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||- Chapter 13 -||
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>You instinctively take a step back in response to the blinding flash, cradling the Orb close to your chest with both hands and crouching low to the deck in order to keep it safe. The rest of the ponies follow suit, some crying out in surprise or fear as they avert their eyes.
>But as quickly as the light appeared, it vanishes once again, as if the sun were suddenly extinguished in the middle of the day. You cautiously open one eye in an attempt to get your bearings, a chorus of shocked pony voices ringing out before your irises can even manage to adjust.
>"Holy horseapples, it's gone!"
>"My word!"
>"Wowsers!"
>"What in tarnation?!"
>You blink a few times and turn your head to the portion of the rail where all the crew has gathered. The Harbinger remains in the sky where you last saw it, shrieking pony spirits swirling around the damaged vessel like small gnats near a lamppost at night. At first you're unsure what the ponies are all so distraught over, but then you realize...
>The section of sky which once held the rapidly sinking Concordia is empty!
>You rush over to the rail and peer at the portion of the city where the crash would've taken place.
>Nothing. No signs of damage or any sort of disturbance. A glance through your binoculars reveals not even a single piece of debris on the ground...
"What the hell just happened?"
>Unlike the others, Celestia doesn't seem surprised at all as she looks to the crippled airship's last position. The tears which flowed from her beautiful eyes mere moments ago have dried and her expression seems to be a mix of both contemplation and resignation. You open your mouth to speak to her, but before the words can emerge, the day's next surprise decides to make itself known.
 
>There's a crackle of energy followed by a short burst of light. A rift opens nearby and to everyone's amazement, out tumbles the Princess of the Night. She crashes into the deck and somersaults forward a few times before coming to a stop near your feet, her limbs splayed in all directions, mane and tail matted and wild as if she just rolled out of bed after getting only an hour of sleep. The rest of the ponies are frozen in place at the sight, save for the white alicorn who begins quickly trotting over to stand at your side.
>Slowly, Luna lifts her head and blinks her eyes a few times before training them on you.
>"Move..."
>She mutters the word in her typical bitchy tone, pausing to shake her head and clear her dizziness away. You cross your arms and frown, biting back the urge to tell her off, when her eyes suddenly snap to attention and she leaps to her hooves, her face mere inches from your own.
>"Move! Move! Move the ship! MOVE THE SHIP! WE HAVEN'T TIME!!"
>Celestia steps back in shock. "Lulu... you didn't..."
>"We had no choice! We needed a suitable nearby focus for the spell! For the love of the Moon, MOVE THE SHIP, APE!!"
>As much as you hate to admit it, when Luna yells at you to do something you feel a strange compulsion to get it done. You rush over to the ship's controls, still not fully understanding why she's so insistent...
>...until a huge flaming piece of hull tumbles from somewhere above you, nearly clipping the Dawn Star's prow as it plummets to the earth.
"HOLY--!!"
>Without any further doubt or hesitation, you slam the throttle into reverse. The ship rockets backwards at max speed, and as it does the burning mass of the Concordia comes into view once more.
>Rainbow's jaw drops at the sight. "It was bucking -ABOVE US-?!"
>"Ah... ah just... how in the hay...?" Applejack falls back on her haunches next to her, completely at a loss.
 
>"What did I just say about language?!" Rarity manages to tear her gaze away in order to give both of them a disapproving look before gulping and returning her attention to the spectacle once again.
>You don't stop moving until you're nearly a mile away from the sinking ship. With the storm now dispersed, all of you have a completely unobstructed view as you watch the great vessel's remains smash into a vast swath of open farmland near Canterlot Mountain's southeastern edge. There's a deafening crash followed by an erupting pillar of earth centered at the point of impact, which sends dirt and debris raining upon the other sunken airships of Luna's fleet and the landed lifeboats from the Concordia arrayed nearby only one field over. A series of small shields appear around the survivors on the ground, the unicorns among them diligently channeling to protect their comrades from the resulting hail of fire, splinters and stones.
>Yet despite all the carnage, the Princess of the Night closes her eyes and smiles at the sight.
>"It is done... the city has been spared. For the moment, at least..."
>Luna releases the breath she was holding and falls back to the deck in utter exhaustion, the adrenaline in her system finally wearing off.
>"Lulu...!"
>Celestia kneels by her side, and all the other ponies quickly gather around the collapsed alicorn. For the first time, you notice that the mystical, starry properties of her mane and tail are strangely absent now, leaving what appear to be azure strands of hair in their place, much like Cel's strawberry curls. She takes in large gulps of air for a few moments, her chest heaving, before focusing her gaze on her sister.
>"Moving... an object... of such a size, including all its separated pieces, is quite taxing without an amplifier. We dearly hope... we won't need to make a habit of this, though knowing your protege we fear this is merely wishful thinking..."
 
>Celestia smiles and shakes her head. "She's still young and has much left to learn, so I suspect you're right. Especially when you take our own history into account."
>The tired alicorn sighs, ears drooping. "Please do not remind us. We don't think we can cope with any more past mistakes resurfacing this day..." She lifts her head and turns it toward the Harbinger, still stationary far in the distance, and Celestia's gaze follows.
>"It's just like with Balios a millennia ago. The Shard's manipulation of its bearer, the chamber and the emergence of the spirits..."
>Luna nods. "Indeed, little doubt remains. Though this time the abominable device is married to a powerful mobile weapon which we were unable to destroy. Despite the damage it suffered, it is still far beyond the capability of the military to contain, and with the Concordia lost and our magic nearly exhausted, we fear there is little hope of stopping it."
>Fluttershy trembles nearby, retreating into her mane. "So... so you're saying there's nothing we can do...?"
>"But that can't be true! What about Twilight?!" Pinkie pleads, more concern on her face than you think you've ever seen before.
>Luna flashes the scared ponies a tired smile. "There is little hope, but that does not mean none exists. As long as there are those willing to stand up for the weak, to shepherd the lost, and to teach those who seek truth, the evils of this world shall never prevail."
>She turns to Celestia, her cyan eyes meeting her sister's own, and her soft smile still present.
>"There is a story, long lost to the ages, of two scared fillies who swore an oath to do all these things in the face of the insurmountable, despite their inability, ignorance and imperfections. And though they stumbled many times along the way, their resolve forged a lasting harmony that to this day, and through countless trials, remains unbroken. And we are certain that tomorrow still, unbroken it shall remain."
 
>A single midnight blue hoof is carefully placed level upon the deck, followed by another, and then two more as the Princess of the Night rises, her legs still shaking from her exhaustion. She nearly stands eye to eye with Celestia now, and you feel like you can almost hear the unspoken words traveling between them. Luna turns away first, stepping toward and then around the white alicorn, stopping just as their shoulders meet. Using the same calm tone, she utters the words:
>"Sister... thou art needed."
>Celestia closes her eyes, a similar tired smile forming on her lips.
>"I know."
>The two intertwine their necks together in a pony-hug, and again you see the glimmer of tears as they form in your loved one's eyes.
>"It... must've been difficult to watch your big sister so easily turn away from her responsibilities, especially so soon after your return. Even I was surprised by how deeply I wanted this chance. I suppose I rationalized it away by telling myself it was likely never to come, and then when it finally did I was left unprepared to answer my heart's yearning cry."
>Luna sniffles as she leans into her sister. "It was disconcerting, yes. We always felt that of the two of us, thou wert the greater in strength of will and devotion to the oath. But despite all that happened, we do not blame thee. Though it angered us, we fully understood thy feelings. After our own rebellion and the thousand years that followed, how could we not?"
>"I know, Lulu. I suspected as much when you banished me from Canterlot for a hundred years. I recognized it instantly... you weren't punishing me, you were attempting to give me a gift."
>The smaller alicorn sighs. "Would that you could have had all hundred, but it appears it was not meant to be."
>Cel's tired smile becomes radiant as she pulls back from the hug and blinks away her tears. She turns to you, those deep, storied eyes meeting your own.
 
>"It's alright. Though the time was brief, I can safely say that I enjoyed every minute of it, from the bottom of my heart."
>She moves until she's standing in front of you now, that deeply conflicted expression from before stealing her smile away.
>"Anon... my precious human. I don't know how to ask this of you; I dearly wish I didn't, but I..."
>You place your free hand upon her cheek, brushing a falling tear away with your thumb.
"It's alright. You don't have to say it."
>She sniffles and leans into your palm. "I know I told you this would be your choice, and I know I told you I would respect your decision. But Anon, I truly felt that given enough time to reflect, and given that I could properly express my love for you, you would eventually choose to join me. You likely don't understand the fear I hold for the day you'll be taken from me by time. There are many tragedies I've borne, but this... I don't know if I'll ever be able to recover..."
>You move in and share a tender kiss with her, mixing your breath as you pull apart.
"A wise mare once told me that since the past is the past and the future is unwritten, we should learn to focus on the present. You just said you enjoyed every minute of our time together, and I feel the same way. If that time really is limited, then let's put fear aside and make the most of it. Remember our promise?"
>"I remember. And I'll be leaning on you, my human, so please be there to hold me."
>You chuckle, your fingers dancing through the fringe of her mane.
"I'll try my best, but you're a pretty big pony, Cel."
>"Oh. So you're saying I'm fat, then."
>Though she attempts to assume an annoyed tone, her smile betrays her.
"I'm saying you're my big pony. And again, it's one of the many, many, many reasons I love you."
 
>Your hand trails down her neck and she pulls you into a hug, her one unbandaged wing wrapping you in a soft embrace. You bring your other hand up as you step away, opening your fingers to reveal the Orb of Ascension shining in your palm.
"You told me to treasure this, and I do. But I treasure you more, and that's why I offer it to you willingly. A treasure for a treasure... a decent exchange, don't you think?"
>Her hoof reaches forward and hesitantly touches the Orb, which shines even brighter as the magic within it surges. She smiles and blinks a few tears away.
>"If... if you were to propose to me right now, I'd accept this in place of a ring."
>You laugh and shake your head, a few unbidden tears of your own escaping.
"One thing at a time, you crazy horse."
>She giggles again, then carefully swallows the stone. The surrounding ponies all take a cautious step back as if expecting some kind of huge spectacle to occur, but after several moments there doesn't seem to be any noticeable change in Celestia's appearance. She trots in place, lazily stretching each individual limb, with an unreadable expression on her face.
>Surprisingly, it's Fluttershy who breaks the uncomfortable silence.
>"Um... did it work?"
>The white alicorn doesn't answer. Instead, she curls up on the deck, her back presented to you and a pleading look in her eyes. You immediately recognize what she wants, and even though you don't understand why, her expression compels you to go along with her request. Once again, you walk over and straddle that broad white back and she rises to her hooves. You can feel her muscles move and stretch as she tests them and adjusts herself to your weight before trotting over to the ship's rail where the Harbinger is looming far in the distance.
 
>"It's already been proven that my words will not reach her, Anon. I fear that nothing I say at this point will be enough. But you... you can likely sway her heart, which is why I'll need you with me."
"Okay, but what're you--"
>She turns her head to address the others.
>"The rest of you... please keep a safe distance away. It's difficult to predict how she'll react, especially now that the resonance chamber's been damaged."
>Mac nods. "Don't you worry none, ah'll keep us out'a harm's way."
>"Thank you," she replies, taking a few steps away from the rail and turning now to her sister. "No slight meant to you, Lulu, but I feel that this night has lasted long enough."
>Luna smiles, nodding in agreement. "Indeed. 'Tis time to begin the day. Our little ponies yearn for their sun."
>And then the younger sister's soft smile turns mischievous as her gaze moves to you.
>"A word of advice. Resist the urge to close your eyes. You shall thank us later."
>...What?
>Celestia turns and trots to the opposite rail, this time facing the yellow and orange band of light that divides the land from the sky. She breathes deep of the cool night air, then takes several steps back.
"Whoa. Whoa, wait a minute, Cel. Don't get any ideas. Your wing's still--"
 
~~[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypNgvc6c6Cc ]~~
 
>A warm smile forms upon her lips as she turns her head back, her wild strawberry mane dancing in the wind.
>"Cast your fear aside and lean on me, Anon. I'm here with you, now and forever."
>Once again, she faces the hidden sun in the distance, her smile undiminished. The horizon's light dances in her eyes as it highlights the stark contrast between her white coat and the many bandages and burns that cover her injured body.
>Her one good wing twitches, almost daring to flutter, and you feel the other strain against its restraints.
>You can feel her every movement through your shared contact, and through them you can feel her yearning as she reaches out to some unseen force beyond the veil.
>A step back, and then another. Her body tenses, and then she is free as she runs and leaps above the rail.
 
~~[ 0:45 ]~~
 
>You lose all sense of weight and balance as you both plummet toward the ground below.
>A scream nearly escapes your lips, but dies in your throat when your attention is captured by the strange warmth radiating from her.
>The fields near the base of the mountain grow ever closer.
>The warmth burns the bandages away.
>You grip her mane ever tighter.
>You force your eyes to remain open.
>You trust in her, and two white wings unfurl.
 
~~[ 1:10 ]~~
 
>And with a beat of those wings, she levels off at the very last moment, so close to the ground that you can nearly reach out and touch the tall reeds growing in the field below.
>She doesn't attempt to rise, instead following the contours of Canterlot Mountain's foothills as they pass by underneath you.
>You glance to the side, and to your amazement her injured wing, its feathers once burned away by the Trials, is now fully healed.
>The many wounds which once marred her body, gone.
>You feel a strange sensation in your palms, and turn back to see her mane beginning to shimmer.
>The strawberry curls, now warm to the touch, lose their definition and melt into one another.
>You glance behind you to witness her tail leaving a pale pink trail in the sky, as if she were a paintbrush moving across a canvas.
>A band of cobalt blue emerges, intertwining with the pink, almost indistinguishable from the midnight blue sky.
>Bright turquoise is next, borne from the other colors with its own distinctive shine.
>And finally, the cerulean streak appears, the color of the summer sky on a sunny day.
>The four colors merge and dance together before aligning into their own distinctive bands within her mane and tail, and the warm, familiar ethereal light of your memory is made real once again.
>The pastel rainbow trail she leaves behind diffuses into the darkness the further she flies, its colors fading away with distance but the sparkling bursts of light within them still lingering in the air like fireflies.
>You can feel the joy flow through her as she stretches her legs and places them upon the ground, her wings still spread wide and capturing the air, to playfully gallop along before the next beat pulls the both of you just high enough for her hooves to lose contact with the earth.
>She beats her wings once more and focuses her gaze on the burning horizon, a familiar golden aura encompassing her horn.
 
~~[ 2:52 ]~~
 
>Her magic moves through you and into the distance.
>You can feel it now. The sun pulses with light and life. It mirrors her heartbeat, which in turn mirrors your own.
>She reaches out, and you feel it.
>Your own arm reaches too, imitating her magic, even if you're not sure if you can grasp it.
>She takes hold of the great star, and through her you can feel its weight in your palm.
>With a grand beat of her wings, she rockets into the sky, straight upward, and pulls.
>You feel the weight in your hand shift, and you pull as well.
>You want to help, even if you're not sure you can.
>With one hand on her mane, and the other thrust downwards toward the horizon, you struggle against the unseen force as she soars higher and higher.
>And then it shifts...
>And the sun begins to rise.
>The light of dawn stretches across the world.
>As it always has, as it always will.
>You watch in awe as it pushes the darkness away.
>The fields come alive, the dew clinging to the reeds sparkling like diamonds.
>The lights of Canterlot dim as the spires of ivory and gold brighten.
>The Dawn Star lingers in its rightful place in the clear blue sky.
>You can feel the eyes of your friends upon you now, even if they're far away. But that's not all...
>Through this great magic, you feel as if every pony in Equestria is watching the sky.
>They were waiting for this. They were yearning for the sun.
>Celestia twirls in the air as she ascends.
>Her grasp has not wavered. Still she pulls, and still the great orb moves.
>Higher and higher, following the both of you.
>She knows where it needs to be. Her body and her heart remember.
>For over 2,000 years, this has been her sacred duty.
>And for a moment, you swear you could almost see the memory of the first time she hesitantly reached beyond the sky to capture the sun.
 
>You put as much strength as you can muster into your arm.
>For if you can ease her burden through this, if only a little, you want to try.
>You lean into her, and you can feel her smile as it moves throughout her body like a wave.
>"Just a little more, my human..." she whispers to you over the wind.
>You steel your resolve as she flies ever faster.
>Your grip tightens along with hers.
>And then you feel something else... some piece of knowledge that you suddenly come to know intuitively.
>You know where to place it. You know the path, and her intentions, and you prepare for it.
>She pulls back, thrusts forward, and releases the star.
>You heave in tandem with her, casting it toward its destination.
>It finds its path in the heavens, its perfect place, a corona of light flowing outward.
>And for the first time in your life, you're able to look upon it directly without being blinded.
>She opens her wings, the sun acting as a halo surrounding the silhouette of her body.
>The gaps between her feathers spread the rays of early morning across the open fields to signify the day's beginning.
>And proclaim the return of Celestia, Goddess of the Sun.
 
~~ [ 4:46 ] ~~
 
>After a brief pause, she allows herself to fall upon an updraft, gliding away from the sun, and you tear your gaze away to witness a world transformed.
>The rivers running through the land sparkle with light as they flow.
>The shadows of early morning fall across the floors of the nearby forests.
>The mountains, their proud peaks perpetually covered with snow, seem to shine in the distance.
>The wispy white clouds making their way through the sky texture the fields below.
>Flowers open in response to the light. Animals stir, their sense of balance and time restored.
>And ponies... it's as if you can feel their spirits brighten along with the world around them.
>But these aren't the only things transformed.
>The pony before you... your Cel... she's just as she was when you first met her.
>Her multicolored mane and tail dance in the unseen magical wind.
>You can feel the raw strength of her magic, nearly boundless, nearly peerless.
>And you can feel her age as she gazes out across this world she's chosen to shepherd until the end of time.
>The earth pony, Celosia, is still there, buried. Still a fundamental part of who she was, and who she'll come to be in the future.
>But she can never return to that life, not matter how much she wishes otherwise.
>Her emotions flow through you via the odd magical link forged between you by the rising sun, and though that link is fading, they still ring clear in your thoughts.
>She's proud of what she's done... of this Kingdom she forged together with her sister. She looks down upon it and knows that it is good.
>But still, in this moment, in the light of the morning she made, she mourns Celosia.
>Your hand reaches out to pet the side of her neck and she laughs.
>"It was a beautiful dream while it lasted. Selfish, immature, unrealistic... but beautiful nonetheless."
 
>Her eyes wander to the Harbinger and the countless spirits which swirl around it.
>Yours wander to the fields below, to the sunken airship fleet and the wreckage of the Concordia.
>Your fingers dance through that ethereal mane, the texture so much different than the strawberry curls you've grown accustomed to.
"Would you take any of it back?"
>She shakes her head.
>"Never. Were I to allow myself to think like that; to think of what I could have or should have done throughout my long life... the weight of my guilt and remorse would never allow me to stand again."
>She turns in the air and takes wing toward the Harbinger without fear.
>"All I can do is press on... learn, and attempt to forge each new day better than the last."
>You feel the warmth of the sun at your back, the wind as it swirls around you, and her sorrow as it slowly diminishes within the light of a newfound hope.
 
~~~~~~~~~
 
>"Whoa..."
>Three little fillies and several mares sit on their haunches at the rail, slack-jawed at the incredible spectacle they just witnessed.
>Applebloom in particular fights to suppress the feeling of awe that causes her usually talkative mouth to be at a loss for words. Her sister reaches a hoof down and ruffles her mane a bit.
>"What's the matter, there, Applebloom? You 'n me see the sunrise all the time with the rest of the family durin' harvestin' season."
>The filly shakes her head, adjusting the bow in her mane with a hoof as she turns back.
>"Yeah, but never ones like that! I... I dunno, Sis. Miss Celestia was with us fer so long, actin' and laughin' like a normal pony... I guess I just forgot she used ta be a Princess."
>Luna trots over to the Apple sisters, a playful smile on her muzzle.
>"Oh? Are Princesses not permitted to be 'normal ponies' too?"
>Applebloom startles, then retreats behind her sister's forelegs. "N-No, Princess! I didn't mean it like that!"
>Luna giggles. "Fear not, child. We know. But as you've come to find, in the end we -are- ponies, just like you. We laugh, cry, we feel sadness and joy, and forge friendships, just as you do. Tell us, did you enjoy your time with our Sister?"
>The filly nods. "I sure did! We went on an adventure and Miss Celestia was super funny and nice ta all of us!"
>The Princess smiles. "That is good. We are glad she found herself in the company of such wonderful ponies during her time away from the throne."
>Luna's gaze travels to Applejack, which causes the farmpony to unexpectedly blush. She pulls her hat down a bit and shuffles her hooves.
>"Thank ya kindly. But Princess Luna, ah have a question, if'n ya don't mind."
>"Not at all. Anything for a friend of Sister."
 
>Applejack turns to the Harbinger, far away but still visible as a black silhouette in the bright blue sky. Her eyes track the alicorn and human as they make their way toward it.
>"Well, y'all were talkin' like ya knew all about what was goin' on with Twi and that thing out there. All of us're really worried about her and want ta know what we can do ta help!"
>"Yeah, that's right!" Rainbow adds, butting her way into the conversation. "There's gotta be something we can do!"
>The rest of the ponies, save Mac who now stands at the ship's controls, begin to crowd around the Princess, who shies away a bit at the attention. She holds up a hoof to silence the excited mares.
>"Please, calm thyselves. Though the information is considered to be a Royal secret, we suppose we can share it with those present, given that all of thee swear an oath to us to never reveal it to anypony else," her eyes move to Rarity, who immediately flashes back a nervous smile. "And we mean -ANYPONY-."
>Pinkie hops up and down. "Don't you worry, Boss, er-- uh... Princess! I'm sure they'll all be happy to Pinkie Promise on it! Right, girls?"
>There are nods of assent and the necessary vows are recited. Satisfied with the proceedings, Luna curls up on the deck and clears her throat.
>"Very well. The story begins with a great magical crystal called the Dark Star. Forever buried beneath the earth, sealed for all time in a cavern by its makers, it is difficult to describe to those who have never laid eyes on it..."
 
~~~~~~~~~
 
>You sail through the air with Cel, the Harbinger's frame looming ever closer. The speed at which you're moving is unreal, and only Celestia's invisible barrier spell prevents you from being ripped from her back as she flies. You can see the spirits come into view, their incorporeal bodies dancing in and out of the ship's hull, and you nervously gulp as the pain you felt from when you were struck in the past creeps up in your memory.
"So, those ghosts are the same ones from that cavern, right? Why are they here now?"
>Celestia turns from her steady course toward the ship, instead choosing to ascend above it.
>"This happened once before with Balios. He was compelled to build a powerful arcane resonance chamber by the Shard. Once it was activated and charged with sufficient magic, the spirits began to appear. We managed to put a stop to his plans before things got any worse, but based on the sorcerer's notes we later retrieved, the true purpose of the chamber was to summon the Dark Star itself to Equestria. He was attempting to use the resonance chamber as an anchor for the same type of Progenitor gateway spell that was cast upon the Wayshrines of the Trials. Though the amount of magical energy required to establish such a gateway is immense, the appearance of the spirits here is a sign that it's near completion and beginning to open..."
>You grip her mane as she climbs ever higher into the boundless sky.
"And what happens if she actually manages to bring that thing here?"
>The alicorn ceases her ascent, hovering in the air with the great stone ship directly below.
>"It's impossible to say. But the Progenitors sealed it away for a reason, and as one empowered by their magic to help guide this world they left to us, I fully intend to carry out their will in this matter!"
 
>She turns and dives straight downward and you immediately yelp and hold on to her for dear life in response. As the two of you near the great ship, you notice the spirits have stopped their seemingly random flying around, instead pooling toward you at a frightening speed. You can feel your stress level rising as your special somepony makes no move to avoid them.
"Uh, Cel?!"
>She doesn't slow her descent or alter her course.
>"Not to worry. With the sun at my back and given the circumstances, there's little reason for restraint!"
>The alicorn's horn shimmers with a golden aura, and in a bright burst of sunlight that seems to flow from her very body, the black spirits foolish enough to pursue you are effortlessly vaporized. Again, thanks to the strange magic from the sunrise still lingering within you, you find that you're not blinded or otherwise affected by the event, save for a bit of your breath being stolen away.
>It's been so long, and the nature of your relationship is so different now, that it's easy to forget just how powerful Celestia really was before. But between the sunrise and this, you're witnessing a series of stark reminders that she's one of the strongest creatures to ever walk this world of marshmallow equines that you now call home.
>And she's completely serious now; far more focused than she was even during the Trials of Equus. You can feel it in her body as she moves, and it's a little scary to witness. You briefly consider cutting back on your teasing of her in the future, but your memory kindly reminds you that avatar of righteous fury or not, she's still your Cel. No matter how much power she wields, she's still sometimes silly, she still can't resist an unguarded cupcake, and she still does in fact have a sense of humor, and a good one at that.
 
>Those reassuring thoughts allow you to slightly relax as the two of you near the ship.
>No, hold that thought, she's glowing now. Maybe it's not the best time to relax yet...
>A golden sheen of magic begins to encompass her body along with your own as she dives. It looks somewhat familiar, but you can't quite--
>Oh no. Oh fuck no. It's Luna's beam spell, just with a different color!
>You quickly begin smacking Sun Horse's withers in a panic in order to succinctly express your thoughts regarding this matter.
"A FRIENDLY REMINDER: YOU'VE GOT A PASSENGER YOU CRAZY FUCKING HORSE!! NO BEAM SPELL! NO BEAM SPE--"
>She fires the beam spell.
>The experience is surreal. You're -inside- the beam. You don't move from your position upon her back, but your new ability to see through normally blinding flashes of light rewards you with a vision of a great spiral of magic... pure, undiluted magic, directed with exacting precision against the hull of the ship below. It safely swirls around you, leaving you completely unharmed, and you resist the urge to reach out and touch the shimmering light.
>But as quickly as it appears, the flow of magic ceases as it harmlessly deflects across the newly formed deep purple barrier surrounding the Harbinger. Celestia curses under her breath and sharply adjusts her course before the two of you end up crashing into the ship. She stops and hovers in place a safe distance above the vessel as more spirits begin emerging from the great sphere in its center.
>"Damn... despite all the damage it suffered, the barrier's still intact. Unless we can find a way through, we'll never be able to disrupt the gateway's formation within the resonance chamber, much less reach Twilight."
"Can't you power through it? It seemed to work out for Luna."
 
>She shakes her head. "No, what you just witnessed was the limit of my unaugmented destructive magic. Luna's own magic was heavily amplified by the Concordia's focal dais. Without something similar to boost my own power I won't be able to overcome the Progenitors' spell..."
"So what do we do?"
>"I'm not certain. I need time to--"
>The roar of the Harbinger teleporting pulls her away from her thoughts.
>The mass of stone and magic vanishes, and when the dark mist it left behind disperses, you see to your horror that it's now directly in front of the Dawn Star. The strange cannons within the great ship's wings begin to glow with a menacing light...
"Shit--!"
>Celestia reacts immediately, chain-teleporting to the Dawn Star to cover the distance in the shortest amount of time possible. To you, the sensation is like rapidly being plunged underwater and surfacing for air over and over again. You fall from Cel's back and tumble to the deck, attempting to choke back the vomit rising in your throat, and she gallops forward, horn shining.
>The eight lightning cannons fire all at once without warning, and you're certain this is the end. But the bolts never reach you, instead bouncing harmlessly away courtesy of a golden shield which surrounds the ship in the nick of time.
>"Anon! We need to move!"
>You stagger to your feet and nod to Mac who immediately nudges the throttle all the way back with a hoof. All of the ponies on deck are completely stunned at what's happening, and by the time the confusion fades you've reclaimed the ship's controls from the disoriented stallion and started to steer away from the behemoth, leaving it far in the distance behind you.
>"What the--?!"
>"Sister!"
>"Celly?!"
>"Anon?"
>"Captain?!"
>A chorus of voices rings out as the ponies all rush toward the two of you.
 
>Pinkie hops next to the pilot's console, rearing up to get your attention. "Non-non, what happened? How'd you guys get here so fast? Weren't you going to help Twilight? Is something wrong?"
>"Yes, something is wrong," Celestia replies as she rests on her haunches and shakes the dizziness from casting so many powerful spells in rapid succession away. "That attack was far, far more vicious than anything I'd expect from Twilight. Even given all that's happened, I can't imagine she'd try to directly harm her friends in such a way, no matter how far this obsession has taken her. I fear that the Dark Star's influence is beginning to flow through the gate... she's in danger, and we must act quickly!"
>Luna trots to her sister's side, offering a hoof to help her up. "As it was in the past, this is the result when a foal tampers with ancient magic beyond her understanding." Her ears fold back, a look of concern in her eyes. "Sister, we saw everything. The barrier still functions, and without the Concordia..."
>"Yes, our options are limited. Normally I'd call on the Elements in this situation, but..."
>The younger alicorn nods. "When one of the bearers is the very pony we are aiming to subdue, it becomes problematic."
>"And it's not like magical amplifiers of the level needed grow on trees."
>"We do not recall seeing anything that would be useful in the Archives... perhaps we can craft a ritual circle within the vicinity of Canterlot?"
>"No, it would take too much time, and be easily recognized and avoided by Twilight. Even if her actions are becoming more and more tainted by the Shard's magic as I suspect, we have to assume that she'll retain her cunning."
>"And if that truly is the case..."
>"Ahem!"
 
>A polite cough from Rarity interrupts the alicorn sisters' conversation. Both turn their attention toward the fashionista and the rest of the ponies do the same. The sudden silence causes her ears to fold back for an instant before she squares her shoulders and stands tall while attempting to give off an aura of nonchalance.
>"Yes, well... my apologies for interrupting, but I have a suggestion, if I may? Now, I'm an amateur mind you, but sometimes during fashion presentations having a light show on the runway can really add to the milieu, so I'm a bit familiar with light magic. And whenever I need to boost said magic for, er..." her eyes dart to you, "...reasons that I felt were completely legitimate at the time, I usually focus it through a series of gems. Would the same not work for what you're intending to do?"
>The two sisters look to one another, then back to the nervously smiling unicorn.
>Luna sighs. "A noble suggestion, but it will not help."
>"Sadly, she's right. Rarity, those gems you use to focus always melt away during the spell, correct?"
>"W-Well, yes..."
>Celestia smiles. "And I'm certain you only use high quality gems for the task as well. The level of magic we'd be attempting to channel would be such that even the highest quality gem would disintegrate long before it could help amplify the spell. I appreciate your offer to help, but I'm afraid it won't work."
>Luna nods again. "'Tis a clever solution in theory, but in order for such a thing to be possible,  the gems would need to be infused with vast quantities of high level magic aside from the caster's own so they could resist the destructive effects of the spell long enough to aid in its amplification. Sadly, with our magic temporarily exhausted, such a thing isn't currently possible."
>Rarity turns away. "Oh, I see. It was worth a try, I suppose..."
 
>She begins to trot back over to the others as the sisters continue their discussion, when it suddenly hits you:
"Wait a minute... 'magic aside from the caster's own'? Would a bunch of gems chock full of Twilight's magic work?"
>You reach into your tuxedo's jacket and pull out one of the gems you filled during the wedding.
>Celestia's eyes go wide. "That's... that's perfect, Anon!"
>Luna trots over to you, a smile on her face. "Indeed! This is most fortuitous! How many of these gems dost thou have?"
"It should be twenty-five. I started with twenty-six but shattered one to get the guards off my back."
>You pull out several more of the gems from your pockets, and both Luna and Celestia lift one with their magic to examine.
>"These should definitely work. What do you think, Lulu?"
>The dark alicorn ponders. "Focusing the spell through seven such gems should be enough to match the level of magical amplification that the Concordia's focal dais provided. Though, despite the reinforcement from Twilight Sparkle's magic, they will still be destroyed by the process."
>"So you basically get three shots?" Mac asks, his eyes scanning the shimmering gem held aloft by Celestia's magic. His nearby sister rolls her eyes and mumbles something about 'showin' off his fancy mathematics'.
>"Yes," Celestia replies, fighting back a chuckle at the siblings' antics. "Though bear in mind that two direct hits will be necessary to sink the ship: the first to break the barrier, and the second to collapse the already-damaged resonance chamber at its center. Given how quickly we witnessed the barrier regenerate during the previous battle, I don't feel comfortable risking a standard attack against the exposed hull."
 
>Luna carefully returns the gem she holds to you. "Indeed. Were it not enough to inflict fatal damage, we'd be left with no options after the barrier's reformation."
>Rainbow rears up on her hind legs and throws a few jabs at the air. "Sounds easy enough to me! That thing's slow as hay, and if you miss once, no big deal, right? Just blast it twice real quick and then we can all go home!"
>Rarity rolls her eyes. "Darling, I understand that attention to detail isn't your strong suit, but please. I know the ship is slow, but have you really forgotten about its tendency to teleport? It did just that not five minutes ago to attack us!"
>"Um... but..." Fluttershy squeaks. "There's a delay after it teleports, right? Maybe we could wait until then, when it wouldn't be able to move?"
>"Oh! Oh!" Pinkie hops over, placing a hoof on the shy pegasus' withers. "Or we could even be super smart and bait it out! You know, with a carefully constructed master plan, where the target's every possible move has been calculated beforehoof so that no matter what they do it furthers our goals!" She rubs her hooves together for a few moments, a scary grin on her face, before perking back up with a smile. "It works super duper well when I have to throw surprise birthday parties for grumpy gooses who don't usually like parties, like Cranky and Non-non!"
>You facepalm.
"...You guys didn't let her get into the coffee this morning, did you?"
>Applejack sighs. "Must've been some still left in the pot after breakfast."
>Rarity taps her chin with a hoof in thought. "Still, it's not a bad idea. Perhaps we could use the first shot to force the teleport, and then quickly follow with two more?"
>Celestia shakes her head. "I'm not very comfortable with the idea of intentionally wasting one of our opportunities given the stakes here. There could still be more to Twilight's Harbinger that we're yet unaware of."
 
>That's definitely a good point. The gray stone form of the massive ship comes into view off your bow once more as you bring the Dawn Star around in a sweeping turn back toward Canterlot Mountain, still keeping a good amount of distance away. To say that Autismo's little project has been full of surprises so far is a huge understatement. You wonder what else the damn thing has in store for all of you as it menacingly floats in the bright blue sky, illuminated by the newly risen sun along with the frames of the two other retreating airships which were fortunate enough to survive the initial battle.
>The others continue their discussion about what to do while you focus on flying the ship. It's probably for the best, as aside from what you've already said you really don't have anything else to contribute to the conversation. Typically, crazy plans involving magic are best left to your special somepony, her annoying sister and their thousands of combined years of knowledge and experience. Surely they'll come up with something that'll work, and it probably won't even involve all of you almost dying in a myriad of gruesome ways! Maybe. Luna's talking about dimensional slipstreams or some shit like that now, which you definitely don't like the sound of...
>You pull one of the filled gems from your jacket to take your mind off their conversation. The basic plan is easy enough to understand. From the sound of it, seven of these can be used to focus Cel's beam spell and make it as powerful as Luna's when she was aided by the Concordia. The downside is that you can only use the gems once, meaning you only have enough for three shots. And supposedly you'll need two of those three to hit in order to sink the ship. Not as easy as it sounds when your target can teleport all over the place.
 
>The sunlight catches the gem in your hand, casting a soft ray of light near your feet on the deck. You watch with a bit of amusement as the light moves when you roll the gem with your fingers. You have a few spares, but not enough for a full powered fourth shot. If only there was a way to get more of these, or at the very least increase your odds of scoring a hit with the ones you do have...
>Wait a minute... that's it!
>"...which is precisely why we believe refocusing via a short-range portal is the answer, Sister! We know you cannot do so when channeling the ray, but surely this unicorn is capable of performing such a simple spell!"
>You see Rarity take a few steps back and turn away. "W-Well, Princess Luna, while I'm flattered, really, I'm afraid I haven't the slightest clue what it is you're even talking about..."
>The Night Princess facehoofs. "What in the name of the Moon has become of Equestria's education system in our absence? Are we to believe that unicorns are no longer taught astral stream manipulation as part of the basic curriculum?!"
>Celestia sighs. "Please, Lulu, this isn't the appropriate time for this conversation."
>Much to the elder's relief, you set the autopilot and step between the two sisters before Luna can deploy her trademark pout / annoyed stare.
"Cel's right. I have a dumb question that needs answering, so you guys can talk about standardized testing or whatever later."
>All eyes turn to you as you hold up the gem in front of the alicorns.
"We have some extras. Is there any rule that says we can't use more than seven of these at a time?"
>Luna frowns. "Nay. But there is little benefit to doing so as the amplification produces steeply diminishing results beyond said number."
 
"That doesn't really matter. If this beam stuff works like I think it does, I was hoping we could use these as a bit of an insurance policy..."
>Your eyes dart from the gem you hold to the two airships in the distance and as Luna's gaze follows, a smile slowly creeps across her face.
>"Huzzah! Simple, yet ingenious!" she exclaims as she turns back to Rarity. "You have already stated that you are more than familiar with this type of magic, so there should be no issues."
>The unicorn blinks. "...Come again?"
>A reassuring orange hoof pats her on the back. "Don't ya worry, Rares. Ah'm just as lost as you are at this point."
>Celestia looks to her sister with concern. "Are you certain this is wise?"
>Luna nods. "We can think of no better alternative that provides the necessary versatility. True, there are risks involved, but..."
 
////// -|-
>"It's meaningless, Teacher."
>"Whatever plan you manage to cobble together to stop me is destined to fail."
>"I've already seen the future..."
\\\\\\ -|-
 
>The purple pony princess' disembodied voice seems to whisper directly in your ear. Given the fact that everyone immediately goes silent, they all must've heard it too...
>"Twilight? Where are you? Oh, are we playing hide and seek?!"
>Correction: everyone goes silent except for Pinkie Pie, who immediately pulls out a detective hat and magnifying glass and begins searching the deck for the purple alicorn.
>But you have a sneaking suspicion that she won't be found on board and your gut instincts, which have never steered you wrong, compel you to move back to the console and retake control of the ship.
>Celestia steps forward and replies to the wind:
>"Twilight... I told you before that whatever future you see through that relic will be a false one. It's still not too late... please, come back to us! The Dark Star wants only to use you, and if you continue down this road I may not be able to--"
>The voice laughs.
 
////// -|-
>"Save me? I don't need your help! I don't need your lessons! There's nothing left for somepony who's so afraid of progress to teach me!"
>"And despite what you think, I'm not a naive little filly anymore! I know you have a way to breach the barrier even without the Concordia."
>"But it doesn't matter. I've been shown that whatever you're planning hinges on something..."
\\\\\\ -|-
 
>The telltale sound of the Harbinger's teleportation echoes through the bright blue sky.
>You grip the controls, one hand on the throttle and the other on the wheel.
"I need everyone to spot! Tell me where she is!"
>"Below us!" Rainbow shouts back as she hovers over the rail.
 
////// -|-
>"I'll admit that with your power restored you're formidable... but I don't need to defeat you in order to win my Anon..."
>"Because I've seen it... I've seen the way..."
>"All I have to do is destroy that pathetic little airship you built for him and everything else will fall into place!!"
\\\\\\ -|-
 
>Dark portals appear all along the Harbinger's back, and before you know what's going on, fifteen storm torpedoes are rocketing straight toward the Dawn Star's hull from below.
>You don't think, you simply push the throttle to the limit. The ship rockets forward and away from the Harbinger and certain doom. Despite the engines still only being limited to half speed, it should be more than enough to--
>"Holy ponyfeathers, they're followin' us!"
>To your horror, you glance back to see the black trails of cloud left in the torpedoes' wake curve toward you as they begin to track the Dawn Star's movement.
>That's bad.
>Fluttershy trembles nearby, her eyes locked on the dark beacons as they sail through the air.
>"And... and they're g-g-getting closer!"
>That's worse!
 
>You grit your teeth and prepare to alter your course, hoping to god that your turning radius is superior to theirs...
>Yeah, no. It's more like the other way around. They instantly move to track you in a narrow arc, gaining on you even further!
>Celestia watches all of this unfold with her piercing magenta eyes. Without a word, she trots over to the rail to stand next to the frightened yellow pegasus, placing a comforting wing on her shoulder as her horn begins to shine with a golden light.
>"Not to worry. I won't allow these foul things to touch us."
>Three small shimmering spheres of light appear in the air around her for an instant before sailing out into the open air behind you. In an incredible feat of precision, each one finds its mark as it collides with the head of one of the pursuing dark weapons, causing a series of detonations that leaves three black stains lingering in the pure blue sky.
>Pinkie jumps with joy on the nearby rail. "Woohoo! Way to go, Celly!"
>"Hold yer horses, there! We ain't outta the woods yet!" An orange hoof quickly reaches over to pull her back to the deck before she loses her balance.
>Applebloom perks up. "Aw, c'mon, Sis! I know Celestia can do it! She's like the best Princess ever!"
>You manage to catch Luna's harrumph and slight frown, as does Applejack whose ears fold back in embarrassment as she stuffs a hoof into her younger sister's mouth out of habit. Pinkie giggles at the sight, which quickly spreads to the rest of the ponies and even you and Cel as a rosy blush begins to form on the Night Princess' midnight blue cheeks.
>The white alicorn stifles her laughter before turning back to the task at hoof, her horn shining once again.
>"Well, it seems I have a bit of a reputation here. Hopefully I'll be able to live up to it."
>Three more orbs of light form as she takes aim at the remaining torpedoes...
 
////// -|-
>"I won't allow it."
\\\\\\ -|-
 
>And then, with a deafening crash that shakes the ship, the world goes white.
>You close your eyes and grip the controls on reaction, but it only lasts for an instant. When you open them again, you catch a glimpse of a familiar golden barrier surrounding the helium frame just as it fades away. A lingering arc of purple lightning, stretching from the distant Harbinger to the Dawn Star's port side, is also visible as it disperses into the ether along with the barrier.
>Celestia grits her teeth and shakes her head, the aura around her horn fading. The three spheres she created are gone now, dispelled so she could cast the protective barrier and block the unexpected strike from the Harbinger's lightning cannon. The twelve remaining storm torpedoes continue on their course in pursuit of you, moving ever closer.
>"Princess! Are you okay?!"
>The Cutie Mark Crusaders run to Celestia's side in concern, but she smiles and waves them away. "I'm fine, little ones." Turning her gaze to the stone ship in the distance, her expression hardens. "But this does not bode well for us. I can't focus on destroying the torpedoes if I'm forced on the defensive like this."
>Rainbow Dash flies over, her eyes tracking the projectiles. "Well, that barrier thing was pretty awesome. Can't you just block 'em with that when they catch up to us or something?"
>Luna shakes her head as she moves to her sister's side. "Nay. Those weapons are not meant to directly harm us as the lightning is. They're meant to drain the engines' power via magic, and Sister's barrier will not be able to protect us from the effect as it is not physical in nature."
>"And if we get hit with one'a those things and lose our engines completely, it's over fer us. Eeyup," Mac adds, his normally relaxed tone as close to panic as you've ever heard it.
>Applejack hoofs him in the side. "Consarn it, don't tell me that! Ah'm antsy enough as it is!"
 
>"What can we do, Princess?" Rarity asks, fidgeting with worry.
>Celestia closes her eyes. "We're running out of time. Though I feel it's a great risk, we should go with Lulu and Anon's plan."
>Luna nods. "Indeed. 'Tis the best course of action, and we haven't time to waste."
>The fashionista steps back, her nervousness visible in the motion. "That's all well and good, but I still don't quite understand just what it is we're--"
>"You there!" the Night Princess shouts while pointing a hoof at Rainbow Dash. "Collect the babbling unicorn and follow our lead."
>Rainbow salutes. "You got it, Princess!"
>"Wait, what?!" Rarity exclaims as a pair of cyan hooves reach out to lift her.
>"As for us," the Princess continues, her hoof patting Fluttershy on the head, "We shall be borrowing this one."
>The butter yellow pegasus' trembling is nearing uncontrollable levels now. "Um... p-please no. I... I think I have a tummyache so I probably shouldn't go anyplace dangerous. And besides, I'm kind of useless so it's not like--"
>Nope, too late. Luna's already lifted her up (resulting in the yellow pegasus promptly fainting) and thrown her across her back as she makes her way over to you.
>"If you would."
>You reach into your pocket and produce some spare gems, which Luna captures in her magical aura.
"Good luck out there."
>She smiles. "And good fortune to you as well. We fear the fate of the world depends on it."
>You smile in return.
"You sure you're willing to trust your world to a 'wayward ape' like me?"
>"We do what we must..." she replies, slightly turning away. "We... we apologize for what has happened in regards to our behavior. T'was no way for us to treat one who will become our future brother-in-law."
>Did... did you just hear that right?"
"Uh..."
 
>She giggles. "Please. If there is anypony's heart we know nearly as well as our own, it is Sister's. And from what we have glimpsed of her dreams, you occupy a great place there, and we doubt this will change. But even seeing into her dreams would be unnecessary to discern how she feels about you. It is apparent in her eyes, even now."
>The two of you glance back to Celestia, who quickly turns away upon noticing your stares. Luna chuckles, directing her attention back to you.
>"She has shared memories with you that she's trusted nopony else with aside from ourself. She has shared an ordeal with you that few, even lifelong friends, can ever hope to overcome, and through it you carried one other. When she refused to give her Orb to us at the wedding, despite our angry plea, we knew beyond a shadow of a doubt..."
>A blue hoof reaches out and taps your tuxedo jacket. "Try not to ruin this, as we are certain it will be needed again in time, Brother."
>And with that, she takes wing and flies from the ship. Rainbow Dash, a very perturbed and fussy Rarity held in her hooves, isn't far behind. She glides over to the rail, turning back when the voices of Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo catch her attention.
>The smaller pegasus hops up and down, her tiny wings fluttering. "Good luck, Rainbow Dash! I don't know what you're gonna do but if it's you I bet it'll be awesome!"
>Rainbow grins. "You know it, squirt!"
>"Be careful, big sis!" Sweetie squeaks. "I believe in you!"
>The older unicorn stops her complaining to blush. "Thank you, Sweetie. I'll certainly try my best at... whatever it is we'll be doing." She shifts her gaze to her 'captor'. "Rainbow Dash, if you drop me, I'll make certain to haunt you from beyond the grave. Just a fair warning, darling."
 
>The pegasus grimaces. "Okay, whatever, I get it! Catch ya later, guys!" With a leap, she bounds over the rail and quickly vanishes from your sight, the Dawn Star rocketing away in its attempt to shake the ever approaching torpedoes.
>Speaking of which, you glance back to see Celestia successfully destroy two more by quickly creating single homing spheres before being forced to block a lightning cannon strike from the Harbinger. The ship shudders from the impact as the barrier fades, revealing the form of the stone ship unmoved from its position far in the distance. Damn, the range and accuracy of that weapon is unreal, and Alicorn or not, you find yourself wondering how long Cel will be able to keep this up, especially if she needs to conserve power for her beam attacks...
>That question only weighs on you even more when you see the concerned expression on her face as she shouts back at you from the rail.
>"This isn't going to work, Anon! They'll reach us before I'm able to destroy them all!"
>You glance down at the console. The engine output has recovered to 54% of its maximum since leaving the storm, but it isn't gonna be enough at this rate. You turn to the stallion at your side.
"I've already got the throttle at max, Mac! Half power isn't gonna cut it! We need to do something!"
>He shakes his head. "The only way we're gonna recover in any decent amount'a time is ta cut power ta the engines and let 'em recharge on their own."
>You both shut your eyes as yet another lightning strike deflects off Cel's barrier.
"I don't think that's an option! What else?!"
>He chews his lip, the wheat spring falling from his mouth. "Well... ah could probably get us up ta 115% output if ah overcharged the engines. But Anon, the damage that'll do ta the ship over time won't--"
"I don't care! Do it! There are way more important things to worry about right now than the damn ship!"
 
>He frowns, his eyes wandering across the deck to his two sisters as they watch the spectacle of magic unfolding across the sky in both fear and awe.
>"...You're right, partner. You're damn right. Give me two minutes; ah'll let you know when she's ready..."
>He turns and gallops toward the stairwell leading down to the crew quarters and engine room below.
>You close your eyes and sigh, attempting to shake off a bit of the adrenaline rush and regain some composure while you wait. But your moment of reprieve is cut short by the tug of a hoof on your sleeve.
>"Cheer up, Cap'n! Frowns aren't allowed on deck when Weapons Officer Pinkie Pie's around!"
>You turn to meet the sapphire eyes of Ponyville's premier party pony... your former coworker, current crewmate, and friend since you first arrived here so long ago. She just grins at you, in that same familiar way she always has, and like clockwork it pulls out your smile.
"Thanks, Pinkie. I needed that."
>"No problemo!" she beams. "Just don't forget that your whole crew is here to help! We're here for you, Non-non, all of us!"
>Come to think of it... she's right. With the other ponies gone, you're down to the original crew you had when this crazy journey first started. Well, that plus an extra filly or two, but who's counting, right?
>Your first hour of real flight behind the controls involved a daring escape through an airship blockade, which you only survived thanks to Pinkie's help.
>And then there was that thirteen against one battle over Latigo with Equestria's fastest fleet! There's no way you should've won that one, but the crew pulled through and made the impossible possible.
 
>You have a lot of fond memories of this ship considering the relatively short time you've owned it. Despite the stress you suffered, and despite the circumstances that chased you, you've found so much joy in Cel's gift, from the moment you read her heartfelt letter in the galley to the moment she stepped off the gantry at the wedding.
>But perhaps your favorite memory of your time here is the dinner you all shared together that first night. Eating good food, laughing together, arguing about the sleeping arrangements... just recalling it causes you to smile even brighter, and the pony by your side takes notice.
"You know, Pinkie... even after all that's happened, I never in my wildest dreams imagined we'd be in a situation like this. Then again, I never in my wildest dreams imagined that I'd fall in love with a pretty white horse princess, either. Life is weird sometimes."
>She giggles, and you reach down and scratch behind her ears.
"I dunno how this day's gonna end, but something tells me that whatever happens, it's gonna be something to remember, and I'm glad you guys are with me."
>You look over to Celestia. She pants for breath a bit during a lull between casting spells and your eyes meet hers. When she notices your smile, she smiles back in return, and some of what she said back during the Trials slips into your mind once again.
>Whatever the trial, whatever the triumph, having friends with you changes everything. It was true 2,500 years ago when three little ponies faced the unknown together, just as it's true today.
>And it's a lesson one of your old friends, a little purple unicorn turned alicorn, seems to have forgotten. But maybe, just maybe, as long as this ship flies through the sky, you'll be able to remind her...
>"Can ya hear me, Captain? Ah'm all set down here." Mac's voice crackles over the console's intercom.
"I hear you. I'm ready when you are."
 
>"Alright. Ah'm gonna turn this up a bit at a time. The more we overcharge, the quicker the engines're gonna shred themselves. You remember what happened ta those ships when you hit 'em with the tuner, right? Well, that's what's gonna happen ta us sooner or later if we push it too far..."
>You drum your fingers on the console, eyes shifting back to the torpedoes. Six are left and they're nearly on top of you now...
"Got it. Take us up to 80% output. That should be enough to shake these things."
>"Eight-zero output. You got it." The intercom crackles again and goes silent. Nothing happens for several seconds, and then you feel the ship lurch and the engine output gauge steadily begins to rise...
>"What the hay is goin' on now?" Applejack asks, trotting over to you and Pinkie. "And where's Mac?"
>You smile, your hand easing back on the throttle a bit to maintain your existing speed.
"Don't worry, he's in his element."
>The output gauge reaches 80%, and you immediately slam the throttle forward again. The Dawn Star cleaves through the air, accelerating to a much more familiar speed and leaving the torpedoes trailing it far behind. They waver in their flight, then disperse into black mist, the magic propelling them finally exhausted, and you breathe a much needed sigh of relief.
"Finally..."
>"Way to go, Maccy!"
>And suddenly Pinkie's beside you yelling into the intercom. You rub your ringing ear as Cel approaches you from the rail.
>"It seems our speed has been restored. I take it this was our engineer's doing?"
"Yep. We're not at full power, but it looks like it'll be more than enough to handle those torpedoes."
>"I see. In that case, take us back to Twilight. I think it's time we bring this plan of ours to action, don't you?"
>You laugh.
"I guess so. Anything I need to know beforehand?"
 
>"Well, I'll need to remain stationary to channel the spell, and I won't be able to direct the beam myself, so it'll be your job to aim for me." She blushes a bit. "I'm not exactly familiar with casting using this particular method, so I imagine the first time will be a learning experience for the both of us..."
>"That's what -she- said!"
>Both of you turn to the pink pony, you wearing a deadpan expression and Celestia with an even deeper blush.
>"Oh fer cryin' out loud..." Applejack groans nearby.
>Pinkie blinks. "What? That's really what she said."
"Just a second."
>You pick up the hyperactive Element of Laughter from where she's leaning against your console and gently place her next to Applejack, who's waiting near the entrance to the bridge. The farmpony shares an exasperated but sympathetic smile with you before you make your way back to Cel at the flight controls.
"Now, you were saying?"
>"Yes, well, I suppose the only other thing for you to know is that I can't use the barrier while channeling, though I can easily defend with it until we're ready."
"Sounds simple enough, I guess."
>Her horn glows, and all the filled gems still stashed within your tuxedo's pockets begin to free themselves and float over to her. The odd sight of it causes you to suppress a laugh.
"Geez, Cel, we haven't even had a real date yet and you're already cleaning me out."
>"Don't make me put you in the corner with Pinkie Pie as well. I'll do it, you know..." she says as she trots away, suppressing a laugh of her own.
>You simply shake your head and return your hands to the controls to begin your turn back toward the Harbinger and Canterlot. It should still be right over--
>Wait a minute.
 
////// -|-
>"Oh? You say you can easily defend against me?"
>"Let's test that hypothesis, shall we, Teacher?"
\\\\\\ -|-
 
>In an instant, the massive ship is right in front of you, and you have to bank hard to avoid colliding with its bow. The ponies all yell in surprise and hit the deck as the ship turns and you retreat back to a respectable distance. An arc of lightning attempts to singe the ship's stern as you flee, but with the Dawn Star's enhanced speed you manage to avoid it completely.
>But the screaming... well, that's different.
>Hundreds of ghosts spill from the hole in the Harbinger's damaged ARC, and this time it looks like they have no intention of merely circling the vessel. No, instead they start tearing directly toward your position, just as you point the bow directly at the exposed stone sphere.
"Cel, I hope you're ready, 'cause we're not gonna get a better chance than this!"
>The white alicorn stands at the bow of the ship, horn blazing with magical energy. Seven of your filled gems rise up around her, slowly orbiting her like tiny planets as her body shines like the sun.
>Everything else in that moment loses all meaning. Twilight, the ghosts... all of it vanishes from your mind. Instead, you can only see her...
>The shining light encompassing her body begins to pull away like water flowing in reverse. It travels from her tail across her sides and back, up her mane and neck, legs and chest, and coalesces at the tip of her horn, which she places directly in the center of the floating gemstones before her. They've since arranged themselves into the shape of a rune you've never seen before as they crackle with Twilight's barely-contained magic.
>Celestia's light is so pure now it changes from gold to a slightly blue-tinged white as it dances near her horn's tip. And then it's free, traveling through the first gem, and then the next, and the next, and the next, and then...
 
>The sound.
>Like two freight trains smashing into each other head on.
>The pressure.
>Like a gale force wind suddenly stirring up on a calm day.
>And the light.
>Unlike anything you've seen before, and will likely ever see again. It must be like staring at the sun which forever illuminates the world beyond.
>All of this must've happened in the span of only several seconds or so, but to you the process moves at a speed at which you can see each event as it happens.
>Is it another side-effect of the strange magic you felt when raising the sun with Cel? Who knows. All you really understand is that you're captivated, and that the last words you spoke to her before it all started were true.
>You really are never going to get a better shot at this. The Harbinger's damaged ARC sphere is exposed and it only just now teleported, so it's much too soon for her to be able to teleport again. This is a guaranteed hit, and based on what you're witnessing now, it's gonna be a hell of a hit indeed.
>The gems amplifying the spell melt and then waft away in the air, their job finished. And then the beam is released, blasting forward straight as your bow points, straight toward its intended destination, as you clutch the console for dear life.
>And then you a hear a sound, a mix between the ocean's crash and the roar of thunder, and the Harbinger is gone with only a light black mist lingering in its former position in the sky.
>No. There's just no way...
>The spirits rushing toward you are instantly vaporized by the beam. They never stood a chance. But it doesn't find its true target, instead slicing through empty air, then tearing across the horizon all the way to Canterlot Castle, where it shears off the tallest tower, punctures a hole in the nearby cliff face, and continues on beyond your sight.
 
>Your jaw damn near smashes into the console at the sight, and you have no doubt the ponies witnessing this are in a similar state.
>"Sweet stars above..." Applejack falls to her haunches.
>"Holy freakin' crap!" Pinkie, of all ponies, nearly faints.
>"Whoa..." "Cool!" "Holy -BUCK-, girls!" The three CMC would probably tumble over like dominoes with the slightest nudge at this point.
>Cel is the only one not in awe. Instead she only looks to the distance, her ears turned back and a frown of remorse on her face.
>You missed, and just like that one of your precious opportunities has slipped away. There's no room left for error, now.
>You want to head over and comfort her, but fight the urge to move given that you have to pilot the ship. Still, that doesn't prevent you from reassuring her with your words, so you open your mouth to speak.
"Cel... it's not our fault. There's no way we could've known she'd be able to teleport again that fast..."
>The alicorn turns back to you, and her countenance can only be described as shellshocked.
>"Anon..." she mutters, almost too low for you to hear. "Lulu... Lulu is going to KILL ME! That was -her- room!"
>Wait, what?
>You shift your gaze from the distraught alicorn over to Canterlot Castle in the distance just in time to see the severed tower slide down the castle's side and smash into a million pieces of ivory-colored stone.
"Oh."
>Yeah, Moonbutt's probably not going to like that one bit. You make a mental note to dig up some earplugs from the engine room for the two of you as soon as you possibly can...
 
~~~~~~~~~
 
>The Princess of the Night paces about the deck of the EAF Salt Lick, formerly unit B-2 of the Concordia's ill-fated escort fleet, and one of the two ships of said fleet still airborne. Under her orders, it hovers at a standstill a respectable distance away from the action unfolding in the vast skies above Canterlot Fields.
>The captain of the vessel nervously waits beside the Princess as he watches the battle between the Dawn Star and Harbinger unfold along with her.
>"Your Highness, should we not intervene? With your leadership, I'm sure the Salt Lick is more than capable of--"
>"Nay," she replies, not even bothering to turn to face him. "And also, effective immediately, this ship's name is now the Nightshade. We shall need to have a talk with the pony responsible for naming these vessels during commissioning. Based on the examples seen so far we are not impressed."
>"I see..." the captain's eyes dart toward the comatose yellow pegasus unceremoniously sprawled on the deck on the Princess' other side. "And about this mare, what are--"
>"Ignore her. Trust us, it's for the best."
>The captain backs off. "Y-Yes, Your Highness. I'll inform the crew of the change in designation at once."
>"See that you do."
>The stallion scurries off and the Princess sighs just as Fluttershy's two cyan eyes blink open.
>"W-Where am I? This doesn't look like my house..."
>She turns her head and sees Princess Luna staring back at her. Naturally, she starts to tremble.
>"Am... am I having another one of those dreams again?!"
>The Princess of Dreams grins. "Ah, we know of the dreams of which you speak. They must be good inspiration for your works. But we are not dreaming, Fluttershy, we are currently upon the deck of the Nightshade and we are awaiting our opportunity to act."
 
>"Oh, okay," the pegasus squeaks. "W-Wait, when you say 'we', do you mean the royal 'we' or the 'we'-'we'? Because I really don't think I--"
>Luna holds up a hoof. "Fear not, the task at hoof is simple, and we shouldn't need your assistance, so you are free to stop trembling now. We mean it."
>Unfortunately, the little pegasus continues to shake. "B-B-But if that's true, why did you bring me here?"
>The Night Princess perks up immediately, her eyes shining. "In truth, we happen to be one of your biggest fans and are hoping to use this opportunity to discuss your upcoming works while we wait!"
>The little pegasus' heart stops and her eyes go wide. "Um... I-I have no id-d-dea what you mean, so..."
>Luna scoffs. "There is no need to hide it from us. It took the considerable resources of the Kingdom's vast spy network to uncover the real identity of the famous author using the pseudonym 'Mistress Notfluutershai', but in these last few weeks the investigation has finally borne fruit. In hindsight, given what your dreams normally consist of, we suppose it should've been fairly obvious."
>There's a strange sound that resembles the baa of a goat, and the butter yellow pegasus is down for the count again.
>Luna sighs. "Curses. Did we say something wrong? Truly, modern speech and interpony dialog is vexing to us..." She taps her hoof in thought. "Perhaps we should resume our acclimation lessons upon the resolution of this--"
>The sound of the Harbinger teleporting interrupts her thoughts, and Luna's eyes quickly dart to the distant Dawn Star to watch as it nearly collides with the massive ship.
>The clopping of the captain's returning hooves rings in her ears. "Your Highness, I've informed the crew of the ship's new name. I'm afraid we can't re-brand her until we next return to port, but--"
 
>"Prepare to move us into position as we instructed previously. It seems our assistance will be needed shortly."
>The captain salutes. "Yes, Your Highness, understood!" He scurries away, and soon enough Luna can feel the ship lurch as it starts to move toward the battle in progress.
>As they approach, she watches the movement of the smaller airship intently. It maneuvers into a position next to the Harbinger's ARC sphere, and the Princess flutters her wings with excitement.
>"Huzzah! An ideal opportunity! Thou must take it, Sister!"
>The warmth of the building magic can be felt even this far away, and to her relief she knows her advice was taken, even if she couldn't directly voice it.
>Unexpected, though, is the Harbinger's followup teleport, which shouldn't be possible at the given time. Luna watches as the beam passes harmlessly through the empty air and curses under her breath.
>What could this mean? All magic has a cost... if the ship teleported again so soon, something has changed. If it was capable of doing so before, Twilight would've used the ability to escape her final attack if it became necessary. Something's not--
>Wait, is the beam really heading toward...
>"Nay..."
>She watches as it streaks forward, on a collision course with the Castle's tallest tower.
>"Nay, nay, nay..."
>The beam slices through the structure, and the Princess' cyan eyes witness the severed tower section slide down and shatter upon the castle's courtyard. A single tear rolls down her midnight blue cheek and falls to the deck.
>"Our... our observatory. Our room. Our ancient stamp collection..."
>The Princess of the Night fights back a sob as she takes a lungful of air. The surrounding bat-ponies who take notice of the situation quickly cower and cover their ears. As soldiers in her service, they're deeply aware of what comes next.
>"SSSSSSIIIIIIIISSSSSSTTTTTTTT----"
 
~~~~~~~~~
 
>"----TTTTEEEEEEEEERRRRRRR~~~~~!!!!!!!"
>Ah, there it is.
>Luna's canterlot voice-empowered scream rings out across the sky just as Cel deflects another bolt with her barrier. You plug your ears as you maneuver the ship away from a freshly launched batch of storm torpedoes, tearing through the nearly cloudless sky with exhilarating speed. You easily shake them and turn back to place the Harbinger's far away silhouette in front of your bow.
>Cel turns to you, a sheepish expression on her face. "I... I fear that with this, I might not be long for this world, my human."
>You laugh and tap the pilot's console.
"Don't worry. If we need to run away from Luna after this is over, I'm willing to take you anywhere you want to go."
>She smiles. "I know. But I suppose we should focus on current matters. It appears we have Twilight's full attention now, which I suppose is for the best. And now that we know how the beam reacts to magical amplification, I should be able to fire it faster on our next few attempts."
>You nod.
"That's good to hear, but do you think it'll be fast enough to beat out that teleport? Looks like we didn't really understand how it worked after all."
>Celestia shakes her head. "No, we did understand it, but circumstances have changed and I suspect I know why. I won't tell you not to worry, but I will say that even with this, our chances are not zero."
>You raise an eyebrow.
"And I'm guessing the reason you didn't give me an actual number there is because..."
>Her sheepish smile returns.
"Great."
 
>A lightning bolt dances past you, completely missing the frame. It sounds like everything now hinges on your crazy plan. You have two shots left, and no margin for error remaining. All you need to do is get in the proper firing position to hit an object that can instantly teleport away while avoiding lightning bolts, homing torpedoes and vengeful ghosts, any of which would instantly cripple your ship should they manage to connect. No pressure, right?
>Despite her crazy ramblings, Twilight was right about one thing: if the Dawn Star falls, whatever odds of beating the Harbinger you have fall with it. There'd be no chance to hit the thing from the ground given its mobility, and the other ships in the fleet are nowhere near as fast. You have to pull through here, no matter the cost...
>"We shall have a long talk about all this when we return to Canterlot, Sister..."
>You nearly jump out of your skin as a projection of Luna appears on the deck.
>"However, for the moment, we wish to report that the Nightshade is in position and ready to assist."
>"Thank you, Lulu," Celestia flashes a cautious smile, her ears folded back. "And sorry."
>"Hey! Is this thing on?!" A ghostly Rainbow Dash appears as well, twirling in the air with confidence. "Hey Anon, hey Princess! We made it and the SS Awesomeness is ready to go!"
>"That's not the ship's name..." you hear a voice mumble from somewhere behind her.
>From the corners of your eyes you can see both surviving ERA airships approaching at a steady pace. You breathe out.
"Okay, looks like we're ready. Pinkie, AJ, can you get the fillies in place at the rail? I'm going to need you guys to watch and tell me -immediately- where the thing ends up."
>Applejack tips her hat. "You got it, Captain."
>You smile at the two projections.
 
"I'll do my best, guys, but be ready to make adjustments if my aim's off."
>"Indeed."
>"You got it, Anon!"
>They fade away as you press the intercom button, your body starting to tremble as a fresh batch of adrenaline kicks in.
"Mac, I need 100% of her for this."
>There's a moment of silence before the static-filled reply comes.
>"Aye aye, Captain... always wanted ta say that." You catch Applejack rolling her eyes at her brother's comment.
>Like before, you pull back on the throttle as the ship shudders and the engine output gauge rises. You mutter a quiet prayer, hoping against hope that she'll hold out long enough to get the job done.
>As your fingers nervously tap the throttle, your gaze turns to Cel, her multicolored mane and tail waving in the astral breeze.
"You ready?"
>She smiles softly. "Whether it be climbing a waterfall, or galloping across an endless snowfield, or flying through the sky, I trust and treasure you without hesitation and without fear. That, in itself, is a part of the joy I feel when we ride together, be it you upon my back or with the both of us here."
>She walks over to you and places a simple kiss upon your lips.
>"Anon... I told you before that this sky is yours now. Wherever it is you choose to guide me within it, I'll be certain to follow, now and forever."
>You close your eyes and run your fingers through her dancing mane as you touch your forehead to hers, just below her horn.
"No matter where I take you, it'll always be in search of a way to repay you for all that you've given me."
>She nuzzles you. "And I could say the same, my human."
"Then I guess our journey'll go on forever, won't it?"
>She closes her eyes and a few tears escape.
>"In my deepest dreams, it will."
 
>She moves away from you to take her position at the ship's bow, as the other ponies who're acting like they totally weren't watching your tender moment together nervously trot to their own positions as well.
>Looks like everything's in place, Anon. All that's left is...
 
////// -|-
>"D-Don't listen to her, Anon."
>"Even if what she's saying is true, my love is greater. You'll see..."
>"You'll see...  that my love is boundless..."
>"I can love you more! I can love you forever! I can give you everything!"
>"You won't need anything other than me!!"
\\\\\\ -|-
 
>All that's left is to finish it.
>You close your eyes as the sound of the Harbinger's next teleport echoes all around you.
"You can give me everything but my freedom, you mean. You can give me wings to fly as long as I don't leave my little cage..."
>Pinkie's voice rises above the din.
>"She's right there! Behind and below us, Non-non!"
>Your hand grips the throttle. You hear countless storm torpedoes launching from the dark portals swirling upon on the stone ship's back.
"But Twilight, that's not boundless love. Not even close."
>Instead of slamming the throttle forward, you pull it all the way back into full reverse. The ship rockets backwards at its true top speed, and you spin the wheel to make a hard turn as you move.
>The ponies on deck cry out and hold on as tight as they can. Cel remains unmoved, watching intently as the Harbinger's frame appears across the bow, directly to the front and below.
"And if you don't understand why..."
>The storm torpedoes, their tracking confused by your sudden and unexpected high-speed movement, fly off into the distance, losing you completely. The Dawn Star pauses in the air for just a moment as you adjust your altitude to bring it in line to where it needs to be and shift from full reverse to full forward.
"...then there's still a lot Cel has left to teach you!"
 
>And in an instant, the damaged ARC sphere is right in front of you, and for the second time today, you have the perfect shot.
"NOW!"
>Just as before, seven gemstones rise as the spell is cast, and just like she said, this time the entire process is much faster. You watch the gems melt away just as the beam is released, its aim true.
>And just as before, the Harbinger teleports -again- despite having done so only a moment ago. The beam rips through the black mist left behind before continuing onward into the distant sky...
>...where Luna's Nightshade awaits.
 
~~~~~~~~~
 
>The butter-yellow pegasus' eyes flutter open once again.
>"W-Where am I? This doesn't look like my house..."
>She turns her head and sees Princess Luna staring at the giant magical death beam bearing down on both of them. Naturally, she starts to tremble.
>"Why does this keep happening to me? Why do I keep waking up in all these weird places? D-Do I have a sleeptrotting problem or something?!"
>The beam's shimmering light moves ever closer as Luna levitates a filled gemstone into the air and holds it right in the destructive magic's path. Though her natural response would normally be to faint again, Fluttershy can't bring herself to look away. Slowly, the conversation she had with Luna before she last fainted becomes clear in her memory...
>"What is she...?"
>That's right. The Princess said she was 'waiting to assist' the others. Is this what she meant? Could this be what she wanted Rarity to do too?
>Before she can ponder things further, the beam is on top of them. She shuts her eyes, fearing the end, but it never arrives. Instead, the levitating gemstone absorbs the entirety of the beam until there's nothing of it left.
 
>The gem hovers there, shining like a second sun, and Fluttershy is forced to avert her eyes. But from what she can still manage to see, Luna is struggling to contain the immense energy. Her second shadow, cast by the gem's surging light, dances wildly as she grits her teeth and turns to face the section of sky where the Harbinger has now reappeared.
>The Princess' lips curl into a satisfied smile.
>"We have a gift for thee, Twilight Sparkle..."
>And with a surge of magic from her horn, the gem shatters and the captured beam it held fires directly toward the great stone ship. The force of the magic sends Luna tumbling backward, and Fluttershy scrambles to catch her.
>"Princess, are you okay?!"
>Luna's cyan eyes reflect the pure light as it slams into the Harbinger's side and rips through its hastily-formed barrier, further damaging the hull before finally dissipating.
>Her smile widens. "Indeed, we are feeling quite exuberant at the moment."
 
~~~~~~~~~
 
>A cheer erupts from all the ponies aboard the Dawn Star.
>You watch in elation as the purple shield surrounding the Harbinger is absolutely shredded by the blast, which then goes on to burn even more of the runes spread across its surface away and further damage the central sphere.
>Just the fact that your insane plan to redirect the beam from another airship after it was fired worked is enough to make you almost jump for joy.
>Not to worry, though, because there's a pony who'll do that for you.
>"We did it, Non-non! We did it!" Pinkie yells as she bounds into your arms and pulls you into a hug.
>Applejack holds her hat in her hooves, completely awestruck. "Ah... ah can't believe it actually worked!"
>The three fillies are running around the deck with joy.
>"Well done, Captain! Eeyup." Hell, even Mac chimes in over the intercom.
>You set Pinkie down and focus back on the Harbinger. The ship doesn't collapse or rip apart, but you weren't exactly expecting it to. It did take quite a beating, though, and just one more hit'll finish the job.
>"We're on a time limit now, Anon," Celestia says, her gaze directed on the ship as well. "We need to hit her again before she has a chance to reform the shield."
"I know, Cel, and I'll be sure to make it happen!"
>The Dawn Star is already screaming through the skies toward the crippled vessel before you even finish the sentence. This is it... you can feel it.
 
////// -|-
>"S-So... that was your plan..."
>"To redirect the attack using s-spare gems..."
>"Very clever, Anon. I should've... expected as much from you."
>"But I know how many... you used to drain my magic at the wedding...
>"And it won't work... a second time..."
\\\\\\ -|-
 
>You ignore Twilight's taunting and press on. Nothing will stop you now, not even the fifteen storm torpedoes flying directly toward you, nor the arcs of lightning you deftly avoid, your speed making the need for Cel's barrier obsolete, nor the ghosts emerging from the ARC as you approach it.
>The Dawn Star lines up yet another perfect shot, but you decide to abandon it at the last moment when you realize the positioning of the other airships isn't ideal. Given that they're far slower than you, it takes them much more time to move to spots that'll be useful to reflect the beam after the Harbinger teleports.
>The ship's wheel spins wildly as you bank around, shrugging off the trailing torpedoes. You line up the shot once again, this time with Luna's airship nearby in the distance should it be necessary. The shrieking pony spirits are nearly on top of you now, but that won't matter once the beam is fired.
>A bolt of lightning just barely clips your helium frame as you slide into position. Almost there...
>Almost...
"NOW, CEL!"
>She responds without hesitation, your last set of seven gems shining in the air. The great magic spills forth, vaporizing the spirits and aiming for a decisive blow.
>And the Harbinger teleports. No surprise, but now comes the hardest part.
>You take a deep breath, because all you can do is watch as the beam travels on and the Nightshade moves to capture it.
>And capture it she does. Like before, the Princess of the Night holds the radiating magic for several key seconds, then releases it toward the Harbinger's new position. Another cheer rises up from the ponies on deck as the beam streaks toward its mark once more.
>And the Harbinger teleports...
>...but not before it fires a bolt and manages to puncture the Nightshade's helium frame. The ship begins to sink rapidly, and all at once you're confronted with the fatal flaw in your plan.
 
>The other airships have no way to defend. They can't form a barrier without a fully powered alicorn on board, and they're not fast enough to dodge the lightning...
>The beam cleaves through the mist, heading toward Unit B-5, the airship with Rainbow Dash and Rarity, and your heart sinks when you see the stone behemoth appear in the sky nearby, its cannons shining...
 
~~~~~~~~~
 
>"Heads up, Rarity, the beam's coming this way!"
>"What?! It is?! But... but... I have no idea how to stop that thing! I had no idea what they were even talking about before!!"
>"You what?!"
>Needless to say, the situation on the SS Awesomeness is not going too well. Ponyville's premier dressmaker is having a bit of a nervous breakdown on deck, and the brash pegasus pony by her side certainly isn't helping matters.
>The poor bat-pony soldiers nervously glance at each other, wondering if they're all going to die when the beam slams into their ship...
>But, as always, Princess Luna's orders are absolute, and they make no move to change their position.
>"Darn it, Rarity, quit whining and just catch the bucking thing already! I dunno anything about magic but it can't be -that- hard!"
>The unicorn turns to face her friend, fire burning in her eyes.
>"Oh? Is that so? Well I don't know anything about flying, but none of those petty tricks you normally do seem that impressive. Why, I'm sure anypony with wings could easily do half of them or more!"
>Rainbow gasps. "Hey! That's not true! You take that back!"
>"I only said it to demonstrate how ridiculous what you just said about magic happened to be. Hmph!" She turns away and stomps a hoof. "And for your information, I am -NOT- whining, I am--"
 
>"Eek!" She opens her eyes to see the beam nearly at the ship's bow. "W-why haven't we moved yet?! Do these bat-themed ponies with their gaudy armor and coloration and disgusting untrimmed ear-hair have a death wish?!"
>Rainbow facehoofs as the surrounding soldiers grumble. "No, idiot, they're waiting for -you- to do your -bucking job-!"
>Rarity's horn lights up, levitating a filled gem. "FINE! If I must die, I shall do so with the utmost fabulosity! At least I won't need to worry about running into -you- in the afterlife, as you're no doubt going to Tartarus..."
>Rainbow scowls. "Yeah, right! Last time I checked, I heard they were building a mansion there for you so all the monsters won't have to put up with--"
>And then the beam is there. It flows into the levitating gem, and Rarity immediately yelps and kneels as the raw power threatens to overtake her. Only by pushing back with all of her magic is she able to get the gemstone under her control again. Slowly, she rises back up on unsteady hooves, her face turned away from the radiant light.
>"I... I did it. I..." The unicorn immediately rears up on her hind legs, a huge grin on her face. "WA~HA~HA!"
>But her smile fades as the sound of crashing waves rings out and the Harbinger appears close to the airship's port side.
>"Shoot it, Rarity!"
>"I'm... I'm not sure how!"
>Before Rainbow can reply, a bolt of lightning erupts from the Harbinger and rips through the airship's helium frame, critically damaging it. The impact causes Rarity to lose control of the gem and it shatters, sending the beam of energy off into the sky, far away from its target.
>The two ponies watch it fly away in silence for a few moments before the billowing smoke from the now capsizing ship begins to obscure the light, and the remaining hope it embodied, from view...
 
~~~~~~~~~
 
"AJ, Pinkie, round up the fillies and get the lifeboat ready."
>Two emerald eyes find their way to you. "...Captain?"
"Now! I don't have time for you to ask questions!"
>From the very moment the Harbinger reappeared, you began acting on instinct.
>No room for thought. No room for consideration. Only the direct series of actions you take now, in the little time you have left, will salvage this.
>So there's no holding back. Not anymore.
"Mac... I need all of it. Everything she's got."
>The intercom crackles back. "Anon, if ah do that--"
"-EVERYTHING-, Mac! And when you're done head to the lifeboat with your sisters!"
>"... ... ...Aye aye, Captain." The intercom goes silent, and the ship shudders. You keep the throttle at max and watch the output gauge climb as your speed increases to a level you've never before experienced.
>Output: 105%.
>The bolt of lightning strikes, crippling the distant airship.
>Output: 110%.
>Rarity loses her hold on the beam and it escapes, traveling parallel across the horizon from your position, away from the Harbinger.
>You adjust your course.
>Output: 115%.
>Cel says nothing, because she already knows. She simply remains where she stands at the bow, her eyes never leaving the glimmering light as it cuts through the sky.
 
////// -|-
>"It's... over... Anon..."
\\\\\\ -|-
 
>Yeah, normally it would be. The math is straightforward.
>Twenty-five gems. Twenty-one reserved as ammunition, with four remaining left over to reflect the beams.
>Anyone who came up with this type of plan would've divided the four extra gems evenly between the ponies on the other two ships, allowing for the most possible versatility in choosing firing angles where another ship could possibly intercept.
>It's only logical, right?
>Yeah, it is. It's what anyone would do.
 
>But your gut instinct told you to hold on to one, just in case, leaving two for Luna and one for Rarity.
>Why? Well, it's tough to say with things like these. Kind of like with matters of the heart, sometimes you just can't explain it.
>But your best guess... well, it's simply because you figured the spergy little alicorn, with her OCD tendencies and firm adherence to logical patterns, would never even consider it.
>After all, a certain pink pony was the one who told you to listen to your heart instead of your head more, and from the stories you've heard, she forever remained an unsolvable mystery to Twilight.
>That definitely counts for something in your book, and it's what you've decided to bet everything on...
 
////// -|-
>"You have... n-nowhere... left... to run..."
\\\\\\ -|-
 
>The Harbinger teleports directly in front of you, and you turn to avoid her, still chasing after the beam. More storm torpedoes launch into the air, but they have no hope of touching you now.
>Output: 130%.
>If the beam was traveling directly away from you, there'd be no hope of catching it, but it's not. You're flying in a straight line now, your course locked in on the point you believe your paths will intersect.
>Celestia levitates the final gem, you near the light and...
>...
>...
>...
>She captures it!
>In that very moment, you hear a groan from the ship's belly; the beginning of the end.
>But still you press on, turning in a wide arc back toward the Harbinger, to line up one last shot.
>One last, perfect shot.
>And it rings true.
 
>The pure light punctures the ARC sphere. It goes straight through it, and the whole thing shatters like glass.
>And since the entire ship was designed around the sphere, the rest of it quickly follows. All of the runes fade, leaving only normal stone behind, and the mighty structure crumbles away in the air before your very eyes.
>But you're given precious little time to admire it, because the Dawn Star's engines shred themselves to pieces only a second later.
>"Anon!"
>You hear Applejack cry out over the sound and fury of the explosion that tears away a huge portion of the stern.
"GO!"
>You yell back, and your thundering heartbeat slows somewhat when you see the lifeboat detach from the ship's frame and its sails unfold, your trusty crew inside, safely gliding down to the fields below.
>The helium frame, punctured in countless places from debris, begins to leak and the ship starts to roll. You watch the horizon tilt before your eyes, fingers drumming on the console, reluctant to leave it.
>A pony nose nudges your hand and you caress her muzzle in return. She leans into your touch, a sad smile on her face.
>For the last time, your special somepony curls up on the deck of the Dawn Star to allow you to straddle her back. And with a kick of her hooves and a beat of her wings, the two of you leave the second home you shared together behind for the open sky.
>You close your eyes for a moment waiting for the sound of the crash as the crippled ship smashes into the earth. You can't bear to look, and you only open them again after you know it's passed.
>What you see as you move away from the column of smoke pouring from the ruined ship causes a lump to form in your throat.
>The two last airships of Wing B have long since crashed into the fields alongside your own.
>But the Harbinger...?
 
>Well, it's still in a million pieces, but those pieces stubbornly refuse to fall. Instead, they slowly orbit around a small sphere of darkness that ominously hovers in the section of sky where it was torn apart. It's like looking at a galaxy with stone fragments in place of stars and a massive, visible black hole forming its center. The shrieking pony spirits circle around it, their attention focused on nothing else.
>You hands grip Celestia's mane even tighter at the sight.
"Cel... what is that thing?"
>"It's..." her breath hitches. "It's the gateway that was forming within the Arcane Resonance Chamber. But I don't understand... it should've collapsed when the chamber was destroyed, as there should be no more magic left to feed it..."
>Though you can't see her expression, you can feel her body shudder when the realization hits her at the same time it hits you.
>"Unless... Twilight!"
>Immediately, your alicorn turns in the air and carries the two of you toward the series of floating stones. You scan them, desperately searching for a sign of that familiar purple coat...
"There!"
>And you find her.
>The little alicorn lies panting on a large piece of stone as it slowly moves in its orbit close to the black sphere. Celestia attempts to approach, but suddenly cries out in pain and turns away when she nears it.
"What's wrong?!"
>She shakes her head and quickly beats her wings a few times, stabilizing her place in the air.
>"It... it feels almost as if I were returning to Equus with my full power. Like the island was rejecting me..."
>She ponders for a few moments, her eyes focused on Twilight.
 
>"I think... yes, the gateway links to the Dark Star's chamber, which must be buried beneath the island itself! There was no way for us to tell where it was during the Trials as the cavern was completely sealed off from the surface, but if that really is the case then a portion of Equus' magic field must be flowing through the gateway as well! I don't think I'll be able to approach..."
"If it's that strong, then what about Twilight? She's right next to the thing!"
>Celestia turns in the air and flies toward one of the pieces of stone on the outermost edge of the orbiting ring.
>"We need to retrieve her at once! I don't know what effect prolonged contact with a weakened version of the field will have on an alicorn, but..."
>You can feel her body tense as the memory of a past trauma enters her thoughts... a memory of the brother she lost. You pat the side of her neck reassuringly as you dismount, your feet steadying themselves on the floating piece of stone alongside her hooves.
>"Anon...?"
>The countless moving pieces of broken rock continue to orbit all around you, the silence broken in places by periodic shrieks from the remaining ghosts.
"I'll go get her. The field shouldn't have any effect on me."
>Celestia rears back. "What? Anon... it's too dangerous! The path is broken and unstable, you can't fly, and with the spirits near the gateway... no. No, I'll go and find a pegasus to assist us. I can't--"
>Your hand clamps down on her muzzle, silencing her not so much due to the action itself, but the suddenness of it.
"You just said we need to save her now, so that's what we're gonna do, Cel. You don't need to worry about me. I'm not afraid, because if I stumble and fall, I know you'll be there to catch me."
>You pull your hand back to find the worry in her face replaced by a slight smile. She closes her eyes and shakes her head.
>"Go."
 
>You leap from the first stone to the second, then try to find a suitable one for your next leap. You didn't notice it before, but it looks like the stones in the outer bands are moving faster than the ones in the innermost bands. You'll need to plan your first series of moves carefully to make sure you end up in a position close to Twilight.
>And speaking of Twilight, you can't see her anymore. Your stone's already moved to the other side of the black sphere. Timing is definitely going to be key here. You take your next leap, and then another as a suitable platform immediately appears, and then you're forced to duck and cling to the piece of rock for dear life as a ghost nearly flies into your face.
>Carefully, but as quickly as you can, you make your way to the center of the debris field. There are some near-misses, and some extremely close calls the closer you get, but with one final leap, you find yourself on the same stone as Twilight.
>She lays on her side, her eyes closed and tears running down her face. She takes deep gulps of air between sobs, as if she can't get her breath. She looks absolutely exhausted, like she just ran a series of marathons back to back, but as far as you can tell she doesn't appear to have any severe injuries.
>You rush over to her, gently placing a hand on her shoulder to get her attention.
"Twilight? Twilight, are you okay? Can you hear me?"
>Her eyes open, the violet irises capturing you in their gaze, though the tears don't stop. She says nothing for several moments, then looks away, taking a few more breaths.
>"Anon... she was right. It was just another lie... after all..."
>Her voice is little more than a whisper, and she struggles to speak without having to pause for a breath.
"Twilight, I'm going to get you out of here. Cel thinks that Equus' magic field is leaking through the gate. It's making you weak."
 
>She chuckles. "Don't... don't be ridiculous, Anon. If that were true... I'd be able to feel it. I'd know." Her eyes close again and she takes a few more breaths. "It's... it's just magic fatigue... like I told you back at the wedding. I used... everything I had... and when that wasn't enough... I kept digging... and found even more..."
>Your mind wanders back to the battle. Come to think of it, her voice started getting more and more strained each time she spoke to you...
>"How..." she continues. "How could I not? I didn't... have any other choice... after Luna damaged the ARC... its magic started to fade... so I... I had to supplement it... with my own..."
>You feel a chill run down your spine.
>There's just no way. It can't be possible, but...
>After the Harbinger was damaged, it suddenly started teleporting without any sort of delay. There seemed to be no limit to it, and you didn't understand why.
>But if what she's saying is true, then every single time the ship teleported after that moment, it was because -she- was feeding it the magic to be able to do so.
>Luna... she used up almost all of her magic to be able to move the sinking Concordia. But how many times did Twilight move the even larger Harbinger? Eight? Ten? Twelve? And all that after losing an inordinate amount of magic upon breaking the Geas! You can't fathom it... it's unreal!
>Just how powerful -is- this little pony?!
>You stumble back a bit in disbelief, and Twilight lets out a little chuckle between breaths.
>"D-Don't... don't act so surprised, Anon... I'm the... Element of Magic... and teleporting is kind of... a specialty of mine."
 
>You hear a rumbling in the distance and notice a few of the floating pieces of stone near the outmost edge of the field begin to drift away before falling back to the earth. It looks like whatever magic that's causing them to float is starting to fade away. You kneel down next to Twilight and carefully lift her into your arms. She remains perfectly docile, not attempting to struggle at all, and when you stand again with her she even smiles a bit.
"C'mon. Cel's waiting for us."
>"Anon..." she breathes out again. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry..."
>It's hard to describe exactly what you feel as you stand there and hold her.
>Maybe you'll never really be able to articulate it. This little pony... she was your tormentor. She caused you so much grief, so much pain, so much stress...
>But as you hold her, and feel her little body take each labored breath, you remember that before all that... before everything...
>She was your friend.
>And that's why you know, despite everything that's happened, and despite all the hurt and anger and sadness, that the next words you speak are true.
"It's okay."
>She relaxes in your arms and her body goes limp. You feel a pang a fear in your heart until you realize she's still breathing. She's just sleeping.
>You shake your head. When she's not trying to capture you, or force you to marry her, or convince you to do unspeakable things with her, or, hell, all of the above, she's actually kind of cute.
>Best to not mention that, though. Ever.
 
>Another rumbling reaches your ears and you see even more stones start to fall. Based on what she said, Twilight's residual magic was holding the gate open and these stones aloft, so now that she's unconscious it must be fading away.
>You don't see any real point in attempting to make your way back across the stone field. Your special somepony will be there to catch you, so you might as well just wait, though maybe signaling her about it beforehand would be the most prudent thing to do. With Twilight still in your arms, you walk to the edge of the stone to see if you can spot her when she next appears, when you feel your shoe tap against something.
>You look down, and there, right next to your feet, is a jagged piece of black crystal. It shimmers with a faded ruby aura, and there's no doubt about it:
>This is the Dark Star Shard.
>Before you know what's happening, a strange compulsion overtakes you, and you find yourself holding the Shard in your hand. The aura around it pulses, and then you see...
>Home.
>You see the way home.
>You see your friends.
>You see your family.
>Everyone that you lost.
>There's a way to return to them... back to Earth.
>It's so simple. You could easily do it yourself... build the device that would bring you back. The knowledge necessary... it's within your grasp, right now.
>And then you find yourself standing atop the floating stone again, your smile reflected in the Shard's dark surface.
"Nice try, but I don't think so."
>Maybe, before all of this started, that would've been your greatest wish.
>But a knock on your door late one night changed everything, didn't it?
>And all because of the little pony still sleeping in your arms.
>In a way, you owe her more than you can ever hope to repay.
 
>And it's those thoughts that drive you as you turn to face the gateway. Upon closer examination, you can make out the walls of the Dark Star's crystal cavern, flickering lights and all, within the inky black surface of the now shrinking sphere.
>You glance down at the Shard again. This thing has been an unimaginable pain in everyone's ass. Cel told you before that they were never able to find a way to destroy it, only seal it away in the Archives since, as alicorns, they could never return to Equus.
>And yeah, the Archives is a pretty safe place for it, you guess. Until you think about who actually has access to them.
>The wily, moody and unpredictable Night Princess.
>The slumbering purple alicorn in your arms. (Need anything more be said?)
>Hell, even Cel has her eccentricities. What if the kingdom ever ran out of ice cream? Would she turn to using the Shard's forbidden knowledge to conjure up some Rocky Road? Probably not, but do you really want to risk it?
>No. No, you don't. So without a second thought, you toss the Shard through the gateway and watch as it tumbles through the darkness of the cavern to be reunited with its source.
>The gateway closes as the black sphere continues to shrink until it's the size of a marble, and then it vanishes from your sight. The last of the floating stones begin to fall soon after, including the one that held you.
>You clutch Twilight close as you tumble through the air. Instead of facing the oncoming ground, you turn so that your body is oriented toward the bright blue sky.
>The sun shines overhead. Thin, white clouds soar past you, carried by the wind...
>And strangely, but maybe not so strangely, you get the feeling that you -are- home.
>Because after all, her gift wasn't just the Dawn Star, was it?
>It was the sky.
>You close your eyes and smile, just as a pair of angelic white wings find their way into your view.
 
~~~~~~~~~
 
>The ponies that were stationed on the sunken airships of Luna's fleet have been quite busy on the ground during the battle. A large field camp has been set up in the Canterlot Fields to tend to any injuries in addition to coordinating the recovery and cleanup operations for the damaged airships. Soldiers trot to and fro, gathering damage reports and assessing how much the farmers of the fields will need to be compensated for their troubles, while engineers inspect each fallen ship to determine what, if anything, is salvageable.
>Somehow, you escaped the ordeal with only minor cuts and scratches, which Cel insisted on healing herself now that her magic's been restored. You're not sure if that was because she really wanted to, or because she didn't like the look one of the cute nurse mares was giving you. Knowing her, it's probably a little of both. But despite the fact that you feel 100% fine, you haven't left the private medical tent you now find yourself in since you arrived, nor has she.
>Instead, the two of you have remained at Twilight's bedside, talking to one another as you wait for her to awaken. The conversations have been about what you'd expect: where you go from here, what happens now, how things will change... stuff like that. Needless to say, there's a lot for you to think about going forward, but now that things have finally calmed down, it shouldn't be too difficult.
>You were more than a little nervous when you told her about tossing the Shard back into the Dark Star cavern, but to your relief, it turns out she agreed with the decision, feeling it was for the best. When you told her you actually forgave Twilight out in the stone field, she merely smiled and nodded as if it didn't come as any surprise. Sometimes, you think she might know you better than you know yourself...
 
>"Anon..."
>Two violet eyes flutter open and focus first on you, then on the white alicorn by your side. They follow her mane as it waves in the astral breeze for a few moments, before becoming clouded with tears.
>"P-Princess..."
>She sniffles, clutching the sheets closer in her hooves.
>"I'm so, so sorry! I don't even deserve to face either of you! I... I..."
>Celestia stands and places a comforting hoof on the little alicorn's shoulder, but she shies away from the touch.
>"You were right... you were right about everything all along... and I was too stupid to see it. I thought that maybe I'd found something, or learned something that you hadn't... and I wanted to prove to you that... that... I could be an amazing princess just like you, just as much as I wanted to prove it to myself!"
>She laughs. "But some princess I turned out to be. The things I did to you in pursuit of Anon... the things I said... if I could take them back now, I would in an instant! But... but... I loved him so much... and I didn't know how else... I didn't know how else..."
>She starts to cry again, and Celestia levitates some tissues over to her.
>"But I was wrong about that, too. I... I thought I knew what love was. I read so much about it... talked to ponies about it... asked my parents and brother about it... but I never understood it until I saw the two of you at the wedding. When... when you fought through the pain of the Geas to reach him, even when you knew it would be impossible... I... I knew, right then, that I'd never have him. And it hurt so much, Princess... it hurt so much, and I didn't know what to do!"
>She wipes her eyes with the tissue and blows her nose.
>"You... you said you would take the crown from me. I don't want it anymore. I don't deserve to be a princess. I wish none of this had ever happened! I wish I could go back to be with my friends in Ponyville... but... but... I even pushed them away, too!"
 
>Celestia levitates a set of fresh tissues over to the little alicorn and closes her eyes.
>"Twilight... there's no undoing it. The past is the past, and you must live with the consequences of the choices you've made, which is a lesson that I must remind myself of day after day. I understand that it was the Shard's influence that directed you to do some these things, but that does not absolve you of the responsibility. You've made many mistakes, and hurt many others as you've followed this path, and this is, and will remain, the truth."
>With a sigh, Celestia turns away from her former student for a moment as she pauses to regain her composure.
>"And Twilight, one of those consequences you'll need to live with... is the loss of your magic."
>Twilight's eyes go wide. "M-My... my magic...?"
>Celestia nods solemnly. "Yes, Twilight. You dug so deep today, and pulled so much directly from the magical ember within you, that your ability to harness the world's magic is all but gone. It's similar to what happened to me when I was cursed by your Geas weapons. A normal pony would never recover from this, but as an alicorn, your recovery will come gradually with time. However, it will be hundreds of years from now before your magic is restored completely and you once again stand at the level you were this morning."
>Her breathing stops and her mouth hangs open, and for a second you're worried that she's going to start to hyperventilate.
>"But... but... m-my... my magic is everything! It's who I am! It's my special talent! What... what am I going to do without it?! I... I can't function without it! I've never eaten with my hooves, or written with my mouth, or--"
>"You will learn, Twilight!" Celestia's voice rings out, strong and firm. "Earth ponies and pegasi know how to do these things, and it is not beyond or beneath you to learn their ways."
>The little alicorn turns away and sobs into her sheets.
 
>"But I've lost everything! I've lost Anon! I've lost my friends! I've lost my magic! And I've lost -you-, Teacher! How am I supposed to go on like this?! It... it would be better if I just..."
>"ENOUGH!"
>You cover your ears as Celestia unexpectedly uses the Canterlot Voice. Poor Twilight cowers under the sheets, wide-eyed and trembling, as if she'd never heard her raise her voice in such a way before.
>"You do many ponies a great disservice to say such a thing. Do you honestly believe that you're the first to ever experience such hardship? Do you believe you're the first to ever feel hopeless and abandoned? Do you believe you're the first to ever wish that tomorrow's sunrise would never come?!"
>Twilight's eyes are locked on her mentor's now, not daring to look away, and Celestia's expression softens.
>"Listen closely, my faithful student. You are, without a doubt, one of the most brilliant little ponies I've ever known throughout my long life. Your potential is staggering, and I know that, one day, when you've grown even further, you -will- surpass me. You -will- become a greater princess than I was. That is my deepest, most sincere hope!"
>The white alicorn rests on her haunches, her gaze directed at her student and a motherly smile on her muzzle.
>"You said something to me today. You said I wasn't perfect. You said that sometimes I don't know what to do. You said that I make mistakes. Oh, my little pony, if only you knew how true all those things are! I have lived for over 2,500 -years-, Twilight, and I can safely say that there is nopony, and I mean -nopony- who has made more mistakes than me!"
>Tears begin to form in her beautiful magenta eyes as she speaks.
>"But Twilight... just because you make a mistake, that doesn't mean you can't seek to correct it. Just because you suffer a hardship, that doesn't mean you can't press on. And just because you've hurt somepony, either intentionally or unintentionally, that doesn't mean you can't ask for forgiveness, which is why, here and now, I must ask you..."
 
>"Forgive me."
 
>Twilight's shock is almost palpable. Again, she almost forgets to breathe. "W-What... what do you mean?"
>And now, it's Celestia who sniffles and cries, her eyes clouded with tears.
>"Twilight... this is all my fault. I was so selfish. I so much wanted to escape the burdens I bear, that I thrust you into not only a role I knew you weren't prepared for, but into Eternity itself, without fully explaining what it meant and what the consequences would be. Even if I knew that it was what you thought you wanted, we should've discussed it together, and if you still felt that way, I should've stayed with you to guide you through it. I'm... I'm so sorry, my student... what I've done is inexcusable. I've failed you in nearly every way imaginable. I'll fully understand if you don't want to be my student any longer, and I can in no way blame you if that's what you choose, or even if you wish to hate me for what I've done, but I sincerely hope that--"
>"I forgive you, Celestia."
>She hiccups. "Y-You what?"
>Twilight smiles. "I forgive you. Even if it wasn't done for the right reasons, you... you let me live my dream, at least for a little while. You say I don't understand what it means, and that's probably true, but I've thought about it a lot and... and it's what I want. I still want to be like you, and it's not your fault that I botched it all up..."
>Celestia shakes her head, allowing more tears to fall away. "Even if in the future you think differently, to hear you say that means more to me than you'll ever know."
>"But there's something I don't understand," Twilight continues. "You said you'd understand if I didn't want to be your student anymore, but... does it even matter? How can I be without my magic?"
 
>Celestia shakes her head. "One of the many mistakes I've made was focusing your studies on -only- magic. There's still so much I can teach you... so much I -want- to teach you. I want you to become the best pony you can possibly be. Trust me, should you so choose, there are many more lessons that await you. I can teach you to speak to the earth. I can teach you how to properly use those wings of yours, and... when I believe you're prepared, I have a special assignment reserved for you at some point in the future."
>Twilight beams. "Princess Celestia... I'd be honored if you'd have me as your student again."
>"Of course," Celestia replies as she moves forward and wraps her student in a hug. "And I want to make one more thing clear: you have -never- lost me. Even if you didn't want me as your teacher, I would still be your friend, whether you wanted it or not."
"Likewise."
>You flash the little alicorn a smile, hoping you're not doing too much to disrupt the tender moment.
>Twilight giggles. "Thank you both. That's reassuring to hear."
>Celestia pulls away from the hug, directing her attention to the entrance of the tent.
>"And also... you never lost them, either."
>Twilight's gaze follows her mentor's, and there, standing in the entryway, are five familiar little ponies.
>"Girls...?" her breath hitches again, fresh tears forming in her eyes.
>"Twilight!!"
>You and Celestia both move out of the way to avoid the oncoming stampede as all the ponies rush the bed. She sits next to you and you place an arm around her withers, pulling her into a light hug as you watch the reunion unfold.
>"Hey there, gal, how're ya feelin'?"
>"Thank goodness you're alright, darling!"
>"That battle was so s-scary! I'm glad you're okay..."
>"C'mon, are you kidding?! It was AWESOME!"
 
>Twilight is speechless and you can tell the purple pony's waterworks are about to start up again. Pinkie quickly moves in to head it off at the pass by producing a wrapped box from her mane.
>"Aw, don't cry, Twilight! Look, we brought you a present!"
>Twilight looks at the box with curiosity shining in her eyes. "Oh... what in the world could it be?"
>Slowly, and a little awkwardly now that she needs to use her hooves, she tears open the paper and lifts the lid...
>...to reveal six perfectly baked and decorated cupcakes. The frosting of each one matches the coat color of one of the six ponies, and each is decorated with that pony's cutie mark.
>"Surprise! I made them this morning, but Rainbow wouldn't let me taste one so I dunno if they're good or not!"
>The cyan pegasus pokes her head over the box. "I did the frosting on yours myself, Twilight! Pretty sweet, huh?"
>"They're..." Twilight hiccups. "They're wonderful. Thank you... thank you for everything, from the bottom of my heart! You're the best friends I could ever hope for!"
>Applejack pulls the purple pony into a hug. "We love ya too, Twi. And don't ya ever forget it."
>"I won't," the little alicorn replies. "I won't... for as long as I live."
>Pinkie pouts. "Aw nuts! I gave her those cupcakes so she -wouldn't- cry!"
>Rarity giggles and pats the party pony on the back. "There, there, dear. Just go with it."
>"I call dibs on mine!" Rainbow yells, reaching a hoof toward the box.
>"Um... I'm on a diet, so..."
>"And Fluttershy's!"
>Celestia shakes her head as the two of you watch the scene unfold.
>"Truly, the six of them together never cease to amaze me."
>And as you run your hand through her mane to scratch behind one of her ears and wonder whether Rainbow or Applejack will successfully win the impromptu duel they decided on for the fate of the extra cupcake, you reply:
"Yeah, you can say that again."
 
~~~~~~~~~
 
>Princess Luna lets out a tired sigh after reviewing the latest status report presented to her by the field engineers. Total hardware losses and damages in excess of a half a billion bits or more... truly, her Sister knows how to pick her proteges...
>Still, she nods with a satisfied smile at the night sky and the newly risen moon. Her mane and tail, restored to their former cosmic glory now that her magic has recovered, are nearly indistinguishable now from the sky itself as she trots back toward the field camp and the light of the great bonfire burning there.
>It seems that, if left unsupervised, her soldiers will turn any opportunity they can into merriment. Or perhaps it's more the product of--
>"Hiya, Boss!"
>Luna screams and nearly jumps out of her coat at the sudden shout that graces her ear. She turns to find the Element of Laughter standing there, a smile on her face, as usual.
>"Ah... Pinkie Pie. Salutations to you. Do... do you require something of us?"
>'Please say no' is her next thought, though she doesn't voice it.
>Pinkie taps a hoof on her chin as she thinks. "Hmmm... nah, not really! Just checking to see if you needed me to do anything else!"
>Luna smiles and shakes her head. "Nay. Your service to Equestria throughout this ordeal was performed admirably. However, now that the trial has passed, we feel we can release you. Again, you have our most humble thanks."
>"Okie dokie!" Pinkie replies with an enthusiastic nod. "If you need anything, you know where to find me!"
>"Indeed. Your dreams are truly one-of-a-kind, so we doubt we'll have any trouble."
>Pinkie turns to hop away to get back to doing... whatever it is that she usually does, but suddenly turns back.
 
>"Oh, hey! I almost forgot! You should come to our bonfire party! Me and Celly and Non-non and Twilight and Applejack and, well, I guess -everypony- is there! I promise it'll be super duper fun!"
>"We were just on our way... we do so enjoy this 'fun' that seems to be so in favor with ponies these days. We shall not miss it."
>"Great! See ya there!"
>Again, she moves to bound away, but after some consideration, Luna raises a hoof to stop her.
>"Wait! We... we suppose there is one more thing. A simple request, and not something you must act on anytime soon..."
>The pink pony turns back, her head tilted to the side in curiosity. Luna herself turns to gaze at the moon with fondness.
>"There will come a time, not now, but in the future, when the six of thee shall stand before the Grand Gate together. When that time comes, please remember that if thou needst guidance, thou need only dream, and we will be there."
>Pinkie's smile grows even wider, if such a thing is possible, as she nods her head once more.
>"Thank you, Princess Luna."
>And finally, she bounds toward the fire to join the others.
>After trotting a bit, she can see them clearly as they laugh and eat around the fire. She pauses to watch her Sister interact with the strange ape from another world that she seems so smitten with, as well as with her student and her friends. Their joy is apparent even from this distance, and it easily travels to her, lifting her spirits despite her fatigue from the day's events.
>"It appears all is well..."
>A chuckle. "Indeed. A picture perfect ending... though a little boring if you ask me..."
>For the second time in the last ten minutes, the Princess of the Night nearly jumps out of her coat. She whirls around to find a miniature version of an abominable draconequus hovering near her shoulder, and she grits her teeth in anger.
>"DISCORD! How didst thou escape?!"
 
>The tiny Discord clamps his lion paw across her muzzle.
>"How many times have I told you... -volume-! There's no need to yell or make a scene; I'm still right where you left me, acting as a favorite nesting spot for the birds of the Royal Gardens..." he shudders. "But there's no rule that says I can't pay one of my darling little sisters a visit! You're the only one who can see or hear me right now, so don't reply too loudly or everypony else will think you're, well, crazier than they already think you are!"
>Luna resists the urge to give him a snarky reply and turns away to face the camp once more. Discord merely chuckles again.
>"The silent treatment, eh? Very mature, but oh so like you. Oh come on, why so gloomy, Gloomy? Everything worked out in the end, didn't it? Celestia had her power -and- position restored like you wanted, little Twilight Sparkle has been made less of an insurance liability (at least for the time being), the relationship between the Elements of Harmony has been repaired, and to top it all off, that annoying chunk of the Dark Star was returned to where it belonged!"
>He twirls in the air and gives an exaggerated bow.
>"I must say, though... I never expected Cotton Candy Head would end up falling head over hooves with that odd creature I pulled across dimensions during my last little romp across Equestria. Well, I guess the two of you always struck me as oddballs when it came to dating, but it certainly was a delightful little cream filling to round out this chaos-filled cake!"
>Luna whirls around again, resisting the urge to yell and keeping her voice to a whisper.
>"-YOU-! Are you meaning to say that you -PLANNED- all of this?!"
>He scoffs. "Puh-lease! I'm the God of Chaos, my dear; it's difficult for me to -plan- to do anything. Let's just call this a series of happy coincidences, shall we?"
 
>The little Discord places his arms behind his back and paces a bit in the air, looking nonchalant.
>"I will say this, though... it's an older brother's job to look after his dear sisters. Despite all that's happened between us, to see the two of you find happiness, well... let's just say that it's still a joy to me in and of itself."
>He gazes over to Celestia as she nuzzles the human by the fire, their shared laughter ringing out through the night, and Luna does the same.
>"Well then, I suppose I should get back to my lonely imprisonment. But before I go, tell me..." he points one of his talons toward the human in the distance. "Would you like me to get you one too during my next inevitable escape? They're quite easy to acquire if you know where to look..."
>Luna gives him a deadpan stare. "Please don't."
>He grins. "I'll take that as a 'maybe'. Ta ta for now, my precious Moody Featherduster!"
>And with a short flash of light, he's gone.
>Luna shakes her head and lets out an exasperated sigh.
>"Thou art as troublesome as always, dear brother..."
>With one glance back to the moon above, she makes her way toward the fire, Celestia's joyous laughter guiding her hoofsteps.
 
Next Time on Exchange: Epilogue - The First Step