

“Father? Is that you?” she asked

Father? How old was Nightfall? He looked to me as old as twenty-seven, maybe twenty-eight. How could he have a daughter this old. I chalked it up to thestrals probably aging differently from normal ponies.

Nightfall twitched in his sleep, but didn’t wake up. I decided to step in and get the guard up. I walked up to him and gave him a quick shock spell, he jerked up and looked around, suddenly alert.

“Prince Francois what was that all about…” he trailed off when he saw the you thestral next to me.

“Father, is that you?” she asked again.

“Starlight?”

They stood there, frozen in place for what seemed like an eternity before she jumped forward and embraced her father in an ursa hug, tears streaming down both of their faces.

“Father, it’s been thirty years. What has taken so long?” Starlight finally said.

“You don’t know? Once a Thestral is taken for Princess Luna’s guard, he can never go back.”

“But you’re coming back now? And with one that’s not of our kind? What is happening?”

“Prince Francois, Corporal Moonlight, and I will answer all of your questions-”

“PRINCE!? YOU BROUGHT A ROYAL PONY TO OUR LANDS?!” Starlight suddenly yelled out, cutting off her father and waking up Moonlight.

“Starlight, that’s enough! I told you I would explain!” Nightfall scolded his daughter.

“Then start explaining,” she replied coldly.

“Prince Francois is not like Celestia or even like his mother, Princess Luna. He is trying to build an army to take them both down and he has promised that once he is on the throne, his first act will be to repeal the law that states that we cannot be above ground. In return, we give him our support in both toppling the regime of the sun goddess, and establishing his rule.”

“Do you really think we’d desert our posts and bring a royal pony back to our home without a reasonable explanation?” Moonlight chimed in.

“Alright, you’ve made your point.”

“Since we’re on the subject of ‘who, what, where’. Why exactly are you aboveground?” Nightfall said.

“It’d be easier to show you father rather than tell you. If you guys will follow me, you’ll find that you’re not as far from home as you thought,” she said, walking out of the cave.

We followed her for about a mile until we came upon what appeared to be an abandoned mineshaft.

“This is where we need to head down. I hope you can see well in the dark Prince Francois.”

“I’m the son of the princess of the night and a unicorn to boot. Do you really think I would be put off by that?” I said sarcastically.

“Then let’s go. Father, stick close to me. Moonlight, bring up the rear. Francois, stay in the middle of us.” Starlight said, lining us up.

“Got it. Dear Luna, it’ll be good to be back home…” Moonlight said with a sigh.

We started walking and it became clear very quickly that this was no mineshaft. There was a clear lack of digging equipment lying around and the shaft was a little too uniform. Going deeper I started hearing voices calling out to one another.

“Hey, can somepony help me with this?” one voice called out.

“Be right there!” another shouted back.

As we got closer to the voices I heard more and more voices until I could no longer decipher what each thestral was saying to one another. I saw some light up ahead and figured that at least a small crowd of thestrals was there.

When we stepped through the hole that held the light, I was greeted with what was an enormous underground city, easily the size of a place like Manehatten.

But when we stepped into view, what I saw wasn’t all that got my attention… All the voices I had been hearing suddenly stopped.

“Is that a unicorn?” I heard a small whisper

“Are those two with him Lunar Guards?” I heard another.

“CITIZENS OF ECLIPSE CITY!” Starlight yelled out, garnering the attention of the thestrals that hadn’t noticed us yet.

“YOU MAY KNOW ME AS STARLIGHT, THE CAPTAIN OF THE CITY GUARD! I HAVE COME TODAY TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE VISITORS THAT ARE UNDER MY FORMAL PROTECTION! IF ANY HARM COMES TO THEM WHILE THEY ARE HERE, ALL OF YOU SHALL BE PUNISHED HARSHLY!” she finished, putting emphasis on the word “harshly”.

She stepped down from her makeshift perch and led us towards a path that led towards the middle of town.

“That was for your own protection, Francois. If any of these thestrals were to find out who you were or what your position was, they would tear you to shreds.”

“Understood, thank you for that.” I replied.

We walked through town, drawing stares from every thestral we passed. As we walked, I couldn’t help but be amazed at how large the populace was. Obviously being forced to stay underground wasn’t going to keep them from prospering.

I was so distracted that I didn’t notice a child’s ball flying right towards me until it hit me in the side of the head. I looked around for whoever had thrown the ball and I saw a thestral foal hiding behind a couple of crates in an alley.

“Hey guys, hold up a second.” I said to the group as I picked up the ball in my magic and walked over to where the foal was hiding.

Upon seeing me coming, the foal reacted as I expected, trying to go further into his or her hiding place. As I walked up the the entrance of the alley, I knelt down and held the ball out to the foal.

“Hey there, is this yours?” I said soothingly.

“Y-yes,” the foal replied.

“Well here, it’s okay, I understand that accidents happen. What’s your name?”

“Solstice,” he said, crawling out from under the crates and taking the ball.

“Hello, Solstice, I’m Francois. It’s very nice to meet you.”

“Are you here to take my daddy away to be your guard?” he asked with a worried expression on his face. I laughed in response.

“Of course not. I’m here to talk to the leaders about helping me. Tell you what, how about you come with me?”

“Can I bring my ball with me?”

“Of course, come on and hop on my back.”

He came out of the alley and jumped onto my back, using his small wings to give him a bit of a lift in getting up that high.

As I walked back up to the group, Starlight rolled her eyes and said, “Are you quite done? We do still have a ways to go until we’re at the council’s chambers.”

“Yes, I’m ready. By the way, everypony, this is my new friend, Solstice.”

“H-hello…” he stuttered out.

Everyone else gave a small hello and we kept walking, Solstice keeping himself entertained by bouncing the ball off his head, and me retrieving it for him whenever he lost it.

“Um, Francois?” Solstice said after I retrieved his ball for the fourth time.

“Yes?”

“If you’re not down here for new royal guards, why are you here?”

I smiled, “I’m here because there are some things that need to be done that will benefit both me and the Thestral race.”

“How exactly will you help us?”

“I’ll repeal the law that states that you must stay underground. You’ll all be able to go out into the world and be able to aspire to be something more than a lunar guard.”

“And how will we help you?”

“You’re just full of questions aren’t you?”

“I’m just curious because it’s not often we have a pony come visit us. And when it happens, it’s Princess Luna and she takes a few of our best soldiers and they never come back. She took my best friend’s dad last time she came.”

“I understand; Your people will help me by fighting to have me on the throne instead of Princess Celestia. I’ve come here to try and convince your leaders to help me. Now if you don’t mind, I would like to think about what to say to your leaders when I get to their chambers. Go back to playing with your ball, I’ll keep getting it for you if and when you lose it.”

“Okay, Francois,” he said.

We walked for about a half-hour longer before we came to the entrance of what I assumed to be the council building. As we walked up to it, a pair of guards saluted Starlight and allowed us entry.

We walked into the building and were greeted by a receptionist that looked extremely bored until she saw Starlight.

“Oh, hello Captain, what can I do for you?” she asked, looking extremely embarrassed for slacking off.

“Is the council available at the moment? I have some extremely important matters that need to be discussed.”

“Let me check,” she said, looking through an appointment book, “I don’t see anything on the docket for another two hours. So you should be able to go in. I’ll let them know you’re coming.”

“Thank you,” Starlight said, walking down one of the hallways and motioning for us to follow.

As we walked down the hallway, I realized how foolish I would look with a foal on my back, “Hey Solstice?” I said

“Yeah?”

“Go ahead and climb down from me so I can talk to the council. If you still want to ride on somepony’s back, I’m sure Corporal Moonlight or Lieutenant Nightfall would be okay with it.”

“Okay,” he said, climbing down. He immediately went over to Moonlight and the guard bent down and let him up, casting an annoyed look my way. I shrugged in response.

When we got to the council chambers, we had to wait for a few minutes before they were ready for us. As we walked in, I was so nervous, I was nearly shaking, but I was able to keep my composure as we were led into the chamber and directed to a spot in the middle of the room where I was looking at the raised desks of seven thestrals.

“Captain Starlight, who is this unicorn and these two lunar guards you have brought before us?” asked one of the council.

“The lunar guards are Moonlight and Nightfall, Nightfall is my father, taken by Princess Luna thirty years ago. I have never met Moonlight before today. As for the unicorn, I would like for him to introduce himself.”

“As you wish. Unicorn, what is your name and why have you come to our lands.”

“My name is Francois Midnight and I am the son of Princess Luna. I have-”

“SON! PRINCESS LUNA!” one of the council members shouted out, cutting me off.

“Councilman Pitch, control yourself!” the head of the council said sharply. Then, turning back to me, “Please continue Prince Francois”

“Thank you. I have come because I have a proposition that will benefit both of us…” I went on to explain what had happened, the help I needed, and how I would help them if they decided to help me.

“I have two other requests, but they will be irrelevant if you decide not to help me.” I said, finishing my plea to the council.

After I was finished, they discussed amongst themselves for what felt like hours, but eventually came to a consensus.

“Prince Francois Midnight, after deliberation, we have put it to a vote, each council member will put hooves up or hooves down on their decision. Council, please show your votes now.”

One by one, they each put up their vote, I stood on shaky legs hoping that I had done enough to convince them. The first council member gave a hooves up, the second also gave a hooves up, then the third with a hooves up. I began to relax until I saw the fourth and fifth members give a hooves down, then came Councilman Pitch, and wasn’t surprised when he also gave a hooves down. It came down to the tie-breaker of the head council member. I looked down at the floor and hoped that I had convinced the last member.

“Prince Francois Midnight, before I cast my vote, what are your two requests if we decide to help you?”

I looked up and said, “If you decide to help me, I request that I receive combat training from your soldiers before we attack Canterlot. I was only able to take down Twilight Sparkle because I attacked in her sleep. When I fought Rainbow Dash, she kicked my flank, and was only able to kill her because of sheer luck that there was a knife in the room.”

“And your second request?”

“I request that any soldier that has a foal that is underage be held out of the battle for Canterlot. I know what it’s like to grow up without parents and I don’t want any foals, especially foals like my new friend Solstice, to not have their parents around,” I finished.

“Head Councilman Eclipse?” Councilman Pitch asked.

“Yes?” replied the elder thestral.

“I wish to change my vote. Prince Francois has convinced me that he does not want our help for his personal gain.”

“Me as well,” said another council member.

“Same here,” replied another.

“Well then, it seems that we are unanimous.” said the head councilman

“You mean…” I started.

“Prince Francois Midnight, you have our promise of assistance, both in putting you on the throne and establishing your rule over the lands of Equestria and the Thestral Kingdom. Your other requests are also approved. You will receive the same combat training as our military and any soldier that has a foal under the age of fifteen will be held out of the main battle for Canterlot.”

“I don’t know what to say, councilman…”

“Do you have any questions?”

“How soon can I start my training and how soon will your forces be ready to march on Canterlot.”

“You can start your training tomorrow. As for how long until we can march on Canterlot; I will have to speak to our military leaders before I can answer that.”

Turning to Moonlight and Nightfall, I said to them, “Both of you, thank you for everything. I think that you should both go meet with the military leaders because you guys have extensive knowledge about how Canterlot is protected, as well as knowing when the guards change shifts, etcetera.”

“Are you sure, Francois?” asked Moonlight.

“Yes, I’ll be fine, just go do your part to help liberate your people. I’ll be doing my part tomorrow.”

When we left the council building, Solstice jumped off Moonlight’s back and came over to me.

“Prince Francois?”

“Yes, my little friend?”

“Thank you…”

“For what?”

“Making sure my dad wouldn’t be leaving to go fight.”

I smiled at that, “Solstice, I was telling the truth when I said that I knew what it was like to grow up without parents. My mother was banished to the moon when I was only a few years older than you. I never knew my father, and neither my mother or my aunt would say anything to me about him other than he’s where I got the red stripe in my mane. I know how bad it can hurt to not have your parents around, and that’s a pain I wouldn’t want inflicted on my worst enemy.”

“Is there anything I can do to repay you for this?”

I was taken aback at this, but thought for a moment before responding, “Actually, there is. Take me to your house so I can meet your parents.”

“Okay, luckily I don’t live too far from here, let’s go.”

“Okay, give me a minute so I can tell Starlight.”

I went over and told her that I was going with Solstice to his house, and that I’d meet her back at the council building in a couple hours, then went back and started following Solstice to his house.

While we were walking, he kept looking up at me expectantly, I wasn’t sure what for until I remembered that he had enjoyed riding on my back. I picked up him and his ball in my magic and put him up on my back, to which he laughed and started playing with his ball again while giving me directions to his house.

We arrived at his house after about fifteen minutes of walking. He climbed down and knocked on the door. A few seconds passed and the door opened, revealing a thestral I assumed to be Solstice’s father.

“Hey dad!” Solstice said excitedly and hugging the stallion.

“Hey son, who’s this?”

“This is my new friend, Francois, he’s come to help us.”

“Help us how?” he asked

“I’ll explain if you’d like,” I cut in.

“Umm, sure, come on in. Solstice, go wash up for dinner.”

“Okay dad,” the colt said as he ran inside.

We walked into the house and into the living room, Solstice’s father sat down in a recliner and I took a seat on the sofa next to him.

“So what’s my son talking about when he says ‘you’re here to help us’?” he asked.

I went on to explain why I was here and what I planned to do.

“And how exactly does my son fit into this?”

“He doesn’t; while I was on my way to meet the council, he accidently hit me in the head with his ball, I went over to return it to him, and we just became friends.”

“How exactly?”

I explained what had happened between Solstice and I, both in first meeting and the conversation we had on the way to the council building.

“Well, Prince Francois, I must say that I’m grateful for what you’re doing. But with me being one of the best soldiers, I’ll be out there fighting-”

“No you won’t,” I said, cutting him off, “I spoke with the council and they said that any thestral with a foal under the age of fifteen will not participate in the battle for Canterlot. That was my request because I know how painful it is to grow up without parents.”

“Francois, I’m not sure what to do to repay you for this…”

“Having your son as a friend is enough, he’s such a smart little colt… Though now that I think of it; you said that you’re one of the top soldiers, right?”

“Yes…”

“I’ll need somepony to give me combat training so I’ll be able to fight against the solar guards. I would think that nopony would be better than you.”

He thought for a moment before nodding, “Alright, Francois, I’ll train you. You can even stay in our guest bedroom while you wait for the rest of the military to assemble and get ready to march on Canterlot.”

“That sounds fantastic, and I’m sure that Solstice will be happy as well. By the way, I never caught your name.”

“Blackout, my wife’s name is Darkside, but she’s out of town on deployment right now and won’t be back for another four months.” he replied.

He then called down the hallway, “Solstice! Dinner is ready!”

“Okay, I’m coming.” I heard him shout back.

After eating dinner with them, I suddenly remembered about Starlight. I told Blackout that I needed to go back to the council building to tell her that I’d be staying here, but he stopped me and told me that he’d go himself because he could get there faster.

While he was gone, Solstice and I went out into his backyard area to play for a few minutes before his bedtime. Mostly it was just him trying to get the ball passed me without me catching it in my magic. I eventually let him win when Blackout came landing in the backyard a few minutes later to tell Solstice that it was bedtime.

“I think I’m gonna hit the hay too, I’ve had a rough day.”

“Alright then, Solstice, show Francois where the guest room is, then go to your room and I’ll be in there in a minute.”

He led me inside and down the hall and pointed to a room on the right, “That’s where the guest room is, my room is down there,” he said, pointing down a different hallway.

“Alright then, goodnight Solstice, I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Good night Francois.” he said as we went to his room.

I walked in and stretched out on the bed, rubbing at my sore shoulder from when I was running from the timber-wolves. Thinking that it felt so long ago when it was really this morning.

I felt good in spirit though, I had accomplished a lot today. I had made contact with the thestrals, I had made a new friend, I had convinced the leaders to assist me. Other than the incident with the timber-wolves, it was almost a perfect day.

I fell asleep feeling confident that I would soon be sitting on the throne, with my own thestral army keeping the dissenters quiet.

Author's Notes:

I hope you guys enjoy my Hearth's Warming present to you.

I hope you will stick with me through the next chapters when everything goes down. And I hope that I continue to entertain you as I do so.

Again, thank you for the likes, favs, and follows, you guys are the reason I keep writing.

Until next time,

Stay Safe, Stay Alert, and Secure, Contain, Protect.

Three Months Later

After months of waking up at five in the morning and immediately being thrown into physical training by Blackout, meeting with the military leaders every day to discuss where and when to attack the city, pulling all the non-essential military personnel back to Eclipse City, and playing with Solstice every night. We were finally ready for the march on Canterlot.

I stood on the steps of the council building with the military leaders that included Moonlight and Nightfall, both promoted to the rank of general for their important knowledge of Canterlot’s weaknesses. I walked up to the podium that had been set up to address the legions of troops and citizens that had turned out.

“Citizens of Eclipse City and to the rest of the Thestral Kingdom. Today we march on the city of Canterlot in order to fight for your freedom. Today we take what we deserve. Today we fight so that you can aspire to be more than a mere lunar guard. Be more than a pawn to serve the tyrannical overlord of the sun and those that would stand by and allow this kind of treatment to continue. Today, we stand and fight and we tell Celestia that we will no longer stand idly by and be oppressed. Today, I am proud to call myself an ally to the Thestral race, and I am proud to fight alongside you as you fight for your freedom!”

In response, a deafening roar was heard from the crowd below.

“Now then; I shall now pass off the podium to your commanding officers, General Nightfall and General Moonlight and they will direct you where to go.”

I stepped off the platform and headed to join Captain Starlight and the other military commanders. As I walked over, I saw Blackout and Solstice standing in the crowd. Not knowing how long it would be until I would see either of them, I decided to take a detour and say goodbye.

“Hey Francois!” Solstice said happily as I walked over.

“Hey there Solstice,” I replied as I picked him up in my magic and put him on my back, “Hello Blackout.”

“Hello Francois,” he replied

“Well, I guess today’s the day, we either take down Celestia and my mother’s rule, or I don’t want to think of the consequences if we lose...” I said, trailing off.

“I can’t say that I wouldn’t want to be out there with you, but I can’t say that I would either.”

“I understand what you mean my friend, but you’ve taught me everything that I’ll need to be safe, just like I’m sure you trained the soldiers under you. I know I never said this during training, but thank you. Thank you for taking me in and giving me a better chance of fighting for a better future, for both of us.”

“Just as I never thanked you for wanting to do the same for us. I look forward to hearing about our victory in Canterlot and the repeal of that terrible law.”

“We’ve still got the battle ahead of us, but I’m confident that with the training and the number we have, we’ll win. Thank you again my friend, I’ll make sure to recommend you for a promotion.”

Solstice had apparently gotten bored with the conversation between me and his father, because at that moment, I heard a small flutter of wings as he flew up to my head and stood on top of it.

Alright, alright, you want some attention, I get it,” I said with a laugh.

“Solstice, get off his head, you’re gonna hurt yourself on his horn.” Blackout said.

“Don’t worry, unicorn horns are blunt, I couldn’t puncture a balloon if I wanted to,” I replied, reaching up and poking the tip of my horn for emphasis.

“Francois, do you think we can play one more time before you leave?” Solstice asked as he climbed off my head and looked at me with big, sad eyes.

I laughed again, “I think I can spare a few minutes. Hold on tight, my little friend, I’m gonna teleport us so we can save time.”

He grabbed onto my neck as I concentrated on his backyard and casted the spell. When we landed, I opened my eyes and made sure we were in the right place; we were. Solstice was a little discombobulated by the experience though.

“You okay? I know that it’s not very pleasant if you’re not used to it.”

“I’ll be okay, just give me a minute and then I’ll go get my ball,” he said groggily.

He eventually regained himself and got his ball. We played for what seemed like a few minutes, but I was jarred out of how much fun we were having when the town clock rang for two o’clock; the designated time for the march to start out of town.

“Foal of a-” I stopped myself, “Solstice, I gotta go now. It was great playing with you, but it’s time for me to leave.”

“Alright, Francois, goodbye, I’ll miss you.”

I smiled, “I’ll miss you too, but I’ll see you soon my little friend. I think I have time for a hug goodbye though,” I said, kneeling down and holding my front legs open.

He ran and jumped right into my chest, giving me a hug like I used to give to my mother; a hug that said everything that couldn’t be expressed in words. I returned the hug with as much as he gave, for he was my first real friend. A friend that didn’t care about my past, or what I could do for him.

“I love you, Francois,” he said, clutching me like he never wanted to let go.

“I love you to, my friend,” I replied with tears forming in my eyes.

He let go and slowly walked back to his house, turning back to see my horn light up and watch me teleport away to the designated meeting place for the military commanders.

As I landed, I heard the end of a sentence, “...not coming, get ready to go.”

I shook myself off, “Sorry I’m late everypony. Can somepony bring me up to speed on where you want me and my troops?”

Moonlight frowned, “Francois, you were made a commander for this attack, please start acting like one.”

“Alright, alright, I got it. But I still need to know where my troops and I will be.”

“Come over here and I’ll show you where we want you.”

I was shown the area around the train station, the same area where I had taken Cloudflower on our date.

“Your troops will go through the train station and come out on this street, from there, clear the buildings one by one so you can’t be ambushed and then you’ll meet up with my soldiers at the entrance to the castle.”

“Alright, I think I’ve got it. If I need help, I’ll send a distress call. Anything else you need to tell me?”

“Nothing I need to tell you, but there is one other thing,” Moonlight said, nodding to somepony behind me.

“What’s that?”

My question was answered when a helmet was dropped onto my head, followed by the body armor worn by the other commanders.

“Since you’re fighting with us, you may as well be protected as well as us,” Moonlight said with a smile.

I was amazed at how light the armor was, and that they were able to get my size perfectly, they even made the helmet specially so my horn would fit.

“Guys, I don’t know what to say other than: Let’s go take Canterlot.”

“Hear, hear!’ was my response.

We left the room and split off to go and speak to our respective battalion and company commanders to discuss battle strategy. As I arrived at my battalion, I was greeted with all of them saluting.

“As you were, Francois Battalion. Battalion and Company Commanders, front and center,” I called out when I got to the front of them.

They stepped out and walked to me. When they arrived they introduced themselves as Lieutenants Lunar Storm and Lightning Strike, Captains Crescent Moon, Nightmare, and Moondust, and Colonel Darkside. I did a double take when the Battalion Commander gave her name.

“Colonel Darkside? Married to Staff Sergeant Blackout and mother of Solstice?”

“Yes, how did you know that?”

“Your husband is the one that trained me and your son has become a very good friend to me.”

“Well, that’s all well and good, but-”

“So why are you here? I believe that one of my conditions was that any soldier with a foal that is underage was to be held out.”

“I personally volunteered to be here. I know you mean well, sir, but these eight hundred soldiers trust me with their lives, and I’m not going to be at home safe, while they are out there fighting and dying.”

“I understand your feelings towards these soldiers, but isn’t your son, your own flesh and blood, more important to you? Do you have any idea how much he talked about you these past three months?”

“No, I don’t, but I care deeply about each and every one of the soldiers under my command-”

“This isn’t up for debate, Colonel!”

“I’m not debating either! I’ll either be out there, fighting with my men, or you can forget having them with you!”

I thought for a few minutes before answering, “...Fine, but know this: After this is over, you’re being placed on indefinite leave. Your family needs you, and I know all too well how it feels to not have a mother around. Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal, sir, now let’s go over our plan, shall we?”

We went over what had been discussed with the other commanders, and we were eventually ready to move out.

“Before we go, what do we do if we see an element bearer or a princess?” Lightning Strike asked.

“If you see an Element Bearer, kill them where they stand, the other elements are useless because I’ve killed two of the other bearers already. If you see one of the Princesses, let me know and I’ll take care of it.”

“Understood, sir, I’ll make sure that my soldiers understand what to do.”

When the battalion was finally ready to go, I climbed into the carriage that had been made for me due to my lack of wings and gave the order to take off for Canterlot.

Author's Notes:

Short chapter, I know, but it's just a little more character development and set-up for the final battle.

Thanks again to all of you for the likes, favorites, and the follows.

Until next time,

Stay Safe, Stay Alert, and Secure, Contain, Protect.

The Battle of Canterlot

We landed on the outskirts of Canterlot at the stroke of two o’clock am. When the rest of the battalion had landed, I grabbed Darkside and the company commanders to go over the battle plan.

“Alright,” I said, pulling out the map, “Lunar Storm and Lightning Strike, your troops will be our fronts. After we leave the train station, Lunar, your troops will watch the front-left, looking our for ambushes or sneak attacks from the alleyways in front of us. Lighting, your troops will do the same, but yours will be on the front-right. Do you understand your orders?”

“Yes, sir.” they both said in unison.

“Good, go inform your troops of their objectives and plan things with your squad leaders. When you’re finished, come to the head of the battalion and we’ll all address the troops.”

They saluted and flew back over to their companies. I turned to Captains Nightmare and Crescent Moon, “Nightmare, your troops will be clearing the buildings as Lunar’s troops go past them. Crescent, your’s will do the same, but on the other side. Do you understand your orders?”

“Yes, sir,” Crescent said.

“Understood, sir,” replied Nightmare.

Turning to Captain Moondust, “Moondust, Colonel Darkside told me that your troops are the best trained at air combat. So I want your troops in the air, flying above us, keeping a lookout for any troop massings or possible ambushes being set on us. I want us to to keep as many troops alive as possible, so I want any possible ambushes sniffed out ahead of time so we can be prepared for them. Understood?”

“Yes, sir. I’ll go inform my troops of their duties.”

Turning to Darkside, “You, Colonel Darkside, will be next to me. In the middle of the four companies on the ground. Is that understood?”

“...Yes, sir.”

“I’m sensing hesitation, colonel. Please, speak your mind.”

“Why are you trying to keep me safe? I know that you care about my son and husband a lot-”

“This has nothing to do with Solstice or Blackout,” I said, cutting her off. “I’m not trying to ‘keep you safe’, you’re the ranking officer to these soldiers and they need the commander that they trust with their lives in the middle to direct them in a chaotic situation. I also need a capable leader next to me to give me their assessment on the battle at hoof. You wanted to be in the thick of things, fighting with your men; then that’s where you are.”

“Okay, I understand now. Thank you, Francois; for putting your personal feelings aside in favor of what was best for the battle.”

“You’re welcome. Any questions?”

“What will you be doing?”

“I’ll be scanning possible ambush areas with my magic for any unicorns that may be concealed themselves. Now let’s go get our troops ready for this battle.”

“Yes, sir,” Darkside said as she started walking back to the head of the battalion.

When we got back, we waited for a minute or so while the company commanders finished speaking with their squad leaders.

When they had come back to the front and stood next to me, I stepped up and spoke the the battalion in front of me, “Francois Battalion, today is the day. This is where we enter Canterlot and fight for your freedom. Our objective is to move through the streets that lead from the train station until we get to the castle. From there, we will meet with Moonlight Battalion and storm the castle. Is everypony ready?”

A roar was the reply from the soldiers in front of me.

“Good, then let’s go! FOR THE THESTRALS!” I shouted.

“FOR THE THESTRALS!” replied the battalion as we ran toward the train station.

When Lightning’s battalion entered the station, they encountered minimal resistance. With it being three AM, there weren’t too many guards around. Unfortunately, one of the unicorn guards was able to send off a signal before one of Lighting’s men skewered him with his spear.

“Get ready everypony. We’re gonna hit some heavier resistance from here on out.” Darkside said from next to me.

“Alright, let’s get out of the train station and get into formation out on the street. Moondust Company, get in the air and start looking for ambushes and troop massings.”

They did as they were told and moved quickly out of the train station and got into position. As we stepped out onto the street, I looked up to the castle and saw that mother was not at her normal post at the top of the castle. I only hoped that meant that she had either turned in early, or was waking the castle to warn everypony else.

I shook myself out of my contemplations of the castle when we stepped out into the street, the sounds of battle elsewhere in the city telling me that the other battalions hadn’t been so sneaky.

“Alright, let’s stick to the plan, Lightning and Lunar Company, up front and keeping a watch on the alleyways. Nightmare and Crescent Company, start clearing the buildings.”

We went down the street, making sure there were no guards hiding in the stores that lined the street. I started scanning the alleyways after Lightning’s and Lunar’s men passed them. It started off well, but as we got closer to the castle, one of the soldiers from Moondust flew down to me.

“I’m seeing an ambush being set up on Lightning Strike’s side at the next alleyway. I can’t tell exactly, but it looks to be about thirty soldiers.”

“Understood, get back in the air and we’ll think of something,” I replied.

“Battalion, HALT!” called out Darkside.

Lightning Strike and Lunar storm came over to us, “What’s going on? Why are we stopping?” asked Lightning.

“Just got word that an ambush is being set up next alleyway. Lunar Storm, I want your troops to combine with Lightning Strike’s for now. Both of your companies together should be able to take them down with minimal losses,” replied Darkside.

“I’m coming with you guys, the unicorns will have an advantage on you, but I should be able to take them down while they’re distracted by your troops,” I said.

“Okay then, let’s do this.” Lunar Storm said.

I moved to the front with their strongest soldiers and stepped towards the alleyway, spear at the ready and casted a light spell that illuminated the alley. As I did so, some of Moondust’s soldiers swooped down and took down four of them, but at the cost of one of their own. Angered at one of my soldiers being killed before my eyes, I unleashed a torture spell at the soldier as the soldiers next to me charged into the alley.

“KILL THEM ALL! BUT LEAVE THIS ONE TO ME!” I bellowed out, walking behind the soldiers towards the guard that was writhing in pain on the cobblestone pavement. As I got closer, I saw that it was Sergeant Steel Sword. I started to laugh at the sight of him, twisting and rolling on the ground in agony.

“Well, hello again Sergeant. You must fancy yourself strong to have taken out one of my thestrals, don’t you? Well now, you get to suffer before you die.”

Spear in hand, I lifted it and stabbed it directly into his right side where his wing met his torso. I slowly pressed it deeper until I hit bone. He screamed in pain and I laughed again.

“This is only the beginning, Sergeant,” I said as I started to work the spear back and forth inside him, slowly ripping and tearing the muscle, tendons and flesh that held his wing to his body.

One of the squad leaders walked up to me, “Sir, the alley is clear and…” he trailed off, seeing my expression and the pegasus I was torturing.

“Good, let me finish up here and I’ll be right with you,” I replied, still working the spear.

As he ran back to the others I leaned down to Steel Sword, “I guess today’s your lucky day. Your suffering will end here,” I said, pulling the spear out of his side. “Say hello to Twilight Sparkle for me,” I said, raising the spear and stabbing down through his eye.

I went back to formation and we kept going until Captain Moondust flew down and said, “One of my scouts has seen that Starlight battalion is having trouble with some pegasi guards, what should we do?”

Darkside responded for me, “Take the two squads with your best air-to-air fighters and assist them with the pegasi, then return here.”

“Yes ma’am!” he said as he took back off.

We continued down the road, clearing out buildings, sniffing out ambushes, and working towards the castle, albeit slower than we had been, until Moondust’s soldiers returned, minus their leader.

“There were more pegasi guards than we originally expected, Captain Moondust, while directing us where to go, was stabbed from behind.” explained one of the soldiers.

“Damn it, I didn’t want to lose any commanders. Who’s the second-in-command?” I asked

“That would be me sir,” said the soldier that had landed in front of me, “Lieutenant Nightshade.”

“Alright Nightshade, time for a field promotion. You are now Captain Nightshade and you are the company commander. Get your soldiers back in the air and-”

“FRANCOIS MIDNIGHT!” called out the voice of the one pony I didn’t want to see in this battle: my mother, Princess Luna.

“Francois Battalion, stand down!” I called out.

I stepped forward and saw my mother, dressed in gold armor, looking ready for battle.

“Francois, what are you doing?”

“What does it look like I’m doing, mother? I’m taking Canterlot and the throne. And I’ve convinced the Thestrals to help me. In return for their help, I’ll repeal the law that you won’t fight, the law that keeps them underground.”

“Why are you doing this Francois? I thought I raised you better than this. What happened to the sweet little foal that I knew?”

“I’m doing this because I’m sick of living in Celestia’s shadow. She banished you once for trying to take your rightful place on the throne. She did the same to me, but I’ve realized our mistakes. I can’t do it alone, I needed an army, and here was one, readily available for me.”

“It seems that you take after your father a little too much…” she said, trailing off.

“My father, my father, my father! You always say ‘my father’ but you won’t tell me who the FUCK he is and what he did!” I shouted back.

“You want to know what he did? Fine, I’ll tell you. Are you familiar with The Crystal Empire?”

“Nothing other than the little I read when I was a foal. What about it?”

“Your father was a unicorn, just like you. A very charming stallion that lived in the Crystal Empire.”

“What does this have to do with me taking after him?” I snapped impatiently.

“I’m getting to it, Francois,” she snapped back. “As I said, he was a very charming stallion, but like you, his charm hid an evil that I didn’t know existed until after you were conceived.”

“What did he do that was so evil? And where do I come into this?”

“He killed Cadence’s parents and took forceful control of the empire. The only reason Cadence was spared was because she was visiting Canterlot without his knowledge. Celestia and I defeated him, but he took the entire Crystal Empire with him. A few months after the battle, I found out that I was pregnant. And I vowed to not let you go down the same path, but it seems that I have failed in doing that.”

“It would seem so. Will you at least tell me his name?”

She didn’t answer, only closing her eyes and lowering her head as if she had just done something shameful.

“Why did you never tell me this sooner, mother?” I said, starting to move closer, my spear in hoof. “Do you know the saying, ‘those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it’? How could I learn from what I didn’t know?”

She looked up, “What are you talking about?”

I continued to move closer to her, “Maybe the reason I followed my father’s path is because I didn’t know what he had done, so I was fated to repeat it.”

“What are you trying to say? That it’s my fault?”

“I’m not saying it’s just you, but you were gone for eight hundred years before Celestia banished me, perhaps she is to blame. Maybe even more so than you,” I said, continuing to move closer until I could touch her.

“I- I don’t believe that. You made this decision yourself, it has nothing to do with me or Celestia.”

“Who are you trying to convince? Me? Or you?” I said, readying the butt of my spear.

“NO!” she suddenly screamed out as she shot a spell at me, sending me through the front window of one of the stores on the street.

“Okay… That’s NOT what I had in mind,” I muttered as I picked myself up off the floor of the store I had just been thrown into.

“Francois, the only pony to blame for the evil and hatred you feel in your heart is you. Not me, not Celestia, not even your father. As much as I wish that it would not come to this, I must do what is best for my sister and my subjects,” she said, rising into the air.

“And what is that? Continuing to oppress an entire RACE!? The Thestrals are ponies with wings, just like pegasi, but they’re forced to stay underground under threat of execution! And you just let it happen!” Darkside yelled out.

Mother had no response to this, she just kept looking at me as I climbed out of the window.

“I’m sorry mother, this is the way it has to be.” Then, turning to my soldiers, I called out, “Nightshade company, GROUND HER!”

In unison, Nightshade company took off from the ground, spread out and surrounded my mother. As they moved in to swarm her, she started firing spell after spell to try and take them down. But the numbers game eventually caught up with her.

The soldiers, swinging their swords, were eventually able to hit her wing close enough to her body that she fell out of the air and landed hard on the cobblestone street.

“Mother, if you can’t beat a single company, you have no chance against me and my entire army, and neither does Celestia,” I said as I stood over her.

My gloating was cut short by another spell that sent me flying again, this time, I hit the brick wall of one of the buildings.

Groaning in pain, I slowly got up, “Okay, now I’m mad! Lightning Strike, Lunar Storm, and Nightmare companies, TAKE HER DOWN! Wound her but do not kill her!” I called out.

The three companies had her surrounded again, but this time, to my surprise, mother unleashed a spell that sent half of them flying upwards and the other half into buildings just like I had been.

“What was that you were saying about ‘not taking down a company’?” she said with venom in her voice.

“Even with you as powerful as you are, a spell like that took a lot out of you. Nightshade company, move in!”

For the second time, she was surrounded, and again, she unleashed a spell that sent my troops flying. I was ready for it this time, as soon as she finished casting, I charged in, spear at the ready to try and knock her out before she could injure more of my troops.

What I didn’t expect was for her to swing her front leg and connect with my jaw, which sent me sprawling on the ground next to her.

She stood over me and picked up my spear, “Francois, this is going to hurt me for many centuries to come, but this is what must be done to protect the ponies of this nation.”

I flipped onto my back and started to crawl backwards until I hit the wall of the building behind me.

“Mother, please, I’m sorry! I’ll call off the attack, I’ll surrender to the authorities, whatever you want! Just please don’t kill me!” I said, babbling like a lunatic.

“Too late for that now, I’m sorry,” she said coldly, raising the spear. I closed my eyes and waited for the end

“YAAAAAAAHHHHH!” I heard somepony yell out. Followed by the sound of blow after blow. I opened my eyes to see Darkside fighting spear to spear with my mother. I took this chance and levitated a spear to me.

I started to move around behind my mother and waited for an opening.

“What makes us second-class to pegasi? Why are we forced to live underground, at least tell me that!” Darkside said while fighting.

Mother didn’t answer, only kept blocking and awaiting her own opening in Darkside’s defense.

I continued to stealthily move closer behind mother, when I saw an opportunity, I took it. I swung my spear and it unfortunately connected with the end of her spear.

“I knew you were there, you’ll have to be better than that.” she said.

Cursing myself, I continued to swing and mother continued to dodge and block mine and Darkside’s every move.

She could feel us weakening, but it seemed like she was only toying with us, which only made me angrier.

What happened next was both good and bad. The bad was that my anger blinded me from seeing mother’s spearhead stabbing forward, piercing my armor, and stabbing into my ribs. The good was that while that happened, Darkside swung her spear and caught my mother in the side of the head. This knocked her into a daze which allowed me to swing my own spear and hit her in the head again, causing her to fall over.

Darkside didn’t take any chances and continued to hit mother in the head until she quit moving, but also knew to stop because of my previous order to not kill her.

“Quickly, get her restrained and put her into the prisoner tent back in the camp. Put a silencer on her horn too so she can’t use magic,” Darkside ordered. “Get a medical team up here too for the injured soldiers.”

“Yes, ma’am,” replied Crescent Moon as he went to relay the order to one of his squad leaders.

After mother was restrained and flown back to our camp, we waited for the medical team to arrive. Luckily for us, I was the worst injured, and even then, the armor had taken the worst of it.

“Alright, if everypony is good to go, let’s get to the castle. We have a tyrannical overlord to topple!” Darkside called out.

Her response was a deafening roar from her battalion as they started to march towards the castle gates to meet up with the rest of the thestral army.

Author's Notes:

Thank you all for being patient with me as I changed up the chapter. One more chapter to go and then the epilogue. The epilogue will be a "What happened afterwards" kind of thing that'll wrap up some loose ends like the CMC and Cloudflower.

Thanks again for reading, liking, favoriting, and following.

Until next time,

Stay safe, stay alert, and Secure, Contain, Protect.

Fight for the Castle

We met up with Moonlight and his soldiers at the castle gates. When he saw me and the cut in my armor he walked over with a concerned look on his face.

“Francois, what happened? Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. My mother got in our way and I got a slight injury from my own spear. It could have been a LOT worse if it weren’t for Darkside here,” I said, nodding at her.

“What do you mean you got hurt from your own spear? And how could it have been worse?”

“Long story, Moonlight, I’ll tell you later. Now where are we to go from here?” I said, changing the subject.

“The other commanders are meeting up to discuss strategy for the actual attack on the castle,” he said, pointing at a small courtyard where the other commanders were waiting.

“So I’m the last commander?”

“We can talk about that when we get to the courtyard,” he said, starting to walk over.

“Come on Darkside, you need to hear this too,” I said, following Moonlight.

When we got to the courtyard I looked around and noticed that somepony was missing, “Where’s Nightfall?” I asked.

Moonlight sighed, “He’s dead…”

“WHAT!?” I shouted in response.

“It seems that Prince Shining Armor is a better strategist than we thought…” he said, trailing off again.

“What about his troops?”

“Heavy casualties, and hardly salvageable. Estimating about fifty viable soldiers, the rest are either dead or too wounded to fight.”

I stood in place for a moment, thinking about how I could avenge my friend, and an idea hit me. If you can’t hurt somepony, hurt the ones he loves.

“Guys, I have an idea,” I said, grinning evilly.

“What’s that, Francois? I know that look,” Moonlight responded.

“I’ll take the remnants of Nightfall’s soldiers to a part of the castle where Shining Armor lives with his family. As soon as he finds out that his family is in danger, he’ll come right back to the castle, where you can set an ambush for him. While he’s fighting with you guys, I’ll make his world crumble around him when I kill his daughter as he watches.”

The others thought it over for a few moments before Starlight broke the silence, “Who will take over your troops?”

“Colonel Darkside will take command of my battalion from here while I take care of Shining’s family.”

“Sounds like a plan to me,” said Starlight, “Go and talk to the rest of Nightfall’s troops and tell them what you’re planning and figure out a strategy to do so.”

I walked out of the courtyard to a small group of soldiers, their armor was scuffed and chipped, some of them were wrapping bandages on their comrades, and some were just laying against a wall, as if trying not to remember the horrific battle they were just in. They all jumped to attention when I walked up though.

“As you were, soldiers. I have a question for you all: Who here would like to get revenge on Shining Armor for what he did to you, your friends, and your commander?”

“How, sir?” asked one of them.

“Simple, what’s the best way to break somepony? Go for his heart, the one’s he loves the most, his family. Shining has a six-month old daughter… I think you understand where I’m going with this. Who wants to come with me?”

In response, they all stepped forward.

“Good, now tell me, who’s in charge here?”

“That would be me, sir, Sergeant Thundercloud,” replied one of them, stepping forward.

“Alright, here’s the plan; Sergeant Thundercloud, you’ll take a squad of the best fliers up to Shining Armor’s room to draw Princess Cadence out to the balcony. While she’s distracted with you and your men, me and the rest of the soldiers will move around to the front door and take Dusk Shine.”

“Understood, sir, I’ll get my soldiers prepared. We’ll be ready in ten minutes.”

“You’ve got five, sergeant. I’ll be waiting in the courtyard when you get your men together,” I said, walking off.

While I waited in the courtyard, I heard a massive movement of troops and figured that the other commanders were starting the full attack on the castle. I silently hoped that they had taken my suggestion to leave an ambush for Shining to heart.

“Commander, we await your orders.” I heard a voice say.

I turned to see about thirty soldiers in front of me, “Alright then,” I paused to see his rank, “Corporal…”

“Crater, sir.”

“Corporal Crater, as you can plainly see, I don’t have wings. I need a few soldiers to pick me up and get me into the castle that’ll be close to Princess Cadence’s room. I’ll direct them, and you all need to follow me in case we hit some resistance.”

“Way ahead of you sir.” He then turned around and whistled and a few soldiers broke ranks and picked me up.

I directed them toward Cadence’s room and we were there within a few minutes. I also saw Sergeant Thundercloud leading his squad of fliers towards the balcony and starting their diversionary tactics.

After we had gotten inside, I looked back out the window and saw bright blue bolts of magic shooting at Sergeant Thundercloud and his men. I smiled inwardly and started to lead my troops towards our objective.

Unfortunately for me, we ended up running right into a squad of unicorn guards around the corner from Cadence’s room. While the fight didn’t take too long, it thinned my troops even more, which is something that I couldn’t afford. After the last unicorn guard fell, I was down to about fifteen men, half of what I started with, to get into Cadence’s room and take Dusk.

Luckily, we got to her room without another fight. When I got to the door, I stopped and pressed my ear to it and heard what I had been hoping to hear: Cadence still firing spells at the diversion.

I stepped back and aimed an unlock spell at the door and was rewarded for my efforts when the door opened slowly. I stepped back and motioned for the troops to move in and stay quiet.

As we stepped in, they started moving towards the balcony to attack Cadence from behind and I went towards Dusk’s room. As I made my way down the hall, I heard Cadence scream, then heard a few troops sent flying into the wall of the castle, then another scream from Cadence.

One by one, I checked the rooms until I saw a crib. I moved toward it and saw Dusk sleeping peacefully. I levitated her onto my back and then teleported into my own room.

When we came out of the teleport, Dusk woke up and started crying. I ignored it and opened to doors that led to my balcony. As I stepped out, I casted a voice amplification spell and called out, “Shining Armor! I’m sure you’ve deduced that I’m behind this! Just as I’m sure you’re looking for me! Well come get me! I’m on my balcony. But you may want to hurry! I’ve got somepony here that’s very close to you!”

I casted the same amplification on Dusk and she yelled out, “DADDY! FRANCY BAD! DA-” was all she got out when I took off the spell.

“So what are you going to do Shining? I’ll be waiting for you here!” I said before removing my amplification spell.

A few minutes passed and I saw a large number of unicorn guards come out of a teleport with Shining leading them towards the castle. I stood up and amplified my voice again.

“About time you showed up Shining! Now, look up here!” I called out while levitating Dusk to me and putting her on the railing.

His amplified voice responded, “Don’t you dare! If you have a problem with me, let it be with me! You leave my daughter out of this!” I laughed in response.

“You really are dumber than you look!” I said, “Thestral army, attack!” I called out, hoping that there was an ambush party waiting.

Out of nowhere, what looked to be half the Thestral army simultaneously flew off the roofs of the buildings that lined the street and began to tear the unicorns apart. I laughed to myself as I saw it happen, but decided that I needed a closer look.

I teleported down to the closed gate and saw Shining Armor fighting valiantly, taking down soldier after soldier of mine, while still keeping himself protected with a shield spell. This wasn’t what I had in mind, so I decided to draw his attention.

“SHINING!” I yelled out.

He turned and looked at me, but his eyes went straight to Dusk, who was still crying and reaching for her father.

“Say goodbye Shining!” I said, wrapping my forelegs around Dusk’s throat.

“NO!” he yelled out as he saw what I was doing, running over and starting to beat on the gate in a futile attempt to save Dusk.

“Da-da” Dusk choked out before going limp.

“NOOOOO!” he yelled out in agony as he released a huge torrent of magical energy, sending my soldiers, his soldiers, Dusk’s body, and myself flying. I hit the wall of the castle and saw stars.

I struggled to my feet and looked around to see Shining kneeling over Dusk’s body, the bodies of the Thestrals he had killed, the unicorn guards that had been killed, and the remains of the gate all strewn around him.

Seeing him in that state made me confident that he would no longer be a factor in the battle, so I teleported back to my room and called out to address my troops, “THESTRAL ARMY! Join your brothers and sisters and take this castle from the tyrannical overlord of the sun that has oppressed you for so long!”

Again, in unison, the army swarmed off the ground, the rooftops, and wherever else they had been waiting and started to pour into the castle. I turned and walked out of my room and made my way to the throne room to challenge my aunt again.

On my way to the throne room, I ran into a company of thestral soldiers just as they had finished wiping out a squad of pegasus guards.

“Company! Attention!” I called out.

They snapped to attention and the company commander came to speak to me.

“Your highness, how can we help you?” She asked, saluting.

“I am assuming command of your company Lieutenant, I’m on my way to the throne room to challenge Celestia and I need soldiers to take on her bodyguards.” I replied.

“Understood, sir. We’ll be right behind you. Let me address my troops and then we’re yours.”

“Make it fast Lieutenant, you’ve got two minutes.”

She turned around and informed her troops of what was happening and where we were going, then let me know that they were ready.

“Alright then, follow me and keep watch for guards.”

We made our way down the hallways to the throne room, as I scanned the door with my magic to make sure there were no traps, it opened unexpectedly to reveal Celestia, along with a mixed company of pegasus and unicorn guards.

“Prince Francois Midnight, you again have taken it upon yourself to try and take over this kingdom from your mother and I,” she said as the door opened.

“Yes, but this time I’m not alone. I have an army with me this time, one with as much hatred toward you as I have. And with their help, I will take this land for myself and set these oppressed ponies free.”

“We shall see,” she replied, readying into a fighting stance.

“So I take it that you will not surrender? If you do, I’ll make sure that your execution is not painful,” I said, readying into my own stance.

She didn’t respond, only motioning her troops to attack.

With that, the battle was on, I charged forward, swinging my sword at every unicorn guard I could reach to even the odds until I reached Celestia, but as soon as I reached her, she teleported to another part of the room.

“Francois, I have lived for more than a thousand years, you’ll have to do better than that if you hope to stand a chance.” she called out.

I decided to try and get my soldiers involved to try and corner her, so I started taking down her guards until there were only thestrals alive in the room.

“Thestrals, move in and corner her, she can’t run forever!” I commanded.

They all moved in unison, and again she teleported, this time onto the platform on which sat the throne. I tried to take my chance, but as I tried to move I saw a flash of white fur and blue mane. A half second later I felt a searing pain in my abdomen. I looked down and saw a bloody spearhead protruding from my chest.

I fell to the ground as darkness closed in on my vision. The last words I heard before the darkness enveloped me were, “That, was for Dusk, you son of a bitch!”

Author's Notes:

And that's the end of the story. I really do hope you enjoyed it. I will be uploading an epilogue soon and it will be about what happened with Celestia, Luna, Cloudflower, Shining and Cadence, and the Thestrals after the battle. So stick around and see what happened to everypony else.

Until then,

Stay safe, stay alert, and Secure, Contain, Protect.

Epilogue

Thestrals

After Francois’s death, the Thestral Army continued to fight valiantly, but were defeated; mainly due to their inability to counter the magic of the unicorn guards, led by Shining Armor, as well as Princess Celestia herself.

However, Celestia understood why the Thestrals had helped Francois and why they held such contempt for both her and Luna. So, to ensure that they would not rise again in rebellion, she gave them what they had been fighting for. They were allowed to venture out of the caverns and be integrated into the population of the rest of Equestria and aspire to become more than another Lunar Guard.

Solstice

Solstice, upon hearing of Francois’s death, was deeply saddened, but that sadness was quickly replaced with joy when he found out about his race’s newfound freedom, as well as the return of his mother, Colonel Darkside.

His family wasted no time in utilizing their newfound freedom, moving out of Eclipse City and into a house in Canterlot. He grew up to be an excellent flyer and, because of this, was accepted into the Wonderbolt Academy where he went on to become the first non-pegasus Wonderbolt in history.

He still continues to visit Francois’s grave on an almost daily basis, paying respect to the friend that helped him achieve something that had never been done before.

Cadence and Shining Armor

Cadence and Shining Armor mourned the loss of Dusk Shine, but they eventually were able to move on and have two more foals.

Even though it had been Francois that had taken Dusk from them, Cadence still mourned her cousin because she had known him before the evil had taken over his heart and knew the good he could have been capable of doing. Despite Shining’s wishes, she named their second foal, a colt, Shining Midnight.

Cloudflower

After Francois left Canterlot, Cloudflower ended up going back to New Horseleans to move back in with her family.

But unbeknownst to Francois, when he attacked Canterlot, Clouflower was pregnant with his child.

Princess Luna found out about her relationship with Francois while helping Cloudflower get out of a nightmare she was having. Upon finding out about the relationship and pregnancy, she had Cloudflower move back to Canterlot Castle so that she could oversee the foal’s upbringing and to make sure that it didn’t turn out like Francois

She gave birth to a healthy pegasus colt, and decided to name him after his father since, other than wings, he looked exactly like his father.

Prince Francois Midnight Junior grew up under the watchful eyes of his mother and grandmother. As he grew older, he began to ask about his father and the kind of pony he was. Luna told him about the good that his father did and could have done, whereas Cloudflower told him what little she remembered about the pony that she fell in love with.

Princess Luna

After the battle was over, Princess Luna was released, but the effects of the battle were long felt. She mourned the loss of her only son, but understood that it needed to happen and, when finding out about Cloudflower being pregnant, vowed to not let her grandson become like his father.

Yet, when Francois Junior asked about what become of his father, she couldn’t bring herself to tell him, instead letting Celestia, as well as his Aunt Cadence and Uncle Shining tell him because of the immense amount of pain that it caused her.

Author's Notes:

And that's it! Game over man, game over.

I really do hope you all enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. If there are any questions you guys have regarding some loose ends that I may have left out, do feel free to ask in the comments.

Oh, and as for Francois Jr. here's the General Zoi code: 0D2S0060101F1F87FFC49D00000555B89UN183700000000301000000D111110D00000000004CB2\

For the last time on this story,

Stay safe, stay alert, and Secure, Contain, Protect.

Alternate Chapter: Fluttershy's Murder

I then went to go see Rarity to let her know what was happening. As I walked into the visitation area, I noticed them over in the corner. I walked over and waved to Rarity. I then turned to the other four ponies, “Hey guys, can you give Rarity and I a minute? We need to talk alone about what I heard from the lead detective on the case.”

“Alright, c’mon girls, let’s go back into the lobby,” Apple Jack said.

“Good luck Rarity, we know you’re innocent, you could never do something like that to your best friend,” Rainbow Dash said as she left..

“I hope you’ll be okay in there Rarity, I’ll come visit you every day,” Fluttershy said.

“I’m going to get my party stuff ready for your welcome back party,” Pinkie Pie said.

After the ponies had left, I turned to Rarity and told her everything that Detective Phelps had told me about the case, as expected, she raise the same objections I raised, and I responded the same way that Detective Phelps had. She seemed dejected after I told her everything, but she stayed strong because she needed to for her friends.

“Rarity,” I said finally, “I know this is a tough time right now, but I promise it will get better. I’m a prince, I have some sway, and I expect once Aunt Celestia starts to trust me again, I’ll be able to get a pardon for you even if you get convicted of this.”

Me and your friends know that you could never do something like this, and their case against you is pretty weak. So don’t expect to be convicted, and I will personally make sure that for the short time you are incarcerated, you will have no trouble while you wait for your trial and almost definite acquittal.

“Alright Miss, your time is up, it’s time to head back to your cell,” A guard said to Rarity.

“Rarity, stay strong and you’ll get through this; we’ll come see you tomorrow,” I said as she was taken away.

The other four ponies had apparently gone home, as it was getting late and visiting hours were over. As I walked out of the police station, I was grinning widely. I had the total trust of at least four of them, and had eliminated the strongest of them. It was only a matter of time before the throne was mine and Celestia received the same punishment as I did two hundred years prior.

I went back to the library so I could get some sleep for the night, making plans to speak to Fluttershy the next day to hopefully convince her to join me against Celestia. Even though I had eliminated one of the elements, I didn’t want to take any chances with the things responsible for my banishment.

I walked in to find that Spike had already gone to bed and the library pitch black. I turned on the light and walked over to one of the bookshelves I had reorganized the night before. Looking over the titles, I saw one that caught my eye, “History of the Royalty of Equestria”. Wanting to know just how much of me had been taken out, I pulled it off the shelf and started reading.

After about a half hour of searching through, I found the time around my banishment. I read through the chapter and only found a few mentions of an uprising, but that it had been put down after a few days. No mention of my name, the casualties I had inflicted, or even the fact that I had injured Celestia.

Inscensed, I picked up the book and flung it across the room, it hit the wall with a thud and knocked a picture frame off the wall. It hit the floor with a loud crash. I froze, hoping that didn’t wake up Spike. After a moment, I relaxed, then walked over to where the picture had fallen and picked it up. I laughed when I saw it; it was a picture of Twilight’s family, judging from the way everypony was dressed, it was the day of Shining Armor and Mi Amore Cadenza’s wedding. What made me laugh was that when the frame had shattered, one of the pieces of glass had sliced into the picture and had cut Twilight in half.

I cleaned up the glass and put the destroyed picture in a drawer, then went over to the couch and went to sleep.

The next morning I was awakened by Spike when he inadvertently knocked a row of books off the shelf and one of them hit my flank.

“Spike, what are you doing?” I asked groggily.

He didn’t answer, merely giving a shrug while continuing to what appeared to be reorganizing the library. I decided to leave him to it and go grab some breakfast at Sugarcube Corner before going to see Fluttershy.

As I walked in, Mrs. Cake greeted me and took my order. While I waited for the muffin to finish baking, I asked about where Pinkie Pie was.

“She’s already at the police station to go visit Rarity, she’s been bouncing off the walls all night waiting to go see her when visiting hours started that she kept the twins up. Which, in turn, kept Carrot and I up all night.” She replied with a hint of irritation.

Before I could respond, Mr. Cake came out from the back with a tray of fresh muffins. He took one out and passed it to me. I thanked him and walked out of the bakery and headed towards Fluttershy’s house.

As I approached the small cottage I kept a close listen to see if the Cutie Mark Crusaders were still there, but as I opened the gate and walked into the yard, I saw that they weren’t. I smiled and broke into a trot until I reached the door.

I knocked, and after a minute or so, Fluttershy answered, making sure to keep her animals inside.

“Oh, hello Francois, what can I help you with?” she asked.

“I was hoping I could talk with you for a bit before you went to the police station to see Rarity. May I come in?”

“Um, okay, come on in and sit down. I wasn’t planning on leaving for awhile though.”

I walked inside and sat down on her couch like I had the previous day. I waited while she finished feeding her indoor animals. When she finished, she walked over next to me, sat down, and allowed Angel to jump onto her back.

“So what did you want to talk about Francois?” she asked as the rabbit settled down.

“I’ll make this quick, you’re obviously busy with your animals. I have a few questions for you, but you have to swear on my mother that nothing said here will leave here.”

“I promise, you can be completely candid with me,” she replied.

“Alright then, how do you feel about Princess Celestia? Do you really find it fair that the power over the sun and moon is in the hooves of one pony? Especially one as tyrannical as her?”

“Tyrannical? What do you mean? She’s been nothing but good to us!”

“Good how? By forcing you and your friends away from your homes to take care of somepony she couldn’t take care of a thousand years ago like Discord? Or how about making you go all the way up a mountain to make a dragon leave, despite how scared you were?”

“How did you…?”

“I read Twilight’s friendship reports. She had them hanging up in the library. Answer my questions please,” I said, starting to get annoyed.

“I’m perfectly fine with the way that Princess Celestia is ruling Equestria.”

“Are you sure about that? Twilight thought the same way and look what happened to her.”

“What did you say?!” she repled, surprised.

“You heard exactly what I said.”

“Francois, I think it’s time you left. Now!”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that Fluttershy, you know too much now!” I said, climbing off the couch and blocking the front door.

She turned around and tried to run, but I grabbed her tail in my magic and held her in place as I grabbed a nearby stool. With one swing I knocked her unconscious, but I didn’t stop there, I continued to hit her over and over until there was nothing but a bloody mess where there should have been a yellow pegasus.

When I finally realized what had happened, I turned and ran out of the cottage to the river so I could wash the blood off me, then get the hell out of town before anypony realized that Fluttershy was missing.

Author's Notes:

Sorry to all you Fluttershy fans. She's my favorite too, but this was just a thought that I discarded.