Bellosh

Sunset Shimmer attentively nodded as Twilight Sparkle prattled on about Netitus. Ah, so Regalite Maxinimium was the secret ingredient, eh? That sounded about right. Although she had never seen it for herself, Sunset learned a fair amount about it back in her magical studies, as it had been a desired stone to forge magical relics out of. “Yeah...” the unicorn grimly commented; “Too bad all the Regalite Maxinimium mines in Equestria ran dry centuries ago, though.....”

Unexpectedly being turned into the focus of Twilight’s gaze made Sunset feel self-conscious about herself. “Barding?” The blushing unicorn asked incredulously; “That’s... sweet of you Twi, but really, what would I need armor for? It’s not like I’ll become a princess who leads troops into battle anytime s-.”

Before Sunset’s inquiry could be answered, Twilight got distracted by an old artwork, Flash Magnus and the Dragon, which Sunset Shimmer’s eyes dissected in discerning detail. “For surely being one of the oldest surviving pieces of oil painting,” the unicorn’s inner amateur artist awakened inside of her; “It IS quite detailed. And quite experimental too; assuming art history ‘over there’ progressed similarly to here in Equestria, then oil on painting wouldn’t have caught on for another several centuries.”

Sunset rested a hoof on her chin as she scanned the artwork further; “Not quite sure about the painting coming alive bit, but I suppose it’s theoretically possible if Grand Canvas was using enchanted pigments? Then again, how could you tell the difference between sorcery at work and your imagination playing tricks? Maybe with.....” Obliviously rambling to herself, the unicorn clearly fell victim to, uhhhh... something?

“Hmmm..." Sunset Shimmer casually remarked in a low voice; “You sure don’t learn history like this in school.....” Either here or in the Mirror World. Celestia’s ex-pupil had been exposed to an inkling of Equestria’s dark past in her advanced magical studies, but only sanitized tidbits. After all, knowing about the conflicts of old usually wasn’t necessary for a budding sorceress to learn the intricacies of spellcasting, which Sunset once saw as her only goal in life.

Amongst the implements of war on display was the legendary shield of Flash Magnus, Netitus, looking very much worse for wear. Regardless, Sunset Shimmer was in awe of the piece of armor and all the abuse heaped on it. She gave a slow, contemplative whistle; “That’s definitely some old-school armor right there. The last time I used a modern suit of barding for target practice, the whole thing fell apart within several magic blasts. What does it say Netitus is forged out of, Twilight?”

The Kirin are a peculiar species. Although Kirin are considered equine, their physical forms are radically different from those of ponies. Major points of distinction include cloven hooves, bushy lion-like manes and tails, dragon-esque scaling on their muzzles and backs, and a curved horn capable of projecting magic. Although some aspects of the Kirin initially make them seem like close biological relatives of the part-dragon Longma and Qilin, they have no ability to breathe out elemental flames.

However, it is true that the Kirin originated from the Far East; from the islands of Neighpon, in fact. Contradictory myths and legends float around as to how exactly the Kirin came to be, but the historical consensus suggests that as Neighpon became more heavily populated, the Kirin collectively believed in the need to isolate themselves from other creatures. To that end, they undertook a great migration westward across vast oceans and strife-torn lands, traveling as far as their hooves could take them. After much toil, the Kirin reached their final destination, a sheltered grove on top of the Peaks of Peril within the northern Tarpans, which they saw as a perfectly isolated oasis to build their new community around.

The reason the Kirin undertook this great migration was due to the Nirik, a supposed race of fire creatures raging with fury. In actuality, a Nirik is the form a Kirin takes when overcome by anger; their hair and tufts blaze into an ethereal fire, charring the color right off their coat! In this furious state, a Nirik can effortlessly engage in pyromancy but at a cost of losing self-control. It is not uncommon for everything around a raging Nirik to go up in smoke.

Bereft of safe spaces to blow off steam thanks to their isolation, the Kirin were left no other choice than taking out their frustrations on each other. After one particularly nasty incident that resulted in most of the Grove burning down, the Kirin’s leader decreed that all her subjects were to take a Vow of Silence, enchanting a stream with the power to strip a creature of its voice and emotions. While this appeared to be a decisive solution to the Nirik issue, the Kirin grievously lost the ability to nourish their spirits with the joys of song, dance, and laughter.

However, one Kirin stumbled upon both the floral cure for the silent oath and the realization that anger wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. With help from pony interventionists, the inhabitants of the Kirin Grove chose to introduce sound and emotion back into their lives. Finally accepting they have the power to channel their negativity into non-harmful ways, the Kirin no longer fear intermingling with the world beyond.

~Canterlot Research Journal (Revised Edition)

Grubber might have gotten to answering the hippogriff’s question had he not spotted his former commander turned designated sponsor. For a moment, the hedgehog felt the tiniest inkling of a storm brewed over his head as Tempest Shadow mumbled something inaudible. Thankfully, that pit in stomach turned out to be a case of the imagination happily running wild, so Grubber obliviously answered the unicorn. “Oh, school’th TOTALLY been doin’ great!!!” He excitedly bragged; “I’m making lotth of new friendth and learning everything I can about Friendthhip! I’m thure the report cardth thay glowing thingth about me, or otherwithe, you’d be giving me the evil eye and dithciplining me with your crazy horn right about now... you know, just like old timeth, eh heh heh heh.....”

.....It was perhaps a merciful thing then that Tempest Shadow didn’t know that according to the Friendship School’s mailings, Grubber displayed troubling signs of underachieving and being proud of it.

The hippogriff used the slight pause in the conversation to interject with another question. “Yeah, that thoundth like Commander Tempetht alright,” Grubber nodded, glad he didn’t require any boring history book reading to get that right; “Thhe did the Throm King’th evil, evil bidding. Whenever he needed a city thacked or a kingdom enthlaved, Tempetht Thadow’th Air Armada came in and made everything all blow up and thuff! After we nabbed all four pony princesseth, Throm King promithed he’d fix Tempetht’s horn and-”

Grubber did a double take; “Wait a thec, why doeth it thill look like you thill got a crackly chipped tooth on the top of your head?” He gasped; “Doeth thith mean you’ll alwayth be thtuck with tharky tharky boom thells FOREVER???”

...........................

.................................................................

Sunset Shimmer was at a complete loss of words as Tempest Shadow laid bare her innermost emotions. This went FAR beyond a simple phobia of losing one’s magic. Rather, it sounded like Tempest despised everything about the path her life had taken. Evidently, turning her back on the Storm King had basically did jack all at changing the broken-horned unicorn’s view of the world.

And honestly, what could a girl like Sunset SAY to things like what Tempest described? How could anybody who once benefited from Friendship — and then lost it all — ever be persuaded to give it another chance when they’re hyper aware of every possible rotten thing life could throw at you? Miss Shimmer wasn’t even sure if offering her personal friendship would help; Tempest Shadow was a proud unicorn afraid of showing weakness, and the ex-apprentice guessed that any attempt at befriending her counterpart that could be perceived as being done out of pity would be categorically rejected.

Unable to immediately form a counter-response to Tempest’s assertions, Sunset merely stood there with a blank stare as the other unicorn started walking off. True, Hanabi attempted to flee from the group several minutes ago... but here she was now attempting to provide gratitude, while Tempest Shadow herself was in the process of retreating from the area after going on a heartfelt tirade. It was doubtful though whether talking to the mare would have any result at this point, but Sunset Shimmer couldn’t bring herself to let her counterpart go without a fight. At the very least, Tempest deserved to know she was worth being chased after.

“.....We’ll see you guys in a little bit,” Sunset informed Feng and Hanabi after several moments elapsed. At this juncture, it was probably best if Tempest Shadow didn’t feel surrounded by strangers. Resolving to get through to her on a one-on-one level, Sunset broke into a relaxed but brisk canter in hopes of quietly catching up to Tempest.....

Beneath the surface of Mount Aris lies the underwater refuge of the Hippogriffs; the Sea Caves of Sequestering, more commonly known as Seaquestria. For a time, the citizens of Hippogriffia took shelter in these caves following the rise of the Storm King, using the power of the Pearl of Transformation to morph into Seapony forms adapted to functioning in the ocean. With the Storm King’s threat now passed, many former denizens of Mount Aris have decided that life under the sea is more preferable to slaving away out in the sun.

According to the historical record, the Pearl of Transformation was a gift bequeathed to the Hippogriffs by the Hippocamp City-Kingdom of Coralline, who use such relics whenever they have business to attend to on land. In the case of the Hippogriffs, their Pearl swaps their avian features with a fishtail, flippers, and a more equine frontal body. A few who transform develop luminous bulbs on their foreheads, which helps with swimming in deep water. Creatures who assume Seapony forms enjoy many of the abilities enjoyed by Hippocamps, such as communing with aquatic creatures. Following the downfall of the Storm King, Queen Novo divided the Pearl of Transformation into multiple small fragments to give her subjects the freedom to choose between Seapony and Hippogriff forms.

The aquatic sanctuary that became Seaquestria has its origins long ago, after Queen Marina was gifted the Pearl of Transformation. A hippogriff with a deep love for the sea, she ordered that the sea surrounding Mount Aris be fully explored by volunteers willing to be morphed into seaponies. It was during these first explorations that sea caves were discovered extending beneath the island mountain. Initially, the Hippogriffs largely left the Sea Caves of Sequestering alone, although they had the insight to dig water tunnels up to the surface above for use as emergency escape tunnels in the event the Winged Citadel was likely to fall.

Once the Storm King forced the Hippogriffs to flee the surface world, they started again by erecting a new organically elegant city out of glass and coral, hanging above the ceiling of Seaquestria’s largest cavern like an upside-down copy of the Winged Citadel. Much like a Citadel that hangs like a chandelier, the bottom of the hanging, illuminated spiral houses the chambers of Queen Novo, which are used whenever she is attending to the needs of her Seapony subjects. Magical enchantments ensure that Seaquestria’s waters remain calm and clear, unaffected by the ever-changing whims of the surrounding seas beyond.

Seaquestria is not as populated as it once was, many refugees choosing to return to the surface world as Hippogriffs. However, a large percentage of Queen Novo’s subjects actually prefer underwater life, many of whom never fit all that well with the traditionally competitive and grandiose culture of the Hippogriffs. For many of the younger ones, life as Seaponies is all they have ever known, and they aren’t too keen on losing the chance to frolic with beautiful fish and clever octopuses. How Queen Novo navigates this new cultural split amongst her people will be a more peculiar challenge, indeed.

~Canterlor Research Journal (Revised Edition)

“Pfft, don’t get me started on regret,” Sunset Shimmer commented on Somnambula’s lament; it was not uncommon during times of gloomy reflection for the unicorn to wonder what could have been had she completed her training to Princess Celestia’s satisfaction. “Take it from somebody who was dumb enough once to throw her destiny away,” Sunset shared an encouraging smile and a comforting one-legged hug with the Pillar of Hope; “You and Flash Magnus still have plenty of time to make new plans.....”

Speak of that warrior-pony, there he was! Although Sunset Shimmer’s earlier jest about Twilight and stallions named Flash was not meant to be serious, Magnus DID strike the unicorn mare as reminiscent of an older, less flashy, and more rugged version of pony Flash Sentry. Maybe the two stallions were related by ancestry, somehow? “I’m Sunset Shimmer,” the unicorn shook his wing; “Nice to meet you!”

That was all Sunset got to say before Somnambula whisked her stallion away, leaving the unicorn alone with Twilight. “Welp..... you heard him Twi,” Miss Shimmer gently tugged her partner in the direction of the Flash Magnus exhibit; “Let’s get busy ourselves and check out this next stop.....”

Food? Food where? Sweet Apple Acres? The place that grows apples? Well, apples may not have been the desserts that Grubber craved for the most, but the ponies of Ponyville seemed to like them a whole lot, so there had to be something about these apples which made them awesome. And heck, the vertically challenged hedgehog was accustomed to seeing apples as dessert ingredients, so it’d be worth it to grab some of those fruits to snack on anyway. Something something about how one apple a day keeps a doctor delayed, or however that pony saying goes.

And would you look at that? Some fellow students from the School of Friendship were waiting in line! “Wathup guyth?” Grubber called out as he got behind the dragon and hippogriff; “So thith ith like the place to be, right? Do they-?”

Grubber spotted a familiar sight in front of the hippogriff! “YO! TEMPEEEEETHT!!!” The hedgehog jumped up and down, flailing his arms to grab his old partner’s attention; “IT’TH YOUR BETHTETHT PAL, GRUBBER!!! LONG TIME, NO THEE!”

Sunset Shimmer supposed it was nice to know that dodging punitive essays was yet one more skill of Twilight’s. And for now, she would also get to dodge insinuations concerning any attraction to Flash Mangus as Somnambula chose to elaborate a little more on her relationship with the warrior. Quite curious to think there was something going on between the two legendary pegasi.....

Who would have known that only several minutes into a museum events, Sunset Shimmer was going to an inspirational speech to convicts? Yet somehow, the unicorn pulled off that spur-of-the-moment accomplishment without much difficulty. Then again, it wasn’t all that different from some other situations Miss Shimmer had been in before... sans the out-of-control troubled souls unwittingly threatening to unleash magic upon hapless bystanders. Everybody could make do with less incidents like those.

The time now came for the next exhibit. “Huh,” Sunset gave the Pillar of Hope a teasingly suspicious glance; “So YOUR section is right next to Flash Magnus’s. Seems terribly convenient, doesn’t it Somnambula.....?”

Not surprisingly, Yù Yuè favored red as the base color for her lantern. As a qilin who aligned herself with Fire, it was the obvious choice. Perhaps she should have expected that the First Moon for Serpent Dragons did not vary too considerably from how it’s observed by Long Sun, the Elder Serpents being the source of many traditions to begin with.

As for how things were done in the Imperial Palace? “You’ll be pleased to know that the First Moon is also an occasion for celebration at the Palace. The kitchens have been working non-stop for the last two weeks, cooking up ample dumplings for the servants each night. Right now, they should be finishing up with their own paper lanterns.....”

The collision of bodies that Sunset Shimmer braced for... never happened. Feng used his warrior reflexes to intercept Tempest Shadow beforehand, managing to put the broken-horned mare in a submission hold. Slowly but surely, Tempest abandoned her drive to have at Sunset, and she was able to calm down and follow Feng’s order to stand down.

Breathing a sigh of relief that Feng’s plan worked, Sunset poked the longma to let him know that he was free to let Tempest go. As Feng got up, Sunset sat down next to Tempest and proceeded to continue their conversation as if it was never interrupted. “Back when I was a filly,” Miss Shimmer explained to the other unicorn; “I used to believe that being the best at Magic was all that mattered. If I couldn’t be better than the rest, then nobody was going to care about me.”

Sunset averted her gaze towards the ground; “But one day, I got mad at my mentor. I chose to run away from it all, and in the process, I trapped myself in a place where Magic didn’t exist. It’s... sort of a long story that you’ll probably think I’m making up, but’s true that for quite a long time, I believed I’d never be able to use unicorn magic ever again. It... wasn’t pleasant to cope with.....”

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!!!

“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?”

“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.

“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.....

“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.

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.....”