Celestia and the Exile

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Manehattan was known throughout the world as the city of Equestria. Canterlot was home to the elite of the elite, but Manehattan was the main thoroughfare for trade along the eastern coast of the continent as well as across to Griffonia. Even the roguish pirates of Haukland dared not to come too close to the city's waters as the pride of the Equestrian fleet was always ever ready to strike out to deter raids on shipping. Beings of all kinds made it their home, from ponies to griffons to even exotic zebras and kirin.

It had become one of the last strongholds of the Equestrian military as the changelings descended upon it. Celestia paced along at the docks, watching as anyone and everyone seeking to flee Equestria climbed aboard the various boats. Her ears twitched as artillery fired off, the awful sound still too terrible for her to have gotten used to despite the weeks.

“They still haven't broken the first line of defense,” the guard beside her said, “but it's not looking good. Princess Luna has called for a steady retreat to the second line.”

“Into the city proper then.”

“Princess, you should really get on board.”

She turned to look at him, the enchantments of his armor making him look like any other guard. “I cannot do that. I will not leave without my sister.”

“And if Princess Luna refuses to leave?”

Celestia chewed her bottom lip. “She won't. No, not when we need to get Flurry and Spike out of here as well.”

“If she can't?”

She glowered at him and he stumbled backwards.

“A-apologies Princess, it's just that, the reality of the situation-”

“I know the reality of the situation!” she snapped, drawing attention. “We had a fighting chance until the communists from the north decided to sweep down into our flank and we have been on the retreat consolidating our forces into the main cities to try and help evacuate everyone that we can!”

More artillery fire in the distance, this time with incoming tank fire as well. She took in a deep breath and turned to face the city. “I'm going to go find her. Stay here and keep things organized.”

“But Princess-”

“That is an order.”

The guard stiffened up then bowed. “At once, Princess.”

Celestia trotted for a bit before she flapped her wings and took off, flying low and fast through the well laid streets of the city. Many folk had gone to the docks to try and escape, but many, many more refused to leave their homes and stayed. She tried to ignore her little ponies and kept her eyes forward. Eventually civilians gave way to military and she banked a right turn.

City hall had been transformed into a command center with anti-air guns situated on the tops of nearby buildings. Even with the overwhelming might of the Changeling Hegemony, regular sorties from the local airfields kept the skies clear. As she approached the doors they opened, Luna was led out by several of her soldiers. She noticed her sister was struggling half-heartedly, voicing complaint after complaint as she touched down.

“Sister! Tell them, tell them I am still in command!”

Celestia looked at the officers. “What is the meaning of this?”

The stallions and mares bowed. “We're just trying to get our commander to safety. She has a family after all,” the mustachioed stallion said.

The sister's eyes met and Luna let out a resigned sigh. “I do not wish to abandon those under my command. Trimmel's advance has been stalled and we can weather him down enough to make him fall back!”

“Stalliongrad's armies have already taken much of the coastline Luna. Even if we can stall the changelings the communists will just reinforce them.”

Luna bit her lip. “At our rate of fire the artillery will be out of ammunition in a few days and we have no way to resupply...”

“Flurry and Spike are waiting for us, sister.”

Luna looked at the soldiers and nodded at them. “Hold the line, but if you are at risk of being overwhelmed do not fight to the last. Live. That is my final command.”

“Yes, field marshal!” the arrayed officers said as they saluted.

With great reluctance the younger sister followed her elder as they took wing back to the docks.

Celestia stood at the stern of the ship and watched as the towering buildings of Manehattan grew smaller and smaller. The sound of artillery fire could still be heard, a rolling barrage the likes of which she never imagined to witness before. Her ear twitched as she heard her sister's hooves against the deck.

"Flurry cried herself to sleep. Spike is fetching some food from the mess."

She turned to see Luna's stern face, though her eyes were brimming with tears. Instinctively her wing spread and took her younger sister close to her side.

"Shining, Cadance, Twilight, they should be here instead of us,” Luna said as she pressed into Celestia's side. “Flurry and Spike need their family.”

“We're their family too Luna, though perhaps not as present in their lives as we could have been before.”

“I know, it is just... I hate this. I hate having to abandon our ponies, our friends and allies. You should have given Sunset command of the north and I the south.”

Celestia gently nuzzled her younger sister. “The Moonspeakers said that the time was not right to speak with you. Even after everything you did for them, I did not wish to upset them and make things more difficult. So long as Sunset is there she will help keep Equestria in the fight.”

“You could have gone to her. The route to Baltimare was still clear for a good week.”

“And abandon you, Luna? Besides that, Twilight specifically entrusted Spike to me. How could I forsake her request?”

Below deck they went to eat the meals Spike had managed to wrangle for them in their rooms, Celestia having to politely, and firmly, tell the captain that she and the others were to be treated like any other on board, but despite her insistence they still treated them better than she was comfortable with.

She looked up from the newspaper to watch as Spike played with his food, his mind elsewhere. Carefully she folded it and set it down before she walked over and draped a wing over the little dragon. He leaned in against her and sniffled.

"Twilight stayed behind," he said quietly.

"She couldn't abandon the others. They were scattered across Equestria helping with the war effort. She'll bring them back together, and help stop Chrysalis."

"I-I could've helped..."

Celestia leaned down and nuzzled him tenderly. "She wanted to keep you safe, because she loves and cares about you. Just like why Shining had us take Flurry away."

He remained quiet for a few moments before he pressed against Celestia some more. "Thank you, princess."

"Please, just call me Celestia."

Celestia and the Letter

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Sunset was the capital of New Mareland, Equestria's colony across the sea. Of all the cities to wind up in, having to hear the name over the radio, to read it in the papers, just drove the dagger in her heart over and over. While the colony had been slowly recovering from economic turmoil, the brief war against the changelings had seen a reinvigoration of their armed forces and industry, and though Equestria had been lost many New Marelander ponies still worked.

Visitations from Celestia, Luna, and Flurry Heart helped drive home to those initially reluctant about what was at stake. Millions of ponies seeking liberation. Children missing their parents. Parents missing their children.

Celestia was reading the morning paper, lips curled into a little frown. She folded it up and set it down, taking a sip of her tea. Spike came waddling in, carrying a package with the rest of the mail on top.

“Mail call! One package for Luna,” he said as he placed it all on the breakfast table, taking the envelopes off the brown box.

Luna brought it over to her and opened it up, smiling as she pulled out a book. Celestia took a brief glance at it, Modern Military Theory.

“The Queen of Aquileia has a book on military theory?” she asked her sister.

Already reading it, Luna nodded. “It came out recently. She studies many of the various conflicts across the world in recent years. The Falcor War, the Herzland reunification, her own reclamations of the Peripherie.”

Celestia took up the letter Spike had set in front of her while he sat to nibble on a breakfast of sapphires. She looked it over, noting the curious wax seal. She opened it and slowly pulled out the letter and nearly dropped it at the first three words.

Dear Princess Celestia,

They sent a shiver down her spine.

I am William Steel Beak of the Arcturian Order.

It is my understanding that you had stood with the Order against the Dread League centuries ago, and we have noted stirrings on that cursed peninsula. We live in a new age of new weapons and war, but a nation's military has always been incredibly small compared to the numbers of the rest of the population.

The undead will use every last person it can in their war against life itself. I beseech you, to come to Tarpian Rock as swiftly as possible so that we may fight side by side against the Dread League and end their menace against the world once and for all.

I am asking much of you, I know. You have many others to care for, and I am confident in my Order's ability to repel the undead. But, many will die in this conflict, and your help would ensure we do not take unnecessary losses.

Sincerely,

Headmaster William Steel Beak.

“Auntie Luna, auntie Celestia, can we go to the zoo today?” Flurry asked as she gently dabbed her mouth clean of crumbs from her pancakes.

“Hm? Oh, yes. The zoo would be nice,” Celestia said as she folded the letter and put it back in its envelope. “Spike, would you like to come along?”

“Mm, I would, but I'm gonna be busy. Jet Set asked for my help in organizing his office!”

“So long as he pays a fair wage,” Luna said.

“Oh yeah, I make the same as any other starting out! In a year I'll get a raise!”

Celestia couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm as she took another sip of her tea.

A few hours later the sisters and their little niece were walking through the crowded zoo. Others gave them a wide berth, partially due to respect but mainly from their size. Flurry was a bundle of energy as she went from exhibit to exhibit, the older alicorns keeping up. They watched alligators from southern Equestria's jungles lounge in a simulated swamp. Small desert mammals from Zebrica scurrying over hot sands. Tropical fish from around the archipelago of Les Meridiennes swimming aimlessly in the aquarium.

After having gone through most of the zoo the three of them all sat on a bench with some ice cream cones, enjoying the weather and watching as ponies and griffons walked in and out of the bird exhibit. The squawks, chirps, and cries of the birds soon erupted into an absolute fervor of sound and Flurry began to cry. Swiftly Celestia swept the little alicorn up.

"Oh, what's wrong dear?" She asked softly.

"I bit my tongue!" Flurry wailed, sniffling as she was pulled into the warmth of her aunt's embrace.

"There there, it's alright. It'll feel better in no time."

As she held her niece she watched as a storm of birds managed to chase visitors out of the exhibit and took off, a complete menagerie of exotic avians from around the world, most of them small. One in particular caught her eye, a rather large bird with a strange orangish coloration along its head and torso. It perched itself upon a pole nearby. As other birds flew off it remained, yellow eyes locked onto Celestia.

"That's a-"

"Gypaetus barbatus," Luna said as she looked up at it. "The bearded vulture. Native throughout the Middle Sea, but its largest population is in the Andelayans of Zebrica," the bird's attention turned to her as she spoke, and she eyed it warily. "Though it is acting rather curious. Then again, I do not know all of its habits."

The vulture let out a cry, the majestic sound of its call drawing more attention. It spread its wings and flew off, evading the attempts of the zookeepers from trying to catch it. It cried out again as it disappeared into the clouds.

Flurry's sniffling died down as she watched it disappear into the sky. "Wow, that bird was so pretty..."

"Spike is working for Jet Set again. Flurry is doing her school work," Luna said as she sat across from her sister.

Celestia made a noncommittal noise as she slowly flipped the page of her travel book.

"Wingbardy has been making shows of force at the border. Jet Set is worried they may try something."

"Mmhm."

"Sister, are you listening to me?"

Celestia glanced up for a moment. "I am, Luna. I may tune out many others but I would never do such to you."

Luna let out a little snort. "What are you doing? Planning a trip, yet without having discussed anything with me?" she asked as she slipped out of her seat to walk to Celestia's side.

"I'm just trying to see if it's even feasible. My first intention was to take a ship but the route would bring me into Haukish waters and who knows if one of their pirates would strike?"

Her sister nodded as she looked at the little notes made in the margins of the travel book. "It seems you have settled on a train. All the way to Bronzekreuz? No, impossible. Unless you disguise yourself you would be forced out at every major city to talk with some local bigwig. Worse, Karthin, Griffonstone, Griffenheim? You would be most assuredly delayed by the leaders because of who you are!"

"I've taken that into consideration," she said as she tapped her pen against her bottom lip.

"Just where is it you are going?"

Celestia's lips curled into a slight frown as she pulled the envelope and gave it to Luna. Her sister pulled the letter out and read it, brows furrowed. Afterwards she put it back and let the envelope rest on the table.

"You should go. Oh, do not look so surprised. If the undead are rising, that is a serious concern that needs to be addressed."

She shook her head hesitantly. "What about you?"

"Someone needs to look after Flurry Heart and Spike. It will not be long, a journey to the far north by train and wing then you will come right back home."

Celestia looked over at the little map and the notes she had made. She took a sip of her tea before turning her gaze out the window. Yellow eyes of an orangish bird were staring right at her and sent a shiver along her wings.

"I'll speak with Jet Set about it and form a proper plan," she said, unable to tear her gaze away.

Jet Set looked across the desk at Celestia, after she had told him her plans to head to the far north, to some strange knightly order that had been in self-isolation for years and one that had many griffon nations between.

It was hard enough to recover from economic turmoil, coupled with several thousand good New Marelanders killed and wounded in the Great War, then loads of civilian refugees, and now the self-proclaimed ex-princess sought to go gallivanting across Griffonia.

"I cannot in good conscience allow you to go on such a journey, Celestia."

"You cannot deny me from leaving either. My sister has already given me her support in this endeavor, Jet Set. I may have relinquished my role as princess but I am still an adult capable of making my own decisions, and you would be hard pressed to find a reason to keep me here against my will."

He let out a sigh as he adjusted his glasses. "Regardless, the train lines that run from Sunset north don't extend that far, you'd be hiking from Bronzehill."

She ruffled her wings. "I know how to take care of myself, Jet. I may be a little out of practice, but Luna and I did do our share of adventuring."

"Could I try to dissuade you because you'll be traveling through Wingbardy, which is controlled by Beakolini's ultra-nationalist fascists, as well as the Empire and its vassals, after Equestria had openly supported the Republic?"

Celestia's lips curled into a frown. "And Equestria is-" she stopped herself as she felt pain at the thought. "Our support then is irrelevant now."

Jet Set shook his head in hesitation. "I still believe this to be a bad idea, but if you're committed to it then we'll hold the fort down while you're away. Would you like an update about the resistance?"

"Do you have good news?"

He nodded as he pulled out a folder from a drawer. "Quite a bit."

Another letter had arrived, from Mount Aris. She had been expecting this one, having kept track of the North Zebrica War and when she read it it was not from whom she expected, but it confirmed her expectations all the same.

"What does it say, sister?" Luna asked as she drank her coffee while Spike and Flurry were already helping themselves to seconds of breakfast.

"It's from Silverstream, she's begging me to write back, to try and talk sense into her aunt. Novo has abandoned Harmony for a more heavy hoofed approach."

"What, why abandon Harmony?" Flurry asked with a confused frown.

Ink, pen, and parchment floated over to Celestia as she reread the letter to consider her reply.

"The hippogriffs had lost their war, niece," Luna said softly, "Many whom they pledged to care for are now subjects to abhorrent nations that seek to exploit them."

"And they lost one of their cities in the peace deal, having it split three ways between the victors," the eldest said as she tapped her rear hoof against the floor in thought. She looked around the table for a moment and then wrote her reply in a few seconds before she rolled up the parchment and sealed it. "Spike, could you deliver this to Silverstream?"

"Right away Celestia!" he said with a little salute, taking the letter and engulfing it in his magical breath.

"You're leaving today, aunt Celestia?" Flurry asked after she dabbed her mouth clean with her napkin.

"At noon, yes."

"Will you be getting the children souvenirs, since you will be traveling through so much of the continent?"

Celestia smiled and rolled her eyes. "This isn't a pleasure trip, Luna, I won't be stopping except to board another train if necessary."

Spike swallowed down the emerald he had been chewing on. "Do you think you'll get there in time?"

Her smile faltered for a brief moment. "I hope so Spike."

Later that day at the Grand Sunset Station Celestia patiently waited for her train along with the others, including Jet Set. Rather than go about in nothing as was custom back home she was dressed in a simple, flowing gown of off-white.

"Do you have everything, sister?" Luna asked while she fiddled with Celestia's saddlebags.

"I have all the banking credentials necessary from here to the Empire so I'm good on idols, Luna, along with several changes of clothes."

"We could have gotten you a diplomatic attache, Celestia, to keep you from being harassed by officials along the way."

She smiled to Jet Set and shook her head. "I'm sorry but I already said it won't be necessary."

The whistle of the approaching train could be heard as it rolled ever closer to the station. Her ears twitched at some sniffling and she inwardly winced, knowing what was coming. Flurry suddenly broke into sobs and latched onto Celestia's leg.

"D-don't go!" the little alicorn cried as she clung tightly. "I don't, what if, what if we never see you again?!"

She felt her heart ache at Flurry's fears and she sat down on her haunches and used a wing to hug Flurry close.

"Luna," Celestia said in a gentle tone.

Her sister stepped forward, horn glowing as she bent her head down and touched it to Flurry's. The little filly's eyes drooped shut and her grip slackened. Spike hurried to help hold her up and Jet Set assisted in placing the sleeping alicorn on Luna's back. As soon as Flurry was secured the train rolled to a stop and griffons and ponies began the process of swapping with new riders.

"You'll come back, right Celestia?" Spike asked nervously.

She looked down at him and his eyes widened at how tired she looked. "I cannot promise anything Spike, but I will try."

"You can't promise...?"

Celestia shook her head and let out a sigh. "I cannot. I may very well die against the forces of darkness. I am centuries out of practice, and I do not have my sword and shield. Both were entrusted with the Order long ago, but who knows if they're still there? If they were, they would not have been asking for help."

Spike trembled. "You might die?"

"It is a possibility I have considered, yes. Ponies have existed before me, and will if I pass on. If I meet my end due to this, so be it. Let me do something worthwhile."

"Sister! Do not frighten the poor lad with such dark thoughts! And you have done plenty worthwhile," Luna scowled at her sister, but couldn't fully put her heart into it.

Celestia frowned at Luna as the call for passengers was heard. "I must go. Keep in touch, please, and take good care of Flurry and Spike."

The sisters gave each other a quick nuzzle goodbye before Celestia stepped up onto the train to find a place to sit, griffons and ponies alike passing back and forth though plenty giving the alicorn looks. Celestia took off her saddle bags to get comfortable in a seat designed for a pony one third her size. She looked out the window and waved to her sister and the others as the train slowly began its journey out of the station and toward the capital of Wingbardy, Karthin.

Celestia and the Duce

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The Eternal City. What once was a little fishing village grew to be the crown jewel of southern Griffonia, capital of the Karthinian Empire, then the Kingdom of Wingbardy before its conquest by the Griffonian Empire and now once more the Kingdom of Wingbardy after the collapse of Imperial power in the south.

Built into the side of cliffs had been fine for its growth over the long centuries, but recent innovations in transportation and infrastructure had forced expansion along the top of the cliffs, as well as attempts at building outwards with careful applications of clouds and scaffolding. Part of the cliffs concaved into a natural cove that had been quarried out over the centuries, leading to a large port for merchants and naval forces alike.

Celestia stepped out of the train and adjusted her wide-brimmed sun hat as her solar companion beamed down upon the city, the cool breeze from the ocean keeping the climate comfortable. She carefully stepped away from the train and off the platform, rechecking her ticket. With an annoyed sigh she slipped it back into her saddlebags and proceeded to exit the station. Beakolini's thugs, the Blackwings, weren't a rare sight, especially not in the capital and especially by the train station where pony tourists would often be targets for intimidation and harassment.

That Celestia was larger than anypony, any griffon at that, marked her right away. If not for the horn, they would have considered their usual tactics of dealing with lone ponies. The horn was bad enough, but having the wings as well and a couple of the Blackwings took to speaking rapidly to one another in Wingbardian. While she understood what they were saying her attention was on the open air cafe just across the street from the station. Given the recent expansions the street was a mix of modern asphalt and ancient cobblestone, the train station right at the cusp between old and new. She walked across the street, and while the cafe was rather busy, the line was completely open for her. The griffon behind the counter looked up at her in surprise but swiftly recovered and gave her a big smile.

"You're a big pony! You must have a big appetite!" he said in that curious way of Wingbardian compliments.

Celestia gave him a slight smile. "I could do with something light. I haven't had caprese in a long time."

"Oh, my wife makes the best caprese in all of Karthin!" he said proudly before he turned and squawked out the order and received confirmation. "You want a soft drink? Locally made! Beakolini pushed for a lot of such things to be made in Wingbardy. Freshest ingredients, like right from home!"

She considered it with a purse of her lips. "I could go for something cold to drink, yes."

Lunch had been a nice distraction for the moment, Celestia taking her time with her drink. The fizziness tingled her tongue delightfully and the flavor wasn't something she was familiar with but enjoyed all the same. She pulled out her train ticket and checked the clock at the station. After downing the rest of her bottle and making sure to dispose of the remnants of her lunch appropriately she stood up and was just about to walk across the street when she heard a bird cry out.

Her head turned and she saw those yellow eyes again, the vulture perched on top of a lamp post. She shook her head and tried to ignore it, but it called out again, then turned around and flew off toward the cliff side. Unable to stop herself, Celestia began to follow after it, trotting along the street. Once at the end of the road the bird dove down through some clouds. She continued to follow along, taking the winding path down the side of the cliff where most of the residents lived.

The very upper levels of the cliff side city was mainly for the poorer residents of the city, augmented heavily with cloud construction. Karthin was packed, the alicorn doing her best to maneuver delicately through the crowds. Local seabirds squawked as well, but those sounds were easily tuned out as she tracked the vulture. She stepped into a freshly emptied elevator and paid the operator.

“Three- No, four levels down, please,” Celestia said.

Once the doors opened up she slipped right on out and back on the trail, trotting right on down a small flight of stairs and then turning around only to see an entire squad of Blackwings in front of a house, the rest of the street empty. She paused and watched as they broke down the door and gunfire erupted, causing some griffons on the levels right above and below to panic but more to try and see what was going on. Celestia stood there perplexed at the sounds of the scuffle until a griffon flew out of a window, dressed in dark robes.

Just as the robed griffon was about to fly over the edge several of the Blackwings leaned out and fired, the flier letting out a pained squawk as he was riddled with bullets. The griffon hit the edge of the railing, flipped over, and fell. She looked over in morbid curiosity as the griffon hit the waters below and slowly sank into the murky depths.

When she looked back she saw the Blackwings drag out the bodies, their leader directing them. The griffon turned and saw her standing there and he adjusted his hat and walked on over.

“You, pony-” Once he was close he really got a good look at her and his eyes widened.

Celestia looked past him to the bodies. “Maarites,” she said. “Have they been a problem recently?”

The griffon nodded but caught himself. “Ah, hold on, that's none of your business! The Duce heard you would be in Wingbardy. Surprised you weren't stopped in Wrobert. Still, he'll be wanting to speak with you!”

She gave him a slight, strained smile. “I expected as much.”

Beakolini's office wasn't as openly ostentatious as she assumed. Certainly there were things related to the ancient Karthinian Empire and the Kingdom of Wingbardy prior to the Imperial conquest, but it was much more tasteful than she thought. Her eyes trailed over the wall behind Beakolini and saw the subtle disturbance of a square shape in the light dust. The room was cleaned often, but after seeing that disturbance she noticed the others on the rest of the walls and even on Beakolini's desk.

For his part, the prime minister of Wingbardy had his hands folded in front of him and gave the alicorn a polite smile.

"Princess Celestia, I hope Wingbardy has been to your liking thus far."

"Please prime minister, call me Celestia. There had been that, disruption to my tourism efforts, but it truly is a beautiful city. "

His smile became a little more strained. "Apologies, some of my griffs can be rather eager to carry out their duties. And please, call me Giulio."

"Well, Giulio, I suppose I should be asking why you wanted to speak with me. Surely a griffon as busy as yourself has more important things to do than deal with an old nag."

He nodded. "Well, it's a curious thing you see. Imagine if I were to travel to Griffenheim or Aquila. Surely they would want to know what I am doing and why. I had figured it best to do this as a polite conversation between two rulers, than to try and rely on agents to pluck out half-truths and deceptions."

Celestia reached her head back to open up her saddlebag and fetch out the letter, then gave it over to Beakolini with a wing. "You are partially mistaken. I am no ruler, Giulio. In regards to my traveling, I was contacted by the Arcturian Order, so I am heading north."

Taking the letter, Giulio read it over a few times before he nodded and handed it back. "I see. That he asked for you personally and that you are going alone..." It took him a moment or two to gather his thoughts. "You must be rather powerful, Celestia."

She gave him an unkind smile. "And me being gone from New Mareland likely makes it a more tempting target, yes?"

He scoffed. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Celestia narrowed her eyes slightly. "Don't play coy. New Mareland has many griffons of Wingbardian descent, as well as plentiful resources. You already proved your worth in winning the wars across the south, against Abyssinia, and in the North Zebrican War. Though, there was one war you did lose." Celestia ruffled her wings. "As the train was pulling into Karthin I noticed the naval base has fewer ships than initially reported as well. Either you lost more than you were willing to admit against the hippogriffs or perhaps they're patrolling along the coast. Regardless, Aquileia would not look kindly on the southern seas being lost to them."

Giulio gave a scowl. "They have the Empire at their border."

"And the Empire has the Republic at theirs."

"That far north? The Republic has scant resources and industry to threaten the Empire. But, if the Empire was to take Aquileia they would threaten us next." He frowned.

Celestia gave a knowing nod. "You could try to take New Mareland. They've been building, yes, but their focus is not on Griffonia but across to the west. I would suggest, prime minister, that it would be in your best interest to leave New Mareland to itself. Or, perhaps, a mutual agreement would be better."

He raised an eyebrow. "Not an official alliance."

"You would have to speak with Jet Set, he is in charge, but the Wingbardy military has many well experienced veterans, and a strong industrial base. There could, perhaps, be agreements in regards to resources in exchange for assistance."

Beakolini leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers. "Yes, because many of New Mareland seek to help retake Equestria from the changelings. Such assistance would not come cheap however."

She straightened up. "It would not. But such pay would have to be delayed until afterwards."

"There is no assurance of victory for you. Why should I consider betting on your side of this conflict?"

Her aurora mane wavered as she shook her head. "I am not asking for Wingbardian boots on the ground. Just training and surplus materials."

His hand waved dismissively. "We have no surplus to spare. Griffonstone is just within our grasp but has eluded us thus far."

"If you take Griffonstone then Aquileia and the Empire will both prepare to take it from you. It would be a bloody war unleashed upon the continent, worse than what Griffonia has already seen. It is the most sacred place for all of griffonkind and all the major contenders would seek it. Wingbardy has lost enough thus far. It would be better to lick your wounds and prepare your defenses."

Beakolini stood up with a scowl. "So we sit around as our enemies gather strength, and for what?"

"I cannot make any promises myself, but if you told Jet Set I made these suggestions he will consider them."

"Like?"

Her horn lit up and she could see he reached for his pistol as she grabbed a map out of her saddlebags and laid it over the desk. "The oceans would be free for Wingbardian ships. Even if New Mareland cannot contest with Aquileia openly their naval power is still nothing to scoff at. They helped keep the changeling navy at bay during the evacuations of Equestria."

Beakolini rubbed his chin with his free hand as he looked it over. "Free seas, preference for trade, all for training your armies and what extra materials we can supply."

Celestia nodded. "New Mareland and Wingbardy both have suffered economically with the fall of the Empire, and its current resurgence has only increased doubt about tomorrow's fortunes."

"You know, Celestia, after all of the stories and news of you and your kind, I am rather surprised that you're so open with dealing with me," he said with a pleased tone.

She clopped a hoof against the ground. "What else can I do? Especially to assure the safety of the ponies of New Mareland, I will deal with whomever I must to try and ensure peace. I could not deal with the changelings like this, but you're a reasonable griffon and I'm a reasonable mare."

He crossed his arms over his chest with a pensive look. "Desperation has proven to bring most anyone to grasp for whatever they can. I am familiar with it."

Celestia returned his look for one of her own for a moment. "Quite,” she quickly recovered, “If that will be all, I must be going. You can communicate with Jet Set about the details." She stood up and turned to walk out.

"Wait, we could set you up with accommodations here until the morning-"

"No, the next train is at midnight and I will not be missing it."

"Then let me get you a train right now."

Celestia looked at him with a raised brow.

Beakolini was already picking up his phone and in an instant was talking to someone on the other line, telling them to ready a train immediately for the alicorn. A bit of clarification, some swearing, and a promise later he hung up the phone.

"Your train will be waiting when you arrive at the station. Do enjoy the rest of your trip, Celestia."

As Celestia settled down for the evening, the brief meeting with Beakolini kept her ill at ease. Worse, his sudden bout of hospitality didn't sit well with her either. That the train had a handful of his Blackwing thugs in each car to keep an eye on her certainly didn't help. The bed was as small as the other train, which was not ideal but she could not help that she was larger than any pony or griffon and had endured worse conditions.

Normally her dreams would pass by quickly, but tonight a memory of the past had risen up from the back of her mind. The sun shone through the haze of icy fog and a teeming mass of undead could be seen in the distance. The soldiers behind her had indistinct faces, so long had it been since she had remembered them that they were nothing more than a mass of bodies like their foes. She tried to speak but no sound came from her. Her eyes narrowed as the sky began to shift from day to night as the undead horde grew closer and closer.

"So this was the end of the war?" a familiar voice asked.

Celestia turned her head to see Luna walking toward her, her hooves stepping on top of the snow. She gave a nod before she turned her sight back to the horizon.

"Most of the war was called The Long Night. It happened independently of what happened in Equestria, but I would not be shocked if it was urged by your fall."

"There is something disturbingly familiar about them. Whom did these undead serve?" Luna said as she stood beside her sister.

"Maar, the griffon god of death. They call him evil, after he had 'cursed' them with self-reflection, to think on what they have done." She turned to look at the smaller alicorn. "What news do you bring?"

Their eyes met and Luna smiled, which warmed her heart.

"Queen Vivienne wishes to meet with me."

That warmth vanished, and Luna saw the look on Celestia's face. "Is something the matter...?"

"I have already spoken with Beakolini, and told him to speak with Jet Set about arranging for trade and military assistance."

There was a deep frown. "I take it you did not seek him out on your own."

"Not exactly, but I had expected to be found out sooner or later. The bearded vulture, I had seen it in Karthin and for some reason I followed after it until I found the Blackwings assaulting a Maarite cult in broad daylight."

Her sister blinked in surprise. “The bearded vulture... And you witnessed the destruction of a cult?” Luna shook her head. “This is not a coincidence. Someone, something, is tracking your progress.”

Celestia looked out at the teeming mass of the undead in her dream and felt a shiver run down her spine.

Luna moved in closer and gently nudged her older sister. “Just what did you speak with Beakolini about exactly?” she asked.

She shook her head a little then shrugged lightly. "As you know, Wingbardy has been testing the border with New Mareland. I just pointed out that Aquileia would not take kindly to him spreading influence so, forcefully. And that Wingbardy had lost a lot in the wars its been in these past few years, what with much of its navy needing repairs after fighting Aris as well as Griffonstone holding out against his armies. So, I directed him to open up talks with Jet Set to see if the path of diplomacy would be more profitable for him. Now, tell me what Aquileia wants."

Her sister scoffed. "I understand you are stressed, sister, but please do not be short with me."

Her ears wilted back and Celestia looked to the ground. "I'm sorry Luna."

"Apology accepted. Now, as for what the queen wants, she has been asking to see me personally. Apparently she wishes to teach me of modern war. Why, I do not know, but she claims she wishes to help. Besides that, as you had asked of Wingbardy she has also offered training and supplies in exchange for port and resource access. With your revelation about Beakolini, I do not think we will be able to wrangle a deal with both and may have to pick one."

"The Karthinian Pact has the greater land border with New Mareland."

"Queen Vivienne is not a fascist and has a robust, modern legal code as well as Aquileia having a history of treating their pony minorities fairly well. Better than New Mareland has treated its griffons."

Celestia raised a brow. "I cannot deny any of that. And Aquileia is in a better position economically than Wingbardy is as well. But the Empire still threatens their border, and if they decide to strike I imagine Beakolini would march from the south to try and take what he could from them as well."

She looked out at the unmoving masses of undead. Her horn lit up and she tested a blast of magic, causing one of the undead to vanish in a puff of smoke.

"I feel like I must do something, Celestia. So, I will meet with the queen. While Jet Set is officially in charge of New Mareland, I wish to do something to help."

"Then go, and hope the meeting is fruitful. Just do not make any promises. And be careful, Queen Vivienne is a clever griffon."

Luna watched as Celestia used her magic to tear through the dream-made facsimiles. It felt like plucking weeds from a garden, less than that, as that had practical purpose to the motion while in the dream it was more about passing the time until it was time to wake.

"Rest well sister, I shall speak with you again after my meeting with the queen."

Celestia didn't respond as Luna shifted out of the dream, leaving her be.

Celestia and the President

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Celestia watched out her window with a pensive expression as the train pulled up along the mountain to the Griffonstone station, having moved from its previous spot outside of the city into it proper. Luna had indeed contacted her after the meeting with Queen Vivienne of Aquileia, and arrangements were made for Luna to visit the famed City of Light for a time, taking Flurry Heart and Spike with her to show them a new land.

Attempting to barter with Beakolini seemed to be a mistake, for as soon as he received the news that Luna was meeting with Vivienne he proclaimed that he would open diplomatic talks with New Mareland with the blessing of Celestia, seemingly putting the sisters at odds. To make matters worse the train would not continue north to Griffenheim, and the next one would not arrive for at least a day.

Which was rather surprising, given that Griffonstone had recovered from its former decay and poverty. Not enough to truly be a powerhouse, but before the entire city was a slum, and now only half of it was. Even then most of the older houses were being fixed up to higher standards, or being demolished to be replaced.

As she stepped off of the train her eye was immediately drawn to the young, blue griffon that was looking right at her.

"Oh, Gallus, yes? You were a student at..." Her breath hitched a little, and she internally chided herself, the wound still so fresh.

"Yeah, the school." He coughed a little to clear the awkwardness. "Listen, princess-"

"Please, just call me Celestia."

"Right, Celestia. President Gilda wants to see you."

She pursed her lips at that. Of course, another leader that sought to speak with her. How could she have thought otherwise? "The train to Griffenheim won't be coming for a while, so I can spare some time to see her."

"Oh, great! She'd have flown out after you herself if you didn't come along. She's got a bit of a temper. Right this way!"

As he led her through the streets of Griffonstone she could not help but look around in wonder at the progress made. Not only that, but there were far more openly armed griffons here than anywhere else she had seen. Most were in the colors of the Griffonstone Republic, but some others were showing the colors of the Aquileian Republicans, and neither side mingled with the other.

"So, uh, princess-"

"Celestia, Gallus."

"Right right! You didn't happen to hear news about some of the other students?"

She gave him a sad smile. "I'm sorry to say, but that school wasn't under my watch so I only know bits and pieces of what was told to me."

He looked downcast at that and nodded. "Yeah, yeah. Everyone went home. Yona should be fine, the yaks haven't been attacked. Silverstream writes to me regularly, she's been really down these past few weeks."

Celestia tried not to wince at that.

"Sandbar is still in Equestria... and those Haukland pirates, they conquered the dragons. I'm worried about him and Smolder."

"You're a good friend to be worried about them, Gallus."

He just nodded as he brought up to a rather modest home, the smell of scones wafting from an open window. Along with the scent of scones came some sounds of arguing and Gallus scrunched his face up.

“Oh no, I think that's Rodier.”

"Rodier?”

He nodded. “Yeah. An Aquileian general, fled the country with the others. Been a real pain in the flank for everyone and has his own little militia. But, he respects the system so far, just, kinda pushy.”

He walked right inside and held the door open for Celestia. She ducked her head down slightly to enter and saw three griffons at a table with another standing in front of the trio. The one with purple highlighting her feathers rested her chin in her hand and drummed her fingers on the table while the one with green-hues was openly bickering with the standing griffon. A more grayish, younger griffon sat glumly while eating a scone while ignoring the argument. As soon as her hoof clopped against the ground all four of them turned to look.

The dark feathered griffon that had been standing shot Celestia a glare. “We shall continue this conversation later,” he said over his shoulder.

“No, we won't,” Gilda snapped, “You and the other Aquileians have been guests out of the goodness of our hearts but if you test our patience any longer and I'll have you booted right to Vivienne. I'm sure she'd be happy to have you back under her jurisdiction.”

Rodier let out a snort. “You wouldn't dare.”

“Do you want to test that?”

Gilda kept glaring at the back of Rodier's head as he gave a shrug and walked out. Once he had left she slumped back in her seat and rubbed at her face, looking at Celestia with a tired expression.

"You got a lot of nerve to be talking with Beakolini and then showing up around here," she said with little care in her voice.

Celestia raised a brow and shrugged, "I wasn't planning on stopping in Griffonstone but the train schedules and rail lines weren't in my favor."

Gilda frowned. "And just what are you doing anyways? Too many ponies in New Mareland reminding you of your failures?"

"Gilda!" Gabby gasped and sat up straight. "You can't talk like that to Princess Celestia!"

"No. She's right," she said quietly, keeping in control to stay her voice from cracking. "I abandoned my people. I abandoned my nation. I abandoned my friends." Celestia felt her throat go dry and she kept her wings tucked firmly against her sides to keep them from trembling.

Greta gently laid a hand on Gilda's shoulder. "Come on Gilda, remember what I said. Imagine her situation."

Gilda sat back down and crossed her arms. "...If Wingbardy succeeded in conquering Griffonstone, how we'd have to flee elsewhere. Probably to New Mareland, or the Riverlands. Abandoning everything we've accomplished here to an outside invader." She took a deep breath. "Yeah, yeah I get it. It's just-"

Celestia cut in, "Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie."

Gilda nodded. "They helped me, inspired me. It's why Griffonstone isn't a kingdom but a republic. Why we're working on getting over losing that stupid hunk of metal. Not like it did anything good after the first Grover had it anyways."

The alicorn slowly sat down at the table with the others. "Was snapping at me all you wanted to see me for?" she teased Gilda with a smile.

"Mostly," the griffon said with a shrug, "We lost good griffons against Wingbardy, and our borders with the Empire and Aquileia aren't nearly as defensible. If one of them wanted to push it'd be a hard fight, and even if we win the cost wouldn't be worth it. That, and some Aquileians want to try and strike back to try and restore their republic."

Celestia furrowed her brow in thought. "The Empire and Aquileia both have had their troubles with republicans so I doubt either of them would be willing to discuss securing your independence. Despite your brief war, perhaps you could convince Beakolini?"

"After what he did?!" Gilda stood back up and gripped the edge of the table with her talons.

"She's got a point, Gilda," Greta said. "Wingbardy still nominally has republican systems in place even if the king appointed a fascist as prime minister. That, and we have the largest border with them too."

Gilda sat back down and grumbled. She rubbed her head as she tried to think. Meanwhile Gabby looked at Celestia and fidgeted a little.

"Excuse me, Celestia."

"Hmm?" the alicorn tilted her head slightly.

"I had friends in Equestria. The Cutie Mark Crusaders. You wouldn't happen to know how they're doing, would you?"

Celestia took in a breath. "In fact, I do. The reports will be a bit out of date by now, but the last news is that they're alive and well and helping other fillies and colts help the resistance as best they can."

Gabby let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and smiled. "Oh, that's wonderful! I just wish I could get a message to them and tell them to be safe..."

"I can try but I can make no promises."

Gabby leaped over the table and hugged Celestia tightly, the griffon absolutely buzzing with excitement and muttering thanks over and over. Gilda grabbed Gabby by the back of the neck and pulled her off.

"Sorry, she's been pretty bummed out with everything. Gabby, go grab a fresh batch of scones."

Greta also stood up. "I have military matters to tend to. It was a pleasure meeting you, Celestia," the green-hued griffon said. "Talk to you later Gilda, I'll have some reports for you."

Gilda waved her claws in a dismissive manner. "Yeah, yeah, just make sure those fly boys don't crash into any mountains."

With the others gone for the moment Gilda looked at Gallus. "You gonna ask her?"

Celestia furrowed her brow and looked between the two. "Ask me what?"

Gallus cleared his throat nervously and tapped his fingers together. "We have a backup plan, in case this whole republic thing doesn't pan out. Since the failed revolution in Aquileia most of the republicans there fled here, and they've been trying to overtake Gilda's influence, so I proposed something to her."

"Go on."

He took in a deep breath to steel his nerves. "The Idol of Boreas is in the Abyss, and the winds are too much for a griffon."

Celestia raised a brow and cracked a tiny smile. "You know, it's funny. When news came of the Idol originally being lost, I had sent word to the Empire that I would have been willing to retrieve it for them."

The two looked surprised. “Wow, really? Why didn't they accept the help?” Gallus asked.

Celestia nodded. “Truthfully I could not tell you, but since the mysterious death of King Gumberto happened the year prior, and the nobles of the Herzland refused to investigate that, I suspect they didn't want me to intervene."

“Well, what about now?” Gilda asked.

The alicorn tilted her head slightly. “Give me a moment to think on it.”

Gabby came back with scones and tea and served them to the others with a cheery smile. As they sat to eat and drink Celestia mulled it over in her mind. The difficulties of even finding the thing, and the possible benefits of doing so. She had finished three scones and a cup of tea before she looked at Gallus.

"I'll do it."

He nearly choked on his scone. "W-what?"

"I said I'll do it. I shall find the Idol of Boreas. But, if I do so then I will be taking it under my care."

Gilda raised a brow. "Your next stop is Griffenheim. Returning the Idol to the Archonate of Boreas would score you a lot of political clout with them."

She nodded. "Indeed, and I'll need it since somepony hadn't told me of the northern Republic asking to be recognized as the official successor of the Empire before allowing it to pass. I've never met the griffon but my understanding is that Archon Eros is stubborn and proud."

Gallus looked down at the table with a frown, but nodded. "You're right. Even Grandpa would agree with you if he was here. I can show you to the Abyss, but after that you'll be on your own when you go down."

"Then let's not waste any time."

At the precipice of the Abyss Celestia could feel the winds ripping through the narrow passes. Anyone else it would be a daunting task but she studied the flow of the winds with a careful eye.

"The Idol fell down there when the cyclops did," Gallus leaned over a little to look down only to back away at sudden howling of wind.

"How did a cyclops break into the sacred capital of griffonkind, slaughter many guards and the king, and escape?" Celestia paced back and forth along the cliff edge. "Someone, something would have to be behind it. Something powerful to mask it."

Gallus and Gilda looked at each other and then to Celestia.

"You think maybe there was a traitor in the guard, or-"

Celestia cut Gilda off. "No. This reeks of divine interference. Boreas is your god of kingship, he would not have wanted the Empire he had initially blessed to break apart as it did. Nor would Eyr seek such a thing either, none of this would fall under her purview."

Gallus squinted as he thought. "Arcturius is the god of war, the Empire breaking would allow a lot of war."

"But such methods would fit him more," Gilda pointed out with a frown.

The alicorn nodded. "Yes, exactly. Everything about the Empire breaking up would fit with-"

There was a bird call and all three looked up. It landed on a branch, with orange-tinted feathers and yellow eyes. Gallus and Gilda both peered up in confusion.

“What is that?” Gallus asked.

“A bearded vulture...” Celestia replied as she eyed the bird nervously and took a few small steps to the edge.

She leaped into the Abyss almost immediately, her wings tucked into her sides. As ripping wind buffeted at her, her horn flared and she teleported further and further down into the depths. Gilda and Gallus both leaned over to watch as she disappeared into the darkness, flashes of golden magic taking her out of view.

"I wish there was something we could do," Gallus said.

"I can't believe you thought of going down there yourself. I wouldn't have risked it again and I'm the best flier in Griffonstone. All we can really do is wait. Well, you can wait. I need to write some letters."

"To who?"

Gilda ruffled her wings. "To Beakolini, Vivienne, and Eros. Try to secure our independence, maybe make some deals. I doubt Eros will be for it, but I have to try right?"

Gallus nodded and gave her a reassuring smile. "There's no harm in trying. Besides, while the Aquileians might not like you talking to Vivienne, it might be the only way." He peeked down into the Abyss. "Especially if those rumors about her and Princess Luna are true."

The bearded vulture landed some distance away from the two griffons and looked down into the howling winds with its yellow eyes.

Celestia knew better than to try and fly in the bitter winds of the Abyss, instead teleporting from ledge to ledge, no matter how small they were. As she traveled further down the light grew dimmer and dimmer until she was in darkness. Her horn glowed and shone like the sun to illuminate the surroundings, nothing but wind-blasted rocks all the way down. She descended lower and lower, this time hopping with her hooves to reserve her magic until she hit the ground. Her hoof tapped at the stone and she looked around.

"How curious. You would think this would be full of water. So, it must drain out somewhere else then."

She turned her head back and forth and a shine of gold could be seen some distance away. Hooves clopped against the ground as she approached it and looked at the ancient Idol of Boreas with an amused expression.

"I'm not whom you expected to get this. Gallus was the one who wanted to find it, but we told him it'd be foolish for him to. Or, would it?" She examined the Idol from afar with a critical eye. "Would you have him crown himself as king of Griffonstone, heir to the Empire in spite of Grover VI? Or would you remain silent, as you have since Grover I's death? Did you give him the Idol as a crutch for his inabilities, or did you just wish for him to unify the griffons, and took the blessing away when his method of conquest wouldn't continue with his son?"

As she went to approach it suddenly vanished and her eyes narrowed. Reaching a hoof out to where it had been, she felt nothing and let out a snort of irritation.

“I have no time for games, Boreas! Regardless of whom you wished to see down here the fact is that it is I who has come, and I am here to return your Idol to your children! Bar me not from my task, for I gave my word to retrieve it!”

When it didn't reappear she turned around and felt along the ground carefully, using her earth pony magic to find the right path. Slowly she walked along the bottom of the ravine, where the ground had inclined slightly, her horn brightly lit to keep her path illuminated. Eventually she noticed the rock and dirt under her hooves grew slightly damp until she began to walk in bone-chilling water.

She turned her head left and right, the light reflecting off of the dark water. As she waded through the water she sank deeper and deeper into it until it was up to her barrel, then her neck. Celestia took in a deep breath and dunked herself into the icy waters, her horn glowing brighter to illuminate. Right in front of her was the bare skeleton of a cyclops, its massive skull staring at her.

Keeping calm she walked around the bones until she saw gold glinting. Carefully she pawed it out of a collection of ribs, the Idol of Boreas before her. She gently grasped it in her magic and pulled it away, only to take note of the bones of the beast that had stolen it so long ago.

Celestia trudged out of the water, soaked through. Her mane hung limp and clung to her face and neck as she carried the Idol and a femur out of the water. After returning to the point of her landing she looked up, finding the ledges she had used to make her descent. With a deep breath she focused her magic and disappeared in a flash, only to suddenly reappear up higher with her hooves touching down on the ledge.

“For what purpose was there in such illusions? I wonder if there was more in store for whomever sought to retrieve the Idol. Perhaps they didn't work because I was the wrong one? Or, no, perhaps it is because of my nature that I avoided such illusions.”

Celestia shook her head with a sigh before a quick teleport took her to a ledge above. "It serves us no purpose for my idle musings I suppose. Besides, the dreams of democratic rule in Griffonia lives in the most sacred land of the griffons. Ironic, that the lands outside are given over to autocracies and monarchs yet the heart of the land itself has a different dream."

Another teleport higher up still.

"And yet, it's the most fitting for griffons, isn't it? Lords and kings and dictators, that is not the way of the griffon. Griffons are meant to fly free, and what better government for that sense of freedom than republicanism? Don't you agree, Boreas?"

As Celestia's hooves touched on a ledge, part of it crumbled and she pulled herself away, hopping over to another ledge.

"We ponies were always different. Skittish, in need of guidance, longing for safety and security. That's why Luna and I ruled, why they were so happy to have their nobles and princesses. Griffons, they were never happy with such things, were they Boreas? Even the current rulers seem miserable with their positions. Few ponies look to the horizon and long to fly into it after all."

One more flash of gold and she stood at the top of the cliff. The sun had moved drastically, daylight fading with night soon to arrive. She looked to see Gilda and Gallus standing there slack jawed as the alicorn brought up the golden artifact.

"You did it, you got the Idol!" Gilda exclaimed as she looked it over in excitement. "Wow, it doesn't look damaged after its fall either!"

Gallus sat there as he stared at the Idol, only for Celestia to give it over to him. He blinked in surprise and took it, feeling the heft of it. Both griffons looked at Celestia.

She gave a little shrug and smiled. "I was thinking, on my way back up, that the Idol belongs to Griffonstone. Use it as a symbol, a rallying call to all griffons. There is no king in Griffonstone, but the Idol remains as proof of Boreas' blessing to your new government."

Celestia turned and saw the bearded vulture perched upon a dead tree, staring at the Idol. It spread its wings and let out some squawks as she laid the old femur on the ground for it.

“You must be hungry, flying all the way from Sunset as you have.”

It blinked and flew off of the tree right to the bone, clutching it with one foot before it began to peck and break the bone into pieces.

“It's eating bone?” Gallus asked.

She nodded. “Yes. Bearded vultures almost exclusively eat bones. In Zebrica it is seen as a bird signifying fortune. In Wingbardy-”

“A warden against Maar's influence. But in Aquilish and Herzish lands all carrion birds are thought to be messengers for him,” Gilda said.

The vulture swallowed down several shards of bones as the three watched until Celestia turned and began to walk away.

“Farewell, President Gilda, Gallus. Regardless of what the future holds, know that Equestria and its people are friends to Griffonstone. And if worst comes to worst, Luna will see to it New Mareland has room for you.”

She stood above the crevice of the Abyss, the winds howling screams of the forsaken. Below the line was nothing but darkness, not even a glint of gold. Celestia paced back and forth along the edge when she heard hooves land behind her. She turned her head to see her sister there, looking with a brow raised.

"I had tried to reach out to you these past few days, sister, and yet I could not find you."

"A few days? Then there is something off there... Apologies for making you worry for me Luna, I journeyed into the Abyss to retrieve the Idol of Boreas. At first I thought perhaps to take it with me to Archon Eros, to smooth over any ruffled feathers. But on my way back, I had a good chat with Boreas."

Luna let out a little snort. "Celestia please, they do not speak to us."

Celestia smiled and shrugged her wings. "Mostly I talked to the Idol, but I came to a realization that the new Griffonstone Republic needed it more. An icon telling the world that Boreas supports their new venture."

"Does he?"

Magenta eyes looked back down into the Abyss. "Who knows? One thing I am certain of is that Maar has his claws in what's been going on around here. Do you know the story of how the Idol was lost?"

Her younger sister moved to stand beside her to peer down into the howling dark. "I do, yes. But not everything is because of some god or curse, sister. Sometimes bad things just happen."

"Is that what Vivienne has said in regards to her father's death?"

Luna gasped and scowled. "He may not have been the best father, or even a good person at all, but I do not like your implications!"

Her wings drooped a little. "You two barely know each other, Luna."

"I knew Twilight Sparkle for less time when she became just as good a friend! And just like Twilight, she reached out to me to help!"

Celestia winced and pinned her ears back. "I'm sorry Luna. It's just... I'm scared. The way things have been going, all the train delays. I'm scared that if I don't reach the Order in time I'll have failed them as I had failed so many others. That, and the vulture continues to follow. I do not know what compels it to, but I fear Maar's influence on my mission."

She felt her sister's embrace and leaned into her, eyes shut. Her body trembled as she nuzzled into Luna fiercely.

"Not one can take all the blame, sister. Had I not betrayed you all those years ago then I could have helped keep Equestria updated on matters of war, and those blasted cultists in Zebrica wouldn't exist."

"Luna you-"

"Do not tell me I did no wrong!" Slowly she pulled away to look at Celestia sternly. "Were you neglectful? Yes. That does not mean you must continually martyr yourself over my own actions, my own evil. We often learn more from our failures than our successes, you taught me that."

The roaring winds died down, leaving the sisters in silence for a moment.

"And, how are things with you?" Celestia finally asked.

"Fine, excellent even! Vivienne and Jet Set had been sending messages back and forth; there are to be combined naval and air exercises off the coast of Cross Island in the coming weeks. Beakolini has been making some inroads, though his actions against Mount Aris have not endeared us to him. Still, he seems rather eager to not make enemies of Aquileia at this time."

"Flurry and Spike have been well too?"

"Oh, yes, they have been absolute darlings to the Aquileians. Flurry is rather popular and many a noble have been trying to arrange playdates with her and other children. Spike has been eagerly testing all kinds of new cuisine, and the famous chef Gustav Le Grande has been using him to test out new dishes even!"

Celestia smiled warmly at her sister. "You and the others seem to have made some good friends it seems."

Luna straightened herself up a bit. "Vivienne was rather keen to teach me modern methods of warfare. We have quite a bit in common. She is ambitious with the skill and intellect to support her efforts. She cares for her people, pony and griffon alike."

"You like her."

"Well of course! She reached out to me, and has done her best to make me feel comfortable and welcome. The Aquileians are proud and passionate." Luna suddenly looked downcast and idly kicked her hoof against the ground. "When she introduced me to her court there was earnest applause. I was not some curiosity for the nobility to forget about as soon as I appeared!"

Slowly Celestia moved to her sister's side and draped a wing around her. "An alicorn is a rare and wondrous thing. They haven't seen others like us before. The nobles of Equestria, they were so used to me and Cadance-"

"Stop, sister stop. When the time comes, when all is said and done, I shall be there to lead our forces to reclaim Equestria. But, afterwards..."

Her heart clenched up and her muscles tightened as she pulled Luna in more firmly against her. "Luna, please."

Luna pulled from Celestia's grasp and shook her head. "I need to think on things, sister. I will not abandon our ponies when they need us. No more than we already have..." She took in a deep breath and shook her head. "If there is anything you want of me for my next visit, tell me so I can prepare."

"An overview of the going-ons in the Herzland recently. I did not brush up on things before I started my trip. And, tell Flurry and Spike when you can that I love and miss them both."

Luna nodded and smiled as she leaned in to nuzzle Celestia gently. "I love you, Celestia."

"I love you too, Luna."

Celestia and the Patient

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"The desire for freedom can lead to such cruelties," Celestia lamented after Luna relayed to her the current situation in Katerin.

"Indeed. Poor Diellza. Forced to rule when she simply was not in the mind to do so."

"What happened to her after?"

Luna looked over her information with a critical eye. "I believe she was sent to an asylum. Certainly the best fate you could expect for her. Moon knows what else could have happened to her after everything."

Celestia felt herself being jolted suddenly and Luna hurried to her in concern.

"Something is happening in the waking wor-!"

Before Luna could finish Celestia was torn from the peace of sleep by screeching metal and screams of terror. She was rolled around inside of her room, being thrown about. The world eventually righted itself, but pain was pulsating through her right wing, having landed on it awkwardly in the crash. Tears brimmed her eyes as she looked at the appendage, not just crushed but with the sharp bone poking through. Trembling, she found the suitcase she had bought in Griffonstone and bit down on the handle while her horn glowed gold and she carefully attempted to align the fragile bones back together. Teeth crushed right on through the handle as she cried out from the pain.

The train car had landed on its side, with her window facing up to the sky. With labored breathing she focused her magic and disappeared with a flash. She reappeared on top of the derailed car, only to lose her footing from the slight angle. Her wings flared out to try and cease her fall with flight but she yelped in pain and stumbled over to the ground some feet down, landing on her chest. Lungs burned for air as the fall caused several ribs to fracture and she scrambled up onto her hooves, panting and wheezing.

A sharp, burning pain erupted in her throat and she clawed at it with her hooves, feeling a length of broken steel having been shoved through from her fall. As panic blossomed in her she heard for a brief moment a familiar bird call just as darkness overtook her.

She had tried to stall for time, to reach out to her sister, but Luna wasn't there. It was only the Nightmare. The oily black sheen of the metal was marred with blood as Celestia's body was covered in stabs and slashes, the red staining her fur pink. Her armies had yet to arrive, but the whole point was to minimize bloodshed. A fire burned in her chest, untapped power just waiting, begging, to be grasped and used.

Another familiar power was felt, and as she looked up to see her fallen sister begin to gloat she closed her eyes.

"I am so sorry, little sister," she said before opening her eyes in a glowing light, the power of the Elements infusing her magic.

With a blast the Nightmare screamed before silence reigned, and up above on the moon's surface was the mark that would remain for a thousand years.

Her wounds screamed in bitter pain, but the pain of her heart was even greater. Slowly she stood up and could feel her flesh knit back together, the grinding of bones realigning from their fractures.

Hooves clopped behind her and she turned. "Oh Luna, it's been a-"

She froze as she saw the other alicorn with midnight black fur and slitted eyes.

"Surprised, big sister? Oh, don't be. Little Luna is sleeping, worried sick about you of course," Nightmare Moon said as she strutted around, taking stock of the solar alicorn.

The Nightmare's horn lit up and Celestia recoiled as her injuries in the waking world revealed themselves.

"Tsk tsk. Your mind blanked out before the healing could happen proper, and here I thought you were better than that! No wonder you lost the war. You're so weak!"

Celestia tried to growl but all she could feel was blood bubbling up into her mouth as more leaked down the wound in her throat.

The other mare gave a devious, fang-filled smile. "Ah, cannot speak, can you? Good! Then listen. I'm still around, I will never leave. I'm as much a part of Luna as she is of me. All of my plans, ruined, all because she knew, she just knew..." Her lips curled into a frown. "Had she accepted me, we would have defeated the changelings, defeated you! Everything had been set up so perfectly, with Rarity along we would have had her hostage and thus no Elements to be used against us!"

Celestia could feel the seething rage roiling off of the other alicorn. She tried to speak, but more blood dribbled freely from her mouth.

"The legions of Chiropterra would have been the vanguard! Taking the brunt of the changeling assault, all for the glory of serving me! We would have crushed Chrysalis, and the names of the dead would have been hailed as heroes!"

Her hoof came down with a mighty clop, causing the stonework to break. Nightmare Moon looked at Celestia and narrowed her eyes.

"Perhaps, the names of the dead could still have been heroes if not for you and your weakness!"

Celestia growled and her horn blazed. Gold wrapped around her throat and inside of it, keeping the blood in check.

"I defeated you in roughly five minutes," she said as she stomped over to the Nightmare. "You couldn't defeat my student and her friends over the course of an entire night. Do not speak to me of weakness, Luna!"

Nightmare's horn glowed but she was sent sprawling with a hoof-shaped mark across her snout. She blinked in surprise and looked up to Celestia only to begin to glower with tears forming in her eyes. "Where was that ferocity when we lost Acornage, Vanhoover, Tall Tale?!"

Heat boiled off of Celestia. "You were in charge of the armies! Someone had to maintain the civilian administration!"

"I tried, I tried! But Luna kept refusing my suggestions! We could have unleashed nightmares upon them, call out to the Chiropterrans to help their goddess' false form, anything!"

Celestia began to feel lightheaded as her magic sputtered out and more blood began to leak from her throat. Nightmare Moon staggered back up to her hooves.

"You, you could have done something. I know it, I can feel that power in you. The need to protect our little ponies from anything that could threaten them."

"No," the white alicorn gurgled out. "No. To do that, would be to fully forsake Harmony, to lead us down a path of no return. What use is it to win if we forfeit our very souls?"

The other mare's face softened as she regarded Celestia. "Sister, you already forsook Harmony."

She woke up, coughing and sputtering as red-streaked spittle sprayed from her mouth. Celestia looked up and saw she was in a rather dingy cell with padded walls, laying on her left side. Breathing didn't hurt, so she gingerly pressed her hoof against her chest and felt her ribs were fine. The same to her throat and how it was partially closed, though she could still feel a hole in the skin under the bandaging. Turning her head she looked to her right wing and saw it bandaged carefully. With her magic she unraveled the gauze and didn't see any obvious injuries. Slowly she stretched it out, and not a bone was out of place.

As she stood up the door opened, and a griffon hen dressed as a nurse squawked in surprise. She scrambled back out of the door and shouted for a doctor. Celestia sat down on the floor and tried to stretch her muscles out as she waited.

Another griffon came in, an older one with thick spectacles. He seemed rather surprised to see her up as he adjusted his glasses.

"Greetings princess, to asylum," he said in unsteady Ponish.

"I speak Herz, doctor," she replied in a low tone, her throat raw and sore.

"Ah, good, my Ponish is very poor. Now, I apologize for your quarters, we've had to make due with all of the wounded from the train, and you were in rather bad shape that we felt it best to keep you somewhere private. But where are my manners? I am Gilles Janet, physician and psychotherapist."

Her ears twitched. "You're Aquileian?"

He nodded as he stepped closer to examine her. "Yes. I was working in Flowena when Queen Vivienne retook the Peripherie. Myself and many others fled the violence, you see, but I was going to return until I received a request to work here."

As he gently poked and prodded her to check her injuries she shifted here and there to give him ample room to examine. "Princess Diellza?"

He glanced up to her with surprise. "Why, yes. I was requested by Grandmaster Hector personally. His order of knights are quite the doctors, but illnesses of the mind are still a mystery for many and require experts such as myself. He recognized poor Diellza was not in her right mind and was someone that needed help. Truthfully if any other griffon had asked I would have come to help the poor hen out anyways."

He stepped back after his ministrations and quickly wrote down on his notepad.

"How long have I been out?"

"Two days. Your recovery has been, impressive."

Celestia stretched her wings out. "While I can heal swiftly, the wounds themselves still hurt like Tartarus." She frowned. "I mistook the angle of the train car when I teleported and lost my footing, and with my wing injured I couldn't arrest my fall and landed on some metal."

Gilles nodded as he wrote it down. "Yes, yes, folk said they saw the very same thing."

A realization came over her and she closed her eyes, her horn flaring with gold for a moment but once she found it she let out a sigh of relief. "Oh good, Luna did my duties for me."

He let out a little chuckle. "The professors of Yale would claim the sun and moon move on their own but have yet to explain the orbit they make around our planet. Well, other than the hole in your throat you seem to be in better condition than you came in as. I have to check up on the others, but you are free to leave."

Gilles bid her farewell as he left to go about his business and Celestia followed out shortly after. The hall was full of doors much like the one she just exited, and from the sound of it they weren't as full as she had thought, or perhaps they were and it was with griffons too injured to be awake. As she walked down the hall she saw nurses check in on some of the rooms and from the brief looks she could get there were indeed grievously injured griffons from the train.

Her path took her upward, and as she ascended she realized that the floor she just left was underground, a place to keep those truly well lost out of the way of patients better off. A pit formed in her stomach. Were asylums like this in Equestria, where those that really needed help were shunted out of the way? Such a chilling thought, made worse now that any patients would have been subjected to whatever misdeeds the changelings would inflict upon them.

Passing through double doors she found herself in the recreation room, mainly just bare tables for the patients to do hobbies under the watchful eye of nurses and orderlies. What ones in the room turned their attention to her but she ignored it as she continued her way out. As her hooves clopped against the cold floor she noticed an orange and black griffon out of the corner of her eye, and the griffon had quietly slipped out of her seat to approach.

"Princess Celestia," the griffon said in a soft, shy tone.

Pausing in her steps she turned to the smaller hen and offered a pleasant smile. "Yes?"

"I'm Diellza von Katerinburg," the griffon said with a curtsy, "it's an honor and a privilege to meet you. Your sister is worried about you."

Her jaw dropped slightly. "You spoke with Luna?"

"I did, she searched the dreamscape for you since the accident and found me in... Well, she helped me that night, and she had all but given up on finding you when I said that the accident had happened close by and those in need were brought here. Please, will you sit with me for a bit?"

There was a brief bit of hesitation on Celestia's part before she nodded. "I'd like that."

They sat down together at the little table where Celestia noticed Diellza had been writing. She inclined her head slightly as the griffon took her pencil back up.

"We're the more, reasonable group, so things like pencils are allowed. Though, I wasn't allowed any such things in the first year here."

"And what are you writing?"

Diellza looked up briefly. "Letters. I write to those whom I wronged in my madness. Living and dead alike."

Celestia watched as Diellza wrote out the letter. "Not in pen?"

"No. Pens are too messy for patients to have."

She nodded at that. "A letter... I fear I'd be writing until the end of time for all those whom I have wronged," the alicorn said in a bitter tone.

Diellza reached over and gently grasped Celestia's foreleg, surprising the pony. The griffon looked up at her with sadness in her eyes. "It might not help you to do so, but it couldn’t hurt to try. Would you like to write one?"

A spare piece of paper was slid over to Celestia and Diellza offered up her pencil. Celestia took it in her magic as she looked at the blank sheet. She stared at the page as for every person should consider for the first letter it all came back to one. Slowly she lowered the pencil to the paper and began to write, her griffon companion watching the first few words being written out.

To my dearest friend, Twilight Sparkle

Celestia and the Archons

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If there was any city on the entire continent of Griffonia that could be truly considered the crown jewel it would be Griffenheim. The capital of the Empire didn't have the same history as Aquila or Karthin but it made up for it in greater prestige, founded by Grover I centuries ago, built on the backs of prisoners of war, and home to the Archonate of Boreas. Even as the Empire's power waned the industrial potential of the Imperial capital made it an economic powerhouse.

The motor carriage carrying Celestia rumbled on through, the alicorn incredibly cramped inside with a Reichsarmee lieutenant across from her. Other cars and pedestrians got out of the way when the horn went off, the driver deftly maneuvering them through the streets of the city, still in desperate need for modernization.

"I think I would have much preferred to arrive by train," she grumbled.

"Ach, no Princess," the lieutenant said with a frown. “Not after what happened in Katerin. Archon Eros wants you unharmed as you come to our beautiful capital.”

She let out an annoyed snort before she looked out the window, the grand temple of Boreas off in the distance. Nestled upon the highest spot of the city, and made even larger to be a proper place of worship to the king of the gods.

The rest of the trip to the Imperial Palace was uneventful, with Celestia mulling over just what to say to Archon Eros. The palace itself wasn't anywhere near as large as Boreas' temple, but the complex for it and the other mechanisms of Imperial rule sprawled out over a larger area. As the car pulled up in front of the palace another Reichsarmee officer opened the door and Celestia pulled herself out.

An entire complement of Reichsarmee soldiers stood at attention along the steps of the palace and to greet her was a white griffon hen dressed in the trappings of the Arcturian priesthood.

“Princess Celestia, I am Prelate Celeste Lightfeather of the Archonate of Arcturius.”

The alicorn blinked. “Celeste,” she deadpanned.

The hen nodded with an unamused look. “Archon Proteus called me in specifically to be your escort in Griffenheim. I do not share his sense of humor.”

The lieutenant from the car carried Celestia's bags over to her and helped put them back on while Celeste watched with a raised brow.

“Her bags were searched thoroughly prelate, just her paperwork, writing utensils, money, and clothes.” the officer said.

“I see. Well then, follow me princess, the Archons are waiting.”

“Archons? I thought I was just to meet with Eros.”

As her hooves clopped against the stone steps Celeste shook her head. “Goodness no, all three wish to meet with you. Archon Proteus has been based in Griffenheim for years, and Archon Erion is constantly brownbeaking Eros for any crumb of praise. At least Proteus is sensible. He hates paperwork, and is only Archon because it's the one place a griffon of his stature can be without needing to actually do anything.”

They passed through the massive doors which slowly shut behind them.

“He sounds like my sister. Luna absolutely hates the administration side of things. Even when she was a field marshal she much preferred to have the logistics organized by others while she focused on the planning of operations. I'd say they'd get along, but...”

Celeste glanced back at the princess. “Her courtship with Queen Vivienne is a topic to be discussed, yes.”

Her hooves stopped moving. “Courtship? No no no, they're just friends.”

The prelate turned her head around and motioned for Celestia to continue following. “You haven't read the papers lately?”

“No, my main task has been focused on reaching Tarpian Rock as swiftly as possible. If I wasn't sure the Reichsarmee would be sent after me if I ignored the Archon's summons I would still be on my way.”

“Well you best put on your poker face when Erion rants about Luna and Vivienne then.”

“I am well practiced in keeping myself professional in such situations.”

Celeste nodded as another set of doors barred their way. The soldiers guarding it saluted her and stood aside, allowing them to open. She cleared her throat.

“Presenting, Princess Celestia of Equestria!”

The doors opened to reveal the audience chamber, an absolutely massive room meant for the Imperial Court, for dozens upon dozens of griffons from lowly servants to dukes and duchesses.

Four griffons were sitting at the table.

Archon Eros sat at the very head of it, his focus on paperwork before him. Archon Erion, the youngest, kept a level glare at Celestia as she walked in. Archon Proteus looked to struggle with keeping himself awake. Sitting right next to Eros and trying to look as small as possible was Grover, the young griffon still a long way aways from being emperor proper, his little glasses perched upon his beak.

Celeste moved swiftly to the table and stood up straight.

“His Holiness of Boreas, Archon Eros VII, His Holiness of Eyr, Archon Erion XII, His Holiness of Arcturius, Archon Proteus III and His Royal Highness, Prince Grover VI!”

The silence was deafening as Celestia quietly took her seat, towering over the assorted griffons. Erion and Proteus were quiet, but she could see the way their beaks and throats shifted that they desperately wanted to begin while Eros kept shuffling through his papers.

She looked to Grover and the young lad bashfully looked away for a moment before he gave a little wave in greetings to her.

With Eros pretending to be busy she smiled at the young prince. “Your Highness, it's good to meet you,” she said to break the silence.

Proteus smirked and Erion's eyes went wide as he glanced at Eros, who looked up from his work.

“I am very sorry circumstances won't allow me to stay for very long. I still have quite a journey left, and I fear time is growing short but on my way back afterwards I would be glad to be your guest again.”

“Oh, that's all right Princess!” He said as he fidgeted a little in his seat with being the center of attention so suddenly. “I would, uh.” Grover swallowed the lump in his throat. “I would be honored to host you again!”

Eros cleared his throat and folded his hands in front of him. “Grover, perhaps you should go out and play. Prelate Celeste?”

Celeste looked to Proteus who nodded. “Try to keep him away from his tank,” the Arcturian Archon said.

Grover pouted as he slipped out of his seat and walked over to Celeste who bowed before him. “Your Highness, right this way.”

As the prince and prelate left the room Celestia and Eros made eye contact, the elder archon frowning.

“You've some nerve coming through here after everything,” he said.

“Apologies, I do not recall any slights I have done against the three temples,” Celestia replied in a diplomatic tone, keeping her face neutral.

Eros glowered at her. “The recognition of the traitors to the north-”

“Was done by a subordinate without my knowledge for at the time I was in the middle of a war. A war against the changelings whom were rather openly assisted by the Empire in their military modernization efforts. Whatever politics were going on in Griffonia at the time was simply not important for me to keep track of.”

Erion spoke up, “You are addressing Archon Eros, regent of the Empire-”

Celestia shot the youngest Archon a fierce glare and he shrank back. “The Archonates are to administer religious services to all griffons regardless of their politics or nation and yet all three leaders are here in Griffenheim for the sake of the Empire alone. Now, do you have anything of actual importance to talk to me with or am I free to continue on my way?”

“Did you think we would just let you wander freely through the Empire after you've opened diplomatic channels with Wingbardy, Aquileia, and those Griffonstone republicans? Traitors, one and all,” Eros said with a deep frown.

Her eyes narrowed. “A son lost his father to foul play, his pleas for help ignored, and you expect him to remain as if nothing happened? Aquileia has a vastly different culture to the Empire, were they to remain willingly in step? Griffonstone had been neglected since Guto's line was extinguished and now they're finally pulling themselves out of their misery with no help from their neighbors and you expect obedience?” She smacked a hind hoof into the stone tile floor with a loud crack! “Such arrogance! One of your experience should know that respect is to be earned, Eros, not demanded, and if you are demanding that I respect you then you are more fool than I was led to believe!”

Before Eros could launch into a tirade Proteus put a hand on his friend's shoulder. Eros sat back and took several deep breaths. When the eldest Archon recovered he looked Celestia in the eye.

“You do make some points, Princess,” Eros conceded, still frowning. “My friend died too young and left his son alone. Then his aunt sought to reestablish the power of the nobility, whom had bled this land dry of its wealth. I accuse you and demand of you because our enemies are many and you have aligned with them. I fear the Empire will not survive to see Grover crowned.”

Celestia looked off to the side for a moment. “We do what we must for what we love the most. It is our duty.”

“Didn't a pony writer say 'love is the death of duty'?” Proteus asked, joining the conversation.

She let out an annoyed snort. “'We are only ponies, and the gods have fashioned us for love. That is our great glory, and our great tragedy.' Do remember the character that said these words was part of an order of celibate scholars. That, and he was fictional, Archon Proteus.”

The grizzled warrior of a griff merely shrugged. “I don't like paperwork but I love reading, what can I say?”

Celestia shuffled her wings. “Now, was there anything else gentlegriffs...?”

Eros nodded. “Indeed. Several things, like why you left the Idol in Griffonstone instead of bringing it here.”

A gentle smile formed on her face. “I had considered it, truly I did, but when the Idol was initially lost my offers to help received no reply, and so as I was passing through I was asked directly if I could retrieve it and I obliged.”

The Archon tried hard to not let his jaw drop. “You just helped because they asked you to?”

She nodded. “Of course. It wasn't that big of a deal. I feel like I learned a lot as I pulled it out of the abyss. At least, it gave me time to think on things.”

Eros raised a brow.

“You see, griffons have a history of petty wars, carving out kingdoms and fiefdoms, yet in the end the greatest tales aren't of kings and conquerors are they? It's always the wanderers and vagabonds, for good or for ill. Of course, we ponies have similar stories, but the lessons there are often about unity and camaraderie. For yours, the lessons are of freedom.”

“What are you saying, Princess?” Erion asked.

“What I am saying is that the natural state of the griffon is freedom. Freedom to spread your wings and to fly to the distant horizon. Freedom to hunt as true kings of the skies. Freedom to feel the wind through your feathers and fur with naught a care in the world.”

“You speak of anarchy, chaos!” Eros said as he stood up from his seat.

“She speaks of ancient times where heroes roamed the land, with monsters to be slain and villages to be rescued. When a griffon could take off in flight to go wherever he pleased, to find a new home,” Proteus' voice was full of longing. “We're old griffs, Eros, but we only know of our cities of stone and steel, of air choked with smog from industry. Celestia is older still, and knows of when our ancestors were at their greatest.”

The alicorn shook her head. “A time where diseases ran rampant, where keeping you and your family clothed and fed was hard, where the next town over could be lost to a monster and you shudder in the night wondering if yours would be next. I am not talking of forsaking what modernity has given us, but that we must temper it so as to not lose who we are in it. Eros, when was the last time you flew?”

He stared at her and sat back in his seat. Celestia turned her head to look at one of the massive windows.

“Does Grover fly? Do you let him spread his wings and take to the air?”

“He is the next emperor, it's too dangerous-” Eros started

She looked back at the eldest Archon with wetness in her eyes. “Do not make my mistake and keep those you care for from any sense of danger. My folly allowed for all Equestria to be lost. Let him be a child, let him shoulder responsibility bit by bit, year by year but in the way children do. Get him a pet, teach him the value of honest labor, allow him to meet children his age, and let him fly.”

The three griffons sat in stunned silence before Erion attempted to shift the conversation.

“P-princess, about your sister and queen Vivienne-”

“They are friends and gods know Luna needs one in these trying times, and if they are more than that then it is not my business nor is it yours.”

Cowed, Erion shut his beak and crossed his arms, trying to look anywhere but at Celestia.

Eros looked at Celestia, the elderly griffon sighing. “I am old, Princess. Some say the oldest griffon in the world. I cannot fly as I could have when I was younger. Even then, I have not flown since I took on the robes of the priesthood. Decades of walking or sitting, but I have long forgotten the sensation of flight. I walk, and sit, so that others may fly instead. We all must make sacrifices.”

“Please, call me Celestia, archons,” she said softly. Gently she ruffled her wings and looked outside. “To give is noble indeed. It is one of the tenets of Harmony, generosity. And yet, to continually give is harmful to oneself as well.”

Suddenly she stood from her seat and looked to Eros with a smile. “Fly with me, Eros.”

“What?” He asked in bewilderment as Proteus raised a brow and Erion's beak moved in silent protests.

“With me, and Grover. Let us fly and feel the wind in our feathers. Let us give praise to the gifts the gods bestowed upon griffonkind!”

“It, it would be undignified for me to fly with an unmarried mare!” Eros said, flustered.

Celestia giggled warmly. “Whom would complain? Your detractors whom you have already curtailed, your supporters whom you have brought a better life to? Your peers who share your belief in securing the Empire? Well, I will not push it if you refuse, but with your permission shall I offer to help little Grover fly?”

Erion turned to look at the older archon, “Eros, I don't think-”

Eros raised his hand to silence the younger. “I am not against it, Celestia. Just, keep it to the palace grounds.”

Celestia bowed and turned to leave. As she walked out she could hear harsh whispering between Erion and Eros.

As she stood out on the grass under the shade of the trees she watched as Celeste and Grover played hide and seek. She had already found the young prince, but noticed the prelate was letting him think he was well hidden even as he giggled. As he peeked from around the tree trunk he couldn't see the prelate, and when he ducked back around she had tapped him on the shoulder.

“Found you!”

Grover burst out into a fit of giggles and scurried out from around the tree over to Celestia while Celeste followed with a warm smile.

“You're much better with children than I imagined, prelate.” Celestia said.

“I was raised in an orphanage, you learn a thing or two on how to keep the other cubs in high spirits.”

“Did you come out to play with us, Princess?” Grover asked as he looked up to her.

Celestia smiled down to him and nodded. “I did, but you may call me Celestia, Your Highness.”

“Oh, well, um, you can call me Grover then!” he said with a little trill.

“Have you flown yet, Grover?”

“Not, not a whole lot. I can hover, and glide! But I haven't really flied yet.”

Celeste leaned down to whisper to the prince. “It's 'flown', my prince,” she said quietly.

Grover wrung his hands together and nodded before he looked back up at Celestia.

With a warm smile the alicorn slowly laid down on the ground. “Would you like to fly with me, Grover? You can climb onto my back if you are worried. Archon Eros said it would be fine.”

“Oh, can I?!” He asked gleefully. With her assent he scrambled up onto Celestia's back. “Oh, will you fly with us too Celeste?”

The prelate gave a little shrug. “I don't see why not.”

With Grover clutching on tightly Celestia took off into the air with Celeste following close behind. The young prince squealed with delight as the alicorn carried him over the yard, her pace languid. She rose a little higher over the gardens, letting him see the landscape from the air. He was grabbing on tightly, as tightly as she recalled when she took Twilight flying.

Tears stung at her eyes as she gently landed on a roof, the incline slight enough for rain and snow to run off of but stable enough for her to walk. Celeste landed right behind her and the three of them looked out across the city.

“Wow...” Grover said as he stared, slack jawed, at where the three great rivers that came together.

Ships from all across the continent navigated the great rivers into Griffenheim, settling at the various docks to unload raw materials and finished goods from all over.

“The world always seems so large when you're on the ground, but high above it seems so much smaller, doesn't it?” Celestia asked.

“Yeah,” Grover said absently as he watched the different ships from afar. “Oh, I think I recognize those flags! Is that, the River Republic?”

Celeste scooted over and peered out into the distance. “Hmm, yes, looks like it.”

“But I thought they hated the Empire!”

Celestia laughed gently. “It's simple, Grover. The Empire has things the Riverlands want or need, and they in turn have things the Empire wants or needs. Everyone has their differences, but sometimes necessity overrides personal feelings.”

A few moments passed as they stood there watching the distant ships when they heard a bird call. Celestia turned her head slowly and saw yellow eyes.

“Oh, oh, a bearded vulture! They're native to the Middle Sea region!” Grover said excitedly. “Their diet is almost entirely bone too, they like dropping bones from high heights to break them apart!”

The vulture sat there and preened itself, uncaring of the others sharing the space. Celeste's beak tightened up and she glanced nervously from the vulture to the prince. Just as she was about to speak the vulture stopped its preening and took off, letting out another cry.

“T-that was...” the white griffon seemed shaken up.

“In Wingbardy, it's seen as a ward against his influence,” Celestia said softly to the prelate.

Celeste cleared her throat and smoothed out her feathers. “Yes, of course.”

Grover watched the bird fly off into the distance and he started to work his own wings. Celestia felt him let go of her and jump off. She turned, her horn lighting up, when she saw him shoot forward and up into the air.

“I'm flying!” the young prince cried out in joy as he flapped his wings.

There were some shouts and she noticed guards suddenly appear out seemingly nowhere, letting out an amused snort. “As it was back home with my own guard.”

“The lad has finally started to fly and all the good little tin soldiers come out to stop his fun,” Celeste said as she shook her head.

The pair took off after Grover, following the happy prince from a distance as he got used to flying on his own. His laughter rang through the air as he twisted and turned with delight, doing whatever little trick he could think of. Celestia kept an eye out for any that would dare disrupt his fight flight, but found that none had actually come up to get him. Grover reached the wall surrounding the Imperial complex and turned around, giving a wave to the alicorn and the prelate before he launched himself off and headed back toward the palace.

“Archon Eros, Archon Eros, I'm flying!” he said as he rapidly descended, his imminent landing looking almost haphazard.

Grover tumbled across the ground for a few feet before rolling to a stop in front of Eros, the young prince groaning and rubbing his head.

“Are you alright Grover?” the old griffon said as he knelt down and gave the prince his glasses back.

“Y-yeah! Archon Eros it was a lot of fun flying with Celestia!” he said as he readjusted his glasses onto his beak and beamed happily.

Eros smiled kindly in return and nodded. “And you flew for the first time too! Your father would have been very proud of you.”

Celestia and Celeste both landed shortly after and Grover broke away from Eros to hug the alicorn around her leg.

“Thank you Celestia, it was a lot of fun flying with you! Can we go again?”

“Grover,” Eros said gently, “it is getting close for your studies. You have arithmetic and your letters today.”

Grover let out a little whine and pouted. “Okay Archon Eros... Goodbye Celestia! I hope we can go flying again soon!” he said as he gave her a little bow.

“I would like that a lot, Grover, but we both have responsibilities. Perhaps next time I'm in Griffenheim.”

With a happy smile Grover scampered off with his escort, leaving Celestia with the Archon and the prelate.

“I saw the bird. A vulture, in the heart of the city,” Eros shook his head. “A terrible omen, I fear.”

Celestia took in a deep breath and sighed. “It's been following me since Sunset. In Karthin it led me to the scene of the fascists raiding Maarites. In Griffonstone it was at the cliff into the Abyss before and after I went down. In Katerin I heard its call before I passed out from my injuries.”

Celeste fidgeted nervously. “You said Wingbardians see the bearded vulture as a ward against Maar.”

Eros motioned for the pair to follow as he began to walk back inside. “Indeed, it is. Since it never ranges up past southern Griffonia, it might be wise to accept that view. Otherwise... Putting all carrion birds under that view might not be the best. Ravens are incredibly intelligent birds, and yet how often is he depicted as one, when we root out his cults?”

“Who is to say what the proper views are when we cannot reach out and touch them for ourselves? You and the other Archons claim to be the voices of the gods, but when have you heard them speak?”

Celeste kept her beak shut as she side-eyed Celestia.

“Never. No mortal has ever heard the words of Boreas, or Eyr, or Arcturius. So has it been since the formation of the Archonates. Miracles still exist. The Idol of Boreas. The Godsword of Broturius. The mere existence of alicorns like yourself, though not of Boreas' hands you are still representative of something greater.”

“Try as I might, I never could get Boreas to open up. Eyr and Arcturius too! You would think they could give a moment to one who raises the sun everyday! Or at least a secretary whom I could arrange an appointment with.”

Eros let out a chuckle as they walked down the halls. “Truthfully, if Boreas did speak to me only to make that my role, well I would do it with as much effort and fervor as I have already. I am not a good griffon, Celestia, nor will I pretend to be, but I do my duties and put my heart into them. If only Proteus could do the same.”

“Where is my Archon?” Celeste asked.

“Sparring, as usual. Erion is off on official Eyrite business. I would be glad to have you stay the night, Celestia. I have had much to think about, and more besides. That, and there are not many places in the city I would suggest to an esteemed guest.”

“I was hoping to continue my way to Bronzekruez, Archon. I still have a long way to go and there are no trains that go further north.”

“I am sorry, but after the derailment in Katerin I initiated a full evaluation of the tracks across the Herzland so that we do not have another incident.”

Celestia tilted her head slightly and furrowed her brow before she nodded. “No, no, I understand. Such accidents must be rare for you to call for a full review. I would have done the same, really. I accept your hospitality, Archon Eros.”

It had been a long time since she last entered the Dreamscape on her own. Luna's mastery of it made her look like a mere foal struggling to find their cutie mark. As it was, however, even with her relative inexperience finding whom she was looking for was not as difficult as she had thought. That her sister's presence was close by was enough of a beacon for her and all that was required was to peek into the nearest dream to confirm it.

Vivienne Discret, queen of Aquileia, stood upon a ridge overlooking a battlefield. Celestia recognized it as the battle that led to Grover II sacking Aquila. She stood behind the griffon queen, the hen's blonde feathers pulled back and secured with a golden clasp.

“The might of the Imperial army was great. But if my ancestors had my acumen, they would have weathered them down,” the queen said in her rich accent as she turned to Celestia. She raised a brow. “To what do I owe this pleasure, Celestia?”

Steel-shod hooves moved to the edge of the ridge as she studied the battle unfolding, Grover II leading the vanguard in a vicious assault despite a veritable horde of crossbow griffs firing upon the armored knights.

“Rumors of you and my sister have spread widely, that I can ignore them no longer.” Her magenta eyes locked onto Vivienne's teal ones and the griffon gave a wry smile.

“My Lune is not one for subtlety, even if she is princess of the night. We could have kept it to just dinners at the palace, official meetings with her involved, but no, she just wanted to see my city and who am I to deny her?”

“Your Lune? You two barely know each other!”

The queen shot a glare. “You knew her for a century before the Nightmare took hold.”

Celestia took a half-step back. “How dare you!”

“How dare I? You, who come unbidden into my dreams to make accusations against me, have l'audace to say such to me!” Despite being smaller than even her sister Vivienne stepped forward with a fire in her eyes.

She stood her ground and loomed over the queen. “If you hurt my sister-”

"Hurt? Princess, if you did not want dear Lune hurt, you would have won the war instead of lost. All of the soldiers lost, the friends she abandoned, that is a hurt you are responsible for!"

Caught off guard, Celestia tried to formulate a response when a blue wisp appeared by Vivienne's side, coalescing into Luna. Anger burned in her sister's eyes and before Luna could say a thing Celestia's horn flared.

She shot up out of bed and rubbed at her face with a hoof, groaning. Peering in the dark she saw on the clock that it was the wee hours of the morning, long before it was time for her to raise the sun. The alicorn fell back into bed and stared up at the ceiling, unable to fall back asleep knowing her sister was lurking in the realm of dreams.

Celestia and the Conqueror

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“I'm very sorry ma'am but there's no cabs to Bronzekreuz,” the griffon hen behind the counter said as she adjusted her glasses. “All cabs are only through the city and its outskirts and so long as the Archon's orders are in effect I cannot suggest a rail line either.”

Celestia nodded with a strained smile. “Of course, I understand.”

She turned away and walked out of the crowded station, other griffons hurrying along to get what cabs they could to wherever they were going. With a resigned sigh she turned to Celeste, the prelate continuing her duty as escort for as long as Celestia was in the city.

“It seems we're stuck together for a while longer, until I reach the outskirts of the city.”

Celeste raised a brow. “You're not thinking of walking your way, are you? Tarpian Rock is quite a distance. By hoof and by wing it would be days, maybe even a week or two. And that's not even regarding most of it is wilderness.”

The princess opened up her bags to pull out an oatcake to chew on. She looked up at the sky with a thoughtful look on her face before she turned to look to the prelate.

“Is it too early to get something to drink?”

“Early? Princess-”

“Please, call me Celestia,”

“Ahem, Celestia, we can get soft drinks or tea at any time.”

The alicorn gave her a wry grin.

The pub wasn't bustling with business, as despite it being open it was still a bit early for folk to wander in to drink their troubles away. Even still, the sight of a large pony with an aurora mane and a prelate of Arcturius sitting side by side definitely drew some attention. As they drank and mused about how to proceed another griffon came up to take the seat on Celestia's free side. He doffed his hat and placed it in his lap before ordering a round for himself. She paid him no heed, just another griffon in Griffenheim.

“So the rumors are true, Princess Celestia is in Griffenheim. I'd thought you'd be at the palace getting cozy with the Archons,” the newcomer said.

She shut her eyes and a tight frown formed on her lips. “I've an important task ahead of me, but I'm currently delayed with the trains out. And please, call me Celestia,” she said with no small amount of irritation in her voice.

Celeste leaned forward a bit. “You should know better than to...” her voice trailed off as she squinted at the other griffon.

“Please, it'd be rude of one ruler to not give the other proper due. King Hermann Meyer of Haukland.”

Celestia turned to look at him with a quirked brow. “The flying ace whom betrayed both the Empire and the Republic to become a petty dictator, conquering the dragons and then turning their might to take over the old chivalrous land of Vedinia.” She narrowed her gaze at him.

Hermann casually brushed his talons against his coat. “The very same!”

“How are you even in Griffenheim after all you've done?” Celeste asked as she leaned over, invading Celestia's personal space.

“I'm a king keeping that old bird Kemerskai in check, just as he and Aquileia are keeping the Empire in check! That, and some Reichsarmee fliers owe me some favors so I can come and go as I please, for a few idols.”

Celestia glanced over to Celeste before back to Hermann, the self-proclaimed monarch giving her a wide smile.

“Are you here to insult me, Meyer?”

“What? No, not at all! I just wanted to meet one of the most famous people in the entire world is all! When I heard you left New Mareland by train, I got to thinking. 'Well Hermann, just where would she even be going?' Not like you told the world, but after you were sighted in Griffonstone I just knew you'd be on your way here! So I hopped into my plane and made the trip.”

“Plane...” Her gaze shifted to outside. “The trains to Bronzekruez aren't moving. Even then, I would need to proceed on my own regardless. Hermann Meyer, I need you to fly me to Tarpian Rock.”

He blinked in surprise and then frowned. “Listen princess, that whole region has had some foul happenings these past couple months. Even if I wanted to, there's no way I'm flying over cursed land. Call me superstitious but you don't run a den of pirates without picking up a thing or two. I can take you to Watertown, but that's as far as I'll go. But, Tarpian Rock? That's those weird knights...” Hermann started to stroke his chin in thought. “Why?”

“They sent me a letter asking for help, and so I go.”

Hermann took a sip of his beer. “So the dead do walk. Huh. I thought it was a load of bull when that message came in.”

Celestia was taken aback, “The Order called for help across Griffonia? Things are worse than I thought, I can't delay. You must take me to them.”

Celeste stood up from her seat. “I should go talk with Archon Proteus then, we had also received such a message, but Archon Eros' reply was rather, demanding.” The prelate straightened her robes out. “It was an honor and a privilege, Celestia. May Arcturius guide your blows in the battles to come.”

She turned to the prelate and gave a slight smile. “Thank you Celeste, our time together was enjoyable however short it may have been. I hope to meet again.”

The white feathered griffon smiled and bowed her head before she hurried out of the pub.

Hermann looked up at Celestia with a pensive look on his face. “I have something you might be able to use. Granted, we'd have to fly out to Haukland for it.”

She frowned. “Are you mad? That's too far out of the way!”

He held a hand up. “Celestia, listen. When I conquered Vedina I took as a trophy the sword passed through the royal family. It's an enchanted blade, said to have been given to them by the Wise Lady centuries ago. The Godsword of Broturius it’s called. I've no use for it myself. Figure if you're going to fight with old-timey knights might as well look the part.”

Her wings shifted a little as she began to walk out. “That's surprisingly generous of you.”

“Well, we'll be flying over the Republic and I told Kemerskai I'd get you on the line with him.”

A snort. “Of course.”

Most planes were not built with alicorns in mind. Neither were they built for two people. Hermann was as up against the controls as he could without seriously hampering his ability to fly, the plane's canopy completely open, and Celestia was as nestled in as much as she could be. Her horn blazed with her magic, a sphere shimmering around the plane to maintain proper air pressure and temperature as they flew.

Hours had gone by since leaving Griffenheim and Celestia could feel her muscles cramping up in the awkward position. Out in the distance the city of Cloudsbury could be seen, sunlight illuminating it and showing even from afar the struggle to keep going with the scant resources of the northern lands.

They were approaching it steadily when the radio cackled.

“Unknown plane, identify yourself, over.”

Hermann grumbled as he worked for the microphone, struggling a little against Celestia's size. “Hold on, hold on. Yes, this is Hermann Meyer, just coming back from my little vacation in Griffenheim! Patch me through with Alex would ya? I got her with me, he'll know what it means, over.”

A few moments passed before a new voice crackled to life on the radio.

“Meyer you son of a bitch, you best not be wasting my time or I will have you shot down.”

Celestia cleared her throat. “Good evening, President-Marshall. I understand you wished to speak with me?”

There was a bit of fumbling on the other side. “Oh, princess!”

“Please, call me Celestia.”

Alexander cleared his throat. “Ah, yes, Celestia. I wasn't sure if Hermann would actually live up to his side of the bargain. Anyways, Governor Jet Set of New Mareland had contacted me, and after some discussion I have an important decision to make, but I wanted to speak with you first. It's about Equestria.”

Celestia looked toward the west. “...Go on.”

“The Republic is willing to support your efforts militarily. Boots on the ground, logistics support. In return, I would ask for your own support for when we march to free our Herzland brethren from the yoke of the Empire.”

“No,” was spoken with no hesitation.

A few moments of silence passed. “No?”

“Do you think after years of oppression that my ponies will want to go to war with those that had done them no harm? You should know by now that I met with the archons, and I hold no ill will towards them. Yes, the republicans were driven out of the Herzland, but how many innocents on both sides died in the revolution? You would want me to help bring more ruin to a land that's been working on recovering? And what if Aquileia and Wingbardy lend their military aid and also wish to take the Herzland, hm? No, I will not commit to a path of destruction when I have lost so much as it is. The moment one side acts against another the entire western half of Griffonia will descend into a bloodbath the likes of which haven't been seen, greater than even Grover II's bloody conquests.”

“... I understand, princess.”

The radio went dead.

Celestia hung the microphone back up and let out a snort of irritation.

“You know, I can't believe he even thinks you'll succeed.”

She hung her head low and her muscles twitched.

“I mean, really, it's a fool's hope. They're too entrenched, you'd have to make one of the biggest naval assaults history's ever seen! Who in Tartarus has the means to pull that off?”

Hermann wrinkled his brow as the temperature began to rise. It lingered long enough for him to get sweaty and uncomfortable, the griffon squirming a little as his flight suit began to stick to him.

The temperature dropped back down and Celestia's voice was tinged with sorrow.

“Not I, not I...”

The morning was cold, a bitter wind blowing up from the northwest. Dying grass littered across the graveyard as Hermann led Celestia though, the despot walking slowly. Despite the wind the graveyard was silent. After some time of walking with not another soul in sight, he stopped before a modest grave. Celestia stood beside him, and saw a crown and a sword laid in front of the headstone.

“Stella Meyer,” she said quietly.

“My wife. Pneumonia. It was... a long time ago.”

Celestia looked upon the crown laying on the grave. “The dragons, Vedina... You did it for her?”

Meyer’s voice was soft when he replied. “Mostly for myself, but I will never claim to be king of Vedina. She, she's the queen and always will be.”

She sat down in the cold grass. “It's not the same, but after I banished my sister, I worked as hard as I could to build a nation that she could be proud to be princess of. Centuries of work, and for what? I failed my sister, I failed my subjects. You'll be remembered as Hermann Meyer, the Conqueror. Even if you never share your reasons with others, history will know you as a victor.”

He moved to pick up the sword from the grave. “My kingdom will not last past me, and all the better for it I think. Haukland will survive as it always has. Ember is going to be Dragon Lord again, and Sköldsvärd is going to get Vedina back. I'll be remembered as a conqueror, but you know what?"

Celestia looked up and saw him grinning.

"I've been getting a little bored lately. Maybe I should be known as 'the Liberator' next eh?"

She blinked in surprise. "You mean-"

"The dragon islands are right up against the jungle basin. My pirates have been constantly harassing changeling ships along the east coast too. We know their force allocations. And I hear Haukland has a pretty good flying ace that could help keep the skies clear for an invasion." Meyer winked as he held the sword out to her.

Dumbstruck, all she could do was nod as she took the sword from him. The surprise of his offer was soon replaced by the surprise of recognition.

"The Blade of Mercy! I left this with the Order after the first war with the Dread League!" Quickly she stood up and grasped the hilt into her mouth and began to swing it experimentally. She leapt back as she swung her head to the left, the blade whistling in a wide arc before she adjusted the grip in her mouth and thrust it forward. Her eyes were alighted with excitement as she seemed to dance about with each swipe of steel through the air.

"Yes! Yes! Even without the Shield of Hope just having the Blade alone is… it's wonderful!"

Her horn glowed and a scabbard appeared across her back. Celestia deftly sheathed the sword and her heart soared. She turned to Hermann and bowed low.

"Thank you, for your offer of support and for reuniting me with my old sword. Regardless of victory or defeat, I am in your debt."

He waved his hand dismissively. "I'll cash in your debt later, if we live long enough to see to it. We'll hash out the details when all's said and done, all right? Now, we best get going. Gotta get you to Watertown."

Celestia nodded as she turned and walked off, excitement clear in her motions with being reunited with her old weapon. Hermann stopped for a moment and turned back to the grave. A gust of wind blew in from the east and he shivered, forcing him to pull his coat tighter around himself. He turned around to see Celestia waiting for him and he rubbed his wrist against his eye as he walked away.

As the pair left the graveyard, a large bird landed on Stella's grave. It pecked at the crown for a moment before it raised its head to watch with its yellow eyes as Celestia left.

The plane buzzed high in the sky over Watertown as Celestia made one last rundown before descent.

"Sword?" Hermann asked.

"Secured, check."

"Saddlebags?"

"Secured, check."

"Everything in the bags?"

"Secured, check."

"All right Celly, I'm lowering altitude but you can drop whenever. Good luck and godsspeed."

"Godsspeed, Hermann!"

As she jumped off of the plane her wings spread, letting her catch onto the currents. Her horn flared and closed his canopy, letting the griffon get back to flying in comfort. His plane tilted slightly and began to head out west. She gave one last wave goodbye with her hoof before she angled down for the town.

The ponies below looked up in awe at the snow-white mare with the aurora mane and tail as she descended from the sky. Her hooves touched the ground gently and she walked toward the sacred springs in the center of the square. She watched as water bubbled up from deep below and she bowed down until her horn touched the ground. Celestia remained in solemn prayer for several moments before she stood back up and approached the waters. The alicorn leaned down and took a few gentle sips from the springs.

An icy chill ran down her throat as she drank and it settled in her belly, the crisp cold of the sacred waters caused her to shiver slightly as she stood back up. The other ponies had stopped and stared, as no alicorn was ever seen in these lands since time immemorial. Celestia looked north, toward the lands of the Arcturian Order, to their fortress of Tarpian Rock.

As she began her walk she noticed out of the corner of her eye an old stallion hobbling his way toward her. She paused and turned to greet him. His eyes were scrunched up under a heavy brow with thick facial hair that kept his features mostly hidden.

"Forgive me if I've been a disturbance," she offered to the elderly pony with a bow.

He wiggled his whiskers as looked past her to the springs then back to her.

"You're heading to the knights in the north, yes?"

Celestia nodded. "I am."

The old stallion let out a sigh of relief. "Too much dark news nowadays. From the south, from the west, from the north. And today of all days a shining light of the heavens descends and blesses our already holy waters."

Her head shook. "I am no beacon of light. I am just a pony running away from her duties."

"We've seen the signs. If the marching dead aren't stopped the springs will flow with blood instead of water. Us, Farbrook, Firtree, consumed in a tide of corpses."

"Signs?"

He nodded. "Yes. We've no grand temples like the griffons do, or fancy shrines like them riverponies, but we have our priests and healers all the same. It's not happened yet, but we keep hearing the same thing. 'On the coldest of days the sun will banish the dark' and we've taken note of an awful storm brewing. Maybe you're not the one, but I don't think it's a coincidence."

Her gaze looked out around the town, at all the folk watching her with hope and curiosity. She turned back to the old stallion and shook her head once more.

"I go to fight against an evil that's had time to grow, while the forces arrayed against them are smaller. I will not promise any such thing, sir, for I may very well die in the frozen north. Black magics are swelling, and my old blade's enchantments wear thin. Worse, I lack my old shield as well. Even with their enchantments fading together they would have assured victory. My blade alone will give us an edge. And yet, it may not be enough."

The old stallion stood quiet for a moment. "Them griffons are good with enchantments aren't they? A whole bunch of them drove on through in those metal boxes a couple days back."

She blinked in surprise. "How many, and what colors did they bear?"

"Hmm. About a dozen of 'em or so? Along with a bunch of big trucks. They had Imperial colors, but said they're passing through at the behest of the Archonate of Arcturius. Trying to reconnect with the old order it seems."

Celestia looked north, her mane and tail billowing in the icy winds. "Thank you. That even some have passed through to lend support gives me some ease. If I make it through, I'll come back."

Before he could say anything her horn flared gold and she teleported away.

Celestia and the Headmaster

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Tarpian Rock was an ancient fortress from times long lost, known only by Celestia and the lorekeepers of the Arcturian Order. She trudged through the snow, following the tracks left behind by the Imperial armor and their support vehicles. The stone fortress was noticeable in the distance, placed upon the highest hill around and commanding an intimidating view of the surroundings. With her legs growing sore she spread her wings and took off to the sky, letting her other limbs dangle to relax as she got a view from above.

From above she could see several camps placed around the foot of the hill where Tarpian Rock stood, along with various flags of different nations across Griffonia. Celestia squinted a little, recognizing several from the Riverlands, which drew some surprise to her. Not only that, but she could make out a small camp of Wingbardian, Aquileian, and Griffonstonian soldiers settled close to one another and just beyond them, a camp of New Mareland ponies and griffons.

She angled her approach toward them, and on her way she glimpsed at the Imperial camp, surrounded with their tanks and support trucks. A griffon in full black armor with a red cape was directing around, and when the knight looked up in the sky and saw Celestia they removed their helmet to reveal Celeste underneath, the white-feathered griffon giving a wave.

Shocked from surprise, Celestia barely had time to even notice changelings among the number, chatting amiably with the ponies of Farbrook. Her heart almost stopped until she saw the flag of Greneclyf above them and she shook her head. Continuing on her route she landed heavily in the snow at the New Marelander tent.

The ponies were already standing at attention and Celestia waved a hoof.

“I'm not your princess, you don't need to stand at attention for me,” she said.

“With all due respect, ma'am, they're standing at attention because I ordered them to,” the thickly accented stallion said as he stepped out of the tent. “Colonel Major Glory at your service. Jet Set and Princess Luna said you'd be surprised, and we wanted it to be just that for you. You're not in this fight alone ma'am, only the best veterans of the Great War have been sent to assist.”

“The Crystal Empire front.”

Glory nodded, the dark blue pegasus motioned with a wing. “At ease, go about your business gentleponies.”

The arrayed soldiers gave a salute before they moved off.

“How many?”

“Just a battalion, from us and the others. Except for those knights under that prelate, Lightfeather, they came with a few tanks and trucks too.”

Celestia nodded. “I see. Getting those other three to agree must have taken some work?” she asked as she motioned to the three griffon camps behind her.

He shrugged. “I don't know the details ma'am, just that they're all playing ball for the time being.”

Her eyes glanced over at the other camps and her lips curled into pensive though. “I must meet with the headmaster. William Steel Beak, he's inside the Rock?”

“Last I heard, yeah. We all saw you a good while out, they must be prepping a great reception for you inside, ma'am!”

The halls of Tarpian Rock were grander than she imagined. Built up long after her first foray in the icy lands of northern Griffonia from a sturdy, pragmatic wooden fort. As she walked inside William was already waiting for her, the blonde griffon giving her a bow.

What drew her attention were the massive stained glass windows for the main hall, lighting shining through the five of them. On her left she saw Eyr, the mother goddess, surrounded by doves, storks, and swans above her and little kittens by her feet, completely bare with a sapling in her hands. Then Boreas, with an eagle perched on his right shoulder and a lion sitting dutifully beside him, dressed in kingly garb complete with crown and his Idol in his grasp. To her right there was dread Maar with a swarm of crows and ravens, dressed in tattered rags. Next to Maar was Arcturius in full armor with sword in hand, various hawks flying over his head and a tiger ready to pounce on his foes.

The last stained glass window took her breath away and her heart froze.

It was her, wings spread with the sun behind her. No details could be clearly seen, but she knew from many photos of the Summer Sun Celebration of that pose. Unlike the other windows, she was alone, bringing forth the power of the sun.

“Do you like them?” William asked as he approached. “When Desmond Fell-Claw became headmaster Tarpian Rock was already well underway into becoming a proper fortress, but there had been many debates about the windows. Some wanted Arcturius, whom we are named for, to be the head. Others said for Boreas, a few Eyr. One even suggested Maar, claiming that giving him some respect might temper his misdeeds. But headmaster Desmond, he and some others followed a different belief in the Order.”

Celestia turned her attention to William. “The Holy Light. It's not a common belief in Equestria, but some ponies follow it as well, though they call it 'Solarism'. I remember meeting a hoof full of griffons during the Long Night whom devoted themselves to it. The Order allowed it to flourish?”

“Why would we not, when devout believers of it stand against the undead? We accept anyone and everyone willing to fight.” The young knight smiled. “As such, it is good for you to have arrived, Princess Celestia. With you and our new allies we'll be sure to stand against the tide.”

She raised a wing. “Just Celestia, please, and do not consider me so laudable. I am but an old nag doing a good deed to assuage her guilt.”

He considered her for a moment. “As you wish, Celestia, though you came to our aid when asked, without demanding anything in return. Such selflessness is rare to see in a personage so well known.”

William turned and motioned for her to follow. “Truthfully we could have had the might of the entire Reichsarmee, but our roads are poor and keeping them supplied would have been difficult. That, and Archon Eros demanded we swear fealty to the Archons and the Empire as a whole.”

“Victory would have been assured in that case.”

“It would have, but then the Order would be turned into just another cog of their war machine, desperately clawing back to its old power. That is not our purpose, nor our desire. What use is it to win if we forfeit our very souls?” William cracked a grin, ”Granted, there is irony in that given our foe.”

They walked the halls of the cold, stone fortress before finally reaching a set of large doors. William pressed against one to open them before gesturing for Celestia to step inside. Once through she saw that it was a war room, with various ponies and griffons from the Order arrayed around the map table. They all looked up at her as she approached and studied the layout. A few of them bowed their heads in prayer.

“Everyone, this is Celestia, she has answered my summons.”

She could feel them all appraising her, and before anyone else could speak she turned to William. “Do you still have the Shield of Hope?”

Brief shock could be seen on the others out of the corner of her eye, but William merely shook his head. “It had been taken from us a long time ago. We believe it to be held by the League in their dark fortress of Magehold.”

“Heavens forfend. Without the Shield of Hope my sword's power is severely curtailed. No matter, I must make do. What is the plan of battle?”

He motioned to the table and stepped toward it, placing wooden pieces about the beginning of the peninsula. “We've spent many a year rebuilding the forts along the border. They're well stocked with ammunition and supplies and the main plan was to hold the line and let the undead break themselves upon our defenses. With the added support we're received and are going to receive, we will be able to rotate our forces out. The tanks will not be able to be used to the best of their ability, but the added fire support will be helpful.”

One of the Order's ponies spoke up, “It is not the best plan, but it is the best we could do with what we have. We'll hold out for as long as we can to ensure the undead make not a step past us.”

Celestia studied the layout carefully and she walked back and forth along the table, taking care not to disturb the others seated around it. She moved a wing out to tap at several noticeable gaps. “Are you going for a static defensive line or a flexible one?”

“We can only afford to do a static line, but we're not worried. King Meyer sent a message to expect dragons to come to our aid in the coming days. Even if we lack the numbers the sheer might of those legendary creatures will be enough to hold the line,” William said.

She mused on it for a moment. “And you just plan to let them beat against you until their numbers thin, then push to finally take Magehold?”

“We have no other options, we had asked as many as we could for help, but they would only spare soldiers. If even one nation had offered a ship we could have sailed right for Magehold to decapitate their leadership.”

The map showed the bay separating the very end of the Dread Peninsula with the rest of the continent. She looked at it for a few long moments. “I will go. Alone. There is no use in others risking themselves for this.”

“Are you mad?” one of the other griffons said. “If the Dread League were to slay you and raise you as one of their own-”

“If I die my soul will not be forfeit to these dark creatures. I am no mere mortal.”

A whitemaned mare stood up and looked Celestia in the eye. “Your death would completely shatter the morale of the Equestrians and New Marelanders.”

“I said 'if I die', I had fought against masses of the undead once before and came out victorious. This will be no different, I assure you. Victory will be ours,” Celestia looked around. “That said, I will need armor and for my sword's enchantments to be reinforced. Where is your forge? I will not ask the Order to work the enchantments, they're quite old, and I have another in mind for the task.”

Celeste had settled in to study the plans she was given earlier to plot out the best dispersion of the tanks and knights under her command when gold flashed in her tent. She let out a squawk of surprise, fell out of her seat and looked up at the intruder. Celestia stood there with a pleased smile on her face.

“As prelate of Arcturius, you know of metalworking and enchanting?”

The griffon stood up with a frown before she motioned to her black armor. “I forged it myself, and the enchantments will outlast my bloodline.”

“Good, I have a task for you.” The alicorn's horn lit up.

“Wait hold on-”

The world disappeared in bright gold, and when it returned the disoriented prelate crouched down until it all stopped spinning. When her senses realigned she noticed they were in a forge, the heat striking her and making her sweat already. “What in bloody Tartarus was that!?”

“Teleportation. Please, time grows short for us all, and as Proteus' trusted assistant I was hoping for you to be responsible for reforging the enchantments on the Blade of Mercy.”

Celestia presented the sword to the griffon, who took it and studied it carefully. Celeste then looked up to the alicorn with a frown.

“These enchantments, I can feel them. They're old, but manageable. The one though, it's odd. Something to do with your special talent?”

“Yes. It's one to enhance a pony's cutie mark capabilities. If wielded by, say, an earth pony with an apple cutie mark then planting and harvesting apples would be far greater for them.”

Celeste took off her armor and set it aside carefully as she began the process of setting up the forge. Another look over the sword and then she used the bellows to begin heating the coals up to the right temperature.

“I'm not going to melt it down, the steel is still good. But I will need to burn the magic out, recapture it, and then reinvigorate it,” she said as she turned to Celestia, “the Order would have plenty of enchanters and smiths, why me?”

Celestia smiled. “What better message to send Proteus that I'm thankful for his support than to have his favored prelate work on my personal weapon?”

The griffon let out a little snort as she checked the heat before slowly pushing the blade in. “To be made to work on another's trusted weapon before they go into battle. You certainly know how our Archonate works. You best go and get some rest after your journey, it will take me some time to get this working.”

Sparks crackled across the length of the sword as Celeste muttered an ancient prayer, holding her talons dangerously close to the flames. Celestia watched in the flickering light as sweat dappled across the griffon's feathers. The mention of rest hit her as her muscles felt like jelly. A small headache was coming on as she lit her horn once more to teleport out.

The bed was not the most comfortable she had been in, but after being cramped in a plane and walking the wilds it was a gift from the heavens. She stared up at the ceiling, eyelids growing heavy as she wondered how angry her sister still was since Griffenheim. Before she knew it, she found herself laying in the grass, with her younger sister frowning down at her.

“You kept me out.”

“I didn't want a confrontation so soon.”

Luna snorted and pawed at the ground. “You violated Vivienne's sanctity.”

She looked up at her younger sister before turning her head aside. “I'm worried about you and don't want to see you taken advantage of.”

A weary sigh came from the younger sister as she moved to lay next to Celestia. “I had been on guard when I first met her, and it is true that she seeks more out of this relationship than just being with me. To be frank, I have been doing much the same as well. We are both taking advantage of what the other offers, and why should we not? We are honest about it as well.”

“She wants the prestige of being with an alicorn, as well as what agreements can be made with New Mareland.”

Luna nodded. “And I receive Aquileia's military might for when we sail for home. Jet Set and Beakolini have been in talks. It has not been easy for Wingbardy, but there has been a push for their national pride. Helping us means competing with the Aquileians, in a contest of sorts they claim. Griffonstone has their border with the Empire secure, and with assurances from the south and west they will be joining as well.”

Celestia leaned in to nuzzle Luna gently. “I've met personally with Hermann Meyer. Haukland will let you use the dragon islands as a springboard for the invasion, in addition to intel on the changeling navy in the Celestial Sea.”

Luna's ear perked and she turned to her sister. “Celestia, what is wrong?”

She avoided her sister's gaze and shook her head. “Luna, I am heading into the heart of darkness. Maar's power waxes and my only assured path is to reclaim my lost shield, kept in the necromancer's lair.”

“You will be with others, of course. You are not going into this fight alone.”

Celestia did not answer.

“Sister, you are not going there alone, that is ridiculous.”

The older alicorn turned her head to look away.

Luna shot up onto her hooves. “Celestia... No, do not be stupid! You cannot just fly toward that cursed fortress on your own!”

“Going alone would be the fastest course of action, and allow for the least amount of death,” Celestia said in a weak voice.

“You, you could die against such dark forces!”

“I know.”

“Why?!”

When she turned to face her sister her eyes were brimming with tears as they trickled down her face. “Because I'm a failure, Luna! A thousand years, and what came of it? I failed Twilight, Cadance, Sunset. I failed you all those years ago, and on your return? I had to manipulate events to get the right ones in place to have a chance to get you back! And if they weren't enough, if you were still trapped by the Nightmare? I would have had to kill you.”

Luna furrowed her brow. “You made Equestria strong, a beacon of harmony that inspired much of the world! The hippogriffs, the riverlands, Griffonstone!”

“Equestria is gone! It's gone and it is my failures that brought it down! Novo forsook Harmony because they were humiliated in war, the Riverlands is a madhouse that allows slavers in their ranks while River Swirl trembles at the idea of her political rivals attaining power through the processes she so dearly claims to support! Griffonstone... They're perhaps the only light of Harmony that can make something of themselves anymore but they have enemies on all sides waiting to descend upon them.”

She avoided looking in her younger sister's eyes, her wings drooped as she trembled.

“I trusted my ponies to do the right thing, and where did that get us? Severyana broke away because I was ignorant of their plight, which I should have been aware of and yet when I trusted the nobles to do the right thing, they didn't! As the changelings armed themselves we should have been at the forefront of weapons development solely out of self-preservation and we weren't!”

“And so, you would rather die in the north, away from your loved ones, away from Flurry, from Spike, from me? Are you so selfish?” Luna asked, her voice trembling.

“Yes!” Celestia screamed. “Yes I'm selfish! I gambled everything in trying to save you, I built Equestria as it is to give you a place after I denied it to you all those years ago! I'm a selfish nag, Luna, everything I have done has always been for my benefit! I trained my students to try and fulfill my own plans, never considering what they may have wanted, what they may have needed.” Her mouth felt dry and she tucked her legs in tighter.

Their eyes locked and Celestia could see the pain in her younger sister's eyes. “I abandoned you for a thousand years. You would abandon me for eternity?”

She choked on her words and her vision blurred with tears. All she could do was sob and felt Luna wrap her up in her wings.

The morning came and she blinked blearily, feeling completely drained and listless. She rolled slowly out of the bed, enchantments keeping the room mostly comfortable with an undercurrent of a chill. Her hooves touched the floor and she walked over to the window, looking out to the snow-covered lands that stretched out to every horizon. There was a knock on her door.

“Come in,” she said, her voice hollow.

The door opened and she could hear the guest walk over to her before clearing their throat.

“It's done, Celestia. I thought to bring them to your room rather than have you come down to the forge. The sword, and your new armor, are complete,” Celeste said.

“You may leave them on the bed, I will prepare myself soon.”

The griffon hesitated as she placed the blade and armor on the bed then turned to look at Celestia. The alicorn was still looking out the window.

“You do not need to stay, I can armor myself.”

“Is there something wrong, Celestia?”

“Too much is wrong, Celeste. Too much.”

Her ear twitched as she heard the griffon approach, and without prompting she felt the weight of armor being placed on her.

“I dye my feathers,” Celeste began, “I was raised in an orphanage. The archonates provide for the common folk as best they can. I did well in my studies, and I could have gone on to be anything I could have desired. But I wanted to give back to those that helped me, and I joined the Archonate of Arcturius.”

Celestia felt the straps of the barding be adjusted for her, the griffon taking great care to ensure it was fitted properly before securing it.

“We learned all the stories of Griffonia of course. Of ancient Arantiagos, and Karthin, of all those proud empires. If we wanted to, we learned of the other continents as well. Imagine my surprise at a mere ten years old when I learned of the land across the sea, ruled by a nigh-immortal mare of great stature.”

She continued to stare out the window and shifted her wings slightly to let Celeste continue.

“Griffonia had always been marred by war. The Empire was perhaps our chance to bring peace to all griffons. Grover I even had the blessings of Boreas through the Idol! But he died, and his son continued the conquests in a far more brutal matter than any griffon had fought before. He forsook the ancient methods of warfare for bloody reprisals against his foes, and even turned east to bring death to the river ponies. All the while, Equestria was at peace.”

Greaves were next, and Celestia raised each hoof at a time as they were strapped on.

“'Vigilance is ever the price of peace' is an old adage, one found across the world,” Celeste said, “One I took to heart whenever I thought of the eventual end to the wars. When Eros wrested control of the regency, many celebrated but I knew it was a precursor to more bloodshed. I had thought 'why must griffon fight griffon?' Who suffers the most in war? The same commoners that Eros rallied to his cause. All the while I looked west, and when Equestria lost the war, when you fled to New Mareland? I wept.”

Celestia turned her head and looked at Celeste as the griffon made sure the greaves were snug and not too tight.

“I focused a lot on my smithing compared to many of my peers. Proteus himself doesn't know the difference between iron and steel, only as long as it feels good to swing around. He's a good archon for times of war, and yet it seems the Empire is finished and merely waiting for the end to come.”

Finally her helmet was placed carefully upon her head, her aurora mane tucked in carefully. Celestia turned around and Celeste had knelt down, offering the Blade of Mercy to her.

“It had always been a dream of mine to make something for a ruler of great prestige. Whether it be for little Grover when he takes the throne, or for any other that would have eventually claimed Griffenheim. And yet, to have worked on your own blade, to have enchanted your new armor, is something I could not have ever imagined to accomplish in my life. I do not know exactly why you are so somber and sullen this morning, Celestia, but that is not my place to know. Instead, I offer this: When you go to reclaim Equestria I and many others of the Archonate of Arcturius will be there to join you. We serve the god of war, but what war is greater than one with a just cause? Reclaiming the Empire's lands isn't just, but freeing your ponies is.”

Her horn glowed gold as she took the sword and unsheathed it, studying it and the enchantments infused in the metal.

“You've done better than the original enchanters. With this, I can feel my connection to the sun swell.”

“You do not sound pleased.”

“I... It is not you Celeste. For my task ahead, I fly to my death,” Celestia said as she settled the sheath on her back and put the Blade of Mercy away. “I go into the heart of evil itself on the chance to reclaim my shield. Together both sword and shield should end the necromancer threat once and for all. But such black magics can slay me as well.”

“And you wish to go alone.”

“I will die in Magehold, and anyone else that follows will as well.”

Celeste furrowed her brow. “What of your ponies, of your sister and Equestria?”

Celestia moved past the white griffon. “My death will either break their wills or push them forward.”

“You don't sound convinced of that.”

Celestia paused in her steps.

“You don't want to die. You've lost so much already, but so have many others. You're a symbol, and symbols are important.”

The alicorn turned to face Celeste, her armor tempered to shine like gold, the flicker of enchantment sparking across the metal. “Do not tell me what I want,” she said in a stern voice as she stared down at the prelate. “I go to my death. But that does not mean I will not rage against it with all of my might. I walk willingly to the gates of oblivion but they will have to beat me down to take me. This is what all warriors have done since time immemorial. No one goes to battle expecting to survive, only hoping to. Even if my efforts come to naught, it will distract and delay the necromancers enough to give the rest of the soldiers some time, even if just a few precious seconds.”

Celestia turned back around and walked out.

William stopped her in the main hall, the leader of the knights eager to see her suited for battle. “The soldiers will be happy to see you ready to fight alongside them, Celestia,” he said with a smile. “Gods know, to see you in action would be quite a sight to witness!”

She couldn't help but return his smile, but shook her head. “You know already what my task is.”

“I do. I was just hoping to try and convince you from it. I could have any number of knights ready to make the journey themselves if it means ending this threat once and for all.”

Celestia nodded and closed her eyes. “It is my responsibility. I should have burned Magehold down back then, but I didn't. I left the Order my sword and shield should they need them, and yet the Blade of Mercy found its way west as a relic of the Vedinian royal family, and the Shield of Hope stolen by the Dread League. These are my faults to bear, and so I go to rectify my mistakes.”

“Then go with all speed. May the gods watch over you.”

Celestia shivered. “I fear one already does.”

She had wasted no time with goodbyes or speeches. The soldiers were not hers, they had their own commanders and their own orders. She was but a single mare, armed and armored like a knight of eld. Her wings carried her across the sea toward the very end of the Dread Peninsula, a place of the most ancient and evil of magics left in the world. A storm had been growing from there, slowly encompassing not just the peninsula but the waters as well. Freezing rain and chunks of hail fell from the skies, bouncing off of her glowing golden shield of magic. Up ahead in the distance she could see a black tower standing tall, bolts of lightning crashing down onto it and around it. Her face contorted into a grimace as she felt her stomach turn, even out here the sensation of the dark magics infusing the land could be felt.

A bird called.

Startled, she turned her head around and saw the bearded vulture flying behind her, deftly dodging the hail as it crashed down from the skies.

“You! Tell me, are you truly of Maar's lot?!” she shouted at the bird.

It merely cawed out in reply and moved closer, coming under her shield to fly beside her.

“You've been following me since Sunset. Even now, we fly into the depths of evil. I do not know your purpose, but, I suppose I am glad for the company.”

It let out another cry before the two of them continued to fly in silence.

As she approached the coast she could feel her wings grow more and more strained and she had to lower down until her hooves brushed across the icy ground. Celestia worked to find her footing before she tucked her wings in and continued along, her shield being beaten down by hail. As Magehold grew closer and closer she stopped as she looked out across the snowfield, seeing mass disturbances along the ground.

The vulture landed beside her and tucked its wings in, pecking furiously at the ground. It backed away and let out a call before it beat its wings furiously and flew off into the sky.

“That's not from hail,” she stated as she slowly drew the Blade of Mercy from its sheath and held it firmly in her mouth. Her ears twitched as she spun around, a flash of light coming off of her sword as she severed a ghoul's head from its shoulders. The ground trembled as grasping talons and hooves and all manner of appendages came out.

Celestia twirled around in a dance of steel, slicing through the undead as they climbed out of the ground. She could feel one grab onto a hind leg and she kicked with the other, a wet squelch of rotten meat and bone. As she spun around a dark figure trotted over, the undead slowly pulled away as the newcomer's hood came down.

Her mane had been red once, but it had grown pale and limp. Cheeks sunken in with skin peeling to show the desiccated muscles and bones underneath. Despite the look of the dead there was clear amusement in the thing's eyes and her horn sparked with black streaks.

“I never would have guessed that they would have sent you to me. I would have been content with some of their knights to make into minions! Oh, but the fallen princess of Equestria herself, it is as if Maar himself granted you unto me!”

Her horn sparked and a beam of black shot out towards Celestia. She pushed her blade into the magic and the steel flared with gold, heat sizzling off of it. The necromancer laughed at the sight and poured more power into her horn while Celestia kept her grip on her sword, steadily absorbing the energy. Once the spell had ceased she countered, forcing the gathered energy out of her blade as a beam of its own.

The necromancer didn't seem phased as the golden light approached, her horn flaring black before she teleported out of the way. Celestia swung her sword to the left as she slid forward, the necromancer reappearing right in the way. Hot steel tore through the heavy cloak and right into the vulnerable flesh beneath, causing her foe to let out a scream of pain and terror before collapsing into the snow.

Blood, thickened from death, barely oozed out of the slain mage. She pulled back and readied her blade again as more ghouls came crawling out of the ground to surround her. The overwhelming stench of necromantic power filled her as she breathed and made her eyes water.

“Tsk tsk, don't you know anything about liches?”

Caught off guard Celestia turned to see the necromancer rise back up with a rictus grin. She charged forward, thrusting the Blade of Mercy at the fiend when she felt grasping talons on her foreleg, making her trip. Celestia tried to brace herself to recover from the tumble, using her sword as leverage to roll, but as she tried to spin a chunk of hail hit her helmet and caused the metal to ring in her ears. That brief disorientation was all the ghouls needed to grab onto her.

She tried to swing her blade up into the mass of her foes, but she let go of it with a choked gasp as filthy claws found the gaps in her armor and dragged her down into the snow. Her magenta eyes looked up at the pale irises of the lich as the harsh sting of claws sank into her, the straps of her armor being torn away.

“Rosa Maledicta, Queen of Bones. What an honor it is for you to die at my hooves, princess!”

Celestia closed her eyes and her horn flared only for her to cry out as a hoof struck at the side of it. Then another blow to her head, then another, and then all went black as the vulture cried.

Celestia and the God of Death

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The cry of a familiar bird woke her with a start. Her body burned from her myriad injuries, the marks of ghouls having attempted to rip her apart. Blinking blearily she stood up carefully and looked around the barren landscape, save for a bird in a dead tree. Their eyes met, magenta and yellow, and there was sorrow in the vulture's gaze.

"You brought me here, didn't you? But, you didn't have a choice."

It let out a mournful cry before it spread its wings. Celestia watched as it took off into the blackened sky and disappeared into the dark clouds. When she brought her gaze back down, she was in the middle of a graveyard, tombstones as far as the eye could see.

She stumbled forward through the graveyard, along a cracked and broken path. Dead trees cloistered in around her as she looked from grave to grave, countless names she did not recognize. Crows had suddenly appeared in the decaying branches and cried right above her, circling around and waiting to feast. Her lips were dry but every time she tried to wet them with her tongue it felt like sandpaper.

The path ended in front of an ornate, but weathered grave. She stared at it in disbelief and a shiver ran down her spine. Luna's face was carved into the rock, bitterness writ plain in the features.

Here Lies Luna, Betrayed by her Sister.

She backed away and turned, only to smack her face into a monument. In a daze she slumped to the ground and looked up, seeing the stone statue of Cadance, face twisted in terror.

Here Lies Cadance, Abandoned by her Aunt

Her hooves scrabbled against the uneven earth below, going down a well worn path. As she ran along it grew narrower and narrower, thorny branches sticking out into the way and pricking at her face and body. She shut her eyes tight but the moment she did her snout collided hard into solid stone. She staggered backwards in a daze from the blow, blood pouring freely from her nostrils. When her eyes opened her heart froze.

Here Lies Twilight Sparkle, Forsaken by her Teacher

Celestia's horn shone brightly... and sputtered out. The crows above her began to cackle as she backed away from the grave, the stone statue of Twilight looking right at her with eyes full of sorrow. She turned to escape, only to see the graves of Luna and Cadance blocking her path. Continuing to turn she was surrounded by the three graves and she shook her head, sweat and blood running down her neck.

“No, no! I didn't betray you Luna, you told me to go! I didn't even want to at first, but you wanted me to do anything besides mope around! Cadance, oh my dear niece, I would have stayed, I would have had the armies fight to secure passage out of the Empire but the front was just too large and you and Shining gave me Flurry to keep safe! Twilight, Twilight, you know I would never forsake you! You were always so loyal and kind and I paid it back to you in return. I kept begging you to come with me but you didn't want to leave your friends, and I knew how important they were to you. If... if you had come with me, you would have felt as much of a failure as I am!”

The statues grew closer and hemmed her in, pressing against her. She squirmed and tried to climb out. A hind leg got caught and she choked out a gasp as she felt it be crushed. Her foreleg grasped desperately onto the stone Cadance's horn to try and pull away only to hiss in pain as the horn changed into a blade and sliced into her. They pinned her in and she could feel creaking in her bones and muscles as they pressed against her.

“Maar!” she cried out.

The crows cackled louder and flew off of their branches, spinning around in a cyclone of feathers, beaks, and talons. The wind grew harsh and she was blinded by a curtain of oily black feathers. She fell to the ground as the statues vanished, her body screaming in pain from the fresh injuries. The crying of the crows died out, as did the wind, and when she looked up she saw a crow-like griffon, his head a blackened skull. He smiled at her, his beak full of teeth.

“Ah, the Sun Queen has come to me at last. Not my preference of course. Moonshadow would have been more appropriate. Even the vaunted divines of love and camaraderie would have been more fitting than you. Alas, I take what I can get,” the dark god spoke in a voice slick with blood, wet and throaty.

She hobbled up onto three legs and glowered at him. “Why have you dragged me into your realm?” she hissed out, the blood leaking from her nose wetting her lips.

Maar spread his arms out. “Why? You died of course, and in Griffonia I am lord of death.”

With her breathing ragged she stared up at him, the pain in her nose subsiding and the blood clotting up. In her crushed hind leg she could feel the bones scraping against one another, pain shooting through as they worked to realign.

“Why torment me with these graves then? Luna's not even dead!”

Maar's smile widened. “So you do believe the Librarian and the Matchmaker are truly gone.”

She grit her teeth as she limped on two legs, trying to back away from him. Her horn flared but the magic was quickly snuffed out.

“Your connection to the sun is irrelevant here. This is a realm of death and madness,” the deity proclaimed with a dismissive wave of his hand.

“The sun can cause death too!” she shouted, gold forming along her horn once again and shooting a beam. The magic sputtered out before it reached Maar and the divinity gave an amused clacking of his beak.

“You try and try and try, yet your failures are many. Too many to count. And now that you are within my grasp your failures shall continue to grow! Look, let us see the paths you have set those closest to you upon...”

He spread his wings wide and darkness surrounded her. She tried to cast her magic to dispel it, but was swiftly engulfed in the oily black.

She stumbled out of the shadows into a crowded changeling city. There was panic in the streets, soldiers directing civilians while the civilians tried not to trample around in terror. She looked around before her ears perked up at the sound of an air raid siren.

“See now one of the greatest weapons ever conceived,” Maar said.

There was a flash of light in the distance, then a roar. A wave of pressure shot right on through, breaking glass and throwing changelings around as they screamed in terror. Celestia raised her injured hoof to shield her face in reflex. The light continued to spread further and further, a shimmering pink shield.

“Cadance...?” She asked with a furrowed brow.

As it passed over, buildings were obliterated, changelings turned to ash. As suddenly as it came, it vanished, leaving a large crater where the city center once was. In a daze she walked over to the edge of the crater, still limping on her legs. She looked down, and her jaw dropped at what stood in the center.

“Flurry!”

Clad in armor of blood red crystal, as tall and lean as Luna. From the distance Celestia could see that her eyes were slits. Her heart sank at the realization of what stood before her as Flurry Heart took to walking out of the crater.

“Look at what she will grow up to be because of you, you weak nag,” Maar hissed out into her ear, disgust oozing in his words. “You did this to her.”

“No! No!” She cried out as she stumbled over the edge of the crater. “No, not Flurry, why would she give in like this?”

“What else was she to do with everyone else gone?”

Celestia stumbled again and right before her snout hit the ground shadows came around once more. She wound up falling flat on the ground in a muddy field, artillery roaring. Close by she saw a command camp with the Imperial colors being assaulted by various young dragons, cries of terror from the griffon soldiers as they were overwhelmed by their numerically inferior but vastly more powerful foes.

She watched in horror as a particular purple one easily slew a griffon in his path. “Spike?”

“Twilight gone, you gone, who else could he turn to but his distant kin?”

Her eyes widened. “Meyer.”

“Yes. Conqueror of the dragons, king of Vedina! Without you, what point would there be in helping Equestria? Ah, the whelp will grow up to be a good and proper dragon in time. Not without any old mares holding him back.”

She raised her cut hoof out to Spike, seeing the griffon blood streaked across his arms. Then much like before darkness enveloped her.

The room was dark and quiet, but she recognized it right away as the den of their home in New Mareland. Dust has covered the furniture, the curtains drawn shut.

“What is the moon without the sun?” Maar hissed into her ear.

Celestia bolted right for Luna's room, her heart racing as she barged through the doors. Once inside she saw Luna just staring out the window. In the reflection she could see her sister's face sunken in, heavy bags under her eyes. Her body trembled as she approached and saw the skin so tight that Luna's ribs were showing through.

“Oh, she still felt miserable for leaving you for a thousand years, and you repaid her in kind by leaving her for eternity! What immortal sister could stand such a loss?”

Luna's horn glowed and day slowly shifted to night.

“She... she still moves the sun and moon for the world.”

“She did not forget her duties to others.”

Celestia turned around, the room vanishing into mist, leaving her and Maar in the infinite graveyard. New gravestones, with carvings of all sorts of ponies. Fancy Pants, Blueblood, Sunset Shimmer, the Pillars, and many, many more whom she had known throughout her life. Maar remained standing before her, his arms spread wide.

“And now, because of you, innumerable dead will continue to call for vengeance, for succor, for reasons why.”

She looked at one particular grave. Somnambula. Unlike all the twisted visages of pain and fear of the other graves, she was at peace. Clarity of purpose ignited inside and quenched the fear that threatened to drown her.

“...Hope.”

“Hmm, what is this now, nag?”

Celestia turned to Maar and stomped a hoof into the ground. “I had forgotten my roots. The Pillars, their virtues never truly matched equally to the Elements. Hope begets Kindness, but it is still something unique of itself. I forsook Harmony as Equestria knows it now... but that just means I must embrace Harmony as it used to be!”

Maar began to laugh, his cackling the clatter of bones. “Harmony? Death is the only harmony here, Sun Queen!”

Another stomp of the hoof, this time causing the stones beneath to shatter into dust. “If I cannot be honest, then I can be strong!”

“Strength withers away.”

“If I cannot be loyal, then I can be brave!”

“It takes but one moment of doubt for cowardice to sink in.”

“If I cannot be generous, I can inspire beauty!”

“A vapid thing.”

“If I cannot make others laugh, then I can heal them!”

“Wounds scar.”

“If I cannot have the magic of friendship, I can still commit to sorcery!”

“Such powers have languished too long.”

“And if I cannot be kind, I can inspire hope!”

“Hope is the first step on the road of disappointment.”

Celestia took in a deep breath, her horn pulsing with power. She shot a blast of magic directly at Maar.

It dissipated right before him and his cackling grew louder, ringing in her ears. Barbed chains shot up out of the ground and wrapped around her, hooks biting into her flesh and dragging her down.

“What a grand and intoxicating innocence!” he laughed as he looked down, another chain going around her neck to keep her flush to the ground. “How could you be so naive? This is the realm of the dead, my realm! There is no Harmony to be had here other than the peace of the grave! I should end your miserable existence, but oh I am enjoying this!”

She struggled against the chains, feeling how they bit into her skin. New tears were made, blood weeping from fresh wounds. Celestia looked up at Maar and his jovial expression, the skull somehow grinning without flesh. Her breathing slowed and she closed her eyes.

“I am weak,” she confessed readily. “I am weak, because I am afraid. I was always afraid of losing myself like Luna had. Like Flurry will.”

“Ah, such a sweet sound, greater than any siren's song! The Sun Queen, admitting she will never rise again.”

Her eyes shot open, and there had been a change. Instead of magenta her irises were a deep yellow, almost gold. “I did not say that.”

Maar watched as her mane shifted from the aurora to roiling flames and his laughter continued. “Ah, so you are embracing the Nightmare within! Do you think letting her take over will help you?”

A flash of light erupted from her and the chains melted off, the alicorn standing up onto all fours and glaring at Maar.

“Take over? No. I am not my sister. This power is not some separate entity to keep locked away. It is my power to use when needed and I have need of it now.”

“You cannot escape the realm of the dead, Sun Queen,” Maar stated.

“I could not, if I was dead. But I am still very much alive Maar and I. Am. Leaving!”

The god let out a screech at her as oily shadows tried to grasp onto her before the heat of her flames boiled them away, barbed chains melting as soon as they erupted out of the ground. The dead grass and trees began to char from the heat and the alicorn's horn flared with the power of the sun, then she vanished with raging solar winds.

As she forced herself out of the godly realm, she could hear clattering bones ring through her ears, a blood-slick voice laughing uproariously.

“Go forth and bring death upon your foes!”

Rosa and the Sun Goddess

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The halls of Magehold were deathly cold and quiet, the legions of the undead already marching to reinforce the front lines. The Council had convened to determine the fate of the fallen alicorn, whether to make her a mere trophy or to revive her as an undead servant. The Queen of Bones hummed a long forgotten tune as she looked through the great library for any references on how to deal with the corpse of a creature as grand as an alicorn.

Tome after tome did not hold any answer and it had already been some days since they brought Celestia in. They had stitched up her wounds and properly embalmed her, leaving her in the ritual chamber until something could be considered. Rosa put yet another book away before letting out an annoyed sigh.

“Her journey here had been more troublesome than I believed. We're even fighting dragons now! Hmph. Even in defeat the vaunted princess can bring disparate groups together for a common purpose.”

With a toss of her limp mane Rosa trotted out of the library, deep in thought when an explosion rocked through the ancient fortress.

“What?! We're being attacked?!”

The lich took off toward the chambers of the Council, robes flapping as undead servants scurried around in preparations for battle. Another explosion, further away, but still rocked her enough to almost throw her off of her hooves. She shot a beam of black at the door to the chambers and hurried inside, various other liches and vampires in heated discussion.

“What's going on?!” she demanded of them.

“Oh Queen Rosa, Celestia has risen!” one of the councilors said.

“What? Who raised her without my presence!?”

“No one. She walks without us having done anything to her,” another said, trembling in fear.

“That's impossible! She was torn apart by our ghouls!”

Another explosion caused Rosa's ears to twitch and she noticed the ambient temperature began to rise. She scurried over to where they kept the Shield of Hope, and now Celestia's sword as well. Trophies, but also potent magical items to be used. Without caring for their protests she claimed the sword and felt her magic surge in response. Her dead eyes seemed to shine with necromantic energy.

“With this kind of enchantment I could end her easily!” she proclaimed to the others. “Come, channel your might into me and we will put her down!”

The others quickly rallied in, pooling their power into the lich queen. With the Blade of Mercy in her possession combined with the magic flowing into her Rosa felt every web of necromantic power in Magehold, connecting her to all of the undead inside and out. She reached out with her own magic, organizing the undead defenders of Magehold, channeling spells to set up traps and obstacles. The fires of the sun she could also sense, and they took notice of her actions.

She felt triumphant in noticing that Celestia had ceased to move as the lich continued to weave the spells. Wards of containment, of binding, of dulling the senses, all to trap the alicorn. Once it was all finished, she felt well and truly proud of the power coursing through her body.

Celestia moved.

The spells unraveled.

Walls and floors were demolished.

She headed directly towards the council chambers.

Panic rose in her bosom as all of the might gathered together was torn to shreds until finally the center of the room erupted in holy fire. Rosa backed away, panic in her throat as she looked upon an alicorn much like Celestia, and yet quite different.

Her white coat was flecked with gold accents, mane shimmering like a halo and her tail much the same. The alicorn's eyes struck fear deep into the lich, gold irises with red sclera. She looked around at the arrayed necromancers and let out a snort.

“You are all mere foals playing with spells for a god that does not care for you. Let me end this charade.”

Her horn flared up, bright golden rays of the sun blinding the necromancers. Rosa's horn lit up in response, a black beam hitting at the alicorns horn.

“You seek to save your comrades? How noble of you,” the alicorn said with honest approval in her tone.

The lich gasped as her spell was nullified without effort and she heard screams as one by one the council were reduced to ashes. She picked up the Blade of Mercy and threw it with all of her might, the steel sinking into the alicorn's side. There was a surprised yelp that turned into a chortle.

“You have wounded me! I am impressed, Rosa. But Sol Invicta is not as easily felled as Celestia!”

Rosa quickly threw up a magic shield that shattered under a beam of sunlight and the shockwave threw her back into the wall. The Shield of Hope came clattering down right on top of her and she heard the alicorn's hooves approach. Shivering she grasped onto the shield and held it up between her and oblivion. For long, agonizing moments she cowered beneath it until she felt the temperature of the room die down. Cautiously, she peeked over the rim.

Standing before her was a pure white alicorn, her aurora mane wavering with no wind. Magenta eyes, so tired and yet so relieved, looked down at the lich. Gently the giant laid down on the floor and kept looking at Rosa.

She looked around the room, several of the others ashen stains on the floor, but many more cowering or retreating from the room. Rosa looked back, but kept the shield up. The alicorn put on a gentle smile.

“Hello Rosa.”

“H-hello.”

“I am curious to know why you're up here with the League. Are you from the riverlands?”

Slowly she shook her head. “No. I-I'm from Equestria. I'm here because...” Carefully while still keeping the shield up she pulled her robes up to show off her cutie mark.

The alicorn closed her eyes and nodded. “I see. Other ponies shunned you for it then. For your special talent being something you had no control over.”

“Yes. I tried to make friends, but they always betrayed me, abandoned me.”

“That is not what our values are. I'm so ashamed one of my little ponies had to find acceptance all the way out here, like this. Could you forgive an old nag for her ignorance?”

"There is-" Rosa paused and she furrowed her brow as she looked at the alicorn before her. "You have nothing to apologize to me for. You can't know everything and save everyone."

"Perhaps. But it is wrong for me to not try. To ignore the plight of those one could conceivably save is not wisdom - it is indolence, and my indolence has cost so much." Slowly she held her hoof out to the lich. “Rosa, it will be a difficult journey, but one you will not walk alone. Will you accept my friendship?

She blinked in surprise at the offer. “But, why?”

“I could have burned this entire place down, but I saw myself in the Shield of Hope as you held it up. I saw what such a path would lead me down. I am not Daybreaker. There will be a world for ponies, griffons, for everyone to live in and enjoy. I will not be a queen of ashes when another path lay open.”

“And what path lay before me?”

The alicorn smiled. “Whichever you wish. If I had known about you before you ran away I would have done what I could to get you the right help, the right teachers. I know my sister would have been glad to take you as a student.”

Rose shook her head. “I killed you. I want to end the world! And yet you're offering me, what, redemption? Why?”

The magenta eyes closed. “Because my sister had tried to do something very similar, and if I could have stopped her from falling to darkness before it was too late then I would have. You, and the rest of the League, you already fell but,” Her eyes opened and she gave an earnest smile. “Everypony, nay, everyone deserves another chance, don't you think?”

Shakily she lowered the shield and gingerly touched her hoof to the alicorn's. “A friend... Okay. I want to be friends, Princess Celestia.”

“Thank you, Rosa.”

Princess Celestia

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“Have all the arrangements been made?” Celestia asked as she organized the files on her desk, putting some of them away in a drawer for later.

Jet Set nodded as he motioned to a report in front of her. “Yes princess, the ceremony for the carrier naming will be at the time listed.”

“The HMS Twilight Sparkle. I think Rainbow Dash would be more appropriate, but I appreciate the gesture,” she said with a smile. “About the meeting, no delays from the others I hope?”

“King Meyer flew in some hours ago but we lost track of him in the city.”

“Ah, he's bar hopping.”

“Prime Minister Beakolini, President Gilda, Headmaster William, and Queen Vivienne have also arrived not too long ago. We've received word that Queen Novo's ship will be docking in an hour as well.”

Celestia nodded. “That will be all Jet Set, thank you.”

He bowed and left the office, leaving Celestia to continue working through the papers. She hummed a gentle tune when the phone began to ring. Her brow furrowed as it rang, and rang. Finally she picked it up.

“This is Princess Celestia, to whom am I speaking to?”

“I need to get a new mirror, mine's broken,” a familiar voice said over the line.

She jumped out of her seat. “Sunset!”

“Princess!”

“Oh Sunset, where are you? Are you doing all right? Is the information we got from the resistance accurate?”

The unicorn on the other side of the line laughed gently at the questioning. “I'm fine, I'm sitting in governor Larynx's office right now making this call. We have the entire government building helping us out!”

“I- what- you have one of the changeling governors helping out?!”

“Yeah! We kept our links under wraps, we didn't even let the information we passed to New Mareland know, but we heard what's going on over there.”

Celestia shuffled through her papers until she found the right one. “The Austral Protectorate- Sun and Moon!”

“It's not going to be the easiest landing sites I know, but everypony here will be working to help you out, as well as plenty of changelings too. I have to cut this short and get out of here, because of everything coming from Griffonia the changelings have started auditing the protectorates.”

She nodded. “Stay safe Sunset, please. We already lost Twilight, and losing you-”

“Princess, please... We have a lot to talk about, so I'm not bowing out just yet. Just get over here as soon as you can. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye.”

The disconnection noise ran and she hung up her receiver, then slumped in her chair with tears. “Oh Sunset, thank goodness you're all right.”

“I am rather surprised you're not stumbling about like a newborn chick, Hermann,” she said to the king as they walked side by side.

“What can I say? I can hold my liquor better than most!”

“Just try to behave yourself, will you? This is a very important meeting we're about to have.”

The griffon waved a hand dismissively. “I've already pledged my support, do you really need anyone else?”

Celestia couldn't help but giggle. “If we want to not be driven back into the sea after landing, yes.”

“Eh, good point I guess!”

As they turned a corner Luna was waiting for them.

“Ah, sister, King Meyer. Your highness, may I ask you to go ahead? I must speak with my sister for a moment.”

Hermann tipped his hat a bit at Luna. “Of course, I'll try to keep Beakolini from being strangled by Novo.”

Luna gave a thin-lipped smile as he walked away before turning back to Celestia. “He has no idea how right he may be. Gilda and Novo both.”

“We can handle it Luna.”

“You know you could have sent someone to fetch Meyer,” her sister said as they began to walk.

“I could have, but he would have likely ignored them, or worse.”

Luna shook her head. “If we did not have need of his fleets, or the dragons I would say toss him out.”

Celestia couldn't help but giggle and gently nudged Luna. “You don't like him?”

“He is crass, crude, and I think of him the way you do of Vivi.”

She shook her head. “What? You think- Oh goodness Luna, no!” Celestia let out a laugh. “Hermann and I are friends, and there is nothing more to it than that. He's still in love with his wife, and you know I never had any interest in romance in the first place.”

“So much has changed so rapidly since you received that letter, has it not?” Luna mused. “Flurry has thrown herself into her studies, Spike has taken on learning trades. You felled an ancient foe and redeemed them besides. I have learned much about myself.”

“And fallen in love besides,” Celestia said in a neutral tone.

“It is a mutual arrangement sister, I have told you.”

“...I'm just glad you're happy, even if I don't approve of it.”

Luna leaned in and nuzzled Celestia gently as they stood in front of the doors. “We are sisters and we are in this together. Never shall we abandon one another, for any reason.”

“We may act apart, but always to ensure our path ahead is clear.”

They smiled at one another before they opened the doors, their allies arranged around the large, circular table. Celestia's horn lit up as she pulled out several maps and other papers to pass them around to the others.

“Friends and allies, it is good to have you with us. Before you is the preliminary foundations of the task before us, the liberation of Equestria. It will be no simple task, but an opportunity has arisen. The Austral Protectorate's governor is willing to support our efforts. We will all have to coordinate our militaries with one another and form a single allied command structure to utilize. It will not be easy, but we must make haste. Each passing moment is one which the changelings grow more and more bold. Even now King Meyer can tell of how they have been attempting to raid the dragons and Haukland itself in punitive measures."

"They stopped trying to attack the dragons after the first couple times, but Haukland is more vulnerable it's true," Meyer looked through the papers he had been given and his eyes shone with delight. "Oh, oh I have a great idea here folk!"

Beakolini crossed his arms over his chest. "That's why we're here isn't it? To get great ideas for one of the biggest wars the world will ever see?"

Novo shot the prime minister a glare while she spoke to Celestia. "Aris stands with Equestria to make up for when we could not before. Already we have been moving our fleets to Cross Island to ready for the invasion."

"So, is there a name for this big plan of ours? Something really wow the world, like maybe Operation Overlord?"

"I hadn't considered it, President Gilda, but now that you mention it..." Celestia smiled. "Operation Alicorn Sunrise."

The sisters sat on the balcony as the day was winding down, Celestia sipping her hot tea while Luna drank coffee and smoked.

“I hate that you picked up that habit.”

“I do not smoke near the children, and only outside. It is oddly relaxing,” Luna said as she flicked some ash into the tray. “It truly is something special, Aquila at night. You should experience it for yourself when you have the chance. Perhaps after we have retaken our home.”

Celestia smiled softly as she stared out at the waters, the sunset in Sunset truly something beautiful to admire. “Perhaps.”

Silently a bird landed on the railing, the bearded vulture's wings spread to keep its balance before it was comfortable. It did not stare at the sisters, instead also looking out to the waters.

“Will you be joining us to Equestria?” Celestia asked the bird casually as she took a small sip of her tea.

It turned its head to look at her briefly then turned back to the water. With a cry it spread its wings and took off west as the royal sisters watched.

"An ill omen, that bird."

"Maar is watching, sister. He has always been watching us."

Luna frowned at her sister. "They do not speak to us. They never have."

Celestia sipped her tea.