> Entropy
>  by Rose Quill
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Appointment
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I sighed with relief as we both collapsed onto the bed. I loved going around and playing with the girls, but there was no feeling as good as your own bed at the end of a long trip.

“I have no words to describe how good it feels to be back,” I moaned as I just laid there, not even moving to kick my sneakers off.

Twilight rolled over and draped an arm over me, snuggling in. “I could think of a few,” she murmured into my ear. “But that defeats the purpose of enjoying the feeling of just laying here.”

“Especially since you’re not feeling nauseous right now, right?” I said.

She nodded. “I thought since horses couldn’t vomit, I would be spared the morning sickness.”

“You aren’t a horse, Twi,” I said, rubbing her back. “And technically, the most we have in common with the horses of this world is a passing anatomical similarity.”

“I know, I know,” she whispered, shifting her head into a more comfortable spot against my side. “I’ve felt some myself. Having sensation in hooves, that’s completely out of the bounds of this world’s equines.”

“Thankfully," I said with a shudder. “Getting a hooficure is one thing, but driving nails through to hold on a shoe?” I shivered again. “Hurts just thinking about it.”

Her fingers slipped under my shirt and traced the lines of scar tissue on my side from the talons of an enraged Harpy. “I think we’ve had enough painful times in our life,” she whispered sleepily. 

My fingers felt the puckered scar on her shoulder. “Yeah,” I whispered, feeling my eyes starting to flutter closed.

I was almost asleep when a flare of green fire burst in my room and revealed a rolled up scroll with a golden royal seal. I saw it hover for a moment before falling to land on the floor.

“Roadapples,” I swore before sitting up and reaching for it. “I just got home!”

“Leave it,” Twilight said in a sleepy voice, tugging at my sleeve.

“You know I can’t, Twi,” I whispered, leaning down and kissing her forehead. “If they send it by dragon, its official and not just a social call.”

The scroll unrolled and I scanned the words and my breath caught.

“Another Princess issue? Twilight asked rhetorically.

“I’m being asked to take over the throne in Canterlot,” I whispered.

She sat up suddenly. “What?”

I handed her the scroll. “I’ve been asked by Celestia to hold the Solar seat for a time.” I slumped back against the bed. 

“Is she stepping down or just taking a sabbatical?” my wife asked, skimming the summons.

“I don’t know,” I whispered, sitting up and standing. “I suppose I should go find out.”

Her hand gripped my sleeve again. “How long will you be gone?” she asked, suddenly reminding me of a small child, the memory of her sitting in the shower and staring into nothing rising to the surface.

“I don’t know,” I said. “Why don’t you come along? I’m sure the practice you’ll get with Twilight and Starlight will help you from getting worked up over things.” I pulled her into my side. “Besides, can you imagine sleeping in a royal bed and being waited on hoof and wing?”

“You know my wings don’t manifest without a massive outpouring of mana,” she said with a weak smile. “And I’m not sure if those beds will be as comfortable as this one is.”

I kissed her forehead as I hugged her tightly.

“We’ll go see how long this will last and get home as soon as possible.”





I stepped out of the portal and was greeted by Princess Twilight.

At least, what was left of her. Her mane stuck out in multiple directions, her eyes were bloodshot, her coat matted and feathers slightly misaligned.

“Uh, Twilight?” I asked as Sunshine stepped out behind me. “Is everything ok?”

She giggled. “Of course!” she said a little maniacally. “Why wouldn’t it be? Just the Rulers of all Equestria stepping away from the thrones and Celestia asking you to take over for her. Not that I think you’re a bad choice, it’s just that I don’t know why she would be stepping down! Or Luna.”

A mint green glow wrapped around her mouth and moved her to a nest of blankets and cushions.

“Breathe, Twilight,” Starlight said. “She’s confused, because both Diarchs are stepping down and she was asked to cover the Night Court.”

I shook my head. “Any explanation from Celestia or Luna as to why?”

She shook her head. “None,” she said. “And I haven’t seen her get like this since the map summoned me to Canterlot.”

I looked over at the giggling Alicorn and sighed.

“You think we’ll be able to get her sobered up by the morning?” Sunshine asked.

“Maybe,” she said. “Personally, I’m thinking it might be more economical to just put a sleep spell on her and let her sleep it off.”

I shook my head. “No,” I said. “Let her catch up when she can. We’re going to Canterlot tonight.”

“But you won’t be able to get a showing with Celestia this late at night.” Starlight protested.

“Who said anything about Celestia?” I asked. “I’ve got a niece to go play with.”

Sunshine perked up while Starlight cocked her head.

“You’re going to play with your niece?” she asked. “You just got offered the throne of Canterlot!”

“We can’t do anything until she comes to,” I said, pointing at Twilight with a wingtip. “And if I’m going to be spending any amount of time sitting in that big chair, I want some time with my family first.”





“Oh, look at her!” I cooed as I lifted the filly in my aura. “She’s bigger than when I was here last!”

Ebony Rose gurgled in my aura and reached out with her front legs, a small smile on her face.

Dew returned with a tray of cups and a teapot. “She isn’t as much trouble as you hear about newborns,” she said as she settled onto a couch seat next to Diamond Hue. “We’ve actually been getting full night’s sleep most nights.”

“That’s a good thing,” Sunshine said. “I’m only a month along and I’m already losing sleep.”

“Morning sickness?” Dew asked.

My wife nodded, but I was to wrapped up in rubbing noses with the little bundle of joy in front of me, her giggle making everything in the world brighter. 

You’re enjoying this, Sunshine said in my mind.

Of course I am, I returned. And you do too.

Sunshine’s azure aura flickered into being around Ebony and as she pulled her over, I felt peace and calm flow slowly into the bond.

And when the foal reached up and grabbed at her face, a small smile spread across her face.
> Ready
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Princess Sunset Shimmer!” the door attendant cried as I entered. “And Duchess Sunshine Shimmer!”

I can’t believe they still call me a duchess, Sunshine thought to me. It’s not like I’m in control of a Duchy.

It’s more an honorary title, remember? I said as we walked the distance to the dias where Celestia and Luna sat. I frowned. Is it just me, or do their manes look a little limp?

“Princess Twilight Sparkle!” came the next announcement.

“Feel better?” I whispered as she caught up with me.

“Yeah,” she whispered back. “Sorry about all that last night.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I returned. 

“Welcome, Sunset, Twilight,” Celestia said. I frowned as I realized that her voice sounded tired, but not the kind of tired that came from a lack of sleep. “I’m so glad you could made it.”

“Well, you sent it via official channels,” I said. “Couldn’t really ignore it.”

Celestia chuckled, then drew herself up slightly.

“You’re wondering why we are stepping aside,” she said. “Don’t worry, it’s not a permanent abdication, it is merely something we must do.”

“Every fifteen hundred years we must renew our bond with the sun and the moon,” Luna said. She sounded just as tired. “We are past due for our ritual due to recent events, and as such, our powers wane.”

“We cannot, however, leave the thrones vacant even for such a short period as the week it will take,” Celestia continued. “The citizens of Equestria must have someone to look to for reassurance.”

“And that’s us,” Twilight said, looking at me. 

“So why did I get chosen to take over the Day?” I asked quietly.

“It is not mere chance your cutie mark is a dual sun, Sunset,” Celestia said. “You gained it recreating my duty in minature, do you recall?”

I nodded. It was a silly little thing I had done as a surprise when she visited the school prior to my being chosen as a personal student.

“Any your talents, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna said. “Will aid you in your Dreamwalking.”

“D-dr-dreamwalking?” Twilight stammered.

Luna nodded. “The dreams of Equestria must be warded in my absense.”

“How long will this ritual take?” Sunshine asked.

“The actual ritual will only take two days and two nights,” Celestia told us. “But the travel to the shrine and the preparations will take a total of a week.”

“So what are we expected to do?” I asked, a little afraid of the answer.

“You will be taking over the rising of the sun and moon in our absence,” Celestia said, sitting down. “If you wish, we can cancel the daily court meetings until our return so as to limit your duties. Grasping the finesse to control the heavens may tax you at first.”

“Though Twilight has some prior experience with it,” Luna said. “If a bit unrefined.”

I looked at Twilight. 

“It was during the Tirek incident,” she stammered nervously. “And I had the power of four Alicorns then! Can I really do it with just my own?”

“We will transfer to each of you some of our power to ease the passing just after we make the announcement at the conclusion of today’s court.”

“Speaking of,” I asked. “Are we supposed to run things alone, or can we have aides?”

“If you choose to hold court, you will of course be allowed to choose someone to assist you, yes,” Luna said. 

“We will let you discuss this, of course,” Celestia said.

“Are you ok?” Twilight asked.

Celestia nodded. “It is just that we have waited too long to renew the connection, and it drains our energy daily,” she said. “You may have noticed my declining lack of effectiveness in recent years, particularly during the incident with the Crystal Heart or when Chrysalis captured us all.”

I blinked. I may not have been as star struck as Twilight was, and I was shocked that she was admitting to a waning of power to us. And if I was shocked, Twilight was stunned into petrification.

“So your power is only as strong as the connection to your respective charges,” Sunshine said. “And I assume your life-forces are as well.”

“Indeed,” Luna said. “As long as the sun and moon sail the skies, we will continue on.”

“Hence the need to renew your connection,” my wife continued. “To maintain your own lives.”

I saw the acknowledgement in the eyes of my mentor.

“I’ll do it,” I said softly.

Everyone’s head turned to me. 

“But only for a week,” I said. “Seven days and I’m back to just a plain old pony. And don’t count on me not to speed the days up.”

Celestia smiled at me. “One week,” she agreed.





“Starlight would be a great aide,” Sunshine said. “She’s worked alongside you for years now, she knows how you think.”

Twilight nodded. “I agree, but she would be invaluable to Sunset as well,” she glanced at me. “They’re just as good friends as they are with me, and Starlight would be able to catch her up on recent changes that she might not know about.”

“Then who were you thinking of tapping to be your aide if I take Starlight?” I asked. “Trixie?”

“I was thinking Moondancer,” she said. “Night court is fairly standard things that couldn’t make it on the docket for Day court for various reasons. If anypony is as precise as I am about details, it’s Moondancer.”

An image of a girl rose up in my minds eye, the haze surrounding it making it obvious that I was seeing one of Sunshine’s memories.

“Are we talking about the shy girl that more or less emulated you when you were younger?” she asked. “And is probably even more bookish than we are?”

“Yes,” Twilight said, a grin spreading. “I patched up our relationship a while before you first returned, and we’ve kept up with each other.”

“I’m having difficulty imagining a pony more bookish than Twilight,” I said.

The doors at the other side of the small conference room opened as they admitted both Celestia and Luna. They moved over and sat down, their increasing fatigue obvious to me.

“Go ahead,” I said. “You made the announcements, there’s no reason to hold a formal transfer of power. Go ahead and do what you have to do.”

Twilight stepped forward and took a spot next to me. “We’re ready.”
> Court
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I slowly sank into the cushioned seat of the Solar Throne, looking to the side at the empty Lunar Throne, wishing for a moment that Twilight - either of them - could be here with me.

I felt a hoof on my shoulder and turned to look at Starlight.

“It’s ok,” she said. “We don’t have to hold formal court today, we could just read petitions.”

I shook my head, feeling the throbbing in the back from having raised the sun for the first time. “No, it’s ok,” I said. “I promised some of the courtiers a short session and I can’t back out now. No matter how much I wish I could.”

She nodded and lifted up a small clipboard. “Ok then,” she said. “But remember you said that, and no banishing anypony to the moon.”

I finally laughed and cracked a smile. 

“No promises if Blueblood pokes his head in, regardless if he’s Celestia’s nephew.”

She snorted as she signaled the guards to open the doors. “Rarity might find that arrangement quite agreeable,” she snickered.

And true to my luck at times, he was the first one to enter.

“I must protest!” he shouted as he and his entourage approached the throne. “As part of the bloodline of the Princess, I should have been the one to assume the seat of Canterlot.”

I shot a look at Starlight, feeling my wings twitch in annoyance.

“And further, why should some rootless vagabond gain such preferential treatment from our beloved Celestia over her own kin?”

I surged from my seat, wings flaring out as I shunted some mana to my horn just to set it glowing for an instant, it’s reddish glare throwing my face into sharp relief despite the well-lit hall.

“Do you dare question the judgement of the Princess of the Sun?” I roared, just keeping from using the Royal Voice. I stalked forward to the top step of the dias.

“You, who profess to be of royal lineage to Celestia herself, would dare besmirtch her state of mind in choosing someone who was not only one of her personal students but a sister Alicorn?” I glared down at the Unicorn. “Well?”

For his part, he did back away slightly and his cronies cowered behind him. 

Starlight spoke up in the silence. “You promised you wouldn’t banish anyone to the moon today,” she said in a voice that spoke of strained patience, though I could see the glint of humor in her eyes. I heard a whimper come from one of the impertinent Prince’s sycophants. 

“I believe my exact words were ‘Attempt’,” I said, giving her a glare, winking with the eye shielded from my audience’s view. As I swiveled my head back to face Blueblood, I gave a sign of reigning in my temper and pulled my wings in.

“Was impugning your aunt’s judgement the only reason you thundered into this hall like a stampeding herd of cattle,” I asked. “Or did you have a legitimate request to lay before the Crown?”

Truth be told, I tuned most of it out. It was all a bunch of self-aggrandized requests for re-writes for the tax codes and other things that went over my head. I was so far out of touch with Equestrian politics that I was glad Starlight had agreed to be my aide. 

As he launched into another speech, I raised a hoof.

“One paragraph or less, Blueblood,” I said. “I do have other petitioners to hear today.”

He blustered for a moment. “There are rumors of an uprising in some of the poorer districts,” he said. “Do you intend to deal with them?”

I tilted my head. “Uprising?” I asked. “In Canterlot, of all places?”

The young prince nodded. “I assume you know of it, since you are privvy to my aunt’s reports,” he said, a snide tone slipping in.

I glanced at Starlight, and she flipped through the various reports we had been given upon reporting to the throne. She shook her head.

“We have not been informed of any such matter,” I said. “But I will dispatch a few guards to seek information regarding it and offer to hear any requests of those in charge.”

I had a momentary flashback to Cadence saying those same words just over three years ago to an coldly placid Sorla. I hoped for a moment that it wasn’t a premonition.

“Sunset Shimmer,” he broke into my thoughts. “If I may…”

“You may not,” I said, charging my glare with every ounce of remembered spite and hate from my early days at CHS. “And if you deign to return to this hall again, you would do well to remember my title and authority.”

With a mixed look of anger and fear, he turned and left, his flunkies following with fearful glances behind.

As soon as the doors closed, I slumped back into the throne. One of the guards stepped up and stood at attention before me.

“Sergeant-Major,” I said. “Find out anything you can about these ‘uprisings’, if you can. I hope to Celestia that he was blowing things out of proportion, but better safe than sorry.”

The Pegasus guard snapped a salute and took off, a second guard taking his place.

I looked at Starlight. “Who’s next?”

She checked her list. “A representative from the Farmer’s guild about a grant for testing a new breed of apples,” she said.

I sat up, already feeling the weight of my wings and tiara growing heavier.

“Send them in.”





I stood on the balcony in the Tower of Duty, watching the sun approach the lowest point in the sky. I felt a presence coming up behind me and turned to see Twilight, her own crown perched on her head.

“Long day?” she asked.

“Very first petitioner was Blueblood,” I said.

“Ouch,” the lavender Alicorn whispered. “He still here?”

“For now,” I said with a quirk of my lips. “The rest of the day was pretty simple, hearing requests for funding on a few projects, some that sounded viable. The rest I asked for more information before I could make a ruling.”

“Sounds simple,” she replied, ruffling her wings. “Ready?”

I nodded, closing my eyes, and I reached inside for the bright connection that throbbed inside. I felt it draw taut, and I slowly eased the sun beyond the horizon, feeling a similar thrum as Twilight raised the moon a moment later.

I released my grip and panted for a moment. “That’s harder than I thought it would be,” I said.

“Tell me about it,” she said. “Imagine having to do both for a thousand years.”

“I have new respect for them both,” I said, giving my mane a toss. “Are you going to be ok with doing court tonight?”

“I’m a little more used to it than you are,” she said. “And there are fewer petitioners at night. I think some people are still slightly afraid of Luna or the Night Guard. Maybe both.”

“I don't know,” I said as we descended the stairs. “I was talking to one of the reservists last night. He seemed a good sort, though not exactly fierce as far as Thestrals go.”

“You talking about the one that makes the excellent coffee?”

“Yeah,” I answered. “Don’t think I’ve ever had a better cup.”

Silence returned for a second. “Have you heard anything about an uprising?” I asked, nodding to a pair of Thestrals that flanked the door.

The Princess of Friendship shook her head. “Nothing outside of what you’ve heard,” she responded. “I even sent letters to my friends who still live here and none of them have heard of anything either.”

I was about to respond when a member of the Day Guard trotted up, bearing a rolled scroll in his aura.

“Your majesties,” he said, giving a quick salute. “We just received word from the scouts sent out earlier. In one of the lower districts, a small riot broke out.”

“What?” I demanded. “A riot?”

“What was the cause?” Twilight asked immediately.

“We’re still investigating,” he said. “But this was found at the scene.”

I took the scroll from him and unrolled it. It bore a single word, scrawled in scarlet ink.

ENTROPY

I gave it to Twilight to look at, and she turned to one of the Thestrals.

“Cancel Night Court,” she said. “And send additional guards to help with the investigation.”

As the Thestrals saluted, I turned to the Day Gaurd. 

“Go find Starlight and Moondancer and tell them to meet us in my office,” I ordered.

As one, Twilight and I headed for the office wing, and I fought the urge to take flight.

Something about this felt wrong, and the timing was too convenient to be a coincidence.
> Investigation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“It’s not good news,” Moondancer said, laying another report on the table in my office. Celestia has offered to let me use hers, but I declined. I remembered it being the place where I had learned so many things and didn’t want to take it over. It wasn’t my domain. 

“Since when has rioting been good?” Starlight asked as she skimmed another one. “Random damage done in a mostly unoccupied spot in a magical darkness spell doesn’t scream ‘terrorist’ to me.”

“It isn’t to drive fear into anypony,” I said. “It’s a message. There were four guards in that square when the damage occurred and they neither saw nor heard anything. They’re saying we can’t stop them.”

“But who are they?” Twilight asked. “Outside of a single word, they’ve left no demands, no manifesto, nothing!”

“Maybe the word itself is the message?” Moondancer offered. 

Twilight furrowed her brow. “It’s the measurement of change from order to disorder and usually applies to things like mana dynamic shifts.”

“To us, perhaps,” I offered. “But if you look at it from a laypony’s persepective, it means the eventual destruction of everything.”

Sunshine leaned forward. “And all these reports only date back two or three weeks,” she said. “About the time the princesses starting cutting court short and canceling a few appearances. I hardly think that is a coincidence.”

“Celestia once told me that she wasn’t infallible,” Starlight said. “And that most ponies see her as such. So maybe it’s just panic from thinking that the Two Sisters are ailing?”

Moondancer shook her head in disagreement. 

“This is too organized to be mass panic,” she huffed as she spread out a map. “For the darkness to be so absolute, they’d need a couple Unicorns or Thestrals to create it. Then they’d also need to blanket the area in silence spells and somehow do the damage and get out again in mere moments. That takes serious logistical thinking and a panicked populace doesn’t do that.”

“So what do we do?” I asked. 

The sweatered mare tapped the map where she'd placed circles in a few points, all in the poorer sections of Canterlot. If poor was even a proper word. Non-noble section would be more accurate. 

“There’s a sequential pattern to these incidents,” she said. “If they stay true to form, this neighborhood will be the next hit.”

I paled and Sunshine gasped. 

“What? What is it?” Twilight asked, her wings ruffling. 

“That’s where our house is,” I whispered. 





I stared out the window of what had once been my room as a filly. I could see the street below, the cobbled road stretching out in both directions, one leading to the castle and the other to the shopping district. I could see the milling members of the guard outside, some trying to be inconspicuous by not wearing their uniforms. 

They’re posture gave them away, though. 

“The square is secured, your Highness,” a guard informed me. 

“Thank you,” I said. “You’re dismissed. And take the other two with you.” 

“But ma’am,” he protested. “What about your protection?”

I turned and spread my wings slightly, my horn glowing softly. 

“They’d be a fool to cross me,” I whispered. 

The guard frowned. “It is still our duty,” he said in a tone that said he wanted me to relent but he also didn’t want to outright refuse an order from one of the Princesses of the realm. 

I sighed, the tiara on my brow even heavier, it seemed. 

“Make sure that side alleys are in view as well, and try not to get underhoof while doing your job,” I said with a smile. 

Heading downstairs, I found Sunshine arguing with Twilight. 

“I am perfectly capable of helping with this investigation, Twilight,” she huffed. “My condition has no bearing on my ability to use magic or deductive reasoning!”

The lavender Alicorn shifted on her hooves, nervous but not backing down. 

“No, but if things get dicey here you can’t escape as easily,” she countered. “You haven’t perfected teleportation yet and your wings aren’t permanent fixtures. If you get hurt and something happened to you or your foal...”

“That’s not going to happen,” I said, stepping up and laying a wing on both Sparkles. “She’s going to stay well back if fighting breaks out where she can get a good look at the scene and those two,” I pointed at the guard that had been following me all day. “Are going to be responsible for her safety.”

I turned to them and gave them a cold smile. 

“Aren’t you, gentlecolts?” I asked. 

They nodded quickly, one shivering slightly at the look. 

“Sunny,” my wife started. 

Give me this, I told her. Your magic has been erratic since you’ve been pregnant. I don’t want to risk it, especially with how far we had to go for this. Please, for me?

Her face fell for a moment, and I regretted making her think again of the difficulties we had faced trying to conceive. I hated making her relive that painful moment when she had been told she couldn’t bear young naturally. 

“Fine,” she said, a hint of sadness plying through the bond. “Only for you, though.”

Twilight gave her a soft smile. “If it means anything,” she offered. “If it were Shy in your place, I’d be saying the same thing.”

Sunshine smiled faintly. “I’m sure,” she said with a giggle. 

One of the guards suddenly went stiff. 

“Is that smoke?” he asked, sniffing. 

He had barely finished speaking when a window shattered and a torch was sailing into the room. I caught it with my magic and snuffed it out, but as I did I caught the smell of smoke and ash. 

“Everypony out!” Twilight shouted, immediately throwing a wing over Sunshine and teleporting out. I followed suit with one of the guards and wound up in a blackness that was so absolute I couldn’t even see my own hoof in front of me. I called for a report, but my voice refused to sound in the air. 

Sunny? came the worried call. 

I’m fine, I sent. Are you ok?

Before I got her response, the darkness and unworldly silence lifted. I saw all the guards start to rush about, looking for anything out of place. 

And slowly, the sound of fire reached my ears, and I turned to see my childhood home in flames, ponies rushing up with buckets while Pegasi shoved rainclouds in place overhead. 

But I could only see one thing, scrawled in letters of flame on the side of my home. 

Entropy

My anger was so strong that paving stones cracked beneath my racing hooves as I ran forward and leapt into the air, slamming an airtight seal around my home, smothering the fire, but not before the roof gave in and collapsed.  

I landed, fury wafting off of me and Sunshine walked over, staring at the house in shock. She shoved her head against my side and cried softly. 

I caught Twilights eye from across my yard, the steel in my gaze making her flinch as she approached. 

“No more court until this is settled, Twilight,” I said. “I don’t care who they are, they just tried to burn down my home.”

And the lavender pony nodded in agreement. I could see the emotion behind her facade of calm. 

She was just as mad as I was.
> Ashes
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I walked slowly through the ashes, my hooves already stained. While any number of repair spells could restore the roof and undo the burns, i doubted that it would reverse all the damage. The smell of smoke would linger for some time, and anything destroyed by the fire not part of the house would be lost for good. It fell to Sunshine and I to take stock of any such items that might exist. 

I opened what was left of the door to our room, the charred portal breaking free from the hinges. I closed my eyes and let it settle to the floor. I stepped through and looked at the damage. The bed was destroyed, a scorched beam laying across it. I looked around the room, taking in the burned and scorched furniture and noted that somehow the picture of my sisters and I was untouched by the flame, a light coating of soot the only touch from the fire.

I pulled the picture to me, turning and seeing Sunshine standing behind me, the tracks of tears still fresh on her face, her azure coat stained with ash along her legs. She had a look of sadness and seeing the picture in my magic grip made her smile a little.

“Anything else left?” she asked.

“We’re going to need a new bed and dresser,” I said wryly. “But it looks like the damage here isn’t horribly irrevocable.” I walked up and nuzzled her. “Anything bad downstairs?”

She shook her head. “Mostly smoke damage and soot,” she whispered into my barrel. “The fire didn’t have time to spread down here between the water and the vacuum seal you used. It could have been much worse. We’re lucky.”

I shook my head. “We shouldn’t have been,” I whispered, feeling my anger flare a little. “The other sites were just broken windows or overturned stands. This is the first time they turned to arson. And I’m not sure if it is coincidence that they chose our home deliberately or not when any number of other homes stood just as close by.”

“I don't like the connotation,” my wife muttered. “If they know where your home is, then they know a lot about you and I.”

“I know,” I replied as I slid a wing over her. “I’ve already sent a contingent to keep an eye on Glory and Dew, but they live far enough into the Castle district to be protected from these for now.”

Twilight came up, gingerly stepping around the debris. A rolled up scroll hung in her magic.

“This was just delivered to the castle,” she said, her voice grim.

I took the scroll and opened it, my eyes going hard as I read the words.

To the false rulers of Equestria,

From the time of the foundings of the world, there have been forces higher than the common pony. Harmony, The Sun, The Moon, Discord, Serendiptiy, and Entropy, each given their time and place.

Serendipity has weakened, Discord lost, and now the Sun and Moon are ailing. The time of Entropy is upon us all. 

This is the end of times, and we will facilitate it such that will be done to the will of Entropy.

Children of the Void.

“Well,” I gritted. “At least we now have a name to go with the acts. What do we know about this group?”

Twilight shook her head. “Nothing,” my fellow princess responded. “There isn’t anything I’ve ever heard with that name associated. I’ve got Moondancer and Starlight combing the archives.” She looked around. “How bad is the damage?”

Sunshine shook her head. “Not overly bad,” she gasped. “Nothing lost that can’t be easily replaced or particularly significant.” She shivered. “I still don’t like that this happened.”

The Princess of Friendship nodded. “I understand,” she said with a sympathetic smile. “I felt the same shortly after the Golden Oaks was destroyed. I understand the sorrow,” she looked from my wife to me. “And the anger. Better than you might realize.”

I nodded. “I’ve seen the devastated part of the landscape where you threw down with Tirek,” I told her. “I doubt I’d be that bad. I don’t have the power of four Alicorns contained inside.”

“No,” she said. “But you did go after Neighlin during the war.” She bit her lip as she realized what she had implied.

I flinched, the memory of the fire, the smell, and the screams rising back into my mind. I shut my eyes.

Sunshine put her head under my chin, her cheek pressed against my chest. “It’s ok,” she whispered. 

“I’m sorry, Sunset,” Twilight said hurriedly. “I know it was a special situation, and that you would never deliberately do anything like that and…”

I snapped my head up. “Deliberately…” I whispered, a thought slipping through my mind and I locked eyes with hers. “That’s it.” I headed for the stairs.

“What is it?” Sunshine asked as she came up alongside.

“We need information, and there’s only one mare that could provide it.”





“You want what?” Starlight asked.

“The name of her family,” I repeated. “Neighlin has to have surviving relatives. They may know something about this group and why my home was attacked personally. With fire, the same way I killed Neighlin.”

“Sunset,” the mare stuttered. “This isn’t like finding a specific book, this is searching for a family that may not want to be found.”

“I know,” I said. “But I have a feeling that they may know something about this.” I looked her in the eyes. “Please, do what you can. You have the resources of the Court, you know.”

Starlight sighed. “I’ll see what I can do. Are you and Sunshine ok?”

I nodded. “Thankfully,” I said. “We were able to get out before anything serious happened. No significant loses, but we’ll have to replace a lot of furniture.”

Starlight nodded, then turned to leave.

“For what it’s worth,” she tossed over her shoulder. “I hope your wrong.”

“So do I, Starlight,” I said.

“So do I.”
> Escalation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was sitting down to a pot of tea with Sunshine when Twilight burst through the doors of my chambers, a look of pain on her face.

“Sunset,” she whispered. “I just got a letter from Mayor Mare. There’s been attacks in Ponyville, Rarity’s boutique and Sugarcube Corner were vandalized. They also beat a handful of citizens.”

“What?” I surged to my feet. “Are they ok?”

“Bruises, cuts, and scrapes, mostly,” she said, the panicked look in her eye showing her concern. “Rarity and Pinkie were at Sweet Apple Acres at the time and the Cakes are in Baltimare for a conference, so nopony was hurt in the vandalism. But residents are worried, and it apparently occurred at the same time as the attack on your home.”

“This is insane,” I said, striding to the door to ask the guard there to assign a small contingent to Ponyville when the guard pushed the door open.

“Your Highness,” he spoke nervously. “Your sister is here to see you.”

I blinked in surprise as Glory walked in, her normally neat appearance missing and bits of soot staining her hooves. Her eyes were red.

“Glory,” I stuttered as my sister walked up to me and buried her face in my coat, her nose just brushing the edge of my wing.

“My house, Sunny,” she whimpered. “Somepony burned my house.”

Anger kindled again as I reached out with my wings and folded my sister in my embrace.

“Get word to Cadence,” I whispered as Glory broke down. “And to your parents too, Twilight. This is getting to be trying and I want to know who to go after.” 

Twilight nodded, turning to leave. “I’ll have Spike send letters immediately,” she told me, her face showing that she wasn’t sure what to think. “Should we send one to your sister Dew as well?”

I shook my head. “I’m going there myself,” I gritted. I looked at the guard who was still standing in the doorway. “Assign her some quarters, please, and post a guard nearby.”

Glory clutched at my coat, and I gently helped her to her hooves.

“Glory,” I whispered to her, touching my horn to hers and channelling some calm into her. “Go with the sergeant here and get some rest. We’ll see what we can get done. It’ll be all right.”

Watching my sister walk mechanically away hurt more than I could say. As I went to the window, Sunshine looked at me.

“Glory’s house isn’t in any of the districts that would have been targeted,” she said firmly. “Nor was Ponyville.”

I paused for a second. “I know,” I replied.

She stood. “I’ll work with Moondancer to see if we missed anything.”

I took a step over to her and nuzzled her for a moment. As I stepped away, she whispered to me.

“Come back to me.”

I gave her a warm smile. “Always.”

But as I winged my way towards the home Dawning Dew and Crystal Hue lived, I felt a sense of fear bubble up inside as I gazed down at Canterlot.

And saw the fires springing up around the city.





I alighted up the street from my sisters house, trotting quickly. The neighborhood was quiet, and I saw no damage. I knocked on the door and Hue opened the door.

“Sunset,” he said, confused. “What’s the matter?”

“Are you all OK?” I asked, slipping inside as he stepped aside.

“Yes, of course,” he said, frowning. “Why wouldn’t we be?”

“There are small riots breaking out around the city,” I said. “Glory just lost her house and the home I had was burned as well. I want you three to come to the castle for safety.”

Hue shook his head, trying to wrap his mind around the information I was sharing. “But, why?” he asked. “We’re nowhere near Glory’s or the old home. We should be safe here.”

I shook my head and stomped a hoof. “It’s not about locations,” I snapped. “Whoever these ponies are, they’re targeting specific places and so far, they’ve attacked not just me and my sister, but my friends in another town entirely. Now I want you, my sister, and my niece someplace safe before they decide to attack you as well!”

“Hue,” I heard Dew’s voice come from the side. “She’s not going to back down.”

I looked over at my sister, unspoken words traveling between us.

Hue sighed and lowered his head. He met my eyes.

“Are you certain?” he asked me.

“No,” I admitted. “But I’d rather be proven wrong than help another family member have to sift through ash.”

The painter nodded. “We’ll get packed,” he said, moving towards the bedroom.





I walked into the castle wearily. I had kept my sister and her family under an invisibility spell as we made our way to the castle, but spells like that weren’t exactly my strength. As I handed them off to a steward to get them settled, I saw Twilight standing nearby.

“More bad news?” I asked, dragging my hooves forward.

“Cadence has had a few minor fights break out following the Princesses stepping down,” she replied. “But nothing approaching the level of difficulty we’re having here. Mom and Dad are staying in the East Wing. They had a break in a few weeks ago.”

I glanced at her. “Anything taken?”

She shook her head. “Not that they could see,” she answered.

“Why would anypony break in without taking anything?” I asked.

I never got an answer as an explosion rocked the foyer of the castle, making Twilight and I stumble. As I got my bearings, I saw guards rushing to the gates, a huge sphere of darkness enveloping where the entrance courtyard was.

I threw up a shield as I saw several arc-shaped bolts of energy slice through the air, one glancing against a guards’ armor freezing him in place. Several others struck guards full brunt, being rooted in place with a strange whitish aura. The ones that passed through crashed into the kinetic barrier I had raised and gave off minor explosions, the shockwaves ruffling my mane.

“Sunset!” I heard Twilight shout, her coming up to my side, wings flared and horn blazing as another fusillade of the strange energy bolts arced in towards us. 

As they crashed against the shield Twilight held, I shoved mine forward, slamming through the edge of the black void. I heard loud shouts of surprise and I felt a backlash sear through my horn, making me grimace in discomfort.

“You ok?” the Princess of Friendship asked.

“Magical shielding,” I gasped, shaking my head to clear the fog. “That’s high tier magic their packing.”

“Got it,” she said, her horn taking on a strange blue-silver light and my shield flickered. She was spreading an anti-magic field, and I saw the edge of her field hit the darkness, the two effects flaring and flickering in arcane light. I leaped into the air, grunting slightly as I had to propel myself purely with my wing muscles until I was above her field. I focused on a spell that I hadn’t used since my time as Celestia’s student, my mana slipping forward and entering the encroaching darkness. I shut my eyes and breathed out slowly, and when I opened them again, I saw faint outlines surrounding everypony; the guards shimmering with silver-white, Twilight ablaze with bright magenta.

And inside the darkness I saw ponies whose auras appeared as blood-red whirpools. They fixed their gaze on me as one, and an eerie screech burst from their mouths, the sound rending at my ears.

And as soon as it started, it ended, the inky zone of darkness vanishing, leaving guards ponies frozen in place and broken masonry scattered around.

And a giant scorched portion of the grounds that I’m sure I knew what it said.

I slammed a hoof down, the flagstone cracking from the strength I was still getting used to even now. 

“This has gone far enough,” I said as medics came forward and began to treat the stasis-locked guards. “By attacking the castle, they just committed treason.”

Twilight ruffled her wings as she walked over to me. “We don’t know who they are yet, Sunset,” she reminded me.

“Yet,” I said, turning and stalking off. The lavender Alicorn hurried to catch up with me, frowning as I turned away from the living quarters and headed towards the Tower of Duty. 

“Why are we here?” she asked me as I opened a door leading downwards.

“Because we need to be ready,” I said as I descended the stairs. “And I don’t do subtle very well.”

“I’ve noticed,” Twilight remarked.

I halted before the door at the base of the stairs. “I’ve only seen this room opened once before, when the mirror was stored within,” I said. I felt a cold shiver run up my spine. “Before we open it again, I need to ask you for a favor.”

“What?” 

“I have a problem with containing my temper when it comes to my friends being hurt or in danger,” I admitted slowly. “And anger in general has always  been quick to flow in me. If I do find those responsible for burning my home, my sister’s home, and damaging the homes and businesses of our friends, I need someone to help balance me.” I looked into her eyes, a dimly remembered scream and orange fire flashing in my mind’s eye. “To keep me from doing certain things again.”

She looked at my face, and after a moment, she nodded.

“Agreed,” she whispered.

I turned and opened the doors, revealing a room slightly smaller than the Map room in Twilight’s castle, several racks with artifacts of all sorts resting within. I saw several weapons, including the double-bitted axe Luna had wielded in the war in the Crystal Empire resting alongside a golden broadsword and a series of curved knives and a mace of glittering crystal.

I walked up to a pair of armored bardings of a silvery gold metal, their design clearly made with an Alicorn’s physique in mind, a hole in the helm for the horns and jointed armor around where the wings would rest. Sigils and runes were carved along the riveted joints and the crest of the helms.

I could feel the magic pulsing inside them, and doubt crept into my mind. Was I ready to commit to this, or was anger clouding my judgement?

I looked at the barding, and the images of Glory crying and Sunshine sifting ash, looking for surviving possessions from the wreckage of our home.

I reached out and rested a hoof against the metal.

“Celestia forgive me,” I whispered.
> Fly
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The door to the house was already hanging in splinters when I alighted at the home Starlight had managed to track down. I walked in slowly, a shield spell held tightly, ready to be released at the slightest hint of danger. A smell started to make it’s way to my nose, a smell I recognized from my time on the streets and in the halfway house.

Rotting flesh.

I moved further into the house, trying to ignore the smell and came to a staircase. There were trails of blood on the lowermost steps, but none going any further up. I followed the trail to a nearby room where a larger splash showed where the injury occurred. On a table I saw a picture showing four Unicorns, a pair of proud parents and two children, a colt and a filly. The filly was a younger and much happier - and more sane - Neighlin. The fire and flames flickered in my mind’s eye again, both the ones that had consumed her body and the ones that had flared to life in my home.

I sighed and continued my sweep of the house. Upstairs in what looked to be a study I found two older Unicorns, the father and mother from the picture. Their eyes were locked open in terror, their tongues swollen and purple. They looked as though they had died gasping for air. I felt anger flare as I looked at them. Nopony deserved to die like that and then be left like garbage.

I searched the rest of the house, but found no other signs of the colt from the picture or any hidden surprises. As I went back down the stairs, I looked at the blood on the steps. It ended abruptly, as though the wound had closed up suddenly or…

I lit my horn and trained a detection spell at the termination of the trail. There was a faint magic trace there, but not like any magic I had ever felt before. It felt sick, as though it was filled with illness. I had never felt anything like that before, not even from Acerak or Discord.

I stepped out of the house and headed back towards the palace. As I flew I looked down on the city of my birth and youth, seeing the damage the fires of the night had caused in the dawn hours. In my haste to find answers and prepare, I had almost forgotten to raise the sun, but seeing the gutted and blacked husks of homes made me wish I hadn’t.

My fellow ponies were being hurt, and I was no closer to finding an answer as to who.

As I landed, a guard stepped forward and saluted. “Did you find what you were looking for, Your Majesty?”

I shook my head. “No,” I replied, returning the salute so he could stand to his ease. “But send a burial detail to the address. There are two Unicorns there that should be put to a proper rest.”

He nodded and trotted off. I sighed. Only three days into the job and already I was used to giving orders with the expectations of being listened to. I headed for my study, pausing to look at the work going on to repair the damage to the main gate. I knew from experience that the palace had automatic repair spells laid on almost every stone and board, but the damage that had rocked it the night before had resisted the magic, crackling with orange light whenever the castle staff tried to activate the spells. Twilight had finally arranged for stonemasons to come handle the repairs.

Sunshine rased her head sleepily as I entered the study. Her face showed that she was fighting down the urge to race to the bathroom and empty her stomach in protest. I felt a flash of sympathy for her. Morning sickness had hit her harder than we had thought it would.

“Did you find anything?” Moondancer asked from the side, her glasses settling on her face as she sat up from the couch she had laid out on.

“Nothing I hoped to find,” I returned, pulling my crown off with my magic and setting it to the side. My shoes and chain of office followed soon after. Finally divested of the regalia, I slumped into the pile of pillows and cushions strewn about and laid my head along Sunshine’s barrel in fatigue. “Every lead ends in a burned out home or a strange magic residue.”

“Would Twilight be able to recognize it?” my wife asked.

“Your guess is as good as mine,” I replied, eyes closing. “I’m probably just as well versed as she is on mantic traces.”

“We won’t know unless she takes a look herself,” Moondancer pointed out.

“I know,” I murmured. I was starting to fall asleep to the sound of Sunshine’s heartbeat. “Can you ask her when she wakes up?”

I heard hooves shuffle across the floor. “Of course, Your Majesty,” Moondancer’s voice carried softly. “Sleep well.”

“Dun call me tha,” I slurred, but the rest of the protest never made it out of my mouth as I fell over the precipice to sleep.





A fire burned ahead of me. Shadowy forms moved back and forth, shrouded by the backglare of the flames. Or were they made of shadow? I couldn’t tell.

“False Ruler,” a voice said, causing me to wheel around, horn lighting with an angry red glare. “You cannot stop the march of entropy. I will not be swayed.”

“Show your face,” I snarled. “Stop hurting all these innocent lives and face me directly!”

“No," the disembodied voice replied. “Your time is not yet here.”

“You will face me now!” I shouted, spreading my wings. “Armis…”

Before I could complete the phrase, a blast of air slammed into me, knocking the wind from my lungs and dazing me.

I surged to my hooves, horn flaring up and wings flying open with a shout of anger as I was shoved forcefully into a waking state. Sunshine twisted beneath me, eyes wide in concern at my angry state.

“Sunny!” she called, reaching up with a forelimb to touch my side.

I stood there, taking shuddering breaths. As my fear and anger subsided, I laid down and draped my head back over my love’s side.

“You ok?” she asked softly, shifting so she could stoke my mane.

“No, I’m not,” I said, closing my eyes for a moment. “Homes being burnt, everypony looking to me, trying to run this nation even for a week…It’s more than I ever wanted. I just want to go back to our condo and never look back sometimes.”

“You can’t,” Sunshine admonished. “You’re an Equestrian princess and you have your responsibilities.”

“And how many times have I been called to exercise them in the realm I was tasked to defend?” I returned wearily, raising my head again. “Twice now I’ve been called into service in Equestria, and the only time things in our world were threatened, we were powerless thanks to the Conjunction. There are times I think we should just move here and be done with it.”

“What about our friends?” she whispered. “And my family?”

“I’m not saying we shut the portal for good,” I said, leaning over and nuzzling her. “I’m just tied of never getting more than a few days of peace to enjoy with my wife at home, where we belong.”

A giggling laugh rose from outside the window. My office overlooked one of the garden courtyards, and as I rose to go look, I saw my sister playing with Ebony as Hue laid out some food for an impromptu picnic. My eyes immediately spotted the guards standing inconspicously around the door, protecting Dew’s family on my orders.

“Not long and we’ll be doing the same,” Sunshine said as she came up next to me.

“Nine or more months is not a short time, Twi,” I said softly. 

“No," she said as she leaned into me.

“I’m sure it will fly on by.”
> Backtracking
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The shoes slipped easily onto my hooves. I barely even felt their weight now, and that troubled me. As the chain of office slid into place, Sunshine came over and nuzzled me.

“Come back, you hear me?” she whispered into my neck.

Nuzzling her back, I nipped her ear. Pulling back, I smiled at her reassuringly.

“I’ll come back carrying my shield, Twilight,” I whispered back. As I left the room, I found Starlight taking pace alongside me.

“You'll watch after her, right?” I asked.

The Unicorn nodded. “Moondancer and I both, as often as we can.”

I sighed. “I don’t like this,” I said. “Every lead we’ve turned up has ended in ash or death. I wish Celestia or Luna were around for advice.”

“I know the feeling,” Starlight agreed. “But they’re likely starting their ritual now. And you saw them before they left, can you honestly say you want them here in that state?”

“No,” I conceded as we entered the throne room. Twilight and Moondancer were already on the dias, conversing softly. I shook my mane out a little, feeling my tiara keeping the hairs from moving too far.

“Good morning,” I said. “I’m sorry for keeping you up this long.”

“It’s fine,” Twilight said. “I took a nap halfway through, most of the dreams were peaceful enough and I set a contingency spell to wake me if I were needed.”

“So, what are we doing?” Moondancer asked.

“So far, we’ve been reactionary,” I said. “And they love taunting us. Did you find anything on the mantic trace, Twilight?”

The lavender alicorn shook her head. “Nothing solid,” she said. It’s got some strange overtones to it, like it’s borrowing magic instead of using their own. But the decay is far too fast.”

“That's what I thought,” I sighed. “It felt sick, ill. Not even the wild magic of the Everfree felt like that.”

“So what do we do?” Moondancer asked.

“You stay here with Starlight to take care of petitions,” I said, looking at Twilight.

She nodded. “We’re going to make a quick patrol of the city, looking for this mantric signature.”

She nodded and we turned to leave. I noticed that she wasn’t wearing her regalia beyond the chain of office, the medallion gently bumping against her chest.

“Twilight,” I asked softly. “Does it ever bother you?”

“I’m sorry?”

I sighed. “Does the yoke of duty ever bother you?” I floated my tiara into my sight, looking at the simple lines of the silver headpiece. “Have you ever wished that you could go back to the days before the wings, before the duties? I know you and Fluttershy have been trying to settle into some sort of regularity in your lives.”

She turned bright red. “H-how did you know about us?” she asked. “We’ve barely told the rest of the girls.”

I smiled at her. “I’m not dense, Twilight,” I told her. “She shows up more than the other girls, almost every night we’ve been in those chairs. She leaves not long after you lower the moon, and you always seem to have a little silly grin on your face when she’s been here or she gets mentioned. I'd be surprised if most of the girls haven’t figured it out already…well, all but Dash.”

She opened her mouth but closed it again without saying anything. She sighed.

“Sometimes,” she said softly. “But I think that just by being chosen as the Element of Magic stripped that chance from me.” She glanced at me. “Having doubts?”

“More like fears,” I admitted. “Sunshine is pregnant and that’s enough of a strain on her. Now we’re facing something that delights in causing pain to innocents all around. I’m scared something’s going to happen to her, or to the baby. She still has dreams about her time in Acerak’s clutches and she only recovered from being told she couldn’t conceive because of the research you and Starlight did. If she lost me or the child, she’d be devastated.”

“So why did you ask about if I had regrets?”

“Because, it seems like ever since I was given these wings,” I whispered. “I’ve been drawn into one conflict after another. I just want to settle down and raise a family. It seems like Harmony itself is trying to keep me from doing that.”

Twilight turned a sympathetic look on me. “If you want to spend some time with…”

I shook my head. “I’d rather settle this and then go spend time with her,” I bit out. “I’ve had it up to here with whatever these Children of the Void are.”

We came to the balcony outside, the sun settling into its midday positioning. Twilight took to the air, and I followed, hovering for a moment to gaze towards the window where my quarters were, seeing an azure face looking back, a hoof pressed to the glass.

I raised a hoof as I turned and followed the other princess. But as I did, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread settle in my stomach.

It was almost like I would never see her again.
> Blight
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As we glided over the city, my heart felt sick as I gazed downwards. Charred husks, swaths of destruction in spots. And through the entirety of it all, a detached part of my mind still marveled at how good my eyesight was, being able to pick details out from as high as I was flying. A part of Pegasi magic I had never considered. Just as the added endurance from the Earth pony magic bled into all aspects of my being now.

But I couldn’t stay detached forever. I reached inside and brought up the spell I had used the other night to bear again, silver-white aura’s springing to life around everypony below us. I tried to block Twilight’s bright magenta glow from my sight by flying slightly ahead of her.

“See anything yet?” I heard her ask over the sound of the wind in my ears.

I shook my head while keeping my sight pointed mostly down. So much silver light was below us as ponies went about their days as though chaos wasn’t reigning in the streets at night. I had briefly weighed the option of seeing if Discord knew anything, but he was nowhere to be found right now.

Just when a Draconequus would have been useful, too.

The silver mist of auras below glimmered like water in the afternoon sun, and I began to shift my wing angle to bank slightly when a flash of red caught my eye. I froze, hovering with Twilight pulling up short just beside me. I fixed the spot in my eyesight, squinting slightly to focus. So much silver, the tiny freckle of red was both easy to spot and hard to track, it passed through such thick groups as though it was mist. Then the red joined another glimmer of crimson, then two more, slowly growing into an angry red blob that made my eyes ache with the glow.

I shut my spell down, eyes closing briefly before I turned to my fellow princess.

“They’re gathering in the Square of the Moon,” I told Twilight as I tucked my wings in for a dive.

“They wouldn’t dare,” I heard Twilight gasp before the sound of speeding wind tore her voice from my awareness.

And moments before I reached the square, the entirety of the area vanished, blotted out by a dome of shadow. I slammed to the ground, wings flared and I threw up a kinetic shield in time for a trio of those strange arc shaped magic bolts to slam against it.

So, you can see through this, I grimly thought, the teal sheen of my horn’s aura tinging red. I combined the aura spell I had been using moments ago with a light spell and thrust upwards with my horn as though spearing someone with it’s blunted tip.

The magic sheared out, blasting away a small portion of the inky black, giving Twilight a spot to land in near me. I saw the swirling red in front of me and I shifted the path of my spell forward, sealing the dome again, a tunnel spreading before me, the base of Luna’s statue revealed.

And one of the things clinging to it’s smooth rock face. Twilight gasped audibly and I took an involuntary step back.

It was a pony by only the most vague of definitions. Its body was pockmarked with bits of pulsing red flesh, pustules dotted the regular flesh. It had one batwing and one wing-like appendage lacking anything that should have helped to bear it aloft. Veins stood out starkly against it’s pallid coat, but those were not what caused us shock.

In place of a muzzle, it had a writhing mass of tentacle-like things below one large red eye with no visible iris or pupil. Upon seeing that we could see it, the tentacles spread, revealing a beak-like protuberance that spread open and gave a harsh shriek. It rushed us as an answering shriek rose all around us. 

“Luna’s Moon!” I swore as I doubled up on my shield, catching it on the exterior. It clung like a spider, scrabbling for an opening as though the fact it was hanging in mid-air was no worry for it. “What in Equestria is it?”

I didn’t hear anything beyond the shrieking, and when I turned, I saw Twilight just staring. “Twilight!”

“I’m sorry, Sunset,” she said. “I’m terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought right now.”

I felt a feedback surge in my horn and turned my attention back to my opponent, and took a step back as I saw it force a tentacle through a hole in my shield. I felt it start to shake, and the strain was starting to give me a mild headache. I shut down my aura and light spells, focusing on the shield, trying to seal the breach before it was split wider.

“Twilight,” I grunted. “Little help?”

I felt her magic start spreading along side mine, easing the pressure in my head. I took a deep breath and shifted my shield’s shape, capturing the creature in it, meeting it’s baleful red eye. It gazed at me in impotent hate, tentacles flailing against my shield. 

“Well,” I gritted through the effort. “Now maybe we’ll get to the bottom of…”

The creature froze, it’s limbs going stiff as a keening wail flew from it. I pinned my ears back against my head at the noise, seeing Twilight do the same.

That’s when the creature exploded into a mist of red-black fluid, splattering the inner surface of the caging sphere it had been trapped in. I released the sphere with a growl, the liquified remains splattering onto the stone as the shadow spell lifted. 

I looked around and tried to control my breathing. No damage had been done, so we managed to avert one event, but we gained next to nothing regarding who we were facing. We had a face to put to the aggressors, but I had no knowledge of what the nightmarish creature had been.

Looking at Twilight, though, I had a feeling she did. The mere sight of it had terrified her into inaction for a few moments, and she had faced off against some of the worst threats Equestria had ever seen.

“What the ever-loving buck was that thing, Twilight?” I asked, fluffing my wings to settle some of the feathers more comfortably.

“An elder blight,” she whispered, her ears twisting to and fro as though keeping track of any possible attack. Her nervous, on edge manner made my coat stand on end. Despite years of time with human mannerisms, I had to fight the urge to turn, ears alert for any sound.

“A what?”

She looked at me, her eyes so wide her pupils looked tiny.

“It’s bad, very bad,” she said. “They shouldn’t be in the world at all.”
> Familiars
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wind whistled in my ears as I raced after Twilight. She had made like an arrow back towards he castle but banked sharply as we approached. I saw a tower with a large observatory window and several telescopes on the balcony. As we approached, I saw the interior packed with bookshelves, and Twilight made for it like it was the only place of safety in the city.

I landed behind her as she teleported past the locked doors and started ripping books off the shelves, pages flipping in a frenzy and being tossed to the side. Copying her teleport, I raised my question again.

“What do you mean, it’s not supposed to exist?”

She didn’t respond, books being tossed aside like they were nothing. Her eyes were wide, roving over each page as she frantically searched for whatever she needed. I recognized the look from when my wife would awaken from one of the nightmares she still had of her time in captivity or the battles in the Crystal Empire. 

She was reaching for something to reassure her. As another book went flying past my head, I reached out and grabbed her face with my wingtips.

“Twilight!” I shouted, her face suddenly registering my presence. “What in Harmony’s Name was that thing? All you said was that it shouldn’t exist.”

“They shouldn’t,” she babbled, another book flying over to her. “They were supposedly destroyed millennia ago in the times before the founding of Equestria, before the Windigoes even descended.” Pages flipped rapidly between us.

“Twilight, calm down,” I soothed. “You’re not making a lot of sense. I don’t have the same vast repository of esoterica that you do.”

She turned the book around to face me and I saw a rough depiction of what we had just faced.

“Elder Blights,” she said. “Eldritch abominations created by dark arts lost to the mists of time. And if all the creatures doing these attacks are Blights, then we have a harder task ahead of us than we thought.”

I skimmed the page before me, the lore making me feel a little uneasy. “Twilight,” I said gently. “This says that they don’t act of their own volition. They have a handler, and it would have to be somepony we can trace.”

“But this is magic that isn’t even known anymore!” she shouted, her pupils still constricted in panic. “At least with Sorla, there were still texts she could locate. This is thousands of years old, older than the Diarchs, older than Equestria! I don’t know how to combat something like this!”

Like you have so many others, a soft voice sang, causing us to look around. I  spied a glow deeper in the conjury, within a stairwell. It was growing brighter as it moved towards us. Spreading my wings and sliding into a crouch, I began to pull mana into my horn, setting the appendage aglow with red light.

“Who’s there?” I growled. The glow grew brighter, tinged with orange and red hues. I set my hooves, ready to dive to the side and attack when a winged form burst through the entryway, wings and tail aflame and eyes flashing with intelligence.

The phoenix alighted on the back of one of the chairs, eyes boring into mine before dipping slightly in a bow.

Princess Twilight, Princess Sunset, her voice said again, gentle in it’s tones. I have been dispatched by my mistress to counsel you. She tilted her head slightly. Though I must say, it is difficult to focus when one is directing magic at me.

I blinked, releasing the mana and standing up again. “Your mistress?” I repeated dumbly.

“Celestia,” Twlight cried out happily. “Is that you, Philomena?”

You know another phoenix with unlimited access to the castle and school grounds? the song-like voice returned. Though I’m surprised you haven’t summoned a phoenix of your own, honestly. We are linked to the solar and lunar rulers, no matter how short a time they have held the titles.

The left turns were coming too fast for me and I rubbed my temples. “So, what, we get pet firebirds?” I groused. 

Familiars would be a more accurate term, Philomena responded, tucking her head under her left wing and nipping at a fiery feather. Though not all that you could call are flarewings, like I am. You could just as easily summon nightwings or stormwings, depending on your personal preferences.. Her eyes focused on me. Though I expect you would likely call one of my kin, honestly. Your temper is so much like Celestia’s was millennia ago.

I frowned. “How are you speaking?”

Twilight cleared her throat. “I think our link to the sun and moon allows similar links to Philomena,” She fluttered her wings, apparently calm again. “Which explains why even Fluttershy couldn’t understand her the last time we crossed paths.”

Well, that's mostly true, the phoenix said, ducking her head slightly. But sometimes Tenders are too good to resist teasing. Please pass my apologies to her at your next opportunity, Princess.

“You said to counsel us,” the lavender Alicorn spoke. “What do you know of the situation?”

My mistress sensed the return of the sixth immortal shortly before falling the ritual trance, Philomena responded solemnly. I am tasked with guiding you to the cavern where they rest. Along the way, my kin will flock along, along with the Princess of Love. 

“Cadence?” Twilight asked, surprised.

“Why would she be coming?” I inquired.

Because the application of all routes of Serendipity must be present to dispel the dread seeping into the world, Philomena looked into my eyes, then Twilight’s. Compassion, Love, and Friendship. Sun, Moon, and Sky. Mind, Body, and Heart.

I felt a pang in the back of my mind, and a weight settled in my chest. I closed my eyes as runes engraved into metal passed behind the lids.

“Is it the only way?” I whispered. I felt Twilight slide a hoof along my shoulders.

It is if you wish to keep your mate and offspring safe, the voice of the phoenix responded. I have already tasked several phoenixes to ward the palace, but even our light can only push back so much darkness.

Opening my eyes, I looked at the fiery bird before us.

“Can I at least see her before we go?” I asked.

The bird nodded. Yes, she said softly in my mind. But be mindful, the winds are against us in this flight.
> Underway
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I looked in and smiled at Sunshine as she slept, her mane mussed and the blankets tucked up tightly around her. I walked over softly and leaned in to kiss her forehead just below her horn. 

“I love you,” I whispered, feeling a sting in my chest as I turned away. I had reached the door when I heard a voice call softly.

“Sunny,” 

I closed my eyes. “Go back to sleep, Twilight.”

I heard the blankets rustle. “You’re leaving, aren’t you?”

“We’ve got a lead,” I said. “I have to leave pretty soon. I’ve got some protectors set up here to keep everypony safe that they can, but they can’t do much against what we’ve learned.

A memory of the Blight flickered to my mind and I barely kept it from trickling into the bond. She didn’t need to see that.

I felt a tingle of magic brush through my mane, so similar to the sensation of fingers.

I turned and saw her looking at me with a worried expression. She sat up slightly and smiled sadly. 

“Be careful? For both of us?”

I smiled and nodded. 

“Always,” I said. “You get some rest, and I’ll be back before you know it.”

She laid her head down and gave me a smirk. “Liar,” she teased. “You’d better come back. I’m not raising this kid on my own.”

I trotted back over and rubbed noses with her. “I aim to meet this kid, you know,” I whispered to her. “And Twilight and Cadence are going to be with me. They should keep me out of trouble.”

She nuzzled my cheek and sighed. “They’d better,” she whispered. “I’d hate to have to kill you.”

I laughed and kissed her. “Sleep, silly.” I turned then looked at her again. “I love you.”

“I love you,” she replied.

I lingered for a moment, but when I heard a rustle of wings, I looked out the doors to the balcony and saw Philomena sitting there with Twilight. The Alicorn had a heavy torc around her neck and held a second one in her magic.

I trotted out to meet them, closing the doors behind me. 

“Ready?” I asked, taking the torc from the other pony and settling it around my neck.

“Ready,” Twilight responded, wings fluffing.

We should leave soon, Philomena said in my mind. You should still have to raise and lower the sun and moon on the journey, so the more progress we make now is that much less tomorrow.

I looked at Twilight. “Do you still have the Dream contingency spell set up?” I asked.

She nodded. “We still have our duties,” she said. “Even if Moondancer and Starlight are going to be hearing the petitions while we’re out.”

I smirked. "I feel sorry for them,” I chuckled as I spread my wings. I stepped to the railing and set a hoof on it, but then looked back, seeing Sunshine staring at me. I hesitated and stepped down. 

I love you, I heard. Come back to me.

I nodded at her, then glanced up. Two birds sat above the bay doors, one bright red and one electric silver. Heard a rustle of wings as a third came in to roost, as dark as a midnight sky.

I took a deep breath and took off, not looking back as we flew.

I was worried if I did, I’d lose my nerve.





Cadence met up with us around three hours into our flight, a similar torc to ours around her neck.

“Fancy meeting you here,” she teased as she came alongside us.

“Hey, Cadence,” I said, smiling at her. “Wish we could see each other under normal circumstances once in a while though.”

She smiled grimly. “Agreed,” she responded. “But such is the fate of rulers, sometimes.”

And that was when I heard a sound that I couldn’t identify and started looking around. Behind us, a dark cloud was gaining on us quickly.

“What?”

Calm, Sunset Shimmer, came the calm voice of the phoenix in front of us.

The cloud came closer and I realized the sound was that of dozens of sets of wings.

It is merely my kin.

And the flock of phoneix gathered around us, warm reds, cool silvers, arctic blues, and dark ebony speckled with argent highlights. I looked in awe as the swirled around us, some obviously playful, others grim. Most were of the same age as Philomena, but I saw a few that looked to have been recently regenerated and some were already beginning to molt.

“This is amazing,” Twilight breathed. “I never knew there were so many varieties of phoenix!”

“I knew of two,” Cadence whispered. “But I didn’t know of the other two.”

The cloud of avians continued to swirl around us as the land flew by under us. I could see the city of Fillydelphia below us, and I glanced at the sky.

“We’ll have to land soon to lower the sun,” Twilight called out to the rest of the group. “It’s getting late in the day.”

“And to rest our wings,” Cadence said. “It’s a long flight from the Empire to here.”

I frowned. “We can make it a few hours more,” I said. I didn’t want to delay. The sooner we made it to our destination, the sooner we could head back.

“Sunset,” Twilight said. “We’ver been flying for almost four hours straight. We can at least grab a short rest on a cloud.”

I glanced behind us, to where Canterlot lay. I couldn’t even make out the mountain it rested upon now, distance and clouds hiding it from my view. Even the sensation I always had of the bond with my wife was growing tenuous.

I closed my eyes and sighed.

“Another hour,” I said. “And then we’ll stop for the night.”

We will take the watches so you can reserve your strength, I heard a voice say, lighter and younger than Philomena’s. That will be our part in this endeavor.

I glanced to the side and saw a small phoenix next to me, keeping pace. She had yellow undertones to her red, making her appear more orange, and the feathers on her head looked like she had bedhead, matted and sticking out in several directions.

“Do you have a name?” I asked.

The phoenix looked at me with what I thought to be a smile crinkling her eyes.

Thea, she said.
> Aerial Assault
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I woke up on a cloud. That was my first indication that something was out of the ordinary.

“Twilight?” I slurred, reaching out to wrap a wing over my wife’s side, hoping that she was awake. “What’s…”

I felt a wing under mine, and my mind snapped fully awake. My Twilight didn’t have wings, not like this. Her’s were sheer magic constructs, and they tingled when I felt them when manifested. These didn’t, so that meant that it wasn’t my wife next to me.

“Close,” came the giggle. I twisted slightly and saw the Princess of Friendship next to me, fighting a smile. Cadence lay across from us and didn’t fight the smile.

I looked up, seeing the moon low in the sky and glared at my companions. “You weren’t supposed to let me sleep this long,” I stated pointedly.

Cadence shook her head. “You aren’t going to do us any good running yourself ragged, Sunset,” she said flatly. “From what Twilight has told me, you’ve barely slept since your home was burned.”

I stood, stretching my neck and wings. “I’m fine,” I said, feeling the slight draw in the back of my mind signaling that the time to raise the sun was fast approaching. “I just…”

“Worried for your family,” Twilight finished. “That’s why you wanted me to come along, to keep you grounded. It’s easier when you’re fully rested.” She stood and locked eyes with me. “It makes no difference if we get there tonight if we’re all too exhausted to do what we need to do.” She turned her head slightly and muttered. “Whatever it is.”

A flutter of wings brought Thea into view and settled on my back, between my wings. Our Nestmother has gone ahead to scout the area prior to our departure, the young phoenix announced, shuffling a bit as I twisted a little to look at her. Some of the nightwings had thought they spied trailing clouds of darkness in the night.

“Nestmother?” Twilight echoed.

You would know her as Philomena, Thea explained. She is the matriarch of this particular brood of flarewings, myself included. She turned and fluffed her wings, tilting her head slightly. If you would like, we could set out now.

I glanced at Twilight, and she sighed and nodded. As one, we spread our wings and lit our horns.

The strain was less than it had been in the days before. In short order, the moon had been lowered and the sun raised. I took a deep breath and stepped to the edge of the cloud. “Shall we?” I asked.





We had been flying for a few hours when Philomena came abreast of us.

There is something odd ahead, the phoenix told us. The air is stagnant, too still for the geography around it. 

I frowned. “A natural anomaly?”

Philomena gave a chirp of derision. Not likely, she returned.

Twilight opened her mouth but any words that would have issued were cut short by a horrid screeching, one that made my blood freeze.

“Blights,” Twilight breathed, wheeling over and coming to a halt in mid-air.

I swung around, horn shimmering as I began to channel mana.

Cadence also came to a stop, confusion in her eyes.

“Blights?”

“Ancient abominations,” I told her. “Forbidden magic, crazy villain using them and challenging us. Pretty much the usual.”

“Great,” she muttered. 

Another screech echoed up from the ground behind us, and slowly I could make out a dark sphere moving along in the plain behind us. “Well, they’re making good time,” I gritted.

“Should we stop and try to fight them off?” Twilight asked.

“That didn’t work out so well last time,” I replied, turning and taking off quickly. “It sort of exploded when we held one captive.” I glanced back one more time. “At least they can’t fly.”

And that was when I got hit by a solid mass and went tumbling down through the air. I dimly heard my comrades shout my name, but I was more concerned with the mass of tentacles wrapped around my wings and the serpentine body tangled up in my limbs.

“Miserable…” I muttered. “Had to jinx it!” I teleported out of the creature’s grasp and free fell for a moment, orienting myself towards what had hit me.

The serpentine creature spun back towards me, it’s beaked mouth screeching in challenge. Two leathery wings kept it aloft and the baleful red eye above it’s writhing tangle of tentacles seemed to glow in the late afternoon sun. Several more of the flying abominations were inbound, tentacles flailing. I began to charge my horn to attack when a streak of silver and black shot forwards and slammed into the one near me. I had barely recognized it as one of the nightwings when it went up in a bright silver flare, reminding me of the animatics I had seen in science class of a supernova. A charred husk dropped from the sky as a young nightwing glided down to recover from its rebirth. 

Fly on, I heard Philomena’s voice called as a group of phoenixes broke off and flew to intercept the incoming Blights. We’ll hold them off.

I saw several flares of flame, explosions of ice, and a crackling explosion of lightning. “We can’t leave you here,” I said, wings flaring and horn lighting.

Your task is to reach the caverns, Philomena snapped, her plumage flaring slightly with tiny flames. Ours is to ensure you make it there. Fly on!

I looked at the swirling battle taking place, looking up and seeing Twilight and Cadence hovering in indecision as well. I looked at them, then back at the phoenix in front of me. I saw another stormwing explode in crackling lightning. “I don’t like this,” I muttered. “I don’t like leaving friends behind to fight for me.”

I flew up and rejoined my friends, passing them and arrowing along with the remainder of the phoenixes. Twilight and Cadence drew abreast of me, both of them looking at me with looks of determination.

I was sure they thought the tears on my face was from the speed of my flight. I was willing to let them think that.
> Meanwhile, In Canterlot
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I sat up as a noise sounded just outside the window. I pushed my glasses up my nose, ears swiveling around to focus on the portal showing the gleam on the rising moon.

It was still an interesting sensation, feeling my ears move on their own. Between that and the increased sense of smell, everything seemed to be more present, more real on this side of the mirror. It also made it easier to get nauseous as of late.

I took a few tentative steps towards the window, tilting my head slightly as I approached. I saw what looked like a firework go off in the sky, dim and distant, a brief flare of orange light. I blinked in curiosity as another orange-red flare went off, then a bright white spark followed by a flash of lightning. I stiffened when in the flare I saw birds wheeling around some sort of writhing form, their confrontation slowly nearing the palace.

Phoenixes, I thought dimly, backing from the window quickly. Moondancer had filled me in on some of the additions to security during lunch earlier today while Starlight heard petitioners. And if I was seeing flares, then something was trying to breach the perimeter.

I shoved the doors of my suite open and rushed down the hall, startling the guards posted outside my door. I came up to the door where the two aides had been housed and burst through, startling them.

“Sunshine, what in the world is the matter with you?” Moondancer asked, sitting up straight as Starlight looked over her shoulder.

“Something’s coming,” I panted breathlessly. “The phoenixes are fighting.”

Starlight whipped the curtains to the nearby window open with her magic just in time for another nova of light to flare into being as a nightwing blew into its resurrection conflagration. And this time, we got a good look at the serpentine beasts making their way towards us, writhing and horrendous.

She had barely released the drapes when the window shattered, a tall form flying in and climbing onto misshapen hooves. Blood ran down its limbs, pustules dripping and tentacles writing around a sharp-edged beak. The blood-red eye rooted me in place, fear flooding my being. My ears pinned against my head as it shrieked wordlessly, but in my head I heard words.

Where are the False Ones? it hissed. Underneath the expressed words I heard whispered voices speaking multiple bits of nonsense. The torrent of noise suddenly in my head made me stumble backwards in disorientation. Then the words cut off shortly, a shriek of pain cutting through the air.

Starlight stood with her horn blazing with light, Moondancer moving to step between myself and our interloper, eyes hard.

“Get away from her,” Starlight growled. The abomination turned its sight on her and started shuffling forward.

“Come on, Sunshine,” Moondancer said. “We need to get out of here. Starlight will hold it off as long as she can.”

She pulled me along as Starlight lifted herself into the air with her flight spell, beams of energy lancing out from her horn as she attacked the Blight. I hesitated, spells flying into my mind. “But-“

“Now!” Moondancer insisted as she hoisted me in her magic and raced out of the room. I saw a table fly through the air as we turned a corner, the sound of crunching wood one of the last things I heard before we were too far from the room for anything but the shrieks to be heard.

“Put me down!” I shouted as we turned another corner. “We’ve got to help her!”

“Neither of us are exactly versed in battle spells,” Moondancer said as she set me down. “And I’ve been told to keep you safe, just as Starlight has.” She turned and looked me hard in the eyes. “You’ve got two lives to look after right now and-“

A chair flew through the air and smashed into the mare, shattering and knocking Moondancer into the wall, winding her and knocking her glasses loose.

I spun, seeing the Blight shambling forward, a battered Starlight held in some sort of magic and dragging behind it. I powered up my horn, settling my hooves as I faced the monster.

“Put her down,” I demanded, feeling my wings start to manifest as I pulled on mana. 

The Blight looked at me, letting Starlight’s limp form drop as it spread its tentacles again.

You are a fool, it taunted.

I fired a blast of telekinetic energy at it, infusing it with as much anger and force as I could. I saw it strike the monster and it stumbled back a step or two, and I grinned.

I started to power up my horn again as I saw Moondancer’s glasses lift in her aura. I leaned forward in preparation to fire and I suddenly felt vertigo wash through me, my wings vanishing and spell fizzling. The voice in my head had started laughing harshly as I wavered when another bolt of magic lanced out and struck it in one of its legs.

“Run,” Moondancer gasped, stepping forward with her horn blazing. A small trickle of blood stained her coat from a split lip. She fired another blast, her power not quite pushing her target back very far but still stalling it a little. The mare spitted me with a harsh glare, and I saw my pale reflection in the lenses of her glasses. “Go!”

I took a few steps back, partially turning in hesitation. Moondancer proceeded to fire again, the Blight now barely being staggered. She kept firing until the creature reached her and slapped her aside, just as I turned and took off running, pulling various furnishings down to attempt to slow the beast.

Fear was starting to chill my bones as I heard the creature crashing through the obstacles. I saw the doors leading to the main wing of the castle and the main body of guards. I was so close, and I was sure that a few of the Royal Guard could easily take care of the abomination.

That’s when another wave of vertigo hit me and I stumbled, trying to hold the course I was on. I missed a fold in the ornamental rug I was racing along until my hoof caught it and tripped me up.

I struggled to climb back to my hooves, winded and the slow hoofsteps of the Blight. I glanced back to see how far it was just as I managed back upright.

The Blight’s face didn’t change, but I had the sense that it was smiling. I tried to pull mana to my horn, but it kept fizzling, throwing sparks and nothing else. I kept trying to cast any sort of spell, wishing we had spent more time figuring out why my magic had started being so unreliable since I had gotten pregnant. The Blight then burst into light, sparks arcing between its tentacles as it twitched and screeched.

“Sheesh,” a low voice complained from behind me. “Seems like I get back just in time for a fight.”

I turned and saw a plum colored mare with a fuchsia mane standing in the doors, a pannier belted across her barrel. But that wasn’t the most striking feature, that was reserved for a short, snapped horn still sparking above her turquoise eyes. She had a hard look to her, but her easy smirk reminded me of Sunset after a fashion.

The Blight screeched again and lurched forward, and the tall mare grinned as though pleased.

“Bring it on, fishbait,” the mare said, horn sparking again. Her horn burst and the power flashed out, its path causing my coat to stand on end. The Blight flew back, breaking into a fresh set of convulsions and screeches as its coat crisped and curled. It’s eye burst, black ichor flowing down its face as it fell into a lump on the floor.

The mare stepped up and prodded the motionless body. A short snort was given as she turned to me and narrowed her eyes, curiosity on her face.

“Are you ok?” she asked. “Just what is this thing?”

“Who are you?” I stammered. A broken horn was completely against everything I had heard from both Sunset and Twilight about Unicorn biology.

“I guess you are new to the area.” The Unicorn rubbed the back of her neck, looking down sheepishly. “You can call me Tempest, and the princesses could tell you more. Speaking of whom,” she looked back towards the door she had entered through. “Where are they, anyway?”

I just slumped to the floor and sighed.

“It’s a long story,” I said. 

Tempest reached down and offered me a hoof.

“I’ve got time,” she said.
> Cavern of Fire
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I paused in mid flight, glancing back towards Canterlot as something trickled through my mind. Almost like a faint brush of my wife’s thoughts. It was wispy, so faint that I couldn’t tell what it was beyond the source.

“Sunset?” Cadence called, coming up alongside. “Are you all right?”

I shook my head. “I thought I felt Sunshine,” I admitted. “Probably just missing her.”

The Princess smiled and put a hoof on my shoulder.  “I can understand that,” she whispered gently. “Hopefully, we won’t be gone too much longer.”

We both turned and went to meet Twilight on a cloud to rest and lower the sun. It had been almost a whole day since we had seen any pursuit and our escort of phoenixes had dwindled to just a few members of each strain. I hadn’t seen Philomena since the attack the night before, though Thea had taken her place. I alighted on the fluffy surface and stretched out my wings and other muscles, sore from the long flight. Twilight fluffed her wings before glancing at the sky.

“Well, shall we?” the bookish pony asked.

I nodded, feeling the tautness in the back of my mind tighter than normal. “Is it odd that this is starting to feel like a dull bit of routine?” 

“A little,” Twilight agreed. “But I can’t wait to give it back to Luna. Dreamwalking is hard to get a grip of.”

“I’ll bet,” I said, remembering a minor spell that my wife and I used rather often. I closed my eyes and ignited my horn, mentally gripping that strand that linked me to the sun and pulling it down towards the horizon. It felt heavier than normal, and I strained a bit for the final few moments. Once it was fully lowered, I collapsed on the cloud, panting. “It was harder than normal,” I gasped. 

“Are you ok?” Twilight asked, her horn glimmering slightly. I waved her off and settled a little more comfortably on the cloud.

“Just a little tired, I guess.”

My friend nodded, her horn glowing brighter as her eyes slid closed. The moon and stars began to glide out and settle into the sky. Then, with a grunted whimper, the moon started to turn dark as stars flared out. Twilight whimpered again, her horn flaring brighter as she tried to relight the sky.

“What’s wrong with the moon?” Cadence asked, looking up in surprise and a hint of fear.

“I don’t know,” I whispered, watching as some stars wink into being as others died. “Maybe our links are deteriorating?”

Twilight finally collapsed, sweat beaded on her brow. “Maybe the princesses are close to finishing the ritual and reclaiming their power?” She wiped her brow and took a deep breath. “I feel like I need a nap.” 

I felt the same, to be honest. Thea came up and settled on my back between my wings, her weight barely noticeable. After a moment, she fluffed her wings and sang out, sounding frustrated.

I frowned, turning to look at the bird. “I’m sorry?”

The phoenix flapped her wings, looking as though concerned. She looked me in the eyes and I heard her voice dimly.

The cavern is nearby, and the magic energies in the area are wild, difficult to control. The phoenix fluffed up her feathers. 

I glanced to Twilight, who just shrugged and glanced up, taking in the dim moon and patches of starless sky. Concern flashed across her face as she looked back at us.

Cadence lit her horn and I felt some of the fatigue bleed off from her spell. I stood and spread my wings to stretch the muscles out. Stepping to the edge of the cloud, I looked down at the landscape, my eyes roving over the rocky expanse of canyons and mesas. I longed for the green of Ponyville, the quiet of my condo and the warmth of Twilight’s arms around me as we laid in bed. I felt old, old and tired.

I had a new appreciation for Celestia as I slipped off the cloud and fell into a glide, Thea sliding out in front to continue in her role of guide. The wind currents shifted slightly as Cadence and Twilight followed suit. Flying for a couple of days on end had opened up my perceptions from the Pegasi magic my ascension had granted on me, how to use the wind to keep me aloft just as much as the muscles of my wings, sensing changes and angling my wings to keep on an even flight path.

But as peaceful and serene that the sensation of gliding usually brought me, all I felt was a slight sense of foreboding. It felt almost like something was watching and laughing quietly.





I stepped forward, horn lit for light. The cavern entrance in front of us was darker than what seemed natural. My magelight barely illuminated more than a length or two inside.

“It feels strange to be walking,” Twilight said, her wings somewhat spread still. “ After flying for so long, I was beginning to think all there was were clouds.”

Cadence walked forward, lighting her own magelight, illuminating the edge of the cavern entrance to reveal some weathered carvings with depictions of a sun and moon intertwined, a crude tree and serpent, and a swirling design. A few other carvings between each of the images had been worn to where they couldn’t be made out beyond a few dim impressions.

“This looks like the place,” the Princess of Love grunted, turning to face Twilight and I. 

“I don’t like it,” I said. “There’s something foul on the air, like something burning.”

Twilight lit her horn and started to walk forward, head lowered slightly. “I don’t smell fire,” she whispered. “I smell mold and rotting books.”

“Odd,” Cadence noted. “I’m not picking up on anything other than just wet stone.”

“I don’t get it,” Twilight said. “It’s so strong, how can you not smell it?”

I walked into the cave, the smell growing thicker as I slid into the blackness. I could barely see more than a length ahead of me, my magelight seeming to be swallowed by a hungry beast. I heard the sounds of my friends walking closely behind me. Our hoofsteps echoed oddly for what was such a small cave.

Then, flames flared up around us, illuminating a huge cavern, and at the far end I saw the two Diarchs, kneeling down in front of a pair of plinths with crude depictions of the sun and the moon. Their horns pulsed slowly with onyx light that spread backward along their bodies before dissipating.

“Well, it took long you enough,” a voice boomed from around us. I spun, looking around but seeing no other figures around us.

The fire swirled and separated us from the princesses. A form walked out, built out of flames and then slowly cooled into the shape of a pony that bore some strange familiar face. The stallion smiled at me, causing my stomach to twist and lurch.

“What’s the matter, Sunset?” the pony across from me grinned. “Cat got your tongue?”

“Who are you?” I whispered.

“It depends on who you ask,” the stallion asked, lazily walking back and forth. “I’ve been called a lot of names over the years. But the face I’m wearing now? I’m afraid I don’t know his name, but you might know his sister. After all, you gave her a wonderful sendoff in the frozen north.”

Recognition flashed as I recognized the face of the young colt in the photo from the ransacked home of Neighlin’s family.

Screeching sounds began to echo along the cave, and in the flicker of flames I saw Blights slowly crawling into my peripheral vision. I heard Twilight and Cadence shift, but I couldn’t pull my gaze from the thing that wore a pony’s face.

“Who are you?” I demanded again.

The pony only smiled as a haze started to flow from him, seeming to take up the height of the cavern, twisting and strange shapes reaching out before retreating. The flames behind the shadowy figure rose higher, cutting us off from the Diarchs.

“You know, Seer, False Sun,” the pony said, his voice turning hard and forceful. “Say it.” He smashed his hoof down onto the stone, cracking it. “Say it!”

I spread my wings, snarling.

“Entropy.”
> The Beginning
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The being wearing the face of a pony smiled a toothy smile wider than any creature had a right to possess. As the echo of my voice died, Entropy took a step forward, the hazy shadow the surrounded it turning darker.

“Ah,” it sighed. “It’s always so nice to recognized.” It turned its gaze on me. “And I’m surprised that you all came here so quickly. Ponies are usually more prone to panic when faced with my minions. I suppose I didn’t even need to utilize those silly cultists this time, though they were useful in replenishing my numbers and providing me with a face for the time.”

I gritted my teeth. I was starting to hear tiny screams behind every word it spoke, and in the corner of my eyes I saw Twilight and Cadence step forward, wings spread.

“As a matter of fact, had I known it would have been so easy to rile up the princesses so easily,” Entropy chuckled. “I wouldn’t have had to burn down those homes. Well, I likely would have anyway, mind you. It just would have been out of pure fun instead of necessity.”

Anger flared in my chest. Images of my home in flames, ash staining Sunshine and Glory’s coats, the sight of the burned out husks I had seen before we left Canterlot all flickered past as my horn burst into red light.

“You burned those homes?” I growled, the chill of the frozen north creeping into my voice. “Just to get our attention?” I twisted my front hooves, grinding some of the loose gravel and soil down.

“Oh, of course,” Entropy waved a hoof in dismissal. “They would have all burned eventually as the world died, but I needed the you here before I could act myself.”

“What do you mean?” Twilight demanded.

Entropy smiled its shark-toothed grin at us again. “If the Sun and Moon had just returned here as they have throughout time, then I would have been released just as easy as you please. But they had to return incomplete.”

“When they had passed some power to us,” the lavender pony whispered. “They didn’t return with the full power.”

“So you needed them to come here so the full power of the diarchs would be here,” Cadence surmised.

“Oh, I didn’t need them to bring the power here,” Entropy chuckled. “As the diarchs perform their ritual, their missing power would have returned by the end. But they would have also been able to contain me still. But, since you brought it here early…”

Entropy waved a hoof and I staggered as fatigue slammed into my mind. I saw Twilight sag as well, and Entropy’s form seemed to waver, becoming larger and more hazy. The stallion’s body it inhabited seemed more and more just a puppet.

“I may just be able to slip free and bring on the end of the world,” it growled, the ground starting to shake as the words echoed in the cavern. “Starting with Canterlot.”




Sunshine looked up as the palace began to shudder, stepping back as the telescope she had been studying the strange patches of starless sky toppled over.

“Now what?” Tempest growled, hooves held wide to steady herself.

“I don’t know,” Starlight said as she lit her horn and caught a vase that fell from a shelf. “I’ve never felt anything like this before.”

“And the region isn’t prone to seismic disturbances according to my studies,” Moondancer said, her words a little garbled through her swollen lip. She looked at Sunshine, a crack in her glasses making her gaze appear to be doubled. “Do you think this has anything to do with the strange lack of stars?”

Sunshine turned and looked out towards where Sunset and Twilight had flown off. “I don’t know.”

A sudden screech ripped through the air, drawing their attention out the window to a large group of Blights assaulting the castle guard in the courtyard, forgoing their usual shadow globes. Several guards had already been struck down, some writhing as their coats began to burn and split as pustules and blisters formed. Sunshine paled as she saw one of the guards stagger to his feet, a tentacle bursting forth from his jaw, his cry of agony turning into a piercing screech.

“But I hope they hurry if it is.”





I was furious. We had left to try and stop somepony from destroying Equestria and we had inadvertently given them the tools to do just that. Entropy had been laughing since announcing that it had already launched an attack on the palace.

“Shut up,” I growled.

The laughter trailed off. “Excuse me?”

“I said, shut up,” I shouted. The fire of my anger was flowing through my blood. “I won’t let you hurt anypony else.”

Entropy frowned and looked at me strangely, then the shark grin returned. “Ah,” it purred. “You have someone special you care for out there. Maybe I should spare them for last.”

“You’ll have to go through me,” I growled, bringing mana to my horn and feeling it flow along my body as I squared off. 

“Oh, please,” Entropy scoffed. “What do you think you can do? A mere ascended pony. I am one of the eternal forces of this world, timeless and endless. You lack the power to stop me.”

“On my own, perhaps,” I uttered, feeling the power building up, the tiny pebbles around my hooves beginning to quake. “But I’m not on my own.”

The pony’s face acted like it was trying to hold in laughter, though the faint voices that drifted around cackled. “Oh, I’m so worried about two Ascended ponies and lost remnant of an old lineage. None of you know how to stop me. I am an unstoppable force of nature!”

I grinned.

Spreading my wings, I stood as tall as I could and spoke slowly and as calmly as I could.

“Armis Solis Invictus.” My words echoed down the cavern, and light exploded from my torc.

I could feel mana surging through my veins as the torc’s enchantment activated, armor appearing around my barrel, legs, and wings. A helm appeared on my head as my mane and tail took on the appearance of flames, tiny flares flying off as I ground my hooves into the ground, feeling power flowing up into my body.

“What is that?” Entropy asked, taking a step back, his shadowy haze contracting for a moment.

“The Solar Bulwark. Armor forged back in the days of the last pony war, worn by Celestia herself.” I felt like I was burning alive as the magic boiled inside me. Light radiated off from me as though the sun had been pulled down and placed between my wings. “With millennia of ambient magic stored within boosting my power to the same level as the Princess.”

I began shunting power into my horn, seeing the bright flares as magic simmered, being held back only by an effort of will.

“And I’ll show you what an unstoppable force is.”
> Of the End
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Entropy sneered, his miasma pulling in to pool at his feet. “Do you think one ancient relic will be enough to stop me?”

I grinned. 

“Who said anything about just one?”

“Armis Lunares Invictus!” I heard Twilight shout, followed by a whooshing sound.

“Armis Amare Invictus!” Cadence’s voice chimed out, another rush of mana driven air ruffling the uncovered coat and feathers.

Entropy frowned. “Three surviving relics?” he bit. “I’m surprised they have lasted as long as they have. I wonder if you are prepared for the price they’ll exact.”

Twilight and Cadence stepped forward, their wingtips brushing mine. I could feel the mana flowing through them just as easily as I could feel my blood pumping. I shifted my hooves slightly, armor clinking as I did. I could feel the weight of it bearing down as it merged my mana with the stored power and I lifted my head to stare across the cavern at the mockery of a pony, the mask loosing cohesion and definition.

“So, you going to talk or you going to go ahead and enact your grand plan?” I jeered. “I haven’t seen somepony take this long to attack, and I’ve fought zombies.”

“Oh, you haven’t noticed?” Entropy inquired. “I began the attack just before you went through that showy display of power.” Several screeching cries rose up from behind us, making Twilight whirl around. “Honestly, I could have taken you out while you went on with your theatrical display of bravado.”

I gritted my teeth as he continued to melt away, turning entirely into a featureless mist that flowed back and forth as Blights walked through the flames that surrounded us and howled at us. “Are you sure they are enough to pose a problem to us? They haven’t exactly been all that much of a challenge thus far.”

“Oh, I assume you mean the one specimen you captured?” It chuckled. “How did the examination of that go, anyway? Inconclusive?”

The blast of my horn tore through the miasma like the smoke it was, making me feel a little better, but the feeling only lasted for a second before the laughing voice began to snake through the air again.

And that’s when the noose closed.

I half turned as I saw a Blight rush forward from my left and I gave a small hop to get some air under me as I let loose with the empowered blast of my horn. I saw the head explode in a cloud of smoke, the body falling into a heap and the body desiccating. I gave a hard flap of my wings and twisted to the side, throwing up a shield that crackled with the orange and red of fire and sunlight, the serpentine Blight crashing into it bursting into flames.

As I touched down for a second, pulling an armored wing in front of my face to block one of the arc-shaped blasts from another of the monsters. A tilt of my head showed me that Twilight was ok, backing towards the rear of the cavern and Cadence’s horn was blazing with the bright pinkish light that her armor gave her. I had rarely seen Cadence upset beyond the usual mother’s disapproving look at Flurry Heart or Gleaming Bulwark, depending on the one you were referring to.

Seeing raw fury on her face was a frightening sight. She was tearing through the Blights that surrounded her as though they were threatening her foal. I didn’t have long to take in the scene as I felt a weight land on my back and coil around my barrel, trapping my wings against my sides. 

I shoved my head back and felt the tip of my horn contact a soft mass and released a blast through it. The coils loosened and fell off my as I flared my wings and hovered a bit and rotated, firing a blast of sunfire across the room at the swirling mass that was Entropy. I was ignoring the Blights behind me, trusting my friends to cover me. 

The cloud burst apart for a moment before shifting to one side, a tired sigh echoing out.

“Are you done?” Entropy asked in a bored voice.

Another blast of fire flew out and ripped through the shifting fog. “Bite me,” I snarled.

The miasma swirled around and formed the shape of a tattered pony, sickly green eyes blinking to life.

“As you wish,” the voice grated.

The Blights around us suddenly collapsed, black mist flowing towards the strange form across from us. The form grew larger and the ground under what would have been it’s hooves starting to bubble and melt. 

“I bore of watching this anyway. I am on something of a schedule, you understand.” Entropy began to spread out, the stone hissing and bubbling as though acid had been poured onto it. “Though I must admit you have given me a more interesting nuisance than I first thought.”

I slammed my hooves down and threw up a shield, feeding as much of my mana I could into it. I felt Twilight and Cadence return to my side, their additional mana seeping into the shield. I groaned as the miasma slammed into the shield.

The full fury of the sun, the soothing steadfastness of the moon, and the hot passion of love were pouring into this shield, and I could still feel the force of Entropy’s mass pushing us backwards. I leaned my head forward and touched my horn to the shield, shoving as much power as I could into the field.

Twilight grunted and took a step back, shaking her head.

“We can’t keep this shield up for too long,” she cried as she returned to adding to the shield. “All of our mana is just getting eaten by Entropy!”

“We need to get to Aunt Celestia,” Cadence said. “We may be able to wake them up and have them help.”

I growled and thrust my wings slightly forward, my hooves cracking the stone as I took a step. “I’ll cover you.”

“Sunset,” Twilight began. “You can’t…”

“Do it!” I shouted, taking another step forward. I locked my eyes on the shield and growled. 

“Robore vivi, Gentem!”

The glyphs on my armor flared, and I felt a fresh flare of heat in my veins. I took slow steps forward, moving slightly to the side as we did. Entropy’s essence continued to beat on the shield, making sweat begin to bead on my forehead. Once we had reversed positions, I expanded the shield to the entire width of the opening to the shrines. 

“You think you’ll last?” Entropy asked, adding fire to the assault as Cadence stepped away, moving to her aunt. 

“I don’t have a choice in the matter, really,” I strained. My armor was starting to grow hot and stifling, and not from the flickering flames in front of me. “I like the world. It's where my friends are. It’s where we keep our stuff.”

“Ah yes,” the voice purred. “Your friends. Do you know what’s happening to them right now?”

In the flames, I saw a flash of Fluttershy, helping a disoriented Rainbow Dash away from the fighting at the palace. Twilight’s effort faltered at the vision and she stepped back. The vision persisted and I saw Azure seizing as tentacles burst from her lower jaw, Rarity’s coat fouled with boils and pustules. I saw Moondancer laying on the ground, eyes dead as what used to be Applejack rushed forward.

And I saw Sunshine cowering against a wall, her horn firing off ineffectually against the slowly increasing crowd of Blights. Anger flared hotly and I screamed as I began forcing offensive power into the shield as well, the flames beginning to flicker and die.

“Oh,” Entropy chuckled. “Did I strike a nerve?” More images flashed across the flames. Ponyville in flames, the Castle of Friendship shattered and laying in ruins. I saw another flash of Sunshine, racing across the courtyard, stopping and firing over her left shoulder. That’s when I saw it, her pristine left shoulder. 

“You haven’t made it that far,” I scoffed. “This is just something you’re trying to destroy my resolve with.” I took a step forward, the shield bulging forward into a dome as opposed to the flat wall I normally formed. “I’m not going to let you win that easy.”

Entropy roared and the shockwave blew Twilight and I back as the shield shattered. I floundered, trying to keep my hooves under me, and I saw Twilight slam into the rock wall of the cavern, slumping and shaking her head as she tried to regain her bearings.

“You obviously overestimate your power, mortal,” Entropy shouted, retaking his pony’s form and stalking back and forth. “I am the very essence of death and decay. Even fighting against me is a zero sum game as I just break down your spells. Surely you’ve felt the strain by now.”

I slammed my hooves down, the stone cracking as I fired off a massive blast of sunfire at him, staggering the beast and I saw the flames flicker and die slightly. I stalked forward, keeping the fire flowing forth.

“I’m tired of your mouth,” I snarled. My armor was searing now, but I didn’t pay any attention to it. “You won’t hurt my friends. You won’t win.”

The burning form of Entropy turned back towards me, laughter starting to flow forth. “It seems that burning ponies is a theme with you,” Entropy taunted. “After all, isn’t that how you killed this poor colt’s sister?”

Neighlin’s face leaned out of the fire surrounding Entropy, the smell of burning flesh and the heat of fire suddenly present. I staggered backward, thrown off guard. I only managed a inarticulate sound of surprise before a jet of shadow stuck me from one side. As i tried to regather my thoughts, several arc-shaped bolts stuck me, making me freeze in place.

“Pathetic.” The miasma flowed forward and slowly spiraled up my legs. “You had so much promise.”

The miasma had reached my chest, and I was beginning to have difficulty breathing. 

“But I suppose I allowed you just a little too much leeway.” Neighlin’s face melted back into the face or her brother, turning to look into the distance. “I suppose I should step up the assault on the capital. You have been a little more time consuming than I had originally planned.”

The miasma shoved itself into my nose and over my eyes, and I felt the life draining from me.

I’m sorry, Twilight, I thought. I guess I’ll be upsetting you this time.

Then a rush of magic hit me, and I heard a voice. It was Twilight, but something was off about it. It wasn’t the Princess or my Twilight, but the voice was unmistakeable.

Hold fast, it urged me, a vision of a Twilight standing high, hand held upward with a blazing light in it. Be true to yourself and believe in your friends.

And I struggled up from the black pit I had been plunged into, my horn blazing as I screamed out in defiance.

The miasma flew away, then started to flow back towards me, being held back by my shield as it flared back into being. Entropy turned back as stared in surprise as I began firing out at him. It wasn’t rage, like it had been with Neighlin. It wasn’t desperation like in the first fight against Acerak. It was determination and conviction.

The armor around my wings shattered and fell to the ground, the runes along their edges smoking. I ignored the slight twinges of pain that flowed along my wings. The miasma curled and flowed around the shell of protective energy I held up, seeking a weakness.

I began charging the same backlash spell I had used in the war in the Crystal Empire, the energy building up swiftly from the extra mana the armor provided.

The greaves shattered, my legs burnt in the destruction of the plates of gold, but I ignored it. I shoved the spell forward, the miasma being drawn up into it as it rocketed towards Entropy. As it struck, I shifted the shield to block off the entire cavern from the resultant implosion of power as the entity’s own magic was unleashed upon itself.

The helm shattered as I poured my mana into the shield, the armor around my barrel following soon after, the magic that had held the armor together for millennia being consumed in the conflagration beyond my shield as well as the attempt to ablate the damage.

The spell was lasting longer than it should have, destructive energies seeming to ricochet around beyond my barrier, and I could feel my mana waning.

Entropy’s form could be seen dimly in the shockwaves of the spell, writhing and attempting to avoid its own destructive energy. Several other shapes appeared only to be blasted away or drawn into the slow expanse of destruction.

Only sheer will was keeping my shield up now. My mana was gone, a chill feeling seeping into my bones as my life essence was being pulled upon to power the barrier. I screamed again, challenging the tumult just a bare length from me to claim me. Defiance was all I had left. I would not be defeated.

The Solar Bulwark, the armor of the heavens, lay in ruins around me, having been drained of every last ounce of mana. I had felt the bite of it’s destruction as surely as it had been parts of my own body. The armor exacted a heavy price for invoking its second ability, tying your life force in with its mana. I felt a pang of regret. Millennia of mana, a priceless artifact, gone in an eyeblink.

The red glow around my horn began to bleed into a brilliant white fire as I shoved every bit of resistance into the spell.

It wasn’t enough.

The shield wavered, bowing in on itself. It collapsed a few moments later, my horn sparking before falling to smoldering. The spell maelstrom I had been holding at bay began to subside, only the winds it stirred reaching me.

Two seconds later, the end of my horn shattered, pain forcing my vision white as I watched the jagged tip fall to the ground in slow motion.

I staggered, and as blackness began to close in on me, I dimly saw two fiery shapes dart through the darkness, shrill cries echoing in the cave.

I’m sorry, was the last thought that went through my mind before the pain and the darkness claimed me.
> Of the Night
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I watched as Sunset collapsed following the shattering of her horn, two bright orange flames bursting out as Philomena and Thea arced in and landed on her body, wings spread to protect her. 

Entropy slow turned towards us, his form not regenerating as easily again. All the miasma was gone, and his stolen face was a ruined mess, revealing a swirling mass of shadows in patches where the skin had been ripped.

I hurried to Sunset’s body, levitating it back while Philomena alighted on my withers. I could see she was breathing shallowly and some of my panic eased. At least she was alive. I lifted my head and stared at the being across from me, wings subconsciously spreading as I did.

“How… Dare you!” Entropy snarled, but the underlying voices that had been there previously were gone. Also, any of the Blights that had remained had been burned into husks, leaving the playing field somewhat level.

“She dares a lot,” I said. “More than my personal tastes, but she also tends to get results.” I lit my horn and lowered my stance. “So, where were we?” I could feel the boosted mana surging through me, but unlike any other time where my mana had been higher than normal, I felt a strange sense of calm, of serenity. I could beat him. I knew I could. I beat Tirek, I had been a part of the final push of the War of the Crystal Empire. This would be child’s play.

Entropy roared and long arcing bolts of shadow began to lance out towards me, and I flung up a pair of small shields to block them, a pump from my wings shooting me up into the air. I flung several short bolts forward, pinning his hooves down and ripping another few scraps of flesh from his body.

Another few lancing bits of shadow reached out towards me, my smaller shields immediately moving to intercept them. His attacks were slower and not quite as powerful, but I couldn’t afford to underestimate him.

I heard a flutter of wings from behind me, a mournful cry of a phoenix echoing in the cavern as I suddenly pulled my wings in, dropping straight down as another shadow tendril reached out for me. I teleported forward, spinning and bucking straight into his face, but I didn’t feel anything but cold as my rear hooves went through his exposed face. I tried to propel myself forward with my wings, but before I got too far I felt my back hooves grabbed by deathly cold tendrils.

“That was foolish,” Entropy said simply. I felt my mana start to drain away, and a little piece of panic boiling up into my mind. 

Then a bright explosion of fire ripped through my bindings, freeing me as my hooves scrabbled for purchase. I glanced back to see Philomena emerging from the flames of her resurrection cycle, a look on her features that I could only describe as wrathful.

Entropy swung at the bird, but she flew over his attack and detonated again. As the being stumbled back, more flesh sloughing off as it burnt, I saw the phoenix shake her ashes off and prepare to fly forward again.

A detached part of my brain informed me that multiple rebirth cycles in close order was bad for a phoenix. I struggled to my hooves and fired a bolt at Entropy, hoping to try and get Philomena to break off her attack.

Entropy stumbled, now fully stripped of his borrowed face. The assembled mass of shadow glared at me with eyes of emerald fire. Philomena wheeled about and returned, her eyes somewhat fatigued.

I threw up my shields as more tendrils snaked forward, and I caught one. 

The other split just before it struck my shield and it lanced forward for my chest. I blinked as it struck me, a sudden chill sinking into my bones. I felt my muscles start to twitch and my armor plates clinked against each other as the trembling got worse.

Entropy stepped forward, more tendrils snaking out to encircle me. “Such bravery,” he tsked, his voice rough and thin. “To think it all ends here, little pony. Are you prepared for the end?”

An orange shape crashed into the solid shadows, throwing it backwards. I looked up, seeing a battered Alicorn standing there, glaring down the length of her broken horn at Entropy.

“Get away… from her…” Sunset panted. Sweat poured down her face and she slowly swayed on her hooves. Her eyes were somewhat unfocused, and she seemed on the verge of passing out again. 

Entropy tilted his head at her, seeming curious. “You are more persistent than I had thought,” he bit out. He shifted his focus to her, a pair of tendrils snaking out and wrapping around her legs as well. “But I’m willing to give you both a quick passing.”

A sudden bright flare of light lit the cavern, and Entropy went tumbling away. As my eyes cleared from the flash spots, I saw a trio of forms standing before Sunset and myself. White, blue, and pink coats gleamed in the light, and the tallest spread her wings wide.

“Celestia,” I breathed, staggering back to my hooves and moving to support Sunset as she wavered. 

“You will not harm either of them,” The Princess of the Sun declared, her voice thunderous. She advanced, and Entropy seemed to shrink in her presence.

“You cannot be here,” he growled. “The ritual should not be completed already!”

Luna stepped forward, horn blazing. “You forget your place, demon,” she growled.

Celestia’s horn flashed, and the shattered pieces of the armor that Sunset had worn flew to her, reforming about her as though never broken.

“If you wish to harm her,” she said in the coldest tone I had ever heard. “Then I shall stand in her stead. Let us see if you can keep up with me.”
> Into Darkness
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Celestia was mad. Not just disappointed or disapproving, but fully, absolutely livid. I had never seen her like this, not in my time as her student. I felt Twilight pressed up against me, helping me stay upright but the world was fogged with pain and indistinct. Nothing seemed right, and everything was numb except for my horn.

That was flared with pain and fire.

“What’s happening?” I whispered. “I can’t really see, everything is dim.”

“Relax, Sunset,” Twilight whispered back. “Don’t push yourself. Celestia will finish this.”

But something about those words immediately struck me as wrong. I had felt Entropy’s full force, and it had overwhelmed me. The backlash spell had taken down demonspawned undead without leaving a trace, but he looked little the worse for wear.

And despite the Sun Princess having restored the armor and stood in an intimidating pose, she hadn’t struck yet. Nor had Luna, despite her being the more militant of the Diarchs. Everything was striking me as wrong.

Cadence backed up, taking subtle steps to put herself between myself and the still indistinct embodiment of destruction, wings slightly flared. She kept her horn pointed forward, just as her aunts did, but none of the three were lit. Or were they, and I just couldn’t see the ambient magic without my horn? I wasn’t sure, I had never really studied the effects of horn loss on unicorns.

“Why aren’t they attacking?” I whispered again, though it hurt to speak.

Cadence glanced back, pitching her voice so that only Twilight and I could hear. 

“They aren’t at full power,” she told us. “Interrupting the renewal ritual means their power will be slow to return.”

“They’re bluffing,” Twilight whispered. “Waiting for their mana to rebuild.”

“And I drained her armor,” I mumbled. “Trying to stop him. Failing to stop him.”

“You didn’t fail,” Twilight insisted, her armor clinking. “He just had more power than we thought. Rest, we’ll take care of the rest.”

I slowly settled down on my belly, the pain and fatigue rising up. I don’t know why or how I had woken up from having passed out earlier, but whatever power I had was gone and my eyes slowly slipped closed. 

I heard the shuffling of hooves, feathers rustling, and armor rattling. I could smell the burnt end of my horn, acrid and coppery. Unconciousness was slowly taking me into it’s arms, and any of my concerns fled my mind.

Are you giving up? a voice broke through the haze. There was something familiar about it.

“I don’t have the power to move.”

Then you are giving up.

“What do you want from me?” I snarled. “I’ve lost my horn, my mana is exhausted, and nothing I’ve thrown had any lasting impact. I’m useless now.”

You didn’t have magic when you faced down the Sirens.

“But I had my friends then,” I growled. “We faced those issues together, our innate magic was greater than the sum of our parts. And I can’t tap my magic without my horn.”

You are a silly mare, aren’t you? the voice sighed, growing more familiar. Time away from Equestria has dulled your wits.

“What do you know?” I whispered. “Who are you?”

Someone that knows you just as well as you do yourself.

“Well, way to be cryptic.” 

Fine, the voice said, taking on an exasperated tone. Your horn is gone, but your magic isn’t. You still have it.

“What are you talking about?”

You’re an Alicorn, the voice explained. Magic of all three tribes. Unicorn, Earth Pony, and Pegasi. And you have other magic as well.

“What?”

What did you think happened to your Element when you crossed over and it wasn’t present? it teased, the voice recognizable now. Familiar.

In my mind’s eye, I saw myself, a bit more hardened, her arms crossed and a sardonic look on her face. She wore what looked like a cross between a lab coat and a trench coat over beaten combat fatigues. When she noted that I could see her, she reached up to her throat and a small red crystal appeared.

“Who are you?” I asked, baffled.

“You,” my double replied. “Just from a few realities over.”

“But then…”

“There was a brief moment a few moments ago where a host of realities got linked by a magic surge,” she explained. “I felt your desperation, and was able to set up a link before, well…” She gestured at her own forehead. She brushed her hands and grunted. “Well then, time to get up and stop napping.”

“What do you think I can do?” I muttered. “No horn and I can barely see through the pain.”

My counterpart threw up her hands. “Ugh!” she growled. “You just don’t get it, do you? So new to your wings that you don’t get what it all means. You can tap the magic of your other inherited traits just as easily as you could with your horn! Use the endurance of your Earth Pony magic to push down the pain and your Pegasi magic to get up! Use that mind of yours!”

She vanished suddenly and my eyes flew open. From the positions of the other princessess, maybe a few moments had passed. I struggled to my hooves, pushing through the pain and reaching out with my wing to touch Twilight, and I saw her hesitate at the contact.

“Sunset,” she began, but I shook my head, getting my hooves solidly under me.

“We can’t stall him forever,” I rasped, eyeing Entropy as he reformed his disguise. I stepped forward, reaching inside. “I can buy you a little more time.”

And before Twilight could say anything or my mind could back out, I shoved forward with my wings, feeling the thrum of magic through my wings. I shot past Celestia and bowled over Entropy, shoving a hoof against what would have been his head.

I heard my friends cry out behind me, but I closed my eyes and let the power of my geode flow out, and I was drawn into the mind of Entropy.
> Flawed
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting inside Entropy’s mind. Whirling chaos, maybe? Broad expanses of blackness and drifting ash? Certantly within the realm of possibility. A screaming pit of madness, filled with death and gore? 

A field of flowers and a gentle breeze moving the clouds in the blue sky was not what I had pictured.

I looked around and saw a small little silver and black flame flickering above the clearing ground. I knew that I was seeing the true form of Entropy. And it was radiating calm, edging into apathy.

“It’s a shame, isn’t it?” a calm voice issued forth. “All of this for nothing. It will all inevitably become nothing but smoke and ash.” With those words, the landscape around us bust into flames as the sky turned red and the moon rose, frightfully large, as though falling towards the ground.

“But then, it is how things should be.” The flame drifted across the ground, the ash not even stirring in its wake. “So I assume you didn’t think this plan through. One has plenty of time to gain insight and control of their mind when they spend eons in a state of confinement.”

I felt a flash of understanding. Entropy had been forced into a sort of incarceration and was lashing out in retaliation. But even as much as I could understand being forced into a role that could be confining, it didn’t justify the actions carried out on its behalf.

“And I can tell you’re flagging,” the flame continued. “This was likely your last ditch action to stop me. So, what was the plan, mind control? Emotional destruction? You ripping my physic framework to shreds?”

“No,” I replied, taking a step forward. “I wouldn’t have done that.”

“Shame,” came the reply. “Would have been interesting at least. You ponies always seem to lack the requirement of what needed to be done. I thought you at least would have been up to the task. You did kill a pony in your rage, after all.”

“I don’t like being reminded,” I growled, lowering myself a touch. “I am not proud of what I did.”

“But you don’t hide from it, either,” it continued. “There are many that would. I was hoping that you would see the purpose, the beauty of the destruction and aid me. Seems I gave you too much credit.”

I felt the urge to blast the flame in the middle of it’s mass, but I remembered that my horn was gone. “So all you want is to see the world burned to a cinder, is that it?”

The flame flickered along the edges, almost as though shrugging. “I’ll start with the world,” it said. “But eventually I want the entirety of existence. Nothing lasts forever, Sunset Shimmer.”

“I know that,” I gritted. “My calm fillyhood, my arrogant adolescence, my dreams of a normal life, being along but for friends.” I advanced a few steps. “And my Twilight, she saw the end of her isolation, of her loneliness, and her fears of not belonging. And I could name dozens of other things. I know nothing last, but it’s supposed to lead to better things.” I gestured at the field. “Fire could wipe out all this life, but it would provide a fertile ground for new growth! It is an endless cycle!”

Entropy sighed. “All good things must come to an end, Sunset Shimmer. Even you admit it.” The field began to grow anew, different in colors. “But is this even as pretty as it was originally? Is it worth seeing when you can remember its original beauty?”

“Yes,” I said firmly. “Because it can be a sign of encouragement that everything will get better.”

“Not this time,” Entropy said. “I’m afraid that this truly is the final leg of your journey, the last charge into the breach for you and your fellow princesses. I am free and if Celestia were going to do anything she would have done it by now.” The flame began to grow. “This has been entertaining, though. I am truly inspired by your determination. There isn’t much else to match it.”

I stomped a hoof in frustration. “So what will you do once you’ve consumed this world, this universe?”

“Move on to the next.”

“And then what?”

The flame seemed to turn towards me. “Continue until all of existence has been destroyed as per my purpose.”

“And then what?”

The flame flickered in confusion. “What?”

“After you’ve destroyed everything,” I reiterated. “What will you do then? What will your purpose be after everything is gone? Where will you go?”

The flame remained where it was, flaring and shrinking. “I…”

“And if you have to destroy everything, then you must destroy yourself eventually, if you even can,” I pressed. “Do you really want to give up that easily? And just think, if you withstand the wrath of the Sunmother and the Moonsister, you could take your time. But that’s besides the point. If you win… What will you do?”

Entropy swirled in place for a moment, at a loss for words for the first time since I had met the being. “I… I don’t… No, that can’t be…”

“Face it,” I said. “You can’t complete your purpose because you will still exist. So unless you can also destroy yourself, you are worthless. I wouldn’t be surprised if that is why they kept you locked up, so you wouldn’t find out and be distraught over it. Imprisonment to protect your own mind. Fitting.”

The silver and black flame flared and then died down to almost nothing. It’s apathetic calm was shading into panic. “I have purpose,” it declared. “I exist to destroy life.”

“Except yourself,” I said, shining a hoof casually, despite feeling fatigue fast building behind my eyes. “Seems a tad flawed.”

“I can destroy anything!”

I turned a skeptical look on the being. “Right.” I turned and took a few steps. “I’ll be going now. Have fun with your little destruction trip.”

And I fell from Entropy’s mind, staggering back and smirking at the almost catatonic pony form. Then the endurance from my Earth Pony magic gave out.

My eyes rolled back in my head as pain flooded me again and I slumped to the floor.
> Return
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I blinked, every last inch of my body aching. The light from the fire pits flickered brightly enough to hurt my eyes. Twilight was sitting nearby and she turned at my groan.

“Hey,” she said as she came over. “How you doing?”

I squeezed my eyes shut against the light and the sound of her voice. “Lower,” I rasped.


“Can you sit up?” She asked a little more softly. I winced again. 

“Not softer,” I clarified. “Drop your voice a little pitch wise. I feel like I have a hangover.”

She smiled softly and whispered with a slightly lower tone. “Do you want something to drink?”

“Fifty year old cider would be lovely,” I mumbled, moving to sit up slightly. I saw Celestia and Luna across the way, horns lit as a small sphere of gently flickering silver fire hung before them, their magic slowly surrounding it. “What happens now?”

“Celestia and Luna are sealing him back into the weave,” the princess informed me as I sat up, rubbing my temple. “He didn’t seem to have any fight in him after your crazy stunt.”

“It worked, didn’t it?” I smacked my mouth a few times. For some reason I had a major case of cottonmouth.

Thea came over and landed on my head. She sat there for a moment before leaning over and pecking me once on the head.

“Ow!” I gasped.

That was a needless risk, she harped at me. Another two minutes and the Sunmother could have ended it all without you taking that chance!

“Could you not be so loud?” I asked, rubbing the spot she had pecked me. 

“She has a point,” Cadence said as she came over, the broken tip of my horn hovering in her aura. “What possessed you to do such a thing?”

I opened my mouth to explain the vision I had, but then closed it, knowing that it could have been passed off as a pain-induced hallucination. I shook my head, Thea spreading her wings as she wobbled. “I’m not sure,” I said.

Cadence tilted her head as she narrowed her eyes a little before sighing. She brought the tip of my horn over and set it against the shattered base. “Hold still,” she advised. “This might sting a little bit.”

I felt magic surge through me as her horn took on a darker hue, runes on her armor slowly coming to life with a rose light. A heat spread in my horn, an almost searing sensation that I assumed as bone being forcefully knitted. A few moments later, her horn dimmed and the runes faded. 

“There," she said. “That should do it. I would advise against using it anytime soon, though.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, reaching up to gingerly feel my horn. It had a little roughness to it, but it was more or less intact.

“Well,” Twilight spoke up. “I was researching horn morphology for a friend and found that healing horns can be sabotaged by magic use. With it healing, it’s not up to correctly channelling mana and will actually cause damage which will force it to take longer to heal.”

I frowned. “How often does this happen that there are books on it?” I asked.

The bookworm shrugged. “Not as often as you’d think,” she admitted. “But it did happen somewhat frequently in ages past. We do know that horns grow slightly throughout life, and that a little filing from time to time is good for structural symmetry.”

I stood slowly, looking at the blue and gold sheathed flame. I had seen inside Entropy’s mind, felt his confusion as to why we wouldn’t let him do his job. I slowly walked over, and I felt his attention fall on me.

“Come to gloat?” he asked, the voice seeming to echo in on itself and smaller than before. I knew the forlorn sound in his voice, having heard it once in my voice in the days following the Fall Formal and the Anon-y-mous incident.

I shook my head. “No,” I said simply. I waited for a response of some sort, but I heard no more words from him before the flame slowly turned into a crystal sphere in the shape of fire, a dim silver glow within as it went to rest on a small pedestal near the back of the cavern.

I felt a hoof settle on my shoulder and looked up to see Celestia look down at me, the armor gleaming in the firelight.

“I think I know what you would have said,” she whispered.

“He was right in a way,” I said. “Nothing lasts forever.”

“No,” she agreed. “But it won’t end before its time, either. That is what he had forgotten.”

I just stared at the crystal as Celestia and Luna moved away from me quietly, leaving me to my contemplation. 





Three days later, I walked into the palace, wings sore from the long flight home, my magic still weak from the fight. I saw some fresh damage in the process of being repaired, and the hall leading to the quarters Sunshine and I had used missing much of the furniture that once sat quietly by. I reached up to push the door to our room open, looking forward to seeing my wife and getting some sleep in a real bed for once.

A crackle of electricity caused me to freeze in my steps, wings flaring slightly in surprise at the sight of a tall Unicorn with a broken horn standing between my wife and the door.

“A fifth princess?” she asked curiously, the sparking magic in her horn dying.

“Sixth, if you count Cadence’s daughter,” I heard my wife say. “It’s a somewhat recent development.”

The Unicorn shook her head with an exasperated sigh. “Such bad intel,” she muttered. She turned towards Sunshine. “Your wife, I assume?”

Sunshine giggled. “Yes,” she said, walking over slowly. “Sunset, meet Tempest. She’s a friend of Twilight’s and just happened to get back in time to help out in an attack. Tempest, this is my wife Sunset Shimmer, Princess of Compassion and frequent pain in the neck.”

“Hey,” I squawked. “That’s the welcome I get after being gone?”

Sunshine walked over, a mischievous smile on her face before she saw my horn. “What happened?” she asked, face transforming into a mask of concern.

“Oh,” I whispered, a little blush of embarrassment flooding my face. “I just had a little incident with my horn. It should heal up ok in a few weeks.”

Tempest snorted.

My wife narrowed her eyes at me, and I felt her suspicion in the bond though it was fuzzy. “You did something stupid, didn’t you?” It wasn’t really a question.

“Not really,” I hedged, glancing away momentarily as I remembered the shield buckling and the tip of my horn slowly falling to the rocky ground. Sunshine sighed and I realized that I hadn’t kept the memory from drifting through to her.

She leaned forward and kissed me. “That’s for coming back,” she breathed as she leaned back, then smacked me gently on the shoulder, a look of reproach on her face. “And that’s for doing something crazy! You should know better!”

“I already got this lecture from Twilight, Cadence, Luna, and Celestia,” I groaned. “And we have to stay for a few weeks. Celestia and Luna have to redo the ritual and my horn needs high ambient mana to heal properly.” I smiled at her. “You ok with a bit of a vacation?”

She smiled, then cocked her head. “What about Spike and Ray?” she asked. “Who’ll take care of them?”

I leaned forward and gently touched the tip of my horn to hers. “I don’t see why you couldn’t nip over and make arrangements. You’re not technically trapped here for any length of time.”

She closed her eyes. “Tomorrow,” she said, turning and heading for the bed.

“I think that’s my cue,” Tempest said, walking out. “You want a wake-up call?”

I shook my head as I joined my wife. “No,” I said as I settled in and spread a wing over her. “I have every confidence that Starlight can handle one more day.”

“I don’t know,” Tempest as she stepped out. “If she knew how, I’m sure she would have sent one of those nobles to the moon.”

I blinked and turned to Sunshine. “Blueblood?” I asked.

My wife nodded, her eyes drifting shut.

I made a show of thinking it over. “I can live with that,” I said, laying my head down and pulling the azure mare next to me a little closer with my wing.

“I’ll deal with it in the morning.”
> Offer
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“So,” I asked the taller mare as we walked down the hallway to the throne room. “How does it feel?”

Tempest made an odd face as she reached up and felt the smooth crystal attached to the base of her shattered horn. “Strangely cold,” she said. “But then, I really don’t have a lot to compare it to.”

I nodded. I had a similar crystal sheath over my horn, helping it stay supported while it healed over. The plum-colored mare had hers to function as a proper conduit for her magic and aid her horn’s regrowth. In theory.

I saw the guards salute as we neared, and Tempest gave a slight nod at them. “Good morning, Sergeant,” I greeted the watch commander.

“Good morning, Princess, Ms. Shadow,” the stallion returned as his partner opened the doorway for us.

“I still haven’t gotten used to being a civilian again,” Tempest muttered as the doors closed behind us. “I spent so long working my way up the ranks of the Storm King’s army that it’s pretty much all I knew.”

“Well, then,” I smiled. “You won’t mind the first item on the agenda for today.”

She glanced at me from the corner of her eye. “What do you mean?”

Starlight entered from the antechamber behind the thrones, a clipboard in her mint aura. “Good morning,” she greeted us as I took my place on the Solar Throne. Tempest remained at the foot of the dais. “I trust you both slept well?”

“Better than I have lately, yes,” I replied. “Though I’ll be glad when I get home to my own bed.”

“I’m content with any place with some sort of roof over my head,” Tempest said. “I’ll leave you to your duties, Princess.”

“No,” I said with a bit of the regality I had honed over my days of holding court. “Stay, please. There are some matters that require you to be here.”

Twilight stepped out with Moondancer, taking her place next to me, smiling.

“What?” Tempest sputtered.

“Tempest Shadow,” Twilight said, her voice also holding the practiced tone of holding court. “We have been talking about how best to reintegrate you into Equestrian society given your request not to be phased into the current military structure.”

She slightly dipped her head. “Thank you for that.”

“However,” I spoke up. “We cannot lightly disregard the knowledge and training you possess. We have decided to give you a set of tasks for which you will report directly to the Princesses. We feel that you will find it to your liking.”

She tilted her head curiously at us. “What in the name of the Light are you talking about?”

Twilight walked down and placed a hoof the other mare’s shoulder. “We want you to stay and help here. Give us your thoughts on security measures and help shore up some weakpoints while we rebuild. And after that, Sunset has a task for you as well.”

I stepped down as well. “While we wait for the Diarchs to return from their pilgrimage, Twilight and I are in charge,” I said. “And while I wait to shed this duty, I would consider it a favor if you would keep an eye on Sunshine while I’m holding court.”

She snorted. “Babysitting?”

I smiled. “More like keeping her company.” I gestured at my horn. “Even after Celestia and Luna return in a week, I’ll have to stay for at least two months to let it heal properly. And I’ll have duties to attend to during my time here. In case something happens in that time, I want somepony there to make sure she’s ok.”

“And where am I supposed stay during this time?” Tempest asked, her face now showing tepid curiosity.

“I’ve got a few extra rooms in the house here,” I told her. “It’ll be another couple of weeks before the house is restored, but you’re welcome to one of the rooms. And that brings us to the second matter I’m going to ask of you.”

“A little presumptuous, don’t you think?” she returned.

“Sunshine and I don’t tend to spend a lot of time here,” I told her. “I would appreciate it if you would look after the place while we’re gone. You’ll have run of the house as long as you do some upkeep.”

The pony looked flabbergasted.

“We’ll let you think on it.” Twilight said, stepped back to her throne. “Sunset, the court is yours now.”

“Wonderful,” I grumbled.

Tempest looked at me. “You don’t enjoy sitting in the big chair?”

I smiled and winked at her for relieving the tension for a moment. “It’s not the chair,” I said. “I hate sitting still for hours on end.”

She blinked. “Didn’t you say you wanted to be an author?”

I eased into the throne and resettled my crown on my head. “At least as an author I could get up for a run if I wanted to. Not like the manuscript is going anywhere.”

The plum mare turned to leave. “If you say so,” she said as she slipped out.

I sighed and turned to look at Starlight.

“Who’s first?” I asked.
> Abdication
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I trotted down the hall and nodded at the guards as I passed them. It all seemed like a good day, once you took stock: court had been light and easy, the Diarchs were due back in a few days, and Sunshine’s morning sickness seemed to be abating.

I saw the doors to my quarters, and felt a smile growing. I bounced up and pushed the door open with a hoof. My horn was still tender, though it was superficially healed over. I still wore the crystalline cast on it most of the time. It helped ease the discomfort, for the most part.

Sunshine looked up as I entered, her yellow mane swirling as she set the brush she was using down. “You seem in a pleasant mood,” she noted, standing and coming over to nuzzle me.

“Court was swift and soon we can head home,” I said, relishing the feel of her warm tan coat. I gave her a swift peck on her cheek before moving to remove my regalia for the day. “And now it’s just you and me and all the nothing we want to do.”

A knock on the door sounded, making me turn as a pigtailed pony stuck her head in. “Am I interrupting?” she asked.

“Of course not, Sandy,” Sunshine said, smiling brightly. “Did you have any luck?”

The pony came in, a small box perched on her back. “It took a bit of looking, but I found what you were looking for.” She sat the box down on the coffee table, and ran a hoof along one of her pigtails. “It’s weird not having more ponies wanting mineral cakes. I’m sure they’re tasty.”

Sunshine wasn’t listening as she opened the box and pulled a small, grayish pastry and took a bite out, eyes closing in bliss. She tilted her head at me curiously, offering me a cake from the box.

“Would you like one?”

Something started prodding me in the side, and suddenly I opened my eyes to see Sunshine standing over me slightly, a smile on her face and a cream puff in her aura. “Morning, sleepyhead,” she smiled, her blue coat shining in the late afternoon light. “Would you like a cream puff? Pinkie sent a dozen up.”

I rolled over and sat up. “I’d love one,” I said, glancing out the window to see where the sun was. “But I have to get ready to lower the sun.” I glanced at the regalia on the stand nearby. “Would you mind?” I asked.

My wife smiled and lifted my crown and settled it just behind my horn. “You know,” she whispered as she picked up my chain of office. “This is supposed to be the last time you lower the sun. Do you mind if I come and watch?”

I looked at her, a smile forming. “I don’t see why not,” I said, slipping a wing over her. “It’s not exactly all that impressive, though.”

She pushed into my side.

“I think it’ll be spectacular.”





Twilight smiled at me as I stepped out onto the balcony and stepped over.

“Ready for this, Sunset?” she asked, giving Sunshine a hug with a wing.

“I’ve been ready since the first day,” I grumped. “But I will admit, I might miss this.”

Fluttershy stepped out, head down low. “I hope I’m not intruding.”

“Not at all,” Twilight said, moving to rub noses with her. “You’re just on time.”

“Oh?” Sunshine asked. “For what?”

“I wanted to see Twilight raise the moon,” the Pegasus whispered. “If it’s not too much trouble.”

“Not at all,” I said. “It’s why Sunshine is here.”

“Oh?”

Sunshine nodded. “I wanted to see it once.”

I stepped forward, taking a place next to Twilight, glancing at her. “Shall we?”

She closed her eyes and spread her wings. I followed suit, and felt for the strand in the back of my mind that connected me to the sun. As I took hold of it, I felt strangely warm, and I heard Sunshine gasp slightly. I felt the urge to spread my wings even wider and lift my forehooves. I saw in my mind’s eye the sun slowly moving towards the horizon. As I dropped down, I glanced over at Twilight and saw her hovering in the air, wings splayed and her forelegs held to either side. Her horn held a soft blue glow underneath her usual raspberry hue and the sight of the moon rising behind her gave her a majestic look. As she landed, I felt Sunshine press up against me.

“That was breathtaking,” she breathed, nuzzling me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Fluttershy resting forehead to forehead with Twilight. I smiled and tilted my head to rest against hers. As the warmth from our bond slid through me, I sighed gently.

“Well, that was fun while it lasted,” I breathed softly.

“And some rather fine form,” I heard Celestia say from behind us. Turning, I saw her and Luna standing there, soft smiles on both of their faces. Fluttershy and Sunshine immediately dipped their heads in a shallow bow.

“It just felt right, this time.” Twilight said as the sound of wings fluttering came to my ears. I saw Philomena alight with Thea and what looked like a nightwing along with her.

Celestia nodded. “It is a somewhat uplifting feeling at times.” She ruffled her wings. “I must thank you, Sunset, Twilight,” she said. “I’m sure your time wasn’t easy, and for that I am sorry.”

I shrugged. “It could have been much worse,” I said. “Blueblood could have come to court every day.”

We all shared a laugh at that.

If you want, I could set his mane on fire, Philomena said while examining her left wing primaries.

“Philomena,” Celestia said with a warning tone.

Fine, fine. Forget I said anything.

“So,” Fluttershy said softly. “What are the other two Phoenixes here for?”

“By holding one of the thrones,” Luna said. “Twilight and Sunset have been given the opportunity to take one as a familiar.”

“They will mostly be couriers and will accompany you on the rare occasions you must travel outside Equestria,” Celestia continued. “Thea has taken a liking to you, Sunset, and Astra has volunteered to be Twilights, if you wish them to be so.”

I glanced at Twilight, then at the red-orange Phoenix on the railing. She looked like she was fluffing herself up a little, showing off her plumage.

“Oh, this is so amazing!” Twilight started off, rambling to herself. “I wonder if there is a book in the library about nightwing physiology. I hope Owlowisciousgets along well with her…”

I tuned her out as I traded stares with the bird that had been close to me most of the journey.

“You peck me again, and you’re fired,” I said to Thea.

I had the impression that she was smiling through it all.
> The End?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Don’t be gone too long, ok?” I asked as we walked over to the mirror. I was here to see Sunshine and Starlight off, and though I knew that all they were going to do were make arrangements for Spike and Ray, I felt like I had spent enough time separated from my wife. I also had asked them to meet with Sunshine’s parents to let them know we were going to gone for a while. Thankfully, as an author fellowship student, I could still do my coursework here in Equestria and submit it via my wife when she would go through for her checkups and visit her parents.

“I’ll see what I can do,” Sunshine said, a small grin on her face as she leaned in to peck me on the cheek. I took an extra second to run my cheek against hers before glancing over at Starlight.

“I’m not kissing you,” she said with a smirk.

“Shame,” I said. “The temptation to tease Trixie about it might have been too much to pass up.” Her wide eyes and blushing cheeks were almost comical. “Take good care of her while you’re gone, please?”

“She's in good hooves, Your Majesty.”

“And don’t call me that,” I bit as I turned to leave. “I thought we had that discussion before.”

“You know,” Sunshine purred. “You never have a problem when I call you that. I wonder why…”

I turned and spitted my wife with a narrow smirk. “I hope she doesn’t start using the title in that way,” I said as I slowly began to stalk over to her. “It might get a little awkward at home.”

I saw her face color slightly and I heard her protest through our bond, though somewhat muffled.

Sunset Shimmer! she admonished silently.

Where am I wrong? I returned. “Have a good trip,” I said, touching the crystal cast to her horn. “I’ll miss you.”

She blinked for a few moments, a sad smile forming. “I’ll be back soon.”

I watched as they stepped through the portal, and turned to return to Canterlot for the official return of power to the Diarchs.

It was time to return life to normal as much as possible. Twilight met me outside and she smiled at me.

“Everything go alright?” she asked.

I nodded. “I may not like the fact that I have a couple months worth of horn regeneration to look forward to,” I said. “But at least I won’t have to worry about missing assignments and I can spend some more time with my family as we rebuild.”

We walked a few lengths in silence, seeing some of the broken bits of buildings being discarded as they were repaired or vanishing as repair spells took effect. I glanced at Twilight.

“You have any major plans, now that you’re no longer one of the major ruling princesses?”

Twilight tilted her head for a moment.

“I have been thinking about opening a school…”





Darkness surrounded him, but he was used to that. He had endured it for eons, after all. He knew where he had failed now. Last time he had been too overt by destroying the natural cycle of the sun and moon first, then had been blindsided by those Unicorn mages that had managed to band together to take over. He had tried a more subtle route this time, but perhaps he had been too subtle.

But he had to admit, that Alicorn had posed a good point in her parting words when she had been in his mind. Maybe he was being too impatient.

“It’s good to see you consider your own temper, Brother,” a voice chimed in. Entropy turned and saw the bright glow of Serendipity nearby.  “Though, I must admit that it took you quite a while to consider that you might have been wrong.”

“And you’ve never thought to tell me what I was supposed to do?” the sullen being asked.

The soft glow of Serendipity drifted a little closer. “That is not my place,” she said softly. “I am only to guide towards destinies, aided by Harmony to keep things from spiraling out of control.” A sense of a smile carried through the voice. “We all forget our place from time to time. After all, we have seen both the Moonsister and Discord fall and be returned to their rightful place in the world.”

“And my place is to do nothing? Was the Seer right in that?”

“No, Brother,” Serendipity began to fade. “It just isn’t your turn yet. There will come a day when it is time for things to be reborn, but until then, there are still things that must happen. And when it is time, we will work together to bring a new reality into being.”

“The last time we worked together was so long ago I can barely remember it.” Entropy said, feeling a small smile form. “Maybe it will be worth the wait.”

“I’m sure it will be,” Serendipity whispered. “I’m sure it would be.”





I was sitting at my desk when the cry went sounded in the hall.

“Mommy! Mommy!” my daughter giggled as she rushed into my office. “Look what I can do!”

Her horn was shimmering as it held her favorite stuffed toy up, but it was wavering in its strength. But, between it being her first time being able to lift anything and her overabundance of excitement, I couldn’t help but smile at her.

“That’s great, sweetheart!” I said as I set my quill down and plucked her up in my magic, bringing her around to settle between my wings. “We’ll have to go show Momma as soon as she gets back from work!”

“Can we go see her?” She flicked her silvery mane out of her face with a hoof, only to have it fall back down in front of her eyes.

I smiled back at her. “I don’t see why not,” I said. “She should be finishing up with Aunt Sparky now.”

“Will Wowy be there?”

I smiled at her mispronunciation of her little sisters name. She had just lost a tooth and it tended to make her ‘R’s a little soft. “No, sweetie,” I said as we trotted down the halls of the Castle of Friendship. “Rory’s back with Auntie Fluttershy and Auntie Rarity, remember?”

“Oh,” she whispered.

I stepped out onto a balcony and spread my wings. “Hold on, kiddo,” I said, giving her a few moments before leaping into the air, feeling my Pegasi magic take hold as we glided down and to one of the terraces of Twilight Sparkle’s School of Magic and Friendship. My daughter was giggling in delight as we felt the wind blow through our manes, even after we had landed. Starlight met us as we entered, her mane up in a bun and giving her a much more scholarly look to her face.

“Hey, girls,” she said as she saw Middy poke her head up from behind me. “What brings you by?”

Midnight was impossible to stop from lighting up her horn and levitating her stuffed toy again, a wide grin splitting her face. “I can do magic, Aunt Stawight!”

“Oh, hey!” the Unicorn said, smiling. “That was great!” She reached down and hugged the filly. “You want to go show your mother, don’t you?”

She nodded quickly, her mane sliding down and getting in her eyes again.

“Sunset?” a voice pricked through my dream.

I looked up and at the smiling face of a deep blue mare laying across from me. “Hmm?”

“You were smiling in your sleep again,” she said, reaching out to brush a lock of my mane from her face. “And I got a few rather hazy glimpses of you and a little filly flying.”

I smiled. “You saw that, huh?”

She nodded, snuggling in a little closer under my wing. “I thought you looked really good as a mom,” she whispered sleepily.

“Heh,” I responded. “I liked the way it felt, you know. And you know what else?”

Quiet breathing was the only answer I got. I smiled as I pulled the glasses from her face and placed them on the nightstand.

“I love you, Twilight Sparkle,” I whispered before laying my head down as well.