(Huge massive big Windborn spoilers!)

(this story is set about a half a year after the events of Windborn. This fanfic is entirely me having wishful thoughts, because this story will probably never happen. I hope you enjoy!!!)

“Stormtail, Stormtail!”

The mighty dapple gray stallion was awoken by a slight tapping-a feather’s breath- on his shoulder. He blinked his black eyes and tried- but failed- to shake off his sleepiness.

It was still night in the territory of Snow Herd, his old herd. The waxing moon reflected off of the thick layers of snow and ice. It was beautiful, this time of night, but to Stormtail, sleep was more beautiful.

He grunted. It was too early- or was it too late?- to be up now. He wanted to escape back to the warmth of his dreams, where he had peace with his past. But the tapper needed his attention, and it was his last job from his mistress to guard her.

“What is it, Riversun?” he yawned, but not at all crossly.

The tiny pinto yearling pointed to the night sky in the distance with her beautiful, black tipped feathers, green eyes shining with excitement. “Oh, Stormtail! Oh! I’ve never seen them this magical. So bright.”

Stormtail turned and gasped at the beauty and wonder he beheld. The Northern Lights, only to be seen in the Ice Lands. Riversun was right; he too had never seen them this vibrant and magical. The Ancestors’ feather streaks filled the sky with hues of purple, green, and gold. He had seen them swirling in the sky countless times, but he always marveled at their magnificence.

“Is-is my mother up there, Stormtail? Can she see me from up there?”

Petalcloud’s guard was silent. He hated to lie to the little filly and he hated to tell her the truth. The truth that he had never seen Petalcloud’s cold purple in the sky. The truth that maybe she wasn’t as good as he thought she was. He hated the thought of Riversun’s spirits breaking. She was such a kind little filly- nothing like her mother- and Stormtail loved her with all of his heart, as if he was her own brother or even father. So he remained silent.

Riversun paused, understanding what his stillness meant. She so desperately wanted a mother but Petalcloud had gone. But Stormtail was somewhat glad that she had died. She had been a horrible mother. She had betrayed her own son, who in turn betrayed her then betrayed his only hope to ally with her. Stormtail had never liked Frostfire.

His silence didn’t stop Riversun’s flow of questions for long though. “What does it mean? Why are they so bright?”

Stormtail exhaled, his breath escaping in a foggy mist. “When I was a foal, younger than you, my dam told me that whenever the Ancestors appeared in the sky, they were reminding us that even in war, there is peace. Many, countless pegasi have died in battle, but they all live in harmony in the Golden Meadow. They come to remind us that if we work for it, we too can have peace.”

“Do we have peace?”

The dapple pegasus sighed. When Nightwing and Petalcloud had joined forces, he thought that there would be peace. How could they not being peace? Together they created the strongest herd and everyone followed their commands. But the only thing that flourished during their reign was fear. Nightwing was a destructive tyrant and Petalcloud was one too. Together, they murdered, lied, and destroyed. And Stormtail had done nothing to stop them. He had been Petalcloud’s slave, servant, and shield of his own free will until the day that she was crushed. He too had murdered, lied, and destroyed. He had been a puppet of evil. But now that he had lived through Nightwing’s and Petalcloud’s tyranny, Stormtail could finally understand why Star’s Guardian Herd protected him with their every breath and followed him to the end; it was because Star was good, pure gold. He was forgiving to the unforgivable. And perhaps he could forgive Stormtail too. And perhaps it was time for Stormtail to lay down his bitterness and follow him...

“Yes, Riversun. I finally think we will have peace.”