> The Last Gems of Eternity
>  by James David Fox
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue: Fading Breath
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Fading Breath





She was tired. It hasn’t even been a hard day, her face hurts, nothing new, even the sky looked the same. Placing a hoof on her cheek she sighed, breathing out an old nostalgic air loaded with ancient memories, memories that once lived eternally in her mind, but now, they are slowly fading away, leaving her into a dark cloud of forgetfulness.

She was happy about this though. Rubbing her cheek she felt again the pain of the fake smile, fake feelings. The only thing that she gained along her life was wisdom, wisdom she once enjoyed teaching.

Every taste she has tasted it, every feeling she has felt it, every single experience, was already done. She learned magic beyond belief over the years that made a perfect mix with her natural magic, giving her control over the most important star on the sky, or at least that’s what they liked to believe. She proved the bittersweet taste of love, and experienced the grief that the slow decay of time do to everypony living in the present, past and future. She flew proving her wings, tried to reach the sun, such an impossible task, an honest smile finally came across her face, remembering the panic when she disappeared for almost a year leaving her duties to her sister, she just wanted to fly until her wings would give up. She fought many wars; she knew how it was to be a general commander. And of course, she had to endure the terrible agony of sending the only one who could understand her feelings far away from her. As Princess she knew how it was when your power and emotions are insufficient to defeat the influence that took over your own family. She even learned dark and forbidden magic that could destroy everything in just a little move of her tail, she never used it tough.

Yes, she had experienced all. Only this majestic being could understand what is was like to count every rock in the Canterlot Castle, and of course, give all of them a unique name. There was nothing new for her to enjoy, all the stories, all the tales, all the legends, she knew them, and even lived most of them, and wrote most of them. The simple question “What to do now?” has turned into a terrible existential doubt.

There was only one thing for her to experience. She was waiting for it; there was nothing else to do. Getting up she walked through the empty halls of the castle, not a single pony crossed her path, except for one.

“Good evening princess.”
“Nice to see you Blueblood, 	is everything ok out there?”
“Yes princess, nothing new from around.” As always she thought.
“Glad to know that, feel free to take the night off.”
“Thanks a lot princess but I prefer to stay here.”
“As you wish, have a good night.”

There was a room, never to use, never to get in; an empty room which entrance was allowed only for the princesses of old. A very large cage was in the center of the room, and there were two windows one pointing to the east, and the other to the west. A soft moonlight was staring directly at this cage while she approached it. A little swing of her horn and a tiny particle of magic that only she knew how to cast were enough to open the doors of the big box that laid there. There was it, the hourglass of her destiny, still working, unstoppable. She lost in her mind again looking at it, while through its beautiful crystal a little dot of blue dust fell to the bottom of the hourglass.

“Elder sister, looking at that clock again?” The voice of her little sister calmed her; she smiled looking at her eyes.
“I know I shouldn’t do it, but I can’t really just leave it there, I always have to know how much time left there is.”
“It comes to us all, there’s no point in checking this.” Luna hugged her elder sister drawing her eyes away from the hourglass. “There are things that we better not know.”
“I know sister, but at least we prepared everything for now.”
“I don’t know... I do know you worked very hard on her, but still…” Luna stopped, thinking silence was for the better now.
“Ask your question Luna.” She sealed the large box again, while the moon was moving away across the sky.
“Is she really the best you could find? Do you think she is strong enough for what is coming?” Celestia looked down, an ornate floor distracted her a bit, sighing, and she looked directly at her sister’s eyes and spoke in a very serious tone.
“Being terribly honest little sister, I don’t think so, but she’s the strongest pony I could find in all my existence.” They both walked out of that room, and walked across the halls in silence, even Luna couldn’t avoid thinking of what she just saw. The hourglass was coming to an end.

“Princess Celestia! Princess Luna!” Startled, they both looked at a very exhausted unicorn.
“What is it Blueblood?”
“Not good news at all your highnesses.” He took a minute to regain his composure, and looked at them with panicked eyes. “The former prince of the Crystal Empire, Prince Shining Armor was found dead.” Celestia widened her eyes in surprise, one she hadn’t feel in a long time, was it the clock? Is this event telling her something?
“We better go there to see what happened.”
“I…” The doubt in Blueblood’s voice stopped Princess Celestia who was about to fly directly to the Crystal Empire. “I… don’t think they will let you in…” Blueblood stepped closer to Princess Celestia, handing her a piece of paper which she took with her magic.
“What are you talking about?”
“They closed all their roads… and Cadance is about to declare a state of war against us…” There it was, the order to cut all economic or diplomatic relations with Canterlot signed by Cadance herself.
“How’s that even possible?” Luna finally snapped out of her shock.
“They think you did it…” 



> Last Train To The Mountains
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1



Last train to the mountains






When your mind is troubled and your heart grieving, the unique landscapes of the mountains, the pure view of a calm and frozen river of a far white country are good ways to ease the pain that every heart suffers at least once in a lifetime. Twilight found herself counting every mountain imagining they were old giant dragons in an eternal dream. The night drew so much peace, even knowing what she had to deal with; the tragic loss of her brother and the task to preserve peace with a fellow princess.

That dark day she was reading in the Canterlot palace, an old book from her fillyhood, constellations, stars, and legends. A reminder of her beginnings, when she was just like anypony living out there, a reminder to keep her humble despite of her title. She had feelings, she lied, and she loved, just like every living pony does. And while she was being invaded with these thoughts the ruler of Equestria came to her, with simple words, simple but mortal. "Your brother is dead."

With tired eyes she kept looking through the window as the sigh of the train was one with her own. She hated to carry so much alone, since she became a member of the royalty she has been trusted with many tasks to be completed without the help of her old friends. The purple alicorn missed them, right now probably Applejack would be right next to her, trying to make her feel better, Pinkie Pie would be doing anything to make her smile, and the others will be there, in silent respect, letting her know they were there for her.

Such a nice dream, Twilight was alone right now, royal duties they call it, to work and live in representation of her country. She was happy about becoming a princess, thinking of a lot of things she could change; make better, things that not even the eternal-looking rulers of Equestria could do since they were troubled minds after all. Now, she remembers that lie that came out of her mouth without realizing about it. “Everything is gonna be just fine”. Nothing is fine, everything is falling, she lost part of her family, she is slowly losing her friends and she just can’t take more of it on her.

Just when tears were going back to her purple eyes a shooting star crossed the night sky. Even knowing how impossible it was she tried to reach it, with her own hoof, immediately being stopped by a closed window. Even when she was a skeptical about ghosts and such, Twilight dared to believe it was a signal; someone out there did not like to see her crying, and the only one who could be among the stars watching for that was Shining Armor. The distance seemed too long now; when he got married they almost stopped seeing each other. Shining Armor had his own life, “Until something closed his eyes forever…” 

Word has reached her ears that the princesses killed her brother, for obvious reasons she could not believe any of that. The princesses? Murderers? How could Cadance believe such a thing? Celestia got her and Shining Armor married, and blessed their union. Could she really forget something like that so easily?

‘Ouch…’ Her head hurts, deprivation of sleep always caused that effect on her, this night was longer than usual, and for all the problems she was about to deal with she needed rest. The purple  alicorn closed her eyes imagining herself with her old friends again, laughing, dancing, and having a great time after all and of course, without those nasty wings and that heavy crown, just Twilight, a nerdy unicorn learning about friendship. She hated it, being a crown wielder brought so much solitude she even began to understand how Celestia and Luna felt all over this time. And for the first time, she slept alone, solving everything by herself, not a single spark of help.

She felt the train going slower, only then the new princess could open her eyes; there it was just like she remembered, the Crystal Empire. The beautiful city was shining, with all its buildings and of course, the glorious tower that escalated directly to the sky.

The city stayed wonderful, yet, Twilight could feel something weird working here. Something was bothering the hearts of the crystal ponies; she's been learning about friendship for too long now to not notice this. Cadance would know. She trusted that the Crystal Princess would not have forgotten to be wise with her decisions as she's always been. Cadance did not get her title of best foal sitter ever for nothing, many do not believe it, but Twilight was not an easy filly to take care of, not in the slightest. Even Celestia had to deal with problems caused by her.

The train finally stopped. Two members of the Royal Guard were waiting out of her wagon. Getting up, then feeling exhausted because of the time without walking, her hoofs were weak, nothing without a very nice and quick solution though. She stretched her legs and yawned loudly, and she was ready. Twilight opened the door and immediately the two guards saluted her.

“At ease” Being a princess was not something she was going to get used to very soon. Nodding them she disposed to walk to the palace but as soon as she was going to walk out of the train thirteen sharp spears pointed directly at her face.
“Step back from the Magic Princess!” Yelled one of the startled guards immediately protecting Twilight. A unicorn mare stepped in front of the ones threatening them, she wore a golden helmet, her crystalline mane was a soft pink and her coat was the purest blue she had ever seen. Her cutie mark was a red shield, symbol of an eternal guard.
“My name is Colonel Lazuli Ruby, and I've been given the authority to escort Princess Twilight from Canterlot, your guards can go no further Magic Princess.” Those eyes were being absolutely serious, for a moment Twilight stayed in silence, looking at her.
“We’re under orders of Princess Celestia to protect Princess Twilight at any moment in this trip, you cannot make us stay.” The commander frowned.
“One step more soldier, and your infraction will be considered an invasion, and you know what can happen after that.” The colonel looked directly at Twilight. -I will say no more.
“I’m sorry but we don’t have to take orders from you.” The other guard talked, both of them loyal to the Canterlot royalty to death.
“But you do have to take orders from me.” Twilight finally spoke after her extended silence, she was a Princess now, and she was kind of expecting the guards to solve the problem like if she was the same librarian of past days. She knew those days were dead, she must now assume her role as a high rank princess. “Take care of the train, and have it ready to go back to Canterlot as soon as I come back.”
“But princess…” Twilight walked next to the colonel, whom gave the order to lower the weapons that were aiming at the visitors, and with strong steps, they started to walk towards the center of the empire.
“How long do you think it will take?” Asked one of the guards taking his helmet off.
“Let’s have a drink while we can.” They have been soldiers long enough under Princess Celestia’s orders to know they had little time to enjoy some peace and quiet.

Heading to the castle in the center of the city Twilight remained in silence, just as the city. She left this place when it was full of love, and shining with glory, now, the structures haven’t changed, but the faces, the joy of its inhabitants, gone. A dead prince is a high-level new, and the grief of the Princess of Love it’s even more noticeable. Twilight felt a really dark force inside of her, the nearer, the stronger, that castle was not glorious anymore, it kept so much pain inside of it, that a single opened window could get this city into the darkness again. She had to speak to Cadance as soon as possible, recover the alliance, and find the responsible for this, being in a royal task did not fade the pain, and the fury she felt for her loss.

Thirteen Crystal guards were trotting by her side surrounding her with the Colonel by her side. It was a real state of war, in times of peace one guard would have been enough, but right now, things seemed to look like they were preventing her escape ‘I won’t escape’ 7 earth crystal ponies, 5 pegasus, and 1 unicorn to guard her.

“You seem a little young to have the rank of a Colonel.” Twilight tried to break the ice.
“I can say the same about you, such a child getting to be an alicorn princess” With no effort at all that voice sounded powerful, that face remained cold just as the snow around them, Twilight felt immediately intimidated by her presence. A true warrior, she was for sure an essential element in the Crystal Empire Army.

Her eyes saw the giant structure after some minutes of walking. The Crystal Heart was still there, yet… not quite alive, Cadance was not accomplishing her duty as the ruler of an empire, if that heart starts to fall, the whole empire will fall. How can she do that? That was not her, her hooves started to accelerate, she needed to talk to Cadance, comfort her, not as a royal duty, as a friend, as a sister, like just Twilight Sparkle and Cadance, without those crowns, they were just too heavy to carry, so heavy, that took more than one thousands of years to the ancient princesses to learn to wear them.

All the guards stayed still in the entrance of the castle, and the only one accompanying the Magic Princess was the colonel.

“Right here” She led Twilight to a solitary door in the second level, two candles were guarding it, attached to the wall. “From now on you go by yourself, wait for Princess Cadance in here.” With a strong salute she walked away ‘Lazuli Ruby… I shouldn’t forget that name.’

The door opened silently at the touch of Twilight and it revealed a large lounge, lighted candles, all of them sadly pointing at the center of that obscure and solitary room. A coffin, with at least 50 fires illuminating the room coming out of more candles, blue flowers and a golden table. She knew what was that coffin keeping, she knew that the worst of her nightmares was just in there, she knew her soul would break just as she felt tears coming out of her eyes.

She walked slowly through that enormous place, her hooves were weak, and the steps many. As soon as she arrived she dared to take a look at the one lying in that obscure artifact. ‘Oh Celestia… my only brother…’ Embraced by that box of death, the eyes of her once brother were closed, in an eternal sleep, not able to listen to anyone, to talk to her anymore, in the end of all roads. She sat on the luxurious carpet, letting her feeling flow through all her essence, body and soul, and she broke into the most painful and silent cry she ever had to experience.

“Twilight Sparkle, Magic Princess from Canterlot.” A cold but familiar voice shattered the silence of that icy room. Twilight looked in that direction, finding an unattended and broken silhouette. Princess Cadance was standing by the door, her power gone, red and swollen eyes, hair with lost color and skinnier than usual. “You have heard my call.”
“Of course I have! I would not abandon you in such a moment Cadance!” She ran to Cadance, to hug her, that room kept an unnatural feeling of solitude, she needed that hug, but her sad face changed to a surprised frown when Cadance walked away.
“If you won’t abandon me, I beg you, tell me why would they do this to me… to us…?” Her eyes met the ground, all the strength in her soul, gone.
“What are you talking about Cadance? Do you really believe Princess Celestia or Princess Luna would do something like this?” 
“Who else Twilight?”
“Could be anybody! We’ve got to find the responsible, I assure you…”
“Twilight” Cadance interrupted. “Open de coffin and look at his chest.” She could not do that, only looking at that scene was enough to break her spirit, opening that box could be fatal. Cadance noticed the doubt in her eyes “It’s important, please do it” Twilight placed a hoof on the coffin, she gulps, and with a quick move she opens it, to find something horrible.

The fatal wound that killed her brother covered the whole area of the chest, it looked like a terrible explosion. In her thirst of knowledge Twilight dared to read books about killing spells, of course she would never use them, but knowing more could help her someday recognize de details of a crime… but this, this was impossible to recognize. Her scientific mind took place for a moment, trying to find anything that could led to the spell used, and finally the killer. Nothing, this was a spell she had never seen, it was so cruel. The only thing that Twilight could assure, is that this spell was ancient, from forgotten and forbidden times.

The words failed as she analyzed the corpse… could it be…?

“You could deduce it yourself right?” Cadance walked next to her. “Nopony, absolutely nopony in these days have knowledge of this kind of spell, there are no books about it, no way to learn it again, who else could know such ancient information Twilight?”
“B… But…” The only ones who could have used a spell designed only to kill were the princesses either Luna or Celestia, it was irrefutable.
“I wouldn’t have taken such a terrible decision without thinking all of this Twilight.” Twilight’s head was about to explode, the rational conclusion was just that one, only the princesses could do it. “Twilight, if you really won’t abandon me… I need you by my side, join the Crystal Empire, betrayal must be punished.
“NO!” Twilight’s voice finally exploded. “I will not believe that my mentor and her sister are killers! Never! Besides, what could be their reasons? It’s completely illogical!
“Then you can give another explanation to this?!”
“No I can’t… but I will find the answer… Cadance, give me one week… I’m good with investigation… just one week, if I don’t have an answer… I’ll join your side…”
“You know I can’t do that, this is already too messed up.” 
“I beg you Cadance… let me do this, to be sure about this, I just… I just can’t think of them as killers, one week…” Cadance stood up and walked to the door, without looking at her. “Then I’ll be waiting for you here, you will have to use those wings.” Cadance stepped out, leaving Twilight in solitude again. No time to fall in grief, she must hurry, use all of her information, she could even go back to Ponyville. 

‘They are not killers, I will prove it.’ In one week the tension would be too big to still keep trains going between the two cities, she will have to fly back again, but for now, she must go back, to the train, the train that made a last travel to the mountains.