Path up to The Ruler

Twilight took few weeks to recover. No regular pony medicine or healing spells could recover burnt damage, but necromancy did. Necromantic regeneration proved working, reviving dead cells to their former forms. But such procedure was slow and excruciating.

Meanwhile, ponies were rebuilding the losses made by war. Still hostile and negative to other race, but war was over. Even if their efforts were mostly selfish, it still proved overall progress and benefit.

Political disaster was present: air, ground and sea griffon blockade. Griffons took the events at Griffin Port to declare military isolation: nopony or griffon could get in or out through the blockade. Any attempts of negotiations were met with cruelty – death on sight.

Princess Luna was struggling without Celestia’s co-rulership aid. Her inexperience led to higher taxes for trade routes with most non-griffon countries (griffons made none). Miscommunication and lack of management led to weak control over ponies, they did what they thought was best, each city (or town, or village, etc.) was populated by single pony race, operated as individual anarchy.

She was playful, cheerful and immature (despite living for over a millennium, being Nightmare Moon prevented her maturity). Luna wasn’t the pony fit for such role and Twilight knew that.

-

Twilight arrived at Crystal Empire. It was divided into three heavily defended territories, each dominated by one crystal pony race. Crystal Castle abandoned.

Territory controlled by earth crystal ponies was most of the cropland. Only earth crystal ponies were working there, harvesting more than they consumed, but not sharing or selling with ponies in other territories.

Territory controlled by crystal unicorns had most of the pre-war shops, mostly vandalized and looted. They owned the biggest territory, but it was pretty empty. Some trace of trade routes that were active before unicorns sold out everything they could and were beginning to starve.

Pegasus owned territory was a few skyscraper buildings. Pegasus were visibly starving.

The situation was absurd: earth ponies were overeating and not even sharing eatable trash with other ponies while other ponies were suffering famine. Twilight wanted to help them, but there was nothing she could do at that time (it would take more than words to fix their situation).

She proceeded to the castle. Inside was empty and dusty, but nothing broken.

The portal to Canterlot High was working. She went through.

-

The school was rebuilt after Sunset Shimmer’s “demonic performance”. And she was sitting near the portal-statue in that world, miserable.

“What’s wrong?” Twilight asked.

“Wha? Who? Oh… It’s you… What do you need?”

“I came here to see how are things, how are you doing?”

“Everybody hates me. The very people who you asked to help me transferred to other school in other town, all of them. I’m nothing anymore.”

“I want you back in Equestria. There are disturbance that could be fixed with your help, you have the qualities necessary.”

“I don’t know.”

“You said you are nothing here which means you have nothing to lose. I offer you something, definitely a better life, what you always wanted.”

Sunset Shimmer took a short minute to look at Twilight’s face. Without hesitation she jumped through portal. Twilight behind.

-

They were slowly returning home (to Ponyville; transport was unavailable), Twilight was answering questions Sunset was asking, “…I still don’t understand why would you choose me? It wasn’t perfect in that world, but hearing how’s Equestria now, I really don’t know which is worse.”

“I chose you because you are the best pony I know for such job. I don’t know if you will pull off this hard task, but that’s not a reason to not let you to. I believe in you.”

“Was this because I wanted to rule Equestria?”

“Well…” Twilight took a moment to decide if she should lie or tell the truth, “…yes, but let me explain: I’m princess of Friendship and I’m friends with some villains, I was… they sacrificed themselves in the war. I know the mindset of a villain, they are people too – they have their dreams, wants and needs that our world cannot fulfill. But unlike others, they seek drastic change that goes against the roots of already established reality. Doings so, they submit themselves to evil forces and go on destroying, manipulating or enslaving everybody in their way. You are just like them.

“I’m gifting you what you wanted – Equestria, but you’ll have to deal with responsibilities at hoof. You can refuse and return I’m not forcing you.”

“I want to stay, but what will other ponies think of a leader that’s not an alicorn?”

“They will be happy about it. You’ll be representing a pony race – unicorns. Or they will forever hate you. These ponies are racially hostile. I hope for the former, but you always must take a risk to achieve anything, and I’m sure you’ll receive more respect and praise from people than invading them as a demon with your zombie-student army.”

“I suppose, but if things go wrong I would have nothing to defend against it.”

“I’ll be always here with you whenever I can if that happened.”

“Thank you.”

-

Sunset insisted returning to Crystal Empire after Twilight mentioned situation there, she had a plan: she wanted to explain why what they were doing was stupid, and that they should share. It was nothing different than what Twilight would had planned if she decided to (and it would mostly fail with just talking and convincing alone), but Sunset had an unusual charm and was able to persuade crystal ponies there into doing so. Even as far as removing blockades. And all three races began living together in harmony (more or less).

On a way back to Ponyville Twilight encouraged Sunset to visit Hoofington and try fix things there. Hoofington was once populated by unicorns before the war when earth ponies won it over. Some trace of earth pony engineering at action: turrets and traps. Failed attempts of growing crops (land wasn’t suitable for that). Sunset successfully encouraged citizens there to open trade routes with Crystal Ponies for food. She was perfect, Twilight was sure about it.

-

“You’ve recovered,” Luna was happy seeing Twilight. “I’m glad you’re here. I’m in need of help with all of this nonsense. Celestia never taught dealing with this, nor was I ever really interested in it.”

“I’m happy to help you, I have a mare who will help you, she’s really good at it, I promise,” Twilight announced. She moved aside to reveal Sunset hiding behind her.

“Sunset Shimmers, I know of you, thou student of Celestia’s with a lot of potential. Twilight, may I have a moment with you? Alone.”

“Um, ok?” Twilight and Luna walked outside the room. They left Sunset admiring soon-to-be-hers quarters for operation. “What was you wanted?” Twilight asked Luna.

“Why haven’t you told me you’re bringing her here?”

“She’s great, don’t worry. I saw her in action, she’s perfect.”

“Ok, but I don’t think bringing her here was good decision.”

“If you’re concerned about what she was before and what she intended to do, don’t be. You must befriend her. Knowing that you successfully managed that with Sombra and Discord, I see no reason why you couldn’t with Sunset.”

“It’s not that. Other reasons – personal reason. I never told you what happened between me and her.”

“But you were trapped on the moon as Nightmare Moon before and after she was Celestia’s student, you couldn’t possible met her.”

“You don’t know a thing.”

“Look, whatever it was it must not interfere you two. Put it aside and focus for the better of Equestria, I need you both working together. If you try anything against her, I’ll have you suffer, I’m protecting her.” Twilight returned to Sunset.

“You know nothing,” Luna whispered to herself and followed to the room after Twilight.

“I’ll leave you two for now. I promised I’ll be helping pegasus after I recovered.” Twilight left.

Luna was giving Sunset a lengthy tour around the castle and Canterlot.

-

Nighttime. Sunset was sleeping in Celestia’s (now hers) bedroom, Twilight in Cloudsdale, Luna was not. She left Canterlot and flew to Griffin Kingdom.

Griffon patrol used one-barrel rifles (muskets) for long distance combat, for melee combat they wielded sharp metal attachments to their talons and wore heavy leather armor.

Griffon patrol spotted Luna incoming. They had orders to kill anypony on sight trying to cross the blockade, but they let Luna through without even struggling to lift their weapons or fly closer for inspection. Luna got through uninterrupted.

Luna flew above barracks where even at night griffons were training their agility and marksmanship skills in obstacle courses.

She arrived at Gryphendel, the tallest city in whole Griffin Kingdom. She entered the cathedral to meet with Grand Duke Feather Terror the Second. Griffon guards escorted her to him. “Luna, good to see you in person after so long,” he smiled. “What brings you Here? You’re not here about us removing the blockade?”

“Of course not, I’m here to report an important intel.”

“And you’ve gone through all this trouble to arrive here by yourself? You could have said that through my dreams, like you always did.”

“Says the griffon who hardly ever sleeps. This matter is urgent and delaying it would cause more danger to me and you. Sunset Shimmer is back, and she’s a co-ruler of Equestria now.”

Grand Duke stood up from the throne he was sitting in with facial expression of anger. “How did you allow that?” he growled. “And co-ruler? What were you thinking? Are you here just to smack my face after all I’ve done for you?”

“No, no, It’s not my fault. Twilight Sparkle brought her and appointed her for such role.”

“Who’s that Sparkle you speak of?”

“She is a barrier of all six Elements of Harmony and she defeated my sister, permanently. She’s also guarding Sunset Shimmer.”

“Hmmm… What’s your plan and why do you need me?”

“I want you to attack Equestria and knock her out of the post. What you conquer you can take for yourselves.”

“Risk my flyers? And you offer us land that we would obliterate? We are not barbarians or conquers, this is a Kingdom. But since it’s about Sunset Shimmer, I’ll accept, but I’ll claim no land of Equestria, just loot. I’m not sure how will ponies recover from that, but frankly, I don’t care, I’m not destroying your Equestria, you are.

“Although, I’ll require you eliminating Sparkle, I don’t want to suffer huge losses or a failure because of her. I give you three days before we act, don’t disappoint me.”

“This shall be done.” Luna left the cathedral and flew back to Equestria.

“Where were you,” Sunset asked once Luna returned.

“The Princess of The Night doesn’t sleep during the night. Now return to sleep, you must rest, you’ll have a lot to deal with tomorrow.”

“Yeah, whatever, Nightmare Moon.”

-

Daytime.

Swarms of pony complains mobbing Sunset Shimmer’s sanity, Luna wasn’t anywhere—where was she?—Ponies demanding changes that required turtle-speed to implement, but they wanted it now. Twilight was flying all over Equestria fulfilling desires of everypony that only she could with her magic. A whole day just like that.

Nighttime.

“Where were you all day?” Sunset asked Luna.

“You serve the ponies throughout the day. I do that throughout the night. This how it was when Celestia was in charge. I was resting during the day. Now please don’t disturb me, I must guide my subjects in their dreams.” Luna disappeared.

“I hate her.”

Twilight trotted to Sunset. “Don’t mind her, she’s not used to any of this. You still have me, and I’ll do everything to help you.”

“Thank you. I just feel like I’m not the right pony for this job. Celestia had many years of experience while I had none. She’s an alicorn and she had more power than I could ever posses in my lifetime. I’m just a mere unicorn. I’m not even sure she could handle this herself. Who am I to walk in her horseshoes? Twilight, are you sure you did a right thing?”

“I am.”

“Ponies don’t respect me at all, especially earth ponies and pegasus. While for them you’re ‘their everything’, I’m less than your assistant – a grumpy politician who they must endure before you could help them. I feel like just having horn and no wings is the image of their ruler they dislike.”

“If it’s the image they dislike, I can fix that.” Twilight focused her horn on Sunset, enwrapped her in thick layer of magic. Several layers of overglow appeared from her horn.

After long concentration and a lightshow she was done. She drained herself of magic: her body and mane became colorful grey, Elements cutie mark vanished. She transferred the third of her alicorn magic to Sunset, making her grow wings (this spell was different than when Princesses transferred their magic to Twilight who was already alicorn, Sunset was not; spell required two other thirds of her magic to perform). Sunset was lying unconscious, the procedure was painful.

Luna saw what happened. She approached Twilight. “You’re insane, you don’t know what you did.” Twilight was sane, but unable to talk or move. “I’m going to punish you.” Luna’s horn glowing red, she concentrated her magic on Twilight, she sent Twilight to far unknown. “As for you.” Luna turned her gaze to Sunset.

Discord appeared in a flash, “No,” then disappeared as fast with Sunset.

Luna took angry moment to realize what happened. “DISCORD!” her voice bringing earthquakes.

-

“Grey: grey mountains, grey rocks, grey sand, I’m grey. Black: black sky, black night, black stars, inside of me is black,” Twilight was explaining her surroundings to herself, unable to move, just hardly speak. “Where am I?”

-

“Who? What? Where? Explain!” Sunset woke up. She was in Discord’s chaos dimension. “What is all of this? Who are you?”

“I’m Discord – master of chaos. This is my home. You like it?”

“Why would I like this place? Why did you bring me here?”

“I saved you from Luna. My dear Twilight sacrificed herself for you.”

“What do you mean? What happened to her? How long was I out?”

“A day. I suggest you looking at yourself.”

Sunset looked at herself she noticed wings that she could move. “AH!” she screamed and was flailing her body awkwardly. She felt alien in it and was panicking.

Discord was recording her with a movie camera by spinning the lever on it. After awhile, he had enough footage for a laugh to share with his… friends… The last friend he had was sent to the unknown and he couldn’t sense her magic to find her. “Enough games. We have pressing matter on our tails.”

“But I’m alicorn! I haven’t asked for this.”

“Please, you can’t even fly with these things. All that dark magic is just an illusion that drains the caster for no apparent reasons. I could have done the same if she asked me to, too late for that now.”

-

“Everything is the same.” Twilight was wobbling slowly through the unknown, tripping and falling then getting up and continuing going the straightest line she managed.

Fell again. That time she saw her cutie mark, grey sparkle-star, no Elements. “I’m all alone now.” She didn’t get up, her tears and emotions consumed her will.

-

Sunset Shimmer was traveling all across Equestria, warning about upcoming griffon aggression (not blaming Luna for it) the whole day and night. She did so mostly without Luna knowing, and when Luna did, it was already the next day.

Griffons obscured the sky and the sun, countless of them above pony homes. It felt like changeling invasion all over again, but it was worse: Each griffon equipped with more powerful weaponry than what ponies had. Every griffon (not including the elites who were superior) was equally match with most skilled pegasus flyers in aerial combat. Armor – durable, light and convenient compared to what ponies used (which mostly was nothing).

To every city (or town, or village, etc.) griffon messengers were sent for diplomacy. One of them was sent to Horseshoe Bay, “We’re here under Grand Duke Feather Terror’s will of diplomacy with you, our pony friends.

“We offer low costs for taxes, protection and free access for trade routes with Griffin Kingdom, ideal for any business. We require everypony’s signatures for the offer. By signing you agree that our Grand Duke will have influence in Equestria’s political infrastructure, and get Sunset Shimmer fired. But do not fear, your princess Luna will remain in charge without any restrain.

“Refusal would result in suffering, destruction and death.”

The messenger got shot and impaled into the ground by ballista after he finished. “Ah ain’t followin’ yer buffalofudge. Don’t listen’ to any of dem lies he’s spoutin’,” the killer and guard of Horseshoe Bay claimed. “Ponies, this time we fight fo’ our freedom. Dem enemies think we’re dummies. Well, Ah say we show ‘em wrong with guns.” Cheering of agreement followed and citizens began preparing for the fight.

Other messengers were met with similar fates by other ponies in Equestria as well. Seeing the situation, Feather Terror with his elite squad flew to Canterlot for a chat with Luna. Upon arrival, he was met by royal guards. They had spears and were ready to attack. None reached him alive. He entered the castle. Any resistance inside were met with cruelty. Luna was sitting in her throne-chair.

“What’s the meaning of all this? Do these ponies value their lives, or are they too dumb to save themselves?” Grand Duke was mad at Luna.

“And why would you care?” Her eyes glowing red, she was wearing her armor and a necklace – Alicorn Amulet.

“I don’t. I care about my griffons. I don’t want this war I don’t care about it, it can ruin my reputation, but retreating would ruin it too. It’s your fault you brought me in all of this. I demand you ordering your ponies to surrender.”

“I have no power over them, If I did, I wouldn’t asked you for anything in the first place.”

“I don’t care, you must, or I’ll make you to.”

“Please do! And I’ll try my best to longer the list of dead griffons you care so much about. I promise.” Luna’s horn glowing red, she stood in battle stance. “You’ll find her yourself. I have more important matters to deal with than helping you.”

Griffon leader scratched his head then turned around to his troops to gesture an order to leave. “I don’t understand what you’re planning. And that artifact, you’re wearing, tells me that you’re after her as well. Why don’t we team up? We have common enemy and goal. Together we’ll make this faster, less people will suffer.”

“I need you only for a distraction.”

“Figures. You really don’t care about ponies.”

-

Twilight reached top of the hill, closest to her, to scout around. Everywhere bumping grey, the planet had no colors, but in all of that grey she noticed a difference – an occasional abrupt green flashes in the same spot half a mile away from her. “This could be my only way out.”

She raised her hoof to accurately climb down, but ground crumbled beneath her and she fell like a ragdoll down the hill badly injuring her. “I must…” She spent a little more time to rest then ignoring unbearable pain, lack of strength and balance she continued.

-

Griffons showed no mercy to anypony: Killing them without any regrets or hesitation, destroying homes, historical and cultural monuments and other priceless wonders. Very few ponies could hide or escape their assault (they were searching for Sunset Shimmer and killing whoever else they found).

Looting wasn’t successful: Newest invention of earth and unicorn cooperation created dynamite. From attaching dynamite to projectiles to dynamite-suicide ponies prevented griffons from accessing these resources (mostly food supplies and gems) without suffering loss, and even when they reached it, ponies set traps destroying these resources and unfortunate griffons caught in it.

Ponies were losing, and they knew that, but their spirit and beliefs told them that they were doing the right thing and it was worth risking their own lives for it kept their motivation adamant. Foals were protected the most, so they suffered the least or nothing at all.

-

Twilight reached the source of the light. It was a green creature with a body like timberwolf, but looking more like a deer, sleeping in a small crater. Its coughs emitting blinding lights from various sized dots that dominated its body—the only different color in all of that grey around—

Twilight adored the little creature, even if she had to cover her eyes every time it coughed, but there was no time to drool for hours, she felt that Equestria was in danger (and it was), she had to return.

Twilight tried to carefully and slowly descend down the crater to not scare the creature, but rocks behind her started to roll knocking and further hurting her. She fell into the creature with a gentle push, enough to awake the creature.

Creature opened her pure green eyes and spotted Twilight. “Mother is that you?” Twilight wanted to open her mouth to disagree, but was unable, during the fall few rocks pierce her cheek and damaged insides of her mouth. A whine and a squeal was all she managed. “It is you,” the creature continued, “I can’t confuse you with anything. You are the mother of this planet.”

Twilight remembered Celestia’s tale about original alicorns and how each of their children had a planet to rule. That creature believed that Twilight was the one who supposed to rule it. “It is you. Grey as all of this around. Sad as all of the vegetation around. Hurt as all of the creatures around. Alone as I am,” it explained. “What happened, dear Mother?”

Twilight cleared her mouth from blood and saliva with a cough. “I need help.”

“Anything,” creature replied and stood up then with her magic touched Twilight healing her wounds and easing the pain.

“Thank you. I need to regain my magic. How can I do that?”

“You lost the connection with this planet and it lost with you. You need to reunite. You must remember about all of the creatures and vegetation that existed here. About the landscape and cultures settled here years ago.”

“I-I… I don’t know any,” Twilight felt ashamed of what she said, feeling worthless and helpless.

The creature looked into Twilight. “Then let me remind you. I’m the druid of the past. I dedicated my whole life for this, and outlived everything else.” Its eyes connecting with Twilight’s, it consumed her in a vision.

The vision was of the planet in the past: rich vegetation, stone dominated settlements for intelligent creatures (who were earth, pegasus, unicorn ponies, griffons, zebras and other) and a pink alicorn. Twilight required no time to recognize the alicorn, it was Cadence. The planet was formerly hers. She abandoned it.

Twilight returned from the vision. “Yes, ok, what now?”

“Recreate.”

Twilight looked around to scout her surrounding then merged it with her mental image of the vision she saw and began casting the exact same spell that manipulated life she used in Equestria before. She had no magic, but it wasn’t required, planet bowed before her and life slowly re-emerged. While she was casting, periodically her natural colors returned, then one-by-one The Elements, then Rainbow Powers extended and colored her mane and tail with additional yellow, and lastly, something more – a stripe of dark green on her mane and tail.

The creature reformed into a zebra. “You look not the same.”

“I’m not your Mother. She is my sister-in-law. I’m sorry I haven’t told you that, but I really must return back where I came from.”

“It does not matter, you’re not. You’re the savior of our planet. You’re our Mother now. Don’t leave us like she did. We seek your guidance, Mother. We are now your children, now this is your home. We need of you, we don’t want a wasteland.” Manny ponies, zebras, griffons and other beings surrounded Twilight, their expressions full of hope.

Twilight was shocked. It was the hardest decision she had to make in her life: remain there and be the ruler of that world, possibly achieve perfection, or return to Equestria. Choosing the former resulted in betraying her friends; and their sacrifices had been for nothing. Choosing the later resulted in abandoning these people; and they could possibly make the planet a wasteland once again.

After deep consideration Twilight chose the former. She couldn’t abandon her friends dying wishes. “Sorry, I can’t, but I promise I’ll return. For now you must cope with your lives yourselves.” The crowd around her began whining, but Twilight calmed them before it gotten worse.

“I have a gift for you all.” She cast a spell that consumed their minds. With it she showed what pony (and not only) friendship could achieve. “With that I must go. I hope you can live without me for the time being before I return. Alone I can only do so much, but together you can do far more.”

The crowd was sad, but not whining anymore, sad because she must return, not because their hopes were destroyed. Twilight gave them purpose.

One filly trotted to Twilight giving her a hug and tears. She picked something from the ground and gave it to Twilight. It was a brutally looking little worm-thingy. It quickly jumped into Twilight’s mane and settled. Twilight wanted to panic, but calmed herself (she didn’t wanted to disrespect the filly for the gift) “I want this to remind you of us,” the filly explained. “It’ll protect you.”

“Thank you.” She ascended into air, gestured a farewell and flew away. She didn’t know where Equestria was, but she trusted her instincts and, with new powers that she obtained, glided through the atmosphere in high-speed.

-

Equestria – rivers of blood and wreckage, smells of disgust, bodies of dead ponies and griffons, landscape ruined, settlements vandalized. No more harmony.

Three figures were standing in a tense battle stance outside Canterlot castle: princes Luna’s horn was glowing threatening red with hovering spears, covered in levitation magic, above her, ready to launch; Grand Duke Feather Terror was holding two one-handed shotguns in both of his talons, aiming at his opponents; Sunset Shimmer’s horn was glowing, ready to cast a shield or teleportation spell. Around them were dead royal guards and dead elite griffon fighters.

Three of them were talking. “Out of my way, she’s mine,” Luna began. “I’m not going to let you have her.”

“You should have considered that earlier, before you brought me into this bloodbath,” Grand Duke countered. “I have scores to settle with her myself. I won’t tolerate your disturbance.”

“All this suffering and death only because I failed with teleportation spell and ruined your ancestor’s kingdom; and created an evil deity known as Nightmare Moon that consumed princes of the Night?” Sunset asked.

“Yes,” Luna and Terror answered in unison.

“And all of this was worth all of the death and suffering?”

“It wouldn’t been this way if ponies weren’t resisting,” Terror exclaimed.

“For crying out loud, if I’m the one you’re after just kill me right here and now.”

Grand Duke and princess looked at Sunset Shimmer then at each other. They drew their aim from Sunset then set it at each other. “After all what happened? It’s not worth it. You deserve torture. But first: her.” Feather Terror shot at Luna, but missed.

Luna threw spears at griffon, but missed as well. Both opponents took into air to continue fighting. Luna shooting missiles with her horn, Terror continued using his shotgun, reloading every two shots with each. Both flyers struggled to hit their opponent. The fight dragged for a long time in a stalemate.

Green and purple roaring flash pierced the sky. It fell on Grand Duke Feather Terror. It was Twilight killing him instantly with the momentum. She looked at him without regrets then at Luna and Sunset Shimmers who were stunned by what they saw. Twilight looked around seeing results of the fighting between ponies and griffons then stared at Luna. “I wish I never saw this. I wish I didn’t know whose fault it was. I wish I was here to prevent it.”

“H-how d-did you?” Luna lost her tongue.

“You are the determent factor to this destruction. You deserve nothing. I’m going to end you.”

“And what are you going to do?” Luna regained her cool. “How will you stop me? I’m the most powerful alicorn, stronger than Celestia ever was, and you barely won against her. What makes you think you have any chance against me?”

Twilight’s horn lit green. From the ground grew huge oak tree and imprisoned Luna in itself as it grew. Not giving time for Luna to break free, Twilight dragged the tree to the depths of the planet with its prisoner.

Twilight looked at Sunset Shimmer whose facial expression was pale. “It’s over for her. I told you that I will always help you whenever I can.”

“It’s never over,” voice from behind called. Luna threw something at Twilight. It bounced off Twilight’s shield. It was something looking like a green bean. “You’re the one with nature now?” Luna levitated the bean to her. “Why don’t you return to where you came from!” Luna crushed the bean with her hooves.

Twilight felt weak. Roots formed from her hooves into the ground giving away Twilight’s body and magic. “This is my world,” Luna laughed as Twilight was consumed. “As for you,” she turned her gaze into Sunset, “torture.”