“CLEAR THE THRONE ROOM!” bellowed Luna at full volume in the Royal Canterlot voice, even as the echoes of Side Slip’s cry finished carrying through the castle. The thunder of the Lunar Princess, combined with the look of pained fury on her face, cleared the throne room in record time. As the guards made sure everypony had left, Luna risked a glance at her sister.

Celestia still held a hoof to her breast, breathing in and out heavily as she did so. Luna could see her sister’s lips moving, over and over.

“...not dead...not dead...Not dead...”

“Sister?” Luna asked, suddenly worried that Celestia may have become unhinged at whatever had befallen her student and their friend.

“It’s okay, Luna,” Celestia said, shaking herself. “I’m fairly sure she isn’t dead. Something,” she paused, “something struck her, with great force. I just need some way to be sure.” It was at that moment Side Slip burst through the doors, and past the guards, wailing that Twilight had fallen. The distraught pegasus flung himself at Celestia’s hooves, weeping openly.

“She is dead! My Princess, my heart is gone,” he wept.

Celestia and Luna shared a look. This was the pegasus who had cut a swath through the unattached mares of Cloudsdale? Who had been cited twice for inappropriate advances by his superiors? If they had ever needed proof that Side Slip and been broken apart and put back together, here it was. But, that wasn’t important. One of their ponies was in pain.

“Ease yourself, my little pony,” said Celestia. “I’m fairly sure Twilight is alive.”

Side Slip looked up, his face a mask of tears, “Are...are you sure?”

“Not completely,” admitted Celestia. “But there is a way to be sure, if you are willing to help.”

“Of course, Princess,” said Side Slip, rising to his hooves. He scrubbed a wing across face, wiping the tears from his eyes, “Whatever you need to help Twilight, I’m ready to give.”

“Very well,” said Celestia, moving to stand to one side of Side Slip. “Luna, if you would assist?” With a nod, Luna took up station on Side Slip’s other flank. Then, Luna lay one wing across Side Slip’s back, the other placed across his front and chest. Celestia mirrored her sister, wrapping the pegasus in a circle of alicorn warmth and wings.

“Now, Side Slip, close your eyes,” said Celestia as Side Slip obeyed. Her voice began to speak in a measured cadence. “Feel the warmth around you. In this circle there is no fear, no terror, no pain. Only warmth and love. Do you feel it, Side Slip?”

“Yes, Princess,” his reply came in a far off voice.

“Good,” she continued, even as she and her sister ignited their horns with power and ever so gently, pushed it into the pegasus “Listen to my voice. Only my voice. There are no other sounds. Do you hear only my voice, my pony?

Side's thoughts slowed and his voice lost any hint of personality, becoming a monotone, “yes, princess,” he replied.

“You are so brave, my pony,” Celestia continued in that same measured rhythm. “Keep listening to my voice, and I want you to sink within yourself. Go to that warm place inside. The place where the gift Twilight gave you resides.”

“yes...i...i am there,” Side Slip said.

“My wonderful pony,” Celestia praised. “Can you still feel her gift? Is it still there? Still warm?”

“yes. it is.”

“Sink back into that warmth, my good pony,” Celestia continued in the cadence of that honeyed voice. “Once you are there, open your senses again to that warmth. Tell us what you hear.”

“i hear another heart, beating. I hear her. She lives, my Princess...she lives.” Tears of relief flowed down Side Slip’s face from beneath his closed eyelids.

“Easy, my pony, easy. Calmly,” soothed Celestia. “Breathe with your love for a moment. Just be with her." Celestia watched as Side Slip did so, watched him return to calm breathing for a minute. Simply breathing for a minute. “Very good, my brave pony. Now tell me. Can you hear anything else, feel anything else?” Celestia asked.

“A little.” Side Slip’s voice was stronger now. “Just feelings. My...her left wing hurts. So does her right foreleg, and there is a pressure over her head and body. Like they are wrapped in something.”

“Very good, Side Slip, you have done very well,” said Celestia, as she stopped the flow of power from her horn. “Come back up to us now. Rise, my pony. Climb back up to us on wings of thought.”

A few moments later Side Slip opened his eyes. “She is alive,” he marveled.

“Indeed, she is,” said Luna. “Thank you for helping us be sure of that.

“It was my pleasure, Princess,” said Side Slip, who blushed as he realized he was in a rather intimate embrace with both Princesses. “Um..."

“It was our pleasure as well, brave Side Slip,” said Celestia releasing the pegasus. “Now, please stand off to one side for now. My sister and I have much to do and we may need you for some of it.”

Luna suddenly winked out of existence. Only to reappear a pair of heartbeats later, with scorched fur and feathers.

“Luna, did you just try to teleport to Twilight?” asked Celestia.

“Yes, sister. I did. The wards of the diamond dogs are most efficacious it would seem,” answered Luna, checking herself over. “I will not be teleporting to her. At least, not under my own power.”

“Why did you even try?” asked Celestia. “You had to have known it wouldn’t work unless...”

“Unless I added something extra with the spells I wove into Twilight’s peytral,” said Luna, confirming her sister’s suspicion. “I wove a teleport anchor in with the other spells and I know you added something as well.”

“Yes, I did. I wove a scrying enchantment in. With it, the peytral can show us what it sees and not just record it.”

“What are we waiting for then? Let us find out what is going on.”

“We have preparations to make, and a kingdom to make ready for war first, Luna.”

With that the two diarchs began issuing orders. All available troops were to head to Appleoosa as a staging area. Messages were sent to call up reservists. The Collegium Unicornium was summoned with instructions they be ready for complex magics. Finally, Celestia had a very large mirror brought from her quarters to the throne room as Luna dispatched a message to the guards around the border of the Badlands.

To: All unit commanders
From: Princess Luna

Gentlecolts, this message is to be considered a War Warning. Ambassador Twilight Sparkle has been felled by an unknown agency. Until we can confirm the Diamond Dog Nation is at fault, we do not yet have a true casus belli as our previous deadline to them is still counting down.

Be aware this means that while hostilities could break out at any moment, you are NOT to initiate battle. You are to use force only in self-defense at this time. However, if you feel that you or your command is in imminent danger you should feel free to take whatever steps you feel necessary to safeguard your ponies and your command.

Should you be forced to this, know that you will have the full blessings of the Crowns upon your actions.

Go in Harmony,

Luna, Noctis Regina Filia

“Princesses,” said a guard, “we have the mirror you requested, and I’ve been told to tell you that the Collegium is setting up in the Gala Ballroom.”

“Excellent,” replied Celestia, “set up the mirror right here, and let the Collegium know that we will be ready to join them soon.” The guard nodded and went to deliver the message while other guardponies set up a large mirror very similar to the one used by the mirror portal to the world Sunset Shimmer lived in.

Celestia touched a hoof to the edge of the mirror and - her horn glowing - poured mystical energies into the mirror. The reflection in the mirror shifted and went away. In it’s place was a vision of orange, rocky terrain. Several diamond dogs were visible, walking in front at the same pace as the mirror’s viewpoint moved. At the top of the view, just visible, was the underside of a pony’s muzzle. It was lavender in colour.

“Twilight,” breathed Luna. Celestia nodded. Both diarchs were glued to the image in the mirror, barely blinking. “Why is there no sound?”

“As you noticed, their wards are very good,” said Celestia. “I could guarantee either sight or sound. I choose sight.” Luna nodded in understanding. As they continued to watch they could see blood begin to drip past the image from Twilight’s muzzle. Celestia gasped, while Luna’s face grew grim.

In the image, one of the dogs also seemed to notice that Twilight was bleeding. He halted the procession and the image seemed to steady as the viewpoint seemed to be lowered to rest on something. Another dog approached Twilight, pulling out a pair of sharp scissors from a pouch at his side. The scissors moved up out of the field of view and the sisters were treated to an up close look of the dog’s chest as he did something to Twilight’s head. A moment later the dog lowered himself down with the scissors in one paw and the remains of a bloody bandage in the other. The dog then dug out gauze and a fresh bandage and then obviously replaced the dressing he had just removed.

“Medical care is a good sign, my sister,” said Luna. “But wait, what is that?” As they watched the dog lowered Twilight’s head further into view and he proceeded to wrap a device of rings, straps and buckles around Twilight’s unresisting head.

“That, Luna,” said Celestia in a grim tone, “is a bridle with an integrated inhibitor ring. And considering how Twilight isn’t fighting it at all, I would say she is unconscious.” As the sisters continued to watch, they saw the straps being drawn tight as the bridle was secured. Then, as Luna began to growl, they saw a bit being forced into Twilight’s mouth and attached to the bridle.

Their anger at the bit and bridle vanished as the medical dog reached down to put one of Twilight’s forelegs on a stool. The leg was splinted and the break in the bone was clearly visible as a grotesque lump beneath the flesh. The medical dog then cut away the splint, and two dogs moved into the field of view. They took a firm grip on either side of Twilight’s bridle and the upper portion of the broken leg. Then they seemed to wait for the healer to do something.

“Luna,” asked Celestia, “what are they doing?”

“Twilight’s leg is broken,” said Luna, no stranger to in-the-field care. “They are going to set the leg. It will likely be very painful for her. But it must be done.”

“My fault,” whispered Celestia, hanging her head in guilt. “Her pain is my fault.”

Even as Celestia spoke the words the dog pulled the leg straight. Setting the bones and reducing the lump to smoothness. In the mirror’s sight, Luna and Celestia could see Twilight try to buck and shudder. They could see her jaw clench on the bit in her mouth. The dogs held her firm until Twilight went limp again. After which the healer began to wrap strips of cloth coated in some substance around Twilight’s leg. It became clear that he was wrapping Twilight’s leg in a cast.

“Their healer seems skilled,” Luna said dispassionately. “Provided nothing further happens, the leg should heal well. Did you notice what they did not do, sister?”

“No Luna, I didn’t,” said Celestia, noting the firmly buried rage in her sister’s voice.

“They did not remove either the bit, or the bridle, afterwards,” said the dark alicorn in that same controlled voice. “Twilight is most definitely a captive as well.”

“Calmly sister,” said Celestia. “You will need all your strength soon enough.”

“There shall be blood this day, Celestia,” Luna swore. “For every drop that falls from Twilight I shall shed a thousand from those responsible.”

“Then start with me, Luna,” said Celestia, as she levitated a knife before her sister. “For it was I who sent her there. I, who failed to see the signs of the growing crisis. I could not be more responsible for her wounds, had I cut her myself. And now, I cannot even go to her aid, but must coordinate and command our forces, even as I make ready to send my own sister. My own sister, alone, into a desperate battle to save those I endangered.”

Luna stared at her sister for a moment. Then grabbed the knife in her field and flung it away.

“T’is a lie!” Luna declared, as she moved to look her sister in the face. “’Tia, you did what you thought was right at the time, with the knowledge you had. We have great power, you and I, but we are not all-powerful. We are not all-knowing. You ARE a good pony, and a good sister. That you feel the pain of our ponies as your own, proves that.”

Celestia hugged her sister. “Thank you,” the solar alicorn said. “I needed that.”

“I know,” said Luna with a smile. Then looked over to where Side Slip sat at the edge of the room. The pegasus was trying to give the royal sisters as much privacy as possible while still obeying their command for him to stay near.

“Side Slip,” Luna said, addressing the pegasus, “my sister and I must make preparations to send me to Twilight’s side. We would ask thee to monitor the mirror and let us know should anything of import transpire.”

“Of course,” agreed the pegasus, grateful for something to do.

Nodding their thanks, the two sisters left the throne room and headed for the ballroom. Where there awaited the most powerful unicorn and well trained mages of the kingdom.

“Greetings, your Highnesses,” said Umbral Glow, the lead unicorn of the group. “We are laying out the ritual square to provide the power you and your sister will need to do what you want. But, there is a problem.”

“What is the problem?” Celestia asked.

“Focus, your Highness,” said Umbral Glow. “We can give you enough power to punch through any barrier, anywhere. But without enough focus there is no way to guarantee where Princess Luna would emerge from her teleport.”

“I see your point,” Celestia answered. “What do you need?”

“We need ponies with direct connections to Twilight Sparkle,” said the unicorn. “Seven ponies, preferably. One for each side of the ritual square. Two to feed the square’s power into you, and one final focus for when you feed the power to your sister.”

“Do the focus ponies need to have any particular qualities?” asked Luna from the far side.

“Other than a strong connection to Twilight Sparkle, only the two ponies concentrating power from the square to Princess Celestia need to have any special qualities,” said Umbral. “They should be strong unicorns, to be able to handle the amount of power that will be flowing through them.”

“Sister,” said Luna, “we have five ponies like that in the castle. Did you not place four of Twilight’s friends in protective custody? And Side Slip has a portion of Twilight’s soul inside of him. Surely they would all qualify as good foci?”

“Yes, they would,” said Celestia. “If they can manage to forgive me for what I’ve done to their friends. We still need two others, as well.”

“Starlight Glimmer is a most powerful unicorn and Twilight’s student,” said Luna. “That leaves one.”

“Shining Armor would be the best choice,” said Umbral Glow. “Can we get him here?”

“Yes, but it will be jarring for him,” said Celestia. “I can teleport him directly, and if I do it using a summoning circle it will save my strength.”

“That’s our seven then, I will get Twilight’s friends here,” offered Umbral. “I’ll inform them of the situation and hopefully they will be reasonable.

“Get them here and I will speak with them,” said Celestia. “In the meantime we have some preparations to make.”

~~~~~+++++~~~~~

Twilight Sparkle woke. Considering she had not expected to survive her impact with the ground, this was a good thing. Her waking to a deep, aching pain in her left wing and right foreleg however, was decidedly not a good thing. She opened her eyes and took in her situation. Several things became apparent within a few seconds. First, she was being carried; some sort of harness had been strapped around her body and she was being carried by it. Second, she was surrounded by diamond dogs; dozens within her immediate field of vision. Next, one of her front legs - the one that hurt - was wrapped in a rigid cast.

“Must have broken it in the crash,” Twilight thought to herself. “Wing feels pretty bad too.” That was when Twilight realized that she was also wearing a bridle with an attached bit.

“Whrg deg bukt erm bt fr?” Twilight garbled out loud, as the bit mangled her words.

“Ah, pony. You awake,” said a dog who moved over to walk alongside her as she was carried along. The dog gently but firmly grabbed hold of the underside of the bridle and used its leverage to move Twilight’s head so he could look into her eyes, one at a time.

“He must be checking for a concussion,” Twilight thought. “Must be a medic.”

“Cag ogg tag og da bigt?” Twilight garbled to the dog.

“If you want bit out, answer is ‘no’,” said the dog. “Welcome to your new life as property, pony.” Twilight growled in response.

“Pony should be grateful.” said the dog. “Pony all banged up, but we save pony.” The dog began gently patting Twilight’s head. “Pony in pain? Ear have big cut. Bleed lots. Have drink for pain if you want,” asked the dog. Twilight shook her head in the negative. It did hurt, a lot. But she had to stay clear headed. Rarity was counting...RARITY!

Twilight looked around. There she was. About thirty feet away. Wrapped up in her own harness and pole carrying combo. Rarity was also bridled, and she had been treated to extra bindings beyond what was on Twilight. Rarity not only had a bit between her teeth, but she had been muzzled as well. Her head was not only bridled, but had straps attached to the bridle and running to Rarity’s harness forcing her to keep her head up.

But worse was how Rarity looked. Physically she was fairly unharmed. Emotionally though she looked beaten and defeated, not even lifting her eyes up to look around. She resembled nothing more than a condemned prisoner being lead off to her doom. Twilight wasn’t sure what had been happening - when she had tried to swoop in to rescue her friend - but it must have been Rarity’s last attempt at escape, and its failure had cost Rarity her spirit and determination.

The procession carried on.

About an hour later the group came to a halt. The poles Twilight and Rarity were being carried with were set on stands. The two ponies were suspended side-by-side. A dog came up to Twilight, removed her bit and held a canteen to her mouth. Twilight drank gratefully. Rarity then had her muzzle and bit removed and was watered as well.

“Excuse me,” Twilight said to the dog giving them water. “I’m an ambassador and have diplomatic immunity. Why am I tied up like this?”

“You pony,” replied the dog. “We do this to all ponies.”

“But I’m an alicorn,” protested Twilight, “and Princess Celestia’s personal representative.”

“It’s no use...Princess,” said a tired, defeated voice beside her. “They are taking us to their Alpha because those are their orders. And there is nothing we can do to stop them,” said Rarity.

“But Rarity-” began Twilight. She stopped speaking as she saw the bridle her friend wore, suddenly crackle and dance with lightning. Rarity convulsed under its lash and gave a cry of wordless pain.

“Please...please...no more,” pleaded Rarity as the lightnings faded. “Don’t say that name again, Princess. I am punished every time someone says it near me.”

“That name?” Twilight asked. “You mean, your name makes that bridle shock you? Is that why you haven’t said my name yet?” Twilight was suddenly very conscious of the bridle around her own head.

“Yes,” Rarity confirmed. “I don’t know if the bridle they put on you can do that. Yet. And I don’t want to put you through that. So please, don’t say that name again.”

“Enough pony chatter,” said the dog, catching Twilight by surprise as he slipped the bit back between her teeth and secured it. As Twilight watched, Rarity made no attempt to resist her own bit and even opened her mouth to allow easy access as the dog approached her.

Twilight felt a growing anger, as thoughts of what Rarity had to have endured to reduce her to this state, poured through her mind. That anger fueled her until suddenly, with a surge of triumph, Twilight realized she could still sense her connection to magic. The bridle the dog had put on her had an inhibitor ring. But it was made to stop the magic of a unicorn, not an alicorn. Twilight began to pull in power, and then stopped.

“This is not the time,” she thought to herself. “I’m wounded, and why walk on a broken leg when you can be carried to where you want to go. But when the time comes - and it will come soon - they are going to learn what it means when the Princess of Friendship becomes unfriendly.”

Author's Note

Well, gentle readers. Thank you for being patient with me. The climax of the story is now finished and I will be putting out a part of it every day or two until all we have left is the epilogue. So, the next portion of the story will be out tomorrow.

One note. The title I've given Luna is "Noctis Regina Filia". Latin has no word for Princess. It does have 'princeps' from which we get prince. But no female version of it. Principia is an Italianization of the Latin word. However, "Filia" is "daughter of". "Regina" is the feminine of "Rex" or king and, of course, "Noctis" is night. So, directly translated "Noctis Regina Filia" is "Daughter of the Night Queen" or "Daughter of the Queen of the Night". Which makes "Princess of the Night". Or at least as close as I can get to it.