(A.K.A Chapter Nine and two-thirds: The one without Edgar)

"That it is better One-Hundred guilty Persons should escape than that one innocent person should suffer, is a Maxim that has been long and generally approved."

-Benjamin Franklin, letter to Benjamin Vaughan, March 14, 1785.

***Third person POV***
**Main hall**
*roughly an hour after breakfast*

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"Come on Twilight, you go first."

"I will, just give me a moment."

"She'll get done talking to the Apple ponies over there any second and you will miss your chance."

"I said give me a moment!" Twilight snapped at Trixie, causing her to jump a bit. "I'm sorry Trixie. I'm sorry. I just...I'm trying to catch my breath before going over there..." Twilight apologized, trying to calm her nervous heart.

After the Trixie, Twilight, and the rest of their friends finished up having a communal breakfast in the castle, ponies slowly started to file out of the castle to try their best to continue on and resume their day to day life and help with clean-up of Ponyville. They all can't mope around and freeload forever, so it is up to them to repair the town and continue doing what their cutie marks have destined them to do. They still can't do anything major until the New Yolk contractors arrive, but they can at least give it a head start.

It won't quite be the same for a while. Removing broken glass, repairing doors and bridges, restoring the parks(which thankfully were not too damaged), this was done under the alert eye of the royal guards, many of which were not local to Ponyville. As they didn't know the population, it is a bit difficult for Twilight to see them looking upon her friends in town with distrust, not knowing if any of them could have been Changelings. She could not blame them, and she is thankful that not many other ponies would have noticed this from the Royal Guard. She was also thankful that it wouldn't last long. Either this will come to pass and they will look upon the ponies they are watching over as new friends(although the change would be unnoticeable to the other citizens), or the danger would pass and they can return to their own families in the cities they watched over.

There weren't as many as what came yesterday when Luna arrived, but Twilight knew that was due to many of these guards being tasked with removing the many bodies of the dead changelings to be "allocated". Either for them to be donated to the scientific universities in Canterlot, or to simply be burned far away from Ponyville.

Twilight's many friends slowly dispersed out of the area to take care of their respective tasks, though not alone as Twilight asked for quite a few of the guard reinforcements to accompany and keep the Elements of Harmony safe.

Pinkie Pie bounded off a little while ago to see what was taking Sugarcube corner so long to be declared "safe to start cleaning up". She commented that she had a lot of work to do to make sure everypony kept smiling, and while it seemed innocent like most of her statements, Twilight believed she might have her work cut out for her for the next few days at least.

Fluttershy said she didn't need any guard escorts, and left with Discord to go back to her cottage shortly after Pinkie bounced off. Apparently she was not too worried about any damage to the cottage itself, and with good reason. The first warning sign Fluttershy got was with almost all the smaller animals(apart from her rabbit "Angel") scurrying or flying off in the opposite direction of where the changelings were marching in. It was due to this warning that Twilight was able to get as many ponies sheltered within her castle during the first stages of the invasion. As for many of the larger animals, Fluttershy just so happened to be trying to settle a love-triangle dispute between two female Grizzly bears and one very stressed out male Grizzly about their version of "Cub-Support". In addition, an angsty adolescent Grizzly bear was also just being an all-round pain in the flank, just wondering who his real mother was, however that could have happened.

The bears were stressed, temperamental, angry, and likely too much for the changelings to worry about taking a bite out of during that time. Really, Fluttershy was going back to feed the bears and settle this dispute, as well as catch up on her veterinarian duties before making time to check up on Edgar later in the evening.

Rainbow Dash wasn't at all satisfied that she didn't get to fight as many changelings as she wanted to before I forced her inside with a quick teleport. She has been stressed lately from her multiple Wonder Bolt applications and have been awaiting results that are supposed to come in anytime between two weeks to five years. This ridiculous time frame left her on edge, and she was anxious to take it out on anything, be it a punching bag, a karate sparing session, the race track, or the first changeling/monster she sees. Because of this, she has been on patrol both by herself and any Pegasus and Thestral guard that can keep up with her for an extended period of time. This has been a good thing so far, as the guard have been getting compliments for how much safer the town feels with her constant patrols.

Rarity, surprisingly enough for somepony who overreacts with the littlest things, hasn't complained one bit. Probably because doesn't have much of a reason to since Spike immediately left to go and help her with any clean-up the Carousel Boutique might need. Rarity gets to get help in general clean-up with pleasant company, and Spike gets some "Alone time with a total babe". It was a win/win for the two of them.

As for Twilight....

It all sounded so simple at first. Just walk up at talk to Celestia. Ask how her and Luna's talk with Edgar is going, and see if it is safe for him to join them again. At least to quell Trixie's anxiety, but she found it difficult to take a step toward Celestia, who has now been speaking to the Apple family for a while now. Apple Bloom seemed to be missing from their group, so all that one could see was a lime-green elder mare, a Stenson-wearing blonde with orange coat, and an absolute giant of a red-coated stallion currently seated on a wheel chair due to his hurt hindleg. To Twilight, they were Granny Smith, Applejack, and "Big" Macintosh respectively, and respected they were in this little town Twilight called home. They had a long history dating back to the founding of this town, and their entire bloodline has roots planted all over Equestria, both figuratively and literally.

To Princess Twilight Sparkle's luck, they hadn't noticed her yet, as they had their backs toward her while speaking with Princess Celestia. It was anypony's guess as to what they were talking about, as Twilight had not moved an inch toward them. Twilight's luck seemed to be changing however, as she did catch the eye of Celestia.

Princess Celestia herself never made any facial "tells" to show that she was aware of Twilight, but Twilight know instantly as in her mind, she heard a voice vying for her attention.

("Please come here, my faithful student. I will wait")

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Princess Twilight swallowed hard. It is likely that Princess Celestia has been waiting for Twilight to start walking up for quite a while now. After performing some of the breathing techniques that her foal sitter taught her, she started to walk toward the ponies, followed by the blue magician.

"Y'all make sure he finishes it now. Ah reckon its gotta be a nice change from bananas an ant-hills all the time!" The elder mentioned. Her eyes weren't as good as they used to be, but if it looks like a monkey, walks like a money, and is called a monkey by the rest of the town, Edgar probably liked bananas.

"I am sure it will not take much convincing. You're quite is quite the chef yourself, as I am told. If the revered "Granny Smith" made this special for him, and he will be sure to appreciate it, as will my sister and I. Thank you for your charitable donation to this town." Celestia complimented while holding a serving tray with three bowls of oatmeal on it perfectly level, effortlessly demonstrating her dexterity and control of magic.

"Tain't nuthin off our backs. Thank him! We ain't done payin him back by a long shot, no ma'am." Granny Smith declared, prompting a chuckle from Celestia.

Princess Celestia looked up toward Princess Twilight, as if she just noticed she was approaching them.

"Oh, good morning Twilight," She said to her, before turning toward the costumed azure unicorn standing beside her. The Great and Powerful Trixie was currently shaking, or more like "vibrating" in place due to her nervousness at meeting the Princess Celestia in the flesh. She suddenly caught herself and remembered that she should have been bowing, and thus proceeded to do so. "...and the Great and Powerful Trixie Lulamoon, I presume?"

Trixie perked up.

"Hah! My rrrrreputation precedes me!" Trixie exclaimed triumphantly in an admittedly silly showmareship fashion, rolling her "r's" with a hoof raised to her puffed-out chest. Her eyes were closed with a confident smile. This pose likely took practice to nail as well as she had it, it is a wonder how she knew if the close-eyed addition was going to work out for her if she could not see herself in the mirror. "You may call me "The Great and Powerful Trixie" for short, and the "Great and Powerful Trixie" is pleased that you have heard of us."

"Indeed, though your wanted posters have your mane at a darker shade of blue." Celestia said as she leaned it. Neither Trixie's smile nor her tense pose dropped as she was still frozen in place, but her now nervous eyes shot open at the speed of cracking glass, her breath hitching with an "eep" coming from between her still-smiling teeth.

Celestia then giggled, and her laugher eased Trixie's worries as she visibly relaxed. "Don't worry, I am only teasing. My student pardoned you a long time ago due to this "Alicorn Amulet" she wrote about, and there are no more wanted posters out for you. I could only guess you were "The Great and Powerful Trixie" by both my student and my sister's description of your uniform. You certainly look the part of a Falling Star student."

"You could tell?" Trixie asked Celestia with one raised eyebrow, before suddenly raising the other one in suite and shifting her attention to Twilight. "Wait Twilight, you already pardoned before I came?" Trixie asked, with wide eyes, before suddenly becoming quiet as she saw Twilight and the three Apple ponies lock eyes.

After a short pause in the group's little corner of the room, Princess Celestia ears perked up as if she was listening for something. She then spoke once more, continuing her conversation with Trixie.

"I still believe your name has too many syllables. I hope I am not being rude, but in the interest of expediency I would like to either call you "Trixie" or "Miss Lulamoon" for short-er. In return, you may simply call me "Celestia". Don't worry about bowing either, as a friend of Twilight's is a friend of mine." The Solar Princess bargained with a disarming smile. Upon looking back at her faithful student and the founding family of Ponyville, Celestia turned back to Trixie. "...Miss Lulamoon, may I ask you to follow me for a moment? I have a question about this "Alicorn Amulet" business, and was hoping you could enlighten me on it. Specifically, where it may have went..." Celestia started walking away Trixie felt a gentle nudge to her side from a glowing yellow force.

The Great and Powerful Trixie started to follow Princess Celestia as the walked past Twilight. As Princess Twilight began to turn around and follow suit, the Solar diarch stopped her.

"Would you please mind waiting here for a moment Twilight. If I am not mistaken from Applejack's prior letters to me, it seems that Cider season may be coming up around this time of year. May I ask you to please speak with your friend Applejack about placing a fairly large order for the Life Party and getting this scheduled? We decided on a date for about a month and a half away starting today." As she kept walking. "We won't be long."

Celestia's voice echoed in Twilight's mind once more.

("I think you and Applejack's family may need to talk and clear the air. I have spoken to them earlier, and they are still having a difficult time coming to terms with the events of yesterday. I know this may be difficult, judging from the melody magic I am starting to hear again.

Please shield yourself and your emotions from this music. Once you are done, we shall be waiting here for you.

If you believe you need me for any reason, you need only ask and I will be there immediately for you.")

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***Twilight's POV***

Princess Celestia and Trixie started to walk away, and though I had just cast a shield upon myself to shield myself, I felt as if my true protection was leaving me that moment. I swallowed and turned back toward the Apple family.

I know that there were many ponies in the main hall chattering, just like I knew that stars were out even in the daylight. But I could not register them in this moment. I heard nothing from the other ponies still in the hallways, talking to the guards, talking to their friends, talking to each other. Not even the music mattered in this moment, as it paled in comparison to the deafening silence between myself and the Apples.

...

"H-" Not even a breath of sound came out of my mouth before Applejack beat me to it.

"We got it handled, Sugarcube." Applejack declared, trotting over to Big Mac to help him off the chair he was sitting down on. My horn glowed with magic as I went to try and help lift him out of the chair before Applejack looked back at me with a salty scowl, as if trying to use her own magic to stop me. "Ah said we got it handled."

I let my magic drop. They have every right to be upset with me, but it hurts that they aren't even accepting my help. Maybe I can help a different way?

"Celestia noticed more melody magic. I couldn't tell it was audible until now, but it may do things to you if you aren't careful. I can't help you with it unless I shield you myself, but I need your permission."

"We ain't staying for much longer. We're actually just on our way". Applejack spoke plainly, not meeting my eyes this time. "If it's here like you're saying, then it's all the more better we get on outta here."

There was an slight silence after the fact before Granny Smith broke it and eased the tension if only for a moment.

"Celestia is right. Cider Seasons coming up in bouta month, we reckon. Its probably gonna be the busiest one in quite a hot minute." Granny Smith predicted. "We already spoke with Celestia, and Big Mac wanted to tough it out. He would rather wait outside for Applejack to fetch the wagon than have somepony waste time walkin the wheel chair back any. We're gone be on our way." She declared as even she walked over to try and give Applejack a hoof in getting Big Mac on his three hooves. "We'll just count on getting a buncha munchies, bushels of apples, an barrels of cider ready ahead of time."

I took another few steps forward as I approached them with guilt weighing down my step. You could cut the tension in the air with a knife. I tried clearing my throat, attempting to find the right words.

"I-Is Apple Bloom okay now? She had fun last night's sleepover, but I haven't seen her since earlier this morning."

None of them responded.

"Please...Granny Smith...AppleJack...Big Mac..." I turn to each one of them. "I am so sorry. About what happened with Apple Bloom... I'm so sorry. Just tell me she's okay."

"Twi, Ah'd like to be civil, but ah don't think were in the mood right now. Apple Bloom's just fine now that she's back with her own." Applejack assured bitterly. Coming from the Element of Honesty, it was bittersweet hearing that Apple Bloom was doing better after what I ended up putting her through.

Granny Smith looked at Applejack with eyes weathered by age, conveying a mix of disappointment and frustration. She shook her head, and as she walked up to me, she gave me a short hug before turning around and walking away.

"Young'en, I appreciate you tryna apologize and look out for us, but now ain't the time. The Apple family's got work to do, and we need some time...and a-bit of space." Facing away from me as she started walking away. It felt like her hug was to try and soften the blow of the shunning aura I felt coming off her.

Don't cry...Don't cry...Don't cry.

She doesn't seem angry, or maybe she is trying to hide it well. Fat chance she actually wants you to feel better though. Did you hear the way she said that? She's disappointed in you.

She almost lost the foal of the family, so she has every right to judge you. She doing such a better job than you at keeping her poker face and if she can do it, so can you.

"Granny Smith, I know, and I know that you're angry. I put Apple Bloom in danger, and I can't apologize enou-"

"Neither Granny nor Big Mac nor I wanna hear it." Applejack said curtly gritted teeth. "You can't just fix everything with a "sorry". It won't change what you chose."

"Applejack, you know that we couldn't let the shield down." I tried to justify. Whether to Applejack or myself, it was hard to say. "Not with the other ponies insi-" I was cut off with a scoff. Once they finally got Big Mac upright, Applejack turned toward me with a look as if I had just slapped her.

"We?!?" Applejack asked incredulously, as if I had just slapped her, gestured to the two other Apples present. ""We" don't have your fancy magic, Twi." Applejack said as her eyes seemed to glisten in frustration as she took her hoof and pushed it into me with every word she emphasized. "There weren't no we that moment. You kept the shield up. You made us watch! That was all you ."

Don't cry...Don't cry...Don't Cry...

She's being honest, but you need to bury your emotions for now. You can cry when nopony else is in the room, but they can't see you cry. You can't let them see you cry. You need to keep a brave face for everypony, and keep them in a peaceful state of mind.

Applejack has always put her family above her friends. Any pony would. All you did was show her what you were capable of. Suffer though and take it like a mare. If you really deserved her forgiveness, you'll earn it.

Applejack looked as if she had more to say and get off her chest, but Big Macintosh rested his hoof on his sister's shoulder to stop her. Whether to calm her down or to give me respite from it, it was welcome.

"I gotta go get the wagon and get back to takin care of The Farm. Big Mac got hurt trying to save Apple Bloom, and while he's restin, I got my work cut out for me. Apple Bloom and Granny will be helping take care of each other and Mac. "

"Please. I never asked for any of this to happen. I didn't know what else to do. I..." My words died out as I saw the tired look that Big Mac gave me, shaking his head as if to warn me to stop talking and making it worse for either Applejack and myself.

Big Macintosh never said anything as he saw the entire exchange between his family and I, but did he really need to when his silence already spoke volumes? His tired, furrowed brows looking at me to see what else I had to say, or if he needed to try and hold his sister back.

Don't cry...Don't cry...Don't cry...

You haven't even earned the right to cry yet, have you? To try and squeeze every last bit of pity from the Apples themselves?

You saw Big Mac's looks the entire time, though you didn't want to acknowledge it. Big Mac has always been a quiet stallion, answering with either a 'Euyep" or a "Nope". It always got the point across, but why would he waste even that on you, especially after an excuse like that? At least Big Mac tried doing something when they grabbed Apple Bloom. He did way more than you, and after his kick killed one of the drones, his leg got beaten to Tartarus and has multiple hairline-fractures courtesy of the changelings that came to hold him down and take revenge for their fallen brethren.

Wow, even the Changelings have done more to protect their own than a coward like you tried to do for Ponyville. The only reward he got from protecting family was now his workload is being passed onto them.

He probably had nothing nice to say, and if he didn't, he wouldn't say it at all to you. He is a polite stallion.

"Ah'm gettin' old, Twilight, and I ain't gonna be around fer my grandfoals fur'ever." Granny Smith finally said with a solumn tone. "Ah...don't wanna bury any more of my family before ah go. Ah get why you chose whatcha did. It is whut it is... but don't ask us to accept it. It still hurts. If yer fixin' to try and make this right, I reckon you should start by giving us time and space like ah already said. Please...just drop it for now, and please take care of yerself."

Don't cry...Don't cry...Don't Cry...Don't Cry...DON'T CRY!!!

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I stayed strong, barely. Eventually, the Apples turned a corner as they walked outside of the into Ponyville. I didn't see Apple Bloom with them, but since I suspect they already know where to find her. Once they were out of earshot, I called some guards over with a magic signal. Often times, these were used to silently call guards in case of an intruder or if there was a drunk party-goer at a Gala. However, I wanted to make an exception and make sure that Applejack and her family got home safely, so they will act as a both an escort for Applejack and possibly the ones to pull the wagon if Applejack would let them.

If anypony asks, it was by Princess Celestia's request.

*Meanwhile*

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"May I ask if you know where this "Alicorn Amulet" may have went? Twilight said it may have affected your mind and heart, so I would like to keep it out of reach from over-inquisitive hooves." Celestia asked still walking beside Trixie. The magician shook her head, before raising it and meeting Princess Celestia's eyes. She had to lean her neck back pretty far in order to look directly at her, and as her hat started to fall backwards, Trixie started to hold it in place with her magic.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie is privy to many of Equestria's hidden secrets, but not this one. After Twilight conceived that ruse to get Trixie to take it off, we have never seen it again. Trixie thinks Twilight may have hidden it or destroyed it."

"...Very well, I believe you." Celestia said a bit too quickly for Trixie's liking.

"Really, you would believe Trixie just like that?" Trixie asked Celestia. She was honestly expecting the inquisition after the prior question, but found nothing of the sort.

"If I may be plain, I would not normally. However, I trust in Twilight's beliefs when she wrote that letter regarding its fate being "ambiguous", as she put it. If you do not know, then I suspect that other ponies will have a nigh-impossible time finding it or even discovering it." After a moment more of walking, Celestia came to a stop. "Truthfully, I needed a reason to give space for Twilight and the Apple family."

"That rude Hillfilly's family? She's been nothing but a stubborn meat-head since Trixie had met her!"

"Yes, the Element of Honesty and my friend, Applejack." Celestia corrected Trixie. "You are not wrong about her, however, and she is having a difficult time herself." She defended, looking upon them from a distance. Trixie looked as well and while Celestia led her away far enough to keep Twilight's conversation with the upset family private.

Trixie Lulamoon looked at the inaudible argument going on. Glancing between them, she saw ashamed looks that Twilight was giving and what looks like the argumentative actions by Applejack, who was now poking Twilight in a harsh manner. She looked back at Princess Celestia with a furrowed brow and a perplexed expression. Celestia, who had been observing the events from a distance, met Trixie's gaze with a mix of understanding and sadness.

"Your m-majesty, Trixie doesn't understand. Why aren't you defending Twilight? She did what she was supposed to...I think?" Trixie asked, unsure if there was anything else she could have done.

Princess Celestia sighed, her regal demeanor softened by the weight of the situation.

"She did, and I believe if I was in Twilight's hooves, I too would have made the "wrong decision", whatever this may have been. From hearing the reports from my guards and from my sister, there was nothing else Twilight could have done in that situation. It seems that in Telsona's game, the only winning move was not to play."

"Then why?" Trixie asked. "That doesn't explain why you're letting her get spoken to like that."

"Trixie, I understand if my decisions are not always easy to understand, but unfortunately neither is a broken heart. I love my student, but Twilight is not the only one going through a difficult time, and while I already attempted to reach an understanding with Granny Smith and her grandfoals, I can't mend their trust so simply. Their feelings are just as valid as my student's, and they are "stubborn" as you had said. They are all learning a lesson that goes beyond the immediate consequences of their actions."

Trixie was still visibly upset as she couldn't accept this answer. With a head tilted in confusion and a brow scrunched, she spoke once more

"They don't need a lesson. Twilight doesn't need a lesson. Those ponies are blaming Twilight for what happened to Apple Bloom, but she's blaming herself even more! It wasn't even her fault." An inquisitive eyebrow raises from Celestia, who now looked down upon Trixie. "She never knew that I was awake, but...I heard all the things she was writing to you. She's not okay right now and she needs her friends. Can't you tell Applejack or her family to get over it, give Twilight something to work with? Anything?"

The Princess shook her head.

"Nothing that would help her nor or would change the Apple family's mind. It was the youngest of their family that was put in danger, and light above only knows what would be going through my heart and mind if I was in their situation. I am not sure I could be as rational if I knew Twilight's life was in jeopardy." Celestia revealed, furrowing her brow as her head seemed to tilt up.

Trixie's disappointment was palpable as she looked away for a moment, processing Celestia's words.

"But Twilight is your student, your friend! Shouldn't you stand by her no matter what?"

"She may still view herself as my student, and I as her teacher, but we stand as equals. Friendship is about more than just offering unconditional support. It's about helping each other grow. Twilight needs to understand the impact her decisions can have, even with the best intentions. I know that Applejack will forgive her, but the wound needs time to heal. Forcing this would only further drive the rift between them."

Trixie sighed with her frustration being obvious but before she could voice her concerns, Princess Celestia continued.

"I am here for her, Trixie, but I can't be here for the way that she wants me to be. From me, she is seeking an answer that can only come from herself. I can only be here in the way that she needs. I believe in Twilight's heart and she will still be a stronger pony today than she was yesterday. This wasn't an easy decision to come to, but I believe it is right and it is final." Celestia looked back toward the group. The Apple family appeared to be walking away with a few solar guards following them.

Twilight's face looked awful and positively full of regret after getting a dressing down from her friends. After a few short moments, Celestia recognized Twilight performing the breathing exercises that her niece loved to do so much.

Trixie Lulamoon looked back at Celestia, her eyes searching for reassurance.

"I hope you're right, your majesty...but right now, it just feels like she's facing this alone while nopony else is doing ANYTHING to help her." Trixie stomped a hoof down as she looked away from the Princess of the Sun in frustration.

"...You're right. What do you intend to do about it?" Celestia asked, prompting Trixie to look back up to her. Celestia gazed over her, with almost a dozen calculations seemingly running through her the Princess's mind. Her tone seemed to not be cruelly teasing Trixie, but asking for a genuine answer. "In Twilight's letters, she mentioned you by name. About needing you at that crucial moment. What would you say to her now? Tomorrow? If she needed you again, would you be willing to lend an ear to her? A shoulder to lean on? Could you be her island in turbulent seas?"

Trixie looked away from Celestia, pondering what Celestia was really asking. Twilight already had so many other friends who have been with her longer than her. Who have shared experiences that Trixie has only heard rumors of. What could she bring to the table that Twilight's many, many friends already couldn't?

Before Trixie could think of an answer to give to Celestia, she was suddenly distracted by heavy hoof steps trotting up.

"I'm sorry, that must have been strange to hear from me. It's just something to consider." Celestia whispered to Trixie, renewing a smile before turning back to the seemingly exhausted purple Alicorn walking up to them.

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***Twilight's POV***

After getting a few deep breaths in and using the calming technique that is starting to become my own, steeled my resolve and made my way out of the main hall to meet back up with Celestia and Trixie. I hope she wasn't being too harsh on Trixie. She can be a bit brash and haughty, but she's a good pony.

Celestia looked back at me, and her smile became brighter, putting me in a much better mood than a few minutes ago.

"Welcome back Twilight. How was your talk?" Celestia asked with as she turned. "Were you able to sort things out?"

"It wasn't easy, Princess Celestia, but they are preparing get supplies ready for the Life Party. They seemed adamant on getting things ready ahead of time, but I think they might need help with their next harvest."

"Is there anything else you spoke about with them?" Celestia asked after a short pause.

"Nothing too bad... it was just them getting things out of their system."

Celestia tilted her head in understanding as a frown appeared on her face.

"I see. I hope they weren't being too harsh on you." Celestia prayed, gentle shaking her head in sympathy. "They are having a rough time, and I am sorry that you both have to go through this."

it's not like it's undeserv-

"You're a good pony, Sparkle." A voice interrupted my thoughts. Turning toward Trixie, I saw what looked like gratitude? "Thank you for pardoning me after what I tried doing...and for doing your best to keep this town safe. You look like you were working really hard, and I think you need to start taking it easy on yourself."

Where was all that coming from?

"Well, yeah. It wasn't your fault..." I told her, before catching myself in a lie. "I mean, it kinda was, but you were under the influence of a dark artifact. What's important is that you learned your lesson, and you are a better pony in the future."

"I would also ask that you try remembering to address Twilight with her title in the future." Celestia denoted with a word of caution. "I don't like hearing my title often, but you shouldn't assume that every royal would..."dig" the casual attitude." Celestia said, using the modern slang she has been hearing lately. I saw Trixie wince after hearing Celestia say that, causing me to chuckle.

"It's okay. All my friends can just call me Twilight. I "dig" it." I said, winking at Celestia. Trixie upgraded from wincing to shaking her head due to the 1d4 psychic damage we both inflicted on her. "Its the bees knees!"

I get why Celestia did it. It feels wrong hearing an older pony use slang like that. I even as I had my own "Twilight Time" visitors give the same reaction when I used words like that. Once I realized Celestia was doing it on purpose, I started using outdated slang around younger ponies as well. Celestia taught me to "own our lame-ness" as she calls it.

She's so cool.

"That's groovy Twilight, but would that mean that no pony refers to you as Princess in this town?" Celestia counter. "More power to you if you're hip with that."

Trixie coughed as if to interrupt us, and taking the opportunity to shake herself out of the verbal stun-lock we put her in, Trixie continued talking. "But still, I could have come back again to Ponyville one day and tried something else, yet you still trusted me? Even before my apology?"

"What else could I do, stay mad at you forever?" I asked Trixie. It's like she thinks she's not deserving of forgiveness. "Everypony makes mistakes. I certainly did whe-" I stopped speaking once I reminded myself of why I was upset in the first place. What momentary respite I had in tormenting Trixie with outdated "lingo" earlier was now wiped away.

Of course you had to be the one that made mistakes when it mattered. Couldn't have been the chef oversalting his soup. You had to almost lose your home, and Celestia and Luna had to come and clean up your mess. You could handle everything else except a tiny incursion, one that Celestia could have easily dealt with if this was Canterlot, or if she was here. If it wasn't for Trixie and her "Edgar"...

I knew I was forgetting something, but I was dreading actually doing it. I swallowed hard...

"I... I’m so sorry, Princess Celestia. I tried to protect everypony, but I feel like... I failed. Without Edgar and Trixie... I just-" My voice faltered as I bowed my head toward my teacher.

"Must I tell you again not bow to me unless we are both greeting each other? You are a "Princess" Twilight, and a dear friend." Celestia gently scolded, trying to break me out of my old habits. "Please. Raise your head high and stand proud. You did your best."

"But my "best" wasn't enough." I did ask she asked and my eyes met Celestia's. Why didn't she look more upset with me? "I didn't learn anything from my friends getting hurt like this."

"And what would you have done differently, Twilight? Knowing what you know now?" My teacher asked me.

I didn't know. I still don't know, and that is what bothers me. How could I say I could keep them safe, that I learned from this if I didn't know where I went wrong in the first place.

Sensing I was struggling to find an answer, Princess Celestia started to walk away. As she walked, Celestia's horn glowed, soon a single log of charred timber came into view as it floated, its edge still glowing from the flames it was subjected to. If I had to make a guess, it came from under the oatmeal cauldron found in the kitchen, near the main hall. Alongside the serving dish with the oatmeal bowls Celestia was holding, it too floated besides the Solar Princess as she started to walk off.

"Come, walk with me. Both of you." She told Trixie and I. We both shared a glance and a nod, and followed Princess Celestia.

"Do you know how diamonds are made?" She asked.

I nodded, and started to explain.

"At very high pressures and temperatures, the carbon atoms from materials such as Charcoal or Graphite are squeezed so much that they start touching more atoms. When the pressure is about 50,000 times the pressure at the surface of Equestria-"I was almost done getting to the good part until Celestia stopped me with a hoof raised.

"I'm sorry Twilight. It was a rhetorical question. I know that you know how diamonds are formed, but I am glad that you are still as bright as ever. I'm sure you will never find yourself without a topic to speak with your future Colt-friend about." Celestia chuckled. "Yes, diamonds are formed under pressure, but never forget, they are not formed overnight."

"Is this going to be like one of those inspirational speeches you hear coaches give?" Trixie asked Celestia. "It's kinda Cliché."

"It's something like it, yes. I think you both could use an inspirational speech. You especially, Falling Star." Celestia said to Trixie, causing a blush to show up and shatter Trixie's prideful demeanor.

While a "Falling Star" was technically a drop-out from a Unicorn magic school, it didn't have many negative connotations. It just meant that you wanted to take a different path than what was typically expected of a Unicorn. Star Swirl the Bearded was long thought to be a drop-out who then pursued trying to create new spells for the sake of doing so. Spell to make you see different colors, spells to change your voice if you happen to sneeze so that it is a cute sneeze, and the infamous "Check-off" spell that can remind you of one thing you forget about when its most convenient to do so.

"Falling Star" students get their namesake from him. If true, this probably ended up being for the best since he was said always want to do things differently anyway, even if he couldn't explain why. Some extremely talented Unicorns end up dropping out just for a sort of "Pilgrimage" to follow his path and be one of "The Greats". He was so respected, even if he was supposedly said to be an oddball of sorts, just like Trixie I guess.

"You think I wouldn't notice, Miss Lulamoon? Of course I would. Both myself and my Luna would recognize Star Swirl's motif in your cape and pointed hat from the Moon. Did you know he was our own mentor?" Celestia dropped nonchalantly.

Both myself and Trixie looked at Celestia with peaked interests. Not much is known about Star Swirl the Bearded aside from autobiographies and history books. If this was another joke, Princess Celestia was keeping a really good poker face with her unwavering smile.

"Tis true. In the brief time we had together, he taught me nearly everything I've known about magic, and how to open my mind to the infinite possibilities of one's fate. All it takes is for you to see it...and make it manifest. It's amazing that he had much such a legend of himself despite being such a goofy old stallion."

"What was he like?" Trixie asked, tilting her magician's hat to get a better listen to the Alicorn we were following...gosh, how could I not put "two" and "two" together?

The cape, the hat, the cutie mark. It's like she was a walking stereotype of somepony who was trying to do things like Star Swirl while I was simply trying to figure out what was going on in his head when he made these spells.

"I must admit, even I don't know that much about his past. He loved bringing smiles and wonder to the faces of those that saw his magical marvels, but Star Swirl slowly drifted from bringing joy to the lives of other unicorn, as he though there were plenty of those that already did it better. Instead he turned his gaze to the stars to ask more and more of what his purpose was. Overtime, he started asking them more and more questions, and he started to get more and more answers. This... was his "side hobby", if you could believe it."

"His real hobby...Failing." Celestia revealed... anticlimactically. "Stumbling. Falling. Making an absolute ass of himself during either his magic lessons or his life lessons for us. He was such a bad influence on Luna and I. We would end up taking bad advice from him more often than good and get into trouble with our parents when they found out about the things we did. We were grounded so often and all our suitors were scared off within a date or two." Celestia giggled as she reminisced about her memories.

"Should you be talking about Star Swirl the Bearded like that?" Trixie asked, almost as if to defend the legend. Celestia looked at Trixie with a smile and a raised eyebrow before shaking her head.

"I wouldn't hold him too high on that pedestal, and he would appreciate the ego checks. He was extremely bashful when he was still around, and would probably spin in his grave if he saw how much ponies worshipped him after he passed. Then again, he wasn't bashful around my sister and I. I can not speak for Luna, but he was like a second father to me."

Wow, she really held him in high regard. Its like looking into a mirror of how much I have come to respect her.

"Throughout his life, all his lessons, all his failures, of which he bragged about many, he was still stayed himself. He was still "Star Swirl the Bearded". He had eyes that see lights in the sky, and magic in the air! Even if it was a rainy day that that forced him to hunker down inside, he saw a future where a beautiful tree was growing in an empty spot on a hill, and heard music in every raindrop pitter-pattering over the leaves and lakes. Even when I couldn't." Celestia's tone changed from one of happy memories to a more somber tone. "Even when I wasn't quite myself at times..."

"You are not the only one who believes they have made mistakes, Twilight. In my life, there were those that I failed to lead...failed to protect. Nothing compared to the night I had banished my sister to the moon." Celestia stopped to look out the window, as if seeing ghosts of the past. In her magical grip, the burnt wood she still held started to crack and compress, with a massive heat emanating from that orb of pressure. "Every night after I failed her, I had a new epiphany. Where all at once I could see every domino fall that led to the harm of another. Every mistake that I made which culminated to that instance, and I grew angry. I felt nothing but pressure upon my shoulders. I felt frustration and sorrow, and rage. That because of my failings, because of my past mistakes, I felt as if I was not fit to lead." The orb grew smaller, and smaller, and almost impossibly small. I almost felt myself start to get sucked into the gravitational pull of the force she was placing on that single piece of log, if you could even call it that anymore.

"Princess Celestia...I don't understand. Is any of this supposed to make me feel better?" I asked, hoping that there was some lesson at the end of this.

The immense pressure Celestia applied to the orb faded, leaving behind a single remnant sparkling within.

"...And in my despair, Star Swirl came to my room one night and said something to me that changed my outlook. Would you like to know what he said?" Celestia asked as she closed her eyes. I wanted to know, but before I could ask, I found out that this was also a rhetorical question, with Celestia giving her answer.

""Celestia, did you know that it is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose? You should not mistake failing for weakness. That is simply life...""She said with a slight wheeze in her voice. She wasn't losing her voice, but rather it was as if she adopted another voice entirely for only those three sentences.

"In that moment, he said exactly the thing I needed to hear. It has been so long that I have almost forgotten what his voice sounded like, but I could never forget him saying that to me." Celestia turned around and met my stare, her gentle gaze washing over me. "Do you understand what I am telling you...Twilight?"

I heard the melody music again, and in each note of the invisible harmonics, I heard a year of Celestia's life and experience echo before me. My teacher conjured a sound-proof shield over her and I, clearly wanting the next words she said to stay private between us.

"Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student. You are not alone. You are never alone. I have sat in a throne just like you, having the same doubts about myself...Thinking how I shouldn't be leading these ponies. Doubting how I could protect them when I had so many noble souls leave for their eternal rest. These doubts still gnaw at me sometimes...but here I am...still leading Equestria...still weathering the storm...still doing my best to protect and care for all my little ponies..."

"Why then? How do you do it?"

"My reasons may be different than yours...everyone I have ever truly loved as a friend has eventually passed away. Your friends are still here, and they still love you. You think your bond with Applejack's family and Ponyville may be broken, but I believe with all my heart that deep down everypony still loves you as that bookish, extraordinary Unicorn from those years ago. They blame you, but they will come to understand." Celestia walked up and placed a reassuring hoof on shoulder, and it started to feel like everything is going to be alright.

"I will tell you my secret..." Celestia shared. "I will tell you why I am still leading after more than a thousand years.... Why I led my ponies when my sister was gone during those lonely years. Why I told Princess Cadenza to never give up on her love for Shining Armor, knowing that your brother may not share her longevity...Hope. Hope that one day, when I leave this world, I want to see the smile of everypony that lost their lives for my dream, but they will not be smiling at me. Hope, that instead, I shall be smiling with them, as we look upon the world we leave to you and your children. Hope that you, and all your friends and family will inherit the land from us, a better place than whence we were born into it. A more peaceful place."

"Celestia..." I couldn't get much more out apart from her name as my voice was caught in my throat. I don't think she has ever opened up to me like this. Celestia shook her head.

"I am sorry if this may have been too much to hear from me. I am not sure why I felt the need to lecture you of this of that so suddenly, but I am glad that I did. I feel a weight off my chest now." A gentle smile crept on her face as she looked toward the direction she was originally going. "I will need to get back to my sister and our guest. Is there anything else you would like to talk about? I will make time for you, but I don't want to keep you from your own responsibilities..."

"...I have things I need to get to as well, but I will let you know if I need you." I told it. It wasn't a lie, but while I do want to talk with her more, it would be selfish of me to burden her with my problems when she has so much other things to do. I turn to walk away, waiting for Celestia to drop her shield.

"...Very well. I will let you see to it. And Twilight...?" I was about to turn around before I myself fall onto my rump with the same gravitational magic she demonstrated on the log, though it felt gentle. I felt Celestia's strong embrace from behind, as her hooves and wings completely cocooned me as she let her head rest off the side of mine. It was mighty, yet I felt completely safe in her soft cage. "I don't want you to forget. You are my diamond, and I will always have faith in you, my dear Twilight Sparkle. Know that much may happen here in the coming weeks...months...years, but above all, do not forget this - you may trust in me. You may trust in Luna. You may trust in Cadenza. You may trust in your friends and family. You may even trust in the Apples, regardless if you think you've lost them. We cradle each other's lives, and what threatens one of us, threatens us all." I felt shudder from my teacher, but it was small. Like she was trying to hid the rumble of this tremor. "...And if you find you can no longer trust in me, trust in the lessons you have learned. Trust in yourself. Never doubt what you have accomplished. All your decisions have brought you to this point. You have saved Equestria and taught us more about friendship than I myself have learned in the many centuries I have been alive. I believe that you will shine brighter and more spectacular than all of us."

As if my body was moving on its own, I hugged one of the forelegs that surrounded me. I felt like an oversized teddy bear or filly in her grasp as I tried to stifle my own voice and beating heart. With courage that I thought I was missing until now I spoke out.

"You're afraid..." I realized, as I felt a tear land on one of my hooves. She is scared of something, and has been worried the entire time I was speaking with her.

"...Of course I am. I am afraid for you, as I always have been." Celestia gingerly took one of my hooves and held it face up before depositing what appeared to be the compressed log into my hoof. As the magic was released, I saw ashes start to drift away from us and out both the shield and the Window we were next to. A purple, star-shaped diamond no bigger than a blueberry, which was once previously hidden by the ash shown brightly in my hooves as it reflected Celestia's magic. "Such an small thing...so unassuming. Not many would notice upon first glance that it was so spectacular, so strong, so beautiful, but I did..." Celestia smiled before turning her head back to me, her eyes slightly shinier than before. "I think I shall name this one..."Twilight". Would you keep her safe for me?"

"...Y-...Y-yes." I promised, feeling a tear start to flow down my face myself...only it wasn't the tear of sorrow that I felt, but one of joy. That one could have so much faith in me when I couldn't feel it. I am so fortunate to have met Princess Celestia. She was more than a teacher to me, but a motherly figure that I knew I could always rely on. How could she ever think I wouldn't trust her.

After a few more minutes of enjoying the moment I had with my teacher, I felt a gentle glow begin to tidy me up. No longer were my eyes or heart feeling strained, and when I looked toward Celestia, she looked no worse for wear than when I first met with her this morning. The music has since died down and was inaudible, and Celestia's shield was dropped...

"Finally!" an exasperated voice came. Trixie Lulamoon was standing in the same spot she has been. "Twilight, if I had a pocket watch, I would be looking at it really condescendingly right now. "

"What is the matter, Trixie?" I asked with an annoyed tone, judging the mare who seemed to be tapping a hoof impatiently.

"Trixie been standing here for twenty minutes! It felt like really long time! Trixie thought it was going to be a cute moment between you two, but then your shield went up and I couldn't see or hear what was going on the entire time. I was standing staring at your bubble like a creeper by all the guards that were patrolling!" She huffed and whined with puffed-up cheeks.

"I am sorry that we neglected you?" Celestia apologized, unsure of what it was she should have been apologizing for. " Couldn't you have wandered my student's castle or gone outside? Why wait here?" Princess Celestia asked as she was clearly confused by Trixie's motives. Suddenly, thanks to Star Swirl's "Check-off" spell that was reminded of, I was reminded of the first reason we came to find Celestia in the first place.

"Princess Celestia, is Edgar okay?" I asked. I heard Trixie sigh as the question was finally asked.

"Edgar is just fine. He is likely talking to my sister about all the wonderful things in his home. I admit that I feel some remorse that you can't hear more of his stories quite yet, but I think you may have plenty of time to speak with him more, Twilight." She reassured.

"So he is answering all your questions like you wanted, right?" Trixie asked warily. "Princess Luna asked me a lot of questions, but some of them didn't make any sense."

Celestia closed her eyes, as if thinking of a way to phrase it for the both of us.

"Yes and no. Your friend is not making it easy. He has been getting distracted and changing the subject often. For any topic he sticks with, he appears to be trying to keep his explanations as short as possible. In times like these, I almost wish I could cast some sort of "Truth spell" on either him or you simply to assuage my doubts and ask the questions I want."

Trixie snorted with relief.

"Fat chance. If such as spell actually existed, Trixie would not have wasted soooo~ much time trying to find out if stallions actually liked her or not in her teen years." Trixie mocked the idea of such a spell existing, and I don't blame her. There has not been a successful attempt at a Truth Spell since the idea first came up.

"...I could certainly think of some uses of this spell, and I have studied and looked but have found nothing that I would consider acceptable. Any Unicorn that attempted to make a spell like this only ended up controlling their target however briefly. They would simply tell you what they think you would want to hear, regardless of if it was true or a lie. There were many trials I had to preside over where I had to immediately let the accused go when I find out somepony tried to force the truth out of them."

"Even if they were actually guilty?" Trixie questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Especially if you think they were guilty." Celestia corrected, carefully choosing her words. "It is more important that innocence should be protected, than it is that the guilty should be punished. We want to live in a world where we will protect the innocent, for if innocence can not protect you from punishment, what reason would a pony have to do what's right? We want to live in a world where the virtues of harmony are rewarded, not punished." Celestia looked back at Twilight, deep in thought as her smile seemed to falter ever so-slightly, before snapping herself out of it. "My sister and Edgar are probably wondering where I have been all this time. I should probably get back to them. Please take care of yourselves." Celestia said as gave one more quick hug to me before turning away and carrying the serving tray of oatmeal back to the tea parlor.

Upon hearing this from her, I felt a calling to try and stop her in her tracks. To ask that Edgar not stay in that glass cage for now. At the very least, explain to him why we thought it was necessary. I started to think about how confused he may have been, and he deserved an actual answer, even if we were asked to keep this secret. Why "punish" him by building that glass box in the first place if we weren't even sure he was responsible for the melody magic. Not even Trixie knows fully why we did it, or why the box was designed the way it was. If he was causing it, the box was mainly to try and filter the Melody magic and keep it confined to the area around him. To not have it affect the ponies here as much as it we thought it was, but I am not entirely sure it was his fault.

Before I found the courage to ask Celestia about it, she turned the corner and was out of sight. I heard a nagging voice from my immediate right.

"Trixie can't help but feel left out. Why couldn't the Great and Powerful Trixie get a Princess hug as well? We helped save Ponyville." She argued. It was a moot point now that Celestia was gone, but did she have to wait until after she left? If she just asked, I bet Celestia would have done so without any issue as long as Trixie didn't make it weird.

Then again, does she really deserrrrrve one from Celestia?

"Yes, but you also forced Snips and Snails to drag you around on a chariot with no wheels when you enslaved Ponyville." I countered, knowing that there were far more ridiculous examples than that.

"Sparkle, you can't be taking their side! They brought an Ursa Major to your town."

"Ursa Minor." I corrected. I shook my head. "Do you want me to hug you. Would that make you feel better?"

"Its not the same." Trixie sighed in disappointment. "Perhaps when we become better friends, but Trixie wants one from the cream of the crop!"

"This mare is insatiable. Will nothing make her happy?"

"Like one of Fluttershy's hugs? They are the best." I assured, knowing she always gave the best hugs. Not too soft, not too hard, but way too comfortable. She could give Mrs. Huggin Kiss, the town therapist, a run for her money.

"Who?" A confused voice asked. Looking back at Trixie, I thought she was first trying to mess with me, but its like she legitimately forgot about the element of Kindness that risked infection to help Edgar.

Oh my GOSH, its only been a day!

Before I could get too annoyed, I heard a sound. It was like a like a quiet buzz.

.
.

*ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZIP*

I heard a buzz getting louder and louder before an "EEP" came from the direction of Trixie, using her magic to try and hold her hat onto her head. Trixie then took it off her head to peak in to see what slipped insi-

"You gotta come quick!" A high pitched but miniscule sounding voice came from the hat. Though it was mostly cotton, the shape of the hat still acted almost like a microphone. A head poked out of it, showing that breezy from yesterday.

"Delphi?"

"Ay lass. We flew off sometime in the weee-morning when the drunkard was first captured by you and Nightmare Moon. We hid in mountains of oats an' apples, we swam in a bowl of milk to evade detection. You all are brutes with how you all throw around your oats, but that's not important." She was explaining, before getting interrupted.

"Holy crap, Trixie has completely forgotten about you! You were in my hat the entire time last night? Trixie could have squished you on accident!" Trixie exclaimed in fear, thinking about all the times she might have scratched her head the entire day, or tossed and turned while trying to go to sleep.

Delphi darted up to Trixie's eye, grabbing her attention and making herself obnoxiously obvious.

"FOCUS!!!! You have to save your hero!" Not satisfied with her tone not reaching Trixie, then flew up to Trixie's ear and held it open, yelling right into it. "Nightmare Moon is trying to eat him!!!" She shouted in desperation. Trixie winced and involuntarily shook her head at the weird feeling, suddenly causing Delphi to lose her grip and be flung right back into Trixie's hat with a tiny yell.

After Trixie gave an uncomfortable shudder from that weird sensation, she and I looked at each other before looking back to her hat, as two tiny hooves caught the inner rim and crawled out.

"What?" We both said in Unison.

Author's Note

Not yet Proof-read.

So it turns out while editing my other chapter, I just kept writing and writing, so I felt as if I needed to split the chapter once more.

Instead of this being chapter 2/2, it will instead be chapter 2/3. I am doing this since I want you guys to be in the same-ish state of mind as you read this, but I also don't want this portion of the story to drone on-and-on-and-on with some chapters being 40,000 words. Probably better to do shorter chapters that I can push out quicker.

Don't be afraid to let me know if its a bit boring or if I am any plot holes that I can use magic to explain away, inconsistencies, or grammatical errors. If there is any criticism, I would like to hear it, even if I don't act upon it in my story. The final chapter of this set of three should be coming out relatively soon. If you don't wanna leave a comment with your criticism, send me a message and call me a wienerbiscut. It could be anything, including my inconsistency in either including a space in Apple Bloom's name, or not including a space in Applebloom's name.