Book of Moon

Twinkle Star bobbed up and down as she sat on Luna's back.

Spike giggled and tugged at Luna's sparkly mane. His voice squeaked, and squawked, and blared, directly into Luna's ears.

Luna groaned. She rounded a corner and began ascending the next flight of stairs.

"Child, for the umpteenth time, would you please shut him up. The last time I heard something so irritating was before I discovered the mute function on Colt of Duty voice chat."

Twinkle Star shook Spike vigorously, but he wouldn't release his newest toy.

"Gem!" he kept Saying. "Gem! Gem! Gem!"

"I'm trying," said Twinkle Star, struggling to keep Spike from stuffing a lock of Luna's mane into his gob. "C'mon Spike. You can't eat that."

Luna sighed.

"Are you sure there is no way back to where I found Dusk Spark? Why do we have to come all this way?"

Twinkle Star finally prized Spike's claw away from Luna's mane, though Spike promptly seized it again with his other claw.

"I told you. Now that you're in the University, you can't leave. There's no way out. You'll just go round in circles."

Luna huffed. Regrettably, what the child said made sense. Insecurities tend to accumulate in the neglected, and therefore isolated, regions of a pony's mind: Where they can be more easily suppressed.

Something about the University was a great source of stress for Twilight, and Luna was caught right in the middle of it. Why had Twilight never told Luna she was so unhappy?

The halls were thick with the scent of perspiration.

Luna rocked about like a boat caught in a storm as she waded through a bustling sea students.

Luna cursed her growing migraine as her ears, eyes, and nostrils, were all assaulted by an influx of sensation.

Greasy, Impatient, students bumped their way past Luna. She had to shield Spike and Twinkle Star with her open wings to keep them from being knocked off and trampled.

They came to a junction. Sweeping corridors branched off in three directions.

Luna tapped her hoof.

"Which way now?" she asked.

Twinkle Star craned her neck to see around Luna's head.

"Left — No, right — No...um...It's around here somewhere..."

Luna stood in abject agony while the brat on her back dithered away.

"Ooo, I know," said Twinkle Star. "Try that way."

The brat pointed to yet another staircase.

Luna ground her teeth.

"Sure. Why not?"

Spike began to cough, so Twinkle Star gently patted his back.

A gob of phlegm flew out of Spike's mouth and smacked into Luna's hair.

Twinkle Star froze. She put her hoof over Spike's mouth and meekly tried to scrape the goo out of Luna's mane. It proceeded to land on Luna's neck, then it oozed down her shoulder.

"S — sorry Princess," said Twinkle Star.

Luna was stiff with rage.

"Twilight...when I am done bringing you back..."

After more noise, dithering, and erosion of her sanity, Luna reached an ornate door with a golden six-pointed star affixed to it. Footsteps echoed from the adjoining hallways, but no students came this way.

"This is it," said Twinkle Star. " Starlight and Dusk sometimes visit here. Since we can't go to them, let's wait for them to come to us."

Luna almost collapsed in relief. She could finally hear herself think.

Luna levitated Twinkle Star off her back and walked to the door. She was a split second from opening it when Twinkle Star tugged at her tail.

"Um, Princess."

"What," said Luna.

Twinkle Star hopped from side to side.

"I need to use the little filly's room."

"And you did not think to mention this when we were passing the restrooms five minutes ago?"

"I didn't need to go back then."

Luna laughed manically. She imagined the catharsis of wringing the little brat's neck until her eyes popped out of their sockets.

"I. Hate. Children."

Luna levitated the troublesome pair back onto her withers and descended back into the madness brewing in the halls below.

An eternity later, Luna crawled back up the stairs and returned to the door.

She plopped Spike and Twinkle Star back on the floor.

"Right," she said. "Are you both ready? Because once I open this door, if either of you has even the slightest complaint, you will receive absolutely no sympathy from me."

Luna starred at Twinkle Star.

The filly huddled up next to Spike.

"Y — Yeah."

Luna smiled.

"Good."

Luna flung the door open. She starred at a large open window inside the room. She didn't move.

"What's wrong?" asked Twinkle Star.

A thick cluster of black storm clouds snuffed out the sun.

"This is Twilight's study."

Luna spun around, fangs gnashing as she spoke.

"I could have flown us here!"

Twinkle Star leapt out of her coat. She scrambled over to Spike and hugged him close to her chest.

"Stop it Princess — You're scarring Spike."

The storm vanished as quickly as it had arrived.

Luna stomped into the office.

Twilight's study was in its regular, orderly, state; but Luna was seeing it in an all new light.

Unresolved equations floated through the air. Everything in the room was identified by a label of disembodied words and numbers, which carried the object's name, exact dimensions, mass, density, and other increasingly pedantic pieces of information.

Luna swatted the Drake equation away from her face as she walked up to the desk.

She levitated Twilight's quill and scrutinised the label. Whenever she moved the object, it's label followed.

"Well this is novel."

Luna replaced the quill and lay down on the settee. Her eyes slid closed. At least Twilight's furniture was no less accommodating.

Twinkle Star and Spike padded into the office.

"Princess...I'm sorry I made you angry. Spike wants to apologize too."

Luna sat up with a groan.

"Fine."

Twinkle Star grimaced for half a minute, but her horn eventually sparked into life. She levitated Spike in front of Luna.

"Spike, say you're sorry."

Spike belched.

A smile forced its way onto Luna's lips. She scooped up the tiny dragon in her hooves.

Spike grinned as he began chewing on Luna's man.

"I suppose he is rather cute," said Luna, as she cuddled Spike. "I will have to accept this ‘apology.’"

Luna placed Spike on the settee between her forelegs. She patted the seat next to her.

"Why don't you sit down? We have some waiting ahead of us, correct?"

Twinkle Star grinned and clambered onto the settee next to the Princess.

Luna looked down into the workshop for no particular reason.

"I do not hate you. I just get short tempered when I am out during the daytime."

Luna looked at Twinkle Star. She was treated to one of Twilight's snarky half-smiles.

"Alright. More short tempered. I owe you an apology as well."

Luna looked over at the chess table. The pieces were positioned as they were when Luna scored her checkmate the other day. It was swamped by masses of floating equations, essays on chess theory, and more than a few frustrated scribbles.

"Is this really how Twilight sees the world? It must be tiresome to think so hard about literally everything. It is so soulless. There is no room for intuition, improvisation...or mistakes."

Twinkle Star's whole body deflated.

"Yeah. It was never like this in Ponyville..."

She looked out the window and dreamed that the winds would carry all her friends to her, riding in a hot air balloon.

"I miss them more than anything."

Luna was compelled to say something, but didn't know what. She slowly tucked Twinkle Star under her wing.

"I can be your friend." Luna stole a glance at Twinkle Star. "If that counts for anything."

Twinkle Star rubbed her head against Luna's neck, just as she would rub Celestia's.

"Okay. Making mistakes isn't so bad went you have friends to help you."

Luna's lip quivered.

She had been accepted. Was this pride? or weakness?

A smouldering visage dropped out of the sky and landed in the window.

"Mistakes cost lives."

Luna stood up and flared her wings.

Twinkle Star jumped off the settee. She grabbed Spike and hid behind Luna.

The thundering of gears came from the other side of the workshop. The Safe Room opened, and masses of equations poured into the workshop.

An inky black raven of a mare emerged from the billowing clouds of information and staggered towards the office. She muttered to herself, head held low.

The raven stopped halfway through the workshop. The hairs of her mane curled and frayed. She looked at Luna, then Twinkle Star, then Starlight Flare. A bent smile cracked across her face, widening to unnatural proportions.

"Hi giiiiirls," said Dusk Spark, her left ear twitching.

Luna's expression grew dark. The complete inversion of Dusk Spark's demeanour triggered some primal force deep within her. Every muscle in her body tensed.

Dusk Spark snorted and giggled.

"Mistakes are horrible, horrible, things. They mark you out as imperfect, make you lose faith in your abilities. Your peers laugh at you..."

Dusk Spark's grin disappeared. Realization shattered her joy like a pane of glass. Her eyes darted about at unseen foes.

"...Sometimes it's worse — Your friends abandon you, your loved ones turn away and...and..."

Dusk Spark  dropped the floor. She curled into a ball and clutched her head.

"You didn't have to die because of me. I'm sorry."

Starlight Flare shook her head and hopped down from the window ledge.

"Put a lid on it. Some of us have better things to do than mope."

Starlight Flare strode towards Twinkle Star.

"Twinkle, what were you told?"

Twinkle Star whimpered from behind Luna.

"You never, ever, come here," said Starlight Flare. "Get out."

Luna barred Starlight Flare with her wings.

Starlight and Luna both growled at each other.

Dusk Spark dragged herself to the foot of the stairs in front of the office. She looked up with interest; her distress already a thing of the past.

"Twinkle Star? Here? That won't do. You're not thinking of leaving the University are you, Twinkle?"

Twinkle Star looked down at her baby.

"If it would make Spike happy..."

"Don't be stupid," said Dusk Spark. She grunted and inclined her muzzle. "Where would Twilight go? It's not like there's anything for her outside Canterlot."

Starlight Flare's mane raged like the fire of an open hearth.

"We've come too far to leave now. The engine is almost ready. Twilight can do this."

Dusk Spark's mood swung like a pendulum. She squirmed in place.

"Oooo but what if she can't? What if she makes another mistake?"

Dusk Spark stalked up the stairs.

"Nu uh. We need to cut our losses. Things can never be the same as they once were. Twilight doesn't need you anymore. We'll get our affairs in order and pass on to a better place."

Luna swatted the air and snarled throughout the conversation. More and more equations filled Twilight's office as the two mares bickered.

"I'm not done with my project," said Starlight Flare, her wings opening and closing. "Once we pull ourselves together and get these airship designs off the ground, we can protect everypony — there won't be any more mistakes."

Dusk Spark sighed.

"Oh please, you and your hot-headed antics only heighten Twilight's despair by revealing how hopeless her efforts really are. You only delay the inevitable."

"Oh and I suppose it's real clever of you to have Twilight just give up and die."

Luna's booming voice made the walls shake, and the equations popped out of existence.

"Enough."

There was silence.

Luna cleared her throat.

"Twinkle Star guided me here at my request. It is I who will answer for her presence."

Luna slowly closed her wings.

"Now will somepony please explain this disagreement?"

Twinkle Star came out from behind Luna's legs.

"After what happened to Twilight, she didn't know what to do."

Dusk Spark's expression cleared. She stood still and looked at Luna.

"Three different thoughts took a hold of her mind, breaking it into a worthless, incoherent, mess."

Starlight Flare's mane was reduced to a flicker.

"Me and Dusk have been battling for control ever since. The workshop is where we make our stand. Twinkle is just a stupid kid, so I threw her into a dark corner of Twilight's mind. One down, one to go."

Starlight Flare gestured towards the desk.

"The authority to make a decision rests on that seat."

Dusk Spark said, "When Twilight Sparkle herself reappears, a verdict will be given."

The room fell quiet. Only the chirping of birds down in the gardens could be heard.

"So that is all?" asked Luna. "Do none of you know what is truly at stake?"

Twinkle Star looked up at Luna.

"What do you mean?"

"Right this moment, Twilight is being held prisoner inside an enchanted book. Given the current state of affairs, she is likely unconscious."

Dusk Spark and Starlight Flare questioned each other with their looks in a rare moment of mutuality.

Growing impatient, Luna said, "None of you has any knowledge of this?"

Starlight Flare shook her head.

"We exist so that Twilight can decide her future. Nothing else matters."

Luna threw up her hoof in frustration.

"Trust Twilight to think rather than act. It will be the death of her."

Dusk Spark sniggered at the prospect.

Luna said, "Well, if that be the case, then I say your deliberations must end, so I will end them myself."

Dusk Spark broke down in laughter.

"Nope. I don't think we'll allow that."

"For once we can agree," said Starlight Flare. "I want a fair verdict."

Luna walked behind Twilight's desk and took her seat.

"I do not recall asking for your permission."

Luna clasped her front hooves together.

"Twilight is trapped, and you are going to help me free her."

Dusk Spark gave Luna an empty stare at first, then started to giggle.

"Really? Even if you're right, how exactly do you suppose we wake Twilight up?"

Starlight Flare pointed at Dusk Spark and said, "Yeah, and I'd sooner eat my own crown than let this lemming get the last laugh."

Luna got up and walked in front of the desk.

"I see only one way."

She looked down at Twinkle Star and touched her shoulder.

"There is a spell Tia invented to harness the power of Harmony. It may just work, but I will need your co-operation."

Dusk Spark laughed.

"You know me. I'm always ready to help my friends."

She frowned.

" — At least until I end up hurting them instead."

Starlight Flare growled.

"This is pointless. But I guess you won't take Twinkle Star away from here until you've tried. Do what you want."

Luna directed the three Twilight's to stand in a triangle, with Twinkle Star opposite her.

The filly had laid Spike down on the settee for a nap. His snot pooled on a cushion as he snored.

Luna said, "Now, you must focus on what it meant to be Twilight Sparkle."

Luna closed her eyes, her horn glowed faintly.

Nothing.

"Well?" said Starlight Flare.

"Quiet, I must concentrate," said Luna.

Minutes passed.

Nothing.

Luna struck the ground.

"Harmonization."

A stream of magic shot out of her horn. It flew straight past the three Twilights and hit a rack of tools down in the workshop.

A swirling vortex crackled into existence and dragged in an array of knives, scissors, and files.

There was a flash of light, and a multi-tool pocket knife clattered to the floor.

Dusk Spark burst out laughing. She rolled around on the floor in spasms of hysterics.

"That is not supposed to happen," said Luna, brow creased.

Starlight Flare sneered.

"What kind of magic was that? If you want my advice, conjuring storm clouds is more your level or, should I say, more your centaury."

Luna grunted.

"Remember who you are talking to. I was part of what put Discord away for the first time. I think I can cast a simple fusion spell."

Luna closed her eyes.

"I know I can do this. I'm combining parts of Twilight's mind, but nothing relevant. Maybe if I just try harder..."

Again, she clapped her hoof against the floor.

"Harmonization."

Three rulers hanging on the wall above a workbench accreted to form a set-square.

Luna's teeth churned like a cement mixer.

"I do not understand. These three ponies refuse to become one. There are items of stationary more in harmony with each other."

Twinkle Star tugged at Luna's tail.

"Um, Princess..."

Luna looked down at the filly.

"I think you need to try something else. Harmony isn't about being the same, it's about forming bonds even if we're different."

Luna caught the severity of Twinkle Star's tone. She decided she liked the child. There was courage to her kindness.

Twinkle Star said, "No two stars in the sky are the same, but they still make the constellations just as they are. Twilight was destined to find her friends, but it took her a long time to understand what that friendship meant."

"Bonds," said Luna.

Luna studied Dusk Spark and Starlight Flare.

They had gone straight back to bickering into each other's faces, and could have tumbled down the stairs in a billowing dust cloud at any second.

"These two are so different. How can I possibly find a bond between them...?"

Luna sat down and crossed her forelegs. She reviewed everything she had ever known about Twilight Sparkle.

Twilight's mind was divided into three schools of thought. If Spike drove one of them, what about the others? Dusk Spark wanted to die, and Starlight Flare wanted to design an airship, but what was it all for?

There was only one pony for whom Twilight would go to such lengths.

The whispering winds of Ponyville at night breezed through Luna's thoughts. The ponies dreamed a minutia of troubles.

Some sense of responsibility she couldn't explain called Luna to battle their fears. But to them she came as a nightmare and their minds drove her away.

In time, she hardened to the hope of helping others, but then there came a night when she was needed.

She was staring through an oaken window at a grieving sister, lying restless.

The Moon crawled low along the twilit horizon, reaching out to this one aching soul. Luna watched and shared those desperate dreams for the pain she knew was the same.

"Are you okay, Princess?" asked Twinkle Star.

Luna touched her face and found moisture.

"Yes," said Luna. She smiled.

"Everything is going to be alright. I will make certain of it. Thank you."

Luna rose.

"Twilight is in pain. I will disperse the darkness that clouds her mind."

Stark shadows painted the walls as a golden light pulsed from Luna's horn.

Dusk Spark and Starlight Flare grew silent. They squinted aghast into the beckoning light.

"Twilight, have you no shame?" said Luna. "I am free because of the friendships you forged 100 years ago. What would your brother say if he could see you in this state?"

Recognition jumped between all three twilights.

"Shining..." they all said in unison.

An orb appeared in the light.

Twinkle Star clung to Luna's leg. She looked up uncertainly at her friend.

Luna gave her a reassuring nod.

"Go on, Twinkle Star. Don't be afraid. I made you the base for this harmonization. Twilight Sparkle values the bonds she holds with her friends above all things. Never let her forget that."

Twinkle Star's face lit up.

"Yeah! That's a promise. Thanks Woona."

Twinkle Star walked into the light and became one with its energy.

Starlight Flare burned with bestial rage. She clawed at the ground to resist the magic that seized her.

Dusk Spark slid on past her rear with a shrug.

"Oh well, I suppose our reign was fun while it lasted," she said, giving one last titter. Dusk Spark's neck jerked to one side. Her face fell and she said, "No it wasn't — It was miserable..."

Luna gave another resounding beat of her hoof.

"Twilight Sparkle. Hear my voice and return. Harmonization."

The orb consumed the three. There was a final burst of light.

Twilight Sparkled dropped out from a golden vortex.

Luna caught her as she fell.

"Twilight. Are you well?"

Twilight murmured. She opened her eyes. Her expression was soft at first, but then there was a flash of urgency in her eyes. She jolted upright.

"My friends — They're gone. He's still out there. I have to tell Celestia before it's too late."

Twilight began clambering to her feet, but her limbs where drunken with fatigue. Luna restrained her before she could hurt herself.

"Sit still, you stupid girl. I did not toil my way here to watch you break your neck on the flags of your own office."

Twilight shivered between Luna's forelegs.

"But I killed them. He made me kill them. I've never seen anything like it. Magic like that isn't even possible."

Twilight's words descended into sobs and wails.

"Twilight," said Luna. "Twilight, listen to me."

Luna turned Twilight's face towards her.

"You are not thinking clearly. I only just pieced your mind back together. You cannot have killed your friends because they are not here."

Twilight starred at Luna, unsure if she even existed.

"What?"

"We are still trapped inside that infernal book, remember? None of this is real."

Spike waddled down from the settee. He tilted his head at the mare that looked curiously like his mother.

Twilight starred at him, blinking.

"It's not real...?"

Luna nodded.

"Whatever tortures that other me may have subjected you to, they do not exist. The real Spike is bigger than both of us put together and stinks of lake water."

The little dragon faded out of existence.

Twilight massaged her head.

"I am...tired."

Luna scoffed.

"You will be. You have not had a chance to mature your mental abilities as an alicorn; Your mind still behaves like that of an alicorn."

Colour gradually flowed back into Twilight's face. Her eyes flickered with comprehension as recollections of her encounter with Jove returned. She jerked upright and grasped Luna's shoulder.

"Luna, there's so much I need to tell you — It's about your past."

Luna starred at Twilight for a moment.

"My past?"

A shadow of temptation passed over Luna. She paused, then shook her head.

"That can wait. First, we need to get you out of this place."

"You mean we're not free yet? But isn't this my office?"

"As I said, we are still trapped. What you are seeing is your subconscious as interpreted by my mind. Because I followed you in, our subconscious thoughts have been intertwined."

"Can't you just walk right out of my mind like you used to?"

"No. Since It is my consciousness being projected into yours by an outside agent, my hooves are tied. I cannot leave nor separate us."

Twilight crossed her forelegs.

"So it's up to me then. But I don't know the first thing about alicorn mind magic. No books were ever written on the subject."

"Then I will just have to teach you. Are you listening?"

"Wait a minute, Luna — "

Luna paced in circles in front of Twilight.

"Good. Like all magic, mind magic comes from the exertion of will; of arcane influence. But like the magic of Harmony, it is in a league of its own. You must not simply think or do, you must be. Tia devised a programme to train unicorns. Even pegasus and earth ponies could assert their arcane influence, albeit needing considerably more time and training. Each of the three types required a different means to focus themselves. You as an alicorn represent all three combined and carry many times the potential, but also many times the challenge. The movements are not effective in of themselves; You use them to understand your physical state, and so free your mind."

Luna tapped her temple.

"Got it memorized?"

Twilight mumbled for a moment, then said, "I must be? As if I can ever not be? What in the feather is that supposed to mean?"

Luna clipped Twilight round the ear.

"I will have you know that mind magic is a noble and sacred art. You must show more respect."

Twilight tired to sooth the redness on her neck.

"Ow. Was that really necessary?"

Luna thought back to her agonizing foray through the University, with Twinkle Star playing the tour guide from hell.

"No, but it was quite enjoyable. Now watch carefully..."

Luna went through a routine of three poses. In one, she lowered her centre of gravity to give a strong immovable stance. In the second, she stretched tall and opened her wings. In the third made a swirling motion with her horn. She then shifted through each stance in order.

Something clicked inside Twilight's head.

"I think I get it, or at least some of it."

"There," said Luna, ending her routine. "Earth pony. Pegasus pony. Unicorn pony. The stances are just a tool for focusing yourself. You must also learn to think like a pegasus and an earth pony to truly hone your mind."

Twilight touched her chin. The idea of adapting her thoughts in such a way asserted her curiosity like an elusive math problem. She sat muttering to herself.

Luna huffed.

"It is your turn Twilight. What are you waiting for?"

Twilight blanked out.

"Huh?"

Luna glared at Twilight.

"Well go on then, or do you want me to hit you again?"

"N — no. Sorry, it's just I've never tried anything like this before. I never thought of alicorns as being a combination of the other three pony types."

Luna shrugged.

"It is just a thought really, but Cadences tells me it worked well for her."

Twilight got up.

"Alright, I'll give it a shot."

Twilight began moving through the three poses. She ignored the pain in her limbs and gathered pace with each repetition.

Luna observed her form and corrected her as necessary.

"Good. You seem to have them memorized. It is important to learn focus. When you attempted to separate our minds, it could be very dangerous."

"Dangerous?"

"Yes. My mind could become dismembered from my body, killing me instantly."

Twilight almost toppled as she shifted between the pegasus stance and the unicorn stance.

The cries of a stallion in his death throes reverberated through Twilight's ears. Her heart was stricken by fever, and her wings flared. She stood still.

"Um, Luna. Don't you think it's a bit much to expect me to master a whole discipline of magic right away? Maybe we should stop."

Luna shook her head.

"Out of the question. The other me could interrupt us at any moment. It is now or never."

Twilight lowered her gaze. Sweat pouring down her face.

"I don't think I can do this."

Luna scoffed.

"Calm yourself. I would not suggest it if I did not have confidence in you. Given your precocious nature, there should be a slim chance of success."

"A slim chance? Luna, this is your life we're talking about."

Twilight's wings clenched and opened. Her nostrils flared.

"I hate this about you — always running headlong into danger. You're not invincible, Luna. You say this spell could kill you, but you're not the least bit afraid? Aren't you afraid of anything?"

Luna snorted at first, but her indignation quickly turned to same. She became conscious of the fact that her fear for Twilight's safety had driven her to recklessness and left her trapped inside the book as well. She paused and began rubbing her foreleg.

"That is not true. I fear failing my sister. I fear the things Equestria expects of me as it's ‘kind and gentle’ Princess. And, every moment of every day, I fear myself. If you will not work this magic for your own sake, do it for mine. Because I assure you, Twilight Sparkle..."

Luna looked Twilight in the eye.

"I am always afraid. What I am most afraid of right now is leaving you imprisoned here because of my cowardice."

Twilight stared at Luna in caution. Her wings came to rest.

"What's the first step?"

Luna closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Focus."

Luna relayed the exact arcane characteristics of the spell to Twilight.

"Just as Harmony unites, there is another magic that can divide: Chaos. This magic is like the blade of a sword. If held with skill, it will cut cleanly. But — if you show even an ounce of fear — your spell could hurt anyone. You could be torn apart, driven mad, or worse."

Twilight swallowed. She scratched her head and changed the subject:

"You know Chaos magic? When did you learn that?"

Luna's face took on a brooding expression.

"It comes naturally to me. Whatever caused me to lose my memory, this is one thing it could not take. Perhaps I acquired the skill to counter Discord's magic during our bout?"

Luna cleared her throat and looked at Twilight in scrutiny: The girl was fidgeting for some reason.

"Back to the matter at hand. To cast this spell, you must identify precisely where our minds intersect, then banish all of my thoughts from your mind. Do you understand what I am saying?"

Twilight began to sweat.

"Chaos is a sword? I guess I understand..."

Luna raised her hoof to slap Twilight.

"Fool. I did not ask for your guesses. Do you understand?"

Twilight covered her head.

"Okay! I understand! Just don't hit me!"

Luna scoffed.

"Prove it. Cast a laceration spell."

"But that spell is unsafe — It was illegalised."

Luna twirled her mane impatiently.

"The magic I am teaching you was used by Discord to not only cut away the world's bonds of logic and reason, but the bonds between you and your friends. Your point?"

Twilight sighed.

"Fine."

A three-foot-long magenta laser emanated from Twilight's horn, humming with energy.

Luna tilted back her head, exposing her neck. Her ethereal locks of hair snaked left and right.

"Cut my mane."

Twilight blinked at Luna.

"What? No. This spell is dangerous — It was illegalised."

Twilight laughed and fanned her face.

"Rarity knows all kinds of hairstylists. If you're interested in finding a new look you're better off asking them to cut your mane."

Luna showed no concern. The hair in front of her did not truly exist, and it still smelled of dragon phlegm anyway; even after she had brushed it while Twinkle Star was in the restroom.

It was enough to make Luna's nostrils raw. Twilight's comparative ignorance was growing obnoxious. It was like there was a big smelly elephant in the room to which she was completely oblivious.

Luna glared at Twilight.

"This is what it means to wield Chaos. If you do not battle your fear, it will control you."

Twilight's breath's were heavy. The laser trembled on the tip of her horn.

Twilight closed her eyes. She screamed and slashed at Luna's mane.

The laser buzzed as it met substantial resistance.

Twilight opened her eyes. Her spell was pointing squarely at Luna's heart.

Luna's horn glowed. She blocked the stream of light with a cloud of darkness. Sparks flashed where the magic met.

Twilight released her spell and stumbled backwards.

"I'm sorry. Are you hurt?"

Luna grunted.

"She was able to withstand the rays of the Sun. In contrast, your oh-so-deadly ‘illegal spell’ is little more than a tea-light."

Twilight growled.

"You mean you were never in danger at all? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because then there would be no fear for you to overcome."

Luna brushed at her coat, hoping the sparks hadn't left a stain.

"That was a pretty good swing, if your aim was to kill me. We will have to try again."

Twilight face swelled like a balloon. She huffed and puffed and grumbled about how reckless and depraved it was to use magic in such a destructive manner.

Luna coolly weathered her ranting with indifference. She waited until Twilight could only sigh and reactivate her spell.

Luna smirked.

"Spare me your complaints. The real thing will be no different. Sooner or later, you will have to face your fears."

She beckoned at Twilight.

"Come at me."

The two alicorns repeated the exercise many times.

Twilight was eventually rewarded with a lock of Luna's mane. Despite her convictions, she found herself smiling as she wiped the sweat from her brow.

Luna, however, scowled.

"That was luck. You barely kept one eye open. Come, Twilight, why must I keep reminding you to look at what you are cutting?"

Twilight's expression was an unabiding well of fear that subtly shifted from one insecurity to the next.

"I'm trying, but something keeps making me tense up."

Luna raised an eyebrow. She could feel something stirring beneath her hooves: A deep, ugly, shame that was leading Twilight's mind astray.

"Then relax, and try again, or it will be my turn to cut your mane."

Twilight nodded with determination and readied her spell.

"Right."

The lesson continued. Twilight grew more confidant. Her flinching lessened and her eyes inched open as strands of Luna's glimmering hair dropped to the floor clump by clump.

Luna sniffed the scent of burning hair. She pouted and brushed at the choppy shape and split ends of her mane, even knowing it was an illusion.

"I think that is enough practice."

Luna swept back what was left of her hair.

"I would have expected the other me to have found us by now, but it would be unwise to test our luck any further. Are you ready to work the real magic of Chaos?"

Twilight walked to the centre of the office and set about calming herself through breathing techniques.

She stopped and said, "I guess I don't have much of a choice. Here goes."

Luna stood to one side.

Black and white sparks shot off of Twilight's horn.

Luna looked out from the window. Hundreds of cracks spread over everything in sight, even the daytime sky. Angular sheets of blue fell like flakes of glass. They left gaps through which a soft blue light shone in from some other plane of existence.

The fissures surrounded the Sun. The golden disk feel away and stuck the Earth in plumes of dust, revealing the Moon and stars in the night sky behind it.

"It's working," said Luna. "I am returning to my own subconscious."

Twilight grunted. Lines spread over her face. Her wings flared.

There was a great tremor and the entire University lurched forward on its crumbling foundations. Luna winced as her chest slammed into the windowsill.

The ground outside loomed upward slightly.

Twilight hovered slightly above the floor, which slanted awkwardly. Murky clouds of darkness cloaked the room in a haze of black, while periodic burst of light radiated from Twilight's horn.

"Luna?"

"I am fine, Twilight. Keep going."

Just as Luna got up, a larger tremor shook the University. It knocked Luna off her feet and bruised her shoulder against the wall of the office.

Luna bit her lip to stifle her yell of pain.

Twilight's desk screeched as it slid forward. Luna dived out of the way before it could crush her.

Flashes of light erupted from Luna's skin. Luna screamed as blood seeped from a multitude of cuts along her foreleg.

Twilight lost her breath. Luna's helpless cries consumed all other sounds. She was floating in a white void with Luna held in her levitation. A bottomless hole of darkness swirled beneath them.

The apparition raised its head and looked at Twilight.

"Let go of me. Save yourself."

Every moment Twilight had ever shared with Luna flashed in front of her.

The sleepless nights and hopeless dreams gave way to a light in the darkness as sure and honest as the paths of the planets. Luna had followed Twilight to a place where no one else could follow.

A part of Twilight wanted to be just as immoveable.

However much Twilight denied her loss, Luna gave her the truth.

No matter how much anger Twilight showed, Luna could withstand it.

Whenever Twilight thought to bargain away her grief with magic, Luna told her nothing was worth giving up even the darkest of her memories.

Sometimes, Twilight would stare into emptiness and wonder if she could ever be happy again. Luna knew the value of silence, and that just being at her friend's side was enough.

The day came that Twilight could finally accept her loss, and it was made all the brighter knowing what she had gained by the experience: a strong, irreplaceable, friend.

Twilight called to Luna. Her voice was small, as if at a distance.

"No. I need you."

A rich and duplicitous voice hissed from behind her like an archfiend.

"Yes. Kill her. Let her join your puny mortal brother. Cast her into the abyss, as you have countless innocents, and know the truth."

Twilight was spun about by some unseen force.

She was face to face with Jove.

The entrancing drone of Order hummed into Twilight ears and commanded her to gaze into Jove's soul-consuming eyes.

The colour in Jove's features shifted. His coat turned white, his mane brightened into a soft blue colour, but the hateful grin remained.

"You are a murderer," said Shining Armour.

Luna growled as more cuts spread across her flesh.

"What are you waiting for? Finish the spell so I can free us of this madness."

Twilight's horn fizzled. The sparks of Light and Darkness froze, then rushed towards each other.

Luna shielded her eyes.

The sparks collided and annihilated each other in a thunderclap of heat and sound.

The azure shards littering the Earth sprang back into the sky, and the University reasserted it's foundations.

Luna opened her eyes to find Twilight lying on the floor.

Twilight hugged her chest, tears streaming down her face.

Luna's wary frown evaporated. She rushed towards her friend, fighting past the stinging cuts in her legs.

Luna reached for Twilight's shoulder, but she pulled herself onto her haunches and turned away.

"I'm sorry Luna. I can't do it."

Luna tried to sit next to Twilight, but her shuffled away, breathing in gasps and gulps. She studied Twilight. The girl was a poor liar.

"You are shaking," said Luna. "What are you afraid of?"

Twilight clenched her wings.

"It's nothing."

Equations began filling the room again. They floated in through the window and the door to the safe room.

They sat in silence as the room brimmed with Twilight's calculations.

Twilight's breathing calmed, but her head still raced. She fidgeted in place.

Luna sat pouting. Her gaze never left the back of Twilight's head.

"It can get rather..." An equation made Luna pause as it drifted past her face. "...cramped, in this office. Would you agree? Why not try moving us someplace else?"

Twilight looked over her shoulder.

"How does that work?"

"Think of a place that makes you feel something and your thoughts should take us right to it, preferably a place that helps you concentrate. This will be good practice."

Twilight closed her eyes.

Luna raised her hoof to momentarily halt her.

"Remember — do not think. Be."

Twilight nodded and closed her eyes again.

There was a loud popping like that of a teleportation spell.

The next thing Luna knew, she and Twilight were standing on top of a broken slab of crystal in what might have been an extravagant royal lounge. There were signs of battle everywhere. Tapestries had been shredded from the walls, jagged cuts lined the floors, furniture has been smashed and overturned like leaves in a breeze, and a soul-chilling draft swept in through a monstrous gash in the side of the tower that exposed both the sky and the room above. It was large enough for a grown dragon to have swooped in.

Twilight immediately dashed about, examining the wreckage.

"I don't understand. I was thinking of Canterlot from when I was just a filly — I swear. Why here of all places?"

Luna strode up behind Twilight.

"Crystal Tower," she said, tapping her hoof.

Twilight flinched, then gave a stuttering laugh.

"So it is..."

"I will ask again. What are you afraid of, Twilight?"

Twilight didn't look at Luna.

"I told you. It's nothing."

"Your mind says otherwise."

Luna's expression hardened.

"You have been dwelling on the incident again."

Twilight faced Luna.

"No. You've got it all wrong. I put the past behind me. I promised myself I would go on with my life. It's what he wanted from me."

"You can never run from your past, Twilight. If you are relapsing into your old ways of thinking, then it is no wonder you are having such difficulty working Chaos magic."

Twilight sobbed. She covered her face, but tears flowed from behind her foreleg.

"I know. You're right. It's just so hard. It's like he was inside my head. He knew everything. My friends, my spells, everything that happened. He used it all against me and there was nothing I could do. He knew there was nothing more painful to me than the guilt of hurting somepony close to me, so he made me kill my friends. I'm scared to even think anymore. What if he comes back? What if I can't stop him and he takes control of me again?"

Concern made Luna's face twitch involuntarily, just a touch.

She kept an even tone.

"Who did this to you?"

"Jove."

The name carried no meaning, yet it persisted in Luna's ears.

Luna cleared a space on the floor of crystal fragments and had Twilight sit with her.

"You are not making any sense, Twilight. Calm yourself, and tell me what happened."

Twilight dried her eyes and expounded on her disturbing encounter with the ancient Prince. She was interrupted whenever she would give details on Luna's memories.

A bitter wind made Twilight's teeth chatter. Luna didn't seem to notice the cold. She sat quietly, admiring the clouds as she gathered her thoughts; regretting that she had silenced Twilight earlier.

"A former alicorn? here to reclaim his crown...?" she said. "This is all very distressing, but I fail to see why this would conjure up old grievances surrounding the incident. There is more."

Twilight nodded. A fog began to seep into the room.

"I can't stop thinking about it. He was there — I'm certain of it."

Twilight clutched her head, Her breath condensed in the air and she began to sob again.

"I don't know what's real. What if he's been controlling my mind this entire time? He could make me do anything. He could change my memories. What if it's all a lie. What if — "

Luna levitated one of the broken tapestries and wrapped it around Twilight's shoulders.

"You doubt too much."

Luna thought back to the maze inside the book's subconscious and the strange feeling that overcame her.

"We are marked by all that we experience. Trust yourself, Twilight. Memories fade, but nothing can take away your past — your destiny. Though it is a burden, it is also a blessing."

Twilight regulated her breathing. She sniffed, but stopped shivering.

"Thanks, Luna. I've been out cold half of the day, but haven't gotten an ounce of rest. Am I falling apart?"

Luna couldn't help but laugh.

"I think you could be worse, all considered."

Twilight didn't see the humour. Her eyes glazed over and her face grew pale.

Luna scowled. If not distracted from her current frame of mind, Twilight would spiral back into depression. She gripped Twilight's shoulders and shook her.

"Stay with me, Twilight. Keep talking. You say my brother was there at the incident, no? Start from the beginning. Tell me everything you remember."

A spark of cognition flickered in Twilight's eyes.

"I only heard his voice...I thought I was going mad back then."

Cold sweat gathered on Twilight's brow. Luna watched the gears in her head battling against the frost encasing them.

"It all started when I received a letter from Shining Armour. Knowing what was to come makes me wish I had never laid eyes upon Shining's royal seal that day. The city was desolated, countless died, and the very heart of a nation was shattered; blacking the skies with hail and lightning forever."

Twilight's lips trembled. She struggled to keep her grief in check.

"Ponies in the Crystal Empire have a very special name for the calamity that one letter would unleash. They call it..."

Twilight took a deep breath and looked at Luna.

"The Darkworld Incident."