Bellosh

In light of everything that just transpired, perhaps the dead silence that permeated the Throne Room was the best outcome that Empress Yuè could have hoped for. One of the most important lessons on rule she ever learned was to never issue declarations based on pure emotional sentimentality, as that would give legroom for critics to question her judgement. However, being able to apply specific wisdom of the past gave rational legitimacy to underlying passions, which it seemed the Empress was able to pull off today. How the connection between Feng and his Empress develops will be most curious indeed. Perhaps in due time, Empress Yuè would finally pinpoint just what made the longma stallion so magnetic for her as of late. Until then, the Empress was content with how things were, although Feng would have to be even more mindful now of those who viewed him with envy and suspicion. Yanhua meanwhile seemed to be eager to move on, but Fate was not quite done with her yet. “Just wait a moment there,” the court photographer cried out, and with split-second efficiency, a throng of attendants robbed Yanhua and Feng of all control as they positioned the two Iron Pony victors next to the Empress. One flash of light later, and all of Long Guo now had a photograph to be printed with tomorrow's headline! NOW Yanhua and Feng were free to return to their normal routines.....

The whole court was set ablaze with whispers the moment Feng dared utter his station-defying request. The nerve of a mere Watcher, thinking he was entitled to be the equal of a Heavenly Daughter of Dragons! If the Empress acquiesced to this audacity, surely she would no longer command the total obedience of her servants and ministers... and all her subjects? For her part, Empress Yuè was half-surprised that Feng settled for something as “mild” as an official acknowledgement of friendship. And yet, when it came to violently violating ancient boundaries, the Imperial Watcher definitely failed to disappoint. While it was true that most upper echelons around the world discouraged monarchs from excessively fraternizing with those from the lowest stations, the Imperial Court of Long Guo took top marks in enforcing such social rigidity. And yet, Feng’s petition had also been clearly made in good faith. It was well known by now amongst the Palace courtiers that he and the Empress shared an unusually close working relationship. Although close ties that violated the separation between royal and commoner were usually discouraged, retainers more often than not looked the other way just as long as their own status and prestige wasn’t threatened. In light of this situation, other courtly protocols took precedence; those that looked down upon a high-status individual causing someone to lose face. If Empress Yuè was to maintain an aura of heavenly authority, she’d have to turn down Feng’s offer in a way that wouldn’t subject the Imperial Watcher to undue shame and humiliation. Yet by doing so, she risked hurting the feelings of a stallion who has only given the royal qilin his absolute loyalty and dedication. On the other hoof, a proclamation of friendship with the Empress’s lowly servant would offend the sensibilities of those she most depended on to keep the Imperial Bureaucracy and Household running smoothly, without which all of Long Sun society would collapse! My my; the Empress was caught in a rather tricky Catch-22 situation..... Empress Yuè used up a quarter-minute by doing nothing, seemingly contemplating her response. This was expected, as any smart Imperial sovereign takes great thought in what words they spoke out loud. And then..... “Just as the Wise and Noble Long keep themselves sequestered from the Long Sun who idolize them,” she began; “The Ruler of the Dragon Kingdom is expected to follow the same example of social isolation. If the ancient wisdom of the Serpent Dragons is offered too freely, it would no longer be held in such high esteem by the rest of the populace. Likewise, a sovereign who fraternizes too freely with the servants who carry out their will risks making other followers less appreciated, and thus less willing to carry out their duties to the absolute best of their abilities. Thus, great diligence must be made in keeping the engines of governance smoothly functioning, upon which all of Long Guo depends in order to thrive in peace and harmony.” A beat passed. “We would do well by reflecting on the deeds of the First Imperial Sovereigns: Empress Hua and Emperor Huo. As the Great Uniters of Long Guo, they understood that without a set of Courtly Rites — without all the ceremonies and etiquette to assure the Long Sun of the viability of a single united nation — the land they had just brought together would swiftly turn back towards fear and chaos. It is thanks to the foresight of Hua and Huo that we are able to hold this gathering today, two thousand years later.” Another long silence followed. “It must also be acknowledged that the gift of the Courtly Rites would never have been possible... had Xi Hua and Xian Huo never learned the value of Friendship. Alone, neither Champion had the means to complete the Great Journey to Longri-La and defeat Tyrant King Faba. But once the two Champions learned to set aside their rivalry and embrace the companionship of one another, they discovered they were stronger together than they ever were apart!” The mandarins and attendants in the audience all fell deathly silent. “Many years of my life have I spent studying the Ten Thousand Truths. We are told that to properly walk the Path of Harmony is to be like Water; to embrace the impermanence of Existence and adapt as necessary. I can therefore appreciate the fundamental irony that in order to safeguard the Long Sun’s freedom to be like Water, they depend on the majesty of a Dragon Throne beholden to timeless unchanging principles.” “No soul can deny the importance of rulers cultivating the Heart of the Dragon within themselves to earn the respect of both Dragon and commoner... but even the Book of Dragons states that those with the Heart of the Dragon strive to recognize and fix their shortcomings. And perhaps over the course of two thousand years..... there are certain other timeless principles which the successors of Hua and Huo have forgotten.” Empress Yuè suddenly sat up from her throne and walked towards Feng, looking down upon her bowing bodyguard. “...If you really DO embody the spirit of Xiao Huo, then it is also true that without the Gift of Friendship..... you will never unlock your full potential. In the short time we’ve known one another, you have offered me devotion far above and beyond what is expected of anyone in Imperial service, without little realistic hope for additional reward. It is due time that this is corrected.” The qilin mare outstretched a hoof towards the longma, offering him a means to help himself up. Yeah, having an empress help up a mere servant was inconceivable and all, but everyone had no choice but to roll with it considering what momentous event was just about to transpire. Were Feng to look up now, he would see not the aloof eyes of an absolute monarch projecting unquestionable strength, but rather the glistening aqua orbs of Yù Yuè, a warm and affectionate young mare who in the deepest depths of her heart desperately craved the companionship of faithful confidants. “.....I would be honored to be your friend, Fēng Yīnhǎitāo.”

Feng couldn’t have picked a worse time to waltz in and mostly carry on as if everything was normal. Couldn’t that oaf see that Sunset Shimmer was in the middle of an obviously delicate situation? Really??? The grimacing unicorn tried to signal the longma to shut up by sliding a hoof against her hoof, but it did no good. Feng kept yapping, agitating the reeling Tempest Shadow beyond safe levels. A cry from Tempest was all the warning Sunset got before noticing the panicking broken-horned mare was charging right at her! With only a second to react, a startled Sunset twirled around and assumed a bucking position as fast as she could, hoping she could brace for impact!!!

"Are you friends with Headmare Twi- ex-headmare Twilight?" “Yes I am,” Professor Shimmer answered the Yak, who had been the first to call out a question; “In fact, Twilight Sparkle is my BBF! Ironically enough, we first started out as bitter enemies... or at least, that’s what I viewed Twilight as. You’ll eventually be hearing a lecture on the full story, so be prepared to take good notes… Yona, was it?” "Hey, Professor. First off, I'm Gallus. Good to meet you. You should know that they don't give us homework usually. My question is: Who are you?" “Teh heh heh heh,” Sunset Shimmer had to admire the griffon’s cheeky spirit; “You got spunk, kid! I’m going to have to keep a very close eye on you. But back to your question Gallus; I do most of my work outside Equestria these days. Aside from dabbling in a little Anthropology here and there, my main responsibility is studying the spread of magic from Equestria to elsewhere, and to take any rogue Equestrian magic out of the hands of people who, well... are not exactly in the best state of mind to wield it. As a couple friends of mine like to put it, it’s almost like being a superhero!” .....Nailed it! Of course Sunset wasn’t naive enough to assume she wouldn’t have to explain her activities in the Mirror World. “What are we expected to learn from this course? What are the learning goals?” “And you must be Kireina,” the Professor addressed the Longma; “All of that can be found in the class syllabus, which I’ll pass out a copy to everyone right now.” Demonstrating her magic aptitude, Sunset Shimmer used her magic to levitate a stack of syllabus copies to each student all at once. “But to put it simply, up until now, the courses taught by your instructors have placed an emphasis on what we in friendship studies like to call,” the unicorn magically lifted a piece of chalk to write a three word term; “‘Slice-of-Life’ situations.” “However, if you think the only use for Friendship is helping you get through day-to-day interactions, well then heh heh..... you must be new here. Chances are good that at one point or another, you’re going to encounter someone or something with a darkened heart. When a being’s heart turns dark, they become overwhelmed with fulfilling selfish desires without thought or consideration for anybody else. And if they have access to a magical power or ability on top of that, you can certainly bet that nothing good will come of that." “From what Twilight has told me, many of you have already had a run in with one of these people whose heart turned dark. One of your former schoolmates, in fact...” Sunset paused to give her students the chance to speak up if they so wished.....

FiM has been quite the ride. Suffice it to say, not only did I score quite a few internet friends thanks to this community, but you all have also been a gateway to other cool shows. Honestly, finding this place gave me hope that online communities don't always have to be cesspools of immaturity and toxicity. If there's one thing I ask of the Gen5 reboot, it's that motivates a new generation of chill fans to come Canterlot's way.

“Oh, I didn’t know that,” Sunset responded to the knowledge that Twilight’s friend could have been a movie star in this world. Frankly, it wasn’t surprising that a fashionista with a flair for the debonair would have been considered for the role of Shadow Spade. But then again, it wouldn’t have been surprising if the mare behind Carousel Boutique had been later judged to be a better fit as a costume designer than an actress. Sunset might have continued this tangential discussion, except that she and her pal had a museum route to plan. Sunset nodded to let Twilight know she got the name of that student right. “Eh,” she casually added; “Summoning was always banned. See, I didn’t care much for ‘lame’ things like rules and boundaries back in the day.” Suppressing the indignation over the idea that Twi wasn’t considered a good enough protege, Sunset saw fit to elbow the goody four shoes alicorn and poke some mischievous fun her way; “But I never took YOU for a duelist, Twi. A faithful student like yourself should have known that magic duels outside of Defense Against Dark Arts exams are sanctionable by detention or suspension according to Section 2 Rule 5 of the Gifted Unicorn Code of Conduct.” A shifty-eyed expression came forth from Sunset; “.....I’d know. Princess Celestia once made me write an essay on how the Code of Conduct evolved throughout the school’s existence. It’s best you don’t ask why I got assigned it.” It was kind of a bummer to hear Somnambula used up all her glowpaz ages ago. The pegasus’s lack of regret rather reminded Sunset of the exchange student at school who lead the Harmonious Path club — Jade Moon — who among other things preached about embracing the inherent impermanence of the Material World. Sunset wasn’t the type of girl who dwelled much on philosophical matters; she preferred the time-honored activity of teasing Twilight! “Flash Magnus, huh?” The Equestrian girl snickered in delight, knowing just enough about Flash to make a superficial connection between him and another stallion she and Twi knew of; “You know Twi, I’m starting to sense a pattern with the sorts of studs that make you blush, heh heh heh.” Before she knew it, Sunset Shimmer had literally walked into one of Somnambula’s motivational seminars. Initially content to observe the Pillar of Hope in action from the sidelines, Sunset unexpectedly found herself in the spotlight! “When I learned to hope?” The unicorn levitated an unused cushion over to the front of the auditorium and sat down besides Somnambula. “Hmmm, well uhh, I suppose that depends on what you mean by hope? I mean sure, growing up, I hoped one day to be a great magician so that ponies would like me, I guess. Then later, after I had a falling out with my mentor, I hoped for nothing more than the chance to get back at her... but I’m pretty sure that’s not the sort of hope Somnambula is talking about, heh.” Sunset took a moment to chuckle and rub the back of her neck. “See, what you guys and gals have to understand is that I come from a crummy old town. Which is sorta funny, because its name is Hope Hollow and it supposedly had this reputation one time of being one of those idyllic everybody-knows-your-name small towns, but all that stopped being true by the time I was born. The ponies I grew up around didn’t have any hope at all; hope that business will get better, hope that the neighbors will always have their backs, hope that their daughter will amount to something.....” A glum sigh signaled Sunset Shimmer’s recollection of not-so-happy memories. She didn’t mean to ramble to this entire crowd, but the mare felt she’d be cheating everyone who came to understand Somnambula’s teachings by not offering a full picture of her backstory, however unpleasant it may be. “Anyway, even after I got accepted into Princess Celestia’s School and began my magical studies, there was always that little voice in my head telling me if I screwed up my apprenticeship, I’d have thrown my life away for nothing, just like how almost everyone back home predicted. Eventually, I DID screw it all up; in fact, I screwed up so badly that I betrayed my teacher and ended up trapping myself in a place where I couldn’t use Magic at all! Can anybody here imagine living in a world without Magic?” The unicorn allowed a few moments for her listeners to let the horror of a magicless-land sink in. “That messed me up pretty good. Robbed of my hopes and dreams, I swore I’d never be happy again unless I crushed the hopes and dreams of everyone else I shared my new little world with. So I went ahead and made their lives miserable... but accomplishing THAT didn’t make me happy. Making it back to Equestria didn’t make me happy either..... nor did snatching the Element of Magic from Princess Twilight over there. That’s the thing about living only for yourself; whatever you succeed at, all that does is move the goal posts by always giving you something else to be miserable at. Believe me, there was always that something else to fill me with rage and resentment.” “So of course I got my butt whooped like I deserved, and once again I felt like an utter failure who wouldn’t be missed by anyone…” It seemed that Sunset got herself lost in her memories for several seconds or so, only to burst out grinning; “.....But then something incredible happened! It was no other than Twilight — whom I stole a crown from only days before — who encouraged me to let the Magic of Friendship into my heart. And for the very first time in my life, I had faith that others would like me for who I was regardless of what I was skilled at, what grand destiny was in store for me... or what terrible things I’ve done in the past.....” As she continued speaking, Sunset used her magic to telekinetically drag Twilight by her side, whereupon the fiery unicorn interlocked her hoof with the alicorn’s. “I still had a hard time climbing out of the pit I dug for myself, make no mistake, but there was now a new voice telling me that as long as I worked at fixing my mistakes, things were gonna’ get better in the end. There were many times where I thought my attempts at atonement would lead nowhere... but I also had a new fire in my heart giving me the strength to persevere; the comfort of knowing that even if I ultimately failed, I would have still been happy with who I was. That I was worthy of friendship and love.” “Sooooooo..... Yeah. That’s my long story of how I found True Hope... and you can thank this friend of mine for it!” Squeezing Twilight’s hoof, Sunset couldn’t help but give her PFF’s cheek an affectionate head nuzzle.....

Feng’s unexpected outburst in support of Yanhua further raised Empress Yuè’s suspicion that something was amiss. Just what exactly would lead the Imperial Watcher to express unseemly bravado in support of his teammate? It was almost as if something happened during their trip that they wished to conceal from the Imperial Court. If the Empress’s assumptions were correct however, Yanhua was as least willing to confide to her alone about this mystery. And although Feng seemed to be in on this secret, the Empress had absolutely no reason to question his loyalty and competence. If the longma stallion had the courage to put his honor on the line in support of Yanhua, the royal qilin would then trust Feng’s judgem- Wait- what... was... THAT? Did Empress Yuè see what she thought she saw Yanhua do? Rationally, the Empress had no reason to chastise her chef over this latest breach of courtly decorum. However, a foreboding feeling stirred inside the royal qilin’s heart; she could not name it, for she knew not what it was... or maybe she was too busy denying the existence of such uncouth emotional pettiness to begin with. Nonetheless, for the briefest moment, a faint eye twitch could be spotted on the face of a young mare who was otherwise a master of maintaining royal composure in all situations. But just like a fleeting mirage, the shadow that fell on Empress Yuè’s features departed just as swiftly as it arrived. Resorting to instant compartmentalization, the Empress pushed all emotions aside that contradicted the image of serene majesty an imperial sovereign was supposed to convey, and she pressed on with the ceremony: “.....Before setting out on his mission to Equestria, Fēng Yīnhǎitāo had already demonstrated a prior history of showing great valor and ingenuity in the field! Few among Feng’s kind, past or present, has achieved the level of success in as short an amount of time as he has! With the latest successes of this champion of Long Guo — of not only besting seasoned athletes in the contests of Barrel Weaving and Obstacle Running, but through the tireless effort he gave for every test he partook in — Feng is now the undisputed Iron Pony of the World!” “All Long Sun can learn from the self-sacrificial example of Fēng Yīnhǎitāo.” Was that slight inflection meant to convey a secret inside joke only Feng would know? Probably. “He has shown the heights that which a Long Sun of humble birth can rise up to by directing all their focus, commitment, and sheer will towards serving the citizens of the Dragon Kingdom. It is thus no exaggeration to say that in these modern times, Feng embodies the ancient spirit of the mighty longma champion Xiao Huo like no other!” Quiet murmurs could be heard from the assembled crowd; it was never taken lightly when a Long Sun is favorably compared to one of the legendary co-founders of Long Guo itself! “In light of Fēng Yīnhǎitāo’s extraordinary service, it is due time that he is thus properly awarded! Please step forward to be acknowledged!” Once Feng obeyed the command, Empress Yuè continued speaking, although Feng alone would be close enough to see a trace of a smile on the royal qilin's muzzle; “As per the customs of this court, you are free to make any request of your Empress. If it is within my power to grant it, then it shall be yours.....” Of course, there were PLENTY of unspoken caveats about what could be asked of an empress. Don’t ask anything that jeopardizes the well-being of Long Guo. Don’t use the occasion as an excuse to upend centuries of time-honored traditions. Don't be a braggart with no concept of humility. And above all else: don’t make any requests meant to humiliate an imperial sovereign or put them in an awkward position. Empress Yuè liked to think that Feng’s known affections for her would dissuade him from making TOO foolish a request.....

If a normal pony had been watching Tempest Shadow’s meltdown, it was highly likely they would dismiss this behavior as a case of excess melodramatics. But not Sunset Shimmer, whose own memories of her less-than-ideal were even now being brought back to the surface; “This isn't Canterlot. Where am I? Princess Celestia? What's happened to me? Somepony, help me!!!” Sunset Shimmer didn’t require any special empathy powers to take pity on Tempest. Clearly, the broken-horned unicorn suffered from an unresolved traumatic issue vastly more severe than the loss of magic she was experiencing now; one which Sunset inadvertently triggered. Although done with good intentions, Sunset now felt extremely guilty about snapping at her counterpart with a Fail-Safe spell. Miss Shimmer took a deep breath, hesitating for a moment as she gathered up the courage to attempt comforting the emotionally volatile Tempest. “.........You were stripped of your magic once before,” Sunset trepidatiously stepped up in front of Tempest; “And it left you vulnerable..... didn’t you?” Although the ex-apprentice knew from Twilight Sparkle about Tempest's abandonment issues, she lacked the full story behind it all.....

Mount Aris - A High Perch of Glory Far to the southwest of the Equestrian Heartland, over rivers and ranges, beyond wastelands and woodlands, lies a single solitary peak: Mount Aris. Rising from the Sparkling Sea just offshore of the eastern Neighples Delta, Mount Aris is a tall and imposing basalt monolith; the ancient remnant of a long-extinct volcano. And into this basalt, the Hippogriffs have carved out their seat of power, the great fortress known far and wide as the Winged Citadel. The Hippogriffs’ Citadel gets its name from the basalt wings hewn from the rock of Mount Aris, which protectively shield the city proper from the oceanic ravages of winds and waves. Land access to the Winged Citadel consists of crossing a causeway of basalt columns — which is only exposed at low tide — followed by a climb up a narrow, steep flight of stone stairs leading to the sole gate into the fortress. While hardly convenient for non-winged beings, it’s proven a highly defensible arrangement for the Hippogriffs, who themselves nest on the mountain’s leeward side just past the Gates. The Hippogriffs of Mount Aris build their elegant, organically-styled dwellings out of majestic trees; trees cultivated specifically to serve as sturdy and graceful foundations for buildings. Above the city resides the Harmonizing Heights, a place of natural beauty from which a zen-like hum can constantly be heard emanating from. Legend says that Queen Vetera — the mythical founder of Hippogriffia — personally weaved the enchantments that created the Heights so that her people would have a sanctum to find inner peace. Overlooking the sanctuary are the gates of the Winged Citadel itself, a masterpiece of masonry unmatched in all of history. A high spire rises from Mount Aris’s peak, the top of which is crowned by the Throne Room of the Hippogriff monarch. Elsewhere, tunnel networks bore through the Citadel’s protective basalt wings, housing everything from food stores to barracks and concealed embrasures for defensive siege engines. For more than two thousand years, the Kingdom of Mount Aris has played a pivotal role in shaping world history. In days of old, the Hippogriffs were known for their legendary skill in smithcraft, imbuing magical enchantments into their work via methods now lost. Mount Aris was also a nexus of commerce, occupying a strategic point on the trade route between the Griffon Kingdom and Saddle Arabia. Mount Aris’s prosperity gave it immerse diplomatic clout, and it was here where the Treaty of Aris was signed, ending the Zephyr War between the Griffon Armies of Flavia Razorclaw and the Pegasi Hosts of Commander Hurricane. Yet while the Hippogriffs of Mount Aris desired peace with their neighbors, achieving that goal in practice often meant preparing for war. The Hippogriffs have defended themselves against many threats over the centuries; from the pillaging of dragons to the storms of Acroneighos, from the greed of the Aquellian Empire to the treachery of Puerto Aguila’s sky pirates. Consequently, the Hippogriffs became a proud folk who embraced a culture of athletic accomplishment and martial skill. Few warriors showed as much prowess in battle as the Royal Hippogriff Marines, while the Winged Citadel withstood all sieges thrown at it without ever falling... all sieges but one. Ten years ago, the Winged Citadel finally found itself outmatched by the modern machines of war wielded by the Storm King’s Armada. Rather than risk her kingdom perishing in a lightning assault, Queen Novo ordered the Hippogriffs to abandon Mount Aris and take refuge in the submerged sea caves below. No news came out of Mount Aris for the following decade, and it was presumed by the outside world that either the Hippogriffs were all gone, or were so well hidden that nobody would ever find them. Except that the Hippogriffs were found by ponies seeking allies to free Canterlot from the Storm King’s grasp. Queen Nova’s daughter — the bubbly Princess Skystar — helped bring upon the Storm King’s downfall, freeing Hippogriffia from the threat of enslavement once and for all. Mount Aris has since been reoccupied and restored to its former glory. ~Canterlot Research Journal (Revised Edition)

It came deep out of left field seeing Feng fly up to the fox-demon and boop its nose, seeing how Sunset Shimmer was this close to reaching a breakthrough. But by Celestia; whatever Feng did worked spectacularly, because the visage of the fiery monster immediately vanished, revealing the true form of the eight-tailed vixen. As the tearful reunion between fox and longma commenced, Sunset started feeling way out of the loop, as if she wasn’t missing the full historical context between Yanhua and Feng. Sunset took a quick peek at the house rooftop Tempest Shadow had made her stand on to judge how she was reacting to unfolding events... only to spot nobody! How peculiar. As Sunset blasted Tempest with a dispelling Fail-Safe spell moments ago, she felt compelled to at least check up and see if the other unicorn was all right. That was, if the broken-horned mare hadn’t wandered off yet. “Tempest???” Sunset cried out as she walked back in the opposite direction from Yanhua and Feng; “Tempest Shadow, you there???!!” Still no response or sign of her. “Hmmph,” Miss Shimmer reflexively grumbled to herself; “Go figures she runs off the moment there’s no fox to hunt anymore.” Just as Sunset was just about to call off her search, the mare rounded the corner of the house and found Tempest Shadow sprawled on the ground! “Tempest!”; Sunset cried out in worry as she galloped on over; “Are you alright?!” Tempest didn’t appear to be in physical pain, thank goodness, but why did she look like she just saw a ghost? A minute ago, Tempest had been aching for a fight, so what was up with this sudden 180? ...Was this all because of that dispelling spell?

Yanhua’s question gave Empress Yuè some pause. It wasn’t so much what the palace chef actually asked, but rather how it came with a slight hint of hesitation, along with a peek in Feng’s direction. And maybe... it WAS definitely because of what Yanhua asked of her Empress, because no servant in the Imperial Household’s employ would need to request ahead of time to seek the Empress’s input on mundane matters. Empress Yuè was highly trained and practiced in the art of reading others, and she sensed Yanhua’s true concerns did not revolve around the menu for tonight’s banquet. As it was however, it was highly improper to unexpectedly put somebody on the spot in front of such a huge gathering, especially if they were all there to honor that said somebody. Empress Yuè could also spot signs of agitation starting to appear on many of her assembled courtiers; nobody was here to witness the discussion dinner arrangements. Therefore, after a slight pause of contemplation, the royal qilin simply moved things along in her expected assertive manner; “.....But of course. I will send for you later when the proper time comes.” With one gesture, Empress Yuè summoned forth one of her attendants, who presented Yanhua with an ornate case. The servant proceeded to open the case, revealing to the palace chef... a sparkling feather marked with many colors of the rainbow! “This is the feather of the fenghuang, the rainbow phoenix,” the Empress elaborated; “Sages say that a Long Sun who holds a rainbow feather in their hoof can rejuvenate the embers of Hope, Vitality, and Wonder in their hearts.” The wise royal knew that befriending a fenghuang was even more of a blessing than possessing a single feather, but she had the personal experience of both monastery tutelage and a disastrous Grand Galloping Gala to grasp how hard such a feat was. The Empress’s features subtly softened as a sign of appreciation for Yanhua; “It is hard to think of anyone else more deserving of this rare gift... than one who has tirelessly toiled in service of her Empress with complete dedication, faithfulness, and honesty.....”

Oh brother: Sunset Shimmer should have known better than to mumble out loud about Daring Do in front of Twilight Sparkle. “Eh heh heh, that’s quite alright Twi,” Sunset awkwardly attempted to politely refuse her friend’s offer; “I’ve only watched the movie adaptations myself, and they’re only up to Marked Thief of Marapore, as I believe I’ve told you about before. And besides,” the unicorn slyly smirked; “I’m more of a..... Shadow Spade person, myself.” It was only fitting then that the Somnambula section with its scores of displayed artifacts reminded Sunset Shimmer of a pyramid straight out of a Daring Do film. Of particular interest to the unicorn mare was a cracked emerald brooch and a recreation of a nightmare mummy wrapped in bandages. “Ah, this brings me back,” Sunset recollected; “I challenged one girl to a duel back at Magic School because she said to my face I was too mean or whatever to be Celestia’s pupil. .....That girl was completely right, but to this very day, I don’t understand how she got so happy when that shadowmorph mummy I summoned enveloped her in its arms. Some ponies are just that desperate for a free hug, I guess? Pfft, it was certainly the strangest magic duel I’ve ever won.....” A displayed pole next to the cracked brooch caught Twi’s eye, who began gushing about it. She had been so loud about it to summon a living legend over to the pair. Somnambula in the flesh; Sunset hoped everybody else in this land was as excited to encounter a Pillar of Equestria as she was now! “My name’s Sunset Shimmer,” the girl kept her cool as she shook Somnambula’s hoof; “It’s an honor to meet you, Somnambula. And I can’t believe all of the other Pillars are also here today!” Sunset’s gaze momentarily fell on Somnambula’s neckline; “Hey, you don’t happen to have the necklace Prince Hisan gave you handy, do you? Princess Celestia taught my class about the properties of glowpaz, but that gem is extremely rare these days, and she only had dust fragments on hand that day to show everyone.”

Although the ceremony with King Oisin had ended, more internal affairs of state required discussion throughout the rest of the morning. And even after that, one last important matter remained. Long Guo’s delegation to Equestria’s Iron Pony competition had returned to the Imperial Capital bearing the fruits of victory! Ironically, when Feng was initially chosen to represent the Dragon Kingdom, his superiors never planned on him winning the title of Iron Pony. There were three chief qualities that the Imperial Watch prized in its members: the willingness to utilize ruthless efficiency, the ability to cultivate an aura of fear, and a mastery of the art of going unnoticed without any effort (.....alongside demonstrating an almost fanatical devotion to the Empress). Although it was true that Feng succeeded at every mission and exerted himself harder than any other Watcher, his reputation amongst the ranks... left much to be desired. Earning a glorious title at a high-profile sporting event overseas was exactly the sort of fame a model Watcher avoided if at all possible... but then again, it wasn’t like Feng could be reprimanded for failing to do bad. After all, the Empress herself chose the longma stallion to represent the Dragon Kingdom, and who in their right mind would embarrass their Imperial Sovereign by deliberately performing poorly? Regardless, Feng Yinhaitao was set to be viewed by the Watch’s leadership with doubt and suspicion for a good while longer. At least for now though, Empres Yuè could satisfy herself with the sight of her Champion strutting his way towards the Dragon Throne. Were Feng anybody else, the Empress might have labeled him as an arrogant showoff with ulterior motives. Of course, the royal qilin knew who the true Feng really was: a philosophical warrior with a fiery heart of passion and absolute loyalty. Thing was, in a dog-eat-dog environment like the Imperial Palace where servants were expected to know their station, Feng’s devotion could very well one day prove to be his undoing. So was for that reason that Empress Yuè sent Feng away to Ponyville; that, and to remove him as a mental distraction for a while. Thus it was an even greater irony that her actions had the opposite effect, as the Empress’s thoughts started dwelling on Feng and his well being at a more frequent rate than before. The qilin mare lacked an answer for why she was afflicted so; it wasn’t like something as silly as love could be involved, as Love was the province of those privileged with the luxury of opening their hearts. No; the Empress was sure to find a more probable answer through meditation, no matter how long it took! Yet it was rather difficult to deny Feng’s allure when adorned with golden medals, wasn’t it? If Empress Yuè’s emotions were in turmoil, none of it showed whatsoever as she addressed Feng and Yanhua with the utmost professional confidence; “The champions of the Long Sun before us today have brought great honor to the Dragon Nation! Although only one of them could earn the coveted title of Iron Pony, we would be remiss not to acknowledge the achievements of our very own palace chef, Yanhua, who earned the top prizes in the contests of Cupcake Eating and Rock Climbing! Please come forward to be acknowledged!” As Yanhua obeyed the command, she asked an almost non-sequitur question for this occasion... almost. “Yes we are,” the Empress answered nonchalantly; “It seems word of the Peryton delegation is spreading far and wide. As a matter of fact Yanhua, you shall be meeting with them at tonight’s banquet... to make arrangements for produce shipments from the Velvet Strand to the Palace Cellars. We trust you can carry out this task?”

The situation was going from bad to worse! Yanhua ended up minding Tempest Shadow very much so, fretfully addressing her in particular as she warned her pursuers to back off. Before Sunset Shimmer could respond, the fox creature emitted an ear-piercing scream. Once she recovered from the deafening, Sunset opened up her eyes and saw a most horrific vision: a giant monster of flame ready to burn everything in the vicinity to cinders! And as if Sunset wasn’t shocked enough already, Tempest was STILL clamoring for her epic showdown! Hey gang, being a friend is boring, so let’s instead risk reducing Ponyville to ashes just so I can get a fight in! The frustration in Sunset’s heart boiled over; her horn erupted with a bright aetherial light almost immediately after Tempest issued her latest provokation. With one swift move, Miss Shimmer furiously turned and fired a burst of dispelling magic straight at Tempest! “NO TEMPEST, IT’S NOT YOUR TURN!” Should Sunset’s blast make direct contact with Tempest Shadow, the broken-horned unicorn would find herself incapable of summoning magic for a good half-minute or so. “DO US ALL A FAVOR AND STOP MAKING EVERYTHING WORSE!!! ARRRRRGH!!!!!” Having sufficiently vented at Tempest Shadow, Sunset Shimmer was able to turn back towards the apparent fire-demon with a more conciliatory expression on her features. In her heart, Miss Shimmer knew that despite Yanhua’s fearsome transformation, the scared vixen didn’t really want to fight. Besides, the unicorn’s six sense was telling her that everything about this scene felt off... but she needed to keep her focus on getting through to Yanhua while she was still stationary. “Look, Yanhua!” The mare pleaded, taking several steps forward and placing a heartfelt arm on her chest as she stared down the beast; “If you just want some space, fine then...... we’ll stop getting in the way. But I urge you NOT to drive away all those who care for you! I swear Yanhua that everything’s gonna’ get better; whatever you’re going through... you can count on your friends to be there through thick and thin!” Even if Yanhua chose to run away once more, it was at least worth the effort to deescalate the situation before somebody got hurt.....

Welp, it's been a long time since I've touched up this OOC. Anywho, here's a new Royal Guard OC that I've discovered for ya all: EDIT: Found several more guard OCs made by active RPers. They've been put on the Active Roster.

If Aero had any reason to linger around the School of Magic or the surrounding area, there is indeed a chance for a random encounter. Depending on the nature of this encounter however, don't expect Sunset to remember it.

“Okay Sunset, remember what Twi said; relax, and just be yourself.” Be yourself. That was the one significant piece of advice Twilight had given Sunset Shimmer when she accepted this position. The unicorn had been prepared to dismiss the saying as generic, only for Twi to go “well, actually” all over her. And Twilight was right; this school would have failed had the Ponyville gang decided to keep doing things by the book. If those girls could transition into professors just fine, so could Sunset! On cue with the ringing bell, the classroom door magically opened as a fiery unicorn mare sauntered in; “What’s up, everyone?” The new professor’s mane seemingly blew on its own accord as she levitated her cutie marked-saddlebags on the teacher’s desk, exuding a charismatic calm all the while. “My name is Sunset Shimmer,” the smirking unicorn turned to face her pupils directly, smoothing back her tousled hair with a single elegant flip; “And I’ll be your Defense Against Dark Hearts teacher this year. Like this school’s founder, I too was a personal apprentice of Princess Celestia’s. But as I understand it, I’m the School of Friendship’s first professor to not be widely known first before accepting the job. So if you have any questions about me, feel free to raise your hand and ask about anything!”

Heh, Twilight was really bent on Sunset loving this trip. It was the fact the Royal Pony Sisters picked up on at the castle breakfast earlier this morning, which otherwise went smoothly. It was always nice to see the ole’ mentor again, though it was rather surreal hearing Celestia and Luna discuss retirement plans. The only thing bearable about the duo abdicating their thrones was how they intended Twilight to take their place. Princess Twilight Sparkle: Ruler of Equestria, Wielder of Friendship, Protector of Harmony. Had a neato ring to it. Other questions lingered in Sunset Shimmer’s mind. Will ponies and other nations give Princess Twilight the same level of deference as they did the Queen-in-All-But-Name Celestia? Would Twi’s friends pile even more commitments onto their backs by taking on royal advisory duties, or would they all end up having to restructure their close-knit fellowship into something... not as close-knit (which begged even more unpleasant questions about Sunset’s own post-graduation future)? Was Twi’s destiny to... sit on a throne all alone? Sunset found that last question extremely disturbing for reasons she couldn’t quite articulate. Last time the unicorn visited Equestria, she found a new partner in Long Guo’s rising-star Imperial Watcher, who spoke of how its new empress struggled by herself to carry the burden of her Dragon Throne, least others judged Empress Yuè as unworthy of her crown. Twilight was about to land in that same boat as Yuè; if the Friendship Princess’s other pals can no longer be counted on to always be there for Twi, who will? Which would make it a huge shame if nopony stepped up to fill those horseshoes. Twilight Sparkle was by far the very best friend anybody can have. No matter the situation (time loops notwithstanding), Twi would drop everything to help you. Everything the mare did, she gave 120%. She was amazing at magic, infected you with dorky enthusiasm, and heck — unlike other appearance-obsessed blowhards — always seemed to look pretty without ever having to try! .....But Sunset was getting ahead of herself. Right now, she had a museum to attend..... ---------- “...So let your minds be amazed as these tales of hope, strength, beauty, bravery, healing, and sorcery are brought back to the future to inspire the ponies of today! ~A.K. Yearling” Sunset was finishing reading out loud the celebrity-penned forward printed on her and Twi’s exhibit guide. “Yearling, huh,” she mumbled to herself as an aside; “I wonder if Daring Do is a thing in this world as well.” Miss Shimmer was clearly not well-acquainted with Equestrian non-fiction; prior to finding a new home in the Mirror World, the ambitious Sunset saw fit to label all mass-market drivel as wastes of time. Anyway, to answer Twi’s question; “Let’s see, according to the guide’s order, it looks like Somnambula is first. I remember she invented Tempus Objectus and the Weather Abjuration spell, although I never imagined her to be a pegasus...” Sometimes, students of unicorn magic like Sunset found it hard to believe that non-unicorns could create spells too.....

Dang it!!! Sunset Shimmer’s lapse in concentration allowed Yanhua to slip right past her! While the unicorn’s feeble attempt to tackle the fleeing fox creature only caught ground, it did allow Sunset to notice the tips of Yanhua’s (eight!) tails were actually made of green flame! What in the world WAS Yanhua????? .....And then there was Tempest Shadow to make everything worse. Why did she have to treat this very serious situation as a GAME??? “Don’t mind our gung-ho friend, Yanhua!” Sunset shouted a panicked apology as she picked herself up and continued the chase; “I won’t let anything happen to you if you stop running away from us! We just want to help!!!” *...Most of us, anyway.....*

There were precious few things in Sunset Shimmer’s life she valued as much as the time she spent with her companions back in her Mirror World home. Just about the only item to make the shortlist was the unicorn mare’s version of what some young fillies would call “Twilight Time”. About once every three months, Sunset would return to Equestria to spend a weekend with her adorkable Pony Friend Forever, Twilight Sparkle. Considering the business of their schedules, these get-togethers were really the only opportunities for both mares to share face-to-face fun times together. Usually, Twilight planned these occasions so that Sunset would get to enjoy aspects of pony culture that she had missed out on in the past. Considering Sunset’s rough foalhood and troubled studies under Princess Celestia, it was quite a shockingly long checklist, but that was no concern to an alicorn princess addicted to making long checklists. Last time around, Twi managed to rope Sunset into participating in one Iron Pony event... which somehow turned into chasing a mythical fox creature? Weird stuff happened in Equestria, sometimes. But Twilight was really looking forward to this weekend’s excursion. Apparently, the Museum of Equestrian History over in Canterlot was putting on a special exhibit about the Old Pillars of Equestria who lived over a thousand years ago (and are bafflingly quite alive and well today, once again due to the marvels of Equestrian weirdness). But this wasn’t no ordinary special exhibit, because Princess Twilight served as an academic consultant! And Twi, she was always so eager to spread awareness of vital historical figures to ponies lacking knowledge of obscure history. You know... ponies like Sunset Shimmer. The Equestrian girl looked on the bright side of things: she could have just as easily been dragged off to a dusty Antique Shop, or to a dry lecture on Paleopony Pottery Symbology. Although the former magic student relished teasing Twi about her nerdy excesses, Sunset confessed to herself that the inquisitive scholar within her wanted greatly to learn more about some of Equestria’s very first heroes... especially Starswirl. And she’d get to have her kick-flank PFF by her side while doing so! As the pair of Celestia’s students approached the Museum’s front entrance, Sunset couldn’t have been in better spirits.....

Wait a minute... did the Headmare just imply that Grubber would have to work for his treats? AWW MAAAAAN!!! Even in this place, desserts were earned through honest effort! The hedgehog’s spirits quickly deflated, realizing he was gonna have to come up with an actual game plan if he was to thrive at the School of Friendship. Preferably, a plan that allowed for lots of sweets at the lowest possible cost. Grubber was pretty sure he could think of something, though! Maybe the hedgehog could sneak off with desserts like in the really old days, before he enlisted in the Storm King’s Armada. Or perhaps he’d find a student or two willing to do the studying and assignments (whatever those weird things were) he’d have to do or whatever. For now though, being able to put his clever mind at work gave Grubber a measure of hope for the future.....

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS: Much has changed for the Hive ever since the downfall of Chrysalis and the crowning of King Thorax. The kingdom of the changelings has become a realm of peace; their insatiable hunger changed to feelings forums, their constantly shifting labyrinths to permanent easy-to-remember hive layouts. Life and greenery are slowly returning to what were once wastelands, although with lusher pastures come more dreadful beasts like the voracious maulwurfs. Regardless, the Changeling Kingdom is nowadays an oasis of Harmony within the mostly uncivilized Badlands.

I love it 100%, nice job!

My sole art of Moony w/ visible eyes: