Months after the funeral, all my days are still dark.

I woke up yesterday morning and stretched out my arm to hold my husband. I found only empty space in my bed beside me, and for a minute I thought he was just in the bathroom and waited for him to return. I kept repeating that in my head even as I started to cry, and buried myself in my sheets. I didn't want to know that he wasn't coming back.

I didn't go to work that day.

Today I sit alone in my bed, watching the rain pour down over the crystal buildings of the Empire, thinking about him.

Thinking about Twilight.

After seven centuries of planning, I cannot help but consider the next part of the plan. It comes unbidden into my mind. Even in the midst of my grief over Shining, the thought worms its way in and I cannot but listen.

So I think about Twilight.

I would never have to go through another life-mate's death.

She would have a partner who loves and understands every part of her as if I'd built her myself.

All it would take is a few months of gently leading her along and she'd see me in a whole new light. She'd be unable to stop thinking of me. She'd wonder how she could possibly have missed what was right in front of her eyes all this time.

She'd decide it was because of her love for her brother, that she'd never want to steal me from him. Then she'd decide that, now that he's gone, keeping the love between us all alive would only be honoring his memory. Any doubts she'd have, I could easily smooth away.

I know all your buttons, Twilight. I can press them whenever I want to. I could make you love me, I could spin your head around so many times you wouldn't know up from down, and you'd never know I'd done it. You'd be happy. All's fair in love and war, right?

It goes against the Oath. Even Celestia wouldn't meddle with another princess's affairs. Yet here I am, pondering how easily I would make Twilight love me.

When does just being nice cross the line into emotional blackmail and manipulation? Can the game possibly be fair when I know all the tricks? Do I turn off even common courtesy just so I'm not feeling manipulative when I ask her to spend time with me?

I could be horrible and drive her away, just so I know I'm not cheating. That would hardly be any more honest, and it would drive a wedge between us for no good reason.

Why can't I just seduce her, like I've done so many others? Because she's a princess? Does that mean I look down on everypony else, treat them like something less than myself?

I loved all my husbands and my wives.

They never stood a chance.

I made them happy.

They had no choice.

Of course they had a choice. I never used magic to warp their minds.

I didn't need to. I got the same results with regular old-fashioned seduction.

Ponies are like machines. If you know how they work, you can make them do what you want just by pressing the right buttons.

I don't want to think of Twilight like that.

I am not sure I can stop myself.

“Dear Twilight,” I wrote. “I want to invite you to come for a visit to the Crystal Empire...”

Author's Note

The final act begins.

Next time: The Warning.