Author's Note

Ok Normally this would be about a chapter change, but due to the serious topic broached on this chapter, and in later chapters I feel the need to say that if you or anyone you know ever feels like trying to harm yourself or others, please seek professional help.

Chapter Two: Pains and Sorrows; The Enemy Reveals Themselves

Chapter Two: Pains and Sorrows; The Enemy Reveals Themselves

“Brother, they killed more of our Gritu” said a voice, malice dripping from it, and there was a hum.

“Same with my Sarti, perhaps, my dear brother, it is time we worked harder to bring ruin upon these upstarts, as we should have done years ago” said another voice this one more ominous then the once before it. “My dear brother, it is time we start to wreak havoc upon these ponies” the second voice and several creatures made of shadow appeared in the middle of the room, “My Sarti, go kill, steal, torture, do everything that is hidden in the dark, make these ponies suffer for ever thinking they had the right to rule themselves” the Sarti cackled before sinking into the floor and shot out in many directions. Meanwhile several creatures made of light formed in the middle of the room.

“Ah, my Gritu. Go kill, steal, do all that is revealed through the light's persistence, it is time for those ponies to make amends with their gods, for we will end their existence should they fight us” said the first voice before the Gritu shot through the window on the wall and disappeared into the distance...

“Next stop, Ponyville, Capital of the New Lunar Republic” said the train conductor and Twilight sighed, this would be the first time she had been back since she ran out on Luna's announcement, the first time since she told them that she hoped they died... Much to her surprise though her friends were waiting there for her at the Train station, all of them, except Rainbow Dash, and she grimaced, did she wreck her relationship up that bad? That Rainbow Dash wanted nothing to do with her?

“Howdy, Twilight!” said Applejack with a wave, a big smile on her face. “Fancy seeing you here, all we hear was that we were going to be getting a diplomat from the Solar Empire, but no mention as to who” she said with a southern drawl and Twilight smiled and walked up to her friends.

“I'm sorry” she said and Rarity tittered

“Oh Pish posh, Twilight! Everyone says things they don't mean when they are upset” said Rarity and Pinkie Pie seemed to be brighter than before, her hair was no longer straight at least, as she bounced around Twilight.

“OH!! Welcome back, Twilight! I didn't know that you were going to be the one to represent the Solar Empire! And-” Pinkie Pie continued to ramble but Twilight hugged her tightly. Looking around thought she didn't see any sign of Fluttershy either.

“Where is Fluttershy?” she asked and the group looked depressed after that, Twilight noticed. “What happened?” she asked obviously fearing the worst when a blue blur landed right in front of her.

“You happened, Sparkle, you happened! Fluttershy loved you, and you practically told her you want her dead!” said the blue pegasus, in full dress uniform the purple, black, and yellow complimenting each other perfectly, a testament to Rarity's skill.

“I-I don't understand” she said and the blue pegasus stepped closer into Twilight Sparkle's personal space

“No you don't understand Twilight Sparkle! `Shy loved you! And you ripped her heart out! I should bucking kill you!” said the furious blue pegasus, “I get back from my patrol the other day, I go to visit her, and guess what I found, her laying in the middle of her cabin, the main artery to her wings cut! She was trying to kill herself!” she said before her fist flung out and connected with Twilight's cheek, sending. “I nearly bucking lost my best friend because of you! She probably won't ever be able to fly again!” she screamed tears running down her face.
“I-I-I Didn't-” started Twilight and Rainbow Dash moved to strike her again when she felt something holding her back...

“I would calm yourself, Captain Dash” I said, my magic holding her hand back from striking the Solar Empire diplomat once more. I understood that she was hurting, but this was unacceptable.

“But Fluttershy... She nearly died...” said Rainbow Dash as she struggled against my magic.

“I understand that, I have lost a great many friends in the same manner, be thankful, however, that she still lives” I said and she jerked away but didn't make a move to swing at my sister's protégé again.

“You ever hurt any of my friends again, diplomat or not, I will kill you” she said harshly to Twilight who flinched, “I think I will be taking a few personal days, Luna, Twilight, don't bother-”

“Ms. Sparkle, I am sure Ms. Fluttershy would love to see you, go to the hospital, spend some time with her” I said and after she was on her way I turned to Rainbow Dash, “While I see no problem with you taking some personal days, you will not prevent any of Fluttershy's friends from seeing her, if she truly says she does not want to see one of them, that is fine, but otherwise you will not bar their way. Is that understood?” asked Luna and Rainbow huffed but nodded

“Yes, Consul” she answered through gritted teeth, I could tell she wasn't happy...

I had just gotten back to Ponyville, my squadron and I making sure all that mail made it to their correct cities, much to the thanks of the local mail service―which was working, even if it was only at a local level. When I returned however, I learned that we were expecting a diplomat from the Solar Empire at the train station, and I figured being one of the local celebrities, what with being an Element of Harmony and a Shadowbolt, I should go and greet the politician. Lo and behold who should come walking off the train but little miss perfect herself, Twilight Sparkle. Thanks to her I nearly lost my best friend, and I couldn't even trust her to be alone anymore, not even with Angel watching her, and that Rabbit was the one who saved her, rushing through town trying to get someone's attention, Luna help us if he had failed... But no here walks in the traitor herself! Hadn't she caused enough damage already!? Then she had the gall to ask where Fluttershy was! That was the last straw, I zipped in and started yelling at her. She tried to explain away her part in all of it, but I wasn't having it, I continued until I slugged her in the face, I would have punched her again but someone held my fist back. Looking back it was Luna, why was she stopping me? She knew as well as I did what had happened!? I tried to get her to understand but she waved it away saying she had lost many of her friends in the same manner and that I should be grateful she was still alive! I was fuming, I wanted to scream, I wanted to hurt Twilight in the same way she hurt Fluttershy! Soon though I calmed down and jerked away from the magic, and didn't move.

“You ever hurt any of my friends again, diplomat or not, I will kill you” I said she flinched, good! I spoke up again about to tell her to stay away from Fluttershy when Luna told her to go see her, and off she went.

“While I see no problem with you taking some personal days, you will not prevent any of Fluttershy's friends from seeing her, if she truly says she does not want to see one of them, that is fine, but otherwise you will not bar their way. Is that understood?” Luna asked and I gritted my teeth and took a small calming breath so I didn't yell at our Consul.

“Yes, Consul” I said my teeth still clenched and I glared at the retreating backs of my friends as they walked with her everyone except Pinkie Pie who stayed beside me...

“I'm sorry” said Pinkie to Rainbow Dash and I smiled sadly, I did what was right, not just for the relationship between the Solar Empire and the NLR, but also to start to heal the rift between the six ponies that had saved me from myself, which, while they did have a strong friendship, even if fractured at the moment, they did not have the experience I did. I had seen rifts like the one between Rainbow Dash and Twilight’s before, and I have seen how deep that chasm can be. I also knew that the best way to heal it, was to let it come to a boiling point, overflow, and then while preventing either side from permanently ending the friendship, let the healing process begin. I didn't let her end it, and I knew that it would be a long and difficult road for her and Twilight, one I dare not believe will be a quick process.

“Rainbow Dash” I spoke up and the leader of the Shadowbolts looked up at me and I gave a small sad smile, “I do know how you are feeling, and I know how Twilight is feeling, I have been in both of your places before, and I do not want you to make a mistake you will regret for the rest of your lives. You both had a strong friendship before, don't throw it away over one incident” I said memories of relationships destroyed in my past causing my sadness to bleed into my words.

“But, Luna, what-” she started and I shook my head

“If you won't do it for yourself, than do it for Fluttershy, you and I both know she is going to forgive Twilight, if only because she loves her” I said and Pinkie pie spoke up right after

“You're right! And after you two fix your relationship we can have a happy mending of your relationship party!” she said apparently knowing we needed something to laugh about, and it worked, Rainbow Dash and I started to laugh and the sadness we had been feeling melted away. No wonder she was the Element of Laughter.

All of this serious talk was making them so sad... I knew I should do something to make them happy again, after all, what're good friends for?

“You're right! And after you two fix your relationship we can have a happy mending of your relationship party!” I said and they both laughed, making me feel so much better, the smile on my face no longer feeling forced...

As Twilight entered the hospital her friends stopped at the door, noticing they weren't entering with her, she stopped and turned to look at them.

“Wha-” she started and Applejack shook her head

“Ah'm sorry Twilight, but you have ta take care of this on your own sugercube, don't ya worry none though, we'll be right here when you are finished seein` her” said the country filly and Twilight nodded a bit of sadness showing in her eyes not seeing Pinkie Pie there

'Or Rainbow Dash' she thought but shook the thought from her head, knowing that right now was not the time to be worrying about a friendship that may or may not survive, she had to go see a friend of hers that apparently tried to kill herself...

I stood there by the building, waiting for Luna to get done with Rainbow Dash, no we weren't hiding our relationship, but we had decided that only she should take care of this before it grew ugly. Apparently Luna's definition of things getting ugly and mine were totally different as she didn't stop Rainbow Dash from punching Twilight in the face, though she did stop her from doing it a second time. I sighed as I soon realized what she was doing as Rainbow Dash and her talked. Oh I was too far to hear the words but I knew that she was passing on a life lesson to the young pegasus, something I could tell Rainbow Dash didn't really like, but she stayed put and listened regardless, and my respect for her grew. She knew she wouldn't like it, and still she stayed and took it like an adult, which is more than I can say for many of my fellow soldiers. Closing my eyes I stood there waiting.

“Moonlit,” said a sweet voice, one that I alone in the past millennium had the honor of hearing and upon opening my eyes I saw Luna standing right in front of me.

“Hello, Luna, are you done then?” I asked a smile on my face and she gave me a confused look which quickly vanished but it was too late, I had caught it, “You are not Luna” I said with finality and in a second my blade was out and swung towards the imposter only for it to be deflected by something unknown. My eyes narrowed...

I heard the sound of blades clashing near where I had left Moonlit and my eyes went wide.

“Moonlit!” I ran towards the noise and saw Moonlit fighting... Me... I hoped this wasn't a bad sign...

“Luna! Is that... Moonlit fighting... You?” asked Rainbow Dash as she landed beside me. I nodded, knowing that there had to be an explanation, especially as to why the look on his face was so furious.

“Go, help him, if I go I may confuse him and get him killed” I said, though it pained me to say that, I knew it was the truth.

“Yes Ma'am!” said Rainbow Dash and she bolted straight into the fray knocking the imposter back and landing in front of Moonlit...

“You alright, Moonlit?” I asked chancing a glance behind me, towards Moonlit, “Luna heard you fighting” I finished and he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

“This creature was attempting to pose as Luna, but didn't realize I knew where she was” he wasn't telling me the whole story, but from what I could tell, not because he was hiding it, but because now wasn't the time.

“You are going to tell me all about it after we're done, `Lit, right now let's take care of this fraud” I said and then I saw Twilight walking up and something told me this would be the perfect time to work out my anger, if it proved to be a Changeling or another enemy. Oh it would pay if it were an enemy, and then maybe I could begin to heal...

I knew that wasn't Twilight Sparkle, there was no way she would have left Fluttershy so soon. So that meant... My eyes flashed white and my wings flared in anger, I would not have Changlings invade my home!

I flew at the creature, and slammed it away with my magic, but something was wrong... It felt different from a Changeling... 'No...' I shrank back fear gripping my heart... 'It couldn't be...'