Not All That Sparkles Is Twilight

by Stellar Light Sparkle

Rating: teen
Tags: Main 6, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Princess Luna, Original Character, Mystery, Princess Celestia
Length: 72874

Twilight finds she's not the only one in her head. Can she get the person who's in control of her body out of her?

Someone's been doing silly things to Twilight, who finds someone else in Default control of her when she wakes up after a drinking binge at the Palace! Will anyone notice that she isn't herself? Is there anyone who is sober enough to notice?

Published 2016-06-28 11:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2018-10-14 00:34:42 UTC

02: Separation Anxieties

02: Empowerment

"Dying?" Twilight asked, as most of her friends moved back to let Nurse Redheart work.

"Yes. Remember when I told you your mana levels were way down, Twilight?" She asked. Twilight nodded. "Her's were far worse. Whatever just happened has drained the last of her mana out of herself, and her body's going into shock. If we can't find a way to boost her levels immediately, she's going to die as her body shuts down."

"But don't you have measures against this?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, but that's at the hospital, not here!" Redheart told Twilight as she tried to keep Stellar alive. "She needs a mana infusion right now, and frankly, not even with three alicorns here is it going to be enough without putting you at risk."

"Then there is only one thing to do." Celestia then said, her voice full of conviction. "We need to get her outside, right now. Luna? If you will lift her?" Luna nodded and they moved outside quickly, getting a good distance from the castle as Luna kept Stellar in a stasis spell. "I need to impose on your night, dear sister." Celestia said, as the others stopped a small distance away. "I need the Sun."

"As you wish, sister." Luna replied, as she laid Stellar down on the ground.

Celestia nodded. "You'll know when to drop the stasis spell, Luna. Just stand back a ways, please." Luna nodded as Celestia's cutie-mark glowed and, with a gesture from Celestia like she used at Summer Sun, Celestia's sun rose and quickly ascended to it's zenith, bathing the land in it's brilliance.

Celestia's horn glowed brilliantly as she spread her wings again and spoke aloud, the Royal Canterlot Voice echoing over the hills as Celestia said "UTMORKHAI SOLARI AMBORISHA!" And the Sun darkened to half it's brilliance...

Of all those there, only Twilight and Luna knew the ancient language Celestia had spoken, invoking the enormous power of the celestial body she was linked with. And of the pair, only Luna had ever seen this done before. An enormous tendril of solar energy shot down out of the heavens and lanced in to Celestia, her body changing as it filled her. Her mane and tail transmuted from their multi-hued look into a brilliance almost too bright to look at, her wings and body flashed into yellow and orange flame, and her eyes and horn glowed brighter than the sun did normally. Then Celestia lowered her horn, and the white brilliance shot forth and bathed Stellar's body, just after Luna lowered her stasis spell.

Stellar's body heaved upwards, literally pushing itself off the ground, her wings and legs spread wide, her cutie-mark glowing again as were her eyes, horn and her wings as well, and her body was soon glowing almost as brightly as Celestia. Just as it looked like it would combust, like Celestia's, the beam from the Sun ended, the Sun flashing back to it's brilliance as Celestia's body slowly returned to it's normal state, but she was breathing faster and her entire body had a soft glow that only grew as the sun returned below the horizon again. She moved forward and nudged Stellar's floating body towards a guerney that Nurse Redheart and Applejack had managed to get out of the castle.

Twilight looked at Celestia as Stellar was wheeled back inside, marvelling at her mentor's enhanced appearance. "By Faust, Celestia... I never had an inkling you could do that!"

Celestia chuckled. "What? Did you not feel the immensity of the power I wielded when you had my magic, Twilight?" She asked in a voice almost as powerful as the Royal Canterlot voice. "Maybe a good thing, then. You might have vaporised the planet trying to fight Tirek if you had've tapped into my full power."

Twilight cringed a little. "Yeah, a good thing indeed." She nervously grinned as she rubbed the back of her neck. Then Celestia touched her and Twilight's eyes glowed with brilliance while Celestia's faded, the mana flowing into Twilight, who took a deep breath and relaxed a great deal. Once Celestia had let her go, Twilight shook herself. "Wow! That's... more mana than I've ever had!" She told Celestia.

"Indeed, Twilight. Now you are fully-charged again, as is Stellar." Celestia explained.

"So... why was Stellar so low on mana anyway?" Rarity asked. "Normally, we can tell when we're like that and allow our reserves to fill again fairly quickly.

"I think I know." Twilight explained. "Stellar's body is only a few days old. Plus she's never had a full quantity of mana to draw on, ever." Twilight slipped into lecture-mode as everyone started walking inside. "You see, most ponies, especially unicorns, get mana from their mother when they're in the womb. They have a small capacity at the beginning of their lives, so they're usually full by the time they're born. That's why Flurry Heart was so powerful as a baby. She was fully-loaded with mana and, being an alicorn, that was a huge amount more than most unicorn foals. Stellar, on the other hoof, was like a new-born starved of mana. Plus her new body was having trouble drawing mana out of the air, so she was recharging at a much-reduced rate. Small spells like the ones we were using to retrain her body didn't drop her mana level down much, but she couldn't recharge enough to do more than keep up with the drain. Then, when her cutie-mark changed... you know how much power something like that takes. It left her completely drained and dying."

"Very astute, Twilight Sparkle." Luna said, as Celestia smiled and nodded. "And now she is fully-charged, almost to overload, but that will drain a little as she heals herself."

"So, she ain't in trouble any longer?" Applejack asked.

"That remains to be seen..." Celestia said, her voice still resonating with the power she held within her, but with less volume. "But for now, she will stabilise and be out of danger."

"Well, that's good news." Rainbow Dash said.

"Indeed, how horrible it would be to die, just after finding yourself like Stellar did." Fluttershy spoke up, making everyone look at her. "Well, it would be. She just got her name and her cutie-mark. I can't imagine how tragic it would have been if the first time her name was used, it was on her tombstone." Fluttershy shuddered.

Everyone there, even Celestia and Luna, nodded in solemn agreement as they walked through the castle and headed for the guestroom where all the monitor instruments were.

==================================

Stellar slowly opened her eyes to feel like she was floating. It was better than any drug-high she had ever felt, but felt cleaner, purer, nowhere near the way she'd felt coming down from a cocaine high. And it wasn't going away, either. She was on her barrel and she stretched, feeling better than any other time she'd been there, even better than when she'd felt the power of the Elements of Harmony flowing through her. That had made her feel jittery, overwhelmed, and somewhat nervous. This felt peaceful, calming, like it was meant to be there. She opened her eyes and looked around, to see Nurse Redheart and Twilight watching her. Stellar smiled softly, still feeling a little... detatched. "Heya, Twi. 'Morning, Nurse Redheart." She greeted them, her mind becoming perfectly clear for the first time since she'd found herself on Equestria.

"Good morning, Stellar." Twilight greeted her new sister with a big grin. "How are you feeling?"

"That's my line." Nurse Redheart butted in, grinning as the girls giggled. "Good morning to you, Stellar. So, how are you feeling?"

"Well, apart from the same stiffness I was still feeling before what happened, I'm feeling incredible." Stellar answered. "What happened?"

"Well, when you spoke your name... it triggered your cutie mark to change from mine to one that's definitely your own." Twilight answered.

Stellar looked back at her flank, then grinned. "Cool." She said as she looked at her new mark. "Still a Sparkle." Stellar commented.

Twilight giggled. "Oh yeah." She replied.

Then Stellar frowned. "Hey, I don't remember that." She gestured with a wing-feather to something that was different from what she remembered.

Twilight looked. She saw that, whereas before the sword in Stellar's cutie mark was unadorned, it now had a solar disk like Celestia's cutie-mark across the cross-guard under the Sparkle Star. "You're right, that wasn't there before. Maybe it's because of what Celestia had to do to save you." Twilight suggested.

Stellar frowned. "What she had to do to save me?" She asked, sounding unsure.

Twilight nodded, but it was Nurse Redheart who answered. "Stellar, right after your cutie-mark changed, you collapsed. You were suffering from severe, almost total mana depletion." She explained. "You were dying."

Stellar took that in, then nodded. "So, what did Celestia do?" She asked.

"She invoked a spell that, while Luna said she has used before, I have never seen." Twilight explained. "It used very, very old magic, the language it used is so old, I'm pretty sure only a very small number of ponies even know a small bit of it, let alone the entire language. She raised the sun again, then pulled a great deal of it's energy down into herself. Once she was charged up, she transferred a good deal of it into you, as mana... I think. You were glowing so brightly, I thought you were going to change like Celestia did. But then she stopped the flow and we brought you back in here." Twilight smiled. "She also used the remainder to give me a full recharge."

Stellar nodded. "Is... that why I'm feeling so euphoric now?" She inquired. "I'm feeling so charged up, it's even more than when we invoked the Elements."

"That's probably correct." Nurse Redheart told Stellar. "You've gone from almost total depletion to almost having a mana surge due to being overfull. But healing yourself seems to have drained enough to prevent a surge from happening, thank Celestia."

"Yes, thank Celestia." Stellar muttered softly, no bite in her voice. "That's something I'm going to have to do."

Twilight nodded, her face serious again, as Nurse Redheart stood up. "Well, you seem to be recovering well. Come by the clinic tomorrow and we'll scan you again. Your mana levels should have settled down by then." She smiled at Stellar. "And congratulations." She added.

"Thanks, Doctor Redheart." Stellar thanked Redheart.

Redheart chuckled. "Not yet, not yet, but soon." She promised. "I'll send some technicians for the monitors." She told Twilight.

Twilight nodded. "I'll make sure she gets there." She promised Redheart.

Redheart nodded. "I hope I never see either of you two in the hospital again." Redheart told them. "Save for social occasions."

Stellar looked at Twilight with a grin and got one in return. "We'll try, Doc." They both said, then giggled.

Redheart grinned. "Oh, you two are going to be terrible together." She said as she gripped her bags and settled them on her back. "Just don't prank Shining Armor. I don't know if his mind could take it."

"Promise, Redheart." Twilight said, and Stellar just nodded.

Redheart hugged them both, then left, grabbing one of the wraps Spike was bringing in as she passed him. Spike watched her leave, then moved to where Twilight was, helping Stellar to slide off the bed unto her still-unsteady hoofs. "It's okay, Twi, I got this." Stellar said, using her wings to help maintain her balance. She walked carefully away from the bed, then shook out and furled her wings. "There." She turned slowly and grinned at Twilight. "It just takes a little time. After all, I've been stuck in bed for how long, now? Not to mention being blasted, thumped, drained and solar-charged."

Twilight nodded, smiling. "Well, you're on your hoofs again, and we can keep working until you're steady again." She told Stellar. "By the way, where did you get your name from? It almost seems... familiar."

"I don't know, Twilight, honestly." Stellar replied. "It's like I told Pinkie: One minute my mind was blank, then there it was, on the tip of my tongue, and it just came out."

Twilight's smile widened to a grin. "Well, however you got it, it really suits you, I think." She said as she moved to Stellar and hugged her with a fore-leg, a gesture Stellar returned with a little shakiness, but she stayed on her hoofs. "Now, we'll just have to get you up to full speed on everything else, including magic. I've got a checklist here somewhere, to help you with your rehabilitation..."

Stellar noticed Spike roll his eyes and stifle a chuckle, and she just grinned at him as she moved past Twilight and grabbed a wrap from Spike's tray. "Mmm... Fish wraps! Thanks, Spike, these are delicious."

"No problem, Stellar." Spike answered.

"Fish wraps?" Twilight asked as she turned around and walked up beside Stellar.

"Damn, that's creepy." Spike said softly as the twins stood beside each other. "I can't tell who's who from this angle."

Stellar looked at Twilight, and they both burst out giggling. "Maybe Twi should wear her crown while I'm around." Stellar suggested.

"Or maybe a bandanna for you around your neck." Twilight suggested.

"Mmm-mm-hmm." Stellar replied, her voice muffled by a mouth full of fish and veges.

Twilight rolled her eyes, then took one of the wraps and bit into it, this time without hesitation. The succulent flavors of the grilled fish bathed her mouth in delicious flavor, and she gobbled it up almost as fast as Celestia ate cake. "Oh Celestia! Why didn't you tell me how delicious fish was?" She asked.

"Maybe she did, and you didn't listen?" Stellar suggested.

Spike tried to suppress a chuckle, and Twilight frowned at Stellar as her new sister took another wrap and munched into it. Once she'd finished, Stellar started slowly walking around the room, finding her hoofs again. "Something about this..." She commented. "I think my autopilot's coming back on-line again. If I don't think about where I'm putting my hoofs, then they seem to work just fine. If I think about them, then I trip."

Twilight nodded as she munched down another wrap. "I think that's something we've found about a lot of ponies who've had some kind-of mental damage. Our brains seem to have an automatic guide for using our legs, as long as we're not too conscious about the movement."

Stellar nodded as she stopped and stretched. She barely avoided falling over with a sweep of her wings, as she'd had her legs too close together to maintain her balance properly. "Okay, autopilot good for walking, not so good for other things." Stellar said.

Twilight giggled, but moved to help her new sister. "Maybe I should put together an exercise routine for you." Twilight suggested as Stellar stretched her legs out one by one.

"I thought you said you already had a checklist for that?" Stellar reminded Twilight.

Twilight went blank for a few seconds, then face-hoofed. "Yeah, you're right, I did say that." She confirmed.

Stellar smiled. "So, if I get what you know about alicorns, we're a combination of all three pony sub-types, and not only have the abilities of all three, but also have features that are unique to us alone."

Twilight nodded. "Yes. Unfortunately, there's not been much written on Alicorn physiology or anatomy since, for nearly a thousand years, Celestia was the only alicorn in existence. Plus it's only very recently that our medical knowledge has moved from a semi-magical basis to one of scientific reasoning." She explained as Stellar jumped in place a few times and flapped her wings, to loosen them up.

"Yeah. Kind-of hard to get a proper analysis of physical differences when one is focussed on the mystique of the subject." Stellar agreed as she shook her wings out. Frowning, she started to preen her wings as Twilight watched, fascinated to see someone who was essentially physically herself, doing things she did as a matter of routine now.

"Yes, well, I've been trying to write such a treatise on just that subject." Twilight revealed. "I already have a number of books published on magic and other subjects, but this is a far more involved subject." She said. "And it's not exactly a book that will have much of a practical application, considering there's only six alicorns in existence now." She sighed. "Maybe I should find a different subject to work on."

"Hey, how about writing a magic primer for those ready to go onto schools of advanced magic?" Stellar suggested. "I know I'd like one very much. Maybe one you can load with the writings of older books, making them available to the latest generation."

Twilight's ears pricked up. "How the... how did you know I was thinking of doing just that?"

Stellar laughed as she flipped her wings closed. "Twilight... I'm you, remember? Got ALL your memories."

Twilight blinked, then chuckled. "Yeah, I keep forgetting that." She said. "Althought it should be obvious to me by now. You're starting to sound... different. I don't know if it's just the way you speak, or what, but your individuality is coming out, I think."

Stellar nodded. "Yeah, and that's a good thing. As much as I love you, dear Sis, I don't want to just be a clone of you. I have a feeling I'm here to contribute to Equestria and the Pony Race in a much different way."

Twilight smiled as Stellar flicked her tail around in a fan-shape. "But there's times when I do see you're still a huge amount like me." She told Stellar. "You care as much about our people and country as much as I do... but it's starting to go in a different direction, at least a little."

Stellar grinned as she started trotting around Twilight. "Wait until I find my niche, Twi. Then I'll know what to do and where to go."

Twilight nodded as she got to her hoofs again. "Then we'll visit the archives again when we go to Canterlot. We can see what interests you." She told Stellar. "Of course, you have as much raw magical power as I do, which, according to Celestia, is even more than she does..." Twilight sighed. "Although I can't see it myself."

Stellar could see that Twilight had a tendency to suffer from a personal confidence problem. She moved to her sister and hugged her with a foreleg. "Hey, Twi, you held the sheer raw power of four alicorns inside yourself, with only a few minor control issues at first, until you really started to use them." She reminded Twilight again. "That shows your capability. And I bet your magical body system... what do they call that? Oh yeah, the Itineris system... I bet that is far more developed because of that." Stellar pointed out. "What you and I lack is experience, nothing more." She said. "That's why we really need to delve into magical lore and work out what we can do with what we have." Stellar nuzzled Twilight, getting a soft nicker from her twin. "After all, research is what you do best."

Twilight gave a soft laugh as she sat down again. "Now I know why I need you and what you're here to do with me." She told Stellar. "You give me focus when my own wanders or is fractured."

"What are sisters for?" Stellar replied, hugging Twilight closer. "You and I, Twi, we're gonna give our world so much." She said confidently.

Twilight grinned. Stellar's confidence was infectious and gave her a much needed boost to her own. "Yeah. And I have a way to start." She told Stellar as she got to her hoofs. "I have something for you."

"For me?" Stellar asked.

"Uh-huh." Twilight answered, grinning. She led Stellar to the Castle Archives, where she had Stellar sit down and then disappeared into a workshop, returning with a very plain-looking large tome, with a single large, round, flat jewel set into the cover and a lock on the opening side. "This is what I was working on before we got called away to Canterlot, two days before you showed up." Twilight told Stellar. "I'm making a tome that can act as a library in itself, for agents in the field." She explained. "It can be locked and only opened by one person if it's set that way, with a ton of safeguards against unauthorised access. I'm going to be making a generalised version that will be a magic primer for those moving from basic to advanced magical studies, and a specialised version for those with either very advanced skills or those with a need to keep the most sensitive material from general access." Twilight showed Stellar how the access safeguards worked. "Okay, I'm going to authorise you as this tome's primary user and owner."

"But if you're already authorised, shouldn't I be able to access it as well?" Stellar asked.

"Uh..." Twilight looked unsure. "Only one way to tell." She said, and closed the tome, showing Stellar the proper way to lock it without causing the safeguards to go off. "Okay, put your hoof over the lock and say 'Unlock'." Twilight told Stellar.

Stellar nodded, put her right hoof on the lock and said "Unlock."

The tome actually gave a soft chime and unlocked. "Well, seems you're biologically close enough to me to actually trigger the authorisation codex." Twilight said. "Maybe there's some way to prevent this from occuring."

"Is there a way to enter another word needed to unlock this?" Stellar asked.

"Sure, but that's not the problem." She said. "The problem is you being able to access all the additional tomes I'll be making, since your authoriser and mine appear to be identical."

"As we are." Stellar pointed out.

Twilight sighed, but grinned and giggled. "I knew there had to be a downside to having a twin." She grumbled unconvincingly.

Stellar laughed and tickled Twilight, making her burst out laughing. Eventually Starlight found them lying next to each other on the floor, out of breath and giggling uncontrollably.

"Never mind, I don't want to know..." She said as she headed back out of the Archives.

Once they'd stopped giggling, Twilight briefed Stellar on how to use the Tome. "Okay, so all  need to do to load books into here is place them on top of the tome after activating the crystal on the cover, then say 'Load'."

"That's right. The tome will scan the book and download it into the storage matrix." Twilight confirmed. "Eventually, I want to scan every book into the Master Tome that I'll be keeping, and just be able to remotely load the saved books into one of the production tomes from even a huge distance away."

"So... I can tell this tome's different from the other two you have over there." Stellar said. "What's so special about this one?"

"It's... not exactly the same." Twilight admitted. "It's one of the prototypes I used to codify what I needed to put into the production tomes. It's got a much bigger storage capacity and it doesn't have a dedicated link to the Master Tome, which is this one." She showed Stellar a much-bigger tome that had her cutie-mark done in jewels on the front cover. "So whatever you put in here isn't going to show up on the Network. I can add a connector page if you like, so you can keep in touch with me through the Master Tome and be able to download books as I scan them." Twilight suggested.

"Maybe make it an insert that I can activate from this end only if I need to access or talk to you." Stellar suggested back.

Twilight nodded. "Okay. I can do that." She said. "The holo-matrix viewer is really advanced. It took me nearly a year to make the spells into a repeatable incantation set to permanently endow one of the hard separators with a way to project a full-size image that can talk in real-time, no matter where you are or I am." She said. "Plus it can act as the index page for the tome." After opening it, Twilight showed Stellar how to access what was in the tome already, and then loaded what other books she'd already scanned for loading into the tome's memory matrix. "The hardware I managed to create for these tomes is really strong. Not even dragonfire can hurt one of these once everything's been completed and sealed tight. I even bet these could survive Celestia's wrath, if nothing else could." She grinned.

"Handy to know. Does it have any type of self-destruct?" Stellar asked.

"Yes. Basically, if anyone but you manages to get the tome open by breaking the lock, all the information in the tome will lock down and be inaccessible. If they manage to break the front cover, everything erases as the memory will self-destruct. All they'll end up with is a book full of blank pages and a few hard sheets of metal which are the dividers." She explained. "But the force needed to break the covers of my tomes... well, you'll probably destroy the entire tome before that happens." She explained proudly.

Stellar nodded, impressed. "Nice one, Twi. These will be good for that new Guard-group you've been thinking of starting."

"The Dusk Guard? Yeah, I was actually making the advanced versions of these for them. They've got every trick I could think of, that I tried out in this one and that worked." She told Stellar. "You might say this is the prototype Dusk Guard Tome."

"Okay, Twi, that's definitely impressive." Stellar said, smiling. "So why give it to me?" She asked.

"Because... it's not really suitable for a Dusk Guard tome, because a lot of the prefaces and beginning stuff they have aren't in this one." Twilight explained further. "Consequently, it suits someone like yourself better, because I can explain everything to you personally as we work with it, and you won't need to learn it from the tome itself. It also gives the tome a lot more room for storage because of that. Oh, and it's also loaded with translation programs, so if you load a book you find in the field into the tome and it's not in a language you know, the tome can translate it straight away, if it knows the language; or if it doesn't, it can work on translating the language even while it's closed or locked down."

"That's going to be handy." Stellar admitted. "Can I load languages I know into it as well?" She asked.

"Yes. You can interface with the control structure in this tome using your horn and download from yourself into it. It's one of the features I used to construct the original tomes, but that the production ones don't have." Twilight answered.

"Nice." Stellar commented as Twilight showed her the interface structure on it's page. Stellar downloaded all the languages she could remember into her tome, grateful that whoever was making her forget things hadn't taken information like languages, just her personal information. A lot of what she still remembered would be very helpful to her in this new world.

==================================

That evening in Canterlot Castle, Celestia was sitting with Luna as they ate dinner/breakfast, both of them deep in thought. "All I am saying is, does she need guidance?" Luna asked Celestia.

"I think she does." Celestia answered. "Not as much as Twilight did, that much is certain. Having Twilight's knowledge means most of what I could teach her is redundant, because she already knows all of that." Celestia looked at Luna. "But something was revealed to me when I touched her mind while I was recharging her."

"And that was?" Luna asked.

"Once I ignored Twilight's memories in her, what was left shows she was from a technologically advanced race, even if the race is a mystery. They have advanced electronics, the Internet information web, and fast world travel, amongst other markers." Celestia revealed. "But what was most telling is that she has a very well-trained military mindset and education. Even her new cutie mark reveals that."

"Military." Luna snorted. "Are you saying she could become a threat?" Luna asked sceptically.

"No, that's not what I am suggesting." Celestia denied. "But I do think her niche involves learning how we fight and how our military works." She looked at Luna. "You often said that the Wonderbolts would be far better off learning some of the training you received before your 'time-out'." Celestia used their agreed phrase for her millenium on the Moon, since it was a lot less accusatory than 'Banishment' or other normal phrases were. "Since Captain Spitfire does not seem to agree with that, see what Stellar wishes to learn. I am sure she is going to seek you out, Luna. All I'm saying is, that if she does, just... give it a try." Celestia urged gently. "You know the joy I have had working with Twilight. Maybe you'll find a kindred spirit in Stellar."

Luna bowed her head. "Very well, Tia. I will talk with her." She sighed. "But if she is a former member of the race you felt she could be..."

"We both know that that race... is unique. They can ascend to the purity of Elysia with consumate ease, or delve into the depths of Tarterus just as easily. No other race we have ever viewed throughout the infinite cosmos besides our own has that capability to fly so high, or sink so low." Celestia shuddered.

"Then why do this?" Luna asked.

"Because... Stellar is a Pony. Through and through. She is as much a pony as Twilight is. All we need to do is guide her into a niche where she can use the training she has, but as a pony." Celestia explained. "And... she wants this, Luna. She wants to be one of us, not just because she's found herself with no alternative, but because it feels right to her." Celestia smiled at Luna. "She has the discipline and the mindset... a mindset that is as yours was so long ago, before..." She sighed. "Before we fell out. Before I abandoned you in my..."

Luna moved to Celestia and hugged her. "You know I forgive you, Tia, as much as you've forgiven me." Luna looked up ay Celestia. "And I thank those who watch over us that I have managed, with Twilight's help, to forgive myself. "Maybe you should do the same."

Celestia looked sad. "But what if..?"

Luna put a hoof over Celestia's muzzle. "I did not say to forget, Tia. I will never forget what I did to you or to Equestria. I cannot afford to. But Forgiveness is not forgetting. It's acknowledging one has made mistakes, no matter how big, and that you wish to do better... No, allowing yourself to move on to do better in the future." Luna smiled at Celestia. "The one advantage in living as long as we shall, is that we have a lot of time to make up for the mistakes we make."

Celestia nodded, a single tear trickling down one white cheek. "I could never forgive myself if you hadn't, dearest sister. What I did to you was far worse than what Nightmare Moon tried to do to me." She nuzzled Luna lovingly. "But if you have truly forgiven yourself, then I shall endeavor to do the same for myself, too."

"That's all I ask, Tia." Luna affirmed to Celestia.

Celestia nodded. "So, will you take Stellar if she asks you to?"

Luna thought for a second. "I will, depending on what she asks."

Celestia nodded. "Then I will not ask again, Luna. There is no need to." She told her beautiful little sister, hugging her close.

Luna smiled. "Maybe one day, if those two learn well, we can take a vacation for a while and let them raise the Sun and Moon."

Celestia chuckled. "Yes, maybe this time Twilight won't use our celestial bodies to draw squiggly patterns in the heavens and give the stars anxiety attacks."

The sisters laughed with real delight and sighed happily, having one last snuggle before heading their separate ways for the night...

==================================

The next morning, Twilight took Stellar into Ponyville for the first time. "You should meet a lot more ponies, Sis. After all, they're my friends and they should get to meet you and become friends with you, too." She told Stellar.

"Sure, Twi. I like that idea." She agreed. "As long as it doesn't weird them out too much."

Twilight gave a shrug with her wings. "I guess only time will tell. At least Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy will be spreading the word that you exist, especially after what Celestia did the night before last."

"Yeah, kind-of hard to cover that up." Stellar agreed as they trotted along. "Anyway, it's going to be good exercise, and I need to get more of that."

"Yes, as do I." Twilight admitted.

As they entered Ponyville, Stellar found that she liked the little village. It's quiet, homey air made her almost instantly feel welcome. She did notice a lot of ponies staring, some rubbing their eyes, as if to see whether they were seeing double, but soon they were gathering around, curiously looking but smiling at Stellar and Twilight. Stellar had actually put a bandanna on for the day, just until people got used to her and learned to tell them apart.

Then Pinkie Pie found them.

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

Four hours later, Pinkie's welcome party had turned into a minor street festival, as more and more ponies joined in. The arrival of half the extended Apple Family with wagons full of food and three types of cider just extended the festivities, as Ponyville welcomed not one, but two alicorns into it's embrace. Even after she'd been separated from Twilight, Stellar found herself talking to a number of other ponies who felt familiar to her. She spent a good deal of time taking with Octavia and, through her, Vinyl Scratch, about music and other things, and had lunch with a pony called Time Turner, whom Stellar felt was known to her somehow, and his assistant Derpy Hooves, who Stellar learned was the post-pony for Ponyville.

She also felt something familiar from a unicorn known as Lyra Heartstrings, although the fact that Twilight had been friends with Lyra before she moved to Ponyville might've accounted for that. But Lyra was amazed to find that Twilight had a twin sister, and introduced Stellar to her marefriend, Bon Bon.

It took nearly an hour and three mugs full of non-alcoholic cider before Stellar had been introduced to all the Apple Clan. She was also stuffed full of the most delicious treats she could've found in all of Ponyville. Not even Spike's fish was quite as good. "Ahhh... Applejack, I must thank you for bringing everypony along." Stellar told her.

"No problem, Sugarcube." Applejack grinned as she sat by Stellar. "Pinkie's parties are famous as bein' tha best place ta get fed and drunk in tha best pah-sible taste. An' she wus waitin' on ya comin' ta town ta do her best... although, ya might be right in sayin' she went a teensy-bit overboard on this wun." Applejack rubbed the back of her neck, as the full band played from the steps of Ponyville's town hall while ponies danced, ate and drank their fills in the markets and eateries that had moved to the square for the occasion.

"Overboard? Why?" Pinkie then said, appearing at Stellar's elbow as if she'd teleported there. Applejack was amazed, though, as Stellar didn't jump or seem surprised by the Pink One.

"How many times has one of your parties involved the entire town, Pinkie?" Stellar asked.

Pinkie giggled. "A few." She replied. "But how many towns can say they have two alicorns making their home there?" She asked.

"Well... ya got a point there, Pinkie." Applejack had to admit. "Ah think tha only other wun is Canterlot."

"See? Now we're almost as important as Canterlot!" Pinkie said as she grinned.

"Indeed! It's only fitting that we get to celebrate our place in Equestria." A voice said, and they saw Rarity and Sweetie Belle walk out of the crowd towards them. "No other village in Equestria can boast what we have, considering Canterlot IS our capital, after all." Rarity gave a smug smile.

Stellar grinned. "Hello, Rarity. And hello to you, Sweetie Belle." Stellar said as she got up and came down to meet the teenage filly.

"He... hello, Your Highness." Sweetie Belle said nervously, but Stellar looked at her with a soft look.

"Sweetie Belle, have I been coronated, like Twilight was?" She asked.

Sweetie Belle looked confused. "Uh, no." She answered.

"Then it's not right to call me Princess, is it?" Stellar told her. "I haven't got the title yet, so please, just call me Stellar, okay?" She asked Sweetie Belle.

Sweetie Belle's face brightened. "Sure, Stellar." She replied.

Rarity sighed. "And it took us such a long time to get Twilight to accept us calling her by her title, as is proper." She lamented. "Are we going to have to do the same with you, Stellar?"

"Not coronated yet, Rarity." Stellar reinforced.

"But..." Rarity began.

"IF it happens, Rarity, then we shall see." Stellar interrupted her. "Until that time, just Stellar is proper. I may be the sister of a princess, but I do not have a title beyond 'miss' yet."

Stellar put a wing around Sweetie Belle, who was thrilled, as Rarity subsided. "I guess you are correct, Stellar." She admitted with a great lack of enthusiasm. "I shall... restrain myself until you are coronated." She agreed.

"Good." Stellar smiled as she gave Sweetie Belle a tickle, getting a giggling filly under her wing. "Now, let's all enjoy Pinkie's party. Has anyone seen Twilight?"

"I did!" Said Pinkie. "She and Rainbow Dash were chugging it out again near Big Mac."

There were groans from the others. "Not again!" Applejack said.

"I take it this is a regular thing?" Stellar asked as they moved off as a group.

"Ee-yup. Dash don't understand that she can't beat Twilight at drinkin' any more." Applejack explained. "Twi's got tha stamina of a' earth pony now. An' that means she can almost keep up with me when drinkin'. But Dash keeps tryin' ta beat Twilight an' get her 'mojo' back." Applejack snorted.

Stellar chuckled. "I see." She said as they circled the stalls, to eventually find Big Mac standing by a wagon with three huge barrels on it, people getting mugs-full of wonderful-tasting cider, and Twilight and Rainbow Dash going at it hammer-and-tongs as Fluttershy looked on, muttering in a worried voice.

"Will you stop, Dash?" Fluttershy asked Dash as she downed another mug of cider.

"Not a chance, Fluttershy." Rainbow Dash replied as she placed the tankard beside four others. Twilight finished hers, then put it beside four more. "I am gonna beat Twilight this time, for sure!"

Fluttershy sighed sadly as she found she was surrounded by friends. Applejack just gave her a hug. "Leave it be, Fluttershy. Ya know she's not gonna be happy until she's either drunk or beats Twilight, and it ain't gonna happen."

Fluttershy nodded and sat down. "I know. I just hate to see her hurting herself." She told Applejack.

"Then maybe I should break this up." Stellar said, as she walked forward and around to where Twilight was seated. "Twi, we're heading to Canterlot in the morning, remember?" She asked Twilight

"I know." Twilight answered, after finishing her sixth tankard.

"Remember the last time you got drunk?" Stellar reminded Twilight. "You ended up with me in your head."

Twilight nearly dropped the next tankard. "Oh... yeah." She said, a shudder going down her spine to her tail. She handed Stellar the tankard and got down. Stellar sniffed the hard cider and licked her lips, then downed it faster than Twilight had done. "No sense letting it go to waste." She said, more to herself than anypony else.

"Aww!" Rainbow Dash said. "Are you forfeiting, Twilight?" She asked, a triumphant grin on her face.

"Lay off, Dash." Stellar said, eyeing her. "We've got to go meet the 'rents tomorrow, and do YOU want to explain to Velvet why Twi is hung over?"

"Uh..." Rainbow Dash began, sobering up a little as she imagined the tongue-lashing Velvet might deliver. "Um, okay, I guess we can call this one a draw." She agreed.

"Smart move." Stellar replied with a grin, then moved to Twilight's side as they looked for something for Twilight to eat.

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

Eight hours after walking into Ponyville, Stellar had eaten and drunk  her fill three times over, danced and even sang with a large number of ponies, even Big Mac, and she would have sworn on a stack of tomes that she'd met every pony in Ponyville. The strange thing to her was that everyone was so familiar to her, thanks to Twilight's memories, but there were those here that seemed to be triggering other memories, ones NOT from Twilight's memories alone... and she had no idea why.

Later, as she bedded down for the night at the castle, Stellar was feeling far more confident in herself. She'd made more friends for herself that day than she could ever remember having... not that she had many memories to compare them to, but she found that didn't matter any longer. Her past would only help her in this new life she had, she wouldn't let it hinder her. And every hurdle she tackled would only make her stronger in her new self. She had faced being torn apart, being paralysed, being almost set ablaze by an almost-goddess, and now survived her first public appearance. She was thinking she could handle just about anything that this life could throw at her. But tomorrow was the biggest challenge of all: meeting the folks...

==================================

Canterlot was a very strange city, Stellar had concluded. It's construction seemed to defy some laws of physics, but here, that wasn't that unusual. Still, it was a fairly nice city to be in, although she understood there were areas where one did not go if one was looking to keep 'civilised' company. In other words, slum areas. She wondered how that worked, but she'd hardly seen anything of the city, really. Just parts of the castle, the view from the train and the very lovely train station. Now Stellar was enjoying a carriage ride from the station to the more upper-crust areas. Twilight and her memories had informed Stellar that Twilight's parents were minor nobles, even if having a member of the Family marry into Royalty had elevated their status only somewhat slightly. "So, not even Shiny marrying Cadance made the entrenched nobles around here give our family more than grudging or token respect?" Stellar asked Twilight.

"Mmm-hmm.." Twilight replied from the book she was reading.

"They sound very insular." Stellar commented.

Twilight snorted. "Try 'extremely' instead of 'very', and you get closer to the truth." Twilight corrected Stellar. "They are so set against anypony outside their 'circle of breeding' or 'noble bloodlines' even looking like they're considering themselves a tenth as good as they are, that they even objected to Celestia taking me as a student." She said.

"Yeah, I remember seeing that from your memories." Stellar admitted.

Twilight sighed. "Shiny marrying Cadance gave us credibility, not a better social standing, at least for Mom and Dad." Twilight explained. "I have no idea how they're going to react to you. Probably stick their noses in the air and look so far down at you, you'll think you're looking up at them from the bottom of Mount Canterhorn."

"So, par for the course, then." Stellar said back.

"Yeah, that's true." Twilight agreed as she looked up from her book. "I have written to Mom and Dad and explained what happened, as well as Shiny and Cadance, who should be here today as they were going to be, anyway." Twilight smiled.

Stellar smiled back. "I hope they don't freak out too much."

Twilight giggled. "Watch out for Shiny, though." She said, suddenly serious. "He's very protective of me, so you'll probably get the once-over from him."

"I kind-of got that from what you remember of him." Stellar replied. "At least I have a massive head-start in that respect. I know your/our family as well as you do."

Twilight nodded. "Yeah. That is a major advantage." She agreed.

"Hey, want to see if Cadance wants to do a three-way 'Sunshine' greeting?" Stellar said with a mischievous grin on her face.

Twilight actually laughed at that, closing her book. "Now THAT would be something to see!" She admitted, as the taxi-carriage pulled up outside what could be described as a 'modest' mansion, in this area of very large, over-self-important buildings.

Stellar paid off the two ponies that had pulled the carriage, tipping them well, to their delight, then she and Twilight walked up to the gates and through. "Wow! Nice gardens, I have to say." Stellar commented to Twilight.

"Yeah, they were so fun to run around, growing up." Twilight sighed with happy memories. "I didn't spend all my time with my muzzle buried in books, despite what others might tell you."

"Yeah, Shiny dragged your plot out of the library often enough to make sure you had a life." Stellar reminded Twilight, and they giggled.

"Yeah. I guess it's no wonder I always call him my B.B.B.F.F." Twilight said as they headed for the front door. "No sister could ever want for a better big brother, not even Applejack."

Stellar nodded. "Hopefully he'll realise he can be my B.B.B.F.F. as well." Stellar said.

Twilight had to agree. "So do I." She said as she pressed the doorbell. Normally she wouldn't have bothered, but having Stellar there just made it a bit more sensible.

The door was opened by the Sparkle family butler, Grey Stone. He blinked for a moment as he thought he was seeing double, but then he remembered that he literally was seeing two Twilights standing there, from what Master Night Light had told him to expect. "Miss Twilight." He said to the one carrying her saddlebags. "Miss..."

"Stellar Light, but, please, call me Stellar." Stellar answered him.

Grey Stone gave a curt nod. "Very well, Miss Stellar." He replied. "Your family is waiting in the center parlour." He told them as he made way for them to enter.

"Thank you, Stony." Twilight said as they walked past. Grey Stone then saw their cutie-marks and noted Stellar's much-different one, filing it for reference in his prodigious memory. He walked on past them, as the mares walked at a much slower rate to allow him to preceed them to the entrance to the parlour.

"Miss Twilight and Miss Stellar." Grey Stone announced them, as four others in the room rose to greet the newcomers. Grey Stone took Twilight's saddlebags as they entered.

Stellar barely stopped herself breaking up into giggles at the momentary looks of surprise and even slight shock on their faces as the Twins walked in together. They stood there with identical smiles on their faces, as Velvet, Night Light, Shining Armor and Cadance took them in.

Cadance was the first to move toward them. "Welcome..." She started to say, but both the Twins grinned and crouched down, their tails in the air in a very familiar position. Cadance broke into a grin, then crouched as well.

"Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake!"

"Clap your hooves and do a little shake!"

Cadance and the Twins all broke up into fits of laughter at their usual greeting, and it shattered the sheen of tension in the air like nothing else could. Stellar did step back and let Twilight hug Cadance first, but she was surprised when Cadance hugged her as well.

"As I was about to say, welcome to you both." Cadance continued. "So wonderful to see you again, Twilight, and welcome to you, Stellar."

"Thank you, Cadance." Stellar replied.

Shining Armor was taking all this in, as Cadance welcomed the newcomer. His sense of wrongness wasn't telling him anything apart from the fact there were two of his only sister in the room now. He scanned this 'Stellar' alicorn, but nothing unusual showed, apart from the fact that her cutie mark had a completely different feel to Twilight's... and he guessed that was to be expected. No two cutie-marks ever 'felt' the same. But something was bothering him, a feeling that just nagged at him and wouldn't stop. Then he saw their parents move towards the pair.

Velvet and Night Light's smiles had broadened and were much less strained than before. Somehow, the simple greeting that Twilight always gave to Cadance, seeing it done by both ponies that resembled their daughter, it just made everything just a little more... what they'd expected.  "Yes. I will also say 'Welcome' to you, Stellar." Velvet said, as she and Night Light moved to greet them. "I must say, even with Twilight's warning, the resemblance is..."

"Confusing?" Stellar asked, gaving a soft smile.

"Frightening?" Said Shining Armor, as he came up to the others, no smile on his face.

Stellar looked him up and down. "Tell me, Shining Armor, do you know your sister?" She asked him.

Shining frowned. "I'd like to think so." He answered.

Stellar walked up to him and whispered something in his ear. He looked shocked and took a step back. "You... know that?"

Stellar smiled. "I know everything about Twilight." She told him. "And she knows everything about me, literally." Stellar explained. "There isn't a single thing about either of us we don't share.. well, up until we were split." She told them all. "Twilight and I are about as close as identical sisters can be, far more than even normal twins."

"Yes, B.B.B.F.F." Twilight agreed as she walked up beside Stellar and the pair nuzzled each other, Shining and the others seeing the deep affection and trust they had.

Shining was a little taken aback by this. He shook his head, and that feeling  that had been running through him finally identified itself. It was an emotion he'd never felt before: jealousy... and it scared him.

Then both Twilight and Stellar moved to him and hugged him together. He felt them touch their horns to his, an extremely-intimate act, but the love he felt from both of them flowed through into him, and he shivered with emotion at the strength of it. "We both love you, Big-Brother-Best-Friend... Forever!" They emphatically stated in unison, and Shining actually felt a tear well up in his eye, for the jealousy he'd been feeling fled far away as their love suffused right through him.

They moved back from him and gave him a loving smile. "You're not losing your L.S.B.F.F., Shiny." Stellar told him.

"You're gaining a new L.S.B.F.F., who loves you as much as the old one." Twilight added.

Shining sniffled at that, then they heard Night Light chuckle. "Now THAT'S a Sparkle Family greeting!" He stated.

Velvet and Cadance tittered, then Twilight and Stellar broke up into giggles and hugged Shining Armor again, this time with him nuzzling them back.

Later, as they sat talking things over, Stellar sighed with happiness. There were no memories of her own family still existing in her mind, and to feel the Love of a Family as close as this one was, made her feel privelaged that she was part of it now. She'd found herself sitting between Night Light and Velvet Sparkle, with Twilight sitting opposite between Cadance and Shining Armor. There was still a part of her that told her that she and Twilight should be in each other's places, but Velvet had insisted that Stellar sit where she was, and Stellar just couldn't say No to the two ponies who had just welcomed her into her new family.

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

After a wonderful lunch together, with lots of talk from Shining and Cadance about what was going on in the Crystal Empire and about Flurry Heart's new school, Stellar took a walk in the back gardens. They weren't as big as some she could see as she walked down the stairs to the main path, but somehow she felt that they were nothing to be ashamed of. She sniffed a rose, delighting in it's delicate scent, then nipped it off and chewed. She then understood why Twilight had a predeliction for munching on roses. The flavors reminded her of something from her own memories, something that hadn't been erased... Turkish Delight, a sweet confectionary, she remembered. The recipe fixed itself in her mind, just as the reference to whatever 'Turkish' was faded. Sighing, she figured it wasn't anything to do with turkeys, at least.

She was looking at a large pond that had fish swimming slowly in it, when she felt someone beside her. Looking to her left, she saw Night Light there, smiling down at the fish. "I was hoping to catch you alone." He said to her in a mellow voice.

Stellar smiled softly. "I hope that's a good thing." She replied.

Night Light chuckled. "Ah, memories." He said. "Twilight said, and I think you told Shining, that you have every memory Twilight had, up until you... separated?" He asked.

"Yes. The process that separated us also merged our memories." Stellar explained. "My own memories are heavily-edited to seemingly remove any reference to who or what I was, so Twilight's memories are far more complete."

Night Light nodded. "Almost as if we raised you together." He said.

"Well, save for the fact there weren't two of us being raised together. Our memories would still have been very different if that had been the case."

Night Light nodded as he smiled fondly. "You even talk like Twilight does, at times." He commented. Then he sighed. "Velvet and I had often wished we'd had more foals. Not that we lacked anything for having only two, Celestia knows Twilight was a surprise. After so long between births, we thought Shining Armor was going to be our only offspring. Then our little miracle showed up, and Velvet was... I guess you could say it renewed her." He shook his head with a smile. "Then Twilight was taken in as Celestia's personal student. Even thought she realised the incredible privelage Twilight had been given," He sighed sadly, "It almost broke Velvet's heart." He revealed.

Stellar nodded. "I can understand that." She replied.

To Stellar's surprise, Night Light moved closer and nuzzled her gently. "I'm no longer big enough to hug you like you were a filly, Stellar, but Velvet and I have agreed on one thing: If Twilight wants to treat you like her sister, and Shining Armor no longer objects, then we decided that we would also treat you like our daughter." He told Stellar. "No-one deserves to be alone, ever, so never think you're without Family. Not now, not ever."

Stellar's eyes welled up with tears. "You don't know what that means to me... Dad." She replied, hugging Night Light lovingly.

Night Light chuckled. "Now that sounds good... Dad. Yes, I like that." He said, grinning.

"Then I'll keep using it." Stellar said.

"I'd like that, too." Night Light agreed.

They walked along through the gardens, talking over things and it made Stellar feel... so much more comfortable with herself and who she now was. "The biggest problem I have now is finding where I fit into Equestrian society." Stellar told Night Light. "Twilight is an unmitigated nerd, even if she is incredibly powerful. For her, the study of magic in all it's many forms and extrapolations is perfect for her." She explained. "For me, I feel better actually learning something by doing it. I want to cast magic, to use it, to feel myself manipulate it and shape it. I want to fly, I want to learn how all the different pony-types fight, and do other things." Stellar shook herself, flicking her wings down then furling them. "I am a... warrior." She said the term that came to her. "Twilight's a mage, but I'm a warrior. I know there has to be schools of magic that evolved around fighting styles and other such things, because it makes sense. But I'm not sure where to start."

Night Light thought about this. He was an astronomer himself, but he knew a lot about things from researching the archives with a very young Twilight. Then a thought hit him. "Princess Luna." He said.

"Luna?" Stellar asked.

"Yes." Night Light said. "Before the Fall, Luna was renowned as a warrior-mage, even killing King Sombra, an enemy that not even Celestia could defeat." He told Stellar. "Perhaps she and you might find yourselves as kindred spirits in that regard. I am sure she knows battle-magics and fighting styles that have long since vanished from being used in the Guard or anywhere else."

Stellar thought this through. "That's... a very good idea." She admitted. "So, how will I go about seeing her?"

"Try the Night Court." Night Light answered. "I know she's never as busy there as Celestia is during the day. "But," Night Light cautioned Stellar, "do some research first. The Royal Archives is always a good place to look through."

Stellar nodded. "You got it, Dad." She said with a grin, which Night Light returned. "Since Twilight knows the Archives back-to-front, maybe this is another instance where her memories are going to be very helpful."

"I don't doubt it." Night Light agreed.

They walked on for a while before retuning to the main house. "You will be staying here for a few days, won't you?" Night Light asked Stellar.

"Maybe longer." Stellar replied. "Twilight has duties in Ponyville, but me? I don't have anything like that hanging over my head yet, so I can stay a while."

Night Light nodded. "We've added another bed to Twilight's refurbished room, so you two can share. I hope that wasn't pretentious of us..." He told Stellar.

Stellar giggled. "Not at all! I'd love to stay here while in Canterlot." She told Night Light.

"Good. We'll make sure you're as welcome here as we can make you." Night Light assured Stellar.

"Thanks, Dad. I'm sure that you and Mom are going to make me feel as welcome as Twilight has." She assured Night Light.

"And there you two are." Velvet said from the terrace as Stellar and Night Light climbed the stairs. "Come on inside. Dinner will be ready in half-an-hour."

Stellar decided to treat Velvet the same way she'd done Night Light. She moved to the older mare and hugged her close, nuzzling her lovingly. "Thanks, Mom." She replied, and the look on Velvet's face was reward enough.

Velvet sniffled slightly, the look of joy on her face not spoiled by the welling of tears in her eyes. "You're welcome, Stellar Dear." She replied, then hugged Stellar again.

Night Light watched this touching scene with a growing joy in his heart. While he knew that Stellar wouldn't be able to spend all her time with them, he felt that having two daughters now might just make the time they could spend together a little more than what they'd been able to spend with Twilight alone. And it made Velvet so happy when one of her children was home... even if it was one that she'd never truly borne from her. Stellar was just that close that it didn't matter.

As they headed inside, Night Light felt that, perhaps, things had just become a little more... right with their world.

==================================

03 - Empowerment

03: Assignment and First Combat

The next morning, Stellar slipped out of the Sparkle Mansion and headed for the City center. Something that stuck in her mind was 'you can get a better feel for a city on hoof than any other way'. This morning, that is what she'd do. She made sure to anchor a point in the room she and Twilight had shared that night as a teleport return point, just in case, and had some saddlebags of her own, with a bag-full of bits. "Time to familiarise myself with Canterlot." She said.

Most of the city was already known to her through Twilight's memories... but it wasn't the same. Stellar knew she'd have to see Canterlot for herself to really know the city. But Twilight's memories were a great place to start making her own impressions, so she followed some of Twilight's pre-Ponyville routine, such as visiting Donut Joe's for breakfast...

Joe looked up as Stellar walked in the front door. "Hey! Twilight! Haven't seen you in... Hey, when did you start wearing a bandanna?" He asked.

Stellar giggled as she approached the counter. "Sorry, Joe. I'm not Twilight." She answered.

"Huh?" Joe asked, looking confused.

"Okay, I know it's confusing." Stellar told him as she reached the counter. "I'm Twilight's twin sister. And yes, I know that she didn't have a sister, but she does now. Blame Magic." Stellar smiled at him. "Can I have two Jam-loadeds and a banana milkshake?" She then asked.

Joe blinked in surprise. "Uh, sure." Joe replied and started working. "So, if you're not Twilight, then what should I call you?"

"My name is Stellar Light Sparkle, just call me Stellar." Stellar answered as she grinned.

"H'okay!" Joe said, his grin coming back again. "So, what are you doing today?" He asked.

"Just out getting a feel for the city." Stellar said. "First time here, and Twilight's busy with Princess stuff." Stellar poked out her tongue.

Joe chuckled. "Yeah, That's got to take up a lot of time." He agreed, as he made her milkshake. "So, what are you gonna be doing while you're here? You gonna be a real big mage, like your sister?"

"Not sure yet." Stellar admitted as she took out a hoof-full of bits. "I'm already an Alicorn, so I don't have to worry about that as a goal." Stellar thought for a bit. "I'm pretty good in a scrap. Maybe I'll join the Guards or something like that."

"Not a bad career." Joe admitted as he put Stellar's order up for her and took her bits. "Your brother did well there, even got to marry a Princess out of it." He grinned. “Still, you should keep your options open. As you said, you’re already an alicorn, so maybe you’ve got better options than the average pony.”

Stellar nodded. “Something to think about, for sure.” She said as she levitated her breakfast up and then smiled at Joe. “Thanks, Joe!”

“Anytime, Stellar!” Joe replied with a grin.

Stellar headed for a table and sat, noticing a copy of the Canterlot Times sitting there. She opened the paper and started reading, as a flash of memory showed her an electronic device called a ‘tablet’ computer in the paper’s place, showing the columns of text and pictures on it’s screen, rather than printed. The image, for a brief moment, showed a shadow of something reflected on it’s surface, but the memory faded before Stellar could identify it. Sighing, she returned to reading and eating.

==================================

Stellar wandered for a while after leaving Donut Joe’s, not following any true planned path, just seeing the city and renewing Twilight’s memories into her own mind. Twilight’s memories were somewhat fragmented in some ways, since she’d often walk about with her head in a book and not noticing her surroundings as much as she might. She passed by Celestia’s school for Talented Unicorns, smiling at the foals there. Although she knew that Celestia’s school had already produced the protégé that Celestia had been desperate for, she’d kept it as a going concern which benefitted a lot of under-privileged foals who’s parents might not have been able to afford such a good education for their children otherwise. Twilight’s memories of the school were very short, since she never actually attended the school, having been taken her first day by Celestia herself for special tutoring. Stellar watched the foals playing in the courtyard, sighing. Something in her ached that she, even though she was a pony through and through, would never get to experience growing up as one, save vicariously through Twilight’s memories... and hers wasn’t a usual foal-hood by any means.

She made her way back to the Palace compound, the guards just coming to attention as she passed them. Stellar smiled. They probably still thought she was Twilight. She headed for where Twilight’s memories told her the Royal Archives were located. She had a tome to start filling and a career to research.

==================================

Open Words looked up from the counter at the entrance to the Archives, to see a sight he hadn't seen for a while: an alicorn entering the building. He knew who she looked like, of course. Twilight Sparkle was well-known to the staff there, and as assistant Head Archivist, he knew her from long talks and hours spent researching, when both he and she were a lot younger. So seeing Twilight with an out-of-place and out-of-character bandanna around her shapely neck gave him pause to think. He moved out from around the counter and intercepted her in a gentle manner. "Can I help you, Miss?" He asked.

Stellar looked at the unicorn pony before her and grinned. "I know you! You're Open Words." Stellar stated.

Open Words chuckled and nodded. "Indeed, I am." He confirmed. "You have me at a disadvantage, since you know me, but I don't know you."

Stellar smiled. "You know Twilight well, I know." She said to him.

Open Words frowned. "It seems you know the Princess well, too, I take it?" He inquired.

"Better than anyone else." Stellar replied.

"Well, you certainly look like her." Open Words stated. "I take it that that's not an accident?"

"Actually, it's one big accident." Stellar told Open Words. "I'm Twilight's twin sister, Stellar Light Sparkle."

"Twin... sister?" Open words asked, confused.

"Yep." Stellar confirmed this time. As Open Words opened his mouth to ask further, Stellar added "Blame Magic."

Open Words sighed. "Ah. I see." He said.

"Yeah. It's... complicated." Stellar told him. "But in the end of everything, I know everything Twilight does... but I have to experience things for myself before they become part of my memories and not just hers... save for her learned knowledge." She explained. "So, I've come here to research into some topics I have an interest and some experience in, but she didn't."

That Open Words could deal with. "Very well... Um?"

"Just Stellar." Stellar replied. "I don't have a title or crown yet, so just call me Stellar."

Open Words smiled. "Very well, Stellar. What subjects are you interested in?" He asked her.

"Combat." Stellar replied. "Both physical or magical. Twilight knows some offensive spells, but I want to learn everything I can, since my background seems to be military in nature. I figure a career in the military or a related field is something I have experience with and can sink my teeth into, figuratively speaking."

Open Words frowned, but nodded. "That sort-of knowledge is usually restricted to someone already in service with either the Guard or the Mages Guild... But since you could just have Twilight give you open access with a word in her ear, I guess that giving you the same access as she has is saving us both time and trouble." He told Stellar.

Stellar grinned. "Thanks, Open Words." She replied. "So, where to start?"

"I'll get you a list of books that you'll probably need." Open Words said with a grin.

"Don't leave out the esoteric stuff, either." Stellar said. "I know every language Twilight does and quite a few others."

"Duly noted." Open Words replied with a smile.

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

Three hours later, Stellar was at a large table, her tome out, with her having copied several trolley-loads of books into it. Open Words watched her for a time, wondering why she placed the books on top of her bigger book, the gem on the cover glowing for a few minutes with each book, but he shrugged. It was magic, that was easy to discern, and it wasn't damaging the books, so that wasn't a concern, either. She seemed to look casually through the books, then use her tome on them, then return them via the panel without reading them at all.

"Curiouser and curiouser..." Open Words said as Stellar went on.  He  moved over to her and asked "Pardon me but, if you don't mind me asking, what are you doing?"

Stellar looked up from the book she was perusing through, her telekinesis being quite gentle now as she handled the much-older book. "What do you mean?" She asked back.

Open Words gently tapped her tome. "With this." He clarified.

"Oh, the Tome." Stellar said as things became clear. "Twilight made this." She began to explain. "Basically, by placing a book on top of my tome and saying 'Load', it copies the entire book down into itself as a memory file. That way I have a copy of them I can access anytime I choose to, without needing to come back here again." She told Open Words.

Open Words frowned. "Hmm... a nice idea, but some of the books you've copied are very sensitive. I might not be able to allow you to leave with this."

Stellar chuckled. "Don't worry. There's only two ponies that can open this tome: Myself and Twilight." She went on. "It has just about every security measure Twilight could come up with and a few I suggested, including a self-destruct if the covers are breached."

Open words blinked as he took that in, then nodded. "I should have known, if Twilight put these together." He looked at the tome again. "Mages are always so security-conscious about their spells and information." He thought about this for a moment. "What if someone was using a scrying spell to look over your shoulder while the tome was open?" He asked.

"Even if they were physically looking over my shoulder, what they'd see is text written in another script entirely, not Equish." Stellar explained. She put the book she was holding down and put her hoof on the lock. "Unlock." She said clearly and the lock fell open. Stellar opened the tome and Open Words looked at the first page with her.

He saw the opening page was a hard page that was blank at first, then glowing letters flowed over it. But as he looked close, he realised the script was like none he'd ever seen before. The letters were easily read, but he couldn't translate the language at all or even recognise any of the letters. "You're right. I know almost every modern language on Equestria, but this is something I have never seen before. They don't even really look like letters, but small pictograms made of lines: quite pretty but indecipherable."

Stellar grinned. "That's because the language has three distinct alphabets, as well as some very convoluted grammar." She explained. "Plus there's four other languages I've used to secure several other sections. The most powerful books, like the tomes you got me from the 'Forbidden' section; thanks for that, by the way. The magic in those is going to be incredible once I master it."

"You're welcome." Open Words smiled. "I will tell you, I checked with Princess Celestia before I brought those out. She vouched for you and told me to grant you access, so your plot and mine are covered." He grinned.

"Whoo! Excellent!" Stellar said, grinning as wide as she could. "Official sanction. You have to love it."

"Indeed." Open Words chuckled. "Nothing better for learning things, especially secret things."

"I wonder what my security clearance is here?" Stellar asked as she brought up another section, the language on the page changing even more radically.

Open Words frowned as he saw the script. "This one... I swear it's a cursive script that flows together."

"Very good." Stellar smiled. "This is the script that secures the first portal to the secure section. There's three other gateways you have to go through to reach the really powerful stuff, each one another language and script." She explained. "None of them are from this world."

Open words nodded, impressed. "I see. That's some security you have here." He stated. "I don't think even our security is this convoluted, even if it's more magical." He looked at Stellar. "I don't have to be a mage to realise you understand all these, of course."

Stellar grinned. "As does Twilight." She confirmed. "I made sure of that before I set these in place."

Open Words nodded. "I see you've got your sister's love of thoroughness as well as her knowledge." He commented, smiling.

"Oh yeah." Stellar agreed. "I think it was no coincidence we ended up sharing her body for a while. We're a lot alike in many ways, yet very different in others."

"Is that what happened?" Open Words asked as Stellar settled another book on her tome and started it copying again.

"Pretty much. We got separated, I got a new body out of it and now I'm Twilight's twin sister, to keep it short." She explained. "I also got all of her memories and she got mine, so we're that close it's not funny."

"Wow. Hay of a way to enter the world." Open Words stated off-handedly. "So, do you remember where you came from?"

"Not a clue." Stellar said as she switched books. "All my memories were heavily-edited so I can't remember what I looked like or anypony else from my past."

"Ouch. Tough break." Open Words commiserated.

"Yeah... but I still think I came out on top here." Stellar said with a grin in Open Words direction.

Open Words chuckled. "Glad to see you think that way." He said.

"Hey, I have a new body that's probably a lot younger than the one I had; a new family that's absolutely super, and a society where I have yet to meet someone who isn't happy." Stellar said.

Open Words sighed. "Unfortunately, there are those ponies, especially here in Canterlot of all places, who aren't bundles of joy like they are in Ponyville." He shrugged. "Their loss, I guess."

Stellar nodded. "Yeah. Some ponies don't know when they have it good." She snorted. She finished the last book on the trolleys and stood up. "So, any chance of getting down into the Forbidden Section?" She asked.

Open Words nodded. "I think we can let you in there, considering your credentials." He answered as Stellar picked up her tome after locking it and slid it into her bags.

"Oh yeah!" Stellar stated enthusiastically and followed Open Words down through the Archives and into the heavily-guarded Forbidden Section.

"Remember, don't even try to take any of the books out of here, besides your own tome." Open Words briefed Stellar on the rules. "And be very careful. Some of the books down here haven't been moved in perhaps centuries."

Stellar nodded. "I promise I'll be on my best behavior." She promised to Open Words.

"Pinkie Promise?" He asked, grinning cheekily.

"If you want me to." Stellar said back, also grinning cheekily.

Open Words laughed for real this time. "No, no. I think I can trust you." He replied. "Just pull the tassel beside the door and someone will let you out." He said, smiling.

"I won't forget." Stellar agreed, then gave Open Words a hug.

Surprised, Open Words still managed to hug back. "Oh yes, you are a Ponyville Pony for sure." He stated as Stellar moved back.

"Through and through." Stellar agreed. "And proud of it."

Open Words nodded. "I will see you again before you leave. Have fun."

Stellar nodded. "Bye for now." She answered, then she moved to a table and set up as Open Words left.

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

After another two hours searching, Stellar came across a very old manuscript written in what she recognised as Equussese, the language of the ancient Equus Empire. She carefully copied it, then opened her tome and started reading the translated version her tome now held. Muttering to herself, she found the content to be fascinating. "Warriors of the Light..." Stellar said to herself. "How very interesting... I wonder if there's any more to this in here?"

==================================

Twilight was sitting with Celestia in one of the Palace sitting rooms at Lunchtime. They were discussing... Stellar.

Twilight sighed. "I'm not sure what to do with her, honestly, Celestia." She said. "I mean, everypony's going to mistake her for me at first... and that alone is going to cause trouble."

Celestia sipped her tea daintily. "Of course it will, Twilight. That's only natural." Celestia replied. "Is she making an effort to make herself look different?"

Twilight sighed. "Well, yes, she is. She's taken to wearing a bandanna around her neck... but I'm worried it's not enough."

Celestia put her cup down. "Try to eat something, my dear. An empty stomach makes you worry more efficiently." Celestia reminded Twilight.

Twilight picked up one of the watercress and daisy sandwiches and nibbled at it, sighing lovingly at the soft flavors. These and Celestia's enormous range of teas helped calm her nervous stomach. "Thank you, Celestia." Twilight said as her mood mellowed.

"You are always welcome, Twilight, don't forget that." Celestia told her. "I will always be here to give you advice... well, unless Discord or someone else tries to separate us again." She grinned.

Twilight actually giggled. "Well, I think we'll have less to worry about with Discord, at least. He seems to be making a true effort to behave himself."

"Yes, I know." Celestia agreed. "Frankly, it is a relief. One less major thing to worry about, at least here on Equestria." She then sighed. "I just hope he's behaving himself in other realities as well."

Twilight wondered what Celestia meant by that, but put it aside. "So, about Stellar..."

"I have given it some thought, Twilight." Celestia interrupted Twilight gently. "I do believe she will come to me for advice as well, apart from that she has already received.  I will tell her what I am telling you now: that I feel she would be a very good student for Luna."

"Luna?" Twilight asked, a little confused.

Celestia nodded. "Yes. Despite what you might think, they are very close in temperament and in their way of thinking. Plus I think it will also help some of Luna's continuing issues to have her as a student and a possible companion, in the same vein as you and I." Celestia explained to Twilight. "And with her being your twin and an alicorn in her own right, it's not as if Luna is taking on a lesser pony for her student. And Stellar will be able to keep up with Luna's more... 'hands-on' approach." Celestia grinned. "I think the two will make a good match.

Twilight just nodded. "I.. well, I have to agree with your logic, Celestia." She replied. "But what about the issue of her being identified as me?"

"When things are ready, I am thinking that we shall make an announcement before the Day Court, and to all of Equestria after that. We shall formally introduce Stellar before the Nobles and others here in Canterlot, since everypony in Ponyville know you two apart already. The Royal Canterlot Gossip and a few announcements in other cities and their newspapers will spread it from there."

Twilight giggled. "I still remember the day you named the grapevine of gossip that, Celestia. The looks on the faces of the Nobles at first. They thought it might be you telling them to quit... then they realised you'd just given it your royal sanction, which made them at least try to keep it accurate."

Celestia grinned as wide as Twilight had. "Indeed, my beloved student." Celestia replied. "It's also given me free reign to insert my own little snippets here and there through various sources. All the better to control what is being said and spread." Celestia giggled. "I'd even thought about starting a newspaper with that as the title."

Twilight giggled back. "Now THAT would have been something.' She agreed and nodded. "Yeah. I should have known then that you're always keeping tabs on things, no matter what the Nobles think."

Celestia looked smug. "The best way to control gossip is to start it, then add as direction is needed." She reminded Twilight. "It's all part of your political training, Twilight. A monarchy that is not controlled by fear is hard to keep together, especially as long as my reign has been. So one must develop other ways to do so without being overt or obvious."

Twilight snorted. "Marechiavelli would disagree, but this is not her time. Her methods are designed to stifle growth and maintain the status quo, as well as reinforce the power back into the Monarchy." She shook her head as Celestia looked on, silently encouraging Twilight to continue. "I know, of course, of your plans to eventually institute a Parliament of the Ponies as your advisory board and ministerial staff... if the Nobles weren't so stubborn and controlling, you'd have done it long ago."

"Yes." Celestia sighed sadly. "But we will work at it as best we can, until the day is ready for Equestria to become a Parliamentary Diarchy, not as we have it now. Then I shall be able to relax and work for the advancement of our ponies to where we should really be by now."

Twilight nodded. "It's such a hard balancing act sometimes, isn't it, Celestia?" She asked.

Celestia smiled down at Twilight. She was becoming so astute now, it pleased Celestia greatly. "Yes, it always is." She said. "To give up control to my little ponies is to risk them crashing the system I have set up after so long, and to keep too much control is to risk stagnating the system. So we all walk the fine tightrope of politics until things truly get better."

"Have they?" Twilight asked Celestia. "Have they ever gotten better?"

"Oh yes." Celestia grinned. "Many, many things are far better now than they were even a hundred years ago." She leaned down and nuzzled Twilight. "The two best changes were getting Luna back, and having you come into my life, Twilight. Both of you make my life so much more complete and much less lonely."

Twilight nuzzled back. "I am so lucky." She told Celestia. "How many other ponies can say they had the two best mothers in the world?"

Celestia's heart and mood blossomed again with joy as Twilight called her her mother. She hugged Twilight to her. "And I couldn't want for a better daughter, even if she were truly my own blood."

Twilight hugged Celestia back. It had taken her a long time and the right moment to reveal how she truly felt about Celestia... and she was so glad she had done so. Funnily enough, Stellar had given her the courage to tell Celestia how she felt. Her sister had told her about her perceptions at the first time she'd met Celestia, and it had only confirmed what Twilight herself had been feeling. Celestia had not trained a student, she had raised a surrogate daughter in Twilight... and Twilight couldn't be more happy or grateful.

==================================

Stellar was pursuing a mystery. The reference she'd found of the 'Warriors of the Light' had led her deep into the dustiest parts of the Royal Archives' Forbidden Section... or they would have been dusty if the staff hadn't been so efficient, she thought to herself.

She'd found several references in other very old manuscripts, but no real explanation beyond what she'd found in the first tome she'd discovered. Now she was going back so far that the manuscripts weren't in books or pages, but old scrolls, both metal and parchment. "At least the language in these I can still recognise." Stellar said to herself as she copied a scroll into her tome. "Some of the others... I swear there's some here that are about five or six thousand years old."

It took another four hours, but then Stellar found a box shoved under a shelf had chiselled into it an inscription in Equussese. "Kel thu madli toshen thu ekri sol jukba thu Pahl ahd Dhen voksil til beshro. Hmm..." Stellar read the inscription out loud. "The tale of the... um... the rise of the Light-filled Fighters... no, that's too literal... the Warriors of the Light and their fall..." Stellar's eyes grew wide with delight. "Damn! How the hay did this end up tucked away under a shelf?" She asked as she took the box carefully to the bench she was working at.

Opening the box revealed a scroll made of a metal that defied Stellar's classification... until she touched it. Her inner magic sense caused her to recognise it. "This is... platinum." She stated. "Celestia above me... about fifty floors above me, come to think of it." She giggled. "This would be worth a fortune... um, somewhere." She sighed as another memory vanished. "Got to get this editing program out of my head somehow." She said to herself. She placed the scroll on top of her tome and allowed the tome to scan it. "I wonder if there are any more?" Stellar asked herself as she returned to digging.

Eventually Stellar had sixteen boxes on the bench, all with the same platinum scrolls inside them. "Looks like somepony wanted to preserve the knowledge of these warriors for posterity... or maybe for future need." She said out-loud. "Still, if I'm right, there's some fantastic new magic in here that may not have been seen in... well an age or more." She grinned, then bounced around for a little bit, squee'ing like a filly. Then she stopped and chuckled self-consciously. "I have to... no, I don't have to stop doing that, but I have to keep it for the right moments." She told herself. "But sure as eggs aren't round, this is one of them."

Before she left the Forbidden Section, Stellar brought the scroll-cases up to the preservers' benches and left them there with a note. "I don't know if they need preservation, not being made out of platinum, but they definitely need to be properly categorised and put where they should be." Stellar said. "Maybe I should sic Twilight onto them. She loves sorting books, she could re-do this entire section properly." She pulled the tassel, and after two minutes, Open Words appeared as the door opened.

He smiled at Stellar. "So, find anything interesting?" He asked Stellar.

"Maybe." Stellar answered. "I have to go through it, but I've at least got a lot to study." She grinned. "Oh, there's seventeen scrolls there that need to be checked over and classified. I don't think you'll need to preserve them, though."

"Oh? How come?" Open Words asked.

"They're inscribed on scrolls of platinum." Stellar explained.

"Platinum?" Open Words looked shocked. "That's... such a rare metal, I'd never thought anyone would use it for scrolls."

Stellar nodded. "They obviously didn't want the information lost." She said. "Platinum would last for eons... unless someone greedy melted them down."

Open Words nodded. "Indeed." He agreed. "Thanks for finding them, Stellar."

"No problem." Stellar grinned back at him. 'Oh, and if you guys don't tidy up in here, I'm sending Twilight down to do it for you."

Open Words looked aghast... and a little frightened. "No! Not the super-book-sorter of Ponyville!" He said, then laughed, Stellar giggling with him. "In all honesty, that might not be a bad idea... the problem would be getting her out of here again inside a month." Open Words said.

Stellar gave him an evil grin. "Just remember... you've been warned."

Open Words nodded and smiled. "Duly noted." He replied.

"And thanks for all your help, too." Stellar added.

"Anytime, Stellar." Open Words said with a warm smile.

The pair chatted on until Stellar left the Archive. The sun had set a while ago, but Stellar's eyes could see in the lovely moonlight almost as well as a thestral could. She made her way back to the Sparkle mansion, feeling satisfied with herself.

==================================

Velvet looked up as Stellar entered the sitting room. She could tell her newest daughter had just showered and groomed herself, after spending the entire day outside. "Welcome home, Stellar Dear." She said with a soft smile.

"Thanks, Mom." Stellar replied as she sat near her now-mother. "And thanks again for taking me in the way you did."

"And why wouldn't I?" Velvet asked.

"Y'know... I'm not exactly... well, I didn't exactly become part of this family in the usual ways, did I?" Stellar reminded Velvet.

Velvet actually chuckled. "My dear Stellar, it does not matter to me how you came here or who you were before... not that you can remember, either." She pointed out. "My Twilight has vouched for you, Cadance likes you, and even Shining Armor thinks you and Twilight together are a menace to society." She grinned. "Which means he likes you, too."

Stellar smiled warmly. "I am glad of that." She told Velvet. "But are you sure...?"

Velvet hushed Stellar. "You are a Sparkle, that is for certain. If you had not been meant to be one, when your cutie mark changed, it would have vanished. I am totally certain of that." She stated to Stellar. "You may have to find your place in this family, but it is now YOUR family, no ifs or buts." Velvet got up and walked across to Stellar, who also got to her hoofs. "I want to welcome you formally to our Family, Stellar Light Sparkle. I am glad you are a daughter of this house... I am so much happier that you consider yourself to be a daughter of mine."

Stellar blushed, but her face showed her happiness. "Thank you, Mother." She said, and hugged Velvet to her.

Velvet nuzzled Stellar lovingly. "Now, sit. You have a lot to tell me about your first day in Canterlot..."

==================================

The morning dawned brilliant and clear in the skies above Canterlot. Stellar stood up on the balcony of her room in the Sparkle mansion and took a deep breath of the fresh air. Rain overnight had washed the city and the air clean and it smelled better than any other city she could remember... not that she could remember many. Mostly vague impressions and faint memories of tall buildings and bustling crowds that made even Canterlot look like a deserted backwater. Stellar shook her head and opened her wings, ruffling the feathers. She'd spent a half-an-hour preening them that morning, because today she was going to fly for the first time.

As she headed down to exit the mansion out into the gardens, Stellar was glad she'd only had a light breakfast. The 'Wonderbolt' meal routine, the small pamphlet Rainbow Dash had given her had said about the food it recommended to eat. Seeing the Wonderbolts were some of the fittest ponies she'd seen, she felt it had to have some effect. She made her way out to a section of the gardens that was an open lawn, and began the warm-up exercises Twilight's memories of her own flight training had taught Stellar.

Stellar sighed. She also knew the problems Twilight had when she'd been learning to fly, and she was determined to avoid them. She didn't want to do a faceplant into the ground, no way. "Okay. Flying for Pegasi involves using their innate magic. So I have to find that inside myself." She said to herself as she spread her rather-impressive wings. "Not as big as Celestia's, but she's a lot bigger than I am." She did remember a... video on how birds flew, how their wings worked, but Stellar wasn't sure if that applied. "Still, I do have feathered wings, not like a bat-pony, so maybe the principles are somewhat similar." She felt the flow of mana through her much more clearly than she could her blood flowing through her veins, as if ponies naturally had a sense for such. She felt it spread out through her body and she channeled it into her wings, feeling the whole of them come alive with magic.

"Okay, baby steps, as Fluttershy would say." Stellar told herself. She stretched her wings out, then settled them as she and Twilight remembered from the basic flight lessons Twilight had received. Somehow, she felt herself getting lighter, and with a small flap, she lifted slightly off the ground and slowly sank back down. "Incredible!" Stellar said. "I'd swear that was gravity manipulation. Maybe that's an innate part of pegasi magic." She tried it again, this time with a big sweep, and she lifted off a few feet this time. A little flutter of her wing-tips was enough to slow her descent to a very soft landing. "Okay, definitely some kind of gravity control here." Stellar said as she lifted off slowly, coming to a gentle hover and refining her control. She managed to get herself to spin in place slowly in both directions before settling back down. "Wow, the outer wing-feathers offer a lot of control." Stellar told herself.

"Hmmm... maybe if I get to the edge of Canterlot, I might be able to glide down for a while. I can always teleport back up again." Stellar thought out-loud, then looked up with a grin. "Time to Blink." She said, her horn lighting up and she vanished.

Stellar found herself a little higher than she'd thought, about four thousand feet, she estimated, but it was clear air and as she fell, she opened her wings and started to glide. "Oh yeah! This is good." She said to herself. She saw pegasi below her flying about over the city but ignored them mostly, concentrating on keeping herself flying along, heading downwards only slightly to keep her speed up. She practiced turning or 'banking' as it was known, feeling how her long tail worked as a rudder as well. Then, when she was confident, she tried a few flaps of her wings.

"Not good!" Stellar yelled as she nearly stalled, but she got back to level flight easily enough. "Okay, what went wrong?" She asked. "I must have had my wings at the wrong pitch." She closed her eyes and tried to feel the wind. Then, before she could think, she swept her wings forward and dragged a mass of air behind her with them, thrusting her upwards. Stellar grinned as she did it again and again, then opened her eyes.

She was gaining altitude now, she noticed, and past the edge of Canterlot's mountain spur. She found it was like walking, in a way. She thought about where she wanted to go, and her autopilot made the motions with her wings. She flapped harder as she thought about gaining height, and she headed upwards. She rolled over and dived, laughing as she swept and climbed on sheer momentum, then came to a hover. Stellar saw she was miles from Canterlot now, and she could see a huge amount of Equestria laid out before her. Ponyville was clearly visible in the distance to the south and, as she slowly spun in place, a flash of light to the far north was probably the Crystal Tower of the Crystal Empire, if she judged the distances properly. She was also amazed at how well her vision was. She could see details far more clearly than she'd ever felt possible. "Damn! I do love being an alicorn!" Stellar almost shouted. She let herself drop into a glide then and headed for Canterlot once more.

By the time she got over the city, Stellar was feeling tired, but she was determined to make it back home on the wing, and not have to walk back. "Not going to be like Twi." She said to herself. "I love to fly and I'm going to do so as much as I can!" She fell into line behind a string of pegasi heading into Canterlot and followed them, figuring there was probably some kind-of taught traffic control in use over the city. Eventually she saw the Sparkle mansion, and Velvet and Night Light were outside on the terrace. Stellar was amazed that she could almost see what they were eating from this height.

She banked around the estate, lining up on the lawn again, but with the fish pool to the back of it. As she lined up, she slowly shed speed as she descended, but too late realised she was going too fast. She flared her wings too early as she panicked a little, and dropped like a stone towards the lawn. "This is gonna hurt!" She said to herself as she pulled up and skimmed the lawn. Instead of ploughing into the ground, she curled herself up in a ball, tucking her horn into her belly and, wrapping her legs and wings around herself, she rolled across the lawn like a lawn bowl, hitting the edge of the pond and splashing down into the middle of it, startling the fish.

Stellar found the pond was a fair bit deeper than she'd thought it was, and had to swim to the surface. To her chagrin, she found Twilight standing there with Velvet and Night Light as well. Their parents looked worried, but Twilight had a smug grin on her face. " 'Morning." Stellar said as she swam to the side of the pool.

Twilight chuckled as Velvet asked "Are you all right, Stellar dear?"

"The only thing that is hurting right now is my pride." Stellar answered as she powered up her horn and lifted herself out of the water.

"So... you felt a water landing might have been easier than touching down on the lawn?" Twilight asked.

Stellar grinned as her hoofs settled on the soft grass. "Better a splashdown than ploughing up the lawn, Twi." Stellar said, reminding Twilight of one of her first rough landings.

Twilight snorted as Velvet and Night Light chuckled. But then Twilight smiled. "True, very true." She said "At least you won't have to fill in a hole. And you were looking good there!" Twilight complimented Stellar. "Was that your first flight?" She asked.

Stellar nodded as she shook her wings out and held them stretched out to dry. "Yeah, but I cheated a little." She said.

"Oh? How so?" Night Light asked.

"I Blinked myself up to about four thousand feet and started gliding, rather than trying to get up there normally. That way I wasn't tired out by the time I got enough air under me to start figuring out how to fly properly." Stellar explained, as Grey Stone brought her some towels.

"Oh, so that's what you meant by cheating." Twilight said. "Damn. I wish I'd thought of that."

Stellar chuckled. "Well, I didn't have Rainbow Dash on my back, urging me to 'flap really hard!' all the time." Stellar replied, getting giggles from all three mares and a chuckle from Night Light. Stellar was surprised to see Grey Stone with a slight smile on his face, too. "Thank you, Grey Stone." Stellar said to him. He gave a short bow to Stellar, then stood still as a statue as Stellar dried herself off.

"Want to go up again? I could come with you this time." Twilight asked.

"Thanks, Twi, but I think I'll leave it until after Lunch." Stellar answered her as she dried her ears and horn off.

"Fair enough." Twilight responded, and all five of them headed back for the house.

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

"Twi, I've been thinking." Stellar said as they cruised along at about two thousand feet, slowly circling Canterlot on the updraft caused by Mount Canterhorn.

"That's good." Twilight replied. They were using a short-range communication spell Twilight, and therefore Stellar, knew. "Decide anything?"

"I've decided I don't know enough magic, and I need a tutor. Not you, Sis, sorry." Stellar added.

Twilight chuckled. "That's okay, I have Starlight to worry about." She reminded Stellar.

Stellar smiled as they banked to come around. "I was trying to think of who might know someone, or could even introduce me to someone who could help me learn more combat magic." She explained. "I'm not asking you because I know it's not your forte or field."

"Very true." Twilight agreed. "Maybe you could go and ask Celestia." Twilight suggested, remembering what she and Celestia had discussed the day before. "She knows every mage and warrior in Canterlot and most of the major cities in Equestria, and she is the head of the Mages Council and the Guild as well."

Stellar considered that as they levelled out again. "Yeah. That sounds like a plan, Twilight." Stellar replied with a grin. "Maybe I'll slip in after Day Court and talk to her then."

"Yep. Sounds like a plan to me." Twilight agreed. "Now, do you think you can go in without ploughing the lawn or taking a dip this time, Sis?" She asked.

"Only one way to find out, Sis." Stellar replied, and they circled around, heading for home.

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

Eventually Stellar did master landing properly, with Twilight so pleased with her for it, she paid for Stellar's meal at a good eatery she knew intimately. The pair caused a little stir when they walked in together, but the owners there knew Twilight through long patronage, and were delighted to welcome Stellar after the situation had been explained.

Later that afternoon, however, Stellar approached the Palace alone. Twilight had told Stellar that Celestia might be more willing for a long talk if she came by herself, showing she wasn't depending on Twilight to open doors for her. "After all, Sis, you're an alicorn in your own right. You don't need me leading you around like you were a filly." She'd said to Stellar, and Stellar couldn't agree more. She knew there were times, like learning to fly properly, when she needed Twilight as example and encouragement, but there were times she had to stand alone and show everypony she was her own mare.

As she made her way through the departing attendees, she noted the Blueblood Family moving out from the Audience Room, their noses in the air, as usual. Something about them made her blood chill, but Stellar wasn't sure why. It wasn't them to look at, per se, they were hardly that different from any other unicorns. No, this was something else, a feeling of foreboding that had her combat instincts on-edge. But once they were past, she simply filed the feeling for future reference and continued walking in.

To her surprise, the guards directed her not into the main chamber, but around it, and a servant led her, with a warm welcome and a big smile, around to one of the private chambers. "I guess this is what Twi meant about 'being an alicorn in my own right'. I guess it does open doors." Stellar said as she made herself comfortable. The serving mares brought her tea and a small plate of delicacies, and she watched as they made things ready to receive Celestia for her afternoon relaxation session. She smiled as they brought three different cakes in, already partially sliced and ready to be served. She found she could even sense the stasis enchantments woven into the glass serving platters, keeping the cakes pristine even after being sliced. Stellar nodded to herself. Magic had such wonderful and yet simple uses at times, and it was woven into the very fabric of this society. No wonder they'd advanced so far without the benefits of a bipedal stance or even manipulative digits, like the griffins or minotaurs had. The ponies' control and use of magic tended to counter the difficulties of their form quite adequately.

Then she saw the guards in the hallway outside stiffen and come to attention. She stood herself as the serving staff bowed deeply, and Celestia appeared. Stellar noted that she had a tendency to give a nod to almost everyone she passed, and graced the serving mares with a caring smile. 'She really is a kind and caring leader.' Stellar thought to herself.

Then Celestia turned her gaze to Stellar, who bowed her head deeply. As she was an alicorn, Stellar knew she and the Princess were separated by only a few steps of rank, unlike the other ponies. Celestia grinned and walked over. "Stellar Light Sparkle!" Celestia said welcomingly. "I am so happy to see you again. Come, sit with me and share some time with me. After the day's trials, I shall welcome some pleasant company."

"It would be my pleasure, Celestia." Stellar replied, and sat near to Celestia beside a small table. Twilight had revealed to Stellar that Celestia liked to be more intimate with those she trusted during quiet times, and that she should treat Celestia as more like a family member than a monarch when they were 'alone'. Stellar knew Twilight meant 'Alone' as being with only guards and palace staff, since they were everywhere around Celestia, discretely providing support, security and comfort for both members of their Diarchy.

After Celestia had chosen one cake out of the trio provided, Stellar merely sat with Celestia and enjoyed time with her, eating cake and sipping tea, allowing Celestia to completely relax before asking her request. Stellar was surprised that Celestia actually discussed matters of state and public affairs with her, not because she didn't consider Stellar to be capable of understanding them, but because she was such a relative newcomer to the society, as well as being a pony in general. But then she came to a realisation: It was exactly because of that that Celestia wanted her opinions. Stellar could take a step back from Pony Society as a whole and look at it from a unique perspective, almost an alien one, in a way. She tried to give Celestia the best opinion and advice she could with what little she knew, and a lot of the time Celestia seemed satisfied.

"So, what brings you to my parlor, Stellar?" Celestia finally asked. "I understand you and Twilight have been having fun this afternoon?"

Stellar chuckled. "Yeah, Twilight's been helping me refine my flying." She confirmed.

Celestia sighed happily. "I do so love to go flying myself, when I get the chance." She said. "The air under one's wings, through one's mane and tail, the freedom of the skies..." Stellar could see Celestia was remembering the best flights of her life. Celestia then sighed. "But my duties mean that opportunities are few and far between, sadly." She looked at Stellar. "One piece of advice I will give you, Stellar. As an alicorn, take to the wing as much as you can, before duties or anything else tries to harness you to the ground. You will never regret the times you have spent on the wing." Celestia said, her face showing Stellar she was being very serious about what she had said.

Stellar nodded. "I plan to. Once I become truly proficient in my ability to fly, I intend to spend as much time on the wing as Rainbow Dash does... or as close to it as possible." She told Celestia.

Celestia smiled. "I can believe you completely in that, Stellar." She said. "Maybe we four should go for a flight now and then, as a group. The common pony would find it a treat, to see us out and about together."

Stellar grinned. "I'd like that very much, Celestia."

"Good." Celestia replied, smiling broadly. "Now, your question." She encouraged Stellar.

"I find myself trying to find my place here." Stellar told Celestia. "I know Twilight is an accomplished mage and the Bearer of the Element of Magic, so it's a natural for her. But as I told Father the night before... I am no mage like her. I can use magic, but not in the same way."

Celestia nodded. "Go on."

"The few memories that are clearest to me, besides music... is of combat." Stellar said. "Of training to fight, using weapons that... stagger the mind. But also of intensive hand-to-hand training, and use of bladed weapons of many sizes and lengths." She detailed for Celestia. "Everything about what I know says that I was a warrior of some kind in my last life... and that what I remember about that is extremely important, or it would have been edited from my memories like everything else is being erased. But I don't know how to fight as a pony... yet. Some things I remember I can adapt and fairly quickly... but I don't know how we truly fight as a race. Unicorns, Pegasi, and Earth Ponies: they must all have their various styles and abilities in combat, using their peculiar and personal types of magic, or only unicorns would be here amongst the Guard. So... I need your advice in finding somepony to train my in the Martial arts here, including magic where it's not only appropriate, but everything I am capable of learning." Stellar listed off for Celestia.

Celestia took a sip of her renewed tea, and nodded. "You have given this a great deal of thought, I can see." She stated. "Have you any suggestions of your own, or anypony that's been suggested to you?"

"Actually, your own sister, Luna, was suggested to me by more than one pony." Stellar answered. "Apparently, she was well-trained in the martial arts and magics of fighting long before she became Nightmare Moon."

Celestia nodded. "Indeed, Luna is a warrior-mage of great renown, both back then and now." She confirmed. "Of course, I am no... what is the term? Oh yes, 'slouch', when it comes to combat, but Luna truly enjoyed being trained and does so love sparring with someone close to her ability." Celestia revealed.

Stellar nodded. "So I have heard."

Celestia put down her teacup, as Stellar sipped at her refilled one. "Then I would suggest you... 'hang around', as is said, until Luna awakens for her nightly duties." Celestia told Stellar. "Perhaps it is time she chose a student to tutor. I know it has brought me unparalleled joy in my life with Twilight. Maybe it will do so for her as well."

Stellar thought on this. "Then I shall." She agreed. "I would be honored to be trained by such as Luna, on any world."

Celestia smiled. "Then, please, stay. I will enjoy your company."

"I would be honored to be company for you too, Celestia." Stellar grinned at the older alicorn Princess. "There is a saying I still remember: 'Learning is Life, Knowledge is Power'."

Celestia nodded. "That sounds like something Marechiavelli might have said." She commented. "So, shall we enjoy learning from one another?"

Stellar grinned. "By all means."

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

Luna rose at her normal time, washed and was groomed by her staff, then walked through to the dining room she and Celestia used for their time together, where their shifts crossed over. But she was surprised when she heard laughter coming from the room, and from more than one pony. "I wonder who my sister is talking to? It sounds like Twilight.... but that laugh is not hers." Puzzled, she walked on to the door.

Inside, she saw Celestia and somepony she thought was Twilight, until she saw the cutie-mark and realised this was Stellar Light, Twilight's new sister. She smiled at the look of happiness and aura of joy coming from her sister as she entered the room fully. "Luna!" Celestia said as she got to her feet and moved to Luna. Luna was surprised when Celestia actually moved right up to her and nuzzled her tenderly. If Luna could have purred like a cat, she would have. Instead, she nickered softly and returned her sister's loving gesture. "Dearest Sister, I am so pleased to see you." Celestia told Luna. "Did you sleep well?"

"Very well, dear Celestia." Luna replied, happiness infusing her tone. "You seem very happy this evening." She turned to Stellar, who was standing, head bowed, as all the staff were bowing to her, heads close to the floor. "You may all rise." Luna said, her presence at this time overshadowing Celestia's naturally, since she was the dominant Princess after Dusk. As the staff rose to their hoofs, Luna turned to Stellar and said "And welcome to you too, Stellar Sparkle."

"Thank you, Princess Luna." Stellar replied.

"Please, you may omit our title in our presence." Luna told Stellar. "Save for when and where it is entirely appropriate, of course." As they all sat, Luna smiled at Stellar. "Am I to correctly assume you are the cause of my sister's jovial mood this evening?" Luna asked Stellar, although she was looking at Celestia's beaming face. "Surely, she is as happy as if she had been personally visited by Pinkie Pie."

Stellar chuckled. "We've been sharing stories and knowledge." Stellar answered Luna.

"And having a grand time doing so!" Celestia exclaimed, still radiating happiness.

Luna was grinning herself. She hadn't seen Celestia so happy from an afternoon of conversation in ages. "So, shall you enlighten me as to if anything substantial has come of this afternoon of delightful anecdotes and tales?"

"Indeed." Celestia answered. "Stellar has a request for you, dear Luna."

Luna looked at Stellar. "Indeed?" She asked.

"Yes, I do." Stellar replied, getting serious. "Luna, would you teach me everything you know about combat, both physical and magical? I can't help feeling it's my calling in this life to be a warrior." She explained.

Luna took it seriously. "I see. You wish to be my student in the Martial arts, then?"

"It would be an honor and a privilege." Stellar replied.

Luna nodded. "Indeed, it would be." She agreed. After a few minutes of thought, she looked at Stellar and nodded. "Yes. It is about time I trained someone in all the aspects of warfare and combat I know." She looked at Celestia. "If my sister can train Twilight to become the mage she is today, then I should do the same and train you to be the best warrior I am capable of making you, Stellar Sparkle.”

Stellar bowed deeply to Luna. “I am honored.” She told Luna.

“Then we shall announce to Canterlot and the rest of Equestria of your existence and your new position on the morrow, Stellar.” Celestia added. “I shall have the royal pages put out announcements this evening, and begin the planning before I retire, Luna, while you raise the moon.” Celestia told Luna.

Luna nodded and walked out to go raise the moon. “Get used to late nights, Stellar Sparkle. You will be spending a lot of time awake from now on.”

“Sounds like old times, then.” Stellar commented after Luna left.

Celestia nodded. “I shall leave you too, Stellar. There is much to be done before the morning.”

“And I’ll go tell my family the news.” Stellar replied as she got to her hoofs as well. “A good night to you, Celestia. Sweet dreams.”

“And to you, Stellar.” Celestia said warmly, before calling her staff together.

Stellar headed back to the Sparkle Mansion, hoping that things would go well tomorrow...

==================================

The morning of the announcement of Stellar's existence to the assembled nobles of Canterlot saw Stellar and the three Princesses in a room off the Audience Hall. Celestia, Luna and Twilight were wearing their normal court regalia, but Stellar didn't have anything like that to wear. "I don't need it, really. After all, I'm not getting crowned today, just accepting being appointed your student, Luna." She pointed out.

"Very true, Stellar Sparkle, but you really should show that we are to be partnered a little more clearly." Luna replied, frowning with a little concern.

"Maybe a set of Guard armor might be suitable?" Twilight suggested.

"Possibly..." Celestia replied, then looked at Luna. "Sister, would you allow me to induct Stellar into the Royal Guard?" She asked.

Luna then smiled back at Celestia. "No, Sister. I shall do it. If she is to be my student, then Stellar should be inducted into the Lunar Guard." She said with confidence. Luna looked at one of the thestral members of her day-guard platoon and said "Please have a set of officer's dress armor delivered here, with a sabrehorn's helmet and the shoulder-guards for a night-wing."

The guard-thestral, who was a nightwalker, the thestral equivalent of an earth pony, came to attention and saluted, replying with "At once, Your Highness!" And he slipped out of the room.

Celestia and Twilight stood back, as Luna faced Stellar directly. "Now, for the proper formalities." She addressed Stellar directly. "Stellar Light Sparkle, do you solemnly swear to uphold the traditions of the Royal Canterlot Guard, the Royal Solar Guard and the Royal Lunar Guard, to honor their history and protect your Princesses to the best of your ability?" Luna asked Stellar.

"I do swear to uphold the traditions of the Royal Canterlot Guard, the Royal Solar Guard and the Royal Lunar Guard, to honor their history and protect my Princesses to the best of my ability." Stellar repeated in a very serious voice.

Celestia nodded as Luna said "Then it is my honor and privilege to induct you as a lieutenant in the Royal Lunar Guard, effective immediately." She stated, as the Thestral guard returned with another thestral, this one a sabrehorn sargeant, a set of armor in baskets on their backs. Luna nodded approvingly. "Sargeant." She addressed the newcomer. "Equip this lieutenant for her duty in attending us in Court this day." Luna ordered.

"Aye, Your Highness!" The sargeant answered, and proceeded to equip Stellar with the dark blue armor of the Lunar Guard. Stellar allowed this to be done, knowing the traditions behind it. The sargeant then locked lieutenant's rank insignia on her helmet, chestplate and shoulder-guards. Once he was finished, he stood back and saluted Stellar, who returned his salute. Then they all turned and saluted the three Princesses. Luna returned their salute while Celestia and Twilight just nodded to them.

Luna then told the sargeant "Sargeant, pass the word to the Captain of the Night Guard when he awakens that I wish to see him, to introduce his latest officer to him and to the ranks of the Lunar Guard."

"Aye, Your Highness!" The Sargeant saluted and left, as the guard-thestral took his place again.

Twilight and Celestia applauded, smiles on their faces, and Stellar bowed to them. "Very well done, Luna, Stellar. Now you are a part of our service. This will help greatly with the announcement of your existence and commission." Celestia said.

"Yeah, Sis. That armor really suits you." Twilight commented.

Stellar wriggled a little in the armor. "It's... actually, it's a little small, but I'll get used to it, I'm sure." She said. "I don't think they'd ever considered having an alicorn in the Lunar Guard besides you, Luna, and you have your own armor."

"Very true, Stellar Sparkle." Luna admitted. "We shall commission a proper set of armor for you, once the formalities are out of the way."

"Thank you, Luna." Stellar said.

Then the bell-chimes sounded, indicating the doors to the Audience Hall had been opened to allow the nobles and others into the hall. Celestia knew that matters like this were all for show, since such things had to be seen in public for the nobles to accept them as fact, instead of gossip. Celestia looked at her fellow alicorns and said "Very well, everypony, let us be ready. The show is about to start..."

==================================

As Day Court assembled, the air amongst the assembled Nobles was one of boredom and some curiosity. Celestia had posted notices the previous night that she had an announcement to make to all of those who would attend. The fact she hadn't made a much bigger announcement had the crowd's attention. There had been rumors amongst the residents of Canterlot that another alicorn had been spotted walking around and flying over the city during the last few days, although some said that it was merely Princess Twilight Sparkle... but then, others had sworn that she had been in two places at once, and the second Twilight had a very different cutie mark to the one Princess Sparkle was known to have. This speculation had fuelled the nobles' curiosity even further, so many had turned up to see if this 'announcement' might solve the mystery. The Royal Canterlot Gossip was spreading through the crowd like a whirlpool of verbal activity, swirling around and changing as if alive.

Then the gong sounded for the beginning of Day Court, and everyone knew something big was brewing when not just Celestia, but Luna and Twilight Sparkle appeared in their normal regalia. Those who were close to the pulse of royal society knew that this was very unusual. Princess Sparkle hardly ever appeared like this on the dais with the other princesses, but she seemed to be taking Princess Cadance's place for this event.  The presence of the younger princess was cause for much speculation, since it was well-known that she disliked much of the pomp and ceremony of her royal duties. The gathered nobles were especially speculative, because the ones closest to the dais could see that she was genuinely happy to be there. Plus her parents were also in the crowd.

Amadeus Blueblood and his son were standing on the opposite side of the room to the Sparkles, and Amadeus was frowning. "What do you think it means, Father?" Prince Blueblood asked, his face neutral.

"I do not know." Amadeus replied. "There was no pretext, no official announcement besides the event being registered. Gossip has been... unusually restrained, or confused." He went on. "This is... unsettling. Celestia is never this restrained normally when she has that smug look on her face." He said with a scowl.

"Hopefully, this will not set back our plans." Blueblood said softly.

Amadeus just nodded. His son had spoken carefully, so he did not admonish him, and to do so to the casual reply would have drawn attention to their house, something that they did not need at this time. Then they saw the Princesses flip open their wings, and the official music silenced.

"Mares and Gentlecolts of Canterlot!" Celestia began. "It is with a great honor that I announce that a house in Canterlot has been privileged in a way that is almost unprecedented. Recent events have revealed the existence of a fourth alicorn in Equestria!"

There was a wave of gasps and chatter through the crowd, but Amadeus said nothing. He was watching the others intently. Then he groaned softly.

"Father?" Blueblood asked, confused.

"The Sparkles." Amadeus said, his voice full of disguised disgust and anger. "They didn't react to the announcement."

Blueblood may have been rash at times and merely still a student of his father's ways, but it struck him immediately. "Then, they're the ones Celestia talked about!" He hissed very softly.

"Indeed." Amadeus looked fit to kill as they saw something that had him cursing the fickleness of Fate. A figure walked out from the side of the dais, not down the long walk, and she was unadorned. Instead of royal regalia, she was wearing a set of Lunar Guard ceremonial armor and that made him pause for a second. He then looked at Celestia again and realised neither she nor Luna were in their coronation regalia. This confused him greatly.

Then Celestia went on as the figure turned to the trio of alicorns and bowed deeply. "We present to you all, Princess Twilight Sparkle's twin sister, thought to be lost to the ages and now returned as an alicorn in her own right! We present to you, Stellar Light Sparkle!"

Stellar turned and bowed to the assembled nobility and ponies of Canterlot, and wherever. Amadeus gave Stellar a very close inspection. The armor she wore, a little bit more formal and complete than the Lunar Guard wore on duty, showed her easily as almost identical to Twilight, save for her cutie-mark, which Amadeus took note of very closely. The Sparkle Star was expected, but the sword and shield was definitely different. It was obvious to him that this individual was very different from her counterpart up on the stage. He also noted she was wearing lieutenant's rank on the armor, showing she'd already been commissioned into the Lunar Guard.

"Although Stellar Light Sparkle is an alicorn and has proven herself to possess the talents of all three pony types, she has declined to be coronated at this time." Celestia then revealed, causing even louder chatter from the assembled crowd. "She has stated that she is not ready to assume any royal privilege and duties at this time, because she lacks the proper training of a princess. We have seen the logic of her argument and we three have agreed to her remaining as she is, with concessions to her status as part of a noble family as well as a commission with the Lunar Guard." Celestia detailed to the crowd.

Amadeus was genuinely surprised at that. Then his eyes narrowed. "That is some statement, Princess." He muttered. "So what have you decided?"

Blueblood himself was scowling fiercely. "She rejected the offer of being crowned?!" He hissed in his father's direction. "That... commoner! Doesn't she realise there are those who would give a hind leg for such?"

"Quiet, Son." Amadeus told him. As Blueblood turned to look at his father, his deep scowl changing slightly to one of confusion, Amadeus added "There's more going on here than meets the eye. This has been carefully orchestrated, I am sure."

Blueblood's anger didn't subside, but he remained silent and returned to watching.

"But as she will eventually be required to accept her coronation, we have seen fit to have her educated in the ways of Royal Duty and Privilege." Celestia went on. "Therefore, we have committed Lieutenant Stellar Light Sparkle to be the personal student of Princess Luna, as her sister was my own personal student." Celestia revealed.

That got a round of applause from most of the assembled ponies, but Amadeus could see his son was boiling over with anger. Before Amadeus could stop him, Blueblood launched himself forward and yelled out "STOP THIS!"

There were gasps as the assembly watched him walk out, glaring at Stellar, who moved aside slightly and faced him. "I say stop this at once! How dare you come before us and claim this, before all the others who deserve this far more than you do!" Blueblood vented at Stellar.

Celestia was shocked, for the first time in a while. She looked at Luna, who shrugged.

Blueblood got right in Stellar's face. "I do not know who you really are, but even if you are a real alicorn, you cannot be who you say you are! How DARE you try and usurp such privilege!"

Stellar's face became a snarl. "You would gainsay the Princess' will?" She asked him in a barely-controlled tone of suppressed rage.

Blueblood answered in a similar tone. "I would do ANYTHING to protect the sanctity of the Royalty from being sullied by the likes of YOU!" He yelled back at her. "Nopony such as you deserves to be anywhere near our beloved Princesses, let alone a student of one!"

Celestia was about to open her mouth to speak, when Blueblood said "I formally challenge you, Sparkle! I claim the right to your announced privilege, as you are unfit to claim it!"

Celestia was shocked. The challenge her nephew was claiming was ancient, yes, and unused for centuries, but it was still valid. The Nobles had made sure it was kept active for their own purposes, and not even she could stop it, now that the challenge was issued.

"You want a piece of me, Blueballs?" Stellar replied, her own anger blatant on her face.

There was another wave of shock that went through the crowd at Stellar's mis-saying of Blueblood's name.

Blueblood got even angrier at this. "Now you insult my noble family name!"

"Just as you have insulted mine and my honor!" Stellar replied, cutting him off. "You want this, name the time and place!"

Blueblood smirked. "One hour, the Royal Guards arena." He answered.

"Accepted." Stellar said, drawing herself up to look down at him.

Blueblood smirk grew wider. "Then prepare to meet your maker."

"You first." Stellar simply replied, as she turned and bowed to the Princesses, then walked off the way she had come.

Blueblood turned, bowed to his aunts and Twilight, then walked back over to where his father was waiting, by a special door.

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

After they'd left the Throne Room, Amadeus glared at his son. "That was reckless!" He said. "Admirable, but reckless."

"It had to be done, father." Blueblood said. "One Sparkle as a princess is bad enough, but two! And I should have been the Princess' student, not either of them!"

Amadeus sighed. "Very true, my son, but your challenging this newcomer is, as I said, reckless. We have no idea of her talents or abilities." He admitted.

"Do you not think I can defeat her, Father? I am the finest fencer in Canterlot!" Blueblood boasted, if truthfully. "I will defeat her easily with my special blades."

Amadeus scowled. "I thought you were saving those for the right time, my son."

"And this is the right time. I shall defeat her and claim what is rightfully mine! Once I am living in the palace, then we can gain access much more easily than having to rely on one of the guards." He pointed out. "And if she dies... she is a mere commoner still, not entitled or royalty. Her name will be forgotten in a few years, as I advance to my proper place."

Amadeus sighed, but nodded. "Then let us prepare."

Blueblood nodded back and they headed to the exit.

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

At the same time, the Princesses headed into the waiting room they'd been in before the session, where Stellar was standing, shedding the armor of Luna's Night Guard. "What was that?" Twilight asked Stellar.

"That was me defending myself, our family and our honor." Stellar said, as she put aside the helmet. "If that pompous plot-head thinks I'm backing down because he has a title and an attitude, he's got another think coming."

Twilight was surprised. Stellar's voice was calm and cool, as if nothing had just happened. "You know he's going to ask to go to the Death, don't you?" She asked Stellar.

"Fine by me." Stellar replied. "After I hand him his heart, then we'll see how big a stallion he is."

Luna looked at Celestia, then at her nod, left. "I hope there is one thing you realise, Stellar." Celestia told Stellar and Twilight. "Blueblood is a master fencer. He is sure to bring his blades with him."

"You mean those four-foot-long, double-ended blades?" Stellar asked.

"Yes." Celestia replied. "They are used by master unicorn fencers throughout the better schools."

Stellar nodded. "I see. Looks like I'm gonna have to improvise a bit, but I know how to fight against someone with a blade." She told them.

"And he'll have fencing armor on." Twilight reminded Stellar.

Stellar nodded. "Then I'll have to get some better armor of my own, then. Won't I?" She asked, her voice and manner still tightly controlled and calm.

"Then perhaps this will do." Luna said as she entered, an old chest floating along in her magic.

Stellar and Twilight were both very curious when Celestia smiled. "A very good choice, my sister." Celestia said as Luna put the chest down.

Twilight could see the latch of the lock had the Sparkle Star on it, with a pair of wings attached to the sides of the star. "Is... is this from our family?" She asked as Stellar touched the lock and pulled her hoof back as it sprung open.

Celestia nodded as Stellar opened the lid to reveal a set of red armor with silver edging in a slightly older style than the Royal Guard's armor. "This is the armor of Canopus Star." She answered Twilight's question.

Stellar heard Twilight give a gasp of surprise as she lifted the helmet out, noting the winged Sparkle Star on the forehead of the helmet and a rank insignia above it where her horn would have normally slid through. "General Canopus Star?" Twilight replied, astonished. "But..."

"Yes. The general left his armor here to the Crown when he left the service of the Crown." Luna replied. "His great-sword is supposedly somewhere in the palace as well, but we have not found it yet. Also, the armor set is incomplete. Most of the side-and flank-rump-plates are missing, as are the main shoulder-guards, especially made for a pegasus warrior." She told them.

"So... Canopus Star was a pegasus?" Stellar asked as she looked the rest of the armor over.

"Yes. He was the general who ended the Draco-Griffin war for us." Celestia informed the Twins. "His name is greatly renowned."

Stellar nodded as she noticed that the general's rank insignia above the visor was on an extended piece. Frowning, she turned the helmet over and looked inside, noting there was a hole through the forehead armor right where... She pressed the piece out of the hole and noticed it took the general's rank insignia with it, leaving a hole perfectly aligned for a horn. Stellar slid the helmet on and secured it. "It fits almost perfectly." She said.

Celestia nodded. "You are almost the same size as Canopus Star was." She said. "Please, wear this again to honor your Great-uncle."

Stellar nodded as she slid the armor into place. The pieces fit her well, although she had to bulk up a little in a few places to make the armor fit properly, like her shoulders and legs. The back-plate and neck-guards fit her almost perfectly as they were, but she felt a little unprotected from behind. "This almost feels as if it was made for me." She told the others.

"Then wear it and fight with honor, Stellar Sparkle, my student." Luna told Stellar.

Stellar turned to Luna and saluted her, a salute Luna returned.

"Now, let us go over the rules of the Challenge Combat." Luna said to Stellar, who sat and listened intently.

==================================

An hour later, the arena was filled with Canterlot nobles and common folk alike, to witness a spectacle that hadn't been seen in a hundred years: a death duel. Stellar and Blueblood walked out into the arena at the same time from opposite doors. Stellar was wearing Canopus Star's armor with a few modifications, like a modern armored visor and wing-covers; while Blueblood was wearing a custom-fitted suit of fencing armor, a light armor that covered everywhere including the upper legs, his in a deep blue with his family crest on the chest-plate. Stellar noted he had four of the fencing blades in sheaths alongside the armor. She, in turn, had no weapons save for her wits and training.

Captain Flash Sentry was appointed Chief Marshal, and waved them forward. Once they were out in the middle of the arena, all three turned towards the royal box and while Sentry and Stellar saluted, Blueblood just bowed.

Flash Sentry looked at the two. He knew what Blueblood was capable of, but this Stellar Sparkle was an unknown. The way she held herself, however, showed she had a military background and that she was very well-disciplined. He then said "We are here to see a duel between Prince Blueblood and..." He looked at the card he had in his hoof, "...Lieutenant Stellar Light Sparkle of the Lunar Guard." There was a bit of chatter in the stands as Blueblood frowned, but Luna nodded at Flash Sentry, who nodded back. "Does either party wish to repudiate their claim to this duel and settle the matter peacefully?" Flash Sentry asked, as a matter of protocol.

"No, Sir." Stellar replied.

"Never." Blueblood then replied.

Flash Sentry sighed and nodded. "The terms are a fight to the death." He looked up at Celestia, who nodded with a grim look on her face. She didn't really like Blueblood as much as he thought she did, but he was one of her ponies and she hated losing any of them. Stellar was an alicorn, if a relative new-comer, and her death would be felt for centuries to come if she were to die. But her hoofs were tied.

Flash Sentry nodded back to Celestia, then looked at both combatants. "Very well! Both parties come to the center and touch hoofs, then retreat thirty paces away from the center. When I close the door, you may begin combat." He told them.

Stellar and Blueblood came together before Flash Sentry and touched hoofs.

"I shall see you delivered to Tarterus today." Blueblood said in a steady voice, but with a cruel sneer on his otherwise-handsome face.

"You first." Stellar replied again, her face rock-steady. Then she turned and marched away, her wings slightly deployed from her sides as she walked off. Stellar was reviewing everything she'd learned from Twilight, Luna and Celestia about the rules and what magic was allowed. No projected shields, no energy bolts, no nasty magic. Otherwise, anything went. She reviewed all her other abilities, including the schools of martial arts she'd been trained in, and nodded to herself. She had a chance even against his blades.

Blueblood slid one of his blades from it's scabbard as he walked along, testing it's balance and his control. It was perfect, as usual. These weren't his usual steel blades, though. These were a forbidden weapon, blades made of orichalcum, deadly to Alicorns since they made normal magic healing impossible in the Royal ponies. If he could plant them in the mare's chest or somewhere else vital, she would be dead very quickly. Her armor was the only unknown about her, as far as Blueblood was concerned. The strange armor was similar to that the Guards wore, but it's color was unfamiliar and it was more complete than the normal ceremonial armor. It would make things more difficult, but not impossible. All he needed was a short time, the proper opening, and one blade. He turned after walking thirty paces and focused, putting the mare directly in his sights. As the door locked shut, he grunted and the blade shot forward, with her running right towards it. Blueblood smiled. This would be easier than he thought...

Stellar reached the required distance and turned, focusing on Blueblood. She knew he was unlikely to move, sending his blades to do their dirty work for him. She needed to rattle him early in the fight, to break his confidence and his focus or get him mad as hay so it would have the same effect. Smiling, her plan formed in her head and she got ready to sprint. As the door closed, she took off at a fast gallop, sprinting across the space...

Just as Blueblood's blade came close to Stellar, her horn lit up and she Blinked, the spell taking her across the arena instantly and, with her momentum, she flicked herself around and drove a huge buck into Blueblood's chest, smashing the light armor there with her heavily-armored hoofs. Blueblood's breath abandoned him almost at once as he was flipped backwards. As Stellar had him off-balance, she turned and drove blow after blow into his chest and barrel, her hoofs tipped with a green glow. The small shields stuck to her hoofs and amplified their hitting power, cracking his thin armor and breaking bones as well as powerfully bruising muscles. As Blueblood realised he'd been out-maneuvered, Stellar finished her sweeping motion and knocked his hind-legs out from under him, smashing into the backs of both fetlock bones and shattering one of them with her hoof. Then she ran off, leaving him to impact the arena floor and lose sight of her.

Twilight was half-way to her hoofs as she saw Stellar Blink across the arena and slam into Blueblood. Twilight had known that Stellar could fight, but she had just surprised even Celestia and Luna by the prowess she'd shown. Celestia looked at Luna as Blueblood hit the ground and nodded to her sister. Luna looked back, a little shock on her face, but then she smiled and nodded back.

Blueblood rolled over, coughing violently as he regained his breath. He'd never been hit that hard in his life, not even as a foal by his father. He felt at least four ribs were broken and his armor was shattered in several places, testament to the power of the blows that had hit him. Growling hoarsely, he got to his hoofs, to feel one of the rear ones seemingly on fire. He shuffled his weight onto the good hoof and looked about for Stellar.

Stellar, meanwhile, was looking for where Blueblood's blade had fallen. Finding it as the stallion rolled over, she rose to her hind-legs, the shield-blades forming on her fore-hoofs again, one shaped like a block-splitter on her right hoof. She held down the blade with her left, then, with a mighty shout, she slammed the splitter-blade-shield down on the center of the blade. With a crack that was heard across the arena, it shattered into dozens of pieces. Then she was off and running again.

"Did she just...?" Twilight asked, astonished.

Celestia smiled as Luna stared, jaw agape. "Indeed, she did." Celestia answered. "I have not seen that technique used in quite a long time." Celestia frowned. "I wonder... did she learn it from somewhere, or did she just come up with it by herself?" She asked.

Blueblood was furious now. Nopony touched him, ever! Nopony could ever hurt him! He drew the three remaining blades from his sides and launched them at Stellar, intending to skewer her.

Stellar saw Blueblood's reaction and smiled. She knew she'd rattled him severely and he was running on rage now. She felt the blades coming towards her and prepared. She focused on one in particular and flipped into the air. As she grabbed the blade she was after, letting it hit the shield around her left hoof as she grabbed it with her right, the second one passed under her and she spun in mid-air, her rear left hoof kicking the third blade, sending it spinning. She did land a little awkwardly, but she was dealing with a body not truly designed for the moves she'd used. However, she had what she wanted and spared no time in shattering the second blade as she'd done the first once she regained her balance.

Then she Blinked.

Blueblood had hardly any time to react as he saw and heard his second blade shattered, when Stellar appeared beside him. She let fly with a roundhouse kick, slamming a shielded hoof into his jaw through his cheek-guard and breaking it, as well as knocking several teeth out. Then she was away again.

Blueblood screamed as he slammed into the arena floor again, blood and spittle flying out of his mouth as the crowd cheered. Twilight was sitting up, applauding her sister, while Luna just nodded. "As you said, Sister; there is much more to her than meets the eye."

Celestia just nodded as Stellar sought to relocate the remaining blades. She found one easily, shooting around the arena aimlessly, while the one she'd kicked was nowhere to be seen. Focusing on the remaining one, she turned to grab it while Blueblood was rolling on the ground in agony and pounded it into the arena's surface, smashing it like the others. Unable to locate the remaining blade, she instead headed for Blueblood.

Blueblood was dizzy, the pain in his broken jaw adding to the agony of the other wounds, but he kept his head as he saw Stellar coming towards him. "This is how you wanted it." She called out to him.

"Yes, it is!" He stated through his clenched jaw, as the fourth blade, which he'd kept his mind locked on, clumsily but forcefully pierced Stellar's left shoulder, burying itself to the bone.

It was Stellar's turn to scream, but she only staggered with the force of the blow. To Blueblood's shock, she didn't go down as he'd expected, but stood there glaring at him as he got to his feet...

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

Deep in the archives, at the moment Stellar was injured, a box shook violently and exploded. A long object ablaze with Light energy shot out of it and through the storage area doors. Turning down a corridor, it raced for the outside, barely dodging around ponies in it's way as it flew towards the arena.

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

Blueblood stood waveringly on his three hoofs, the hind right one unable to take weight. But Stellar just stood there, blood trickling down her left shoulder and leg, yet still upright. "Now... time to finish this." He said to her, an evil grin on his broken face as blood trickled out of the corner of his jaw. "I will kill you right now."

But Stellar's eyes widened as she felt something coming... Then she saw a black figure behind Blueblood, looking at him: a black, ghostly alicorn. Stellar saw it glance at her, then turn as if to listen to something coming from the Palace. Then she turned back to look at Blueblood, a smile on her face. "You're not going to do anything, because YOU'RE ALREADY DEAD!" She yelled, just as something smashed through the iron doors to the arena, splitting them and bending them inwards. Blueblood didn't even have time to turn as the object flashed across the arena and buried itself in Blueblood's rear, skewering him from plot to chest.

Amadeus was on his feet, his face draining of blood as he saw his son die before his eyes... by something neither one had ever counted on.

Blueblood, though, was still alive. Shockingly, the blow, although it had knocked him twenty feet forward, wasn't immediately fatal. But he couldn't move. His broken jaw hung open, his eyes were wide with shock as his internal organs bled openly and his mind shut down.

Stellar saw, as she moved closer, that the object had been a great-sword, which was now sticking half-a-foot out of Blueblood's chest, the only thing having stopped it from going right through him was the thick cross-guard that touched his tail and his balls.

Everypony in the arena was on their hoofs, the Princesses included, as Stellar reached Blueblood. Snarling at him, she said "You bleeding idiot, I was trying not to have to kill you. I told you you'd see Tarterus before me. You should have believed me." With a scream, she pulled Blueblood's last blade from her shoulder with her magic, switched it to her right front hoof, and then she shouted again as she buried it through Blueblood's lower jaw from below, straight up through his skull and brain, to leave it sticking just under a foot out of his head just behind his horn. Stellar watched as the light died in Blueblood's eyes. Considering the injuries the great-sword had done to him, Stellar considered it a mercy killing. Plus it sent a message to everypony there, that she could kill and would without hesitation, if necessary.

As Stellar staggered back a little, concentrating on herself and holding the  pierced artery in her shoulder closed with her magic, the sword glowed again and swiftly but smoothly slid out of Blueblood's body, letting it fall to the ground. It then turned as Stellar watched it, coming up vertical before her as it floated there, runes of power glowing along it's flats. It's silver and red colors left her in no doubt that this was the missing great-sword of Canopus Star, even if the Sparkle Star hadn't been on it's cross-guard. The sword floated towards her as the crowd held it's collective voice and stopped before her, glowing brilliantly with white light. Stellar felt it's power, calm and soothing to her, as she instinctively got to her hind-hoofs and reached for it, taking it in her kinetic fingers.

The sword reacted, white light blazing around Stellar as more runes of power appeared on her armor as well as the sword. Twilight could see from where she was standing that the wound on Stellar's shoulder closed and healed over, the blood vanishing from her body. Stellar held the sword up high over her head, head thrown back and wings spread wide, and shouted a phrase that only three others understood as "GRANDFATHER, I ACCEPT!"

Then the light faded, revealing that a large scabbard had appeared on Stellar's back. She flipped the sword around and slid it perfectly into the scabbard over her shoulder. Her eyes were still glowing, then they faded as she dropped to her hoofs, then to her plot and down to her barrel, panting to regain her breath.

Twilight took off and flew down to the arena floor as medics raced out through the smashed gate. Realising there was little they could do for Blueblood, they turned to Stellar and ministered to her as Twilight trotted over. After a few minutes, they turned to look at Twilight and said "She's just exhausted, Princess. The wound's completely closed over."

Twilight nodded as Flash Sentry approached, banner beside him. Twilight stepped back as Stellar looked up at him. "I take it... that I have... satisfied... the laws of the Challenge... Captain?" She asked, panting as she drew breath.

"You have, Lieutenant." Flash Sentry replied, and held up his banner. Cheering and applause washed out of the crowd and over the arena, as Celestia and Luna politely applauded Stellar while she staggered to her hoofs. Stellar turned to the Royal Box, saluted and bowed to the Princesses there, then after taking Luna's return salute and Celestia's nod, she turned and walked with Twilight out of the arena, Flash Sentry walking behind them.

==================================

Nopony noticed Amadeus Blueblood leave the arena. He quickly headed for his house, his plans now in tatters. Not only was his idiot son dead, but now there were four alicorns in Equestria as well as one in the Crystal Empire. No, only escape was left to him as a plan, and he would take everything he felt worth anything. Everything else... would be disposed of.

==================================

Stellar walked only as far as she needed to, before Twilight 'ported them to her old rooms in the Palace. Stellar barely made it to the bathroom before bringing the light meal she'd had before the fight back up again, not even Twilight's anti-nausea spell able to save her stomach. She knew it wasn't the sight she'd seen. Part of her knew she'd seen more horrible ways to die than what Blueblood had suffered, but she was still weak from the fight and being wounded. The sword's magic had healed her, but her system was still partially in shock due to blood loss and the shock of the wound, let alone being teleported right after that.

Twilight helped Stellar to the lounge and settled her onto it as Celestia and Luna walked in. Stellar tried to get up, but both Princesses waved her down. "A fine display of martial talent, Stellar Sparkle. We are greatly impressed." Luna then said.

"Thank you, Princess." Stellar said. "Does that mean I'm still going to be your student?" She asked.

Celestia stifled a giggle as Luna grinned. "More than that, my friend." She answered. "I am taking you on as an apprentice, not just a student. I will train you in every form of martial combat, both physical and metaphysical, that I know of, as well as other schools of magic that relate to combat."

"Then I am more than honored, Luna. I am privileged beyond words." Stellar told her.

"I am glad." Luna said. "And I am honored that you want me to teach you, too, Stellar Sparkle. I just hope I am as good a tutor as my sister is."

Celestia slid a wing over Luna's withers. "You will do just fine, My Sister." Celestia told Luna. "I have every confidence in you."

"As do I." Stellar added, walking up to Luna and holding out a hoof.

Luna smiled at Stellar and took it, shaking their hoofs for three pumps then letting go. "Very well then, Stellar Sparkle." Luna told her. "I expect you to be here for the Night Court three days from now, when your training will begin."

Stellar nodded and saluted Luna, then they all relaxed, letting Stellar recover...

==================================

05: History

05: Equipped

The morning after her return to Canterlot found Stellar walking down to the barracks with Luna beside her. It was still dark outside, but Stellar knew she'd have to get used to operating during odd hours. "The Captains of my Night Guard and Day Guard should be here together, Stellar Sparkle." Luna told Stellar. "Therefore this is the best time to introduce you to them."

Stellar nodded. "This should be interesting." She agreed.

"Indeed. I do not think I have ever appointed anypony to my Guard personally since it was reformed upon my return to Equestria." Luna informed Stellar. "This should be very interesting." She grinned at Stellar as they entered the briefing rooms. Inside, Stellar could see both Solar Guard and normal Royal Guard troopers were being briefed and assignments passed out. The Lunar Guard's Night Watch were being debriefed on the night's happenings, the Day Watch platoons being briefed as well. A lot of the troopers that were standing about saluted Luna and Stellar as they passed by, both of the alicorns returning the salutes as a matter of course. Stellar was in her completed set of red-and-silver armor plus great-sword, her lieutenant's bars in their proper places so the ordinary troopers knew what her rank was as she passed them.

Luna led Stellar into a small room and said "Wait here. I shall bring in the Captain and Commander to meet you." She said.

Stellar nodded, then stood at ease, waiting, as Luna left. It took only a few minutes for Luna to lead two thestrals in slightly-more ornate Lunar Guard armor into the room, as Stellar stood to attention. They stopped before Stellar, with Luna standing to one side between them. Stellar saluted the higher-ranking officers first, as a matter of-course, and they returned the salute. "Captain, Commander, may I introduce your newest officer to you." Luna told the pair. "This is Lieutenant Stellar Light Sparkle. I have taken her on as an apprentice, to teach her my ways of combat and magic." She explained to them. "Lieutenant Sparkle, this is Captain Wingscythe and Commander Duskrunner of the Lunar Guard."

"Sirs." Stellar replied, bowing to them slightly, as was proper form if not saluting. She noted that Wingscythe was a night-wing thestral, while Duskrunner was a sabrehorn, the thestral equivalent of a unicorn.

"Lieutenant." They replied together.

Luna smiled. "The lieutenant will be operating in a semi-detatched role to the Lunar Guard." Luna explained. "While she will be spending a lot of her time with me, learning what I can teach her, she will also be serving with the Guard in both day and night roles. She has had some experience within a military organisation before, so there is not that much she needs to be trained in, save for how we operate, Gentlecolts." Luna told them. "If you saw her duel with Blueblood a few days ago, I hardly need to explain her martial prowess to you both, either." She added.

The thestral officers nodded. "We understand, Your Highness." Wingscythe replied.

Duskrunner looked Stellar up and down. "Her armor is... unusual, but a very good suit." He said. "But it doesn't exactly conform to Night Guard standards, even if it exceeds them in other ways.

"A new suit in the same style is being made for her as we speak, Gentlecolts. I had it ordered just after the duel." Luna informed them. "It will be colored in the proper colors and adornments for one of My Lunar Guards officers."

Duskrunner nodded. "Then it should suit her well, Your Highness." He commented.

"I will leave her in your hoofs then, Captain, Commander." Luna said. "I have to go attend to my duties with my sister."

"Your Highness." All three of them said and saluted Luna, who returned the salute.

"Until this evening, then." Luna said, and left them alone.

Stellar stood at attention as the officers turned back to look at her. They noticed she made the pose look... comfortable, as if having long experience standing this way. "At ease, Lieutenant." Wingscythe said to Stellar, and she shifted so smoothly, it spoke volumes about her experience to them both.

"One thing." Duskrunner then said "How do we have to address you, Lieutenant? Are you entitled yet?"

Stellar replied without moving. "I have no Royal or noble titles, save for those my family has, Commander." Stellar explained. "Lieutenant or Miss Sparkle are perfectly acceptable. My sister is the princess. I am not." She said in a tone that made Wingscythe chuckle.

"I take it the thought of bearing a crown on your head doesn't sit well with you, Lieutenant?" Wingscythe asked Stellar.

"I prefer my helmet, Sir." Stellar replied.

The thestrals both chuckled at that. "Spoken like a true warrior." Duskrunner said. "Stand easy, Lieutenant, and relax." He ordered Stellar, who did so.

"Thank you, Sir." She replied.

"So, Lieutenant Sparkle," Wingscythe said, looking her over, "Princess Luna said you have a lot of military experience before now. Do you have any preferences as to where you would serve?"

"Not really, Captain." Stellar said. "I have stood watch for Dignitaries before, as well as doing street patrols. I will serve where you wish me to, until the Princess pulls me away for her training sessions."

They nodded. "Good." Wingscythe replied. "Being an alicorn... well, you also fit into any grouping we would put you with. I heard how you ordered our troops around the night after your fight, in the incident with the dark unicorns. Twenty-to-one odds, and you killed fifteen of them and captured two personally. That speaks volumes for your skills as a warrior."

"Thank you, Captain Sir." Stellar replied, smiling a little.

"Be that as it may, Lieutenant, I expect you can take orders as well as give them?" Duskrunner asked.

"Yes Sir!" Stellar said, coming swiftly to attention and saluting them.

The pair returned her salute and nodded. "Good! Your first duty is to see to your new armor." Wingscythe ordered Stellar. "Once you have been suitably kitted-out, you may return this evening, if possible, for your first patrol with the Night Guard... oh, and you may carry that very nasty-looking weapon of yours as well, Lieutenant. Since you've shown you can use it well, depriving you of it might be to the detriment of any unit you will be placed in command of, and we can't have that." He grinned.

"Thank you, Sir." Stellar replied.

"Very well, Lieutenant." Wingscythe said. "Go and see to your armor. Dismissed."

"Sir! Yes, Sir!" Stellar replied, saluting, and left only after her salute was returned.

After she'd marched out, Wingscythe looked at Duskrunner. "So, thoughts?" He asked his subordinate.

"Well, at least we know we don't have to teach her discipline, military protocol or train her in the basics." Duskrunner said. "And being an alicorn... Whoo!"

Wingscythe chuckled. "Oh yeah." He agreed. "The Solar Guard is going to be so upset they didn't get her." He grinned. "Do you see any problems arising from this?"

"I don't think so..." Duskrunner answered. "There might be a little jealousy from some of the other officer-candidates at first, but then again, if they want to challenge her to a duel, then we just specify to first blood and let them fight it out without weapons." He suggested. "A lot of the others are not going to try and take her on, after the duel with Blueblood the other day."

"Tarterus, yeah." Wingscythe agreed with a grin. "Her reputation alone is going to do her service in that respect." He agreed. "Did you notice she went into the arena without any weapons?" He asked.

Duskrunner nodded. "I did. I think she wasn't really going to kill him, now that I think about it. She smashed his weapons... that's a technique I'd like to learn myself." Duskrunner told Wingscythe. Wingscythe nodded as Duskrunner continued "She was disarming him, then giving him a beating in-between. I'd bet if she'd managed to break all his weapons, she would have knocked him out and claimed that she wouldn't kill an opponent that couldn't fight back."

Wingscythe nodded. "That's actually pretty common in the older chronicles." He agreed. "It shows her honor, in one way."

"Yeah. She's going to stand out in any unit we put her with, you know that." Duskrunner told Wingscythe.

"I think that's part of the whole idea." Wingscythe replied, getting nods from Duskrunner.

==================================

Stellar made her way from the Guard compound down into the back quarter of Canterlot, where the few heavy industries the city had were located. There, stonemasons shaped and carved blocks of beautiful marble for buildings or statues, gemcutters made adornments for those same buildings, and metal workers and small foundries made the tools of their trades and many others, as well as those with specialist needs. It was from here that Stellar could see the part of Canterlot nopony from the better side liked to talk about: The so-called 'worker's quarter', or to give it its street name, the Slums. She knew the Guards spent a lot of time patrolling down here day and night, making sure the rag-tag of Equestria kept their less-than-legal activities to a minimum, or just kept them hidden more effectively. But she ignored that part for the moment and headed into the industrial area.

Eventually, she reached a small foundry that had an unusual addition to its usual sign: 'By Royal Appointment', it proudly displayed. Small Rings Fine Armor and Arms had been a supplier for the Royal Guard for several centuries. Luna herself had told Stellar that it's founder's ancestor had supplied both Celestia and herself with several types of fine armor for the Diarchs to wear, and had replaced Luna's armor after Nightmare Moon's destruction had destroyed the suit she had been wearing. Stellar walked into the foundry's office, the smells bringing back fragmented memories of being in places like this before...

"Can I..." A stallion at the front desk asked, until he saw whom he was addressing... or rather, what she was wearing. He gasped, to Stellar's surprise, then came out from around the desk and looked very closely at Stellar's armor.

"Um... can I help You?" Stellar asked.

He looked up at her. "You must be Lieutenant Sparkle." He said. "I'm Steel Rings, the current senior armor crafter here." He introduced himself.

"I take it Princess Luna gave you a description of me?" Stellar asked, smiling.

"Oh yes!" Steel Rings grinned back. "I had been hoping you'd get around to coming here, so we could get started on fitting your guard armor for you... but this!" He gestured at Stellar's red-and-silver armor. "I can hardly believe it! Is this... Canopus Star's armor?" He asked, Stellar noting a very hopeful tone in his voice.

"Yes, it is." Stellar answered, confused. Steel Rings looked like he was in the presence of Celestia herself, he was so entranced by the armor. "Um... is that important?" She asked.

"IM-PORTANT!?!" Steel Rings yelled, looking almost insulted. Then his face softened. "Sorry, My Lady. I forget you do not know a lot of our history, as Princess Luna explained it to me." He apologised and bowed.

"Forgiven... if you explain why you treat it like the holiest artifact in Equestria." Stellar replied.

Steel Rings chuckled. "Well, not the holiest, by any means." He replied. "But for Armor crafters like myself... especially for our clan, this armor is one of the forgotten achievements of our foundry."

"So this armor was made here?" Stellar asked.

"Yes!" Steel Rings said, grinning. "My grandfather worked with Canopus Star to make this suit... but when I saw it in the Archives, it was incomplete. I don't think anypony has seen the full armor since long before Canopus Star retired." He explained. "Where did you find the rest of it?" Steel Rings asked.

"It was left for me." Stellar answered. "Can you tell me the history of the armor and how it was made?"

"Come through." Steel said, and led Stellar past the office and into the foundry itself. He then led her past the work area and into a small, fairly-comfortable waiting and display area. "Now, I'm not the best to ask that question. However, my grandfather Silver Rings would give his remaining teeth to see the armor complete again and tell you about it's history."

"He's still alive?" Stellar asked.

Steel nodded. "He's not as hale as he used to be, for sure. But he can still get around and teach, which he likes to do." Steel said. He looked outside. "Brass! Come here, please." A young colt, about ten years old, Stellar estimated, came to the door. "Can you go get Silver for me? There's somepony here he'd like to meet."

"Okay Dad!" Brass said, and trotted off.

Steel looked back at Stellar with a smile. "He's such an eager young apprentice." He told Stellar. "Follows in his family's hoofsteps."

Stellar nodded. "So... could you make me a version of this armor in the colors of the Lunar Guard?" She asked Steel.

Steel gave Stellar a funny look. "Well, if you'd asked me this yesterday, I would have said no... but now, after actually seeing the completed armor, I'd say we probably could." Steel grinned. "But the runes... I have no idea about most of them. They were put on there by Canopus Star himself, according to Family Lore. So if you don't know how to activate them, we could emboss them on the armor, but they'd just be decorations."

Stellar nodded. "I might be able to, but I'd have to do them elsewhere." She said. "Would that be a problem?"

"I don't see how it would be. If you can activate the runes yourself, we can emboss them exactly as they are in Canopus Star's armor and you can activate them as you see fit." Steel explained.

Stellar grinned. "Perfect." She replied.

Then Brass returned, leading an old Stallion that Stellar thought could have been as old as Granny Smith herself. But he stopped and his eyes opened wide when he saw Stellar in Canopus Star's armor, and his reaction was no less than his grandson's had been. "Bless Celestia herself!" He said in an old voice. "Is that my old friend's armor?"

Stellar chuckled. "Apparently so." She replied.

“Wha..?” Silver Rings looked at Stellar, squinting his eyes and frowning. “And just who are you?” He asked, sounding like he had taken offense to Stellar wearing the armor.

“I am Canopus Star’s great-niece, Stellar Light Sparkle.” Stellar answered.

That stopped Silver Rings in his careful steps. “Great-niece?” He asked.

Stellar nodded. “Canopus Star left the armor and his sword to me.” She explained.

“Ohhhh...” Silver said, looking sad. “Yes, I remember now.” He said. “All his family were killed in Hoofington.” And he looked like he’d been kicked in the chest.

Stellar moved to Silver Rings and put a hoof gently onto his shoulder. “It’s... I’m sorry, Sir, to have reminded you of that.” She told him.

Silver Rings sniffled, then pulled out a hanky and blew his nose like a loud foghorn. “Nah, youngster.” He then said. “There’s a lot of good memories in there as well.” He told Stellar. Then he started looking her over with a steely gaze. “Hmmm... that armor does fit you well.” He commented. Then he noticed, and gasped “You’re an... an... Dammit! What’s the word?”

“Alicorn?” Stellar replied helpfully.

“Yes! Alicorn! That’s what I was... oh.” Silver said, then stopped and tried to bow.

“NO! No, no, please don’t...” Stellar swiftly helped him to stand again. “You don’t need to bow to me, I am not a princess... not yet, anyway.” She said with a snort.

“Not a princess?!” Silver asked, somewhat taken aback by this statement.

“No. I’m not.” Stellar replied. “I’m not ready for that, yet.” She explained to Silver. “I’m just Princess Luna’s apprentice and a lieutenant in the Lunar Guard at the moment.”

Silver looked at Stellar suspiciously, but then he saw the sword on her back as well. “Ohhh... you have THAT with you, too.” He said, touching the pommel of the great-sword with one hoof. “If the sword likes you, then I have to believe you.” He told Stellar. “It doesn’t like it when it’s wielder tells lies.” He explained. “It gets grumbly.”

Stellar grinned. “I bet it does.” She said back.

“Now, what can I do for the wearer of my old friend’s armor?” Silver asked as he was helped onto a long couch.

“Steel said you helped make this.” Stellar said to Silver. “Can you perhaps explain how that happened and tell me more about the suit? I’m still trying to figure out some things with it.” She asked.

“That I can do.” Silver agreed.

“While you’re doing that,” Steel then said, as five unicorns clustered at the doorway to the room, murmuring to each other, “can we get the armor to look at?” He asked. “I need to get every part sketched so we can reproduce it.”

“Sure.” Stellar said, and as she closed her eyes, the armor retracted again, this time with the helmet remaining on her head, which she removed. Her sword had stayed on her back, though, and as she held the helmet in mid-air, she made the armor extend, thereby having it sitting in mid-air to one side of the room, floating in a cloud of magic. “There. How’s that?” Stellar asked.

“Better.” Steel replied, as the unicorns came in and started looking the fine armor over. “Taking it apart would be better, but I’m not sure we’d be able to get it back together again. It’s so inter-laced it’s not funny."

“Use the rune, Steel.” Silver then said.

“The rune?” Stellar and Steel asked together, then they looked at each other, grinning.

Silver looked annoyed. “Behind the peytral, there’s a rune embossed at the back of the inside of the main neck brace that connects to the peytral.” Silver said. “When it’s floating like that, the armor will split up and remain floating there if you use the rune.” He explained. “It was to allow us to replace components if they were damaged... not that that was ever likely to happen.”

Stellar looked up inside, sliding the frontal throat armor up until she saw the rune. “Here it is.” She said, and touched it. Once she was out of the way, the armor seemingly exploded in slow-motion, all the components separating out into a cloud of armored pieces. The unicorns moved back and made sounds of awe, as the pieces stopped moving and hung in mid-air.

Silver chuckled. “Always gets them amazed, that little trick does.” He admitted to Stellar.

“It’s got me amazed!” Stellar admitted back. “That’s incredible!”

“Canopus wrote that rune himself.” Silver told Stellar. “It was so he could have a suit that protected him completely. The armor we made for him was based on the old ‘Slasher’ heavy air cavalry armor for use against dragons.” He explained. “That rune is how the armor can also retract and deploy the way it can. It makes it so much easier for one pony to put on and take off the armor single-handed.”

Stellar nodded. “Yeah. Makes perfect sense.” She said to Steel. “In the field, such a heavily-connected suit would normally be impossible to get into by yourself, so it makes sense that Canopus would find a way to make the armor put itself on him.” She stated. “But what did he make it out of? It’s so light, especially those wing-covers. I barely feel them when I’m flying, yet they protect almost all of my wings so well.”

“Ah. It’s an alloy our family makes from some very rare ores we found ages  ago.” Silver said smugly. “As the wearer of the armor, I feel it’s safe to tell you.” He glanced at Steel, who gave a slight nod, Stellar saw. “It’s made from several metals, including one that the ancient archives call Quad-lobed Rinnax, but we call Quadrax when it’s smelted to it’s pure metal form. It’s what gives the metal that red color and it’s impenetrability.” He explained to Stellar. “It’s almost as good as pure Adamant, not that you can find that these days.” He sighed. “I know that Canopus knew the location of one of the pure pools. That sword of his is made from Adamant. But he never told me where it was.” Silver sighed sadly. “Now that secret has gone to the grave with him.”

Stellar had an inkling that Silver’s last statement might not be true. 'Maybe that tome that Canopus left with the armor might have more than just his memoires in it', she thought to herself. “So, what do we have to replace this... Quadrax in my Lunar Guard armor, if we want it to be as strong as the original suit?” She asked.

“That’s easy.” Steel then said. “We have a batch of ingots Luna left with us, if she needed to have more armor made. She apparently got the metal from the moon.” He told Stellar.

“Can I see some?” She asked.

“Sure. You’re Luna’s apprentice, so making your armor from her metal seems fitting.” Steel said. He moved past the unicorns and headed out into the workshop area.

“So... Luna’s apprentice, eh?” Silver asked Stellar.

Stellar smiled and nodded. “It seemed fitting, considering my sister is Celestia’s protege.”

Silver’s eyes widened with surprise again. “You’re... a Sparkle!” He said, sounding startled.

Stellar chuckled. “Well, yeah.” She replied casually. “Twilight Sparkle is my twin sister.”

Silver just nodded, then shook his head and snorted. “Stupid old stallion, me.” He said self-deprecatingly, before he chuckled. “Of course you are. Canopus’ sword wouldn’t give itself to anypony else but Family.” Then he looked at her intensely. “The Sword’s bonded to you, am I correct?”

“I guess so.” Stellar answered.

Silver nodded. “What about the armor? Have you bonded it to you as well?” He asked.

“I... have to admit, I am not sure.” Stellar answered truthfully.

Silver nodded, looking serious. “You have to make sure you do so.” He told Stellar. “Has the sword protected you in any way?”

“Yes.” Stellar replied, her voice firm on that.

“Then it’s bonded to you.” He said. "But the armor... have you used it’s powers yet?”

“No.” Stellar admitted. “Not since it’s been completed.”

“Then you’ll have to complete the ritual and bond with it.” Silver told her. "Canopus will have left you notes on what to do and how to do it. I know this for certain.” He stated to her. "If you plan to make your new armor like this one, you’ll need to do the same for it as well.” He added. “That way, the magic the armor contains will be yours to wield, just as it was Canopus’. And no-pony or anything else will be able to take it from you, by any means.” Silver explained.

Stellar nodded. “I understand.” She replied.

Silver smiled softly at Stellar. “Good. It’s good to see my finest work complete again, and with someone to wield it.” He sighed softly. “I thought the young stallion was crazy, you know, especially putting a hole in the helmet where he did. But... he must have known you’d be at least a unicorn, or that a unicorn would succeed him.” Silver chuckled. “I bet he never even considered you’d be an alicorn, though.”

“Probably not.” Stellar agreed. “After all, there was only one in those days.”

Silver nodded. “Yeah... Now there’s how many?” He asked.

“Six, if you count Princess Flurry Heart.” Stellar answered. She looked to where a pair of unicorns were sketching the pieces of the rear-leg armor, the others doing the front-leg armor. “Do you think they’ll get it right?” She asked Silver.

Silver chuckled. “Oh, yes. All the hard work’s been done already. If they copy the design perfectly, it’ll all work like the original does, even if they modify it a little for you.” He said, looking Stellar over. “Mind you, you’re a lot prettier sight than your great-uncle was.”

Stellar grinned. “Flattery of the gallant kind is always welcome.” She told Silver.

Silver grinned lecherously, but then sighed. “Flattery is all I’m up to these days, my pretty alicorn.” He told Stellar. “There’s not much left in these old bones anymore. One day I’ll go to see my beloved wife and children again, and probably find Canopus leading the Elysian Guard, knowing that old colt.” He chuckled. “If the forge wasn’t keeping my old bones warm and my muscles supple, I’d probably have siezed up long before now.” He got up and walked to where the armor still hung in mid-air, nuzzling the helmet. “Good-bye, Old Friend. I’ll see your other old friend very soon.” He said softly.

Stellar watched this touching moment, a tear coming to her eye. To see an old warhorse like Silver Rings saying good-bye... she wondered how many others she would say good-bye to in her very long lifetime...

==================================

Twilight was resting back home in Castle Friendship after returning there. The events of the last few days had exhausted her, especially becoming pregnant. But the support of her parents, family and friends had all bouyed her spirits and made it easier to bear the burden she'd taken upon herself... with very little preparation, she'd had to admit to herself. Then again, if she'd stopped to think it through, it would have been too late, and the little foal would have been lost along with her mother. Twilight snorted, amused at the change in her. 'Maybe some of Stellar's impetuousness and reactivity has rubbed off on me.' She thought to herself. 'I've certainly got a lot more from her then just memories. Otherwise, I wouldn't keep coming out with phrases that she recognises and I don't in casual use.'

Twilight smiled as she remembered the reactions of her friends when they saw her all heavy and huge with the foal...

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

"What in tarnation have ya been up to, Twilight?" Applejack had been the first to speak up after Twilight had gotten off the train, two attendant mares helping her.

Rarity, of course, had just swooned and fainted. Fluttershy's eyes were so wide with shock, Twilight had first thought that maybe she'd broken her.

Rainbow Dash, though, had just laughed and grinned. "That was fast, almost faster than I am." She'd said with a smirk. Then she'd moved up beside Twilight and put her ear to Twilight's belly. Twilight face-hoofed as Pinkie Pie giggled.

"Wow, Twilight! Your bun's really cooking fast!" Pinkie said as she gave Twilight a hug.

"Yeah, an' how did a bun get in your oven, Twilight?" Applejack asked again.

"I'll explain when we get Home, girls." Twilight answered as they all headed for Tallmark's carriage, which was waiting at the taxi rank. They had to wake Rarity up, and Fluttershy had to be gently nudged along by Applejack, but soon they were all in the carriage and heading for the Castle.

The girls were on tenterhooks all the way back to the castle, as Twilight rested up for the effort of getting inside. After paying off Tallmark, Twilight led the other five into her castle and to one of the parlors, where she rested on one of the long couches. Even Spike was wide-eyed with confusion. "Wow, Twilight. What happened?"

"Could I trouble you for some iced tea, Spike?" Twilight asked with a pleading look on her pretty face.

Spike smiled. "Sure, Twilight, anything." He said, heading to the kitchen.

Twilight stretched and groaned softly. The others made themselves comfortable, even Fluttershy had managed to regain control of herself as she looked at Twilight. "So... umm..." Rarity began.

But Twilight chuckled. "You're all as curious as Celestia with a box that smells of cake but won't open, right?" She asked.

"Well..." All five replied, then they all broke up into giggles.

Spike came back then with a trolley that had seven pitchers full of iced teas and seven glasses, plus a big mug with a warm drink in it, which he put beside a chair for himself before pouring the six mares their drinks. "Thanks, Spike, really. Thanks a lot." Twilight said to Spike, as the others gave him their thanks, too.

"No problem." Spike replied as he sat in his chair and waited.

Twilight sipped at the iced tea and sighed happily. "Okay. You probably heard about Stellar's duel with Blueblood by now, right?" Twilight asked.

There were multiple replies from the girls at that, telling what they'd heard and what they thought about the duel.

Twilight nodded. "Okay, the night after the duel, Stellar and I were walking back home, when we heard a scream coming from down an alleyway." Twilight told them. "We got to a small square to see a unicorn mare being pursued by a bunch of shadowy figures. She ran past us, while Stellar took them on. I stood against the mare and teleported her to the palace medical unit." Twilight sipped at her tea again.

"And then?" Pinkie asked.

"When we got to the unit, we found the mare had been wounded by a crossbow bolt to the shoulder." Twilight continued. "As we made her comfortable, the bolt revealed it had a deadly curse imbedded in it. I was able to stop the curse from progressing, but we couldn't work to eliminate it... because the mare was pregnant."

The five gasped with shock as Twilight sipped her drink again.

"And then?" Pinkie asked again.

"While two of the Palace mages took over the protective circle I'd cast, I invoked a very old ritual that got my body to the same stage of pregnancy as the mother, and then transferred the foal over to me." Twilight explained. "But before we could continue and save the mother, the curse got past the protective circle and reduced her to ash." Twilight said sadly.

The girls all whimpered at that.

"And then?" Pinkie asked for the third time.

"Stellar and Luna turned up and I explained to them what happened." Twilight went on.  "Stellar had killed most of the assassins, who turned out to be a group of dark-magic-wielding dark unicorns, all stallions. The ones she'd captured all committed suicide using the same curse, then Stellar and I headed back to my parents' home for the night."

"Oh boy, ah can see what's comin' up next." Applejack grinned.

"Indeed." Rarity grinned. "Did she yell or faint first?" She asked.

Twilight chuckled. "You lot know my family very well." She said. "Velvet fainted first. Daddy and I talked while Stellar watched Mother, but when she woke, it took Stellar to keep Mother from... I believe the term Stellar used was 'getting in my face'." She told them, eliciting giggles from the Six, including Spike's chuckles. "But Mother came to accept things as much as Father has done, so they're going to be helpful to me as much as Stellar has been." Twilight said, smiling.

"So, how far are you along, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked. "You look well into your third trimester."

Twilight nodded. "At the end of my seventh month." She confirmed. "And girls... she's an alicorn, like Flurry Heart."

That got gasps and exclamations all-round, even from Spike. "But... you said the mother was a unicorn." Rainbow Dash said to Twilight.

"Yes, she was. But she was unlike any unicorn I have seen before." Twilight answered. "She was tall, very slender and very beautiful, like Fleur De-Lis but even more so." Twilight remembered. "Fleur is kind-of short compared to the unicorn I saved. She... she had to have been at least as tall as Cadance is now."

"Wow, that IS tall." Rarity exclaimed. "I've never seen a unicorn of that stature."

Twilight nodded. "Yes. It's amazing that she's never been seen before." Twilight agreed. "I must see if the guard can find any trace of her in Canterlot. Somepony must have seen her and remembered her, with her height and beauty."

Fluttershy had slipped up beside Twilight and had put her head up to Twilight's swollen belly. She crooned softly, making Twilight sigh in resignation. "You ALL want to do that, don't you?" She asked the others, who nodded with big grins on their faces. "Okay..." Twilight sighed. "Take it in turns and please, be gentle."

"As gentle as anypony can be, Twi." Applejack replied, smiling softly. She actually came up and gave Twilight a nuzzle as Fluttershy checked Twilight over. "Ah tell ya, Sugarcube, that foal is gonna have tha best mother any foal could ask for." Applejack stated without reservation.

"Absotively!" Rainbow Dash agreed, getting a smile from Twilight.

"Thanks for the votes of confidence, Girls." Twilight told them all. "I just love you all so much." Then she went "Glackh!" As Pinkie hugged her tightly around her neck.

"We love you too, Twilight!" Pinkie stated, and everypony there had to agree...

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

Twilight sighed softly as she moved to her bed for the night. The girls had rearranged her bedroom to move her bed closer to the bathroom door, so she didn't have as far to travel when the foal started playing hoofball with her bladder. Twilight rolled onto the bed and onto her side with relief. But as she gently stroked her very pregnant belly, she smiled tenderly. Even with all the adjustments and difficulties, she knew she'd not do anything different again... save for maybe having the mages brought in earlier. They might have saved the mother, they might not, but it was the only thing she would have done differently.

As Twilight slipped into a peaceful slumber, thoughts of maybes and regrets vanished as she dreamed of having the foal playing with her and Stellar as she grew up...

==================================

Eventually the unicorns finished their sketching and left, then Steel returned with a bar of a dark-blue metal that Stellar didn't recognise straight away. "This is the metal Luna gave us." He told Stellar. "It's quite hard to smelt, but we have a single furnace that can get hot enough to do the job. It is also easily as strong as the best of the old metals, besides Quadrax and Adamant, but easier to get, since Luna can bring us a supply any time we ask her."

Stellar touched it, and her inner senses gasped at what she saw. Her memories contained images of a lot of things that were having new light shone on them with her alicorn abilities, and having a feel for metals was one she was still discovering. "This... this is an alloy. It's got a lot of titanium in it, as well as silicon blended into it. There's tungsten, and some other metals, but it's quite rich with titanium."

"Titanium, eh?" Steel asked. "Never heard of that metal before, but if you say so."

"It's partially what gives this alloy it's blue color." Stellar explained.

Steel nodded. "As you say." He replied, and then said "It'll take us a while to do this, but it's easier than it was when your great-uncle made his suit. Now we have unicorns working with us to help shape the parts using metal straight from the furnace."

"Oh, I'd love to see that." Stellar said, grinning.

Steel nodded. "Sure. But get into your armor again." He suggested. "It'll protect you from the heat of the furnace and any splashback that might occur."

Stellar nodded, moved to where the armor was still floating in it's exploded form, pressed the rune and watched the armor reassemble itself. "Never going to get used to that." She said to herself, as she made the armor retract then put the helmet on. Another thought and she was wearing it again, as if it had never been disassembled.

Steel Rings watched, nodding approvingly. "Hopefully, you'll be able to empower the rune that does this for this armor in your old one." He said. "Otherwise, it'll just be a bunch of component pieces that will take a very long time to put together."

"I think I know where to look for the answers I seek to these runes." Stellar told Steel as they left the waiting room. "I just have to take some time out and read it."

Steel smiled as he led Stellar towards the furnace building. "Now, if what Grandfather told me about this armor is correct, it will protect you from the heat of our furnace area." He looked over the helmet. "Can you close that face-mask?" He asked.

Stellar nodded, and it slid closed over her muzzle, only leaving the bridge of her muzzle and her eyes exposed. "I don't know about the visor in the helmet."  She told Steel. "I got it from the Guards stores."

Steel nodded as he checked it over, and slid it out of the helmet. "It's fairly basic, this one." He said. He moved behind Stellar and started looking over the recovered sections of armor that Stellar had managed to attach to the rest of the suit. "Ah, here it is." He said, sliding a piece of armor that Stellar had been unable to find a place for from where she'd secured it.

Stellar saw what Steel had in his hoofs. "Hey! I'd wondered what that piece was for." She said.

"This looks like the original visor for this helmet." Steel told Stellar as he gestured for her to remove her helmet. Stellar opened the face-mask and slid the helmet off her long horn, thern handed it to Steel. He handed her the visor-piece as he looked over the forehead armor section.

Stellar gasped with surprise as she took the visor in her forehoofs. "This is Adamant!" She declared.

"Really?" Steel asked, looking at the visor. "But... it's transparent!" He exclaimed.

Stellar nodded. "You can make metal transparent. The modern visor's like that: a transparent piece of alloy steel." She pointed out.

"Well, yes. But I have never heard of Adamant being transparent before." He replied.

"How's that done, anyway?" Stellar asked as Steel fitted the proper visor to Stellar's helmet.

"As you might expect, it's a spell we cast on the metal while it's still molten." Steel explained. Then he looked at Stellar. "Are you interested in learning how to be a metal-worker as well, then?" He asked.

Stellar grinned. "I'd love to." She answered.

Steel nodded, chuckling. "That's a lot of trade secrets, you realise." He told Stellar, who looked a little disappointed. "Normally, we'd never share them with anypony outside our family, but knowing Canopus Star by reputation, he probably recorded everything he learned from my grandfather for you to learn anyway." He snorted, then laughed.

"Probably." Stellar agreed, seeing a chink in Steel's reluctance.

Steel thought about it as he finished securing the visor to the helmet. "Tell you what: you're Luna's apprentice, so you'll probably be exposed to more secrets than we could ever teach you, and sworn to secrecy as well." He told Stellar. "If you also swear an oath to our family never to teach anypony what we teach you while our family still lives, then we'll apprentice you to us as well." Steel Rings said to Stellar.

"I'd be honored." Stellar answered. "And I'll swear an oath to you and your clan, Steel, as sacred an oath as that I swore to Celestia and Luna when I joined the Lunar Guard: I swear by Faust upon my honor as a warrior that I will never reveal the secrets of your clan to anypony as long as your clan exists here." She said, her voice using that same seriously-deadly tone she used whenever Stellar was being absolutely honest or threatening.

Steel shuddered just a little at Stellar's tone of voice, but he realised just how serious she was being when she swore that oath. He nodded to her and handed Stellar back her helmet. "Then come. You can watch as we start working on your new suit of armor." He said, leading Stellar on after she'd sealed her suit.

==================================

In the rich suburbs of Canterlot, shadowy figures moved from the mansion that had belonged to the Blueblood family, disappearing into the night without being seen. A little while later, a series of small explosions woke the neighbors, and flames leaped from inside the mansion and several other buildings on the property.

The local fire brigade and several patrol units of the Night Guard raced to the scene, but after an assessment, the Chief of the fire brigade herself swiftly concluded that the buildings were beyond saving. Chief Red Shelter ordered her teams “Keep the fire from spreading through the gardens towards the neighboring properties! We have to contain them here!” She called in the commanders of the various brigades and despatched them to cover particular buildings, keeping the best units for the main house, which was becoming a blazing inferno. Luckily, being at the center of the property meant it was a little less likely to spread out towards the boundaries of the estate, something that Red Shelter found a blessing.

Pegasi and thestrals from the Night Guard brought in clouds heavy with moisture and started dumping the water on the fires and the surrounding landscaping. Captain Wingscythe arrived as well, having been alerted by one of the Night Guard units, and he surveyed their efforts from the skies as the firefighters did their best to bring the blazes under control. Once he was assured the fires were contained to the buildings, he landed hear the Fire Chief as she ordered arriving units to help. "What's the situation, Chief?" He asked as he reached the mare.

"Lousy." Chief Shelter replied. "We've got the fires contained, but whatever's causing them is refusing to be put out." She told Wingscythe. "We concluded that the fires are magically maintained, and probably started that way, too. I've sent for some of the elemental mages from the guild, but they're taking their time getting here." She explained. Just then, the structure of the main house collapsed, the stone walls undermined from inside, dropping the walls into the interior and crushing the structure down into the substantial basements.

"I see." Captain Wingscythe answered. “I’ll see if the Palace mages can come as well. They might get here more quickly than the Guild mages.” He ordered one of the Night Guard night-wings over and told her to fly back to the Palace and bring back as many of the mages as she could. After she flew off, Wingscythe moved back to Chief Shelter and started helping to co-ordinate the relief efforts.

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

It took less than half-an-hour for the mages from the Palace to arrive and to start trying to subdue the magical fire. They were joined twelve minutes later by the Guild mages, and they spread out, trying to stop the fires in the remains of the four buildings. Red Shelter and her firefighters managed to get the outlying buildings finally smothered after another hour, but the main house burned until after Sunrise. With the other buildings doused, the mages were all able to concentrate on the old mansion and finally got it out two hours after Celestia slid the sun into the sky.

It was midday before most of the firefighters and mages headed back to their stations and Red Shelter took a rest. Wingscythe was still there as well, and he treated her to a cup of coffee from a mobile stand that had set up two hours before sunrise. “Here, Red.” Wingscythe said as he handed her the cup of coffee. “You probably need this more than I do.” He said.

Red smiled as she took the cup and sipped at it. “Thanks, Wing.” She replied. “At least with the Guild mages here, they can start the investigation right off the bat. And we don’t need to explain to them what we’d seen: they were here and saw it for themselves.”

“Yeah, a big advantage for this one.” Wingscythe agreed. “Do you think this was deliberate?”

“Personally... I’d stake my next foal on it.” Shelter said. “But whether or not we can prove it... that’s another thing.”

“As is usual.” Wingscythe agreed.

Red Shelter sighed with some frustration. “And with the fire being so intense, there’s not going to be much we can find to say what truly happened. The basement areas don’t match the plans from the Palace archives, there’s tunnels leading from the mansion to other buildings, and some that go right outside the estate. We’re still trying to track where some of the bigger ones went to, both inside and outside the estate.” She sipped her coffee. “It seems old Blueblood was up to something big... or his ancestors were. Some of those tunnels might be older than Cantelot itself.”

“Huh.” Wingscythe said, frowning. “Who knew?”

“That’s another big question.” Red replied. “But I don’t have to ask that one. That’s for the Princesses and others.”

“Yeah. I get the feeling my ponies are going to be the ones who ask those questions.” Wingscythe told her.

“Good luck, then.” Red wished for him, then drank the rest of her coffee. She headed back into the estate, as Wingscythe regrouped his guards and they made ready to head back to the palace, to pass control to others for the Day.

==================================

It was close to the time Stellar knew she'd have to get some sleep, when she watched as the metal crafters finished putting her suit together. The beautiful dark-blue metal contrasted with the silver they'd laid over the edges and certain sections, especially the big crescent moon on the peytral, a small Sparkle Star to one side of it. She had managed to activate one rune out of all those they'd impressed into the body, and that was the rune that allowed the armor to assemble itself, then retract and extend itself over her body. She'd been studying that rune for a good portion of the night, once she'd watched them moulding several pieces, including her new helmet. She'd also watched as they turned a small amount of the metal transparent for the helmet's visor, noting the spell they'd used.

It was to Stellar's surprise that the assembly rune was very simple. Most runes encompassed several major spells in their constructions, to make the spells easy to activate with as little mana as possible. The assembly rune had four very easy spells woven into it, spells that even Stellar was able to cast with ease as she empowered the rune. "Then again, it was written by Canopus Star, and he wasn't even a mage, as such." She said to herself. "I must ask Twilight if she knows anything about writing runes..  maybe Princess Luna as well." Stellar added as she watched them lay out the pieces of her new suit on a table, using the red armor as a guide. The red armor lay on a table beside the blue armor, and once they'd finished arranging the pieces of the blue armor and making sure they were identical to those from the red armor, Stellar looked at Steel Rings. "Ready then?" She asked him.

Steel took a deep breath and exhaled. "Yeah, I guess." He replied. "The runes we put on the pieces are identical to those on the red armor, and all the pieces are identical as well." He told Stellar. "If we did it right, and if you actually managed to figure out the assembly rune, then your new suit should come together the same as Canopus Star's suit does."

"Only one way to tell, then." Stellar said. She moved up to the peytral, slipped her hoof through to the neck brace and touched the rune, shunting some of her mana directly into it. She was amazed at how much she had to put into it, however, until it finally glowed brightly. As she moved back, the armor's pieces floated up from the table and assembled themselves into the new suit, but it took a little time before they'd all locked into place properly. Stellar also reactivated the red armor's rune as the blue armor sorted itself out, and it assembled far more quickly than the new suit. And as they stood together on their tables, Stellar nodded. The blue Lunar Guard armor they'd created looked every bit as awesome and protecting as Canopus Star's original suit. "Damn, but they look good, standing there like that." Stellar said to Steel Rings.

Steel grinned. "Oh yeah." He had to agree.

The winged Sparkle Star on the forehead guard of the red armor had been replaced on the blue armor with the crescent moon and the Sparkle Star that also sat on the peytral. Little lock-points for Stellar's lieutenant's bars also were there as well, and Stellar pressed them into place. She could feel a lot of the runes the armor had were dormant, rather than active as they were on the red armor, but hopefully she'd be able to fix that soon enough. "Okay, now for the final test." Stellar said. She touched the helmet symbol, and grinned as the armor folded in on itself, until only the helmet was left floating there. She picked it up and put it on, the padding inside fitting her perfectly and comfortably. Then she gave the mental command, and the armor extended and encompassed her. Instantly she felt the difference between the two suits. The leg armor and other pieces seemed to fit her a lot better than the red armor, but then it had been tailored to fit her this time. She tried walking around, and it all moved smoothly.

Steel Rings watched, nodding his head as the armor moved and adjusted as Stellar walked and moved, twisting herself around and trying out certain moves. Stellar then opened her big wings and the wing-covers extended out over the leading edge of her wings smoothly, the pieces opening up to lie along her wings as well. Steel then noticed the tail-armor had extended down and closed up, trapping her tail inside it and completing the rudder-like extension without getting hair entangled in it's pieces. "Good, that seems to be working well." He said as he checked over the wing-armor. He grinned at Stellar. "Okay, furl your wings again." He told her, and Stellar did. The wing-covers flared out and closed over Stellar's wings once they'd furled properly. Steel chuckled. "I daresay we're probably going to have orders for suits like this from all the officers of all the guard branches, once they see yours, Stellar."

Stellar chuckled. "A good bit of business for you, then." She agreed.

"Can we use the assembly rune on any suits we make?" Steel asked.

"Sure. I mean, the suits are cumbersome without it." She replied. "But just the assembly rune, if you would. I'll teach some of your artificiers to activate it as well." Stellar told Steel.

"Thanks. That will be perfect." Steel replied.

Stellar then brought her sword out and strapped it over the back of her armor. It fit the same as it did with it's original suit. "Just as I'd hoped." Stellar said, grinning.

Steel then looked at Stellar as she retracted the red armor back into the helmet. "Lieutenant, could we make a copy of Canopus Star's armor for the Museum?" He asked her.

Stellar looked surprised. "Um... sure. Just without the runes and made out of ordinary metal, if you can."

"Oh sure." Steel replied. "It would just be for display. There's several sets of armor from famous generals and others on display, even one from Celestia herself." He explained. "I just think Canopus Star's armor deserves to be there amongst them."

“I won’t argue against that.” Stellar replied, grinning. “I think he’d be both proud and mortified at the thought that he’s remembered the way he is today.”

Steel just nodded and walked Stellar out the front of the armor works. "Remember, any time you get the time, come back and we'll continue your training here." Steel reminded Stellar.

"I'll remember." Stellar replied. "And thanks again."

"Our pleasure, Lieutenant." Steel waved with a grin as Stellar headed back to the Palace.

“Been in there a long time.” Stellar said to herself as she noticed it was almost mid-day.

On the way, she noticed the pall of smoke hanging over the part of the city where, she realised with a shock, that her parents' home was located. Taking to the sky, she flew quickly to the scene, and breathed a sigh of relief when she found it wasn't the Sparkle mansion that had gone up in flames that night. Landing, she saw several of the Night Guard and the Day Guard were keeping ponies away from the scene. She walked up to the ranking Guard on duty, a sargeant, Stellar saw, and asked "What's the situation, Sargeant?"

He looked Stellar up and down before realising who she was, then saluted. "Lieutenant!" He replied. "Ma'am, there were a series of explosions here earlier in the night, and every building on this estate was set on fire." He explained. "It's mostly under control at this point in time, with only the main building still smouldering fitfully. Captain Wingscythe is in attendance, ma'am."

Stellar nodded as she took this in. "Where is he, Sargeant?" She asked.

"That way, Ma'am, with Fire Chief Shelter." He gestured with a wing.

"Thank you, Sargeant." Stellar replied, and returned his salute before walking towards where Wingscythe was located.

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

Wingscythe was making ready to return to the palace, when he saw a suit of armor that wasn't that of any of the regular Lunar Guard walk towards him. The face in the helmet then reminded him of earlier in the previous day, when Luna had brought him a new officer... "Lieutenant Sparkle." He said, moving towards Stellar.

"Captain Wingscythe." Stellar replied, saluting him.

Wingscythe returned the salute, then looked her up and down. "At ease, Lieutenant." He ordered, and once Stellar was at-ease, he walked right around her. "That's one hay of a suit you've got there, Lieutenant." He commented as he looked Stellar over. "Is it new, or did you have them re-color that suit you were wearing earlier? Because I swear it looks identical to it."

"No, Sir. This suit is all-new, just made to the original pattern of my other armor, Sir." Stellar explained.

Wingscythe nodded. "That's a very good suit." He said. "Was it hard for them to make?"

Stellar smiled. "No, Sir. They were the original armorers who made my Great-uncle's suit in the first place. So it was fairly easy for them to repeat the construction of it." She explained.

"A good bit of luck, that." Wingscythe replied. "I don't know of many businesses from that time period that are still operating. They must have backing to be still going."

"Their sign says 'By Royal Appointment', Captain. They are the ones who made Celestia's and Luna's armors too." Stellar informed Wingscythe.

That got an impressed look from Wingscythe. "All right. That's definitely something to remember." He said, nodding. “Maybe I should get them to make me a new suit of armor as well.” Stellar chuckled with a big grin on her face. “Something funny, Lieutenant?” Wingscythe asked.

“Yes, Sir.” Stellar answered. “One of the comments their head crafts-stallion said was that he expected there might be others in the Guard ordering more armor from them, once the officers started seeing my new armor.” She explained.

Wingscythe looked surprised, then chuckled as well. “First time I ever got a ‘yes’ answer to that question.” He said, grinning. “And indeed, his statement seems to be prophetic.”

“He knows the market, Sir.” Stellar said back with a grin. “And this armor’s about as good as it gets, for protection and movement.” She said, opening her wings and showing Wingscythe how the wing-covers folded over her wings after she’d opened them up.

Wingscythe looked the covers over and whistled in appreciation. “Okay, must get new armor.” He said. “Ve-ry cool, Lieutenant.”

“Thank you, Sir.” Stellar replied, grinning widely as the wing-covers spread out and closed again as she furled her wings, enclosing them completely within the armor. “The foundry is Small Rings Fine Armor and Arms, Captain.”

Wingscythe face-hoofed. “I should have known.” He muttered. “There’s nopony else in the armor business with that endorsement .”

Stellar smirked with a big grin. “Just going to the best, Captain. Luna recommended them, after all.”

Wingscythe nodded. “Well, Lieutenant, I am going back to the Palace and hand things over to Commander Duskrunner. You’re welcome to accompany me and sign out for the night, if you’re not willing to do the Day Shift for the moment.” He offered.

“I’ve got some research to do, Captain, so I’ll leave off for today.” Stellar replied as they walked towards the gathered Night Guards.

“Fair enough.” Wingscythe said. “Must be tough being Princess Luna’s apprentice. I bet there’s a lot to learn.”

“All part of the fun, Sir.” Stellar answered with an even-bigger grin on her face. “And nothing I’d rather be doing, to be honest.”

Wingscythe nodded. “Then I wish you all luck, Lieutenant.” He told her as they reached the Night Guard, who were in ranks and came to attention as the officers reached them. “Guards! Move out!” Wingscythe said, and they all took to the wing and headed for the Palace, Wingscythe and Stellar in the lead.

==================================

Stellar settled in her quarters near Luna’s tower, her armor retracted and with her freshly showered and groomed. The servants had left her with a nice breakfast and she ate absently as she pondered the tome she’d found with Canopus Star’s armor. The casing was metal with Adamant edging, and the lock on the case was an almost-solid piece, with no obvious keyhole besides a very small series of four slots around a central hole with no space for a key to be inserted. “Okay... if a key isn’t meant to open you... what is?” Stellar asked herself.

Stellar then looked at the two chests that had contained the armor and frowned. She’d been all through the chests looking for a key to the tome, but there was none to be found. Then something struck her. The chests had been easy to open, with the winged Sparkle Star acting as the lock’s key-and-catch each time. She looked back at the tome, then got up and moved to the chests. She tried to see if either of the winged stars could be removed, but they didn’t budge. “Okay, maybe a bit too obvious.” She said to herself. “Now, if I was a crafty old warhorse like Canopus Star, where would I hide an emblem like that?” She asked.

Stellar moved to the door and summoned one of the maids. “Yes, Miss?” The blonde-maned white unicorn mare asked.

“Can you bring me a pair of mannepones about my size, please?” Stellar requested.

“Of course, Miss.” The maid said, and within five minutes they’d been brought in and set up. “Is that all, Miss?”

“Yes. Thank you.” Stellar said, and after they’d left, Stellar took out the helmet of Canopus Star’s armor and extended the armor over one of the mannepones. She looked at the three smaller winged stars on the armor, but none of them wanted to budge. “Okay, this is getting annoying.” Stellar said to herself. “Am I wrong? Maybe something else is the trigger mechanism...”

Then she remembered: There were two more winged stars in Canopus Star’s gear. “The sword!” Stellar exclaimed, then pulled it out of the pocket she kept it in. A shimmer of power ran through Stellar as she drew the great-sword out of the scabbard, something she’d felt every time she’d taken it out, then she looked at the cross-guard as the sword floated before her. There were two winged stars on the sword, one each side of the cross-guard. Stellar studied them closely, then noticed one was slightly bigger than the other. She tried to move the bigger one, and nothing happened. “Yeah, should have figured that one.” Stellar admonished herself, then she pressed the smaller one. To her relief, the wings moved back on it and it clicked. Stellar then turned it forty-five degrees and it dropped off onto her hoof. “Way to go Grandfather.” Stellar said, then blinked. “Why do I keep referring to him as ‘Grandfather’?” She asked herself as she moved to the tome.

Pressing the winged star into the little hole, Stellar turned the wings until it clicked again, then she pressed the wings. The lock popped up, and as she let the wings go, the lock and clasp dropped open. “Sneaky old stallion.” Stellar said with a grin as she opened the tome’s casing, to find the tome inside wasn’t actually attached to the case. She drew it out and looked the beautiful book over. There was, as expected, a large winged star on the front cover, as well as something that made the hairs on Stellar’s withers stand on end: underneath the winged star was a single vertical great-sword with a round shield behind it. “Just like my cutie mark...” Stellar said, in awe of what it could mean.

She opened it and, to her astonishment, a magic image appeared. “Greetings, my granddaughter.” The image of Canopus Star said to Stellar. “If you are seeing this, I have gone to my final reward. I hope that, by now, you have either graduated from the Royal Guard Academy, or are at least a student there. Within these pages, I have written as many of my secrets and as much special knowledge as I could, so that you might follow in my hoof-prints if that is your destiny. So, let us begin, if you are ready...”

==================================

06: Equipped

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07: Discoveries

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08 : Friendships

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09: Light Endings and Dark Beginnings

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10: Blessings Abound

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11: Presentation

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01 : Awakening

I usually come awake very slowly of a morning, something I can treasure doing after my time in the Military. The light shining softly through my windows wasn't really a concern for me, having learned to ignore it's brilliance as well. Birds chirped and sang loudly outside, but they also went ignored as I stretched lazily, my mind slowly booting up my body for the day.

I stretched as I usually do, not really realising that I was lying on my side instead of my front, as was normal for me. My brain was still ninety percent asleep as my autopilot system also booted up. Without even opening my eyes, I slid out of bed slowly, coming to rest on what my autopilot said was my usual standing position, and headed for where my mind knew the bathroom was. But my still-asleep conscious mind didn't take in that I was walking on all fours, nor that when I stretched and yawned, a pair of wings at my sides actually opened and stretched wide. I entered the bathroom and headed for the toilet, as my very-slowly-waking mind said to my autopilot 'Toilet', and I used it. Once the bidet function had finished, I moved to the sink to wash my face, and there my eyes opened for the first time that morning. It was then I realised that, in the mirror was not what I expected to see. A flash of purple in an unfamiliar form sank in as it became clearer, my Military-trained mind then kicked in and my much-bigger-than-usual eyes opened wide. I felt myself leap backwards, trip over as I tried to get to my feet and failed, and collapsed in a heap on the bathroom floor.

I breathed in fast and deep, barely stopping myself from hyperventilating due to my training coming into full operation. I felt the shock dissipate quickly and my mind cleared, as I took stock of my situation. Realising there was a limb of some kind over what I thought was my nose at first, I lifted it and looked it over. "Lavender..." was the first word I uttered that morning, then I noticed it wasn't an arm with a hand, as my logic told me should be there, but something else entirely. It looked like a leg with what I could only describe as a 'hoof' at the end of it, something that I was finding hard to take in. I wiggled it mentally and the leg and hoof responded, making me frown. "What in all the bloody world is going on?" I said in a louder tone than usual, and it hit me as well as I tried to make sense of the jumble of limbs I had fallen into, that my voice was also different. It had a much higher pitch than normal and sounded very feminine, which only added to my puzzlement.

I eventually managed to roll over on my belly, sorting out my four primary limbs and two extra ones that seemed to fold up along my sides by themselves. I also knocked something jutting out from my forehead on the marble-tiled floor that made my forehead ache and my brain rattle around inside my skull... or what certainly felt the same way. "Okay... this can't be happening." I assured myself, even if the pain in my skull certainly felt real enough. "People just don't wake up as other... um... things... or whatever I saw." I looked at my front limbs, as something at the side of my head swung back and forth in and out of my view. "But if this is happening," I looked at my sides, my much longer neck craning around to look along them, "then I have to be in serious trouble here."

I struggled to my four feet, or hoofs I realised as it sank in a bit deeper into my conscious mind, and waited until I got my balance. The other two limbs at my sides were moving only a little as I steadied myself and seemed content to stay where they were for now, so I left thinking about them to one side for the moment as I tried to take a few tentative steps forwards towards the mirror. I could see myself now, as I'd done before, the sink seemingly mounted at chest-height to me, and what it showed me wasn't a shock any longer, but a major source of confusion.

Turning side-on carefully, I could see what looked like a stylised equine form covered in lavender fur, with a very cartoon-like head that wasn't really anatomically-correct to horses I had seen before. The eyes were huge, the irises a purple color, and what I tentatively called a mane was a hue of dark blackish-blue, with two stripes of purple and pink running through it from the base of it to the ends. Looking back, I could see the tail I'd felt moving behind me was also colored in the same fashion. The limbs at my sides fully revealed themselves to be really big wings, and what was attached to my forehead was a long, straight, spiral-grooved horn, with quite a sharp tip. I frowned at my new reflection, something that really didn't suit such an extremely-cute face, I had to admit, but after moving around to see the rest of me, I couldn't see how this could be anything less than reality. There was no way I was still asleep, unless I was so drugged that my mind was warping reality around with free abandon, and this also couldn't be a costume since I now had six limbs, and the horn was definitely a part of my skull, not glued on.

My mane was a real mess, but I couldn't see any real way to relieve the nasty shock of bed-hair (bed-mane?) that I was suffering from. Instead, I turned slowly and walked out of the bathroom and made my way back into the bedroom, which was enormous compared to my small home. The windows filled one wall of what looked like a circular room, with a huge hourglass in the middle of the central floor, the bed was on a raised section to one side, and bookcases lined much of the rest of the wall-space, save for a big double-door entryway. I'd just started heading for the windows for a look, when there was a knock at the door from something much harder than human knuckles. I blinked and turned to face the bathroom quickly, as my mind figured that acting half-asleep might account for any slips I might make to whomever was at the door. Still looking fairly bleary-eyed, I turned my head back towards the door and said in a sleepy voice "Uh... come in?"

The door opened to reveal two figures that had a general resemblance to the body I was in, but had shorter horns and white coats with golden-blonde manes and tails. "Good morning, Princess Twilight Sparkle." They chorussed.

I gave them a sour look from two bleary, bloodshot eyes and replied in a sleepy, pained voice "What's so good about it?" They stopped and looked at me, shocked looks on their faces. I winced and added. "Sorry, sorry. Good morning, girls." I replied again.

They gave me knowing smiles. "Too much Apple Acres cider again, Princess?" One of them asked.

They other one grinned mischievously. "Don't worry, Princess, we'll get you presentable for breakfast with Princesses Celestia and Luna." She said.

I gave them what I hoped was a soft, weary smile and answered "Thanks, girls."

The pair giggled and walked me into the bathroom, where I was showered, washed clean and dried. Then out to the bedroom, where more of the white and gold unicorns (as I realised they were, now,) and two white and gold pegasi joined my pair. They ushered me to the now-made bed and they groomed me with gentle touches, the pegasi even preening my wing feathers for me, something that felt heavenly. I saw the unicorn girls (mares, I figured was the proper term) using their magic, their horns glowing softly as they brushed me, combed through my mane and tail and even filed and painted my hoofs, my eyes covered in two slices of what I assumed was cucumber. "To help remove the redness in your eyes, Princess." It was explained to me.

"Uh-huh." I replied. I got the idea there were a lot of questions that I wanted to ask that would not be wise to do so, since I got the feeling that I should already know the answers to those questions, and to ask them would reveal that I really wasn't this 'Twilight Sparkle' princess whose body I assumed I was currently occupying. That could be disastrous for me at this point in time, so I played along until I could get answers in a more subtle way.

The unicorns, who I assumed were the equivalent of 'ladies-in-waiting' for the princesses, including myself, then dressed me in golden hoof-shoes, a little scarf-like necklace with a big ruby in the center, and a tiara that had five pretty gems in it. Rather minimalist gear, but I guessed it was suitable for a 'pony' like myself. I'd gleaned from their morning chatter that we, as a species, were called ponies, and that I was a very special sub-species of pony called an 'Alicorn', and the other princesses were also alicorns. I also worked out that I was not actually part of the rulers of the land I was in, but a kind-of adjunct or former student of the head ruler, Celestia, who ruled the Day, and her sister, Luna, who ruled at Night. Kind-of made sense, I guessed.

The next hurdle I had was making my way to the dining room where the other princesses would be waiting. I was surprised, though, when I walked out the door to my room, to see four unicorn guards in fancy ceremonial-style armor outside in the hall. Then I smiled. I looked at the pair opposite me and asked "Would you gentlecolts escort me to Princesses Celestia's current location, please?"

The pair came to attention and one replied "Certainly, Your Highness", and I fell in with them. The presence of two of the mares behind me made them walk slightly ahead of us, so they could lead me where I needed to go, instead of me having to guess. The trip made me realise that I could never have guessed the way by myself, but I would certainly be able to find my way back again, since my training wouldn't let me forget a route, especially if I was trying to remember it. The 'clop-clop-clop' of the four unshod ponys' hoofs was counter-pointed by the sharper 'Tip-tip-tip' of my shod hoofs as we walked along through the marble hallways. Funnily, to my mind, it was a comforting sound, and I managed to relax myself as we proceeded to the 'Celestial Sisters' ' private dining room.

==================================

The castle was a grand construction, I had to admit; beautiful and majestic in it's wide-open hallways and rooms, yet somewhat homey in the smaller areas, such as the room where I found Celestia and Luna already sitting around a round dining table inside what I'd have to call a 'parlour' more than a dining 'room', per se. I was announced and walked in smiling as if it was the greatest joy in my life to be with the pair, who rose to greet me.

"Twilight." The taller, white-furred alicorn said, a very warm smile bursting out on her face as she saw me. The look she was giving me was more like that given to a favored daughter than a mere student, so I decided to treat her in a similar manner.

"Pri... Celestia." I said, deliberately fudging the greeting, before I crossed to her and stood before her sideways, as a foal did with their dam. I knew I'd done the right thing when Celestia leaned her neck across mine, nuzzling me and covering me warmly with a wing in greeting. I nuzzled her back, seeing a warm look in Luna's eyes as well as her sister and I embraced. Then, once Celestia let me go, I moved to Luna and gave her a short bow. "Good morning, Luna." I greeted her a little more formally, since the mares had made me feel that she was much more formal in her manners than Celestia was.

"And a good morning to you, Twilight Sparkle." Luna replied, the smile on her face brightening a little more. "You seem... well recovered after last's night soiree." She commented as we were seated. "I hadst felt that the amount of cider thou consumed would have hadst thou a little more under-the-weather than thou seems."

I giggled at that, grinning, as Celestia let out a giggle herself. "I have to admit, I definitely wasn't at my best when I woke up, and I'm not sure I would trust my magic completely yet, but I'm not as badly hung over as the others that were drinking with me." I answered Luna.

Luna chuckled. "Thou speakest the truth, Twilight Sparkle. Rainbow Dash and several of the nobles were passed out long before you succumbed." She told me, and I figured that 'Rainbow Dash' was a name I'd best remember. She sounded like someone that I knew well.

"Indeed, Twilight." Celestia added. "The only mare standing from your friends was Applejack, and even Rarity had to call off early. At least she knows her limit."

I nodded in reply." And the others?" I asked.

Celestia grinned as the serving staff started delivering stacks of pancakes, as well as other delectables to the table. "Fluttershy begged off early as well. I swear she got drunk on only one tankard-full." Celestia answered. "And Pinkie Pie... well." Celestia sighed, still smiling. "I had the Captain of the Guard ask me if he should tranquillise her, she was bouncing so high in the ballroom." We all laughed at that. "Even Cadance and your brother were amazed she wasn't hitting her head on the dome."

I'd made note of every name they'd given me, as well as the fact my brother (insert-name-here) and someone called Cadance were obviously known to me. Okay, names to research when I got the chance. "Will they be joining us for breakfast?" I asked Celestia and Luna as I poured syrup over my pancake stack, having seen the way things 'stuck' to the hoofs of the pegasi back in my bedroom. I'd tried it myself until I'd worked out how to do it, using my hangover as cover for my failures.

Celestia shook her head. "Your friends should be along shortly, but Shining Armor and Cadance left this morning on the first train. They didn't want to leave Flurry Heart alone in the Crystal Empire for long."

"After all," Luna then added, "She is a growing filly, and your niece is proving to be becoming as rambunctious as her aunt was at her age."

I pouted. "I wasn't that bad, was I?" I asked as I added the references together. Shining Armor must be my brother's name, and Cadance must be his wife, if this Flurry Heart was my niece and their foal.

Then the guard at the door said "Announcing Dame Applejack and Dame Rarity Belle." I turned to see an orange-coated mare with a blonde mane and tail and a Stetson-style hat walk in, with a white unicorn mare with a heavily-styled and curled mane and tail following. With the three apples that adorned her flank, I guessed the one with the hat was Applejack. I had seen my 'Cutie-mark', as the mares-in-waiting had called them, and I knew they were very important to ponies, but their reason escaped me at the moment. Still, they could be useful in identifying ponies, sometimes.

A few at a time, the others all joined us, and I was able to put faces and cutie-marks to the names. Rainbow Dash was obvious, as was Pinkie Pie, by the way she acted. No other pony could be THAT bouncy that early. But my instincts were slowly cutting through the fog that clouded my memories, and all these ponies started to seem familiar to me, and not just because I'd worked out who they were and since they were treating me as if we'd apparently known one another for years. No, my instincts told me I'd seen them all before... but where?

Then I winced as I bit on my fork, but not because of that. I got a spike of pain that slammed through my head, and a voice that sounded like my new one said, in a bleary voice 'Ugh... how much did I drink last night?'

I'd managed to keep a fairly straight face, so only Applejack noticed I'd winced. "Y'all okay, Twi?" She asked, showing the sort-of concern only a close friend or family member could.

"Yeah, Applejack, thanks." I replied.

'Applejack? What's she doing in my bed?' The other voice asked silently. Then I felt a wash of incredulity go through me, as if the other Me was able to notice where we were. 'The... Celestia's dining room? How the hay did I get here? And when did everybody else arrive?' She asked, stunned.

Acting as if nothing was wrong, as I watched Applejack give Rainbow Dash a ribbing about letting a princess beat her at drinking, I slowly found out how to talk to the other Me. "We've been awake for about an hour or so now." I said.

'Huh? What the?' She replied. 'Who the BUCK are you? And why can't I control my body?' She asked in an angry tone.

"Not sure yet why I'm here." I answered. "But whatever did this to us... I think it stuck me in as default controller. Sorry."

I turned my attention fully back to the others, as Fluttershy asked me "Are we still going to go to the Crystal Empire tomorrow?"

I dithered for a moment, thinking. "As far as I know, Fluttershy, yes we will be. I assume no-pony else has anything that could change that happening?" I asked the others.

'Oh Celestia above!' The other Me said. 'How am I going to explain this to Shiny and Cadance?'

"What's to explain at the moment?" I asked her. "And I take it you're the real Twilight Sparkle?" I added, hoping my guess was correct.

'You'd better believe it, whoever you are!' Twilight replied angrily. 'When I get control of myself again...'

"Hey hey, chill out, Twilight." *I interrupted her. *"I'm as much a victim of this as you are. I'm barely getting by here, trying to keep your friends and the other princesses from finding out this has happened. I'd rather not get them angry or panicking over this until we can figure out what's happened... and by the way, you do not know how glad I am you're actually back there." I told Twilight.* "The thought that someone or something might have destroyed you, just to implant me in here is..."*

'Frightening?' Twilight asked, but she knew it wasn't the word I was looking for.

"Abhorrent. Disgusting. An anathema." I corrected her.

I felt her nod. 'Actually, I am glad you feel that way.' She replied. 'And I'm... well, I guess I'm sorry I raged out at you before. I can see you're not hostile or malicious... just confused, as I am right now.' Twilight told me.

I nodded mentally. "As soon as I can figure out a way to either get us separated or perhaps explain things to the others, then I shall." I promised Twilight. "But for now, I'd just better be you to the others... although any pointers you give me would be very welcome. I've been getting by on my training and a good dose of luck."

Twilight considered that. 'I guess it would be for the best.' She agreed. 'After all, I do need you to go and research what we can find about reversing this... situation.'

"Indeed." I replied, smiling to her and myself. Then I found myself distracted, as the conversation turned back towards myself.

================================

Later on, I found my way back to my rooms in the Palace and sat down, thinking about what to do. I closed my eyes, seeking that place in my mind where I thought at my best.

I found myself inside my mind, in my mind's eye, as I'd been trained to do, but my body-image wasn't what I expected. I found I still looked like Twilight Sparkle, instead of something else... that I couldn't quite remember. I was feeling extremely puzzled when, from out of the edge of the area, another Twilight Sparkle walked in. I smiled and stood to meet her, but she stopped and frowned. "If this is where I think it is," She said to me, "Shouldn't you be looking... somewhat different?" Twilight asked.

"I know." I answered. "But for the life of me, I can't seem to remember what I looked like before... nor my former name." I explained to Twilight. "It's almost as if someone is trying to make sure I don't know what to go back to, if we can be separated."

Twilight sighed. "If this is Discord's idea of a prank, I am going to take his curly horn and... and..."

"Shove it where the sun don't shine?" I concluded helpfully.

That got a grin and giggle out of her. "Very eloquently put." Twilight commented. "But, seriously, if he's not behind this... then I don't have any clue as to who could be."

"Me neither." I had to agree. "But, as I said before, I apologise for putting you through this inconvenience."

That got another grin out of Twilight. "That's understating things just a teeny-weeny bit, but I thank you for that. Even if it isn't your fault, it's nice of you to apologise."

"What are friends for?" I said, smiling back at her.

Twilight frowned a little. "You think of me as a friend?" She asked.

"I'd like to think so." I answered. "We're both stuck together in a very annoying situation, unable to do anything about fixing it yet, but we're not yelling and screaming at one another or accusing each other of being behind it. We're acting like the mature beings we are, working together to try and find a mutually-acceptable solution. And isn't that what friends would do?"

Twilight thought on that for a moment, then nodded as I sat down. "I have to admit... you're starting to even sound like me." She replied with a smile, sitting down herself.

"Thank you." I said back, grinning. "I must admit, after the initial shock, this form is starting to grow on me." I admitted. "Hopefully, if we do get separated, I might find myself occupying a pony body of my own." Then I frowned. "Although I hope that's fully my own opinion, and not one given to me by whoever's behind this."

Twilight nodded. "Yes, I have to say that it appears they might be making changes to you to make sure you adapt, and I will say that I don't agree with that at all. You should have a free mind when making any decisions over such an important issue." Twilight then stood and shook herself out. "We really need to be getting to the Royal Archives. There's several books there we need to be looking through to see if we can find some clues."

I nodded and rose, too. "Okay. Just direct me to the Archives and tell me which books you need to read, and I'll do the legwork for us both." I said with a smile.

Twilight smiled back. "Okay... and thanks for being so reasonable."

"I'm always reasonable." I shot back. "Even when I'm screaming my head off."

That got a big laugh out of Twilight. "Good to know!" She shot back as she disappeared into the darkness at the edge of my sub-conscious.

I rose as well, then turned to walk out and found myself back in my bedroom... with a pink pony face inches from my own. I gave out a squeak and barely stopped myself rolling over backwards with my wings. "Pinkie!?!" I didn't-quite yell at her.

"Who were you talking to, Twilight?" She asked me.

I smiled. "Myself." I replied. "At least I can have an intelligent conversation that way."

Pinkie giggled and moved back. "Know the feeling!" She replied, then looked at me seriously. "What's wrong, Twilight?" She asked.

I looked her over. "Pinkie Sense?" I asked.

Pinkie nodded. "Yeppers." She simply replied.

I sighed. "Sorry, Pinkie, but this... this is something that I'm not sure anyone can help me with." I explained. "But I already have good help, and if I know you and the other girls can help me with this, I Pinkie Promise I will get you all together as quickly as I can." I made the motions of the Pinkie Promise to her.

Pinkie's muzzle split with a grin again. "Okay, Twily, I know you'd never break a Pinkie Promise." She told me, before I got up and walked out with her.

As we were walking along, it occurred to me... how the hay did I know what Pinkie's Pinkie Sense and Pinkie Promise were? Did I get that from Twilight... or was it something entirely different?

================================

The Royal Archives were huge, to say the least. At least having Twilight along helped the search for the right books go much quicker than if I'd been trying to look through them myself. 'Okay, this one's got nothing.' Twilight said to me. 'Try Prancer Vale's Guide to Transformation tome, aisle sixteen, third shelf from the top.' She suggested. I found and pulled the indicated book from the shelf, this time without even looking like it was going to drop from my telepathic grip. 'Hey, not bad. You're really starting to get the hang of using magic.' Twilight complimented me.

I chuckled softly. "Not anywhere near your league yet." I replied. "But thanks." I moved back to the huge table where we'd been looking through a stack of books that numbered close to thirty now. "Lessee now..." I flicked carefully through the pages using my horn's magic, my touch being as gentle as I could make it. I'd barely managed to stop ripping pages out of the first book I tried this with, and thank goodness Twilight had been there to show me the library's magickal repair station. I did not want her to get a bad reputation for tearing books apart, not after so many years with a good one.

'No... no... no...' Twilight commented as we read through the book 'Hmmm... what to do when merging yourself with another form doesn't go to plan... sounds promising.' Twilight said.

I scowled after reading through the chapter. "Nope. Just talks about physical merging." I told her, feeling gypped. I set the tome in a new pile, then sighed. "Any other suggestions?" I asked her.

'Ummm...' I heard her say as she searched her memory. 'Try... Lake's Magickal Mental Morphology, aisle twenty, should be at eyeline height.' Twilight told me.

I walked though to aisle twenty, but found the book was replaced by a form with a card in it. "Huh?" I said, puzzled.

'Oh, bother.' Twilight answered my unsaid question. 'That means someone's taken it out. Who's name is on the card?' She asked.

"Umm... yours." I answered.

I chuckled as I felt a mental facehoof. 'Drat! The blasted book is back in my castle's library. We'll have to go back there and look at it.' She told me.

"Okay then, Twi." I said. I returned to the table and started putting the books on the 'Return' plate, marvelling as they disappeared, only to return to their space on the shelves. "Absolutely marvelous." I commented. "I bet the national archives of my world would scream for a system like this."

'You said you were having trouble remembering things.' Twilight said. 'Does that mean you're remembering more?'

'Most of what I know is fairly clear to me, Twi." I explained. "But it's personal information that's missing, such as who I was, where I lived, anything that could identify me as a person before I ended up inside you is being either erased or censored."

'Hmmm... that's very troubling.' Twilight replied. 'That sounds like a definite indication that your merging with me was a deliberate act... although maybe not a malicious one. After all, whoever-they-were didn't get rid of me, as you said. Maybe we are meant to be separate, eventually.'

"Keep holding onto that thought, Twi." I told her as I put the last book back on the plate and watched it vanish.

We moved to the center of an open area and Twilight started coaching me again. 'Okay, a teleport spell isn't the easiest one for anyone to do, but I've done this successfully a number of times, so you shouldn't have any trouble doing it either... at least physically or magically.' She explained to me. 'Your biggest hurdle is the mental aspect. You haven't done this before and you haven't seen my castle before, so you're going to have to trust me that: one; you can and will be able to do it easily. As an alicorn we have done this, as I said, a good number of times without magickal strain. Self belief is paramount and critical to success.'

"Got it." I replied. "No biggie, for us this is easy." I got myself in the right frame of mind.

'The second thing is, I need to see if I can give you an image of what the main casting room in my castle looks like.' Twilight told me. 'Since you've never been there before, this is the hardest part of teleporting... but I've also teleported blind in the past successfully. The spell has safeguards to prevent us ending up inside a wall or anything else, so don't worry too much about getting it wrong. Even if we really, really fudge it up, the castle's defenses will simply deposit us outside at a pre-determined location.' Twilight grinned. 'I know, I cast the spells myself.' She even sounded smug.

I smiled tolerantly at her. "Okay, Twi, then give me the visualisation." I cleared my mind and waited, as a fuzzy image slowly oozed into my conscious thoughts. As it cleared, I found myself standing inside a three-dimensional image of a large, circular room, with the most intricate pattern on the floor, as if I was standing there myself. I could even turn about and see all around me, fixing the room in my mind. "Wow, way to go Twilight." I commented. "It's almost as if I was really there."

'That's what I'm hoping.' Twilight's voice said softly in my ear. 'Now, focus on your location, bring up your magic, then simply will yourself to be there.' She told me.

"That's it?" I asked.

'That's it.' Twilight confirmed.

I smiled confidently. "Okay, then. Let's do this." And I summoned Twilight's power again, this time letting it build up a lot more than I had before, concentrating on being in that room. Then, for just an instant, I was nowhere and everything was a soft, off-white grey, But before the sensation could impinge on my 'worry-center', the room appeared around me with a 'Pop!', and I dropped about an inch to the floor. I did feel a little nausea, but it wasn't anywhere near as bad as the first time I jumped out of an aircraft being buffeted by a big storm... which I somehow remembered doing several times. I growled softly to myself over being able to remember such things, but not who or what I had been. Then it hit me... I'd successfully teleported myself from one place to another, and NOT fudged it up. I then did something I thought I'd never do in my life: I squee'd like a ten year old filly given the best Hearths-warming present ever and bounced in place, spinning, for about thirty seconds, until I heard Twilight giggling in the back of my mind.

"What?" I asked her, now very self-conscious.

That cracked Twilight up. 'I NEVER did that, even when I teleported for the first time!' She told me. "Celestia, that was so cute!' Her laughter slowly abated as I frowned at her mentally.

"Hey, As far as I can remember, no-one on my planet has done anything like that successfully." I reminded Twilight. "Although, I do remember stories of pon... people apparently disappearing from one place and ending up entire continents away, and not knowing how they got there, so maybe teleporting on my former world is possible, but it can't be controlled yet." I surmised as I headed for the room's doors.

Before I got to them, though, the doors opened, to reveal another light-purple pony with darker hair. "Twilight?" She asked.

'That's Starlight Glimmer, my student.' Twilight said  in the back of my mind.

"Thanks." I thanked Twilight silently before I answered Starlight. "Hi Starlight." I said casually, as if I'd know her for ages.

"I thought you were in Canterlot." Starlight said as I passed her. "Weren't you going to the Crystal Empire tomorrow?"

"Still am." I answered. "But I found out I need to consult a book that was back here, not there, so I came home to find it." I explained.

"Oh." Starlight answered, as she turned to follow me.

'Turn left, second door to the left.' Twilight directed me. 'The first one's a fake.'

"Good to know." I said as I passed it by.

"So what's the book that's so important you had to teleport back here to get it?" Starlight asked.

"Lake's Magickal Mental Morphology." I quoted the name Twilight had mentioned in the Archives.

That made Starlight stop. "Huh? Why that book?" She asked. "Surely Prancer Vale's Guide to Transformation would be more suitable..."

"Looked in that one." I interrupted. "It didn't have what I need to find." I explained.

Starlight chuckled. "I should have known you, of all ponies, would have checked everything else there first." She commented.

I chuckled with her as we reached the door to the Library. "Ah, you're starting to know me too well, Starlight." I told her as the door opened and we walked in. I looked about and found the book just where Twilight would have filed it. I was starting to know my host, too.

I sat with the book at one of the tables and started leafing through it. "So... what's the problem?" Starlight asked me.

"A tricky one." I answered. "Imagine, one body, with two minds... and maybe two souls stuck in it, one the original pony, the other a stranger." I looked at her.

Starlight blinked with surprise at my scenario. "That's... that's horrible!" She stated. "Who would do such a thing? Discord?"

"I thought that at first as well." I said back as I leafed through the pages. "But I'm not so sure any more. It feels kind-of like something he might do, but I didn't find a trace of his magic anywhere when I looked for it."

"All right, that is very puzzling." Starlight said with a sigh. "So, if it's not Discord...?"

"Yeah, that's the most puzzling part." I replied. "But first, I have to see if I can find a spell to separate the pair, without killing one or both of them."

Starlight gulped nervously. "Yeah... that's the trick, isn't it?"

I nodded as I came to the end of the book and sighed sadly. "Well, no help there." I told Starlight, as I closed the book and put it back on the Return square. It vanished as I rubbed my hoof on the bridge of my muzzle. "I've been through just about every book I know on anything even partially related to this and there's nothing, almost as if no-one's ever faced this sort of situation before."

"Maybe they haven't." Starlight said as she looked at me. "So... what's the plan now?"

I closed my eyes and pressed my forehoof to the bridge of my muzzle again and sighed. "Frankly, Starlight... I don't know."

================================

I returned to the casting room after Starlight said she was going to go to town and get some things. I sat in the middle of it and turned my sight inwards again.

Twilight walked out into my Mind's Eye once again, and she looked pensive. "I'm... well, stumped, to be honest." She admitted.

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm not much better." I admitted back. "I'm not even as read up on magic as you are. This... is all just craziness to me, save for the fact that I can actually DO magic. That alone takes a lot of my logic and makes a mockery of it."

Twilight chuckled. "Maybe we need to find a new type of logic." She suggested.

I humphed and kept thinking... then it hit me. "Maybe instead of a new type of logic, we need another type of magic." I told her.

Twilight frowned. "Another type of magic? What do you mean?" She asked.

"I'm not sure." I answered. "But, according to what little I do know of you, you're the bearer of the Element of Magic." I reminded Twilight. "Maybe we should try using it on ourselves."

Twilight looked surprised. "That's... I never even thought of that." She said thoughtfully.

"Can you teach me how to summon it, then?" I asked Twilight.

"I think so." Twilight said. "But what do you think it might do?" She asked.

"Well, from the few memories and other things I got from you, the first time you used the Elements was to separate Nightmare Moon from Princess Luna." I reminded Twilight. "Maybe we can use it to separate us from each other."

Twilight grinned. "You may be right!" She exclaimed happily. "Okay, I'll see you out there, and we'll try it."

I nodded and turned to walk out of the agreed space. Once back in the real world, I moved to the center of the casting room and waited for Twilight to return. 'Okay. Now, you should be able to feel the connection to the Element of Magic near the center of my magic 'core', if you slowly feel for it.' She explained.

"Okay." I replied, then I did as she asked. I was already familiar with the feel of Twilight's natural magic, due to teleporting and levitation, so when I felt something different and much more powerful than what Twilight used normally, I touched it with my magic sense, and it pulsed powerfully. "Wow!" I said as it flowed through me.

'That's it!' Twilight said enthusiastically. 'Now, you know how to activate my magic, so do the same for the Element, and you should transform into the Elemental state I become when the Tree of Harmony imbues me with it's power.' She explained further. 'Hopefully, it might separate us out.'

"Okay, here it goes." I said, and called forth the power of the Element... and it fizzled. "Okayyyy..." I said, confused.

'No, that wasn't right.' Twilight said. 'You're trying to force it, and the Element doesn't work that way. You need to submerge yourself in it, let it flow through you completely, not just through your horn.'

"Harder than it sounds, then." I said, as I tried to steady and relax my mind.

'That's it, be at peace. Feel the power of the Element flowing through you.'

I chuckled. "Yes, Master Yoda." I replied, grinning. The, before Twilight could answer, the power leaped from inside me and surrounded me brilliantly. I felt... transcended by it and it filled me in a way Twilight's magic didn't, and it felt like she and I were drawing closer together. I felt things/images flowing into my mind, things that weren't from me, as well a lot of knowledge. Then it collapsed again, leaving me stunned and a bit wobbly.

'Owww.' Twilight's voice sounded pained.

"Yeah, that felt like a Seven on the Slam-o-meter." I agreed as I dropped my plot to the floor. The images I'd seen were slowly filtering themselves into my sub-conscious, and sorting themselves out onto what appeared to be knowledge and personal memories - memories that weren't mine, but appeared as if from my own perspective. The knowledge, I realised, was magickal theory and a lot more, connected to memories of reading books and listening to teachers, including Celestia herself.

Then Twilight sounded huffy. 'I do NOT look OR sound like a little green... whatever that Yoda fellow is!' She exclaimed in a peeved tone.

That got me laughing and rolling on the floor. Even Twilight started giggling after a minute or two. Then it struck me. "Hey, I never told you who Yoda was." I stated. "How do you know?"

'Um... something happened when the Element was powering us up.' Twilight answered. 'I have a huge load of new information, including several dozen movies stuck in my mind, Star Wars and it's companion films close to the forefront.' She told me. 'By Celestia, your people were creative! Imagining whole new universes and then being able to make movies about them! It's so incredible and lifelike! If I didn't know they were faked, I'd swear you'd actually been there.' She sounded really overjoyed. 'And the weapons! Aircraft! Cars! Tanks! Computers, both desktops, tablets and mainframes! So much... Technology!'

I chuckled as the pain in my head faded. "Yeah. It seems as if we got a lot of crossway action going there, Twi, but something happened before we could be merged. I don't think the Element of Magic wants to make us one."

'Hmmm, you could be right.' Twilight sounded a bit soured by my statement. 'Maybe we should try it one more time, just to be sure.'

"Okay." I told her, sounding unsure. "But if we come to, feeling like an AT-AT ran us over, it's your fault." I snarked at Twi as I got to my feet and tried to get in a relaxed state once again. When I felt ready for it, and the power was calm inside me, I reached for it again...

...with pretty much the same result. This time I was lying on the floor, groaning, with my head tucked under my outstretched wings, the pain consistent with the level of a class-nine migraine.

'Arrrgh!' Twilight moaned. 'Okay... no more trying that.'

"No kidding." I agreed. Then a spell that I hadn't known before ran through my aching head. Grabbing onto it, I cast it and the migraine eased off so quickly, Twilight and I both moaned with relief.

'Oh by blessed Celestia.' Twilight sighed thankfully. 'Hey, I never taught you how to do that headache relief spell. How did you know how to do it?' She asked.

I checked inside my memories. "Yep." I said, as my suspicions were confirmed. "I've got ALL your memories, Twi. Every single one of them, as well as every book or scrap of information you've ever learned."

'Huh? Wait.' Twilight said, sounding concerned. 'And the verdict is unanimous.' She said what seemed like only a minute later. 'Not only have I got all of your memories, minus the edited bits, but all my own memories are ordered far beyond anything I'd been trying to achieve. It's almost like... I have an eidetic memory now.'

Checking back on my own memories, I found the same thing. "Same here, Twi. Apart from the things that have been deliberately cut out, I can remember pretty much everything. And all your memories are as clear as anything... save that they seem to be in a different file from my own, but otherwise completely accessible."

'Okay, that's weird.' Twilight stated.

"Not if you think about it." I replied.

'Umm... so, what do you mean this time?' She sounded confuzzled.

I chuckled. "If you were going to merge two people's memories together, it'd be a LOT easier if they were fully ordered and sequential, with nothing left out. That way, you could slot them together far more easily than if they were all over the place." I logically suggested. "So, we got our memories laid out, everything fully ordered and ready to be slid together... when I bet the edited parts of my memories caused the whole process to abort, leaving us with each others' memories intact, but still separate."

'That's a pretty half-plotted theory," Twilight said in a skeptical tone, 'but, barring anything that sounds better, I guess it'll do for now.' She concluded.

I got to my feet. "And, now that I know exactly what happened when we separated out Nightmare Moon and Luna, I know what we need to do next." I told Twilight as I headed for the doors to the corridor.

'And that is?' Twilight asked.

I smiled in a convincing way. "Call the others."

===============================

I headed for the throne room and went to the Table. It was all so familiar to me now, as I hopped up on Twilight's throne and touched the table's edge, the Map appearing to me as if I'd done this a hundred times or more. Once it had stabilised, I could see the others all waiting in Canterlot, their cutie-marks as clear as day spread out around the city. Nodding, I slammed a hoof onto the image of my castle, and the cutie-marks on the others' thrones lit up, pulsing like Hearths warming lights.

I could feel Twilight watching what I was doing from inside my head, and while she didn't exactly know what I'd concluded, I felt that she was placing her trust in me. 'Okay, they're going to get here as fast as they can, now.' Twilight's voice echoed in my head. 'So why are we calling them back here? What can we do here we can't do elsewhere?'

"I realised as the memory of you lot separating Nightmare Moon from Luna fully coalesced in my memory, Twi." I explained. "I realised that it required ALL of you, not just the one, to pull the pair apart. And I think it'll work the same with us." I stated firmly.

'Or, at least, you hope it will.' Twilight said, drolly.

"Got any better ideas?" I asked. When she said nothing, I added. "Thought not."

================================

In five different places around Canterlot, five cutie-marks on five ponies pulsed with energy, and the five of them knew what that meant.

Applejack finished paying for the new seeds she'd bought and, sliding them into her saddlebags, she made a beeline for the train station. Her feeling that something was wrong with Twilight was growing stronger. While her friend hadn't been openly dishonest, she was hiding something, and Applejack was determined to see this sorted before anything else happened;

In the Wonderbolts Compound, Rainbow Dash's eyes crossed, and those she was with - Spitfire, Soarin and Fleetfoot - saw what was happening. Spitfire caught Dash's eye, then nodded. Saluting, Rainbow Dash respectfully left her office, after giving Soarin a nuzzle and a wink to Fleetfoot. Then she raced down the corridor, flew down the stairs and crossed the lobby, scattering other ponies before her, and blasted off right outside the front door. The train be damned, She thought to herself, Twi needs me, and the faster the better!

Fluttershy had just finished ordering the new veterinary supplies and books from the animal hospital at the edge of Canterlot, when she felt the summons. Once she'd paid for her order and organised delivery, she apologised profusely and left, flying along at her usual slow pace for the train station. She'd felt something was very wrong with Twilight, but she hoped that maybe she was ready to get help at last;

Rarity looked up as the summons lit up her cutie-mark and sighed. Sassy Saddles looked at her pulsing flank and raised an eyebrow at Rarity, then nodded. Rarity gave her a thankful look, then headed for the train station after gathering her bags. At least she and Sassy had managed to sort out the new summer lines before this happened and, down deep, part of her said that this was an 'about time' moment. Twilight had some explaining to do, and Rarity was going to be there for it;

Pinkie Pie bounced out of Canterlot Castle, giggling to herself, as Celestia gaped at the massive seven-tiered rainbow-hued cake that dominated the floor as she walked out to begin Day Court that afternoon after lunch. All the other attendees were also staring at it in confusion. Celestia closed her muzzle, sighed with resignation and, after calling the Royal serving staff, began having the cake passed out amongst those attending the court... after having one slice of each color/flavor reserved for herself, of course.

================================

Back in Ponyville, I relaxed and headed for the kitchen. My stomach was rumbling emptily and I needed something to munch on, badly. "Heya, Spike." I said as I entered. "Do we have any fish in the fridge?"

'Fish?' Twilight said, sounding confused.

"Uh, sure, Twilight." Spike replied.

"Good. I'm feeling hungry, and I'm not sure a hayburger, flower sandwich and hay fries are going to cut it today." I told him. "I know we keep some trout on-hand for Rainbow Dash, so cook us both up a good big one each."

Spike looked confused. "You expecting Rainbow Dash here soon?"

"Yep. In about ten minutes, give or take." I confirmed.

Spike opened the fridge and nodded. "Okay, Twilight. If you say so." Spike said, and took out the filleted and de-boned trout from the fridge.

'But... I don't eat fish!' Twilight said apprehensively.

"Don't worry. You're part-pegasus now, and even unicorns can eat meat if they want to." I reminded Twilight.

'I knew there was a down-side to you having access to ALL my memories.' Twilight grumbled.

I chuckled. "Don't worry, Twi. It'll taste awesome. If Spike can cook it properly." I thought to her.

Twilight sighed. 'He should. Rainbow Dash never complains about his cooking.' She admitted.

"Then think of it this way." I told her. "You'll get to taste what fish tastes like, without having to procrastinate over the technicalities of eating it." I reminded her. I licked my lips. "Trout tastes really good, too, even if Salmon tastes even better. Hmmm... note to one's self: teach Spike how to make sushi." I added.

'Sushi?' Twilight asked, now curious.

"Search my memories." I directed Twilight as I walked down towards the balcony at one end of the castle.  Once I got there, I looked at the big clock on the wall and waited.

'Rice, seaweed paper, vegetables and various meats, wrapped together, as well as other bits of raw meat and eggs and other stuff?' Twilight eventually replied. 'If it wasn't that I can remember how it tastes, I'd be disgusted... But now you have me curious as well.'

"If done properly, it tastes wonderful, yeah." I chuckled at Twilight's growing curiosity. I checked the time, counted to ten and opened the door, just as Rainbow Dash raced through and went spiralling down the circular corridor. I closed the door and then caught her in a force-field as she came back around. "Hi Dash!" I said to her, as she stopped flapping her wings.

"Twilight!?" Dash asked. "What's the emergency?"

"Not really an emergency, but I need you all here." I answered. "Sorry if it seemed really urgent."

Rainbow Dash huffed, then shook herself as I set her hoofs on the floor. "Well... okay." She said, looking disgruntled.

I smiled. "I have fish cooking..." I told her softly.

Dash's eyes opened wide, as her ears and wings pricked up. "Fish?" She asked, even sounding hungry.

I nodded. "Pan-fried trout." I confirmed.

Dash practically drooled. "Okay, I can forgive you." She said with a smirk. We laughed as we walked back towards the kitchen. "So, what's so urgent?" Dash asked.

"I'd rather tell everyone when we're together, because I need all the Elements together." I said in way of explanation.

Dash nodded. "That's cool. The others should have caught the train by now."

"Good. The sooner they get here, the better." I told her as we entered the kitchen. The smell of freshly-fried fish wafted into the dining room, leaving both the pegasus and alicorn mares drooling.

Then Dash looked at Twilight. "Hey, Twi, I didn't know you liked fish." She commented.

I blushed a little. "Yeah, I, uh, tried fish when I went to Griffonia that time. And I found it to be... " I searched for the right word, "...delectable."

Dash laughed. "Now THAT'S the right word for trout, yeah!" She heartily agreed. We both laughed as Spike brought out two plates with a beautifully fried trout on each, as well as hay fries, with two big cups and a tall jug of iced tea.

"Bon appetit." Spike said in Prench as he placed everything on the table, and Dash could barely restrain herself from gobbling the fish in one go, but as she saw Twilight pick up a fork and start daintily picking the fish apart, she sighed and also grabbed a fork and followed suit. I smiled softly and continued eating.

================================

It took about an hour for the Ponyville Express to pull into the station outside of Ponyville, the four friends disembarking leisurely. "Well, ah hope that Dash ain't had her ear talked off by Twi while they've been waitin' fer us." Applejack told the other three.

"I'm sure they'll be fine, Applejack Dear." Rarity replied. "It's quite possible Twilight has distracted Rainbow Dash with something they both enjoy, like a board-game or something."

"Ooh! Ooh! I love board-games!" Pinkie said with a big grin as she pronked next to Fluttershy, who was so used to it that Pinkie's bouncing didn't even bother her any more.

Applejack chuckled. "Yeah, we all know that, Sugarcube." She said as they walked off the platform. To their surprise, there was a taxi-carriage sitting there, the driver waiting for them. They all knew him, a large Earth Pony stallion by the name of Tallmark. He had a placard with their names already displayed on it with small, pre-made letters. "Well, heya Tallmark." Applejack said. "Whatcha doin' here?"

"As the sign says, Applejack." Tallmark replied. "The Princess asked me to bring you to the castle. Said you deserve the ride after your long trip from Canterlot."

Rarity brightened. "Well! That is most thoughtful of her." She commented as she walked up the stairs into the rustic-styled open carriage. The others joined her, then Tallmark hooked himself up to the traces and started pulling the carriage towards Ponyville proper.

"Twilight must be feeling either rushed or a little guilty for calling us back from Canterlot." Fluttershy suggested.

"Yeah! This is real service." Pinkie agreed as she settled into the comfy seats.

"Probably a bit o' both, I'd reckon." Applejack added. "Not like her ta use the Table ta call us on a whim or anythin' like that."

"Indeed." Rarity agreed. "Tell me, have any of you noticed that she's been acting... a little odd since this morning?" She asked her friends.

"Darn right I noticed it." Applejack confirmed, as Fluttershy and Pinkie nodded. "She's been acting real nice, but also a bit weird, as if she weren't... herself." Applejack's mind clicked over and came to a conclusion.

Rarity narrowed her eyes. "Am I right in guessing that you've come to the same conclusion I have, Applejack?" She asked her friend.

"Ah'm not sure if I reckon she's been 'replaced', if'n that's what yer thinkin', Rarity." Applejack told her as Fluttershy's and Pinkie's eyes widened in shock.

"Nah nah! That's not right." Pinkie said. The other three looked at her. "I spoke to her before she headed for the archives! It's her, all right. My Pinkie Sense wouldn't lie to me." Pinkie stated. "But there IS something wrong, she even admitted it to me. But she Pinkie-Promised me that, if she found she needed us to help her, she would call us, and she has, like she promised!"

Rarity looked surprised, but Applejack nodded. "Yep, that's the Twilight we know, all right." She stated. "Always tries ta fix things on her own first, but always knows when ta call her friends in." She smiled softly. "Learned that lesson well, ah know she did."

"Well, that's all well and good." Rarity said. "But why do you think she needs us now?"

"Because she knows she does." Fluttershy then spoke up. "She wouldn't ask for our help unless she knew she had to, especially with us being in Canterlot instead of Ponyville. It has to be a big thing, or else she would have waited."

The others nodded in agreement. "Yep, ah reckon ya gone and hit the nail right on tha' head, Sugarcube." Applejack spoke up.

"And it's the least we can do for Twilight, after she's done so many things to help us!" Pinkie almost shouted as she tried hard not to bounce in the carriage.

Rarity smiled. "Once again, girls, you've shown why I love you so much as my friends." She told them. "And if Twilight needs our help, far be it from me to say 'Come back tomorrow, I'm busy', after everything we've shared together. We would not be friends if we failed her, especially if and when she needed us most."

"Exactly." Applejack simply replied.

Then they saw the castle coming up towards them, as they crested the hill between the station and the castle.

================================

In the castle kitchen's small informal dining area, both Rainbow Dash and the pair of minds sharing Twilight's body were relaxing, stuffed with delicious fish. 'Darn it, you were right! That was incredible!' Twilight's voice rang through my head. 'I never realised fish tasted so good.'

"You never know it until you try it, Twi." I replied silently, as I looked at Dash, who was patting her full stomach and moaning in pleasure.

"Spike!" Dash called out.

"Yeah?" Spike asked as he walked out of the kitchen.

"Best fish ever!" Dash said and grinned at Spike.

Spike chuckled. "Thanks, Dash. Glad you liked it." He said back, and headed back into the kitchen itself.

Twilight heard the whistle of the Ponyville Express arriving at the station. "Well, I hear the train pulling in. The girls should be here in about ten minutes."

Rainbow Dash chuckled. "Takes them as long to get from the station to here as it did for me to fly from Canterlot to here." She stated smugly.

I chuckled with her. "Hey, not everypony can fly as fast as you, Dash." I admitted. "Now, let's go down and greet them." I stood up, but it looked like Dash was having a little problem standing. "Or would you rather wait for everypony else in the casting room?" I asked her.

"Casting room. Definitely casting room." Dash said with a groan.

I laughed softly, then picked her up with my levitation and carried her into the room. I never knew how easily Twilight's alicorn magic could do things until now, after having all her training and experience as my own. I left Dash lying on a thick, soft cushion on one area of the floor, then headed downstairs.

I was surprised to see Starlight Glimmer coming in through the front door as I reached the lobby area. "Starlight!" I said with a grin.

"Heya Twilight." Starlight said, smiling back as she closed the door, her bags full of things.

"Just in time." I told her as I reached her. "Did you get everything you wanted?"

"Uh, yeah. I got everything I wanted, but some of what Spike asked me to get is on order." Starlight answered.

"That's okay." I told Starlight. "Now, the other Element Bearers should be here any minute now. I'm going to try and fix that problem we talked about earlier."

"Really?" Starlight asked. "And you're going to let me watch?"

"Sure." I confirmed.

"Goody." Starlight almost was bouncing as she walked away. "Where's the pony in question?" She then asked.

"Already here." I replied. "So's Rainbow Dash. She's in the casting room, sleeping off a nice feed of trout."

Starlight smirked. "Sounds like her speed." She said back. "Okay, I'll put things away, then join you there." Starlight told me, just as I heard Tallmark's carriage pull up outside. I headed out to greet my friends.

"Hey, everypony!" I called out as they started to disembark. "Thanks, Tallmark." I said to the big stallion, as I handed him his fare.

"Always a pleasure, Twilight." He replied, knowing I preferred to drop my title when in Ponyville. Once Tallmark was gone, I led everyone inside.

"So, what's this all about, Twilight?" Rarity asked, still a little miffed. "I was rather busy in my boutique when your summons reached me.

"Yeah, Twilight!" Pinkie said. "I missed out on seeing Celestia's face when she saw my gift to her in court this morning!" She pouted at me for a moment.

"Gift, Pinkie?" I asked, dreading what she might have done.

"Yeppers." Pinkie grinned again. "I left her a cake to help cheer up everypony in the court today."

Applejack chuckled. "By tha amount of ponies waitin' ta get in ta see Celestia, Pinkie, that had ta be one mighty big cake." She commented.

"Big enough." Was all Pinkie said in reply.

"You are feeling all right, aren't you, Twilight?" Fluttershy then asked me, from my other side.

"Well, yeah, I'm feeling okay, Fluttershy, but there is a problem, and I've come to the conclusion I need all of you to help fix it."

'You've come to that conclusion, you mean.' Twilight's voice echoed in my head.

"Hush, no comments from the peanut gallery unless it's helpful." I replied silently.

"I prefer popcorn to peanuts." Pinkie then said, out of nowhere.

I blinked with surprise at that. "She heard us speaking?" I asked Twilight.

'One can never be sure with the Pink. It's powers are random and unfathomable.' Twilight replied.

"Careful, Twilight, you're starting to sound like Yoda again." I ribbed her helpfully.

That actually got a chuckle from her. 'I guess it's the whole Mentor thing.'

"More than likely." I agreed as we all headed for the casting room.

"So, what's tha problem then, Twi?" Applejack asked.

"And where's Rainbow Dash?" Rarity wanted to know.

"Rainbow Dash is in my casting room, stuffed with fish." I answered Rarity first.

That got a few giggles and titters. "So that's how ya made things up ta her, then." Applejack concluded.

"Yeppers." I confirmed, getting more giggles. "And as for the problem... I can't seem to connect to the Element of Magic."

That got gasps. "But... but how?" Rarity sounded stunned.

"Yeah, Twi, if'n ya can't pull yer Element to ya, what happens if'n we need 'em?" Applejack asked.

"I have a theory, but I need the other five Elements in order to try for a cure." I explained as we reached the casting room door and entered it. Opening the door released a wash of loud snores from inside, and as we entered, Starlight was sitting on a couch in a niche to one side, while Rainbow Dash was on her cushion, on her back, snoring loudly. Starlight rose to greet everypony, while Applejack went and woke up Rainbow Dash.

"Wha?!?" Rainbow Dash said with a snort, as Applejack tapped her gently on the head.

"Time ta wake up, Sugarcube." Applejack told her.

"Huh? How'd you guys get here so fast?" Dash asked as she rolled over. "I just closed my eyes for a second, and you're here."

"It's been a little longer than a second." Fluttershy added helpfully. "You were fast asleep when we came in."

"Awww... and I was having the most wonderful dream, too." Dash lamented.

"Don't tell me: You leading the Wonderbolts." Rarity said with a little snarkiness in her voice.

"Hey, how'd you know that?" Dash asked Rarity.

"Because that's all ya ever seem ta dream about, Sugarcube." Applejack replied with a grin.

Everypony laughed at that, save for Rainbow Dash, who frowned and huffed back. "Yeah, well, after actually joining the Wonderbolts, it's the next big phase in my plan, so I have to work out how it's all going to go, don't I?" She grumbled.

"Y'all will do it just fine, Dash." Applejack told her, patting her on the back.

"Anyway, getting back to why we're here: Twilight, you said you needed the Elements." Rarity refocused everypony's attention.

"Yes." I confirmed again. "Now, this might sound a little crazy, but I'm going to need you all to focus the rainbow power of your Elements on me, while I try and call for the Element of Magic again." I explained what I needed. "If I'm right, it'll jump-start my element and fix whatever's blocking me from powering up completely."

"Uh, isn't that a little bit dangerous, with something as powerful as the Elements?" Starlight then asked.

I nodded. "I know it is, but after not finding any answers in any of the books I've read, and with the Element of Magic being... uncooperative, this is the only thing I can think of right now." I sighed. "Anypony else got any ideas?" I asked.

Everypony thought on the problem for a minute or two, but all they could do was shake their heads or shrug. "Well, okay Twi. If'n y'all are thinkin' this'll work, then we're gonna give it a shot."

"Yeah!" Pinkie agreed and bounced in place.

I smiled. "Thanks, Girls." I replied. "Now, I need you all to stand around the circle and get ready." I turned to Starlight. "Starlight, I need you to stand in the circle over there. It will protect you from any stray energy that might try to engulf and change you." I warned her.

Starlight nodded and headed for the protection circle, while the others took their places. I headed for the center of the main circle as the protection circle activated, sealing Starlight in. "Power up!" I yelled out, and five ponies were surrounded by brilliant radiance, transforming into their Primal Elemental forms, then I nodded at them. I closed my eyes, relaxed and went to that place inside us, the place Twilight had shown me, and felt the power flow into me again. "Now!" I called out. Five beams of pure elemental power slammed into me, just as the surge of power from the Element of Magic filled me once again... but this time, it felt different.

================================

Starlight watched as Twilight was surrounded by the power of the Elements of Harmony. She was fretting something fierce, hoping that they'd cure Twilight of whatever was... afflicting her. Then her eyes widened as she remembered something Twilight had told her earlier. "One body - two minds." She said softly. That was what Twilight had called the others to cure... but it was Twilight in the center! Was she... the one that was affected?

Starlight tried to call out, but the barrier kept her from being heard. This was beyond anything she'd ever read about, beyond her experience. And what would happen if it failed?

Then, as the blinding radiance faded just a little, she saw one sphere of energy split and become two. The two took form, and both formed ponies. One looked, to Starlight, like images Twilight had shown her of herself as a unicorn, before she ascended; the other, although colored exactly the same as Twilight, had no horn, but two huge wings adorned her sides: Twilight as if born as a pegasus. Starlight saw them open their eyes and look at one another...

================================

In the Palace in Canterlot, Princess Celestia had just concluded Day Court and was walking back to her sitting rooms, ready to relax until Luna rose and they fulfilled the second part of their responsibilities: ending the day and beginning the night. But then, as the guards moved to allow her to pass, Celestia flinched, then writhed. She screamed and almost fell, saved only by the quick thnking of the guards in the corridor and her escort, who slammed together around her to hold her up.

Luna, too, was resting, but at that same moment, she arched her back and screamed, eyes wide but not seeing, her whole being in agony for a brief time, as her attendants stared, shocked, before they raced to comfort her.

Outside, all over the planet, save for one small place, the ground shook as if Equis itself writhed gently in tune with the princesses. Then, as quickly as it began, the earth tremors ceased.

================================

I felt the power filling me beyond anything I'd felt before, and Twilight's presence faded from my head. I felt my hoofs touch the floor again, and I opened my eyes. Before me was an image like that I had seen in the mirror, of Twilight Sparkle, but I noticed she had no wings now and was smaller, like the other ponies. Then I noticed the weight of the horn that I'd always been conscious of was gone from my head. My mind then turned to my sides, and I felt the comfortable ruffling of my wings. A peace filled me as I smiled softly, a smile I saw echoed in Twilight's face opposite me. We both nodded our heads and closed our eyes. If being ordinary ponies was the price for retrieving our individual lives... then so be it.

For herself, Twilight gazed upon the other pony opposite her, that looked so familiar, yet with no horn and a really big pair of wings, more like her alicorn pair than those of a pegasus. She found the comparison... fascinating. Then she smiled at her counterpart and nodded to her. Then she and her other self closed their eyes, as the power of the Elements flowed over them again.

================================

Starlight was almost ready to try and blast her way out of the protection circle, when the light quickly faded, swirls of magic racing around and dissipating, to reveal not one, but two alicorns standing in the center of the casting circle. The protection barrier then dropped, freeing her, as the two alicorn Twilight Sparkles opened their eyes and looked at one another again, the other Element Bearers also gasping in surprise as their Elemental forms dropped away.

"Twilight?" Starlight asked, as she approached. Then, as the twins were about to say something, their eyes rolled up into their heads and they collapsed, one on her side, the other on her barrel.

Starlight looked at the others. "Quickly! Get them out of here!" She ordered, and the others hastened to obey, unheeding that it was Starlight telling them what to do. "Rainbow Dash! Go get Nurse Redheart and anyone else you can!"

"Aye aye!" Dash replied, saluting, and shot out of the castle like a cannonball.

Starlight and Rarity lifted one Twilight up, while Pinkie and Fluttershy helped lift the other one onto Applejack's back. "We'll take them to the Royal Guestroom." Starlight told the others as the door was opened by Spike, who'd heard Rainbow Dash speed out.

"What the?" He asked as he saw what was happening.

"Spike, get a letter to Princess Celestia!" Starlight said as they carried the two Twilights out of the casting room.

"No need!" Said a familiar voice loudly, as Celestia and Luna appeared in the corridor behind them. The Princesses gasped as they saw who the group were carrying, and lifted the two Twilights with greater ease and speed than the others. "Lead on." Celestia told them, and they all headed for the room that Twilight kept two big beds in, specifically for when Celestia and Luna stayed at the Castle.

Once the twins were lying in separate beds and resting peacefully, Celestia looked at Starlight Glimmer, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity and Pinkie Pie and asked. "Now, could someone please fill us in with what has transpired here today?"

================================

"...and that's when you arrived, Your Highnesses." Starlight Glimmer concluded. She and the others had told everything they knew, only interrupted when Rainbow Dash and the medical team from Ponyville General had arrived.

Luna frowned. "This is most vexing, and very unlike Twilight." She commented, looking at Celestia.

"Very true, Luna." She agreed. "But, whatever happens, we will make sure they survive, no matter what." Celestia stated. "For one of them must be the real Twilight Sparkle, and therefore we must make sure they both live."

"Well, there's not much chance of anything else happening in that regard." Said Nurse Redheart when she came in at that moment.

The others crowded around, all asking questions. Celestia shouted out "ENOUGH! Let Nurse Redheart speak."

After everyone had apologised and backed away, Nurse Redheart said. "Thank you, Your Highness." Celestia smiled and nodded at Redheart. "Okay... from the doctors' examinations, both of the Twilights appear to be stable and now sleeping off whatever happened." She told them all. "They're both suffering from mild magic overload and mana depletion, but that is rectifying itself as we speak. But we have one slight problem." She looked at them all. "We can't tell them apart."

"Why not?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Can't ya just... I dunno, read their memories or sumthin'?" Applejack asked. "If'n they're not tha same pony, then shouldn't their memories be different?"

"We tried that." Nurse Redheart answered. "And even their memories are so similar, we can't distinguish between them. Physically, they are identical as well, even to their cutie-marks and Itineris patterns." She sighed. "They're literally clones of each other, made from the same pattern, as it were."

"Hmmm..." Celestia thought. "Starlight, you said Twilight said something about someone with a problem of having two minds and souls in the one body, and you deduced as she subjected herself to this... casting, that Twilight was talking about herself." Starlight nodded. "And in the middle of the casting, you saw two Twilights, but one was her old unicorn self; the other, an almost identical pegasus." Starlight nodded again.

"I've never heard of such a thing, Sister." Luna commented.

"Neither have I, Luna, but if Twilight was so sure about this that she would undergo such an almost insane... I hardly dare call it a cure, then she must have been sure it would work." Celestia stated. "And since there is now two of them, I would surmise that, perhaps, she was indeed correct."

"But how could that happen in the first place?" Starlight asked.

"There are several possibilities, but I hesitate to speculate at this time." Celestia answered. "But for now, we should work on getting them both back to health, then find out what happened that made them decide to take such a radical and dangerous action." 'And find out why it affected both myself and Luna.' Celestia added silently.

================================

I slowly came to, to find myself in a similar state to waking up first thing in the morning, or that's what it felt like to me. My body was completely relaxed and there was that slight euphoric state, with no real pain to speak of. That was something I was glad of, because I was expecting a massive headache, to be honest. But when I tried to open my eyes and stretch, I found I couldn't move. I couldn't feel anything strapping me down, just the sheets lying on top of me. I was glad to hear my heart beating and I could feel myself breathing, which was a blessed relief, but apart from that, I couldn't move a muscle.

There was the familiar sound of medical monitors beeping away around me, but since the sheets were very soft and had that slippery feel of silk, I figured that, if I wasn't in Canterlot Castle's infirmary, then I wasn't in hospital, either. "Probably one of the rooms of Twi's castle." I thought to myself. "Okay, if gross movements are too hard, let's try some small movements."

I tried moving a hoof, since I remembered I didn't have toes anymore. I grumbled to myself when even that proved a little too hard and nothing happened. "Great! Did things work, only to leave me paralysed in my new body?" I asked myself. "Oh Celestia! I hope Twilight's doing better than I am!" Sighing, I calmed myself again and thought about my pony body. "I can't panic. That won't help. Now, what could cause something like this? I hope it's only temporary." I tried accessing the memories Twilight had given me, and I found that all my old memories and the new ones were all intermixed now, as if they'd happened to me in a more natural fashion. That alone was even more confusing, but I was thankful that I had everything Twilight had given me, still.

"Okay. Smaller steps. Now, I don't have fingers or toes, so what muscles are small and easily moved?" I asked myself. I wandered my memories over the image of Twilight in my mind, and it hit me: Those big mobile pony ears. I relaxed and slowly let myself walk through my body until I could concentrate on where my ears were. I'd hardly been conscious of the way they moved about, seeking sounds almost autonomously, but I also knew I could move them if I wanted to focus on a sound. One ear was trapped under the side of my head, but the other was lying free, my left ear, I realised. I carefully focused on the muscles that moved it and tried to make it twitch.

To some blessed relief, it took me several minutes, but then it moved. I carefully started making it move as much as I could and eventually, I could move it through it's range of movement. "Hmmm... this is strange." I said to myself. Then I found I could move the skin around it, feeling it tic consciously... and the sensation of control moved to one eyebrow, as I found I could make it lift and lower. "How interesting... it seems like... like a computer that's lost all it's driver software for it's peripherals. I can locate the peripherals of my body, but they won't respond, just like a computer booting up... for the first time!" It then struck me. "Of course! That's why moving around in Twilight's body was so easy when I was stuck in it. All her parts already had their 'software' map in place, and control of them had been switched over to me. That's why my autopilot software still worked in her body, because the instructions were simply interpreted by her long-established body-awareness software." I chuckled. "Gods-damn it. Who'd have thought I'd be using computer debugging principles to learn how to use my new body?" Relief washed through me and I relaxed almost totally, as the rising feeling of panic was flushed away.

But it was a lot harder than I thought, and debugging my new self was going to take quite a while, I could sense that by the little progress I was making in gaining control. "Hmmm... this is going to be harder than I thought... then again, I have all of Twilight's memories. I know what it felt like to move around in her body. Let's see if the memories will translate into moving my own. After all, they are essentially the exact same hardware. Okay, let's concentrate on the head and chest, so I can talk."

Things slowly became clearer as the haze of non-control slowly lifted. I could now hear voices moving around me, but the language was unknown to me... at least, I thought it was. It sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite understand the individual words. I grumbled and kept at learning to move and speak again.

================================

Twilight, on the other hand, slowly came awake at about the same time, but she had no trouble at all stretching and yawning. Then her demeanour brightened no end. She could move! Her body was her's again! She opened her eyes wide and lifted her head to look about. She recognised the Royal Guestroom instantly. The room resembled the Royal apartments in Canterlot, the only part of the castle to do so. She looked up to see she was in Celestia's bed. The beeping of medical monitors and the drone of hushed voices filled her ears as well, and she gazed across to Luna's bed... to see herself lying there in it. Twilight gasped and checked herself over, catching the attention of Nurse Redheart, as she lifted her wings and pushed the sheets back.

"Princess!" Redheart exclaimed as she rushed to Twilight. "How are you feeling?" Redheart asked as she started scanning Twilight.

"I feel... well, pretty good, actually." Twilight responded. "There's no headache, no stiffness. Apart from being a bit low on mana, I'm feeling like I just woke up from a long sleep." She told Redheart.

Redheart gave a big sigh of relief. "That's wonderful, Twilight." She replied, remembering Twilight's strict injunction that Ponyville residents call her by her name, not title, when in the village. "We'd thought something really terrible had befallen you."

"Yeah, it had." Twilight agreed. "Fortunately, I seem to have come through it without any complications." She looked over at her doppelganger, who was seemingly still asleep in Luna's guest-bed. "What about her?" Twilight asked.

"We're not sure." Redheart admitted. "She seems to still be unconscious. But she's stable, her breathing and heart rate are all normal for you at rest." When Twilight looked at Redheart with a querying look, she smiled. "We used your medical history to get a baseline to work from, Twilight."

'Ah." Twilight nodded. "Where's everypony else?" She asked.

"In the room opposite this one." Redheart answered, as Twilight stretched again. She started removing the monitor's contacts from Twilight as she moved to get up. "Even Princesses Celestia and Luna are here." She informed Twilight.

"Really? How'd they know something was wrong?" Twilight asked, as she made to stand.

"I don't know, I wasn't here when they arrived." Redheart answered as Twilight dropped to the floor. "Here, one last series of checks and you can go join them."

Twilight nodded and stood still, moving as Redheart directed her. Twilight knew Redheart was very close to becoming a fully-fledged doctor in her own right, so she was more than happy to let her check her over, rather than the other doctors.

"Well, if you were any healthier, I'd be out of work." Redheart chuckled. "One thing: Don't cast any really big spells for a while and limit your levitation. Your mana levels are still very low, so you'll need time and rest to build them up again."

Twilight nodded. "Right. I don't think that'll be a problem. I'm more than likely going to be exercising my talking muscles more than anything for a very long while for the time being." She told Redheart.

Redheart giggled softly. "Yeah, I can imagine everypony's going to want an explanation." She agreed.

Twilight sighed wearily. "Well, better get this over with. I can't keep Celestia and Luna waiting, let alone my friends." She said, heading for the door.

Redheart nodded as she headed for the still-bedridden second Twilight. "No, and I think this one's explanation is going to be wanted even more than yours." She thought out-loud, as she noticed the ear-twitch that was sporadically occurring on the other patient.

===      ===       ===      ===      ===      ===

Twilight was feeling much better as she crossed the corridor and entered the parlour that she'd designated to service the Princesses when they visited her castle. Almost all the furniture was bigger than usual, to be comfortable for Celestia's bigger height and size. She grinned when she saw everypony was there, talking away in hushed tones to the point that they didn't see her enter. "Hey, everypony." She said in a bright tone. "Anypony miss me?"

All of the others turned to look at Twilight, and exclaimed "TWILIGHT!" Rainbow Dash was just barely beaten by Pinkie Pie in getting to hug Twilight first. Twilight found herself partially lifted off her hoofs and carried into the middle of the room, hugged by all, save for the Princesses, but they moved close as well and greeted her warmly.

Twilight laughed out loud as she hugged each and every one of them, even Luna got a gentle nuzzle on the side of her head, as touchy-feely as Luna ever got to anyone besides Celestia. The gaggle of voices all settled down as Celestia said "Come now, my little ponies, let Twilight breathe and tell us what happened."

Twilight grinned as she settled onto a lounge and took a deep breath. "Okay. You're probably all as curious as hay as to what's been going on." She started, to lots of nods and curious faces. "Well, since this morning, I've been sharing my body with somepony else. Somepony who, while she was friendly enough and wasn't trying to replace me, was stuck in there and was in control. Until now, you've all been talking to her, not me."

"Now that's a surprise." Starlight was the first to comment.

"Yeah, whoever she was she did a really good job of makin' us think she was ya, Twi." Applejack added.

"Indeed." Celestia then said. "Even I was fooled. Her reactions were very true to your nature."

Twilight nodded. "To be frank, I wasn't even awake for the first hour she was in control." She revealed. "I woke up to find things like this during breakfast. You would remember it best, Applejack. You were the first to ask if I was all right. That flinch was apparently due to me waking up inside myself and finding out I wasn't in control."

"So, how'd she get in there, Twilight?" Rainbow Dash asked. "And how'd she get control of you?"

"And who is she?" Rarity asked as well.

Twilight shook her head. "Well, neither of us have any idea how it happened. Plus, it seems whoever did it had selectively erased a good deal of her memories, not so much information, but any references to who she was or what she looked like were very expertly censored." She explained. "And no, before you go accusing him, I do not believe Discord had anything to do with this at all. While it sounds like something he might do, we both couldn't find any trace of him or his influence anywhere."

"That doesn't leave very many who could do such a thing then, Twilight." Celestia said. Then Luna got her attention. "Excuse us, we'll be back in a moment." And the Princesses rose and left the room.

Twilight found herself being snuggled by all her friends a few seconds after the door closed. She even held her forelegs out to allow Starlight to give her a big hug. "We were so worried!" Pinkie Pie said.

"Yes." Fluttershy actually piped up and said. "When we saw you split in two, we thought everything had gone wrong."

Twilight nodded. "Yes, well, the whole thing with the Elements was our last resort." She explained further. "After finding nothing in any of the books I knew had anything to do with anything even remotely related to this, We were willing to try anything. After she remembered that the Elements had separated Luna from Nightmare Moon, we decided it was worth a try."

"So, the whole thing about not being able to use the Element of Magic was a ruse?" Starlight asked.

"No, we really couldn't get the Element to work properly." Twilight replied. "Apparently our dichotomy meant it wouldn't activate properly, so we had to do it the way we did it." She concluded.

By that time, everyone had relaxed, and then the Princesses returned. "So, how is our visitor?" Luna asked.

Twilight sighed sadly. "I'm not sure. She hasn't regained consciousness yet, apparently."

Luna looked worried. "That is not a good sign at all, Twilight Sparkle. If you're conscious, then she should not be far off being so as well." Luna said. "Maybe we should go and check on her."

Celestia nodded. "A good idea, indeed, Sister." She agreed.

Twilight looked at the others, but they seemed content to stay there for the moment. "Y'all go, Twi. We'll stay here fer tha moment."

"Yeah, or it'll get too crowded in there if we're all in there at once." Rainbow Dash agreed, in a moment of rare lucidity.

Twilight smiled. "Thanks, Girls." She said appreciatively, and she led the Princesses through to the guest quarters her 'twin' was resting in.

==================================

Things were still going really slow. I could twitch both ears, wince, I'd gotten my mouth to open and close and now I was working on opening my eyes. They felt like they weighed a ton, but I'd had hangovers like that before. Slowly but surely, I managed to get them to open. Luckily the lights were set low, so I wasn't dazzled.

I'd also managed to make progress on re-learning Equestrian. Twilight's lessons from her earliest memories were proving very useful, since she was a prodigy, I'd realised. In an hour, I'd gone from hardly understanding a word of what was said to understanding pretty much everything of what was said. I wondered if Twilight had gotten around to learning any of the other languages I knew, like Russian.

I looked about slowly, exercising my eyes and helping them to learn to focus again. I was definitely still in Twilight's castle, I could tell. The room might look like it was part of Canterlot Castle, but the furnishings were different, more home-made and very lovely in that style. Finally I got my eyes to be able to blink and focus properly, and I worked on my mouth, nose, tongue and throat. My tongue licked over my teeth fairly easily, funnily enough. Then I saw a face I didn't know looking me over. "Hello... can you understand me?" The mare with the nurse's uniform asked me.

I looked at her and flicked an ear.

"Does that mean yes?" She asked.

I flicked my ear again.

"I see. I take it two flicks means 'no'."

One flick.

She smiled at me. "Good. I take it you're having trouble moving your body about."

One flick.

"Hmmm... Do you remember what happened?"

I gave her another ear-flick.

"Do you remember who you are?"

I flicked my ear twice this time.

"I see. But you remember where you are?"

One flick.

"That's very good." She said. Then I managed to get my tail to flick as well. She looked back along me and then back at me. "More things starting to wake up, then?" She asked, moving and uncovering my tail. I gave it a slow swish. "Good. Keep it up at your own pace and I'll help where I can." She told me. I gave her one last ear-twitch and concentrated on getting my speech back, just as someone entered the room and she moved away from me. I heard voices, one of which I recognised as Twilight...

==================================

Twilight preceeded Celestia and Luna into the guestroom, where she saw Nurse Redheart sitting next to her twin, talking to her softly. The doctors appeared to have gone, she noticed. Redheart then rose and moved over to them. "Your Highnesses." She said, bowing to all of them.

"How goes it, Nurse Redheart?" Celestia asked first.

"I actually have some progress to report." Redheart reported with a happy tone. "She's awake, but is having trouble with her body, by the looks of it." She explained. "But she is lucid and can communicate to 'yes' and 'no' questions by flicking her ears; her eyes are open and she's trying to move her mouth and tail."

All three alicorns breathed sighs of relief, Twilight most of all. "That's good news." Twilight said to Celestia and Luna.

"Apart from that and her mana depletion, she's perfectly healthy, as far as the doctors could tell." Redheart added. "Dr Rubber Hose has returned to Canterlot, Your Highnesses, and Dr Steady Hoofs went back to Ponyville General for the time being. He has an operation to perform, but he has assigned me here until the crisis has been resolved."

"Excellent." Celestia said. "Then she is in the best of care. Hopefully she'll be out of bed fairly soon."

"To be honest, it might take a while." Redheart said, not trying to sound too enthusiastic. "Most of the muscle groups she's regained control of are minor ones, which is good, but it might take a while before she can use any major ones, such as her legs. But we shall proceed as quickly as she is able."

"We understand." Twilight then replied. "Can I talk to her?"

Redheart nodded and said "She's able to answer things, as I said. But try not to wear her out too much. I'm not sure how much stamina she has at the moment."

Twilight nodded in affirmation, then moved to be with her twin as Celestia and Luna talked on with Nurse Redheart.

==================================

I had watched and heard all of this and waited for Twilight to come over to me. I was able to give her a nice smile as she came close and she returned it. "Hey there." She said. "Good to see you're finally conscious. I take it, though, this isn't what you expected would happen, being somewhat paralysed at the moment?"

I rolled my eyes, glad that I could do that, and gave her an ear-twitch in reply.

Twilight chuckled. "It seems you got more than you wanted: A perfectly unsullied body based on my own, as you desired. However, it seems that the operating instructions got left behind, I take it?"

I flicked my ear again, then twitched my tail.

Twilight nodded at me. "I see. But at the least, you did survive the procedure. And you got your wish that I'd come through it okay."

I smiled at that.

Twilight smiled back. "We're talking about ways to feed you. We might have to resort to a stomach tube, since we don't know when you'll be able to get up and about again. Does that bother you?" She asked.

I flicked my ear twice at that. I'd used one of those before. Then I tried saying something, as I felt my larynx seemingly tighten and loosen. "Roh-oh-oh-oh..." Was all that came out, and very softly at that.

Twilight's eyes opened wide with surprise, but she grinned. "That's... really good. Wow, you're really making progress." She told me.

I smiled and wagged my tail weakly, then tried again. "Roh-oh-oll mmmee oh-oh-oh-v-v-v-errr. Uh-h-h r-r-i-i-htt." I was barely able to say.

Twilight looked surprised again, but nodded. "Hey, can somepony give me a hand here? She wants to be upright, but I haven't got the strength to levitate her at the moment." She asked.

Luna had been watching and she quickly walked over. "I can." She said as Twilight removed the blankets from me. I felt Luna's magic encompass me as her horn glowed and she lifted me into the air, as Nurse Redheart came over as well. They tucked my legs forward and to my sides as Luna slowly lowered me down onto my barrel, and I breathed deeper as I relaxed onto the bed again. My wings were drooping as well, but not lying on one of them was a relief, even as my head lowered down to a bunch of pillows Twilight had assembled for it. My neck still wasn't capable of lifting my head. "Thhhhh-a-an-an-k-s."

Luna nodded, her solemn face giving a bare smile as Twilight beamed at me. "I hope you get better soon, my dear." Luna told me. "I would talk with you again, sometime, as would my sister. We have much to discuss."

I closed my eyes slowly and just barely managed to incline my head forward, but when it got stuck there, Twilight had to gently slide my head back until I wasn't sitting with my muzzle buried in the pillows.

Luna bowed her head slightly in return. "Until you are better, then." She replied, and turned to head for Celestia.

Twilight climbed onto the bed and moved until she was facing me, the bed being huge enough to do so with clearance around us both. "Wow, you're really starting to get the hang of this, aren't you?" She asked.

I flicked once with my left ear and twice with my right.

Twilight giggled. "Yes and no, eh? I can understand your frustration. Going from a fully-functional body to this one must have been a huge shock when you woke up."

I flicked an ear.

Then Twilight became serious. "Having any doubts about doing it?" She asked me.

I flicked my ears twice and gave her a filthy look.

Twilight then smiled at me. "Glad to hear it." She said. "I just wish we'd found another way to do it, so you wouldn't have to go through all of this."

I just sighed softly, the gave her a 'yes-and-no' flick.

Twilight nodded, smiling softly at me, almost... fondly. "At least you're looking good." She said. "Do you remember seeing us in the energy field, when you looked like a pegasus?" She asked me.

I smiled and slowly said "Y-y-y-e-sss."

Twilight grinned. "I remember it. I think you looked fantastic." She told me. "I don't think I would have minded if I'd been born a pegasus... but I don't think I'd have become an alicorn by now if I had." She told me. "But you still looked awesome." Twilight grinned at me and I smiled back, my tail wagging a little bit easier now.

Then, to my surprise, Twilight moved forward and gently nuzzled me. I tried leaning my head into it, sighing softly. "Maybe you and I can become sisters." She told me. "I'd like a twin sister. I have the best big brother in all of Equis, but a sister would be fantastic, especially one who could understand me being me." She said softly.

I nodded slowly, then my horn gently contacted hers and there was a flash through my mind. I heard Twilight gasp, but she didn't pull away and I heard in my head "Huh?"

I grasped this hard. 'Twilight?' I asked in my head.

"I can hear you!" She replied to me.

'And I can hear you!' I said at a normal tone.

I could almost feel the thoughts spinning through her head. Then it faded as she moved away slightly. "My horn!" Twilight said in an excited tone, and touched her horn to mine again. "Can you hear me, Sis?" She asked.

'Loud and clear, Twi.' I replied.

"It must be our horns." Twilight said, her mental voice sounding so excited. "Maybe because we're literally copies of each other, our horns can act as a conduit."

'Good a theory as any.' I agreed. 'But I can at least talk to you properly now. That is SUCH a relief.'

"Yeah, you're telling me!" Twilight replied. "What do you think went wrong?" She asked me.

'I think you're right with you saying this is a totally new body, with nothing but the autonomic systems fully operational yet.' I answered. 'It's like I'm having to slowly work my way through it's systems, activating the muscle groups one at a time. By the way, do you still have all my memories?' I asked her.

"Yep. Sure do, and some of them are bizarre, but some are so wonderful." She replied.

'Good. Look up computers again, as in problems with such.' I felt her mental nod. 'I think I'm like a computer with all the drivers for it's peripheral devices deleted. Can you make sense of that?'

"Yes, actually." Twilight answered. "I know what you're referring to, from your memories. So, you're having to load the drivers manually, as in one at a time?" She asked.

'Yes, it's exactly like that.' I confirmed. 'I'm having to load the drivers by activating every muscle and muscle group one at a time, which is really slow, but it appears to be working.'

"So I see. Pretty slow, but it is working, and that says you'll be up and about again before you know it." Twilight said with a smile. But then, she opened her wings up unconsciously and, to our great surprise, my wings opened as well. "Huh?!?" She asked, furling her wings, only to see mine do the same and not droop back down again where they'd been sitting.

'Do that again!' I insisted.

Twilight opened her wings to their full spread, and mine followed suit. She moved them around a bit, and mine echoed her actions precisely. "That's incredible!" She thought to me, as she furled her wings again and mine followed her actions again.

'Well, I'll be tarred and feathered.' I said to myself, but she heard it too, and Twilight giggled. 'Move your horn away. I want to see if it's made any difference.' Twilight nodded, then I felt the link fade as she moved her head away from mine. I tried to feel my wings and the sensations were a lot clearer than they had been before. I carefully opened my right wing... and it moved. Nowhere was it as easy or precise as Twilight's movements, but it opened about half-way before gravity grabbed it and it drooped slowly to the bed. I grumbled audibly under my breath as I dragged it furled again against me.

"Definite progress." Twilight said with a grin. She slid back onto the bed and reconnected to me. "What's next?" She asked.

'Talking and neck/head area.' I answered. Twilight nodded, and we spent the next hour working on me using my neck and being able to speak coherently and with some ease. Celestia and Luna had left by then, but now we could talk without being linked by our horns.

But I was also tired out and Twilight had felt that. "Hey, Sis, maybe it's time you rested. We've come a really long way in a very short time, so don't tire yourself out." She encouraged me. "We can work on other things tomorrow, like maybe your legs."

I looked at Twilight and nodded. "Yeah, that sounds great." I agreed. "Maybe I'll be able to get something solid to eat, too, and get to the toilet. I'll probably need it by then, once my digestive system wakes up." She gave me a smile, then nuzzled me again and this time, I was able to return her affection. "Hey, Twi..." I then asked her. "Why are you treating me like we're related, y'know, after everything I put you through?"

Twilight looked at me and thought about it. "I guess... it's because I know you." She eventually answered me. "I know almost everything about you, You're a pony of honor, and everything you did while you were me, you did to try and give me back myself, albeit without sacrificing yourself, of course." She looked at me again and gave me that fond look again. "I don't think you would betray me or do anything to harm me in any way, unless it was to save me from myself... and you'd expect the same thing of me, right?" She asked.

I smiled back at her, then nodded. "Yeah." I simply replied.

Twilight grinned. "And... I can feel something between us, too." She added. "I don't know what, precisely... but it feels like... we're bonded. I have your memories, you have mine. Can you feel it too?"

I pondered this. I closed my eyes and felt inside me. It was then that I felt it, and Twilight saw my horn-tip light up. She grinned and did the same. The fields mixed, and the feeling I got was incredible. I could feel her. I could feel what Twilight was feeling. Maybe it was because we were so close, but it felt like the description I'd read about the connection, the bond that twins sometimes shared. "I can." I told Twilight. "I can feel you."

"And I can feel you." Twilight replied.

"Maybe... maybe we are twins, after all." I suggested.

Twilight nodded, grinning. "Well..."

I giggled. "If you're willing to have me as your sister." I said.

Twilight stuck out her tongue, then giggled as well. "Like I would let you go out of my sight." She said. "You could ruin my reputation so easily."

I gave her an evil grin. "Oh yeah..." I agreed. "I wonder how many stallions I can do in one night?"

Twilight laughed at that. "If that's all you're going to do, I'm coming along!" She stated with enthusiasm. We laughed, then pressed our heads together. "Sisters?" She asked.

"Yeah, sisters." I said. "Oh boy! Breaking this news to your family..."

"OUR family." Twilight corrected me.

"Okay, our family... that's going to be something." I finished.

Twilight nodded. "Oh, and the pranks we can pull!" That got us laughing again.

"Gonna have to get Rainbow Dash, and good!" I agreed.

We sighed happily and settled down. "Okay, Sis. Get some sleep, and we'll continue tomorrow." Twilight told me. I nodded and she rolled me back over onto my side again, being careful of my wing, until I was settled comfortably. To my surprise, she gave me a soft kiss on my cheek, then said "See you in the morning, Sis." And exited.

I relaxed and smiled to myself. This day was ending a lot better than it started...

==================================

Twilight sat in her study on the lower floor and thought about what had been happening. The situation was, as even her new twin sister had said, was unprecedented. Nothing like it had ever been seen before, which, considering the state of lore in Equestria, was almost unheard-of. Twilight's mind looked back, going back through everything she'd ever read about anything that might have been similar, and sighed with frustration when she found nothing that even came close to correlating with this event. But she also sat down and wrote everything that had happened down. She, Twilight Sparkle, would make sure that, even if nothing like this had been recorded before, that it would be recorded down this time, without fail.

As Spike served dinner, she smiled at him and said "Spike, bring your dinner in here. I want to spend some time with you."

Spike grinned. "Sure, Twilight." He replied, and came back with his dinner, a big piece of meat with a lot of gems on the side.

For some reason, watching Spike eat meat didn't bother Twilight anywhere near as much as she remembered it. She figured it might be because of the memories she'd gotten from... 'Ugh, I have to help her find a name.' Twilight thought to herself. She and Spike talked a lot as they ate. Twilight found out that Spike didn't really have a problem with there being two if her, now, and he understood the second Twilight wasn't actually her, even if she did act a lot like Twilight.

"Well, yeah, I know she's not you." Spike told Twilight. "I mean, she might look like you, but she doesn't act like you. And she only sounds a little like you, now." He detailed to her. "I mean, when she was in your body, I kinda figured out she wasn't you, but then again, sometimes you don't act like yourself either, Twilight."

Twilight snorted. "Thanks very much, Spike." She retorted.

Spike chuckled. "Want it, need it..." He simply said, making Twilight cringe.

Twilight sighed in resigned affirmation. "Yeah, I guess I can go overboard, sometimes." She agreed.

Spike nodded. "Yeppers, as Pinkie would say." He agreed. "But then again, it was everything she did right that really threw me. She was acting so much like you that I'd doubted my own gut instinct, and that says a lot."

Twilight nodded. "Yes, for her to make you do that shows she really was... I suppose you could say she was 'channeling' me." Twilight suggested. "Still, to fool even Celestia...' Twilight shook her head. "She told me how good her observational skills were, but I didn't believe she could take only minor things and get that good in less than an hour. Shows that I guess I could learn from her."

"You don't have to read a book to learn something, Twilight." Spike reminded her.

"Yes, advice that I really do need to remember." Twilight agreed.

==================================

The next morning saw me working out with Twilight helping. What didn't help too much was Starlight walking in on us when we were on our backs, horns touching, waving our legs in the air like pedalling bikes and giggling like crazy.

"What in the hay are you two doing?" Starlight asked us as we burst out into real laughter.

"Well..." Twilight began, but I interrupted her.

"We found out that, if we touch horns, Twilight can send signals down into my body and make certain muscle groups work if she exercises the same ones on herself." I told an upside-down Starlight. "So, for the moment, she's giving my legs a lesson in how to move."

Starlight was lost for a moment there, I could tell by her eyes dilating and the vacant look behind them. "Did I break her?" I asked Twilight.

"Nah. She's just thinking things over." Twilight answered. "It happens to all ponies occasionally. If we get information that overloads our capacity to take it in and process it, we stop and work on it."

"I see. Gonna have to make sure I don't do that if I'm in the middle of combat." I replied. "That could be a death-moment right there, if I get a brain-fart like that."

"A what?"  Both Twilight and Starlight asked at that moment, making me burst out into giggles again, as I stretched my legs on my own... which I found made Twilight do it as well. "Looks like this goes both ways, Sis." I said.

"What in the world is a brain-fart?" Twilight asked.

"Look it up." I told Twilight, then I crossed my eyes and let go a normal blast from my plot. "Okay... I think my digestive system just woke up."

"Eww!" Both Twilight and Starlight headed out of my new room at a fast trot.

"Hey! No fair! I can't move that fast yet!" I said as I tried to roll over and escape. Then I sniffed and blinked. "Okay, I keep forgetting there's nothing in my body yet to make smells..." Then I winced and curled into a ball as my stomach roared at me. "Ow! Okay! Definitely hungry now!" I said, as I uncurled and tried wriggling to the edge of the bed. I yelled in triumph as I made my legs work. "Now, to get onto my hoofs." I slid slowly off the bed onto my front legs and stretched them, wriggled them and slowly put weight on them. Convinced they were not about to collapse on me, I slowly slid forward until I had one back leg on the floor and exercised that, as Twilight looked back in. I gave my sister a grin, then carefully pulled my other back leg off the bed, keeping my rump on it as much as possible as I exercised my back legs together, then as Twilight walked in, I stood up completely.

Twilight grinned and walked up to me. "Wow, Sis! That's great. I didn't think we'd get that far today."

"Neither did I, Twi. I guess our little exercise session was better than I thought." I said, before I took a step and fell on my face. Twilight stifled a giggle as I grumbled. "Bleeding back legs..."

"Where?" Twilight asked as she looked over my still-vertical back legs. "Oh... the use of the word 'bleeding' as a mild expletive. I see." She then said.

I smirked as I struggled to my hoofs. "I see you're still assimilating my memories and vocabulary." I said to her as I got back upright again.

"Yes. I can see them all there, but it's... it's like the difference between seeing all the pages of a book at once, and having to read them to completely understand what they have written on them." She explained. "I still haven't read them all."

I nodded. "I know. I've only gotten past your tenth year myself." I said as I tried lifting my back legs one at a time and the opposite front leg with them.

"You've been going through ALL my memories?" Twilight asked.

"Sure. I'll never understand them if I don't." I explained. I stopped moving, then closed my eyes and concentrated. My horn lit up and I levitated myself and Twilight off the ground. We swung around to face each other, and I gently lowered us to the ground. As we settled, I blinked and my horn stopped glowing.

Twilight was amazed. "That's incredible! I didn't think you'd be able to control your magic at all yet."

"Remember, Twi, you're a magickal prodigy." I reminded her. "I have your body, your magic, and a lot of memories to work from. Plus it doesn't really take any physical effort to cast magic, so I found that my magic awoke a lot more easily than my physical body has."

Twilight nodded. "Yes, I can see that..." She said, her mind working.

I chuckled. I could almost hear the gears turning over as she ran on several tracks at once. While she was lost in thought, I closed my eyes and tried marching in place again. It didn't surprise me that I found it much easier now, my legs working in synch to move, but when I tried to move forward, they were reluctant to switch motions. Then I remembered what Twilight said. "Autopilot." I said softly, and looked at the door. I thought about walking out of it and my legs seemed to switch modes without conscious thought. I saw the room moving about me as I walked forward, slowly moving towards the door. I grinned as I walked out of it, to see Starlight in the corridor. "Hey Starlight." I said as I walked past her.

"Uh, hi." She replied as I continued to walk down the corridor, trying everything I could think of to NOT think of my legs walking under me. "Are you Twilight?" She asked.

I turned to look at her with a smile. "Nuh-uh." I said back.

Starlight blinked. "That's... amazing." She said as she walked alongside with me, keeping pace.

"Actually, my body's doing the walking for me." I told her. "All I have to do is keep myself from accidentally taking actual control of my legs or even thinking about it, and they seem to know how to move properly."

Starlight stopped and face-hoofed. "Of course!" She said as she caught up. "It's so ingrained that I don't think we ponies ever think about the fact that our walking motion's instinctive. It's only on rough terrain that we have to consciously place our hoofs where they have to be. Normal walking... we just walk."

"Yeah." I agreed as we moved around the circular corridor that went all the way around the second story of Castle Friendship. "So what did you want to tell Twilight?" I asked.

"Huh? Oh." Starlight blinked while still walking, then shook her head. "Yeah, Spike said lunch will be ready soon, and our friends have turned up... well, all but Rainbow Dash." Starlight told me. "Apparently she went back to Canterlot last night. Something about getting a week's leave while you're convalescing."

I smiled. "She's a Wonderbolt, if I understand things correctly, right?"

"Yes. It's a big responsibility, considering she's the captain of her own recruit squad." Starlight answered me.

I nodded. "Something tells me I know what that's like... although a lot of my memories and Twilight's are still jumbled up in my head."

"How did that happen, anyway?" She asked.

"It was when we tried to call the Element of Magic's power when you weren't here." I explained. "The Element's power-up fizzled just before it energised up completely... but it seemed to be trying to merge our memories together. That didn't work out completely, but it did order our memories completely and transfer them over between our minds, so we both had all of each other's memories as well as our own, but in separate folders, if you can understand what that means."

Starlight nodded as we passed the doors to the Royal Guestroom. "I think I do." She replied.

I smiled. "Yeah... but it also had a negative effect, I think, from it fizzling right at that point. Twilight and I got the nastiest migraines after each attempt, which is why we gave up after two."

"Ohh, yeah, I don't blame you." Starlight agreed. "I remember a few botched spells and the after-effects. Never good."

"Yeah. Okay, I'm going to try and turn around now, to walk the other way." I told her.

Starlight nodded and moved back, watching as I turned my head to look back along the corridor and tried to turn without thinking too hard about it. Starlight gasped as I almost tripped over my legs, but after a shakey turn, I was facing back the way I'd come and was still upright. She grinned as she walked back over to me and we continued on down the corridor, circling the other way.

"Getting better." She commented.

I grinned. "Yeah. I should be ready for the Running of the Leaves this year by this rate." I said, chuckling as Starlight giggled.

"Want to try a trot?" She asked.

"I guess." I said. "That's a fast one-two gait, isn't it, not the steady one-two-three-four of a walk."

"That's right." Starlight replied, then she sped up and showed me, trotting around me as I studied her gait.

"Okay... looks a bit easier than walking." I said, and I closed my eyes and tried speeding up, counting 'One-Two-One-Two" in my head. What happened was strange. It felt like there was an almost-physical shift in my brain, as I changed gaits, Starlight staying on my outside to keep me from ploughing into the wall. I opened my eyes to find myself slowly jogging along at a steady rate, the motions quite easy. I could see myself jogging along from here to Ponyville with a music player going with a good beat. I grinned as I turned and looked at Starlight, who was jogging/trotting along with me.

"Hey! You're really picking this up!" She commented.

I nodded. "I've got a beat running through my mind, and I think my body's using it to go with." I explained.

"Good idea." Starlight agreed, as we went along.

"I only wish I had a portable music player with me. This would be so good to do outside." I said.

"You had such things?" Starlight asked.

"I remember them, yeah. Our technology in electronics and such things were really advanced. I don't know if I could really tell other ponies how they worked, the technology requires a huge amount of infrastructure and previous developments to reproduce at the levels I'm more familiar with." I explained.

Starlight sighed. "Sounds wonderful, though." She said.

"Yeah. There's so much I wish I had here right now. But with everything that's been edited from my memories, it makes so much more so... fractured and mushy." I snorted. "Sometimes I can't tell if what I remember is the truth or not. Well, not if it's true, but if it's completely accurate." I told her. "Funnily enough, the clearest things in my memories are movies, songs and music."

"Really?" Starlight asked. "That's... interesting."

I chuckled. "I guess I just really liked my music."

Starlight giggled as we came around to my bedroom again, to see Twilight looking out, her eyes wide as she saw us trotting along together. "Heya Twi!" I said as we went past her.

Twilight came out and raced along until she caught up with us. "How the..." She asked.

"Autopilot." I told her. "As long as I'm not really thinking about how I'm doing it, I can do it."

Twilight grinned as she fell into step. "That's amazing." She said, to both Starlight and myself giggling. "Score one for Pony physiology."

I nodded, then we came to the stairs leading downstairs. I was a little apprehensive as Twilight and Starlight steered me down them, but with us synchronised in-step, I just closed my eyes and let them guide me down the wide, sweeping stairs. As long as I kept pace with them and stayed with them, it all went so fast I was on the ground floor before I knew it. I stopped and looked back at the stairs, as Twi and Starlight turned around to face me. "That was just..."

"...Amazing." Twilight and Starlight said, as I turned back to look at them and all three of us giggled like fillies.

==================================

We walked into the dining room to see four other ponies sitting around, enjoying lunch together. "Heya!" Everypony said together, then they got up as they saw me walking alongside Twilight and Starlight.

"Hey! Good ta see you up an' around, uh..." Applejack said.

I sighed. "Yeah, I know I don't have a name yet, but it's coming." I told her, and the others.

"But you're up and walking, and so well!" Rarity commented. "Such progress is to be commended."

"As the song goes, I get by with a little help from my friends." I told Rarity.

"Song?" She asked.

"Yeah, not one you know." I explained.

"Oh, I see." She said, clearly not seeing.

"But Rarity is right. You being able to walk so well is a very amazing thing." Fluttershy agreed.

I nodded. "Yep, I have to agree. well, as long as I don't think about it too hard." I admitted, before I ended up hitting my jaw on the carpet. Before everypony could rush to help, I waved them off. "No! No. I have to do this myself." I said, as I got my feet back under me again and stood up.

They nodded and we all headed for the table. Spike was bringing out lots of food and making a buffet banquet. He even brought me a covered bowl. "Here." He said, putting it down before me. "I got some of my beef and made you a broth." He said. "I hope you like it."

I took the cover off with my magic and breathed deeply. "Oh Celestia, that smells good..." I said.

"Somepony mention my name?" Came from the door, and we all stood as Celestia and Luna walked in. We all bowed deeply to her, and she gestured for us to stand. "Rise, my little ponies. It is good to see you all, especially you, in good spirits." I saw her look at me as she said the last.

"Thank you, Your Highness." I replied, bowing my head to her.

"Indeed. One would think that it wasn't you who was paralysed only a day ago." Luna added.

"Truth be told, Princess Luna, there's still things I haven't worked out yet, but the most important things are in working order." I explained, then my belly rumbled. "Yeah, and other things are making themselves heard."

Everyone giggled at that, even Luna. "Then by all means, let us eat." Celestia said, picking up a plate and assembling a salad for herself, as I started consuming the very tasty broth Spike had made me.

==================================

Later, in a common room, we all sat down and both Twilight and I told everypony exactly what had happened to us, and how everything fit together. By the time we had finished, Rainbow Dash had even joined us and was listening intently.

"I see." Celestia said after we'd finished. "So... you have no idea how you got into Twilight, or why. Your memories are heavily edited, so you have no idea what you were originally or where you came from."

"Yeah, that's about the size of it." I had to agree. "I don't know if whoever did this intended me to take over from Twilight, to become Twilight, or if me being default controller was just a fluke, not that it matters now." I said.

"And you do not know who you are, either, or even your name?" Luna asked.

I shrugged. "I have a feeling I have a name, I just can't remember it." I said. "Mind you, it's only within the last hour that that feeling's descended upon me, so I'm not sure if it's valid or not."

"Ooh! Maybe we can give you a name!" Pinkie then butted in.

I sighed. "Pinkie. I'm not..."

"Oooh! Maybe... say Grape! Or Goober! Or Purple Haze!" She started firing off weird names.

Everyone was trying to hold in snickers, but I just got a bit fed up. "Pinkie! I don't need a name! I just can't remember the one I have!" I told her.

"But if you can't remember your name, why can't we give you one?" Pinkie asked, as the others looked on.

"Because, Pinkie... something tells me I know my name, it's just on the tip of my tongue and I can't seem to say it." I explained further, getting a little more exasperated.

"Oooh! Oooh! Can I see? Maybe I can read it to you!" Pinkie said, as she suddenly appeared before me and tried to open my mouth. "Now, stick out your tongue and say your name." She said with a grin.

"Pinkie!!" I tried to stop her.

"That's MY name, not yours!" Pinkie said. "But... if your name is Pinkie too, does that make you my sister instead of Twilight's?" She asked.

I face-hoofed. "Pinkie, my name is not Pinkie, or Twilight, or Purple Haze, or anything like that!" I almost yelled at her.

"Then what IS your name?" She asked again.

"I DON'T KNOW!" I yelled back. "Honestly, would I have spent all this time being as confused as anypony if I was able to tell you that my name is Stellar Light Sparkle?"

It took a few seconds to sink in, as I breathed hard. "Stellar Light Sparkle?" Celestia's voice broke through the silence.

Then, I realised what I'd said. "Stellar Light Sparkle..." Then I gasped, my eyes lighting up with white light as my cutie-mark also glowed a brilliant white. As the others retreated, I rose off the ground, my legs and wings going wide as my cutie-mark rearranged itself.

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

Twilight and Celestia saw it the clearest. The newly-named Stellar's cutie-mark changed, as the Sparkle Star shrank slightly, the white stars of Twilight's cutie-mark growing and merging to form a single longsword vertically behind the star, and a circle being drawn behind it filled in to become a silver-colored round shield with dark-blue edging. Then it flashed and Stellar was dropped to the floor again, barely catching herself with her wings.

Everypony breathed again, then Stellar smiled. "Wow... my own..." And her eyes turned up in her head and she fainted.

"What the...?" Twilight said, and she rushed over to Stellar. "What's going on?"

Rainbow Dash was out of the common room before anypony could even say anything, and Nurse Redheart was back with her in just over a minute, her hand-held mana scanner out of her bag. She ran it over Stellar and grimaced. "Dammit!" She said. "Her mana levels have dropped to almost zero! She's dying!"

04: Assignment and First Combat

04: History

Twilight and Stellar were walking home that evening after spending most of the day at the Palace, with Stellar learning about her great-uncle Canopus Star and his exploits as she recovered from the duel.

Twilight, however, was still wondering about something and couldn't get it out of her head. "Stellar... why did you yell out 'Grandfather'? Canopus Star was our great-uncle, not our grandfather."

Stellar didn't say anything at first. Her mind was still well back in the past as she tried to remember what had gone through her head at that moment. Finally she replied. "I can't tell you, Twi. I'm not even sure myself." She explained. "Something... somepony asked me something on a level of consciousness I have never experienced before, even below the area of linked consciousness we sometimes share." She sighed in frustration. "This is why I need training in magic. I don't have enough information to put together a coherent answer as to what affected me... but it was like somepony asked me a question and required an answer, when all that power just ran right through me."

"That's another thing." Twilight interrupted Stellar. "Those blades of Blueblood's were orichalcum. Apart from that being totally illegal, they're supposed to prevent magical healing in most ponies and some other races, like dragons. How did that sword heal you like that? It couldn't have been normal magic."

"As I said, Twi, I need more training." Stellar reached up with a forehoof and stroked the pommel of the greatsword that sat along her back in it's scabbard. The position of it on the armor she was still wearing meant that it was perfectly positioned so as to not interrupt her wings for flight or her head for looking about, yet she could draw it in an instant if needed. "But, to be honest, with what little reading I managed to do before that bout and last night... I think it's a long-forgotten school of magic known as Light Magic."

"Light Magic?" Twilight repeated as a question. "I take it that's not the opposite of 'heavy' magic?"

Stellar actually chuckled at that, and Twilight smiled as her attempt to lighten the mood worked for a minute. She saw Stellar's face hadn't gone back to the depressed look she'd been wearing. "No, it's supposed to be a school that's opposed totally to Dark Magic, from what I've read so far." She explained. "Most of what we know as Rune Magic comes from it, but there's an enormous amount of the school that's just... gone missing. It's not been surpressed, like Dark Magic has, it's like it was totally erased, save for the study of runes like the ones on the sword and my armor."

"That's weird." Twilight agreed. "I mean, Dark Magic is suppressed for a very good reason. But if Light Magic is opposed to it, then surely that's a very good reason to keep it around."

"Again, Twi, I can't answer that yet." Stellar replied. "All I know is that it's a school of magic that is... unlike anything you know about, and therefore I know about. And even though you know a good deal about Dark Magic in general, and quite a few good counter-spells to some of it's more common spells and things, they are not the same as Light Magic. They are almost as if someone developed them to fill the gap left by the... the disappearance of Light Magic, and this was the best they could come up with to replace it."

"Stranger and stranger." Twilight said, shaking her head.

"Tell me about it." Stellar agreed.

==================================

As the Sparkle Twins rounded a corner in a part of Canterlot that was mostly deserted for the night, they heard a scream close by. Instantly Stellar raced along down the narrower side-streets, Twilight in pursuit. They came out into a small square to see a tall, willowy unicorn mare racing towards them, being pursued by what seemed to be shadowy shapes. Just as the Twins got level with the mare, they could see she had been hit in the shoulder with what looked like an arrow. Stellar's great-sword instantly shot out of her scabbard and spun in front of them, deflecting more of what Stellar now identified as crossbow bolts. "Twi! Get her out of here!" Stellar yelled.

"Right! Palace!" Twilight replied as she pressed herself to the mare's uninjured side and they teleported.

Stellar grinned once Twilight was gone, looking at the shifting shadows facing her. "Time to reveal what you are." She said. Her sword floated right before her, and she yelled "INCOMMU PAHL SOL TASHI!" As she spread her wings wide.

There was a flash as brilliant as if the sun had just touched down in the middle of the darkness...

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

The pursuers hadn't counted on any resistance as they chased their prey. As one said "", Stellar let loose with her wave of light. Half of them screamed as the light-enhancing goggles they'd used to see in the darkness now focused the intense light directly into their retinas. The rest managed to tear the magically-enhanced goggles off their faces, only to find their shadowy disguises had also been ripped away, revealing them. Confused, they paused, which was a fatal error as Stellar launched herself and her sword right at them.

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

Stellar followed the actinic flash with a full-on attack upon the revealed ponies, who were all unicorns. Her sword sliced down every pony carrying a crossbow as Stellar dropped inside their formation and began to deliver a beating to anyone within reach, not really caring if she killed them or not. Then she was through them and started lining up for another attack...

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

Some of them managed to avoid Stellar and regrouped with others of their fellows around one who was a junior mage amongst them. "" The young mage shouted, and many of the remaining unicorns pulled out the potent anti-magically-enhanced stones.

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

Stellar heard one of the ones regrouping yell "Vushni-kah!" And she felt the emanations of void stones as they were drawn from their shielded bags. She got ready for a real fight, when, in that place in her mind where she'd heard the voice ask her the mystery question, there came a number of spells in Equussese. One burned into her memory and, grasping her sword, she yelled back "ASPARTI PAHL DHENAR!"

She was in awe as a large rune of light appeared before her and her sword, and it blew apart in another wave of bright light. But this time, the effects were more powerful and positive, the magic Stellar felt filling her with power.

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

As the wave of light broke over them, the unicorns holding the voidstones near them got the last shock of their lives, as the stones cracked and exploded like grenades, a weapon they'd never heard of. The disrupted dark magic and shards of razor-like stone shredded more than half their remaining number, the young mage only escaping being sliced up as he had instantly thrown his stone away when Stellar started chanting. "" One of the seniors in the remainder of the group said, as thestrals of the Night Guard came flying down from above, having seen the brilliant flash and felt the magic Stellar used.

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

Stellar heard one of them say "Vast! VAST!" as she heard the sound of wings in the sky. She looked up, seeing thestral nightwing guards coming in to land. She gestured at their leader, an older experience sargeant. "Sargeant! Send some of the troops after those three! I'll get those two! Have the rest secure these bodies!" She ordered.

The Sargeant, seeing Stellar's lieutenant's bars, saluted and obeyed. "Yes Ma'am!" He replied as Stellar took to the wing, chasing after the young mage and the elder.

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

The pair of dark unicorns were running as fast as their hoofs could take them, the darkness not helping their flight. "" The elder said.

"" The young mage replied. "" He explained.

"" The elder exclaimed.

"" The mage replied. "" He told his superior.

"" He began to reply when something slammed into the back of his head and catapulted him plot-over-head, knocking him out. The mage screeched to a halt, to see Stellar land before him, revealing that she was an alicorn. His eyes widened in fear and he started backing up...

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

Stellar had found the fleeing pair and knocked out the elder one with the flat of her sword. She then landed before the younger one and smiled menacingly at him, her sword floating beside her, ready to strike. "If you understand Equish, surrender now, or else I will make you surrender." She declared to the stallion.

The young mage was shivering with fear. He had never in his young life ever dreamed that he'd be facing such a powerful mage, let alone an alicorn in armor he couldn't recognise. She looked familiar, but the voice had a tone of command that almost made him obey it instinctively. He knew with his sigil burned out, he couldn't teleport, and he knew he couldn't out-run that fiendish sword. He tried for a distraction spell, but before he could get three words out of his mouth, Stellar's sword teleported behind him and smacked him up the back of the head, sending him reeling to the ground and into unconsciousness.

"Okay, is no-pony taking my warnings seriously today?" Stellar asked herself as she walked up to the pair, just as thestral nightwalker troops reached her. "Sargeant, search them, strip them and bundle them up, then take them to the palace dungeons. I shall inform Her Highness as to what's happened." She told the thestral sargeant with the nightwalker platoon.

"Yes, Ma'am!" He replied, saluting, and they obeyed as Stellar took off, heading for the palace.

==================================

After teleporting directly into the small medical section of the Palace, Twilight called in the professionals. Dr Rubber Hose came in with two other doctors and a bevy of nurses. Twilight lifted the heavily-pregnant unicorn mare onto a table. "She's been shot in the shoulder." Twilight told them.

The doctors started looking her over, then Rubber Hose gasped. "It's dark magic!" He said, as a bluish-purple stain started slowly spreading from the shoulder.

Twilight was there instantly. Recognising the curse, she drew a circle of light around the stain and chanted, the circle being surrounded by runes and as they solidified, the stain stopped spreading.

"Will that hold, Princess?" Rubber Hose asked.

"I don't know." Twilight said, trying to think, her horn still glowing as she maintained the protection circle. "I can't use anything stronger on her without risk to the child."

One of the other doctors, who had been scanning the foal, gasped loudly. When Twilight and the others turned to look at him, he told them "It's... it's an alicorn!"

"What?!" Twilight replied, aghast. She immediately turned around and checked for herself. "Celestia preserve her." She said as she confirmed it.

Dr Rubber Hose was beside himself as he looked at Twilight. "What are we going to do?" He asked. He had no experience with dark magic curses.

"Get me some of the Palace Mages." Twilight ordered one of the nurses, who nodded and raced out. "Doctor, keep an eye on her vitals. I need to find something." And Twilight made her own Tome appear. After unlocking it, she started flicking through the index.

"As you wish, Princess." Rubber Hose said.

"You." Twilight said to the second doctor, a maternity specialist mare. "Keep an eye on the foal. We can't let the curse reach her."

"Aye, Princess!" Dr Melody Lane replied and returned to scanning the foal. "She appears to be about seven months old." The unicorn doctor told Twilight as she flicked through a book that had expanded onto her Tome's pages.

"Good, if she was any older, this might not work." Twilight replied as she checked her understanding of the complex spell she was prepared to use. But she needed the other mages first. She couldn't maintain the protection spell and do what she was about to attempt at the same time.

Then the nurse and the two mages rushed in. "Princess?" They asked.

"Ah, good." Twilight replied. "I need you two to maintain this circle of protection on the mother while I get the foal to safety." She told them.

"As you command, Princess!" They said and, taking up positions either side of the bed, they smoothly took over the burden of maintaining the circle of protection.

Twilight climbed up onto another bed and laid herself facing the unicorn, who hadn't regained consciousness after the teleport. "I'm sorry to have to do this to you, but I can't save you if your baby's in the way." Twilight said, then started chanting. As she did so, two empty circle arrays materialised between Twilight and the mare. They moved towards Twilight and the mare, settling over their bellies. Runes started cycling through the circles as they scanned each of the mares. Once both of the circles stopped cycling, they flashed and the circle on Twilight's belly started cycling through it's runes again, as the one on the mare glowed brighter.

"Don't... don't stop the spell once it's started, no matter what!" She warned the mages and medical staff. "We could lose the foal otherwise."

Everyone nodded and the third doctor moved to monitor Twilight, as her belly started to swell and she groaned. "Is this spell adjusting your body to match hers?" The doctor asked Twilight.

Twilight nodded as she started to pant slowly. "Yes... my body is being adjusted to the same stage of pregnancy as hers is." Twilight confirmed. "I'm going to need some mana to charge myself up when the transfer takes place." She asked.

One of the nurses nodded. "I'll get some battery spheres." He said, moving out of the room.

Twilight nodded with a pained smile. She'd heard of this spell being successful in other cases, but it had never been tried with an alicorn foal before... because there had ever only been one other alicorn foal, and that was Flurry Heart. But then again, the foal was being transferred to another alicorn, so it wasn't like Twilight wasn't resilient enough to take the foal. She just had to be properly prepared... and prayed that it would be done quickly enough before the Curse found a way through that protection circle.

More and more of the runes in Twilight's circle were matching up with those on the other circle, as the nurse returned with a pack of many large spheres filled with mana. He pressed four into the bottoms of Twilight's hoofs, allowing the alicorn to draw on them like an earth pony would on mana in the planet itself. Twilight sighed with relief as she transferred the mana into her womb, saturating it and making it ready for the transfer. Once they were drained, the spheres fell away and were replaced.

"Princess, you'd better make it soon." One of the mages said. "The circle is starting to lose integrity..."

"Almost... there." Twilight said with a groan, as the circle on her finally completed and the one on the mare lifted from her, crossing over to Twilight and merging with the one on her. She gasped as she felt her empty womb filled with the foal and it's protective amniotic sac, the placenta slowly connecting itself to her system. Once the foal was safely enschonched in Twilight, the circles faded. "She's safe!" Twilight said.

The two mages nodded and began casting far more powerful spells on the mare, but before they could do anything effective, the mare's eyes opened wide, showing the nasty color of the curse, and she stopped breathing. Seconds later, her body collapsed into black ash, kept in place on the bed by a screen spell. "Celestia preserve us!" The mare mage said, looking at her partner.

Twilight sighed sadly. "Damn, that was close." She said. "If the foal had still been inside her when it reached the mother's heart... we would have lost them both."

"A nasty curse indeed." Rubber Hose commented, as he directed the ashes to be transferred, along with everything from the bed, into a safe disposal container.

"Extremely." The stallion mage agreed. "It's designed to leave no trace at all of it's victim that can be traced back to either the caster or identify the victim." He explained.

"How horrid!" One of the nurses exclaimed.

"Usually the ponies who use that kind-of magic don't care how their victims die, just as long as they do." Twilight reminded them all as the spheres dropped from her hoofs, and she was able to levitate herself off the bed. Bracing herself for the weight of who and what she was carrying, she stretched a little. "Oooogh." Twilight winced. "By Celestia, this feels so awkward..."

One of the nurses came to help as Dr Lane chuckled. "Well, you did just go through seven months of pregnancy in five minutes, Princess. Plus without your body adjusting itself to the burden along the way." She pointed out. "Come on, Princess, we'll get you into a private room and check you over thoroughly." Dr Lane said, as she moved up beside the nurse and helped Twilight to walk out of the treatment room.

Dr Rubber Hose sighed sadly. "Poor mare never had a chance." He commented. "At least her child is safe." He looked at the other doctor. "I have never seen that done before, and hopefully I'll never need to see it again."

"That goes double for me... but at least it worked." The doctor replied.

"Yes... if that foal is not eternally grateful to her new mother, she should be reminded of it always, every birthday she has." Rubber Hose said as he made his way out of the treatment room, leaving staff to make sure it was perfectly sterile and ready for use once again

==================================

Stellar arrived back at the Palace and immediately went in to see Luna.

Luna frowned when Stellar walked back into the Audience Room. At this time of night, there were few ponies in there, save for Staff and guards. Luna had just finished hearing a petition for longer opening hours in some clubs, having decided not to allow them the three hours they wanted, only an extra hour being advisable for the moment. Stellar passed the petitioners as they exited and trotted right up to Luna. Luna acknowledged her apprentice after she'd bowed then looked at her with a frown. "We had thought you were heading to your home, Stellar Sparkle. What brings you back to our presence so quickly?"

"Princess, there's been an incident." Stellar answered. "A unicorn mare was being pursued by a number of assailants, all unicorn stallions, using dark magic cloaks and devices." She detailed for Luna.

Luna actually got to her hoofs as Stellar said 'dark magic'. "Fie, art thou... nay. I know you know enough to be sure." Luna said as she descended the dais to Stellar. "What happened? Didst thou see combat again?" Luna asked.

Stellar nodded. "If you'll accompany me to the dungeons, the few survivors are being brought here." She told Luna.

Luna nodded. "Lead the way then, my apprentice." She said.

As they headed for the lower levels of the Palace, Stellar told Luna everything that happened. "So, thou has found that you have a spell for disrupting void stones and devices of dark magic? How interesting." Luna smiled. "We had not thought such a spell existed."

"Yes, and our new houseguests weren't speaking Equish, either. Whatever it was wasn't one of the languages I know." Stellar told Luna.

"Hmph. This is very perplexing." Luna agreed, as Stellar stopped and grabbed a tin full of a special paint used to paint and renew wards around the cells. "Are you planning to do some housekeeping, Stellar Sparkle?" Luna asked.

"I have no idea what those stallions have under their manes, so I'm going to use something that that voice shoved into my mind: a warding spell that seems to be the equivalent of the dark magic disruption spell." Stellar explained.

"Yes, a very good idea." Luna agreed as they reached the door that led from the Palace to the dungeons. While there was normally only a small contingent down here, now the security was being increased in preparation for receiving new occupants. Once inside, Stellar moved to five of the most secure cells and while Luna watched, she drew a complex rune on each of the walls, floor and ceiling, then another in each of the eight corners of the room. Luna could feel the power of them as each cell was completed. "I am impressed, Stellar Sparkle. I have not felt such wards used in all my long life. This magic of yours is truly powerful."

Stellar smiled. "You can call me Stellar, Luna. Unless you want me to call you 'Princess' or 'Mistress' all the time."

Luna snorted, but smiled. "Very well, Stellar." Then Luna inspected one of the glowing wards closely. "What school of Magic do these runes come from? I have not seen their like before."

"It's a school called Light Magic." Stellar answered. "I think it's a school that was developed specifically to counter Dark Magic, and maybe a lot of other things. I'm still in the early stages of my research, but as you can see, it's already giving benefits." She said as she completed the last cell's reinforcing wards, and the runes faded to insignificance.

Luna nodded. "Indeed. If you wish to study this Light Magic, I shall not forbid it." She told Stellar. "In this day and age, it seems that it might be needed more than we might have thought."

"Thank you, Luna." Stellar replied as she drew a rune again on each of the five doors. "There. If those twits try anything funny, they're going to get a nasty shock." She grinned mischievously.

Luna nodded, grinning herself. "Indeed. It seems you and I are... 'on the same page', I believe the expression is." Luna said to Stellar as they walked out, showing the warder which cells to put the unicorns in on the way out. "So, what has happened to the mare that was being pursued?" Luna asked.

"Twilight said she was bringing her here." Stellar replied as they headed back to the upper levels. "They're probably in the medical suite. She was wounded by a crossbow bolt in the shoulder."

Luna hissed. "A nasty injury, no matter to whom it is inflicted." Luna commented. "I pray she is doing well."

"Let's find out." Stellar said, as the pair of alicorn mares headed for the west wing of the Palace.

==================================

In a train carriage in a private siding of Canterlot Central Station, a familiar figure sat, perusing reports. Amadeus Blueblood was frowning, but anyone who had known him wouldn't recognise him without a very good look. His middle-aged face was young again, his medium-blue coat was now a dark blue, his mane and tail a deep midnight blue and his eyes had gone from blue to black. His entire countenance was much more severe as well, and he sat like a true lord, his attendants more of the dark-coated unicorns that Stellar and Twilight had encountered.

"." He said at a knock on the door.

A figure dressed in gear similar to that of the others, but finer, walked in. "" He addressed Amadeus.

Amadeus looked up. "" Amadeus asked.

Dark Tidings lowered his hood, to reveal a black unicorn with grey eyes and mane. ""

"" Amadeus asked.

Tidings nodded. ""

"" Amadeus asked, looking somewhat peeved.

"" Tidings explained. ""

""

"" Tidings answered.

Amadeus scowled, rage filling his eyes. "" Amadeus spat out. ""

"" Tidings went on. ""

Amadeus growled, then sighed. "" He said, more to himself than Tidings. "" He looked up at Tidings. ""

Tidings nodded. "" He said, and bowed before he left.

Left by himself, Amadeus let fly a string of curses in the same language. "" He said. "" He shifted papers about as the train they were to leave on connected with their carriage, and they started moving.

==================================

Stellar and Luna made it to the medical suite in time to see Twilight waddle back from the bathroom, freshly washed and groomed. Stellar blinked. "What in Celestia's flowing mane happened to you, Sis?" Stellar asked as they saw Twilight's gravid condition.

"Yes, and who is the father?" Luna asked.

"I have no...(grunt)... idea." Twilight answered as she slid onto a low bed. "This wasn't my foal to start with." She looked at the other alicorns. "The mare was pregnant... with an alicorn foal." Twilight revealed.

Luna looked shocked, but Stellar was fuming. "And they were trying to kill her because of that?" She asked, the anger in her voice very evident.

"That we can't be sure of." Twilight replied as an attendant gently massaged her back. "The pregnancy might have been why they were trying to catch her, but maybe killing her was a final resort."

"So, how didst thou end up with the child, Twilight Sparkle?" Luna asked.

Twilight moaned with relief at the tender massage. "The bolt contained a curse, called Black Ash." She explained. "I was barely able to delay it until after I was able to invoke a very special transfer ritual. It transferred the foal from her to me, so we could treat her... but the curse killed her before we could work on it." Twilight looked depressed. "But the foal is safe, at least."

Stellar moved to Twilight and nuzzled her lovingly. "Dear Twilight." Stellar said with a chuckle. "Only you would get pregnant to save a foal. But that's why I love you so. Your very nature is so caring and considerate."

"Indeed, Twilight. It is a noble gesture worthy of the most famous mothers of History." Luna stated. "So the foal is an alicorn?" She asked.

Twilight nodded. "I confirmed it myself, before the transfer." She stated. "But I can't tell what sex it is. Something seems to be... blocking my scrying spells. I'm assuming it's a filly, since that's most likely."

"A fair assumption." Luna agreed.

"So, how far are you along, Twi?" Stellar asked.

"I'm just at the end of the seventh month, apparently." Twilight said, as Stellar put her ear to Twilight's belly. She crooned softly as Twilight face-hoofed and Luna smiled softly.

"What?" Stellar asked. "It's a well-known fact that babes in the womb can hear things that go on outside, especially music." She told Twilight.

Twilight snorted. "Be that as it may... it seems I am going to be a mother." Twilight's face burst out in a massive grin.

"Oh yeah. That's my Twi." Stellar said, grinning back as she moved to Twilight and nuzzled muzzles with her.

Luna sighed softly, smiling. "You two... you're acting more like a couple than sisters."

Twilight gave Luna a strange look, as Stellar hid a snicker behind a forehoof. Then she stopped and said "Then again, why not?" Stellar asked.

"Huh?" Twilight asked back.

"You're going to need help with this foal, Twi." Stellar pointed out. "And since we're twins, I can help out as much as anypony can." Then Stellar face-hoofed. "Mother." She just said.

Twilight's eyes screwed shut as she winced. "No shize, Sherlock." She replied. Then she blinked. "Where did THAT come from?"

Stellar laughed. "That's from me." She answered.

"Oh." Twilight shook her head. "I still have so much of you stuck in my head. Is it going to keep coming out at random times?"

"Probably." Stellar said with a shize-eating grin. "But yeah, I'm going to have to go and tell our parents one of their daughters is pregnant." Then she groaned. "What the buck is the public going to think?" She asked.

"And my friends." Twilight added.

Stellar snorted. "They're the last ones we have to worry about." Stellar told Twilight. "Fluttershy is going to go all cluckey, Rarity's going to do you a load of foal clothes, Applejack's gonna carve you a crib, and Pinkie Pie's going to insist on foal-sitting." She listed them off. "Rainbow Dash... well, it's going to be interesting, after what happened with Flurry Heart."

"That's an understatement." Twilight agreed. "And we're going to have to have those special spells ready for when this one's born, in case she starts blowing holes in the palace or my castle."

Stellar nodded. "Yeah, I know." She agreed. "But there's something I have to do as well." Stellar turned to Luna and asked "Mistress, I need to go and check something out, to do with Canopus Star."

Luna raised an eyebrow. "Very well, My Apprentice." She replied formally. "We will begin your lessons when you return from your errand."

"Thank you, Mistress." Stellar replied. "Now, to get a certain preggers mare back home, finally."

Luna giggled as Stellar lifted Twilight up off the bed in her magic and carried her out of the room, to Twilight's protests. After a nice slow flight, they arrived on the doorstep of Home and Stellar set Twilight on her hoofs. "I could have flown here myself, you know." Twilight said.

"Yeah, but you have to admit it was more relaxing to have me carry you." Stellar pointed out. "And you're still adjusting to having our foal in there." She added.

Twilight sighed. "Point taken." She replied. Stellar opened the door and let Twilight walk in first. "Okay... let's go face the music."

==================================

The young mage awoke, to find himself confined by four old stone walls. "" He said. He got to his unsteady hoofs and carefully looked about. "" He said to nopony in particular.

"" Came the voice of the elder he'd been escaping with.

The mage groaned again. "" He asked.

"" He told the youngster. ""

"" The mage replied.

"" The elder encouraged him. The mage tried a small spell using his dark magic, and yelped as a bolt of lightning zapped him in the plot. ""

"" The mage asked, then he saw the ward on the wall and gasped. ""

""

"" The mage answered.

"" The elder asked. ""

"" The mage said. "" He told his elder. ""

"Quiet in there!" Came a shout from outside. "You'll get your chance to talk soon enough."

The pair fell silent. Then the elder said ""

The mage looked about, then nodded. "" He replied. ""

"" The elder said back...

==================================

Stellar was crouched down beside Velvet as she lay on the couch Stellar had lifted her onto, as Night Light looked at a forlorn-looking Twilight. "So, let me get this straight, young lady. The foal isn't really yours, you saved it from her dying mother into yourself. So there's no father we can contact or blame, but the foal's an alicorn like Flurry Heart."

Twilight nodded. "I know, Daddy, it sounds... weird, but it's the truth. I just couldn't let any foal die like that, especially not an alicorn."

Night Light nodded. "I know, Twilight. It's just you all over." Night Light said softly, hugging Twilight to him.

Twilight nickered softly. The support of her family and friends was incredibly important to her, and while she knew Stellar was on her side, having her father behind her stand also made her feel a lot better over her actions. "Thanks, Daddy." She said softly to him as they hugged. "I'm so glad you're not upset."

"Upset?" Night Light asked Twilight, pulling back and looking at her seriously. "Why would I ever be upset with you saving the life of a foal? Admittedly, I might have expected you to bring home a young stray or an orphan, rather than making yourself pregnant... but that's the wonderful thing about Magic, I guess. It allows us to do things that, without it, would be impossible." He told Twilight. He gently moved beside her and stroked her bulging belly. "And you are right. Even if the child had been only a normal earth pony, she deserved the chance to live if there was one. And you gave her that chance." Night Light hugged Twilight to him again. "I couldn't be prouder of you, my daughter."

Twilight's eyes softened with tears as she nuzzled her father. She knew the toll it had taken on them, with her spending a lot of her early foalhood away from them, after having been so long with only Shining Armor. And while she knew Velvet would have rather had her first grand-foal from Twilight in a more... normal way, Twilight knew that, as soon as Velvet saw her grand-daughter's eyes looking at her, she wouldn't be able to resist her natural urges to love and protect the foal, no matter what. "I guess Mama's just upset there isn't going to be a wedding before the baby shower." She told her father.

That got Night Light laughing softly. "Oh yeah, that's your mother all over." He agreed.

"Speaking of which..." Stellar added as Velvet stirred on the couch. She had fainted the instant she'd seen Twilight's gravid condition, without even waiting for an explanation.

Velvet came around, wondering what had happened. Then she looked over and saw Twilight and her swollen belly, and shot out of her seat like she was rocket-propelled. "TWILIGHT EVE SPARKLE! WHAT THE HAY HAVE YOU BEEN DOING AND WITH WHOM?" She yelled at Twilight right in her face, before Stellar lifted Velvet off her hoofs and drifted her back slightly.

"Easy, Mother." Stellar said. "It's not the way you think."

"What's not the way I think?" Velvet asked. "Is your sister pregnant or not?"

"It's not her foal." Stellar told Velvet.

Velvet looked more confused then ever, as Stellar put her back on her hoofs and Night Light moved to restrain Velvet with her. She looked back at Twilight, who asked "Do I even get a chance to explain?" As she looked back at her mother.

Velvet looked at her husband and daughter, then sighed. "Very well. I hope it's a good one." She replied as she sat between Night Light and Stellar.

"Oh, it's a very good one." Stellar told Velvet, before Twilight told Velvet, with Stellar's help, exactly what happened....

==================================

Luna had returned to the Audience Room after Twilight and Stellar had left, and an hour before she was due to finish the Night Court and join her by-then risen sister, one of the lieutenants from the Night Guard came up to her on the throne. "Your Highness, there's been trouble down in the dungeons." He reported.

Luna was on her hoofs in an instant. "What kind of trouble?" She asked.

The lieutenant sighed sadly. "All the prisoners are dead." He said. "Their bodies have been reduced to ash."

Luna stopped and looked shocked. Then she scowled. "I take it they did this to themselves?" She asked.

"Yes, Your Highness." The lieutenant replied. "They must have had something hidden inside them, because nothing showed on them after we stripped them of everything and scanned them."

Luna hung her head, but nodded. "Very well, Lieutenant. File your reports and there will be no blame attached. We are dealing with dark forces here and they can be as devious as dragons." She told the experienced Thestral officer. "You are dismissed." She then said.

"Thank you, Your Highness." He replied, saluting, then he left.

Luna snorted, then sighed sadly herself. "This is not good." She said to herself. "If they are willing to kill themselves to protect their secrets, then those secrets must be uncovered." She got to her hoofs and looked at one of the attendant mares. "Please, go wake my sister." Luna requested of her, an order by other name. Then she looked at one of the guards. "Go and have the doors closed, Corporal. We are closing Court early tonight."

"At once, Your Highness." Both replied, then walked away quickly.

Luna waited until she'd heard the great doors close, then she left the Audience Room. "Should I send a message for Stellar?" She debated, then decided "No. Twilight will need time to settle into her new role, and Stellar has a mission already. We shall see what Tia and I can do first, before setting them loose on our unknown foes."

==================================

Velvet had finally learned the truth about Twilight's new foal, and just shook her head. "If it had been anypony else telling me this, Twilight, I would not have believed it. But with you and your sister both telling me the same story... I am more than willing to concede that you more than did the right thing." She patted Twilight's forehoof gently. "I am proud of you for what you did. Saving the foal was exactly what I would have expected you to do in that situation." Then she looked sad. "I just wish, as you no doubt do, that the mother could have been saved."

Twilight nodded. "That curse has been banned from every known country for generations." She said. "That they used it so... trivially shows that whomever they are, they care little for life... well, for some lives." Twilight concluded.

Stellar nodded, in agreement. "Hopefully, the Princesses can get some decent information out of the ones I captured."

Velvet turned to Stellar. "Stellar, was that Canopus Star's armor and sword you were wearing today?" She asked.

Stellar nodded. "Yes, Mama. Celestia gave it to me after the Challenge had been made. And you all saw how the sword showed up again."

Night Light chuckled. "Yeah. Young Blueblood sure got it in the end." He said, getting groans from the mares.

"Bad pun, Father." Stellar said. "But yes, it is the armor he left behind. But the set is incomplete." She told her parents. "Does anypony know where he retired to?" She asked.

"I do." Velvet answered. "It was a little village to the north-east of where the Crystal Empire is now. It was called Hoofington." She told Stellar, her voice now very sad. "They died there when the Empire returned. Sombra killed all of those in Hoofington and the five other villages just before he broke the barrier around the Empire Cadance had set up." She explained.

The mood in the room turned somber as the implications were realised. "So... we lost an entire branch of the family that day." Stellar said.

Velvet nodded. "Yes, it was a small branch, but prestigious nonetheless. Canopus Star and his wife Aurora Bright Sparkle were the brother and sister to your grandfather Sirius Star and grandmother Morning Light Sparkle." Velvet smiled as she remembered her parents. "You two are not the first Sparkle Twins, by any means." She grinned at Twilight and Stellar. "They were two brothers and two sisters joined in love. It was a romance that had Canterlot swept up in their exploits." Then she sighed sadly. "Sirius was a unicorn, like the Sparkle Sisters, but his brother Canopus was a pegasus. And like you two, they were both extremely-intelligent and strong-willed. Sirius was a mage of no mean power, a scholar who's mind could encompass the most powerful spells he could learn. I see a lot of him in you, Twilight." Velvet nuzzled Twilight affectionately.

Then Velvet looked at Stellar, who was sitting beside Night Light. "But Canopus... he was a stallion of iron will and had the strength to match it. I thought Shining Armor projected him well; but with you, Stellar, it's like he was reborn as a mare in you. You have his iron will and powerful mental strength in spades, moreso than even Shiny has. I think it is Destiny that you were given his armor and his sword protected you. And you joining the Guard the way you have done... it's even more proof. Canopus literally demanded to join the Solar Guard when the Draco-Griffin War threatened to spill over into Equestria. And when the generals couldn't match the tactics of the dragons, nor the fighting ferocity of the griffins, He shoved them all aside, took command of the armies of Equestria and led them to such a victory, his name is still talked about in hushed whispers in the halls of the Dragon Lords, and said with reverence in the palaces of the Griffonian kings." Velvet had a tear in her eye.

Stellar nodded, her face showing determination. "I have to go to Hoofington." She said as she stood.

The others showed they understood in their faces and actions. Night Light and Velvet hugged her lovingly, affection she returned in spades. Then she moved to Twilight and hugged her close. "I'll be back as soon as I can, Sis." Stellar said to Twilight. "Can't leave you alone with our foal when she decides to come out and show the world how awesome she is." Stellar grinned.

Twilight giggled. "Now you're starting to sound like Rainbow Dash." She commented.

Stellar poked her long tongue out at Twilight  and raspberried her, making Twilight giggle more. "That's not a bad thing, I hope." Stellar replied.

"Depends if you take after her in other ways." Twilight answered. "I don't think you're anywhere near as reckless as she is. Please show me I'm right there, Sis?"

"Always, Sis." Stellar told Twilight. "Not gonna get injured or die just when we're having our first child."

"I take it this talk means you two are planning on raising our grand-foal as a couple?" Velvet asked.

"Unless Twilight meets a stallion she likes before the birth." Stellar confirmed to Velvet and Night Light. "She's going to need all the help she can, and I intend to give her that help, even if she does find a stallion of her own."

Night Light nodded. "We'll be there to help, of course." He confirmed for them.

"I never felt otherwise." Twilight replied. "You were there for Shiny and Cadance. I know you will help us." She smiled at their parents.

"Then I know my sister is in the best of hoofs." Stellar told them. "Now, I must go."

They all nodded to Stellar. "Safe journey, my Daughter." Velvet said to Stellar.

"And may you find what you seek." Night Light added.

"Thank you, Father, Mother." Stellar replied with a smile. "I shall return."

They nodded as Stellar turned and headed for her room. After retrieving her bags and securing her armor in a hammerspace pocket, she headed for the train station. An hour later, Stellar was on a train heading for the Crystal Empire, asleep in a compartment.

==================================

Celestia mulled over what she had been told by Luna and others over breakfast. She hadn't liked being raised early, but the news was grim and truly deserved her attention as early as possible. "So, they killed themselves once they awoke?" She asked Luna before sipping on her morning tea.

"All five of them." Luna confirmed. "We do at least have the equipment from them and the ones Stellar Sparkle killed herself. The artificiers of the Mages Guild are here, now, examining all their belongings. It seems that Dark Magic is firmly enschonched in wherever these unicorns come from, and it seems to be widely used, like our normal magic." Luna informed Celestia.

Celestia sighed, putting her cup down, where it was refilled by one of the serving mares. "I think I know where they come from." She said softly.

Luna's eyes narrowed. "Pray that you inform me, Sister?" She asked, a very slight hint of menacing impatience in her voice.

"A lot of things happened while you were away, Luna." Celestia began. "At the beginning, your leaving caused much cracking of the fragile Alliance of the Three Tribes, before they truly unified to become the nation of Equestria. There was a loss of confidence in our rule, until I moved the capital to Canterlot and made the Nobles to help me rule." She sighed sadly. "In those most fragile of days, a faction of unicorns decided that the equality that was the by-word of our rule was something they wanted no part of, seeking to return to the old ways, where Unicorns ruled and the other tribes served them. When the announcement came that I was moving to Canterlot to rule, they scorned the Alliance and left."

Luna sat and listened, concentration on her pretty face.

"Almost fifty thousand of our ponies left in ships from the settlement that would become Manehatten, bound for some place overseas." Celestia went on. "I know where they settled. They founded a new nation, Unicornia, where Unicorns are the ruling elite and Pegasi and Earth Ponies are ruled over by them, subjects to their will and are regarded as lesser beings." She sighed.

Luna looked mad. "And why haven't we destroyed this travesty and reclaimed our own from this... mockery of all we have built?"

"Because of the Draco-Griffin War." Celestia answered. "Our forces took a lot of time to build up to the point where we were ready to go to them and demand the release of their almost-slaves." She sighed. "We lost so many ponies in that conflict that, without the leadership of Canopus Star and others like him, it might have been the death-knell of Equestria as we know it. Even when we came out of the war mostly intact, we were weakened beyond our capacity to force the nation of Unicornia to aquiesce to any demands." She explained. "But this... whatever has been set in motion here was crafted beyond the small lines of communication I have within Unicornia. Someone has been working in the background to strengthen Unicornia, but without us knowing or stopping our own plans." Celestia thought on for a moment. "This reeks of familiarity and long planning."

"I have to agree, Tia." Luna replied. "But what lines of 'communication' do you mean?"

"I have several traders who clandestinely trade some goods we make to Unicornia. The officials think that they are smugglers, and we do everything not to disabuse them of that opinion." Celestia informed Luna. "In return, we get some things from them, but what we also have is a stream of ponies who are sickened by the cruelty of the regime and want to settle in our equality-based society. Many of them are second-class citizens, by their reckoning, who leave for a better life. It's a serious business, but it also allows me to talk to several families who keep an eye on things in their capital and large cities."

Luna nodded. "Indeed, Tia. It seems you have done as best you can in keeping an eye on them."

Celestia nodded. "But this move is very bold for them. Actually doing an action within Canterlot itself? My suspicions are drawn to the mare they were chasing and why they were doing so."

Luna snorted. "They just happened to run into the worst possible pony they could have, even including ourselves." Luna said, then she frowned. "But an alicorn foal? What do you think this means?"

"Maybe more than we know, Luna." Celestia said. "If they were willing to sacrifice that young mare so easily, maybe she was not the only one they have as a mother to an alicorn foal."

Luna looked furious. "A pair, do you think?" She asked. "A matching set to us?"

Celestia nodded. "It makes sense." She put forth. "Then they could challenge the Diarchy with their own. But with one dying... and I am almost certain that they do not know that the foal was saved, for such a spell is beyond the capability of almost all the mages here, save for us."

"And for Twilight." Luna reminded Celestia. "She is not the Avatar of the Element of Magic for nothing."

Celestia smiled. "Very true, Luna. Now do you see why I have nurtured her so?"

Luna nodded. "She was never intended to replace me, I know this now." She told Celestia. "If that had been so, Stellar would be far more suitable as a candidate than Twilight." Luna took a deep breath and relaxed. "Twilight is an augmentation to you, Tia. She bears the most powerful of the Elements of Harmony, which makes her mastery of magic as powerful as any of us, and she will only become more powerful as she grows as an alicorn. She leads the Team of Harmony, as I call her friends. Every time they use the Elements, their bond grows stronger and stronger. As long as they don't lose their bonds with each other and the Elements, then Equestria is far safer than before."

"Yes. But having you back by my side, Luna my dear sister, is even more important." Celestia said to Luna, stretching out her long neck and nuzzling Luna affectionately, something that had even Luna softly nickering. "I lost the best part of my strength to act that day. You have always been Equestria's strength of will, and though others have come to fill your place as best they could, not even Canopus Star could truly take your place, only help me through each crisis as it happened." She told Luna. "Not even Twilight could fully replace you... but she was never meant to. She might be my subsitute daughter, but she is NOT my sister. Only you are."

Luna smiled softly, a small tear in one eye. "I missed you so much, Tia. All the time I was there, I never stopped loving you, even if the Nightmare was full of hate for you."

"I know, Beloved Luna." Celestia said. moving to Luna and holding her close with one huge wing. "Only together are we ever complete. Only now that we are together again can Equestria truly advance forward as we planned."

"So... what role do the others play, now that we have so many other alicorns?" Luna asked.

Celestia thought on that for a moment. "Cadance is where she belongs. As the last of the line of the rulers of the Crystal Empire, only she is capable of leading the Crystal Ponies and keeping them from being influenced by others. Shining Armor is our link to the Empire as well, and with Cadance giving birth to an alicorn foal, it shows they are a very special couple. It also reinforces the Royal Family there as well. The more alicorns we have, the chances of Equestria shattering reduces."

Luna nodded. "Twilight's role is obvious." She said.

Celestia nodded. "And a big blow for our rivals." She agreed. "The reaction from the rulers of Unicornia when her ascension was announced there was nothing short of astonishment and dismay. I think it set their plans back an enormous amount."

Luna nodded in agreement. "And Stellar?"

"Oh, she is the 'Wild Card', I believe the term is." Celestia grinned. "Nova knows why she was sent here or where she came from, but having a fourth alicorn in Equestria, especially since it appears she will become your counterpart, is going to really set them on their ears." She said with a mischievously-smug look. "And it means that we have two teams of powerful alicorns that can lead the masses. Now, once Stellar's fully-trained and ready to lead, she and Twilight can be our active counterparts away from Canterlot, and we can hold the city and Equestria from anything they can throw at us. We no longer need to divide our strength to oppose any others that might wish to strike Equestria." Celestia stopped, then relaxed and sat down again. "It is such a relief." She told Luna. "I am hoping that, once word gets back to the ruling elite of Unicornia, they might consider actually giving up whatever plans they have and establishing dialogue with us peacefully."

Luna snorted derisively. "You dream big, Tia." She said. "You always hope for the best outcome, even for those who oppose us."

Celestia nodded. "Yes, I do, Luna. I have to. If I didn't..."

Luna nodded and nuzzled Celestia this time. "I know, Tia. Someone has to try to keep our sights where they belong. And it's my job to show you reality, so you and I can plan properly."

"Yes." Celestia agreed. "That's why I believe things have been so difficult, because you were not here with me, Luna. I need you to keep me grounded in reality and give me the advice I need for our long-term plans to work."

"And Twilight now has Stellar to play the same role?" Luna asked.

"That and more." Celestia answered. "Stellar is delving in dangerous territory, but for some reason, I think she is the only one who can go there and bring back a school of magic that we sorely lack. If Unicornia is using Dark Magic so universally, then we need something to counter it, and what she is learning is the only school of magic designed to counter it properly."

"Why has it been neglected for so long?" Luna asked.

"Because, like Dark Magic, Light Magic has it's side-effects... only different." Celestia looked off into an unseen distance. "Maybe, being an alicorn, she can resist it's effects and bring it back the way it should have been..."

Then Marigold Leaf, Celestia's secretary and personal aide, coughed at the door. "Your Highnesses, it's time." She reminded them.

Celestia nodded to Marigold, then smiled at Luna. "Shall we do our eternal dance, my beloved sister?"

Luna grinned. "Yes, my loving sister. Let us tread the warp and weave of our world again and bring joy to our subjects."

The two sisters rose from their seats and headed out to the towers where they would raise the sun and lower the moon for the day to begin. It would continue the illusion to the ponies of Equestria that everything was fine with their world, their country and their lives.

==================================

The Dawn Express, the train that ran from Canterlot to the Crystal City overnight, came down from the mountains as the sun rose from the east. The sleeper cars were fully-insulated and darkened to allow for those sleeping to continue to sleep up until they arrived at the new station inside the Crystal City, if they desired to get more rest.

As the train reached the plains before the Crystal Empire, conductors went around waking everypony on board that hadn't notified them that they were sleeping in. Stellar was instantly awake as the latch to her compartment was fiddled with, and she sat up as the conductor looked in. "Ah, good morning." He said with a soft but cheerful voice. "Breakfast will be served in ten minutes if you'd like it in here, or the dining car is open for the breakfast buffet." He told Stellar.

"In here is fine." Stellar replied, stretching.

"Very well, Miss." He answered her, then departed.

Stellar slid out of the lower bunk onto her hoofs and stretched properly. She'd modified the routine she vaguely remembered for her quadrupedal body, also remembering to stretch her wings. Preening took a short five minutes, and after a bathroom break in the tiny bathroom, she was ready when her breakfast arrived, her bunk retracted and the table deployed. By the time the train pulled up at the Crystal City, Stellar was wating to disembark.

Once out on the platform, she had to go through the gate to get outside, but once there, she took to her wings and flew for the Palace Tower, it's immense size making it easy to see in the middle of the crystal buildings that composed the city. Stellar gave the city a good look as she circled it, smiling as she saw everything below her and around her. She settled to her hoofs again just at the edge of the square where the Tower stood. The Crystal Guards there noticed her, of course, but since she looked like Twilight and the sister of the Prince was well-known to them, they simply smiled and allowed her to enter the Tower. Stellar did feel a scan as she entered, though. She recognised it as one for dark magic objects and certain other spells, as well as compounds and weapons. Her armor and the great-sword were tucked away in Hammerspace and, although they registered on the scans, the seal on the sword meant that the scanners merely registered it as a weapon of marque and Stellar wasn't stopped as she passed the scanning station. Stellar was impressed. The technomagical scanners were quite advanced. "Maybe we should put a set of these together for the Palace and Twi's castle..." She noted to herself.

The rows of Guards leading to the Throne Room made it easy to find. But there were a lot of ordinary ponies there waiting for their turn to see Princess Cadance and Shining Armor wasn't with her, Stellar could see. She looked at one of the few officers there. "Where is Prince Shining Armor?" She asked the lieutenant.

"He's at the Guard compound, Miss." He replied, then noticed whom he was addressing. "Uh, Princess, sorry."

Stellar chuckled. "It's okay." She said. "And thank you."

He nodded and said "It's a bit hectic today. Princess Cadance is organising the next major festival, and the committee is all here at once."

"Oh, no wonder there's so many people here." Stellar replied. "I'll go see if Shining can talk, then."

The Lieutenant smiled and gestured to two of the Guards-ponies that were waiting as back-up. "You two! Take Her Highness to see Prince Shining Armor."

"Aye, Sir!" They replied, and stepped into line with Stellar, guiding and 'protecting' her as they headed back out of the Tower.

The main Crystal Guard compound was to the south of the Tower, a new compound made from an area that was destroyed during King Sombra's last attack near the Tower before he was destroyed. Now Shining Armor was using it to train a force the equivalent of the Royal Guard for the Crystal Empire and it's surrounding territory. He'd had a modicum of success, but getting recruits seemed to always be a problem, and experienced officers were in short supply. Some of his old friends from the Royal Guard had decided to come with him and help, but it was always an uphill battle, with a lot of the younger Crystal Ponies still having some distrust of Equestria from a battle that, for them, was only seven years ago, now. Shining was watching and helping to train a few of the best soldiers they'd recruited in becoming officers, but he didn't have the resources of the Guard Academy to help him, so he was having to do a lot of the work himself.

Stellar walked in and looked about. "Thank you, Gentlecolts. You're dismissed." Stellar told her escort.

"Aye, Princess." They replied and headed back to the Tower as Stellar moved to where she saw Shining Armor standing, talking to several Guards in their newly-styled armor. Shining saw the proto-officers glance behind him, and he turned to see what they were looking at. He was surprised at somepony he thought was Twilight walking towards him, but she hadn't send a message like she always did to tell them she was coming. Then several things clicked in his mind: It wasn't Twilight. The way she walked, the look on her face, the new saddlebags she was wearing. They all added up to this not being Twilight. He turned to face her and, with a slightly cooler and more formal voice, he said "Hello, Stellar. What brings you to the Crystal Empire?"

Stellar smiled. "Good to know you don't merely take me at face value, Shiny." She replied a little more warmly. "I need to find a village on the north-east perimeter called Hoofington." She answered him.

"Hoofington." He replied, looking... sad, yet stern.

"Yes." Stellar confirmed. "I take it you know of it?" She asked.

"Intimately." Shining replied. "I was there once for four days... I do not wish to set hoof there ever again." He told Stellar.

Stellar nodded, also looking sad. "You led the clean-up detail, I presume."

"That's correct." Shining answered. "It was one of the worst duties I have ever had to perform... even trying to teach these thistleheads can't compare." He then looked at Stellar suspiciously. "Why do you want to go there?" He asked.

"A mystery has come to light, involving Canopus Star." Stellar explained, Shining looking slightly astonished when Stellar mentioned their grand-uncle. "Celestia recently gave me his armor and great-sword as a gift for me, since I'm now a lieutenant in the Lunar Guard and Luna's apprentice." That really got Shining's attention. Stellar smiled. "Yes, it's all true. Anyway, the armor set isn't complete. I think the rest of it is in Hoofington, and Canopus Star did that deliberately to make anypony who was given it come to him." She told Shining Armor.

"I see you're not above dropping names." Shining Armor said with a stern look, but then smiled. "Congratulations, Stellar." He told her, moving close and giving her a hug. "That's two-for-two then, for our family."

Stellar chuckled. "In more ways than one." She agreed. "So, you'll show me where it is, then?"

"I can't myself, but I know somepony who can." Shining answered. "Go see Sargeant Jade Pillar over there." He gestured to a jade-green pegasus stallion. "He knows from going there with me." Shining told Stellar.

"Thanks, Shiny." Stellar replied, giving him another hug. "Keep at them. You'll get through to them eventually." She told Shining, gesturing to the troops.

"Yeah, hopefully before I pull out a warhammer I found a few months ago and use their hollow heads for practise." He said, grinning at Stellar.

"Oh, before I forget." Stellar told Shining. "I have news. Now, don't get frantic, Shiny. This is going to be a shock. It made Mother faint." Stellar warned him.

Shining blinked, nodded. "Okay... if Mother fainted, then it's gonna be something really big."

"Yeah. Twily's pregnant..." Stellar started.

Shining Armor's eyes opened wide as his brain digested the news, then he started to almost shout "Preg..."

Stellar put a hoof over his mouth to prevent Shining from freaking out. "Seven months pregnant." Stellar finished her sentence. "Special circumstances."

Shining nodded, then took a deep breath after Stellar removed her hoof. "How the hay did that happen?" He asked.

"A wounded, pregnant mare, hit with a cursed crossbow bolt, Twilight using a very old and powerful transference spell to move the foal from the mother to herself, and the mare dying of the curse before they could save her." Stellar explained to Shining using the saliant-point method. "So Twilight's stuck with the baby, literally, and we barely managed to keep Velvet from going crazy before we explained everything."

Shining chuckled. "I can imagine." He said. "So, seven months gone, eh?" He asked. "No idea of the father, I take it?"

"Not a clue... yet." Stellar confirmed.

"Do we know what the foal is?" Shining asked.

"Sort-of." Stellar answered. She moved closer to Shining. "We don't know what gender it is yet, but... It's an alicorn." She whispered the last part.

Shining started at that, but then shook himself. "It's been confirmed?" He asked.

Stellar nodded. "Yep. Two doctors and Twilight herself confirmed it."

Shining chuckled again. "Wow, things are never dull around our family." He said lightly.

"Definitely." Stellar grinned.

Shining sighed with resignation. "Okay. I'll let you go and do what you have to do, then all of us can sit down and discuss what happened when you get back."

Stellar nodded. "You know it, B.B.B.F.F." Stellar said back, grinning.

"Go on, Scamp!" Shining chuckled as Stellar lightly skipped out of range of the swung forehoof.

"Gonna have to work harder than that to give me a noogie, Bro!" Stellar yelled back as she skipped over towards Jade Pillar.

Shining just shook his head, a big smile on his face, then turned back to the trainee-officers. "What? Never seen somepony have a conversation with his sister before?" He asked them. Many of them laughed, then they got back to business.

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

Stellar approached the green pegasus stallion Shining had named as Jade Pillar, then gave a cough from beside him. He looked up to see her and smiled. "Can I help you, Miss...?"

"Stellar Sparkle, Sargeant." Stellar gave her name.

"And what does the sister of His Highness, the prince of the Empire, want with my lowly time?" He asked, a charming smile on his face.

"I don't think you're going to like what I want, Sargeant." Stellar said. "But Shining Armor said you'd be able to help me."

Jade Pillar got serious. "Very well, then. Ask me."

"I need to get to Hoofington." Stellar told Jade Pillar.

To his credit, Jade Pillar almost managed to hide every trace of his shock at hearing that name again. "Oh?" He then asked. "And why would somepony as lovely as yourself want to go near that cursed place?"

"Familly business." Stellar answered. "I need to see if something from my grand-uncle was left behind there, as I suspect it was."

"Ah." Jade Pillar nodded. "I can't think of any other reason, save for something macabre, to go near that village, or any of the six."

Stellar nodded. "So, will you guide me there?" She asked him.

Jade Pillar nodded. "Of course. The Prince said I would, so I shall." He replied with a friendlier smile.

Stellar smiled back. "Can we go now?"

"Sure. No fur off my muzzle. It means I'm off-duty until we get back." Jade Pillar said. He turned to head out of the compound, then took to the skies, Stellar right behind him after she'd brought out her great-sword and secured the scabbard over her shoulders and under the backpack she was wearing.

The flight carried them to the north-east over the Crystal City, then the Empire, which was slowly expanding out onto the plains that were situated to the south of the Empire. More ponies from the crowded areas of the east, between Manehatten and Baltimare, were heading west to take up residence in the Empire's new flanks, expanding it's population and filling a need for the Empire in her food production and other areas. New methods of detecting minerals meant new mines were being explored, giving the Empire valuable resources it could trade for things it needed. And it's trademark crystals were being highly sought-after for new inventions, including crystal radios and communicators. But not every area was being exploited.

Stellar followed Jade Pillar over two small villages, with only the westernmost one was being sparsely occupied at that time. The other one was being left alone for the moment, as they headed up around the curve of the mountain range that the Empire was seated in. The main train line from Canterlot was more than fifty miles away and wound up behind the Empire, with Mount Everhorn, the biggest mountain in Equestria, to the north of it. In that long sliver of a valley lay another village, and it was there, to a village that once bore the name Hoofington, that Jade Pillar was leading Stellar.

The winds down the valley were mild that day, and they dodged them by going in low and landing swiftly, not even circling. Stellar looked around the spot where they'd landed. There were a number of what looked-like small hills with grass all over them around a much larger one that was long and sat along the valley. Jade Pillar looked at the spot they'd landed near: a graveyard with rows of thick, pillar-like columns of stone. "This is the legacy of Sombra for Hoofington, Miss Sparkle." He told her as they looked at the tombstones.

Stellar moved through the gateway into the graveyard, eventually locating a section with the name 'SPARKLE' carved into a large stone set in the ground before a number of graves. They seemed to share names, as if many ponies had been buried together. One older one read faintly "Canopus Star' and 'Aurora Bright' under the name 'Sparkle'. The next one read 'Sirius Blaze' and 'Borealia Light', and a smaller stone had two names, but they were partially missing as the stone had cracked and the upper part shattered. Only part of the upper name that read 'ight' and the lower name 'na Blaze' remained. Stellar sighed. She said a prayer for the family the Sparkle Clan had lost that day, hoping they were safe in the Elysian Fields and Elysia.

Stellar saw that Jade Pillar was also praying for the dead of Hoofington as she turned to leave, and she left him with his prayers and thoughts as she wound her way amongst the hillocks that she realised were sodded-over houses. She wandered aimlessly for a while, passing the much-bigger long hillock and amongst the houses to the North. Then she felt something. Something impinged on that place in her mind where she'd felt the Light Magic touch her before, and she headed in that direction, towards a hillock that was slightly-larger than the normal-sized ones. She found the door in the side of it, but she couldn't see how to open the door. The grass had completely grown down over the doorway, so Stellar lit up her horn and she Blinked to the other side.

Inside, it was pitch black. She lit up the tip of her horn to begin with, looking around inside the very dark room. Stellar felt cold as she looked about and considered using a more powerful light spell, when her sword slid from it's scabbard to float before her. The runes lit up brilliantly, giving her plenty of light to see by as she continued to slowly look about. Stellar smiled. "Thank you." She said to the sword. While part of her thought it was silly to anthropomorphosize an object like the sword, another part of her knew that Magic here meant that even simple objects could be far more than they seemed.

What she found as she looked around was a single stone-walled room, fully sealed and well-insulated against what she knew had been a very bitterly cold environment. There were racks for clothing and other things, but it was long-empty now; for years, Stellar knew. But it didn't seem to lead anywhere. She was back at the door after circling the room once, when her sword turned upside-down and pointed to a section of the floor. Face-hoofing, she said "How could I be so dense? Of course most of the houses here would be underground, considering how cold this place used to be." She said to herself, and she found the edges of a large trap door. Moving to the opposite side of the room, she opened it to reveal a wide staircase descending into darkness.

The sword preceeded her down the stairs and through a door that opened easily this time, to reveal another great-room, this one showing furnishings much more like a living room than the one upstairs. Stellar nodded. "Almost like houses I saw in... oh damn!" She grumbled as another name vanished from her memory. "I have to get Twilight to dig this bucking editing program out of my brain!" She swore to herself as she noticed the sword moving towards another section of floor. "So, another trap door?" She asked it, as it stopped and pointed down, bouncing up and down over the spot. "Okay, I get the point."

The sword stopped moving. Stellar swore it understood the pun and was telling her it didn't like it. "Sorry." She said, then it moved aside and allowed her to open the trap door. More stairs led down into a sub-basement where old jars full of preserved foods and other things were stacked on shelves. As she perused the objects in the room, Stellar noticed that most of them were well-past their use-by dates, by their condition. Then she looked at her sword. "Well?" She asked it. "You seem to know your way around here better than I do."

It just spun on it's long axis, not really pointing anywhere... "Or is it?" Stellar asked herself. She moved to where it was and looked up. Sure enough, there was something different about the roof supports above the sword. She levitated herself up to it and looked. It seemed the floor in this was lower than between the other beams. She closed her eyes and scanned it... to find there looked like another big chest inside. "Well, you really do know your stuff." She told the sword, as she returned to the ground. Stellar carefully teleported the roof panels away to bring the chest out, also showing the floor joists above it. She set the chest on the floor and looked it over. Sure enough, it had the same winged Sparkle Star as the original chest had. Stellar touched it with a hoof, the wings clicked back like the first one had and the lock opened.

Inside, Stellar found what she'd been looking for. "The missing sections." She grinned as she stroked the sections of red-laquered silver-edged armor that lay in the chest. But there was more. Inside was a tome-like book, sealed like her own tome was. "Okay..." Stellar said. She lifted the book out and looked it over. It was uncannily like her own tome, but older, she knew. "Hmm..." She checked it over for the lock, but found none. "Okay then. I'm not going to try and open you here." She said to the tome, as she closed the chest and it locked again. Stellar slid it into her backpack and made sure it was secured, then she started heading back out of the house. Stellar did stop up in the living room and look around a little, finding an old framed picture of the family that used to be here. It showed all six members, from the older pegasus stallion whom she figured was Canopus Star, to a four-year-old unicorn colt. She ended up taking it with her. "Maybe I can find out their names and replace that broken tombstone." Stellar said to herself as she reached the surface room. Once the trapdoor was shut, she Blinked outside again and looked for Jade Pillar.

She found him to the south of the village, looking at the weather nervously. "Cold front moving down." He commented as Stellar moved to him.

"Yeah, I could feel it." She replied. "Shall we go home?"

Jade Pillar nodded. "We'd better get going, or we'll be walking back." He told Stellar, as they opened their wings and took to the skies.

"At least we can ride the winds back." Stellar yelled at him as they were shot into the air.

"The only advantage!" Jade Pillar agreed loudly. After they'd flown for nearly an hour on the winds, Jade Pillar moved closer to Stellar and commented. "You fly very well for an alicorn."

"I was a pegasus before I was an alicorn." Stellar explained, fudging it a bit, but her body, according to Starlight, had been that of a pegasus before it had become an alicorn, so she wasn't really lying.

"Ah! That explains it, then." He replied, grinning. "Like our beloved Princess."

Stellar nodded. "Yeah. Cadance and I have that in common. My sister, Twilight, is okay in the air but most pegasi can run rings around her."

Jade Pillar chuckled. "Yeah. Shows you can give wings to a unicorn, but it still doesn't make them a pegasus."

Stellar laughed at that one, as they banked around out of the winds, into the safety of the Crystal Heart's influence over the weather.

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

Once they landed, Stellar went to her room in the Tower after saying good-bye to Jade Pillar. She put the chest beside the original one Luna and Celestia had given to her, seeing that the original one locked on top of the second one, making a nice big trunk. The box the sword had been in was splinters, but it had been obvious that it hadn't been anything special, unlike these two.

A quick shower and groom, and Stellar slid a filmy scarf around her neck, letting it drape nicely, then she headed out of her room. From what she'd heard, she, Shining and Cadance were going to be having Dinner in a short while. The staff were courteous and directed Stellar to a small, cosy dining room, with a small table set for three. "This is nice. I guess the big dining room is for state occasions." Stellar said as she looked out of the window over Crystal City, towards the new train station.

"You're right about that, Sis." Shining said as he walked in.

Stellar hugged him and gave him a sisterly nuzzle. "So, where's Cadance?" She asked.

"Coming." Shining replied. "She's just making sure the new desserts and confectionary cook knows his stuff." He explained. "The last mare we'd gotten for that position wasn't up to Tower standards, although we did get her a nice job at a good diner down near Garnet Street." Shining moved closer. "She was okay, but she couldn't leave the Empire to look elsewhere for work. Her husband is working here as the meats cook. Apparently he's had training in Griffonia and knows all the best recipes for every cut of meat you can get served in Griffonia, including fish."

"Mmm... sounds like he'll be invaluable if you get the Griffonian ambassador coming to visit." Stellar commented.

"Yeah." Shining agreed. "Even I liked his river trout."

"Twilight likes trout too." Stellar said slyly.

"Really?" Shining looked very surprised. "I never knew she'd tried it."

Stellar giggled. "You know when I was stuck in her body?" She asked. Shining nodded. "I had Spike cook some for myself and Rainbow Dash, and ate it in front of her."

Shining barely stifled a burst of laughter. "Really? And she didn't try and throw you out as you did so?"

"No!" Stellar giggled louder. "She said it tasted incredible! Then she started eating fish wraps the next day."

That got Shining laughing. "Wow! That's... something, Stellar. I guess having you in her head did her some good, after all."

Stellar laughed at that, just as Cadance showed up. "Was there something I missed?" She asked as she moved to Shining and kissed him lovingly.

"Nah, Stellar was just telling me of some things she's found out that Twily's been keeping hidden from us." Shining told Cadance as she sat with him.

"Oh? Like what?" Cadance asked, like a school-filly getting gossip from her schoolmates.

"Apparently Twily has a hidden predeliction for fish, especially trout." Stellar revealed. "Not that I don't love it myself." She added.

Cadance's face broke out in a huge grin. "My little sister-in-law likes fish?" She asked, almost squee'ing in delight. "I must have her served some the next time you two come to visit."

Stellar grinned. "Mmm... serve me fish any time." She said to Cadance.

The three all laughed and settled in, as serving staff bring out a very delicious dinner.

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

After dinner, Flurry Heart joined her parents and met her Aunt Stellar for the first time. Stellar found the little alicorn filly to be extremely curious and very snuggly, settling between Stellar's legs as they sat together, with Flurry Heart asking Stellar all sorts of questions.

"You're my Auntie Stellar, then?" Flurry asked.

Stellar grinned. "That's right, Flurry."

"But I only have one aunty who looks like you; my Auntie Twilight." Flurry insisted.

"Maybe once, but now you have two." Stellar told her.

"How?" Flurry asked.

"Blame Magic." Stellar replied, grinning.

"Oh." Flurry just said, looking confused.

"Magic sometimes does things in ways even we alicorns can't explain... Fluffers." Stellar told Flurry.

"Fluffers?" Flurry asked.

"Sure." Stellar grinned wider. "Every pretty little filly needs an awesome nickname, and mine for you is now 'Fluffers'." Stellar answered.

Flurry Heart wondered about that for almost a minute, before asking "But what does it mean?"

"It means I can fluff you when you get sad or confused!" Stellar replied, before 'fluffing' Flurry with her wings, tickling her mercilessly.

Cadance and Shining laughed out loud as Flurry Heart squealed and giggled, while Stellar hugged her lovingly. "Never gonna let you get sad or confused around me, Fluffers." Stellar said, as she nuzzled Flurry tenderly, Flurry nickering as she nuzzled back.

"Okay, so since you're done molesting our daughter, Stellar, maybe you can fill us in on our sister's advanced state of pregnancy?" Shining asked.

Stellar nodded as she straightened up. "Okay. Twilight and I were walking home a couple of nights ago, when we encountered a pregnant unicorn mare being chased by a group of ponies shrouded in shadow cloaks." Stellar began. "She was wounded in the shoulder with a small crossbow bolt. Twilight Blinked her to the Palace infirmary while I took the ponies on in combat. They turned out to be dark-coated unicorn stallions, all in strange gear that was charged with Dark magic."

Shining Armor scowled deeply, as Cadance looked shocked. "And you were able to take them on, even with their Dark magic?" Shining asked.

"I'm studying a very old type of forgotten magic at the moment that seems to be specifically designed to counter Dark magic." Stellar went on. "And it's very effective, too. I think Great-Uncle Canopus Star had also studied it to an extent, because the runes on his armor and sword are linked to this Light magic, and are beyond the ones we know today as Rune magic, even though they're essentially from the same school."

"All right, so how did Twilight get pregnant?" Cadance asked.

"While I took the stallions on, Twilight found the crossbow bolt was cursed with a very nasty Dark curse, called the Black Ash curse." Stellar explained. "She was able to temporarily halt it, but had to get the foal out of the mother to treat the mare. Twilight invoked some old magic of her own, essentially preparing her body for pregnancy and then transferring the foal over to herself. She had hoped that, with the child safe from both the curse and the powerful magic needed to stop it, they could treat the mother properly. But almost as soon as the transfer was complete, the curse reached ther mother's heart and she was turned into a pile of black ash, hence the name of the curse." Stellar concluded.

"How horrid." Cadance stated, looking sad.

"That's why that curse is banned in every civilised country that we know of." Stellar said, with Shining nodding his agreement. "Anyway, so Twilight is now carrying an alicorn foal and is seven months gone. Velvet and Night Light are now being supportive, and Twilight and I are going to be looking after the foal together."

Cadance was smiling softly as Shining grinned. "I think you'll make a lovely couple." Cadance replied.

"Well, until Twilight manages to catch a stallion she likes." Stellar said, but she didn't disagree with Cadance. "But I am going to give her every bit of support I can until then, or the foal reaches their majority."

"Then we know she's in good hoofs." Shining replied.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Shiny." Stellar said, grinning. "Frankly, I think this is either going to make or break Twilight. She's going to learn big-time that foals don't always work to checklists, but they're good to have for foals, if they're flexible enough. I'm betting she'll be a far more mature mare when she's ready to have her next foal."

"I can believe that." Cadance agreed.

"Is the foal gonna be like me?" Flurry asked.

Stellar chuckled. "Yes, she is, Fluffers. She's gonna have a horn and wings, like you did."

"Wow!" Flurry replied, grinning.

"Yeah, very cool, little Fluffers." Stellar agreed.

"Cool?" Flurry asked, looking about.

"Uh-huh." Stellar said back. "If something's awesome, but not completely awesome enough to rate an 'Awesome!', you say it's 'Cool'." She explained.

"Cool!" Flurry replied, to laughter from the adults.

"Now you got it, Fluffers." Stellar told Flurry.

"Anyway, time for bed, Flurry." Shining said as he got up.

"AWWWWW!" Flurry said as Shining moved across to her.

"Come on, Flurry, you have to go to bed because your tutors will be here early tomorrow." Shining reminded Flurry.

"Can Aunty Stellar give me a ride to bed?" Flurry asked hopefully.

Shining looked at Stellar. "That's up to Stellar." Shining replied.

"Will you give me a ride to bed, Aunty Stellar?" Flurry asked.

Stellar looked at Cadance, who nodded, then at Shining, who gave a single nod. "Okay, Fluffers, you can ride on my back." Stellar said with a grin.

"Yay!" Flurry answered and, spreading her wings wide, she jumped lightly up onto Stellar's back and settled there. Stellar strode easily and smoothly along between Shining Armor and Cadance as they headed for Flurry's bedroom.

After delivering Flurry to her bed, Stellar nuzzled her tenderly, then stepped back and let Cadance and Shining say their good-nights as she headed out of the bedroom.

"She's so cute." Stellar remarked as they all walked back to the lounge area.

"She is now." Shining said. "But she was such a handful when she was first born. Her magic was fully-charged and unregulated." He explained.

"Ouch." Stellar replied, wincing. "Don't tell me: Shooting blasts everywhere?"

"Putting holes in the palace walls and roof." Cadance answered. "That's our little hellion." She grinned. "Fortunately, Sunburst the Crystaller knew the proper spells to regulate her mana outbursts, so after her crystalling, Flurry was a lot easier to handle." She told Stellar.

"Yeah, Twilight mentioned those spells. I'll have to get them off you before I go." Stellar said to Cadance.

"Of course. Maybe she should put them in a pamphlet you could hand out to expectant unicorn mothers. I bet there's a few others who could have wished to know about them." Cadance suggested.

"More than likely." Stellar agreed, before yawning. "And that's my cue to go hit the hay. See you for breakfast in the morning." Stellar said, hugging Cadance and Shining.

"Yes, see you then, Sis." Shining replied and stepped back to Cadance's side, as Stellar was led off by one of Cadance's mares-in-waiting.

===      ===      ===      ===      ===      ===

As she settled down in bed that night, Stellar felt even more relaxed than she had ever been. Somehow, she'd become truly comfortable with being who she was now, to the point where she no longer cared about her former life, whatever she had been. This was her, right here, right now. While she hated losing any of the information her past had, due to that incessant editing program, it was only of use to her if it helped her life as she was living it now, like it had in her fight with Blueblood. No. She was Stellar Light Sparkle, of the Family Sparkle, and she knew there was no use dwelling on what may-have-beens. Not when she had such an incredible life to lead here.

As she slowly drifted to sleep, Stellar wondered what Twilight's foal would look like, and if Flurry Heart would like her...

==================================

Well after darkness fell that night, a medium-sized paddle steamer left Manehatten port supposedly for Griffonia. It would not reach it's reported destination, however. Instead, it would turn south and head down the Griffonian coast, heading out into the open ocean, bound for somewhere considerably further away.

On-board the steamer, which was actually an armed luxury yacht in disguise, Armus Darkblood was sitting up, checking over the figures of the projected losses from his businesses after he'd had to withdraw from Equestria. He looked through a set of transparent metal panels, to where a huge bed lay. The figure in the bed was sleeping fitfully, tossing occasionally as she tried to sleep.

Armus sighed sadly. He knew he was ruthless and had had to be heartless at times, but there still was a softer side to him that he kept well-hidden. As much as he had disliked his son for his rashness and reactive nature, Blueblood had been his only son, and the loss of both him and Tourmaline in a single day was still hitting him hard. While he'd taken the two mares into his herd because their bloodlines had given him the best chance for alicorn foals (another reason Blueblood had been considered a failure by Armus), he had found that he'd grown attracted to the two mares in a much closer and loving way as he grew to knew them. Of course, their relationships were clandestine. While it would not have been unseemly for him to take another mare, taking two as proper wives was unheard-of amongst the nobility. While Equestrians may have hardly batted an eyelid, in Unicornia, it would have been scandal for someone of his rank to do so. Only the peasant stallions took multiple mares to live under one roof.

At least with Tourmaline gone, he could take Turquoise home with him without any hint of scandal. Blueblood's mother had died many years ago, so that was no problem. Turquoise and Tourmaline had been married to him in a small service within Canterlot two years ago, and he would formally take Turquoise as his wife in a ceremony that would be performed in the Temple of the Dark in Bastillar after they got home, securing her daughter as his own legitimately. For the little one would become not just nobility, but with her alicorn blood, she would be Unicornia's new royalty, sealing the Darkblood line as the ruling family in Unicornia now and forever, something that Armus had worked towards all of his long life.

Armus had worked his way up from just one son amongst five sons and twenty daughters from three mares in the leading house of Unicornia's elite, working hard to understand the three arms of Power: Politics, Commerce and Sorcery. He had excelled at all three, unlike his siblings, and eventually rose to become powerful enough to take the highest seat on the Dark Council. Once he was there, he secured his title as Lord Sorceror Exemplaris, then raised his family's fortunes to where he controlled at least some part of almost everything that went on in the land. He employed the smarter ponies from his family to keep things running smoothly, then started working on the government. As Lord Sorceror Exemplaris, he had great political power, enough to 'guide' the governing body to do his will, or view it as politically expediant to support him.

But the thought of Equestria still being the protector of such backward ideals as Friendship and Equality of the Tribes made his blood boil. Unicorns were always superior, it was written in the heavens. Only unicorns could become Alicorns, therefore they were the only ones fit to rule. He WOULD bring Equestria into line with the true vision of unicorn superiority and, through his daughter, the world would eventually fall into line. Armus smiled. Maybe he would find out one day how to ascend himself, then he could rule one country while his daughter ruled the other under his guidance.

Armus sat back and gave a deep yawn. While his command of Dark magic allowed him to hold off the ravages of Time and keep him looking and feeling young, sometimes he felt his three hundred years of age. He closed his portfolios, got up from the table and stretched, then headed to the bedroom. Sliding in behind Turquoise, he slowly moved up against her and held her gently. To his pleasure, she snuggled back into him and his face changed. Instead of the steel-hard politician and Lord Sorceror, he almost showed the love of a young stallion with his beloved bride, such love as a pair would have for each other with their first foal on the way. Armus nuzzled Turquoise tenderly, before settling himself with her and slowly drifted off to sleep...

==================================