Twilight and Trixie step out of their car before going over to a M.A.G.I.C van where several standard government soldier stand aiming their guns at the double doors of an old Equestrian theatre.

"Situational report?" Twilight asks with a serious tone.

The closest soldier turns and salutes before giving a report.

"Purple Haze sir, the Jester is currently holed up inside this old abandoned Equestrian theatre. The last transmission from the Wonderbolt M.A.G.I.C. squad puts the Jester in the V.I.P viewing area of the theatre. Although it seems she has modified the place and we are unable to get a visual from the theatre floor. The room has one entrance and exit, other than that we are unable to ascertain the condition of the Wonderbolts at this time." The soldier states before going back to his position.

"So... How are we handling this?" Trixie asks as she leans against the van.

"Blowing up the theatre would cause more panic than it's worth... We can safely assume that the Jester has her minions in there keeping guard..." Twilight begins to fade off in thought.

Trixie bangs on the side of the van making it slide up to reveal a rack of advanced modified weapons ranging between pistols, assault rifles, shotguns and daggers.

"That basically means we are shooting our way in. Perhaps we could mix things up a little. After all our magic duo is second to none." Trixie gloats as she picks up and loads a shotgun.

"Trixie... We still need to be careful, this is the Jester... not just another street F rank Kansen. You're still coming to our anniversary dinner, right? It's going to be two years now." Twilight clears her throat as she loads an assault rifle and places daggers in her belt slots

"I know, I know... We live together now so it's hard for me to forget things." Trixie teases as she loads a pair of pistols and places them on her belt holsters.

"My parents are also coming to this dinner so please try to behave... It's taken me this long to win their approval of you." Twilight puts the assault rifle strap around her and gets the gun comfortable.

"Aww... So I can't flirt with you all night? Shit..." Trixie places a few daggers on the back of her belt and starts walking towards the theatre doors.

Twilight grabs a few explosives in a messenger bag, putting it over her opposite shoulder to her gun strap before catching up with Trixie.

"Please behave and I'll make it worth it that night." Twilight reassures Trixie as they reach the double doors.

"Fine, fine... Loud or quiet entrance?" Trixie prompts Twilight who places a magical C4 charge on the door.

"Hmm let's do it your way for once." Twilight states happily before using her horn to trigger the charge making it inwardly blow up the door.

The pair slowly walk into the theatre and scan the lobby for any hostile targets. Carefully checking each other's blind spots they progress deeper into the theatre.

"Remind me, I have to wear a dress don't I?" Trixie asks keeping back to back with Twilight.

"We have been together almost two years, of course you're wearing a dress to a restaurant. You should know by now how I like you to present yourself." Twilight states in defiance as they push open the doors to a dressing room.

"Okay, okay... I was teasing. I don't mind wearing a dress for you so long as you're the one who is removing it when we get home." Trixie smiles behind her helmet as they face forwards to meet the many blood red eyes of Heilung's signature Diamond Dog grunts.

"I count at least twenty five... Heilung Diamond Dog grunts... The Jester's normal playthings." Twilight stretches her fingers as the Diamond Dogs stare down the couple.

"This is where it gets very fun for me." Trixie states with glee as she unleashes a flash bang grenade into the centre of the room using her magic and sets it off.

The resulting explosion blinds many of the twenty five Diamond Dogs. Both Twilight and Trixie's helmet visors tint at the explosion of light. Trixie sprints off the spot and jumps up onto a table as she unloads a shell into the face of a nearby Diamond Dog. Cocking her shotgun she unloads another shell into the leaping face of a second Diamond Dog. Twilight takes a mere few steps forward before unloading three precise bullets between the eyes of three different Diamond Dogs putting them down before they even have time to move. Cocking her shotgun for the second time, Trixie pulls out a handful of daggers off her belt and throws them into the still blinded foreheads of four Diamond Dogs making them fall backwards onto the floor. A Diamond Dog attempts to leap at Twilight, but she hits him in the stomach with the butt of her rifle before stabbing him in the neck with her dagger. Twilight pulls out three daggers using magic and throws them into the chests of nearby Diamond Dogs, the ends of the daggers light up by Twilights magic and they explode the connected Diamond Dogs. Two Diamond Dogs leap at Trixie who ducks, letting them slam into each other and fall onto the table, they both look down at a grenade that explodes taking them with it. The remaining ten Diamond Dogs flee the room to regroup as a playful voice comes over an improvised communication system.

"Wow, you guys are out of touch. Fifteen of you mongrels were just gunned down with little effort. Get the fuck outta my theatre, I'll deal with these two myself. Hey, Pathogen, I'm in the room your little buddies should of told you about. Come find me and we'll have some fun." The voice states with glee as the system shuts off.

"What do you think? Still not up for bombing the theatre?" Trixie asks as she reloads her shotgun and walks over to Twilight.

"No, we should face her head on and radio for back up." Twilight shoulders her rifle and taps the side of her helmet. "HQ, we're going to need back up at the old abandoned Equestrian theatre. The Jester is playing around." Twilight taps her helmet again and sighs deeply.

"Well then... Shall we go deeper?" Trixie asks as Twilight nods in reply and they leave the dressing room.

Vinyl walks down the stairs and over to a Pegasus mare who has a grey coat with a blonde mane and tail, she has yellow crossed eyes. The mare is wearing a green forward facing cap, white shirt, green apron and blue jeans. She is happily spinning around the chair behind the counter.

"Derpy, you remember what to do if someone needs help?" Vinyl asks as she slides over the counter and turns around.

Derpy stops spinning suddenly and salutes at Vinyl with an enthusiastic nod.

"Yep! I should help them find whatever it is they are looking for and get them out the door as swiftly as possible without being rude!" Derpy smiles happily.

"Good girl, Derpy." Vinyl offers praise before leaving down the basement stairs.

Vinyl opens the heavy basement door and steps through to see Larvali pacing around while Erlöser is sitting on a crate, Flutterbat is leaning against the wall beside the door.

"So, what do you plan to do now... Rainbow lies upstairs in critical condition, Berry has been taken by One-Two Applejack and is likely already undergoing their unique interrogation technique. You're the boss here, what will you do?" Flutterbat asks shooting Larvali a serious expression.

"If you're looking to stir shit, Flutterbat... I suggest you leave my store. Things are getting bad enough that I don't require you causing trouble. I don't know what we can do..." Larvali sighs deeply before rubbing his eyes.

"Well... You lost the new arrival who fell from the sky, one of the Kansen under your district of care was taken, a full blown raid nearly killed us... I think you're getting old, Larvali." Flutterbat states with a disappointed tone.

"Get out..." Larvali growls at Flutterbat who giggles as she leaves.

"I'm sorry to say this Erlöser, but your marefriend is an utter bitch... I know you love her and all..." Vinyl states before leaning in Flutterbat's empty place.

"I know..." Erlöser admits hanging his head slightly.

"'I know'? You do love her don't you?" Larvali asks, banging his head against the wall.

"I think so... I don't know it was a kinda forced relationship. I'm not entirely sure how I properly feel about her." Erlöser mumbles quietly.

"Well, she can be quite headstrong... She wasn't always so, but our current world turns normal ponies into something else... Either way, Vinyl, I need you to try and dig up as much as your network can muster about where One-Two Applejack is keeping Berry. I don't plan to let her die at all, we just need to handle this matter carefully. Erlöser, I need you to go to the government building and look into where our new friend has gone. I heard from a passing Kansen Pegasus that she saw him enter the government building yesterday and has yet to appear again." Larvali asks as he turns around and slides down the wall to a sitting position.

"Sure, I'll be discreet when poking around. I mean, the colt was wearing a damn long black coat..." Erlöser states as he leaves.

"He won't be coming back for a few days will he?" Vinyl asks, cracking open one eye to look at Larvali.

"If we are lucky and what I know still matters for shit... Yeah, he should be gone long enough for us to sort shit out here... I hope." Larvali closes his eyes and groans.

Twilight and Trixie stop at the corner of the hallway leading to the V.I.P viewing area that the soldier outside mentioned. From within they could faintly hear a song being played.

"Keep your eyes and ears open, this won't be easy." Twilight looks at Trixie who glances at the door.

"Let's do this, we have to do something." Trixie comments as they approach the door.

The pair ease open the door making a beam of light pierce the darkness of the dimly lit hallway. Pushing into the room they scan their eyes around for hostile targets before coming to rest on the gold throne at the centre of the room on a few raised circle platforms. The room itself is cylindrical in nature with white walls that have gold features surrounding them. The classical music being played only adds to the atmosphere of the room, a few old Equestrian paintings hang on some of the walls. The viewing section of the room had indeed been removed and boarded up with plaster wall. On the throne itself sat a pitch black changeling girl with a blueish-green mane and tail. She wears a long pitch black open trench coat, tight white shirt, green vest, black trousers and a jester styled full face mask. Her glowing green eyes could be seen as her mask is up slightly, but her face is mostly blocked.

Sitting on the throne, on the Jester's lap is a naked gold coated Pegasus mare with an orange mane and tail that has amber highlights, her eyes are a dark orange. Leaning against the throne on the left side is a naked light blue coated Pegasus mare with a light grey mane and tail, her eyes are a fuchsia colour. Opposite her leaning against the right side of the throne is a naked light turquoise Pegasus mare with an amber mane and tail that has gold highlights, her eyes are a brilliant gamboge. The Jester appears to be making out with the mare on her lap.

"Verdammnis The Jester... Daughter of Queen Chrysalis, head of Heilung..." Twilight states readying her rifle.

Verdammnis sighs as she pulls away from the mare and strokes her cheek before putting her mask down.

"That's Spitfire, Fleetfoot and Lightning Dust... What did you do to them?!" Trixie demands pointing her shotgun at Verdammnis.

Spitfire cuddles up to Verdammnis and allows them to see the changeling's mask more clearly now. Verdammnis strokes Spitfire's mane as she laughs sinisterly.

"Me? I did nothing of course. What happened to them was just a change of heart. Their perspective on life and their role in it has been made clear to them now. You would call them traitors and whatever else... But I see three mares who survived a horrible ordeal in order to be enlightened." Verdammnis smiles widely behind her mask as she traces her fingers along Spitfire's curves.

"Where are the rest of the Wonderbolts?" Twilight asks looking around at the various piles of pony organs and flesh. Even some of the walls and paintings have parts of pony splashed on them.

"They either didn't survive the ritual or I killed them outright. That terrible male... Soarin? I killed him first and most painfully. The others tried too hard to resist me and ended up meeting the same fate. These three I took a specific liking to and made an effort to... 'Convert' them. Spitfire was ever so fiery and resistant at first, but once she tasted my blood her eyes were beautifully opened. Isn't that right, Spitfire?" Verdammnis looks at Spitfire who glances at Twilight and Trixie.

"It's true. We put up the best fight we could... She was simply too powerful. When the fighting was put to an end she rounded up who was left and gave us all some of her blood. It was... Madness at first, I felt like my mind was going to be torn apart by tiny little nails all clawing at once. Next came the voices that never seemed to end, although hardly any of us made it to the voices. After that It was like my insides were being twisted and turned, morphed into something they were never supposed to be..." Spitfire begins explaining.

"When our sight returned to us, we saw Verdammnis kneeling down beside our bodies. We felt... Different, changed. Everything seemed so new and fresh to us." Fleetfoot adds.

"Sights, smells, the ever so potent scent of fresh blood... Even our skin felt refreshed and new. It was unlike anything we had ever felt before... We liked it..." Lightning dust continues.

"Y-you turned them into Kansen?! You monster!" Trixie yells as she steps closer, cocking her shotgun.

"Our mistress taught us how to feed and how to survive... Taught us about the pleasure we had missed out on. She made us complete." Spitfire states with conviction as she snuggles up to Verdammnis.

"She turned you into Kansen! What are you even saying Spitfire!" Twilight asks, the stress evident in her voice.

"It's never been tested... Using a SSS+ Kansen blood on a normal pony. I guess it depends on the connection between the blood and the pony, how... Alike they are. These three felt something missing within themselves. I merely gave them what they so badly wanted... Acceptance and security." Verdammnis crosses her legs and adjusts Spitfire on her lap.

"Don't give us that bullshit! We're here to put an end to you!" Trixie states aiming her shotgun at Verdammnis.

Fleetfoot and Lightning Dust stand up and block their line of sight to Verdammnis. Spitfire stands up and moves between them as they stare the couple down.

"Move Wonderbolts! We don't want to kill you!" Twilight demands.

"Fuck that Twilight, they are the enemy now! It's either we kill them or they kill us!" Trixie states in frustration.

Trixie fires off a shotgun round, but it's blocked by a blood shield from Verdammnis. The changeling in question jumps over the Wonderbolts from her throne and waves her finger at them.

"It's not nice to attack my girls so soon after I've gained them... Perhaps you would consider joining me, Trixie?" Verdammnis asks as her right arm is coated in blood which morphs into a twisted changeling designed blade.

"You must think I'm stupid... I'd never even think about such a stupid offer..." Trixie states firing another shot at Verdammnis who blocks with her blade.

The splash from the shotgun hits her legs a little, but does nothing major. Verdammnis smirks behind her mask and sprints towards Trixie. Twilight throws a smoke bomb between them and attempts to unload half her magazine into Verdammnis. Bursting forth from the smoke Twilight is smacked hard using Verdammnis' free hand making her fly into the nearby wall. Trixie runs away and tries to hit Verdammnis with her shotgun, but every shell is blocked or deflected. Like a snake made of air Verdammnis slithers with great speed up to Trixie, making her gasp in surprise before her shotgun is cut in half and she is kicked hard in the gut.

"You government never learn! We will always be stronger than you! You two seem pretty close... I wonder how much sorrow and torment it would cause one of you should you witness the other's death..." Verdammnis chuckles as she grows long blood nails on her free hand and pick up Trixie by her head.

Verdammnis cracks and breaks her helmet making the pieces fall to the floor. She switches to holding her up by her mane and stabs her multiple times through the stomach.

"Trixie! No!" Twilight begins to run over to Trixie, but is stopped and restrained by the three former wonderbolts.

"Don't worry, little Twilight. She won't die yet... Not until after she goes through the ritual." Verdammnis hisses as she opens Trixie's mouth and drips some of her blood down her throat, making her swallow.

Verdammnis drops Trixie and retracts her blood weapons. Trixie attempts to crawl over to Twilight, but only gets halfway before stopping and holding her head while screaming in pain. Twilight is being restrained with both her arms held out by Fleetfoot and Lightning Dust while Spitfire is keeping her eyes open so she can watch Trixie. The mare in question screams in pure agony that fill the room and nearby theatre. Verdammnis is chuckling while constantly inspecting Trixie and looking at Twilight happily.

"Stop this Verdammnis!" Twilight pleads as she begins to cry.

"Hmm, even if I wanted to, which I don't... I can't. the only way for this to stop is if she dies or is turned." Verdammnis informs Twilight as she crosses her arms and taps her chin.

After several minutes Trixie stops holding her head and curls up into a ball, mumbling something about voices and whispers. Verdammnis slides in close and tries to make out what she is saying, but has no luck.

"She is doing better than expected..." Fleetfoot comments.

"Most stabbed themselves in the face or cut their face repeatedly." Lightning Dust adds.

Trixie stops rocking herself and slowly stands up making Verdammnis do the same while looking her over. Trixie looks around slowly before stopping on Twilight and freezing for a moment.

"Twi-" Was all Trixie managed to say before she exploded into a blood strewn mess which covered a small radius.

Verdammnis breaks out into a hysteric laughter which could only be described as blood chilling.

"Well, I have to admit it almost seemed like she was going to make it. She almost had me there after all that big talk, but it looks like we indeed share no common blood interest. Such a shame as well, she was a lovely shade of blue. Guess she is now such a delicious shade of blood red." Verdammnis takes off her mask and throws it across the floor before wiping her eyes.

"You fucking monster Verdammnis!" Twilight screams.

"You know what, I am. Thank you. However, think about this... We Kansen are only what you fucking government pigs made us to be! We were just like you once... Living perfectly normal lives side by side... Then one tiny event happens and suddenly we're all hunted. You ponies made us what we are today! We never had a choice! Now, neither do you... Get the fuck over it... Oh, before I go I figured you would be interested in this..." Verdammnis slides a file through Trixie's blood to stop in front of Twilight.

"What is this?" Twilight mumbles still being held.

"Nothing important... Just footage from the alleyway where Spike and Sunset were killed. Pulled CCTV footage, of course. Somepony went through a lot of trouble to cover it up. Just saying, of course. I'll leave you alone with what is left of your cocky lover..." Verdammnis snaps her fingers and the mares release Twilight.

Twilight simply let's her arms fall beside her as she stares at the file blankly. Verdammnis and her girls make their exit out the newly made back door into the theatre and escape. Twilight has a thousand thoughts going through her head at once, mainly trying to figure out how this could all be a dream and how she could wake up instantly. Beside her would be Trixie and they would go to their anniversary dinner in the evening. Thoughts about how she'd still be able to see Trixie in the luxury blue dress she brought her special for tonight. How her parents would finally accept Trixie and not judge their relationship anymore. That however, was the true dream. Reality was a much darker outcome then she ever wanted.

"We should have bombed the theatre..." Twilight mumbles under her breath as tears fall down onto the file.

The reality... Trixie was nothing more than a bloody mess on the floor. She'd never be able to wear that dress and Twilight's parents will never see how much she had improved to be able to accept her. The even colder reality... Twilight will never wake up beside her precious blue unicorn again.

"I should have bombed the theatre..." Twilight mumbles again.

"'That would cause more panic than it's worth', were these not the words from your mouth?" A calm female voice asks from behind.

Twilight briefly replies, with what could only be described as an unenthusiastic nod.

"The back up is late... I wish we bombed the theatre..." Twilight sniffs as she doesn't move her gaze from the file.

"So do I, even though the resulting panic would have been worth killing the turned Wonderbolts. I doubt Verdammnis would be so easy to die. Would you still have bombed the theatre if it only meant the deaths of three Wonderbolts and some injured civilians?" The voice asks as the pony who it belongs to kneels beside Twilight.

"Yes... It'd mean we kept a Pathogen member... Trixie..." Twilight looks to whom the voice belongs to only to see Night Guard Captain Hémolyse.

"Your fiancé... Or did you not ask yet?" Hémolyse asks with a raised eyebrow.

"I never got around to asking... No moment seemed good enough... I was going to do it at the anniversary dinner right in front of my parents..." Twilight wipes her eyes.

"We have agents going after Verdammnis and the turned Wonderbolts. Allow me to escort you back to your room for rest. Letting you be alone right now, would be a bad choice." Hémolyse helps Twilight up after she grabs the file.

"You mean as an alternative to taking away my weapon and making me go on leave for a little while..." Twilight states with a very flat tone.

"Perhaps... You know that is not intended as a punishment all the time. Given the circumstances I don't feel you need that form of care. Shall we?" Hémolyse places a blanket around Twilight's shoulders before leading her out of the theatre and instead of getting into a vehicle, begins walking towards the government building.

Author's Note

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Holy crap the feels! You would not believe the amount I had while writing this last bit. Much to the opposite effect on my co-author who was so nonchalant about it... I pray the same effect is felt by those of you reading it as that's my intention. Look forward to the next chapter where things may or may not explode.