Author's Note

This chapter has been rewritten. Please click on the following provided links.

It has been split into two chapters titled Catalyst and A Matter of Entanglement.

00 - Prologue

Three years ago, in the Crystal Empire

“Was I right?” Princess Luna asked her sister as a mischievous grin spread across her face. They were seated together in the third row within the audience, having arrived a half-hour earlier.

Celestia rolled her eyes at Luna’s comment until finally, a smile played at her lips. “You were right, it was fun.” She put a hoof to her mouth and chuckled.

They were supposed to be meeting with several nobles back in Canterlot. It had been Luna’s idea to cancel at the last minute—much to the nobles’ indignation—and sneak off aboard the night train bound for the Crystal Empire. They had not even told a soul where they were going, having merely left a message for the nobles, informing them that they could not attend.

The pair giggled like school fillies as they boarded the sparsely populated train of sleepy travellers, eliciting stares and nervous waves from passengers who were no doubt bewildered by their presence. Nerves gave way to awe as they witnessed Celestia raise the sun from within the passenger car just before their arrival. They had arrived in time for a leisurely stroll through the city on their way toward the vast botanical garden where the Royal Guard was holding a retirement ceremony.

Luna took in the scene around her. It was a pleasure to see the crystalline city-state again. Visiting the Crystal Empire was not something either Luna or her sister often had the luxury of, due to its remote northern location and the fact that the zebras had thus far ignored it as a potential target. Too cold a journey for them, perhaps? she mused. But here, the air was pleasant and calm, maintained by the enormous artificial weather bubble which protected the entire city from the bitter, snowy cold just outside the dome.

Luna glanced once more to her right. Celestia’s bright smile left no doubt that she was truly enjoying herself as she gazed out from within the seated audience toward the stage. She was in her element, and if for no other reason than this, Luna was happy to have convinced her to come. A special moment among friends, away from the responsibilities of ruling a nation at war. Such things were a rare commodity in recent years.

Formal events such as this were not something Luna normally enjoyed. It was not as if she had no experience with them. She simply did not… appreciate them like her sister did. Ponies in bowties and cufflinks, long, boring speeches, and small talk with important ponies she barely knew… All of these usually made her long to be somewhere else, but seeing her sister smile made none of that matter.

Three seats to her left sat Nyx. Their eyes met, and Nyx’s face brightened. She offered a small wave to Luna. It was good to see the black alicorn again; it had been some time since their paths had crossed. Nyx returned her gaze to the stage to listen to her uncle’s speech while Luna’s eyes lingered on her for a moment longer.

It was hard to believe that it had only been twelve years. Nyx was fully grown now—equal in stature to Luna herself, almost exactly between that of a typical mare and Luna’s big sister. Luna pondered for a moment. Twelve years. That would make her… about twenty-two biologically. One could never be completely sure, of course. It was not like she had come with a birth certificate. Luna’s attention shifted once more as it appeared that things were about to happen on stage.

Nearly all the senior officers of the Guard were present here in the Crystal Empire’s botanical garden. There they were, lining the edges of the stage, a meticulous collection of shining medals, badges, and ribbons. Each one stood at attention, perfectly still, facing the center of the stage. Their Captain had everypony's attention as he pinned his title badge onto the other pony’s uniform.

Shining Armor’s retirement was long overdue, and the fanfare was much deserved. Sixteen years of service as Captain of the Royal Guard was admirable for a mortal pony. Especially considering that if not for the war, he could have retired long ago, or at least transferred, devoting much more time to his wife and son than he had been permitted.

The orange pegasus standing with Shining Armor looked sharp in his uniform. He was the very image of professionalism, bowing in respect to his superior after receiving his Captain badge. He returned to attention and held his head high, his blue mane waving in the breeze as the thirty other officers saluted in unison.

The new captain’s eyes briefly darted to a certain pony in the audience. Luna knew without looking that it was directed toward none other than the former Captain’s sister, whom he fancied. And Twilight, likewise, had returned the attraction. Perhaps this was one of the reasons Shining had always held the pony to such high standards. Courting his sister was not something to be taken lightly, after all.

Still, Twilight deserved it. She had been so dedicated to serving Equestria for so many years, not to mention raising a high-profile daughter by herself; she almost never expressed how lonely she must have felt. Twilight learned long ago the price for putting duties above relationships. Her two-year courtship with the kind, attentive guardspony was the perfect balance to her otherwise busy life.

Shining Armor stepped back to face the crowd. “And now, I present to you, the Captain of the Royal Guard—”

Blood sprayed from the back of Flash Sentry’s head as a loud crack echoed through the garden. His body went limp and landed on the stage with a thud. Shining stumbled back in disbelief, instinctively forming a shield around his own body.

Shining turned, mouth opening in a shout just as a second shot was fired. A half-second later, he had fallen as well.

Within the audience, Luna pivoted around, scanning for the threat. The hedges, sculptures, and trees made it difficult to tell where the enemy might be hiding. Nyx had moved to stand behind her mother, having turned around to face where the shots had come from. Her wings were outstretched, hooves planted firmly in a wide stance. Her horn crackled with energy as deep-indigo lightning raced over its surface. Luna had not seen Nyx take a battle stance since…

Luna leapt into action, flinging herself into the air in the direction Nyx was facing. Within moments, she spotted a zebra sniper hiding behind one of the hedge sculptures. He was seeking a third target. She fell upon him with lightning speed, summoning her twin blades of midnight-blue energy. Their eyes met, and Luna saw his look of surprised terror just as she ran the razor sharp metal through his neck. The zebra fell, and Luna glanced back to the panicking crowd of ponies.

Shields began to pop up all around as unicorns tried to protect their families. Luna raced back toward the crowd in an outrage. Several black-and-white striped figures had jumped out from various hiding places within the botanical garden and were running toward the stage. There were five. No, at least ten. Twenty?

Each zebra carried a short combat staff by mouth or clipped to their barding. On each end of the staff was a long, curved blade which formed into a deadly point at its tip. Bright orange and yellow magical energy flowed along the sharpened edges like glowing syrup, dripping off the weapons and leaving trails of tiny embers on the ground as the zebras ran.

No… Luna recognized the enchantment. No one on the ground was safe.

Only seconds had passed. Luna spared a glance toward the stage where some of the officers of the Royal Guard had already rushed to the center. Several had raised their own shields over where their leaders lay unmoving. No doubt by design, Luna thought to herself.

A half dozen pegasus officers had taken flight with their swords and were trying to engage the enemy from above. The zebras held their own with the skill and agility of highly trained assassins. One zebra leapt into the air while his partner planted front hooves firmly on the ground, bucking upward with his hind legs. Their hind hooves connected in the air, and each pushed against the other, thrusting the first zebra even higher. He swung upward with his bladed staff, slicing through a pegasus officer’s formal uniform and cutting a deep gash in his chest. The pony cried out in pain, retreating to land nearby.

The zebra blade soldiers charged in quickly from several directions. One reached a unicorn mare who had her shield raised. The zebra slashed twice with her enchanted blade, creating a rip in the pony’s shield which spread until it collapsed. The zebra slit the helpless mare’s throat and continued toward the stage.

Celestia was holding her own, protecting perhaps two dozen civilians who were huddled close to her. There were four blade soldiers slashing away at her shield, but the white alicorn easily had the casting strength of ten unicorns and the capacity of fifty. Still, she could only protect so many; the loss of life was going to be tremendous this day.

Luna noticed Nyx, still standing between her mother and the charging zebras. Twilight had turned by now, preparing to take flight. Nyx hadn’t moved at all, but her horn looked like it was bursting with energy. Luna arced her flight path to pass in front of Nyx.

“Move, young one! You are not ready for this,” she yelled as she raced past, barely above the ground. As she darted past them, Luna spotted a pale-orange filly in the path of one of the zebras. She shot toward the child, hoping to get there in time.

Suddenly, Luna felt a painful force squeezing at her mind. She reflexively shook her head, trying to resist. She could feel the magical energy being wrung from her body like a sponge. Her strength failed, and she crashed into the ground before she could reach the filly.

Luna could make out the screams of dozens of ponies around her. Pegasi had taken flight in all directions, some of them carrying children. All the shields were down. Cadence was in the crowd, screaming, trying her best to restrain a ten-year-old alicorn colt from running toward the stage. Luna struggled to her hooves, trying to stand, only to collapse a moment later. She looked over the crowd. A full third of the civilians were down, unconscious on the ground. Wait… It was just the unicorns!

Luna spared a quick glance at Nyx. Her horn shone like the sun, but she had still not moved. Luna snapped her attention back to the charging zebra that was almost upon her. Perhaps the zebra would be distracted by a better target and spare the child. She tried casting her blades again, but nothing happened. The zebra leapt into the air, somersaulting while drawing his bladed staff.

Then, the zebra was gone. Luna heard what sounded like something being ripped apart. There was the sound of wet splashes, and she felt warm liquid land on her flank. But what she saw… that was something she had not witnessed in thousands of years.

Off to the side, her eye caught sight of something else exploding. A crackling energy thread arced like lightning to a nearby zebra with the same result, then another and another. Within seconds, the surrounding hedges, trees, and half the stage were coated crimson. Chunks of shredded flesh were strewn everywhere. Nothing remained of the attackers that was larger than an apple.

The pain had stopped, and Luna forced herself to focus as clarity began to return to her mind. She stood up and turned toward Nyx. The black alicorn had fallen just as all the unicorns through the park began to move again, trying to stand. Luna rushed in a panic over to where Nyx lay unmoving on the ground. Twilight was just getting her own bearings and desperately trying to get her daughter to wake up. She was not responding.

Darkness.

Nyx could hear the sounds of muffled voices from all around her. She was dreaming, surely. The voices faded in and out in fragments as she struggled to grab hold of consciousness.

Luna’s voice, nearby, an upset whisper. “…told you this might happen.”

Twilight’s voice, some distance away. Crying.

Celestia’s stern, quiet voice, nearby. “…is much more serious than…”

Luna’s voice. “…least she did not tap the Aether. There is still hope that…”

Nyx drifted back into the deep dark. She had no idea how much time had passed, but she could hear Luna’s voice again, speaking in a hushed tone from farther away than before.

“…not have known how to cast Death Blossom.”

Celestia’s voice, faintly. “She has perhaps remembered more than you anticipated, sister. Obviously, she…”

Nyx struggled against the fatigue. What were they whispering about? She needed to… Needed to. Sleep.

Luna’s voice again, nearer than before. “…to be watched carefully for further signs.” Nyx could feel her ear twitch.

Celestia’s voice, very close. “Agreed. She cannot participate in the war. It’s just—” Her voice did not fade away this time. She had abruptly stopped speaking.

Nyx slowly opened her eyes and blinked several times. She was lying on her back in a bed. The first thing she saw was the face of a white pony with a pastel striped mane, eyes wide and bright, looking straight into hers. She was smiling.

“Celestia?” Nyx croaked.

The princess turned toward the others. “She’s awake.”

Twilight practically knocked Celestia over to get at Nyx. Her eyes were puffy from crying. She hugged Nyx’s neck and kissed her cheeks and forehead.

“Mom?”

“I’m right here, baby. I’m right here. I thought I might have lost you. You’ve been asleep for a day and a half.”

Nyx hugged her mother back. She tried to sit up, looking around the room for the one pony she needed to see the most just then.

“Where’s—”

“He’s asleep in the visitor’s lounge. He stayed with you almost the whole time. I finally told him to get some rest. He’s going to be so thrilled that you’re awake!”

A look of panic fell across Nyx’s face. “Mom! There were zebras! What happened? Flash and Uncle Shining. They—”

Twilight didn’t answer. Her eyes brimmed with tears, and she looked away. Luna walked up and put her wing over Twilight’s shoulder as she wept.

Nyx sat up, confused. She looked to Celestia.

The princess’ voice was steady and soothing. “You saved many lives yesterday, Nyx.”

“What? I don’t understand. What did I do? Is Mom upset with me?” Nyx felt like somepony was playing a cruel joke on her. She hadn’t saved anypony’s life in nearly twelve years.

“You burned out, Nyx. It’s very dangerous for alicorns. Don’t worry about that now; I think somepony would like to have a word with you.” Celestia telekinetically slid the curtain back to reveal the bed next to her own. A white unicorn stallion lay in the bed, resting. His head was wrapped with a bandage. He turned toward Nyx and smiled.

“Hey, Nyxie.”

Nyx’s face beamed with delight. “Uncle Shining! I thought… I saw… You were shot!”

“Shh.” Her uncle pulled the curtain back a bit further, revealing a little powder-blue alicorn colt curled up on the bed with him. “He’s still asleep.”

Nyx’s eyes went wide. She hushed her voice to a whisper, looking back to her uncle. “You were shot.”

Shining nodded. “Shield deflected the bullet. Not as much as I would have liked, though.” He gently touched the side of his head where the bandage was. The colt at his side stirred, stretching for a moment and curling back up.

Her little cousin was incurably adorable. “Aww. He’s bigger every time I see him. Bigger now than I was when Mom found me, I think.”

Shining affectionately ran his hoof down his sleeping son’s mane. “Cadence thinks he’ll be as tall as Celestia when he’s grown.”

There was a knock at the door, and the nurse walked into the room. “I see our patient is finally awake. I’m afraid I’ll have to ask all visitors to leave for now. I need to check on her condition.”

“Of course,” Celestia said. She and the others filed out of the room, leaving Nyx and Shining Armor behind.

“Do you mind if he stays?” Shining asked the nurse.

She looked at the sleeping alicorn colt pressed up against his chest. “He can stay. I won’t be long.”

A half hour after the nurse had left, Nyx was staring up at the ceiling, lost in thought. “Uncle Shining? Are you awake?” The nurse had dimmed the lights to help them rest and told them that they could have visitors again in the morning, leaving Nyx alone with her troubled thoughts.

“Uncle Shining?” she tried again, just a bit louder, hoping she wouldn’t wake her cousin.

Shining Armor stirred. “Hm? Oh. Sorry, I dozed off. What is it, Nyx?”

Nyx turned her head to the side to face him. “What happened yesterday? I feel like I… Like I killed somepony.”

Shining Armor did not respond right away. He shifted a little bit so he could face Nyx comfortably while lying down. “Not any pony, Nyxie. But quite a few zebras, I’m told.”

Nyx felt her insides tighten up. “What?! I don’t even— Are you serious?” She tried to remember what had happened, but the thought evaded her like a cockroach skittering out of the light. It felt like a bad dream. Nyx knew it was inevitable that this would happen at some point. She had actually killed. Why? How? It didn’t make sense.

“Uncle Shining, how… how did it happen? I don’t remember anything.” Nyx wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the answer.

“Um… well, they told me it was a couple dozen zebras. They were all running toward the stage. They had it all planned out with shield cutting blades. They knew we’d be on the stage with shields raised… I think they killed several civilians.”

Nyx knew he was dodging. Her voice was quiet—almost a whisper. “You know that’s not what I was asking.”

Shining formed one of those looks a parent gets when their child asks where foals come from.

“You just kinda… It happened suddenly. Honestly, I don’t think anypony really knows what happened. But from what I hear, Park Sanitation will be picking bits of them out of the trees for weeks.”

Nyx’s jaw dropped. This couldn’t be right. How could she have done this? It’s bad enough she had killed for the first time. Protecting ponies was one thing, but this isn’t what she ever imagined it would be like. She let out a choked groan and buried her face in her pillow.

“Listen, Nyxie. You probably saved half the ponies at the ceremony. If you hadn’t been there, the Guard would have been lost, along with countless families. The zebras weren’t playing around.”

Nyx’s voice was muffled as she spoke into the pillow. “I’m not a butcher.”

“This doesn’t change who you are, Nyx. For hundreds of little colts and fillies, now you’re their hero.”

Nyx didn’t respond. Shining Armor sighed, pausing a moment before speaking. “Nyx?”

Her face was still buried in her pillow. “Yeah?”

“Thank you for saving my wife and son.”

Nyx lifted her head and looked over to him. She glanced at her little cousin and let out a sigh. She managed a smile while inwardly cursing the war for what it had made her do.

“I thought I’d find you in here.” Cadence closed the door after entering the visitor’s lounge. Twilight was there by herself, resting on the couch. She was staring at a blank wall, and her mane was a mess. Cadence’s heart sank as she sat down beside her.

Twilight didn’t make eye contact. “How’s Shining?”

“He’s improving. The doctor said he should stay a few more days while he heals. Valiant is with him.”

Twilight looked up. “Thank goodness. At least there’s… Well, Nyx is okay too. The princesses are safe. Even the Guard is okay, apart from—” Twilight’s breath caught. She looked away.

Cadence put a hoof to her lips. The poor dear—how easily that could have been her own tragedy as well. She shifted closer and held Twilight. “I… I’m sorry for your loss. I know you were close.”

Twilight wetly sniffed and wiped her eyes. “Thanks. It’s just hard to feel happy when—”

Cadence leaned back and looked directly at her. “No one is blaming you for how you feel, Twilight. In fact, I think you and Nyx should stay here for a couple weeks. Take some time off.”

Twilight blew her nose on a tissue. “Oh, I couldn’t; I don’t want to impose. You’ve got so much work ahead of you, reaching out to the people about what happened. I feel like we’d be in the way.”

Cadence’s tone softened. “I’d really appreciate it if you did. We haven’t caught up in a long time.”

“Maybe. I’ll talk to Nyx about it. I’m not sure if they’re heading back right away or not.” She paused a moment before continuing. “But I meant what I said. Don’t you have a lot more important things to be focusing on right now?”

“That’s not fair, Twilight. Family is very important.”

“I didn’t mean— I’m sorry, I just meant we could catch up later or something. After the crisis is handled. I imagine everypony wants to know what to make of the attack.”

Cadence stared at the floor for a moment. “Yes, actually, they do. A lot of them are really shaken up about it. They want to know what I’m going to do to protect them. That’s another reason I want you to stay; I really need your help with something.”

“My help?”

Cadence nodded. “I almost lost my husband—your brother. Two crystal ponies were found dead where the zebras snuck into the city. We nearly lost a huge number of citizens, not to mention the loss to Canterlot if the Guard had been taken out. Or the princesses for that matter! Fear has gripped the city. Even the changelings are noticing a strain on the Crystal Heart.”

Cadence’s voice was rising. “I can’t risk my people, Twilight. The zebras have never directly attacked a large city like this before. They could kill so many, so quickly. If Nyx hadn’t been there to— I won’t have my people killed in this war, Twilight! I have to protect them!”

Twilight regarded her. She spoke softly. “I see your point. But I still don’t know how I can help.”

Cadence looked her straight in the eye. “Do you remember that artifact we tested at the Palace last year?”

Twilight sat straight up and stared hard at her. She shook her head with her mouth open. “No. You can’t be serious.”

“Think about it, Twilight. It’s not getting any better. If things keep going the way they have, we might lose everything. We’re not equipped to handle an invasion. The Equestrian military would never get here in time.”

Twilight glowered. “You can’t just… We barely know anything about it. You have no idea what it would—”

“I do know what would happen if five-thousand zebras showed up instead of twenty-four.”

“No, this is ridiculous, Cadence. You’ve got what, a quarter-million ponies here? Not to mention all the changelings? Don’t you think something of this magnitude should be put to a vote or something? How would the rest of Equestria react if an entire city just—”

Cadence stood and began pacing. “A vote? If Equestria falls, then who is going to care anyway? If anything, they might envy us. I’m just asking for a means of defense as a last resort. We have almost nothing to contribute in terms of military. We’re just a target. Think of your brother. Your nephew. Wouldn’t you want this for them?”

Twilight paused, eyes darting. Her voice softened. “You don’t even know how far it would take you. I… I can’t imagine not ever—”

Cadence sat once more next to her sister-in-law. “I know. But you know we wouldn’t be ready if they came back with a whole army. It would be a slaughter. Please. I know it’s asking a lot.”

Twilight took a deep breath. “Fine. But only as a last resort. And only because I love you all and want you to be safe.”