All she felt at the moment was pain.

It understood her inter struggle and... frighteningly, she somewhat had a clear understanding of it as well.

Pain spoke to her in a way none other emotion could even attempt to imitate.

Her world became pain and nothing else for that stretch of time. Was it a second, an hour, even a full day? None of that mattered as her head wished to split in half any time now, threatening its owner with suffering for another eternity to come. She knew the purely theoretical price for using that spell, but... for all that is holy and sacred, she never thought that kind of migraine and jumble of thoughts was even possible. With eyes still closed from a blinding headache she tried to sit from her laying position.

“Twilight.. don't,” she heard a familiar voice of Princess Luna echoing gently, albeit still carried with a commanding overtone. “Here, let me help you with that,” Twilight felt a shroud of magic spell envelop her cranium in its mercy and soothing the pain away while a large fluffy pillow lightly slipped its feathery softness behind her back, immediately allowing her to sit without enduring some truly titan worthy effort.

She never even got a chance to think about the situation she was in, almost instantly feeling a backlash of her reckless spell striking her with its full consequential force. It all started with a little sob, after which Luna already knew what was about to follow, preparing herself for the coming talk. Which was, in hindsight, apparently a long time coming.

“Let it out Twilight, just let the heartache flow out entirely,” she said and came closer only to envelop the purple mare in a sorrowful hug. “It's the only thing that will even remotely help you right now.”

Twilight knew the consequences of her actions, of course. Yet even despite that, she couldn't stop herself from developing many negative emotions that threatened to wrap her in the ever-greater shroud of depressing thoughts. A simple sob slowly developed into a cry which turned into a full-fledged lament with tears streaming freely, staining Luna's pristine coat and flowing mane completely wet.

Both of them stayed a strong while in this position, Luna allowing Twilight to get drained of the very last tears available to her body. With the older Alicorn attached to the younger one in a crushing hug of overwhelmingly appropriate understanding, it was almost poetic justice considering their mutual history. The savior of the Night needed some proper saving herself this time.

It simply didn't matter to the pair how long they stayed like this, just that at some point forward they would get better, at last. After Twilight physically couldn't cry anymore even if she wanted to, her emotions were in relative check once again. As such, she asked a simple question with a hesitance worthy of the meek Fluttershy of years past.

“Wh- where's Prin... Celestia?”
...
...

"She just had to ask that one. Curse her benevolent spirit."

“Do not worry over it.” The reassurance sounded weakly over the room, ominously resounding with a hint of personal failure. “She would be here in a heartbeat to support you... IF, I didn't specifically ask her to stay put in her chambers and keep herself far away for now. I also asked my guards to steer away anypony who might come.”

Luna did.. THAT? What was she.. why..? Why would she... Unless.. Well, no way like asking outright.

“Why'd you-”

“Why did you used that Goddess forsaken spell Twilight?”

That. This one plain question was enough to completely terrify the young mare out of her wits into the pits of panic like no other single sentence could. That simple abrupt change of subject threw her into the spiral of thoughts from which there was no escape, yet she would do anything in order to avoid the subject as long as she could. What was even worse than that, The Night Sovereign's tone was of the accusing kind, one that she never heard out of the mare in her life.. and now that she did.. it terrified her.

Enveloping and encompassing all that dared defy it, like a rime choking plants on a chilly midnight evening. It wouldn't kill them... it wasn't making them all comfortable like either.

Gaze only mildly accusing, yet.. full of unrestrained understanding sorrow. -I understand you, but I'm outright disappointed in you-, the words said.

Luna knew. Luna knew darn well what had happened, to some extent... and wouldn't release that knowledge out of her hooves. No matter what.

Somehow... somehow It was hurting more than Celestia being in the night princess place.

Celestia would always forgive. Luna would similarly forgive... but never forget. For any of them, never was a rather long time.

“Ho.. how did you find... How?” Twilight asked her in makeshift response, trying to salvage the shattered hopes of avoiding this talk as long as she could. Already predicting the simplistic answer well before it struck with the weight of a thousand bricks.

“I conducted a magical scan out of pure worry for you and when I found the things not to my liking, I acted. I'm not stupid Twilight,” the response came, confirming Twilight's suspicions to the point. Sometimes the Princesses were pragmatic to a fault. Shame they decided to do so now out of all times.

The unusual period of silence echoed around the overly decorated chamber, making the incoming confession she had to make even more foreboding. More so, it was more devastating when it turned out they were in Luna's private bedroom. It was like inviting yourself into someone's home and destroying their tea set, just because you felt like it.

“I'm the one that invented the damn thing in the first place, so I would recognize it everywhere no matter the situation,” The ancient Alicorn said flatly, overtaking the conversation completely and holding it hard by the proverbial reigns.

Okay, that was not in Twilight's predictions for the day. When the guilt of the pair reigned fully, none of them dared to break the silence. both of them feeling like they just committed a capital crime.

Then again, Luna was the older one. The one that should be more responsible and set the example to follow.

“It was among my darkest pieces of work ever conceived, made when I was still.. well.. out there.” Twilight knew what the diarch was getting at and wasn't going to inquire more on the matter. All of that was behind them. Period.

“Still, my question remains. Even more than ever so. WHERE did you find it? I will not accept any deception you try to spew my way.” The bile suddenly coagulated Twilight's way into an acidic interrogation unbearable for any living creature for too long. The question seemed like a feeble choice between answer or die. For Luna to subject her to that..

“Ca- Canterlot... Archives.” The words flowed bitterly like a ninety percent cocoa chocolate. Thick and wrong to the core, unless you added salt. Why don't you just eat a spoonful of pure cocoa, you freak.

“Of course, The Archives,” Luna sighed, slowly releasing Twilight from the rather prolonged embrace that was becoming just a tad too tight. “It's always those accursed Archives,” she vocalized her most obvious thoughts in a split second. “I swear, one of those days I will burn them completely to the ground till none is left, as they cause only problems. Damn all the wisdom and good that they could give.”

While any threat to knowledge would normally set the newest Alicorn ablaze in an instant, surprisingly it was the last thing to rile her up for now and when no further questioning followed, Twilight took it upon herself to explain the convoluted reasoning behind the mostly forbidden search of the arcane.

“As to why, I just wanted to- I thought... ughh. I'm useless, okay?” There it was, said and forever out there. It was sure as The Sun burning that somepony like the more edgy part of the stellar duo would remember that little thing literally forever.

Luna thought she misheard at first, for anyone would think that, really. The one that saved her, pulled out of the bring of corruption multiple times, defeated and reformed Discord with some help, figured out the deceptive Queen of Changelings, saved the Crystal Empire from complete destruction, battled Lord Tirek with the power of not one but four Demi-goddesses, rescued the Pillars out of the Limbo like it was a school project due Sunday, all the while becoming an Alicorn like it was not that big of a deal. Experiencing adventures everywhere she went and she had the audacity to say she's apparently... useless?

What?

It would not stand. Never.

As long as she breaths, Twilight "Deus ex machina" Sparkle wouldn't have a reason to call herself anything else than extraordinary.

Yet, firstly she had to figure out the cause of all this self-deprecation that would be there for the weeks to come. Calmly.

“Whatever do you mean by that Twilight?” Night sky itself asked with the practiced tone of a eternal governor, one that she resented the most if somepony asked her about it. Friends do not talk about "weather".

“Without my friends, I mean. When.. when we're together I can overcome everything the world throws my way and I know that for a fact after all that has happened to us. On my own... what do I have? The ideals of friendship are good and all... but if there are no friends to hold onto, those won't exactly work, now would they? I'm not a valiant fighter like you, or an overly skilled diplomat like Celestia... not even so understanding of other's emotions as Cadance is,” she stopped for a second to recollect her thoughts into a coherent sentence that would get her point across. Hopefully. “After Tirek's rampage and later Chrysalis's abduction happened, I began to think. -"What if I was separated from my friends with no way to reach them and forced to fight truly alone? What then?"- “...And... I knew the answer. I would fail.”

“Twilight-”

“I would fail. Fail myself and everypony else that depended on my success, knowingly or not. The whole world would burn just because I couldn't bring myself to stand up and fight as I should.” At last, Twilight opened her eyes and looked straight into Luna's sad ones with determination for the first time this evening. “That's why. I searched for something to help me overcome the issue, the hole in the equation, to give me the edge I need... and found "The Goddess forsaken spell", as you put it. So that, just in case my methods failed me, I wouldn't fail.”

Princess Luna sat on her chair in silence, leaning on her hoof and pondering. "She is rather fixed on her implied inadequacy. I need to rethink all of this. Better say a few reassuring words now, change to the more pressing matters, and resume the issue later. While I would like to say -Your putting the "Goddess forsaken spell" in quotes just proves my point, for you do not see it the same way I do.- I think the former is a better plan. For now, at least." “Twilight... think about what I'm about to say, truly. Your friends are your support, yes. But not by being there, but by simply... well, being, yes?”

“Huh?”

“Look at your issue this way. When you're all as one, they are your very foundation and you work together against a common foe. But when you're alone and without them, you fight FOR them. Twilight, I know, I'm sure, that if you by any chance find yourself truly alone and abandoned you would fight to reconnect with them or so that they have more time to formulate a plan that grants you a chance against an overwhelming enemy. They are your strength despite all circumstances. Whether they are with you at the time or not, no spell, no matter how powerful, will substitute for the strength that bond grants you.”

Well, obviously. But hearing it from someone other than yourself? It made for a-

“I know you more than you think I do Twilight. More than you would like me to know you,” Blue mare allowed herself a little bit of a smile. “Or at least I like to think so. I know that you would do everything in your power to not disappoint us, or especially, your closest friends. You wouldn't fail anypony as long as you try to make a difference. It's all we could expect of you in the end.”

“I- thank you... Luna.” Twilight smiled back at her a little as well, maybe not completely cleaned of doubts, but at least feeling a little bit better about all of this. In the end, what Luna didn't know was that she cast the spell because her methods had already failed for the first time. The strengths the bonds granted were inadequate and no matter how vile, the spell had actually helped, in the end.

“Think none of this. We're always here when and if you need us,” Midnight smile slowly excused itself from the muzzle once again replaced by a sad look of pity. “Now, I'm sorry to say this, but with that first unpleasant part behind us... we must move to even more unpleasant issues.”

Twilight knew they were going to discuss this matter sooner or later. "Later would be preferable, if you ask me."

“What happened back there?” Luna asked quietly, eyes suddenly full of worry like none other had ever seen. Well... one had seen them previously. She wouldn't tell anypony though. “Did you had anything to do with this?” she asked with seriousness in her voice, albeit with a hint of fear of what she would inevitably hear. Condoning your first friend in a thousand years to a damnation just after reassuring her you weren't a threat was not a preferable option by any means.

"Wait, what? Me? They think that I... might to..." “That's ridic-” *CLANK* Twilight was prepared to defend herself immediately and attempted to throw her hooves in the air as she often did in moments of frustration. The only thing she achieved was slight pain and sudden entanglement of her upper appendages. "What the-" For the first time since she awoke her eyes were used to look at anything different than Night Princess and what she saw strapped around her forehooves was not making her happy in the least.

"Are those.. chains?" Indeed, they were. Heavy and bulky tungsten chains, thick like a ship hawser and inscribed in a myriad of intricate runes so tiny one could think the metal had ants all over it. Yet, any self-respecting mage would instantly recognize the sheer power behind the minuscule inscriptions, each holding enough magic to power a complicate multi-layer matrix array. Also, just in the corner of her vision above her forehead, she saw a piece of something attached to her horn. "Why am I wearing-"

“Magic nullifier? Safety precautions.” Other Princess fidgeted in her place and looked as uncomfortable as somepony can possibly get. “Please, try to understand our actions Twilight. After the way you appeared in the throne room... we couldn't- I couldn't let you be without some kind of a safeguard. If you absolutely want to be mad at somepony..” The Princess let out a sigh of resignation. “..let it be me. Celestia was rather opposed to any of this, while I was the one to insist on restraining you.”

“Bu- But why? Why did you-” Twilight couldn't understand this. She did nothing wrong. She's innocent of anything they think she might have done! And Celestia knew Luna did it! Didn't like it, no, but allowed it!

“I know this is clearly a breach of trust you've put in me as a friend and a heavy strain on our relations for some time to come, but as much of an ally I can be, I am also a ruler who must protect all those under her care. Sadly, even if it was Celestia in your place, the chains still would be necessary. At least till she gave some explanation.” Luna clearly expressed what she was asking of the younger pony, both as a friend and a fellow ruler... she just hoped it would all be forgiven.. someday.

With a wish to have all this behind them as quickly as possible, Luna continued with a pleading look. “I'm only asking you for an explanation Twilight. Nothing more, nothing less. If I deem it truthful, I promise you upon my honor as a Combatant of Nightmares, the title I hold most dear... they will be removed within the hour,” Luna appeared to be conflicted on what she should say next, either to not influence Twilight's answer or in fear of what she will hear back. “I will ask you questions and please, leave absolutely nothing out, even if it may hurt.”

"Please Twilight, prove me wrong for all that is holy and sacred. Show me that you did not start the spiral that I have gone so long ago." The anticipation was eating the mare alive bit by bit, just as the light of dawn ate the night each morning, making her realize one thing in particular. "I've never wanted to be wrong so badly in all my one and a half thousand years of life. Let me be wrong. I beg of you all who shall listen."

Unwise of Luna's internal struggle, Twilight only nodded reluctantly, feeling the grave atmosphere of the situation and mentally prepared for the judgment to come as the judge started her interrogation in a true "Noire-Esque" fashion save for the cliche faded background to go with a trench coat.

“Now, the current hour stands at 2:43 AM on Tuesday morning. You were out of it for approximately six hours. Yesterday you were to be supervising the newly founded Everfree Archaeological Site as per my request and direct invite, only to appear in our throne room without any notice and covered hoof to head in blood, not yours I might add, with stallion known as Thunderstroke in tow.” Luna recited the important info out of memory. With it being nearly perfect you might as well make good use of it. "Such name.. a particularly unfortunate fellow."

She considered how to phrase her next sentence without sounding accusing, but when none presented itself as such, she settled for the most direct route. “Now, we had interrogated Thunderstroke while you were lying unconscious and what we heard is... horrendous, to say the least. I'll be honest with you Twilight, I'm breaking all the proper protocols by doing this, but I'm fairly confident in my evaluating skills. As such, I have only two simple questions for you. First, are you responsible for anyone's death? Unintentionally or.. directly.”

“I... no. No, I'm not,” Young alicorn responded truthfully to her mostly clear conscience, albeit frightened by Luna's forwardness while the elder alicorn observed Twilight's expression carefully, akin to a hawk watching the vulnerable prey. "Aren't I though? Truly?" Wasn't she responsible for that one pony perishing before her eyes while skewered to a tree? Wasn't she responsible for not stopping Deep Dig in time, which led to literal Death personification being released? No.. all excuses. That pony's fate had been already decided long before she got to him and if she wasn't present somepony else would venture into the cavern in her stead. Then.. they would have died just because they happened to be in her place, but weren't her specifically.

“Good. Secondly, why where you both covered in blood?”

The only thing that particular question managed to do was to remind the violated mare of what she had unfortunately been through. “I- I was.. just tripped, is all. Into- that mare was.. she was- and all the blood... was...”

As always, It had all started with a single sniff, only to spiral down into the hair-pulling trembling mess of a person chained to the spare bed in the dimly lit royal chambers. None of it mattered, none. How could it? All of those were- she did nothing to prevent any of this, she thought while hyperventilating even more. What kind of Princess lets something like that happen and mar the face of this planet? What kind of pony does that? Was she a pony after all of this still, could she call-

Luna threw herself onto Twilight with an embrace, feeling that mare needed this more than anything. But this time, Luna herself opted to want it as well. Twilight's chains and nullifier were removed in a split instant, so fast that Twilight hasn't even noticed it in her inner sorrow. Luna felt that she already knew the forthcoming answer but hopefully asked nonetheless. “Did anypony...”

“No.. just the two of us. Just...,” Twilight replied in sadness, immediately knowing what the Princess was asking about.

“Goddess above...” Former nightmare thought aloud in disbelief, her eyes quickly darting about while searching for the needed numbers on an expedition within her recent memory. “All of them? You mean that almost six hundred-”

"Six- six hundred?" The newest demi-god repeated within her mind in unbelieving fright while countless images of the perished flashed before her. "There were many, but... this many? Six hundred?" The biggest death toll in the most recent centuries put squarely on her shoulders. Were there over half a thousand dead just because she couldn't- "No, pointing blame gets no one nowhere. I.. won't turn back time... although..."

Fortunately or not, at this point Luna recognized some of the inner intricacies of Twilight's mind working, sensing the mare's thoughts zigzagging into a bottomless spiral of terrible ideas fueled by the mix of doubt and blame. Not a second later the violet mare was struck with a sleeping spell only one currently living individual could conjure.

With Twilight collapsing safely in her embrace Luna began weaving an intricate array of a spell only a few select knew.

All of them long gone.. except for her.

Violently thrown into in midst of other's memories was never pleasant.. sadly, necessary. Fortunately, the spell allowed her to learn the context of a memory without actually viewing it in person, just as she could find nightmares in her Dreamscape and vanquish them without being subjected to them herself if she chose to do so.

Memory after memory Luna traveled, with her physical visage becoming more troubled by the second. Learning that a lot of beings perished was one thing. Knowing exactly how they did so... but that's why she was here in the first place. One after another the offending images altered to a mostly vague blur or vanished altogether, while the more important ones who would deliverer context stayed where they should.

Just like remembering someone with being unable to fully describe their more prominent features. It's a shame that the spell worked only a few hours back, not even full half-day.

Luna knew, was sure of it in fact, that If the other mare ever learns of it... of what she just has done... Twilight would never forgive her.

Yet... that was what the most of Luna's life came to, in the end. Do... or die.

And that was the price she would gladly pay in the future if it only meant sparing Twilight mental scarring of this untold magnitude. Yet what is done... is done forever. With a duo of spells, much simpler this time, Luna sent a mental message to be delivered with one and roused her companion with the other, Twilight awakening with no memory of what happened except blinking for a split second.

“Oh, well I... I'm truly sorry you had to go through that, Twilight.” Luna continued, muddying the border between her spell and her companion's consciousness even more. "You shouldn't. No one should. The recent times are vastly different from the centuries past, gone the barbaric and violent ways of old." While Luna never wanted to admit this to anypony, it was Celestia that convinced her to embrace the rather uncomfortable truth. "Most of the wars and suffering were conducted for one, sole and exact reason. So the generations of the future won't have to. Especially someone like you, Twilight. You and your friends are just... too pure for all of this." She might have been considered the warrior princess over the centuries, yet... none of that would have mattered if Celestia wasn't there to reassure her they were doing the right thing. Without that... Nightmare Moon could have set her eyes on a different target altogether.

“We are- I am... sorry. I am sorry.” After all of those thoughts... and it was all she could have voiced. It sickened her to the core. I'm sorry? What message did that carry over beside.. pity? It was like telling your own foal that the Dream Islands weren't actually real. You knew that, and you weren't particularly sad about it.

Wisdom comes with age, they say. "Lies. Will idiot become a sage with time? No. Just as somepony sociably handicapped won't integrate with others fully no matter what they do."

“Yeah.. me too.”

With all those internal monologues for naught as always.. and that issue taken care of, they could.. move on. Always, always Luna would be the one to instigate that. The fact that you won't ever get there, doesn't mean you should stop trying to reach your target.

“Well, I don't sense any maliciousness in you. Either by my own intuition or by magic means. But please..,” Tears started to appear in Luna's own eyes for the first time this evening and for the sixth time this millennium, which was a doubtful accomplishment in itself. “...Do not make me do this ever again.” The softest voice Twilight heard out of the Lunar Princess enfolded her into an origami of emotions.

-The Warrior Princess. The Mistress of a Night Realm. Mother of Darkness. Creator of Shadows.- To be honest, all of those titles flew right out of the window as soon as moisture appeared in the eyes of a darker Alicorn for any other reason than pain.

The night-mare was clearly.. disturbed on some psychological level, if for entirely different reasons than the newest.. member, of a family was. Yet, how could you refuse when please was involved?

“I won't. I promise,” Twilight spoke without a second thought. She won't. She'd rather forsake herself then betray the trust that the diarch pinned on her as of this moment. It was rather evident Luna had troubles with fully trusting anyone in this time and age, so any displays of it should be cherished.

“Good.” A rather simple confirmation came. “That's.. cool and good,” Luna repeated hesitantly, the erratic train of thoughts leaking to the waking world.

Twilight was a particularly bright and clever pony despite any temporary circumstances, so even from that little glimpse into her elder's emotions made available by different phrasing, she suspected something more was afoot. And played on her suspicions immediately.

“There is.. there's something else. That you want, isn't there?”

“I... yes, yes there is.” Luna paused to recollect her thoughts, mentally preparing sentences fit for every possible reaction. So much for going in gently and playing by her own rules. “You need to go. To Celestia and explain yourself.” After a split second of consideration, the decision was made. “All of it and none less. She needs, deserves, to know.”

Twilight's heart stopped at this very moment, doing so very often recently. No, she couldn't.. couldn't, period. She never wanted to fail her former mentor, even now after all these years. And in the case she would be forced to reveal the whole truth, she wouldn't just outright fail her. Celestia would be disappointed. Devastated, even. Twilight couldn't let that happen. Not now, not ever.

“Luna, I- I-- I..” Twilight stuttered, freighted by thoughts of her former teacher learning the truth.

“Can't?” Luna asked quickly. “Or won't?” She started as if reading her thoughts. “Twilight, I believe you are not fully comprehending your situation.” the smaller sister stopped for a brief moment to find an appropriate response from her ever longer mental list. “Setting aside that Celestia has a right to know, do you honestly think she will not simply ask? Worse yet, figure it out herself?”

She let Twilight think about it for a second and let it sink in properly. “I know my sister all too well. Twilight... she would interrogate you without you ever noticing her doing so. She would have found out not only about your usage of that spell, but also that you avoided telling her. So by extension, not trusting her enough to tell her the truth.” Twilight trembled and spiraled into well engraved fears. "And surely finding more appropriate punishment."

“No, Twilight. She would simply keep quiet, never even telling you.”

The youngest princess looked at Luna with an obviously questioning look. She.. wouldn't? How would she-

“Know that?” The smug tone carried over the answer rather well. “My sister is not the only pony I study closely.” She smiled. “A lot of experience in reading ponies helps too.”

Only one question threw itself forward for fresh Alicorn. “Why?”

“That is quite simple, Twilight. She would never want to see you hurt, be it physically or mentally. And hurt would be something you'd feel if she ever decided to confront you about it. She would know that telling you won't make her feel better, quite opposite really. The reveal would only succeed in making you miserable as well. She would keep that knowledge to herself, consciously choosing to be hurt for the two of you. It's just the kind of pony she is.”

Once again Luna gave Twilight a minute to process all information given in quiet and solace of her own mind. Yet, before she could do so in full-on research mode, there were more inquiries to come.

“You telling her of it,” Luna presented the near hypothetical situation. “Will it hurt? Yes and both of you, but to a lesser extent than only one bearing that knowledge. After that.. I think you'll agree with me, be it friends or family, time heals wounds. Trust me, of all beings... I would know.” Luna's eyes meet Twilight's, both immediately knew what the Diarch spoke of and understood what must be done, even if it was one of the most painful things Twilight would have to endure to date.

“Okay,” Twilight sighed with resignation. She knew when to throw in the towel. “I'll do it.” She allowed herself a brief assessment of the situation she found herself in and decided to deal with it sooner than later. “Right away even. No amount of planning will prepare me for this.”

“I'm glad you understand to an extent, and.. for all its worth, I am sorry about this.”

For a brief moment before a confession that would be long remembered, the only thing that met her, was silence.

“It's not your fault... It's all mine. Always will be.”

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

Twilight stood in front of a simple birch door known to everypony working on the grounds of Canterlot Castle... maybe even everypony in the vast land of Equestria, considering all the pictures in history books and such. In fact, it was such an uncomplicated design one could mistake it for a guest room if not for an ornate sun symbol stuck right in the middle and accompaniment of the Inner Royal Guards standing on each side of it.

With the two guardians now missing and waved away by the mare pacing in the corridor, she had all the space within the empty passage to pace and make herself nervous all over again. As always, the time was her sworn enemy.. but she couldn't put in off any longer.

Hesitant to knock as if the door would bite her, once more she stopped mere inches from striking the wood. Well, maybe not bite, but it will surely hurt like one.

She was so entranced in her self-induced turmoil that she overlooked her loud knocking, didn't hear the shuffling of hooves behind the doors in response. She had no way to escape, not an inkling of a chance to react as she was tightly enveloped, firstly in a yellowish magic embrace and after a sudden sound of a slamming door, in a real carnal hug. She was never given even a second to recollect her thoughts before she was assaulted with words from a worried princess of the day star.

“Twilight! Oh my world above, you have no idea how glad I am to see you!” Princess Celestia said practically in one breath without any kind of pause. What Twilight couldn't see for now, is that immortal millennium monarch was on a verge of full-on cry, incipience's of tears already gathering up under her tired eyes. When the few precious seconds occurred as an eternity in the lives of both would-be ponies, they passed as such for entirely different reasons. A time to think, reflect upon what they wanted to say.

The case was, Twilight knew what she wanted to say. Or rather, she knew what she had to say. She honestly doubted her own ability to tell Princess Celestia all of this on her own accord without being forced, so while the alabaster behemoth stayed quiet Twilight settled for observing her surroundings in an attempt to delay the inevitable.

"Yep. Same place as always, identical to the one I was already thousands of times in". She instantly knew that, proved right not only by her eyesight but also attacked with the feeling of sitting on the round plush carpet. Probably The carpet, the very same one that she sat on so many times as a filly, often reading books right beside Princess Celestia engaged in filling literal towers of paperwork. "I never knew what all the fuss is about. Paperwork is relaxing." Right next to her on the nearest wall of the room, the carpet gave way to an ornate fireplace standing vigil over the room, already burning bright and radiating warmth that felt like a pleasant hug full of motherly love and care. Now that she thought of it, Twilight never saw that place unlit. Not even once. "Such is the charm of living in the place made entirely of stone, I guess." Opposite of the fireplace and at the same time on the left wall from the entrance was her favorite thing about this room, excluding Princess herself. Books. Hundreds of them neatly placed in their rightful places, cataloged and kept with care. "She never let me read all of them when I was little. Picking some of them for me, saying that the rest are "super top secret" and "as far as she knows I'm not a special agent with clearance." Twilight thought to herself with a slight annoyance, only to have it resigned a moment later by superb nostalgia.

"Now that I think about this, it was probably a good idea. Not giving a young filly possibly dangerous books filled with forbidden spells conceived at the dawn of time that ought to be by now long forgotten." Also on the same wall, was a door to the next parts of Celestia's chambers. Living room, bedroom, bathroom. The essentials for everyone, no matter if you are a fairly normal fleshing or the immortal avatar of the eons-old celestial body.

"This is only her office after all." And as all offices should this too had a massive, albeit simple, oak desk. It sat in front of bow windows few meters tall and wide, strategically placed so they would overlook almost all of Canterlot and lands ahead. The desk itself was more of a bureau than a desk, honestly. Multiple cabinets and drawers filled to the brim with documents and copies of them overflowed and invited only one of the pair. Such is the life of a ruler. Legislation.

After a few seconds spent on watching the room itself, Twilight knew she couldn't stall any longer, even if all of that took her a brisk moment and bought her a few seconds of respite at best.

"Better do it quick than twist the knife all slowly and personal", she thought.

“Pri- Celestia, I have a confession to make.”

Celestia knew this was coming, yet.. No. She would politely endure whatever it was that her student was about to trust her with. Such is her duty, listen to whoever wishes to spill their issues to her. “Is it about the whole throne room... thing?”

“Well, in a way,” Not-quite-mauve mare replied truthfully. “Before you ask, I didn't hurt anypony.” She said, learning from her past experiences.

“Oh, I wasn't even going to ask. I KNOW for a fact you wouldn't hurt anyone in any situation other than self-defense,” Celestia smiled slightly more for her own benefit than anyone else, releasing smaller princess from her prolonged hug and staring into the purple eyes as deeply as she could. “So, go ahead. Say what troubles you. You don't have to say anything that you don't feel comfortable talking about as I can ask Luna about all the details. Later.”

"So she already figured out that Luna got all she could out of me.. just as Luna said she would... perfect."

Twilight's eyes lost even more of their youthful vibrancy while remembering Night Princess's foreboding words. "Oh, if I could sit quietly Princess. If I only could. Well, here goes the damnation."

“I used Adfectus Sera on myself.”

Though Celestia never made any sound and none movement graced her body, it was clear that this wasn't what she expected, nor wanted to hear. You just knew by the way her stare drilled into you like a pair of near sub-zero icicles.

“I.. found it in The Archives and wanted to use it as an additional assurance in case something beyond my purview ever happened. Luna already gave me a.. -a piece of her mind, so to speak, on the matter. As I said to her, I now tell this to you. I'm.. sorry.”

Celestia's mind registered all the words directed at her very person, though it was reluctant to do so. After all, that's how it all started. How she had lost her sister all those centuries ago.

That was just enough to reawaken the long-buried emotions, the volatile catalyst to a much more destructive fire burning deep within.

"No! Twilight would never! She's a good pony, pure at heart and... my.. my family! She couldn't! She... surely never meant to- " Unfortunately for Celestia, that kind of thought left her mindscape weakened and vulnerable. This exact time was chosen by someone utterly infuriating and destructive alike to resurface from the fiery pits of her inner psyche. Unfortunately, once started, this reaction was like the wrath of the sun itself. Self-sustaining.

That little, tiny voice, from the darkest depths of your mind, at first coming only to spread doubt and uncertainty, just like a particular creature that Celestia had known for a long time.

"She's a family? So is Luna. She's a good pony? So is Luna. She never meant to? We wanted and still want to believe that so did Luna. But did that ever stopped... Luna.. did it?"

"No.. it did not."

"No, it certainly didn't. Now, your precious Twilight is making exactly the same mistakes your sister dearest. We know how the dance goes. It starts small and quietly like a waltz. Only to blast you like a full-speed train of a foxtrot when you least expect it!"

Celestia wanted to agree with the voice, say to herself that she had seen and understood what it meant. But no. No, this time she will not stand by and watch... and certainly, she won't become a paranoid and panicked mess because of some devilish whispers. She will do as she should have done with Luna all those years ago and not make the same mistake twice.

"No, I'm done listening to you. I won't fall to your taunts and start fearing what my old student might have become. She won't. Because this time, I won't sit idly either. I will help her through this as I believe in her and in her ability to understand that those who don't learn from history are bound to repeat it!"

"..."

"As you wish. But if or rather when the worst happens and you are forced to strike her down mercilessly, all you will hear from me is -I told you so-. "

"I will cross.. or rather burn.. that bride, IF I come across it. Now... Begone."

And just like that, all entirety of this rather peculiar conversation, which was in fact just a bizarre monologue, has concluded. It played out in her head in the matter of milliseconds and had gone without fireworks, pizazz, or any indicator that it has happened in the first place. The only thing that showed her that it was in fact at all there, was a resolve. To never make the very same mistake twice.

“I forgive you.”

“H..huh?” Twilight stammered, not even sure what she was asking for beyond simplest inquire. While the words echoed between the individual violet neurons at the speed of four hundred sixty kilometers per hour, they were still too slow for her to register the meaning of the words said. As such, the marble alicorn had to repeat herself.

“I forgive you, Twilight,” The most boreal of the manes repeated. “I won't lie. I think I should be furious right about now, but I'm not.”

Twilight looked at her former mentor like she had just casually grown herself another head on the fly. “I'm.. not sure I quite follow you.”

“Twilight... after Luna's return, one of the very few things that I could do was to be there for her. That.. and talking. So, we talked.” Celestia stopped for a quick breath. These things and topics were never easy, even after a thousand plus years.

“It wasn't pleasant, but we talked almost about everything related to the rising of Nightmare Moon. All the why's, how's, and such. Her fears, dreams, doubts, hopes. It often lasted for hours a day, well before and after the court... through the course of a few weeks.”

Twilight listened with bated breath as if receiving a new lesson, which in essence she kind of did. It was not exactly often of Celestia to talk about such personal matters, even with her closest circle. Centuries of the political games and being wary about what was said to whom left her doing the same hurtful things even outside of the governmental structures full of bureaucratic jargon invented only to torment.

Sometimes she thought that incarcerating Tartarus, punishing and torturing Hell... all of it was truly not needed. People did a mighty fine job on their lonesome.

“After all was said and done, Luna wanted only one thing of me. Well.. two to be precise, but falling under the same category. Firstly she begged for my forgiveness, which mind you, she had from the very beginning despite anything she would say. Secondly, she wanted me to promise that I won't allow it to happen a second time, quoting -she would rather kill herself than endure it once again-. I immediately agreed to both, naturally. What Luna doesn't know, is that I slightly modified the latter promise on my own.”

Younger alicorn was already suspecting what Celestia had changed in the binding words and while not believing she would go that far, after what she learned about her in the recent times, she suspected that the ever benevolent equine would trot any lengths to bear such a burden for someone.

“Ah, observant as always I see.” Twilight's elder continued, warranting herself a slight smile with a hint of pride. “Yes. I promised, to myself this time, that I would not allow this to happen to anypony, anyone, as long as they are under my sphere of influence, as long as I have the power or means to do so.”

Celestia slowly turned around to look out of the windows and gaze upon the vast land that many called hers. She never heard bigger baloney in all her many centuries of life. Walking up to them she smiled at the thought of having that much in her hooves none the less.

Standing before the land she called home as her witness she started slowly, albeit with conviction like no other. “I do not ask to change the tides of oceans or reverse passage of time, but... If all of my power, all of the supposed might I posses fails to rescue one single individual from the well of self-destruction, what good does it do to me? To anyone?”

While the rhetorical question hung in the air for a while, Twilight did not dare intrude upon the unusual moment of openness from her beloved mentor, allowing her to bring the speech to a conclusion in peace. And so the elder Alicorn did while she grew tired with looking upon Equestria as a collective whole.

“A such, that is the price of my promise... my very power. From the control over massive chunks of cosmos above, down to the simplest and most basic magics as my own wellspring. Because, to be honest... unlike Luna, I'm too much of a coward to make the promise upon my life...”

Although Twilight's suspicion was quickly proved, she still had trouble with understanding ramifications of such an act. It could hardly be called a commitment or responsibility. This was a burden, outright punishment even. She was well aware of just how ridiculously powerful Princess Celestia was, in all aspects of the word, but even she couldn't keep watch over so many beings constantly. It would drain her both emotionally and physically. And as much as Twilight hated to admit it, Princess wasn't infallible, she just couldn't actually do that. Could she?

“Especially, if it's my friend or family member. Which you BOTH are.” Family. One, simple word, but with such a complex meaning and myriad of reasons behind it. Hearing it raised Twilight's spirit immensely, and though it made things slightly less tense, a lot of complicated affairs still remained out in the ether.

With Celestia knowing Twilight practically her whole life, she noticed the radiating distress immediately and knew just the thing to do.

“You know, I'm not just saying that. Technically being Cadance's sister-in-law and her being my niece, makes us a family in the eyes of law. Just so you know,” she said, slightly wiggling her eyebrows, illuminated by the fireplace burning to her left.

Twilight couldn't help, but chuckle a little under her muzzle. She exactly knew what Celestia was doing, being around her for a long time forces you to catch up to her mannerisms eventually. "But to hell with it, don't let anypony say it's not effective."

After a minute of silence, they both knew sadly it's time to get back to the matter at hoof, not that any of them wanted to do so.

Celestia decided, she will be the captain to steer this vessel of a conversation forward. “I know I told you this already, countless times in fact, but I will repeat myself once again and surely not for the last time,” she said, drawing Twilight's full attention. “I have the utmost confidence in you. You already surpassed all of my previous students, even if I would combine the achievements of some of them.”

Such high praise only resulted in a blush from a purple pony and a few quiet gurgling sounds of embarrassment.

“Not only that, but I'm sure you have even greater future ahead of you. Future that does not include succumbing to the darkness as my sister did for one simple reason.” White ruler of the day stood up, walked right to her former student turned equal, only to lift her head to her elevated eye level with a hoof, as she did often in the years past. “You're not her. You are your own pony, shaped by her own experiences and stimuli. A pony that made different decisions and mistakes through the years. Learned vastly diverse things and never touched or even heard of some others.” With a genuine smile on her face, she concluded. “And this time around, that pony has a myriad of others, who will listen and help in any way they can.”

After a speech like that, all Twilight could do was open her mouth and draw a blank, so she satisfied herself with simplicity. “Th..thank you. And.. I'm truly sorry.”

“You're very welcome Twilight,” Celestia said, a smile never leaving her face for even a split second. “And don't worry, I'm not angry.”

Sweet peace and heavenly quiet commenced, once again ruling over Celestia's office. Twilight was now deeply in thought and all she wanted to say back in return was something nice, it was only right to do so.

Celestia could almost see gears turning in a little princess's head, knowing her process of thought a little too well. "Nay, none of that now."

“How... how are you feeling?” she swiped initiative right from under her younger friend's nose.

"Ehh.. annnd there she goes. Always caring for all, except one. Herself". “Depends on what you're asking about.”

“I was the one to interrogate Thunderstroke, you know,” Celestia replied, surprising Twilight a little. “After the way you two appeared, I wanted to make sure he wasn't responsible for doing something to you. If that were the case, as much as I'm ashamed to admit it, I would likely turn all of this into a... personal vendetta.”

That one took Twilight aback. She always knew Celestia lived through her fair share of hard times, full of wars and various discontent, as she was probably older than the stone her castle was made out of. To some extent, Luna was right about a few things. Albeit progressive and kind, the solar ruler had a more unrefined coarse side. Centuries of living in the rough world that Equis was back then, shaped a pony like none other experiences could. Some well-practiced behaviors simply don't go away, they can change at best... but they're always there, buried deep down somewhere.

“From what he said and from your attitude alone, I'm presuming that's not the case, yes?”

Twilight responded without missing a beat. “No... no. He was very helpful in fact.”

“Oh?” Celestia had to admit, that was not something she expected to hear about a rather simple-minded stallion she met, at all. To think of it, he was rather.. scared of her, if she could word it that way. Even more so than any of her subjects should be in presence of authority, just like he.. knew something more than most of them did, like he was privy to a secret not even Celestia was sure she knew. "Hmm..."

“Yes. He tried to calm and reassure me after.. after all that has happened. He succeeded, somewhat.” "I'm.. not going to spill he contributed a little to my decision to use the spell. Yeah.. better leave that one out. For his sake."

Unwavering Princess could see the distress of her student clearly as a day. “If you don't fell up to..”

“No, I can't avoid the subject indefinitely, pretending that it never happened. Those ponies... died. And nothing will change that.”

Thinking about how to best breach the subject, Celestia settled on the most direct approach. “I cannot imagine how you feel right now. Experiencing death for the first time is, lightly said, not pleasant. To see it claim so many at once...” She thought for a short while. “I'm sorry you had to see that in the first place. My sympathies.”

“Thank...you?” Twilight replied, uncertain how to respond to that.. detached delivery.

“When you live as long as I had, borders between various emotions and reactions start to fade. In my own time I killed more beings daily than died yesterday, so my perception of all that is a bit different from yours. Still, it's a tragedy,” she replied, her look distant, somehow even more so than when she looked out of the window on all of Equestria.

“Uhh...” was all Twilight could come up with and all she got was a sigh from the princess.

“I'm.. sorry, Twilight, ” Celestia said, slowly chewing the inside of her cheek, thinking on how to proceed with such a delicate matter without revealing her own emotional distraught. For all her countless years of practice, she felt pretty socially inept right about now. “Don't misunderstand my words Twilight, inside I grieve deeply and I am outright furious. They were individuals and souls that will never be brought back no matter what I do. They were my subjects, my citizens, my ponies.” She looked at the younger co-ruler with a realization she should come to earlier.

“No, not mine. Ours.” she corrected, witnessing realization caress Twilight's face as well and causing her to nod slightly. “But understand, venting my anger at somepony or something won't help me or anypony at all. The path of vengeance is an empty corridor, one that can only be filled with blood and misery... nothing else. While the only thing that will bring me some peace of mind is lawful justice.” Celestia showed a delightful smug and directed it towards Twilight. “And justice is what we shall get.”

“What do you mean by that?” The Friendship princess could already say with all certainty, she won't like her mentor's answer even a little.

“When you were.. uh, out of it and I was *ekhem* occupied, Luna took the liberty to send a mixed company of Day/Night Guard to the scene. One hundred twenty-five capable ponies, best of the best. In fact, they should be reaching Ponyville by now.”

“NO!” was all Twilight could outright shout with sudden authority while being subjected to the most grievous news. She won't let her worst fears come true yet again. She would rather die than let that happen.

Celestia slowly lifted the knee of her forehoof towards her chest, reminiscent of a foal who stole the cookies from a forbidden jar. “No?” Was all Celestia could meekly ask back, surprised by the outright commanding tone of her former student.

“No!” Twilight repeated with conviction. “Didn't I specifically ask to gather forces? Not to send them away!”

Although it took her longer than she would have wished to, Sun sovereign came up with a proper response. “Listen, Twilight, I think Royal Guard is more than capable to- ” white mare tried to get her point across, only to have her response interrupted.

“No, YOU listen!” Twilight shouted, advancing forward and forcing Celestia to take a step back. “They have no idea what they could go up against! At best, He's probably not there anymore anyway!”

Celesta still stood on three legs, fully prepared to withdraw even more and stunned by her smaller friend outburst. "I.. did she just.. lashed out at me?"

Twilight took a few quick calming breaths while staring at her former teacher before her expression changed rapidly, realization suddenly dawning on her with horror.

“Oh... I mean... oh, I'm sorry- I don't..” Twilight thoughts raced in all directions at once. "What.. the hell am I doing?!"

Celestia took some liberty to take a quick breather herself, hiding her apparent surprise a little. “N..No. You have nothing to apologize for. I'm the one thinking she knows better when in reality I have less knowledge of the situation than you. And there is still a matter of your emotions being scrambled by Adfectus Sera.” She took another deep breath of reassurance. “That's.. that's most probably the case.” They both heard it, she sounded more like she tried to convince herself than state a known fact.

“Maybe. That's.. likely.” Twilight vocalized her thoughts out loud, not calling the other mare on it.

Celestia cleared her throat loudly and forgetting the outburst before asking, calmly this time. “He?”

“Huh?” Twilight replied, suddenly pulled back from her land of heavy thoughts into a conversation.

“You mentioned a "he" of a kind. Somepony involved in all of this?”

“Oh.” Well, that wasn't planned. Okay, maybe planned, but she certainly wasn't going to tell Celestia now, like in right now. Yet, the cat's out of the bag. “I am.. talking about the one responsible for it.”

“He?” Celestia asked once more, just to be sure. “Singular?” That did not bode well, ever. Anyone capable of such a widespread carnage is a national threat at the least. "Could it be...? Another chapter of mine past returning to haunt me and hurt the ones I care for?"

“As far as I'm aware, yes. He.. It.. it's particularly difficult to describe, sorry.” Twilight looked apologetic towards white mare once more before deciding. “I... cannot tell you.”

“Why.. not?” The Princess asked, clearly not expecting this. Her student had numerous secrets she wasn't comfortable sharing with her in the past, but it was always a matter of "I don't want" not "I won't".

“Not right now, at least,” lavender pony explained. “I need to think about it more. How to explain all of this,” she said, performing another round of intense thinking, to the point you could practically see the vaporization from her forehead. “I'll tell everything when everypony I requested gathers, promise. It's not like telling you now would have changed anything, we still need to have the others informed.”

“Alright. I understand.” In fact, she did not. Why was Twilight refusing to tell her? Was she.. hiding something from her? What could be worse than that spell? "I suppose, it matters not. I might not understand, but I trust her. If she's refusing, she clearly must have some kind of an important reason. She promised to tell later and if I'm a master at anything, waiting is certainly one of those things."

The other pony had a myriad of her own doubts as well. Acting like that toward the princess felt like.. betrayal of some sort. "I feel terrible.Yet telling her now would only accomplish sending her into a panic." Celestia wouldn't do anything without consulting with her military advisers anyway, and Twilight would only have to repeat herself to them once the time came. "It's better to wait. And ask if there is any progress on that field."

“And how that goes, anyway?”

Albeit appearing a little deflated, Celestia answered without a pause. “Everything is advancing as you requested. Anypony deemed important enough for the country was called upon to show up on the palace grounds, effective immediately. All active bases and outposts notified and told to be ready for deployment at a minutes notice,” she remembered something rather important, certainly worth addressing. “What about the company sent to the Everfree? Shall I recall them?”

Twilight mulled her inquiry for a while before finally responding, “No. It would be pointless and only take precious time. Have them stay where they are, in Ponyville. In the worst-case scenario, they can protect the town. Just.. send a dozen or so of them to retrieve the bodies, before the wild animals take care of that.” she lifted head from her reverie and looked Celestia in the eyes. “It's the last thing we can do for any of them.”

Diarch nodded, completely agreeing with this course of action and continued her assessment. “In fact, almost everything is ready. We only waited for the Elements and some of the higher hierarchy to arrive. Also, for you to wake. Since you're up and about that leaves us only waiting for them to show up.”

With most of the things going according to plan, Twilight figured going forward as if nothing out of the ordinary happened would be for the best. “So, I guess, we shouldn't waste time and better hurry, met up with the already present and wait for the rest. Now, only one thing left.”

“Hmm? And what that would be?” Celestia couldn't remember anything or anyone more that they needed. Unless her former student held yet more surprises in her proverbial sleeve.

“Teleport Thunderstroke here for me, please.”

"An.. interesting decision." “Him? May I know why?”

“Oh, that I can answer. It's quite simple actually. I need him as a witness, he should confirm anything I say,” Twilight replied casually as if it was the most obvious reason under the sun. While having a slight smile forming under her nose, she continued. “Besides, you would be surprised by how attentive and useful he can be. Could come in handy.”

Celestia replied with another of her famous smirks, not questioning her peer's judgment any further. “If you wish so. One stallion, coming right up.”

With a horn lighting up and a quick fizzle of magic, another resident was added to the carpet club the two were exclusive in for quite some time now. Albeit teleportation of somepony without their knowledge usually ends with massive amounts of confusion.

“Hol' shit, Someponystolemycell, got them right!”

Yep. Confusion alright.

Before he could say anything else, Thunderstroke noticed not one but two Princesses staring right at him, silently asking for an explanation with curiosity.

He looked right back at them. Firstly at Twilight, then at Celestia, with an expression showing that he wanted to ask them something, only to doubt his plan and turn to Twilight once more.

“Did you just tele..” *URP*

“Uh Uh!” Elder Princess acted up immediately, quickly casting a spell which calmed all of his stomach complaints. “Please no,” She said flatly, remembering the last time he was teleported into her vicinity.

Luckily, Thunderstroke only burped up some air in the presence of two crowned heads. He looked to Celestia in appreciation, “Thank you.” Then he turned to Twilight and proceeded to give her the best stink eye ever conceived.

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

“I feel dumb. Dumb and out of place,” Thunderhoof whispered all nonchalantly.

“Out of place, maybe. Though I wouldn't say you're dumb.” Twilight replied while turning to him.

“I never said I'm dumb. Only that I feel like so. It's not strange tho, considering I'm wearing this. Why am I wearing this, exactly?” Thunderhoof rambled while fidgeting with a black bow-tie provided to him mere moments ago.

Twilight looked at him disapprovingly. “Stop that!” she scolded at his fidgeting lightly. “You're in a meeting with ponies crucial to running your country. You just should look nice. And that's the only thing we had on such short notice. So quit playing with it!”

The blue stallion did not give up that easily. “But it itches! What is this made of, sisal? Do I look like a bloody cat to you?”

“If it was struck by lightning, then yes, a little,” Twilight said more to herself than to anypony in particular.

Not hearing or completely ignoring her remark, the stallion continued. “On top of that, I sat through interrogation conducted by millennia my senior demi-god like a champ and this is what I get?” When he saw Twilight's raised eyebrows, he cracked faster than ice in boiling water. “Okay, I cried instead and she had to calm me down, but that's hardly the point.” He admitted shamelessly before continuing his rant.

“And what am I even doing here? I only met you yesterday and you want me to call you by name.” Hooves raised high in resignation he complied. “Okay, I say, but then I meet that demi-god today, Princess Celestia turns out, well, on interrogation, but still.” he paused, only to take a breath and manage a scowl. “Then, you drag me to a meeting, with not only Her Majesty present but her sister as well, princess and prince of the Crystal Empire, BOTH captains of the Royal Guards, Ministers of the... Ministries, Generals of Army, and... whoever that old piece of wood right there is!”

Twilight lazily looked where he was pointing with his hoof, already noticing her eyelids started their twitching. “That's a Minister of Culture and Environment. Your department.”

“Mine dep-... I work for the government?” Stallion asked with a hint of genuine bewilderment in his voice.

“Thunder, for all that is holy-” Twilight attempted to say something while burring her face in both of her hooves before she was stopped by a hasty arrival of a celestial guard into the spacious room.

“Princess Twilight,” he called for her immediate attention and rescuing her from committing a proper 1st-degree murder. “Your friends have arrived, shall I lead them in?”

“Yes, please. Right away, before I hurt him,” she replied with the last part spoken quietly, mentally thanking the guard for a much-needed rescue while standing up and circling a big square table they were all sat at.

Twilight figured she won't have to wait long and was proven right when a mere moment before the said guard could open the big ornate entrance, it opened itself from the other side, smacking him right in the kisser.

Starlight Glimmer, a well-known student of The Princess of Friendship waltzed through the entrance, not even noticing a helpless guard laying behind the doors. His metal helmet ringed almost like a tuning-fork, while the rest of Princess's friends waltzed in a few steps behind her.

“Twilight! Are you alright? We came as fast as we could and blab..blah...”

Rarity heard only a scarce few first words that came out of Starlight's mouth. Through the course of her life, she learned how to tune out most of the unwanted sounds, turning them into mere background noise. It was indeed very helpful when one was concentrating on delicate stitches that required utmost precision. Or... for instance, protecting herself from a barrage of knowledge that could leave the muzzle of a certain unicorn-turned-alicorn pony at any moment in the years past. Now, it served its purpose perfectly, only featuring different pony. Not that she wasn't grateful when any of them explained something that could only bring benefits to their knowledge, she truly was, she just wasn't exactly..*uhhhh*.. most capable to keep up with their speed and dexterity of language, yes? Honestly, dear Starlight can be sometimes as bad as Twilight in that regard.

Hmm... now that I look around, we were never invited into this particular room. Indeed, it surely looked unfamiliar to most of them. It wasn't very spacious per se, most of it occupied by the truly massive table in the middle with a map of Equestria and beyond permanently etched into the sturdy wood. Judging by the map I'm guessing this is some kind of a.. war room? No wonder we were never here, Equestria wasn't at any real war for at least a few centuries. Yet I thought a place like this would be a tad... bigger.

Of course, not counting all the space that ponies around the table took for themselves, (about thirty of them from what she managed to estimate), those aren't exactly pocket-sized either. Another case were the things that got the room smaller visually, like a red carpet leading from the entrance straight to the table or those curtains hanging over the tall windows to the left. Ugh, Burgundy? It only caused the room to look even smaller and darker! Like- like some kind of a.. a closet! They should.. no, no Rarity. Now, it is not the time to fuss about some tacky drapes, especially when your friends might very well need you.

Easy said and easily done, Rarity came back from her internal monologue, only to not be surprised at all that Starlight was still going at it.

“...and then Spike wanted to go, but he couldn't, thus.. there's only six of us. Soooo... what's going on?”

Twilight could only blink. Okay, even I'm impressed. Was she breathing at all during that? Purple mare thought, failing to notice the rapidly approaching blond-maned orange earth pony, more focused on formulating her response to the verbal onslaught.

“Starlight, I admit... you asked so many questions that I already forgot half of them, but I can assure you tha-”

*SMACK*

All conversations between the rest of the friends or government officials stopped, as well as all the important talks in progress at the table, ceased altogether. Every head in the room, be it simple adviser or a General, turned itself towards the direction from which the sound came from, only for their sight to stumble upon a very surprised purple princess. With her mouth hanging open and hoof caressing the rapidly bruising cheek most attributed the cause to be a very angry orange farmpony whose mouth performed a scowl never seen before on the normally peaceful muzzle, her hoof still not lowered after swing position.

“A-Applejack!” The fashionista of the group hollered across the chamber for everypony to hear. “That was absolutely uncalled for!” Rarity shrieked with astonishment still present in her voice.

Applejack just chose to ignore the alabaster mare and proceed without acknowledging her or anypony at all.

“Goshdarnit t' heck, Twilight! What's the one thin' Ah' asked ya not t' do?!”

“I.. Uh..” Twilight's bewilderment allowed her only so much leverage, not that her friend was going to allow her to formulate any kind of a response anyway.

“Exactly! Ye just go an' do it! Not only not keepin' yerself out o' harm's way, but almost jumpin' right into it. While bein' at it, usin' borderline black magic! On yerself o' all ponies! Are ye out o' yer mind?!”

That sort of revelation was rather shocking news to almost all present within the room. Princess using black magic? Princess Twilight using black magic? Princess Twilight using black magic on herself? Nopony dared say anything, but they all vigorously wondered if any of that was true, and if yes, then why and for whatever reason? They were all sending unsure glances and looks between themselves as if they were asking each other if any of them knew about this. Even the Royal Pair of Crystal Empire were participating, quite shocked and uncertain of the accusation, not sure what to feel. Anger, sorrow, astonishment.. or all of the above?

Worse yet, the statement came straight from the Element of Honesty. Which meant either she was misinformed.. or it was true.

When everypony realized that none of them actually had the answers they were collectively looking for, all of them turned to the Royal Sisters, seeking for the much-needed guidance. Everything they received were the stares full of meaning, yet so unreadable as ever. Both sisters were of one mind on this. It was not their place to give all the answers to them. Any that sought the counsel of the princesses understood, they were not going to get the answer from them. Everypony present participated in the silent questioning. All, but one.

Capitan Sunstreak of the Royal Celestial Guard remained stationary through the whole ordeal with not a peep out of him, his nigh orange mane covering his left eye, making it invisible for the Princesses to his left. He acted and looked like everything the captain of the guard should be.

After all, he knew the truth. Of course, he had to. He needed information just like he needed air to breathe, he dealt with it like a merchant dealt in merchandise. If the princesses wouldn't tell him what was going on, he wouldn't send his subordinates into the midst figuratively blindfolded.

He never was one to follow orders completely mindlessly, but as Princess Celestia once said herself in a private meeting between the two, "I don't need a puppet, I have too much of those. I need a Captain and I have none.", the day before his inauguration no less. He knew what Applejack had said was true, omitting the fact it would be hard for Element of Honesty to lie. Princess Twilight used black magic on herself to avoid an imminent mental breakdown after the death of archaeologists in the Everfree. How much dead? That he did not know. Princess was still rather out of it when he received his hurried orders. What killed them? He did not know. Exactly for the same reason, but he was sure it wouldn't remain a closely guarded secret much longer.

Purple mare wondered about the most inappropriate things at the moment. How did Applejack know about that? This could only mean..., Twilight slowly turned around to face the rest of the Princesses, looking for a culprit. “You told them?” The silent venom dripped from her voice, laying foundations for their slowly developing distrust.

The only one looking even remotely guilty was none other than Princess of the Night itself. “I- well- your friends were worried and in a response letter they asked for and- I.. not exactly.. work my best. Under... pressure.” I am choosing this exact moment to cease talking.

Reading her internal decision perfectly, Twilight voiced her own rather icily. “Yes, you better do.” I think we already established that when you swapped places with Celestia that one time. Own pace and all. Still... Twilight elected not to fight on two fronts at the same time and leave it be for now while focusing on her painfully honest friend.

Initial shock bestowed upon Twilight long passed, allowing her to turn to anger and retort in full. “Am I out of my mind? You're the one coming here by my invitation, insulting me the first second you walk in, on residual information at best. Am I out of my mind? Have you looked in the mirror?” The last sentence practically verged upon shouting, encouraging the farmer to respond in kind and start the match between the two.

“Yea! In fact, Ah did! This very mornin'!” Applejack replied all too proudly to not be intentional. “Ya know wha' Ah saw? Me'self!”

Purple mare just smirked in a self-perceived victory. “I think that one went over your head.”

One that orange mare responded to in kind. “Ditto. An' I know one other thin' that went across yers.”

While none dared to stop the exchange, not even the three Princesses, Fluttershy couldn't listen to this anymore. Two of her best friends going at it like a pair of furious dogs, ready to leap at each other any second now and rip themselves to shreds. “Um, girls, stop. Please?”

“Why you cheeky-” Twilight wanted to end that thought appropriately yet reigned herself at the very last moment, hoping they weren't quite there yet. “But, thank you for a reminder! I meant to ask all along, was that really necessary?” She asked in sarcastic anger, gesturing to the rapidly disappearing bruise, none of it quite there by the time she ended her inquiry.

All Applejack could do was snort in dismissal. “Oh, please! Yer an Alicorn, ya could probly' take an arrow throu' that skull o' yers! Not plausible with how thic' it is tho'.”

“Girls. Don't do this. I said stop!” Fluttershy did not care for it. Not. One. More. Second.

All that the country mare retort accomplished, was only making the Alicorn angrier. “That is hardly an excuse! It's the meaning of the hit and thought behind it that counts!”

“Well then, clearly none o' that thought did get throu'. Le'me try again!”

“You. IDIOTS. STOP!”

All of the pair's banter immediately ceased, the outburst demanding attention both theirs and everypony else present, with their and all the other's heads snapping to the yellow pony with clear disbelief of just who was talking to them.

Twilight just had to open her big mouth and ask. “Flutter-”

“NO! Both of you, shut up!” The normally nervous voice cracked in the middle, yet It was all that was needed to stop Twilight before she even started. If any aspiring comedian would be present on-site, he would surely treat this as a starter to a great joke. A timid pony goes in the war room and hushes the government of a country shut..

“You're friends and adults! Start acting like ones!” Fluttershy demanded with a raised voice and met no opposition. “If I hear another foalish, pointless argument about "who started first" or "whose fault was it", Celestia help me, I will snap and smack BOTH of you!” She outright shrieked at the end, giving all a clear choice between two options.

None of them pleasant, but one was void of being hit.

Silence reigned the room, seconds filled with uncomfortably quiet time just kept pilling up. Nopony knew what to say or even if they should say anything. Fortunately, there was always one particularly alabaster pony with an out of these kinds of situations.

*cough* “I.. think that Fluttershy had made her point rather clear. This is hardly the time or the place for any of this.”

Now that everypony had a little while of peace to think in silence about how all of this started and had gone through, they started to see that both Fluttershy and Princess Celestia had been completely right and all this could have been avoided if they just talked calmly in the first place, not squabble about who had failed the other more.

“ ...right... You're absolutely right Princess...” After a moment of thinking, Applejack could see she went kinda overboard with this. “Ya too, Flutters.” A very similar thought process was also undergoing in the depths of Twilight's own mind, unsurprisingly leading her almost to the same answer.

“Yes, we're sorry... I.. I'm sorry Applejack, shouting at you, being angry about the things that you couldn't know about..” Some kind of excuse seemed prudent. “...just, believe me. Saying I'm having a bad day would be an understatement of the century.”

To which the farm pony just shook her head.

“No, ah'm the one that should be sorry, yellin' at you over the situation you had no control about and probably tried to avoid, but I'm just mighty worried sugarcube, is all. "Beating" sense onto ya seemed like a good idea at the time, considering what you did to 'yerself could only bring all kinds of trouble to both you and us. Just much, much later.”

“Noted. Though it was a.. crude method, it worked a little,” Twilight replied attempting to wiggle a small smile to her features.

“Once again, sorry 'bout that. Are you okay, at least?”

Now Twilight's smile got just a little bigger. “You said it yourself, I have a thicker skin. I think I'll manage. Friends?” The outstretched hoof waited for the other just like it, only slightly more orange.

This time it was Applejack's turn to smile. “Since when did we stop?” She met the Alicorn halfway and shook her foreleg prominently, yet generating a much smaller response to her substantial strength than in the years past. I was a far cry from almost identical interaction with the weaker unicorn of old.

They both quietly laughed at the exchange as they started to slowly walk towards their respective places, leaving terribly confused Starlight exactly where she had been standing next to them this whole time through their argument.

“What... what just happened?”

As all the rest of the six started to walk nonchalantly as if nothing happened, not wanting to prolong this any further. Rainbow Dash who was near absent through the whole ordeal, electing not to get involved as soon as Applejack started the whole thing, now walked up to the Starlight only to start whispering into her ear. “I ask myself that half of my life. One day I know exactly why we're best friends, then on the same day only a minute later, I have no idea why I even like them. Let me tell you one other thing that I know for sure since I was a kid, though. Angry Fluttershy is fucking terrifying. ”

Leaving the poor mare with that wisdom to dwell upon, Rainbow walked right past her unsure sight, straight to the place marked as hers. Right beside her Friends/IDon'tKnowThesePoniesMrOfficer, right next to the Princesses.

Rarity quietly considered what could possibly Rainbow Dash say to Starlight to spook the poor girl so much, while Pinkie Pie was more focused on repeatedly poking the stunned guard-stallion, still laying on the floor.

“Pinkamina Diane Pie! Stop bothering that unfortunate pony, right this instant!” said Rarity as soon as she noticed what her companion was doing.

“Awww, but, I'm only checking if he's okay...” replied the pink pony, attempting to explain her peculiar behavior.

*gurgleemh...*

“Yup, he's fine.”

“Ugh... just.. take a seat darling, please.”

Simple instructions. She could do that. “Okie lokie, Rarity!” Pinkie said while bouncing towards the seat provided to her, with the finesse of a mountain goat.

“She'll be the death of me, I swear...”

When Princess Celestia made sure that the last ponies to arrive took their respective places, they were almost ready to begin. Only one quick thing to be taken care of as her horn flashed briefly. "Vocavit spell, three.. two.. one..."

“You called, Your Highness?” asked a pair of royal guards, who just entered through the side entrance, opposite in relation to the windows. The polished golden armor complemented their coats resplendently, one a lovely shade of brown and the other a silvery shine, respectively.

"Punctual as always." “Yes. Please, be so kind and help Private Stale here get to the infirmary and get him checked for any signs of concussion.”

“No, I don't want to go to the circus...”

“More signs, in any case.”

They nodded and saluted briefly, their orders clear. “At once, your Majesty,” she heard them reply and seen quickly trotting in, grabbing the injured stallion at his forelegs.

“Come buddy, they'll get you patched right up.”

“But I don't like brussels sprouts, mum. They taste like cabbage. I hate Cabbage. ”

“Me too pal'. Me too.” One of the guards tried to comfort the wounded in tow while leaving the room.

All Celestia did was to slowly glance at Starlight Glimmer as she stared back at her with a sheepishly nervous smile.

“Eeeheeheh... sssoooo better start already, yes? Enough time wasted after all, heh?”

“I would believe we should, yes, though it is not my call. I'm not the one who summoned this committee here, after all.”

Murmurs started to raise among the gathered, not quite expecting this sort of development. She didn't? Then who was to lead this meeting forward? Princess Luna, perhaps? The recall orders that they all received had come with her seal after all. They did not have to wait long, having their doubts quenched by the princess immediately, “All of this is arranged on the request made by Princess Twilight.”

The newest Triarch requested the whole ordeal? So could the topic of the meeting be the dark magics that the princess used, apparently? Have they backfired horribly or did not what she wanted them to do and they were summoned to solve this conundrum?

While they all wondered, immersed in their little worlds of thought, Twilight had a verbal fight with none other than herself. Should she outright tell them or maybe ease them into this a little, step by step? She figured they will be shocked, either way, there is no easy way to go about this, not exactly. Remembering her own words helped to come up with a decision a little.

"...No point in twisting the knife..."

“Ho, ho. I wouldn't have "thought" it better myself, Twilight!” said a body-less voice, in a very characteristic, almost mocking tone.

Easily said, the lavender princess was not amused he chose this exact moment to show up. “You're late,” she said, a bit annoyed.

“Um, you expected me to be on time? Heellooo, Discord here, which literally means dissonance and disharmony,” Now not-so-body-less voice responded, allowing everypony to easily recognize the brand new addition to the room, in a form of the mismatched creature made with and driven by pure chaos.

Twilight was having none of it. Not today of all days. “Just take your place so we can begin.”

Discord just raised his lion paw in defiance, performing a prime example of art called accentuation. “Nah, I don't think I will, I prefer to flow where I am.” Spinning a few times like a good roast, he finally settled on flipping belly up before continuing. “By the way, why so glum my sparky chum?”

“Discord, over six hundred ponies just died.”

That seemed to stop the lord of disruption in his tracks, putting his great mood on hold while making all his prepared jokes a little inappropriate and making him blink a few times in silence. All the rest of the gathered were taken aback too, a few gasping here and there, previously not aware of any casualties being in the equation. Finally, he stated the painfully obvious.

“Well, that's not funny.”

“No, no it isn't. Can you take your seat now, please?”

“I'd... still prefer to hover, if that's okay with you Twilight,” Discord replied, surprising everypony with his sudden docility. After all, if the chaos spirit himself chooses to be polite, you know it's serious.

Twilight paid him no mind, “Suit yourself,” she responded, ending matter quickly and letting him lazily glide behind them. Not only he has been subdued a little, but all the ponies around were too. With a few necessary exceptions, none of them knew why they were summoned. Now, it was more than transparent.

“Now, forgive me if I sound awfully inconsiderate..” The rather stunned Rarity clung to the other available topic, doing anything to avoid touching the elephant in the room for a while longer. “..but I have never thought I'll hear of such a thing as "not funny" to you.”

While almost invisibly, Discord still cringed. “Firstly, ouch.” Contrary to the popular belief he did possess feelings, as jumbled as they may be. Yet, that's what decades of villainy will get you, he supposed. “Secondly, I always thought of death in any way, shape or form as... incredibly dull. Any truly permanent things are just icky.”

A few cogs instantly turned inside Rarity. "Wait, he wouldn't-"

“All this material. Such a waste...”

The old cogs still worked well, it seemed. "*sigh* He would."

While quite a few slowly inched themselves away from the floating spirit, one stallion did quite the opposite. “Really? Lord of Chaos? What's next, afternoon tea with Queen of the Changelings?” Thunderstroke asked in a mock fake whisper, clearly heard by Twilight and probably all the others present.

The Alicorn and gathered just choose to ignore him.

Okay, you can do this... “Welcome everypony.. and Discord. I feel like introductions won't be necessary, considering all your lines of work somewhat correlate. If somepony is not familiar with each other, I'm sure it will clear up itself while in talks.” Twilight started, stealthily looking at the notes she prepared for herself in the brief time that she had before the meeting.

“Yesterday, Monday - 14 August, approximately 7 to 8:37 PM by the direct invite of Princess Luna I was present on the grounds of Everfree Research Installation Site, a joint venture by the National Museum of Equestria and University of Canterlot, funded by the Ministry of Culture and Environment. A site established a mere two weeks ago and sorely dedicated to uncovering and investigating a chain of ruins that predate all of us present combined, probably princesses and Discord included.” Twilight recited from her keen memory, a crisp informational reminder. She took a few seconds to draw a breath and let the basic knowledge sink into everypony's heads.

Now, that is.. something I would like to see, actually. Discord thought to himself upon hearing this, a little ticked off that something dared to undermine his authority in being an old geezer. That was his job.

Upon deciding they were given enough time, Twilight continued, “Barely few hours before my arrival, a cliff collapse revealed an entrance to the cave, a supposed burial site, which was left unexplored before I along with-” Twilight paused a little, a loss clearly still fresh in her mind. No.. not now, “..with Chief Executive archaeologist of the site, Dr.Deep Dig, proceeded inside.”

Collecting her words, she chose to go about the matter briefly. “A full report on what we found inside will be available to all after the meeting but in short..” She thought about it and decided to go with simple yet effective. “It was.. stunning. Simply the biggest and most ornate cave I, or anypony for that matter, had ever seen. Upon closer initial study of the carvings found there, we formulated a theory that it was built by a joint community of almost all modern intelligent species a few millennia ago.” That seemed to revive several members of the meeting, most of them from the more concurrent to the case pieces of governmental bodies.

One of such decided to be more verbal in his approach. “Forgive me Princess, but I do must ask. Do you truly believe your assessments are with all certainty, correct? By the rouse they caused, I see I'm not the only one with an understanding of how much that would change our knowledge of ages past.” All he met with were a bunch of head nods and grunts of approval from all around the massive table. Twilight recognized him as the Minister of Education, it was only natural he'd be interested in such a subject. She decided to humor him.

“Though it is not the time for such a talk, I can assure you, any risk of a mistake in that regard is almost marginal.” She'll make sure the discovery is accredited to Deep Dig. She can do at least that much for him. It is only right. “I'll make sure you'd be the first to receive the complete files after the meeting.” Not that you will want to read them at all after I'm done talking.

He thanked her with a curt nod and urged to continue, to which she complied. “After reaching the central chamber, which was holding an opulent.. casket of sorts, before I could translate the warning existent on the scene, Deep Dig got a hold of the sarcophagus. Unfortunately, touching the tomb liberated a Monster, leading to the chain of events that resulted in the deaths of six hundred forty individuals. ALL who were present on the site at the time. The only one currently alive of the staff is present here Mr. Thunderstroke, ” Purple pony said, pointing to the stallion sitting right beside her and shifting all the attention briefly to him. “If anyone else miraculously survived, they likely fled the site long ago. Not that I know of anyone actually succeeding.”

After the revelation, the temperature of the room visibly plummeted after hearing that juicy tidbit. While they were made aware of the casualties earlier, hearing it in more official detail somehow carried more weight.

Now that they knew a little bit more about the situation they found themselves in, almost everypony wondered how to start dealing with this issue. Though still quite a few of them were wondering what for they were needed. Sure, the death of so many is a true tragedy, but with what a Minister of Economy can help, for example? Maybe dealing with the grants for the families of the victims, but the rest? Surely it was a task for the guard, not them.

As some thought of the guard, so did the guard part of the gathering thought, but of something completely different. If everyone involved in the dig site had truly perished, that meant the provided protection as well. Namely, other guards. "Twenty-five." It made his blood boil. For a fight, for retribution, or just with plain anger. He just hid it a lot better than others did. All of this resulted in a hushed discussion between the gathered and so the cat was out of the bag. "My cue along with it", thought Captain Sunstreak.

“So...” he started calmly, resulting in most of the attention being shifted to him and talks quieting. “A monster. That our duty is to deal with,” he stated, shifting a little so he could lean on his forehoof. “From a tomb.. gods know how old.. so what? An undead? Necromancer? Lich?” He needed to know what he was fighting, so it would stay dead. After his question, attention shifted once more back to the Princess Sparkle, everypony in anticipation to know as well.

Twilight looked straight into his eyes and he responded in kind, both looking like a predator and prey, their observers not completely sure who was which. She was the first to break the moment by not responding at all, only to stand up from her place and walk a few paces.

While it wasn't unusual for yet another "Big Bad" to resurface, it was true that the previous times were luckily lacking or minimized in terms of casualties, which sadly made this time the first. No lucky streak lasts forever and while still saddened, the oldest beings in the room were no strangers to unnecessarily large losses of life.

“Twilight?” Princess Celestia tried to ask for an explanation from her former student, only to be completely and utterly ignored. "This has never happened before. Nor the stare competition, nor the silence present right now. Something must be truly amiss."

Even Luna, though she knew Twilight significantly shorter than her sister did, could tell something was most awry just by looking.

"Undead.." Twilight wondered. "Oh, if only.. never thought I will say that, but I would be glad if we got something like a Lich to fight, instead." She had to think over the words she was going to use, the right delivery of those was of utmost importance.

“I'm... not sure how to tell you this, exactly.”

Sunstreak shifted his hooves in encouragement. “Simple, just describe it to us. We will take care of the rest,” he supported his words with a gesture of slamming his hooves together.

All Twilight could do, is to throw him a disapproving glare and quickly explain. “It's anything but simple, captain! It's a death incarnate, demise and destruction following wherever he goes. Most probably capable of things beyond our imagination and sane assessments of things possible, transcendence's the very concept of life and death! He is more powerful than us, possibly infinitely more resourceful, more intelligent, more cunning, more perceptive, faster, stronger, and from what I presume he literally CAN'T be killed!”

If the fear wasn't already a little present in the hearts of ponies surrounding the table, it very well was now, after a depiction as colorful as this. This time without any kind of pause, somepony new, so far sitting quietly, took initiative.

“...Death incarnate... hmm,” said elderly stallion while stroking his long gray beard that almost blended with his ivory coat. Dressed in the red robes with a gold trim, which Twilight recognized for a fact of only one pony bearing them, Snowy Raiment, The Archmagus of Canterlot. “Surely you don't mean it literally, was it some kind of a fallen mage, bound demon or-” he wanted to ask further, only to be immediately interrupted by the young princess delivering one of the most fatal blows of this meeting.

“No. THE Death.”

After that statement, nor Archmage nor anypony else dared to continue. Everypony was pale and looking at her in hopes to hear that she was only joking. This had to be a joke and a bad one at that, just had to. When they received none of that from her, they turned to the rest of the princesses, for if this was a joke, they had to be on it! To their collective fright, the Princesses were just as shocked as them, clearly not expecting to hear this. All of them would last in their little private hells, for various reasons, if not for one pony who was having none of it.

“'Kay, everypony stop,” demanded a raspy voice. “Death. Like in, Death. The Reaper, Grim Pony, Pale Angel, all that.” it inquired more, revealing itself to be of source from none other than a thestral with enchanting red velvet eyes.

“A physical manifestation of corruption and extinction, yes,” Twilight replied without any delay.

“With all due respect, I'm calling bullshit on that, ma'am.” She got answered equally fast.

Those two simple sentences were the trigger for everypony to suddenly engage in a loud, messy banter. Some argued with each other, some tried to speak to the lavender princess in hopes for an explanation and some of them shouting at the bat pony for speaking to her superior in such a manner. After all, it was not a way for a Captain of the Night Guard to behave like that.

He could bear this gathering so far, but even Shining Armor's patience had its limits, which have just been exceeded with somepony, basically a stranger to Twilight, attacking her like that. “Listen here, you paratrophic leech-”

“ENOUGH!” A voice boomed adequately loud to stop all other shouts and freeze everypony in their tracks. Being on the receiving end of Princess Luna's Royal Canterlot Voice tends to do that to you. “I was under the impression that I was to participate in a state meeting, but it seems I took a wrong turn in the hallway, because this is apparently kindergarten!” Luna glanced a little at everypony present, stopping on her devoted captain before continuing.

“Especially you, Captain. I myself have certain doubts and questions, as anypony in this room I presume, but there is no need to be crass about your disbelief. ” Luna scolded the night guard, at which Shining could only chuckle under his breath.

“Why do you smile, Prince Armor,” Luna said shifting her attention to the said stallion. “You are equally at fault, only putting more wood into the bonfire..” Now that she pointed it out to him, he remembered that he can be a wee bit overprotective of his sister. Even despite her current social status being "I could jail all your asses". His smile of victory slowly turned into one of apology, to both the princess and the captain.

“One reason or another, truth is, ponies are still dead and the one responsible is running free. I advise we put an end to this, regardless of whatever that something is.” Luna was right, that, they all knew. Collective murmurs of agreement sounded around, once all were out of their stupor.

“Though one thing, I still don't understand,” stated one of the few generals present. “From what you told us so far Princess, you never fought him, correct?” After a brief nod from Twilight, he continued. “So, not to sound distraught about it or anything, but... why are you alive.. or the other fellow?” Thunderstroke slid under the table just a tad more.

Luckily, that wasn't something she had to think too much about. “Plainly speaking.. according to him, he spared me, allowed to live, only so I could deliver a message. To you all, present in this room.”

The very same general, now recognized by many as a high admiral of the Equestrian Navy, wasn't done his line of questioning just yet. “Message? There is a message? Forgive me, but we're informed of this just now, because...?”

“Because it's nothing more than a nicely woven and colorful way to strike fear in us,” replied Twilight, seeing acknowledgment in the admiral's eyes. “Also, a way to raise his credibility. If I told you about it sooner, but not about him, it wouldn't make a lot of sense now, wouldn't it?

“No. I suppose not. Now, if you could...”

“Certainly,” she mulled a few thoughts around quickly. “It's actually very complicated in its simplicity.” "Very complicated.." “In his eyes and mind, we were destined to be a perfect example for others of how life should be. Peaceful, caring, considerate. But, life failed, we're not how we were meant to be, end of the line. It's time for a reset of the board and a new beginning. Game over, everypony go home.”

For the very first time, Cadance decided to intrude, a rather unexpected notion out of the diplomatically lesser princess. “How so? To all our knowledge, Equestria is the most peaceful place on the planet. No wars, major or minor, crime in decline, health standards rising. Or am I mistaken?” she asked, looking around the room questioningly.

Her statements only opened a new front, on which a few more knowledgeable than her could shine within their five minutes. “No, not at all.” Reported Minister of Health. “According to all the pieces of information and reports available to me, none other period in history was more on the rise in quality of life than ours.”

Minister of Internal Affairs confirmed the words of his predecessor. “Quite, almost everything the same here. There never was a more safe time to live, omitting a few.. *ekhem* hiccups.” Everypony knew what was he talking about, several sour expressions seeing the light of the day. “But those were fortunately quickly resolved by the Element Bearers or their...” He proceeded to look in the Starlight's direction. “Associates.”

Twilight could do nothing more than agree. “Yes, all three of you are right. Or according to him, would be, if it wasn't going much deeper.” Such a shame she will have to dash these convictions too.

It was the turning point of the talks for her, for a one, very simple reason. As much as she felt a sense of displeasure at the fact that the idea itself had been conceived inside her mind, she knew that the situation can be used to push the ponies on the right paths, make them think. Because where ponies think, ponies also do. With the right mindset and guidance, they would do better, be better, just like the Reaper wanted them to be in the first place. And that will blossom and bring benefits later on, assuming they will survive this at all. And all of that domino effect starts with pushing the most important ponies in the country in the right direction of thought, of course with Twilight's favorite form of inspiring ponies - well prepared and passionate speeches.

Only this time with a slight dose and sprinkle of dashing their hopes and dreams.

“As much as I hate to admit it, he is right about one thing. When we met, he buried me under a pile of facts about our society, a lot of which I checked before this meeting and confirmed them. A lot of them. Simply said, our society is cracked. For example, the fact that we are the most peaceful country on the planet, where ponies can feel safe and secure. True, but try setting hoof a few paces outside of it and all that awaits you is either death or slavery, basically zero protection. I know why it is so, we simply don't have enough personnel or resources to do that, so it's justified. It doesn't mean the problem disappears.” she looked in the direction of a few generals, receiving a somber, yet agreeing looks.

“Orphanages,” she continued, now turning her attention to the various ministers responsible for vast arrange of the state matters. “Almost no pony adopts foals above thirteen years old. Excluding a few cases, most of them are forever stuck in the bureaucratic hell of legal loops. Not wanted simply because they're not cute enough, like the younger foals or you "can't" raise them "your way", supposedly too late to do that. Once again, it's just not affordable for the governmental structures to launch the adoption process so late, such as, for example, increased costs of psychiatrists and psychotherapists often needed in such a process. After all, it's a lot more difficult to shape an older mind, already accustomed to certain things.”

When once again she was met with a collection of bleak expressions, Twilight turned to the final recipient group of her speech, The Princesses and both captains.

“Or my final example, crime syndicates. Crime is in a decrease, true. Muggings and pickpockets. Organized crime is thriving, never better, wallowing in its blood filthy riches. Often because they are allowed to. It's just profitable and convenient for the authorities steered by the nobility and wealthy, to keep it that way. Think about all the lives and money saved, that could be irrevocably lost if we had been putting them into fighting the crime. And what if it costs us life or two, look at all the ones we've saved by cooperating. A lot of nobles have outright ties to organized crime, too. That gives them even more influence, not only on the dominion but the law itself. For them, it's all just simple mathematics. Pros and cons. What is to gain and what is to lose. And those who have to be sacrificed on the way to the gain do not matter. That is the world that it came us to live in until the end of our natural lives. I could take another few hours of your time, sorely on the base of saying these knickknacks and statistics, depressing you even further.” She ended the more somber part of her monologue, seeing the Princesses bitterly agree that they aren't independent from the nobles as much as they would have wanted to.

Twilight progressed further, this time addressing all of them, none in particular.

“As much as I HATE, absolutely despise these facts, it's not changing that they are indeed, facts. We are quick to love, true, but equally fast to hate and stand for what we believe is right. Rooted in our ways deep into the metaphorical soil, and just as an olive tree stays healthy thanks to its long root, the very same roots make weeds so difficult to eradicate. Those fundamental principles, truths, that make us, us. That we can't really change, only strive to be better.”

“I am agreeing with The Reaper on all of that, a hundred percent. But there is one, fundamental difference between us, that means the world and makes us two different sides of the barricade. Reaper, he had chosen to write us off. Me, as a Princess of Friendship, as a Pony, I choose to give us a chance. After all, everyone deserves one.” Twilight concluded her meticulously made speech, shifting her stare in the direction of her student while delivering its last passage.

Everypony was staying silent, almost each of them for a different reason. Astonishment, shock, surprise, reverie. Though all of them knew that somepony eventually had to say something. And as the saying goes, the "less knowledgeable ones" are the most vocal.

“Holy fuck, do you have gift of the gab, or what,” said Thunderstroke, not even receiving a scolding from anyone in the room.

“Even though I would use different words, way to go sis. I'm not sure if I want to clap or cry,” echoed Shining Armor, his voice akin to his words, not sure if he wanted to wholeheartedly agree or deny said words with all his might.

"There, they're both brutally made aware of their flaws and not saddened but pushed on the path to fix them." The main Marechiavellian schemer of the hour thought about basically manipulating everypony. "Goddess, I feel awful." Even if it was for a good cause, that still wasn't making it right. "Then why am Idoing it?"

Although Twilight wasn't planning on being quite so dramatic anymore, she still had some things to say and point to get across. “After his "oh, so passionate" talk, Reaper basically proceeded with a declaration of war on all of Equestria and announcing extinction of the ponydom.. or maybe it was all of creation. Things get a little muddy from here.”

As Luna was one of the first to shake off her surprise, she figured she might as well be the first to address the issue further. “Anyone who makes such threats is either completely insane or telling the truth. One is bad, the other is worse. Question is, whichever of them is the truth?”

Celestia wondered that herself, and even if she had high confidence in Twilight's abilities to evaluate the contents of one's soul (or the lack of it), she had to ask, make herself absolutely sure about all of this. “Twilight, are you sure? Is it possible it could be anything else?”

“I'd figured you'd ask, so that's why Thunderstroke is here with us,” Twilight replied, attracting attention to the stallion, which looked very nervous all of the sudden. She knew just the way to go about this. “I know it's not pleasant, but.. can you tell everypony about what you saw? Don't be afraid to add your thoughts, whatever they might be. At this point, anything could be helpful.”

As Thunderstroke found all of the eyes and ears focused on himself, he wondered if agreeing to come here was such a good idea after all. But he figured that, as long as he could help, no matter how little, he would be brave and do so. It is the only thing he can do right now. He owes the deceased much more than this.

“Well, in fact.. I feel bad to disappoint anypony, but the truth is, I can't in any way confirm what Princess Twilight said. About The Reaper himself, I mean.” His words were listened to with great interest by everypony, after all, he could say something to affirm or refute the Princess words, as the only other living witness to date. “I never saw him, or anything else for that matter. I hid as soon as I heard everypony else screaming. I only saw the.. aftermath,” he paused to calm his quickly rising emotions. “He may be either God or just bloody crazy, but I can tell you one thing. Those screams, bodies, the way he... mutilated them. It's not the job of a sane one. Something that even the craziest couldn't do, only ones that were designed to do something like this. It looked like the work of somepony with absolutely no emotions. Work was almost surgical, but not with him as the surgeon.. he was the scalpel. ”

It was not much, everypony knew that, but they also realized one thing. Death could be one of the very few "beings" capable of such acts, possibly having it in its nature. It helped Princess claim, if only by a little.

“I know I am not an expert in any of this..,” started Starlight Glimmer, wanting to add something from herself and help her teacher in any way. “..but, was Twilight ever wrong about any of this? She and her friends defeated most of these evils in recent years, more than any of us ever will. I think they all have the most authority in here. At least, I think so, and believe her,” she said, smiling in her mentor's direction, quietly assuring alicorn that she has her back, also receiving a smile in return.

“Starlight is right,” continued the case Applejack. “As Twilight friend, I say to trust her. An' as an Element of Honesty I say, that what she said, is the truth.” Now it was her turn to nod in Twilight's direction, basically saying - Despite all that happened, I want to help you, my friend.

“Now hold on,” said one of the high ranking military officers. “We've never said that the Princess was lying. Simply that she can be mistaken. Too many times we've seen beings thinking themselves gods. Forces of nature even,” he said receiving a few affirmations form his compatriots.

While everypony was in a state of deep thought, thinking on how to solve this conundrum one way or another, one pony already had an idea. Not that she very much liked it, but what can you do.

“There is.. one way,” called once again a captain of the Night Guard. “But it's, not especially pleasant, per-se,” she said mysteriously, swiveling her head towards Princess Luna in question, who immediately picked up on what she was speaking of, but had to ask anyway.

“Lumia, you're not thinking of...” Luna trailed off, wishing they were thinking of two completely different things, only to be shot down when her captain nodded back to her.

“Precisely. Please, Princess, make it an order, before I change my mind,” Lumia replied, clearly not wanting to do any of what was about to happen. "Lumia Verguis," Luna thought to herself, looking at the bat pony in question. One could not mistake her for anypony else due to her coloring, a great rarity among thestrals. Though her coat of dark indigo was fairly common, it simultaneously complimented and clashed with her cadmium yellow mane. It especially shined when paired with her armor, made in the color of her coat, completed with gold trim all over it. Even the helmet, which was now off on the table, allowing everypony to see the scar going through her milky white right eye, otherwise partially covered by her helmet.

"Lumia Verguis," Luna thought once more. "A pony who clashes in absolutely everything. Starting with her coloring, going through her speech manner, once crass and brutish other time polite and sophisticated. Finally ending on her work ethic, either following rulebook to the letter, or completely ignoring it and coming up with her own, as it suites her." If she wasn't such a good pony, Luna doubted she would even end up in the military. Maybe she is a "little" rough around the edges, but that only helped in her line of work. After all, Night Guard was vastly different from its solar counterpart.

The purpose of The Solar Guard always was more about being universal and multi-functional. Maintaining order in times of disasters, acting as a police force in specific cases, dealing with all that could disrupt public order, basically an all-purpose, big, militaristic entity.

The Night Guard, on the other hoof, was more of a special unit case. Far less numerous and more rigorous in their recruitment, for they dealt with all things considered either too delicate or too dangerous for their equivalents. Needed to catch smuggling ring red-hoofed, you got the Night Guard. Needed to track and destroy a dangerous monster, you got the Night Guard. Dealing with all things requiring gracefulness or sheer brute force, all things arcane and unnatural, mystic and dark. And if you needed anything in the department of the brute force, look no further than Lumia Verguis. "Though she can be graceful and manipulative, if she really needs or wants to."

“Are you positive that this is the way to go about this?” Luna asked her further. “There is no telling what you might see or hear.”

“See?” Inquired Twilight, natural curiosity overpowering her full-on Princess mode.

Dark Princess prepared to begin her simplified explanation. “I can perform a spell, able to vividly show only the select memories of another,” she said. “Specific date, time, to the second,” explanation continued, coming to the point when all Luna could do, is sigh. “Although, it is a double-edged sword. Viewed memories vividly imprint themselves on the observer's mind. No memory mending spell will ever help, they simply cannot be ever forgotten, regardless of what has been seen.”

"It's not so bad," Twilight thought. “I doubt anypony could forget all that anyway, so it's pretty irrelevant.”

“Let me finish,” Luna spoke warningly. “That is the minor concern of the two present.”

This Twilight did not expect. “So, what is the second one?” she asked but already predicted something much worse.

Luna sat quietly for a moment and then spoke. “That is the real problem. Or not. It depends on how you look at and use it. For the second part is a lot like soul bonding.” Luna revealed, seeing Twilight herself and the atmosphere around the table visibly getting even tenser.

“At the time of the connection, observant will feel all that the target has felt at the time of the events. He will know the target's thoughts, worries, desires, emotions,” Luna stated with emphasis on the last one, clearly reminding just what exactly happened with Twilight's emotions at the time of Everfree Slaughter. “But it goes both ways. Target will then feel the watcher. How he perceives the matter on his side and how what he saw and felt affects him. Once more, thoughts, emotions, etc. Also, both participants will not only know all about each other from that period, but they will also understand it as well. It won't only be a lot like you would be there, with the difference of being in another body. It will be like you were that person. Almost perfect, partial harmonic fusion.”

"Oh.. well, that seems like a lot." Twilight wondered. "I don't think I have any other option, though."

“I am the sole user of this spell and so I watch over the participants, making sure they always know all the risks and are both willing.” Princess looked in the direction of her captain. “And since it appears our dear captain has already decided, that leaves only your decision, Twilight,” she looked her fellow Princess dead in the eyes before asking. “Will you do it?”

Lavender mare thought about this, this time definitely coming to the conclusion that this was her only option. She only wondered why did the night guard decide upon it. "It seems her sense of duty and respect, given where she feels it should be given, outweigh her less desirable traits." “Do it,” she said. “Only promise to hold me down, if I freak out or something, okay?” she proclaimed, asking only for this one thing.

Luna could only allow herself a brief smile. “It.. doesn't work like that, but if anything happens, we'll all be here.”

After being reassured by Luna, with all her friends showing their support by kind words of encouragement, Twilight and Lumia were instructed to sit opposite of each other on the floor and mentally prepare themselves. Although, curiously, with the corner of her vision Twilight clearly saw Celestia observing like a hawk, stern expression almost chiseled on her features.

“Princess..?” Lumia asked timidly, nothing alike herself from half an hour ago as if her body was hijacked.

“Yes?” prompted her Twilight, interested in her demeanor further.

Captain looked a bit sad, remorseful even. “For all that it is worth, I am sorry for that earlier. It was.. unnecessary.”

“No problem,” Twilight told her, slightly feeling like she was talking to another pony, although it wasn't unwelcome change. “I guess it is a part of your job. To question and investigate. I cannot be mad at you for that.”

“Thank you, Princess.” Lumia looked a bit better, now that she could consider herself forgiven. “It feels a lot better to not hold a grudge against somepony, looking at what we're about to go through. Together.”

As they settled the matter between them, Princess of the Night loomed above like an omen of a rapidly approaching change. “I don't know how you could be, but I'll ask anyway. Are you both ready?” After receiving two confirming nods, she loaded her spell and allowed herself a little bit of humor. “You may feel a slight sting.”

“With all due respect, Princess. Fuc-” Captain Lumia Verguis never had the time to end her retort properly, on account of being violently thrown seemingly through time and space, though she knew her body never went anywhere, still sitting on that cold marble floor of the palace war room. After what she felt like an eternity spent in the universe's waiting room, a lot of things were shown to her, very rapidly, and although normal pony couldn't even differentiate them, she spent a literal and a metaphoric infinity on each and every one of them. An ornate cave, easily the top five of the most beautiful things she saw in her life and along with it, a sense of wonder and cheer with a hint of overwhelming worry. Things, emotions, that she knew were not hers, but at the same time, somehow felt... right.

Princess Twilight Sparkle never saw anything, but nor she anticipated anything like that. She felt a feeling of contempt, an artistic appreciation even, and she exactly knew what had caused it. The Cave. She had not seen it, but deep down inside, somewhere, she knew. Just like that.

Lumia saw an ancient grave, gold and alluring in its own special way. She saw this exquisite tomb releasing its total opposite in a form of the beast incarnate. She saw a poor stallion, for whom she felt nothing but trust and kinship, literally turned into dust and re-molded in the image of grotesque. The things she felt were nothing short of shock, anger, fear and sadness. But a bit later she also felt a tinge of hope and commitment.

Twilight knew what was coming next, and all that was coming with it. She felt surprise, then loathing and aggressiveness like she never felt before. What was not predicted, but felt by her nonetheless, were slight traits of apprehension and anticipation, that she now shared.

A thestral saw a return journey, filled with hope, only to have it crushed and replaced with terror a moment later. A self-imposed slow walk of a convict, destined to fail sooner or later, slowly accepting its misery. A sense of disconnection with reality. The images of all the mutilated, violated, humiliated beings, alive just minutes ago. A young mare, bestially killed in a gruesome manner, way before her time. A feeling of grief, anguish and despair.

An alicorn endured. A surprise being replaced by shock, aggressiveness replaced by rage, the anticipation by a swift will to burst into action. At last, after a brief moment of disgust, the rage was once again replaced by pure fury, wanting nothing more than to spread righteous violence to whomever deserves.

A pony saw a lone survivor, abandoned and detached from all the madness and carnage around him. She felt a small comfort, that was still pilled under all the negative emotions. An attempt at supporting somepony made. But there was something else beginning to break through, a sense of commitment, of duty and obligation, all bound by a glue made from love. She knew of one decision to be made, and then she felt it. Vigilance, Ecstasy, Admiration, Amazement, Remorse, Contempt, Optimism, Submission. Then all at once, it went quiet.

A pony felt a sense of serenity and acceptance, though still dwarfed by all the ferocity. Then a great spike of awe, quickly replaced by the feelings of Vigilance, Ecstasy, Admiration, Amazement, Remorse, Contempt, Optimism, Submission. And just like that, all at once they went away, leaving her alone in a blind silence.

Both mares opened their eyes and looked at each other, barely a second after the spell was fired upon them. No one dared to say anything, waiting in anticipation till they start first. All of them were right, both of them had so much to say, yet none of it came out.

After a full minute of only exchanging stares, Lumia was the first to speak up.

“As the spell does nothing to change the personality of a pony, despite the fact that I know the answer to my own question, I have to ask,” Said the guard and looked directly at the Twilight's pupils. “What.. the fuck.. was THAT?!”

All ponies in the room were taken aback, as the last words of the Lumia's question were practically shouted, even the Princesses thrown off guard a little.

“I thought she was meant to understand.” Somepony from the crowd whispered, which was keenly caught my Lumia's heightened thestral senses.

“I DO. I'm just not happy about it,” she said, to the surprise of the doubtful.

“So...” Princess Luna started. “I presume the spell worked as intended. Did you find the answer we were looking for, captain?” she asked her trusty soldier, not sure what words will come out of her throat.

Lumia, not wanting to delay, spoke straight from the heart, for she knew what she was about to tell, was true. “It is true,” she said simply. “All of it, is the truth. Not even one thing out of place. If that... thing, isn't a threat to the sanctity of all life, I'll gladly resign as the captain of the Night Guard.”

She leaned forward in a clear attempt to offer a hug to the purple Princess, which the mare in question gladly accepted. They both knew their respective reasons, why the had both needed it. After an experience such as this, none could understand each other feelings on the matter better than them. They knew everything about this one moment, that they practically lived through each other bodies and minds. Regarding many different things, they were still strangers, but at this moment, they were one whole.

As they remained locked in their hug, the rest of the table was coming to terms with the fact presented to them. It was indeed all real, and they had to plan a battle against a literal death. How in the Equestria are they going to do that? Is that even possible? Some of them already conversed about their respective contingency plans, to the best of their ability. The Royal Sisters conversing with each other, while most of the elements were attempting to calm Fluttershy's freak out and Rainbow's bravado, surprisingly, only Pinkie Pie sat quietly in thought.

A sudden realization dawned upon Lumia. “You're aware that.. if he didn't touch that tomb.. then maybe..”

Twilight was none slower to respond. “He didn't know... he couldn't...”

The only one still listening to them was none other than Shining Armor, the well-being of his sister more important to him now, than making impossible plans for what might happen.

“What are you two talking about?” he asked, his loud voice by itself driving more attention of some from the table to their conversation.

Both of the mares broke the hug and looked at him, wondering how to exactly say this. “You see Shining, the thing is..,” Twilight started, allowing Lumia to continue. “..It could have been probably avoided.”

That seemed to attract the attention of the other ponies, breaking them off of their many conversations.

“What do you mean by avoided?” Shining asked more perplexed now than before he vocalized his previous question.

Although Twilight wasn't looking forward to that, she wished to get it out as soon as she could. “Deep Dig was the one to touch the sarcophagus, while I was busy translating the text.” Twilight looked like she was about to be ready to take all the blame for it all. “If I was only a few seconds quicker and warned him, he wouldn't touch it and probably all of this wouldn't be happening right now.”

An old friend in the form of ever-present silence came with a visit once more, making itself comfortable, though not for long, as it was broken by the least expected pony, found in the Minister of Culture.

He couldn't believe he was about to ask such a question, it seemed almost like the most unbelievable and improbable thing that could ever happen. “So what you wish to tell us, is that... basically, all of this... possibly the biggest war to come in the history of the entire ponykind, no, history of the entire world..” He made a pause, allowing himself and anypony else a moment to process that. “.. is caused by Goddess honest accident?”

Even with the given time, not a single pony could just believe how horrendous that sounded. It was a whole race equivalent of dying in the sleep. No flare or planning to something like that. It just happened.

“Kinda ironic in a mundane way, isn't it?”

Everypony heads swiveled around as quickly as it was allowed by the laws of physics, towards the source of the voice. When they found out who the owner of the voice was, a few of them had to rub their eyes. Two guards standing beside the door, now had the intruder right between each other, quickly springing into action and leveling their spears at... him... at it.

A quadrupedal figure, clearly attempting to resemble a pony, standing slightly taller than Princess Luna, in consequence towering above the guards a good head and a half. Some mere looking at the creature was disturbing one's very soul. A horrible amalgamation, made from various parts of a pony long since started rotting away, exposing all the less eye-pleasing parts of the equine anatomy, everything glued together by a sickly, truly vile looking, green exudate. Almost none of the parts matched the others in appearance, some of them looking fairly "new", while others technically should cease to exist at this point. The only part of his looking relatively normal, was his horn, if only for the fact of being a bare chunk of keratin.

His massive snout missing its cheeks, exposing the yellowish decaying teeth visible on both sides. Tongue whirled inside in preparation to speak once more, before being halted in its tracks by a sudden interruption.

“Halt!” shouted one of the guards. “Stay where you are!” he warned.

Second of the guards tried to say something too, but he paused as soon as he felt something rising in his throat. A violent cough shook his whole body, making him drop his spear in the process.

“Blear, are you all right?” asked his worried partner, while suddenly feeling slightly itchy.

Blear Glimpse never replied to his question, more fixated on his white hoof, which he used to suppress a cough, now stained vivid red. He would be staring at it in surprise a while longer, if not for a dripping sound echoing loudly somewhere near him. Shifting his leg a little, so it wouldn't block his field of vision, was all he had to do, to notice a red puddle slowly growing on the floor in front of him. A quick movement of a hoof to his muzzle confirmed what he already suspected. A source of dripping was him, or more specifically his corrupted claret filled mouth.

A loud thud threw him out of his thoughts, only for him to see his companion on the floor, writhing in anguish, desperately trying to scratch some invisible itch, known only to the afflicted. He rubbed so fiercely, that he started to rip off parts of his coat. Glimpse would have heard the poor stallion screaming, if not for a slight issue with his hearing. All he heard was a slimy sliding sound, followed by a wet plop, and then he heard nothing at all. Since his head just got slightly lighter on the left side, he went to investigate, only to find his left ear missing. He would have started a scream of his own, if not for a fact that he was swept off his legs, quite literally, considering that his right foreleg just broke off on its own. All the sounds he could make right now, were a few grunts of intense pain, as he fell forward, due to a lack of support.

Blear Glimpse's companion, Tough Shield, wasn't faring much better. He just wished for somepony to kill him, to end all of this! A feeling akin to the thousands of little worms, squirming inside of him, burrowing tunnels through his skin, muscles, even bone. He felt it all. He heard the blood going through his vines, felt it, its liquid existence tingling his very being. He could smell the stomach acid digesting his today's breakfast, a foul stench of acidic based gases. He could taste the flavor of his own synovia, like some kind of a sick, bone lollipop. His senses were all over the place, in places they shouldn't, couldn't be.

A few paces to his right, completely unnoticed by him, lay his fellow guard, slowly falling to pieces, now only able to emit gurgling sounds, his vocal cords long since turned into a meaty paste. He could only passively observe while laying in a pond of his own bodily fluids, as to his left, his longtime friend just gave up, his brain overloaded under the strain of sensory onslaught he just received. He figured he didn't have much left too, last of his internal organs withering away. ..Wait up.. Shield..

Though none of them said anything, reactions of ponies around the room to witnessing such horror unfolding in the span of mere seconds, were easy to predict. Quite a few of them just outright vomited, only the toughest and sturdiest of them managing to stay still thanks to the years of training, despite being disgusted all the same. The most "delicate" of ponies, like Fluttershy, were shielded by the great white wings of the celestial ruler, at the first signs of something being wrong. She wished she could do that for all of them, but even her wings were only so large. A couple of ponies, like Rarity, just satisfied themselves with losing consciousness.

A newcomer just ignored all of it, like nothing ever happened. He stepped over the piles of body parts and stopped a few paces ahead, only to say the same thing he was about to earlier, before being rudely interrupted.

“.... As the whole beginning of complex life was an accident on a micro-cellular scale, the beginning of its end was brought by an accident too. Ironic. I would laugh, if it wasn't so pathetic.”

The only one who moved from their place was none other than Princess Luna, and she did so with the utmost confidence and conviction. “Now,” she started getting closer, while building up a magic load in her horn. “Would you be so kind, as to tell us thy name before we vaporize you into the oblivion?”

That he could do. He liked when the victims knew the name of their future executioner. It seemed more close, on a personal level. “Pestilence my name, let's go with the age-old cliché and say tormenting you, will be my game.” when he flashed her something that attempted to pass for a smile with that mangled mug of his, Luna hasn't said anything, very well knowing all of that was just to ire her even more. “And though it would be amusing to watch you try, I believe you have a saying. "Don't shoot the messenger", was it?”

“You revoked that privilege yourself, the very moment you lifted your repulsive hoof upon our subjects.” As much as Luna wanted to obliterate him there and then, she despised the fact she couldn't. He possibly could be a valuable source of information. "I will hold myself for now. For... three minutes. Maybe."

The now introduced Pestilence seemed not to be worried in the slightest. “That just means I have to be quick and efficient, just the way I like. Fortunately, I'm just here to say this,- your time is up.”

“Time? Time for what?” Starlight asked while standing up, to form a line between the rest of ponies and the enemy, alongside Luna.

When Twilight was in need, she wasn't there for her, off doing magic practice with Trixie. When she was struggling with herself of all things, she wasn't there for her either. Now was her time to make up for this mistake. She will do everything in her power for it to not happen again, as long as she is here. "I will find a way to solve this, no matter the cost." Maybe her teacher was the more mentally sturdy of the pair, but that doesn't mean she won't need support from her friends, along the bumpy way.

“Your preparations, of course,” replied Pestilence, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. He smiled deviously. “Which only means, I am allowed to do something like.. THIS!” The rotten stallion shouted.

Quick as lightning, the green goop he was conglomerated with, lashed out in a mighty swoop, akin to being gifted a will of its own, in a form of a far-reaching tentacle. Far enough to grab Starlight's leg and pull her right into his greedy embrace.

Now, alicorn senses are superb to almost anything organic. Some of the technological or magical contraptions even. But the speed the nasty stallion just displayed was beyond Luna's conception. Normally, she was able to see separate muscle movements of others, even before they were aware of making them. But this... she wasn't exactly sure it was a movement at all. It was like he just teleported to the desired location, within nanometers of the target. She couldn't react in time to something that she couldn't see. A little more than a blink of an eye was enough for the situation to spiral out of their control.

“Starlight!” The mentor of the mare in danger shouted immediately in fear.

"That's it", Luna thought. Keeping him "alive" any moment longer, will only bring more harm than benefit. "A simple beam of "Rudis Potentia" should do it." Her sole task was only to aim it precisely as to not hurt Starlight and put a lot of power into it.

The entrapped mare tried to say something, only for her grip to be tightened, making her unable to offer any advice. “Uh-uh.” Pestilence discouraged the blue Princess from trying anything. “One wrong move and she bites the dust.”

It was a fat chance he will honor his word anyway, so Princess Twilight decided for a quick leap with the help of her wings, only to land in the exact place Starlight occupied just a few seconds ago. “Release her! NOW!” she demanded, igniting her own horn too, which just caused Pestilence to choke captured mare a little.

“You just like to watch others suffer, don't you?” he tried to undermine her resolve, only managing to make her even angrier in the result. She knew that was his intention from the start very well, and damn, was it effective.

All of them were tense, the situation made into a classical stalemate. "We can't touch him, and he can't touch us or Starlight, which is his insurance." Luna, being as old as she is, knew that those moments often had only one solution, solution that she, nor anypony present would like, not, one, bit.

The only ones who could resolve this kind of setting, was either some kind of an outside force, something Luna was doubtful will happen, or the captured herself. Only she could attack her subduer, something she probably would have done if her magic wasn't blocked by the goop oozing from the stallion.

The truth was, even if she could use her magic, Starlight herself wasn't sure she would be able to use it. She was absolutely terrified. It was one thing to stand up to him, just like she'd done to Chrysalis some time ago, and completely another one to be captured by him, being touched by his collapsing existence, rotting flesh and septic fluids, being frightened by a complete lack of his breath on your neck. It was as close as being scared to death one could be.

“Now,” Pestilence picked up the issue again. “..If you don't mind, I would like to take little Mrs.brave here, on a little trip. A fun way to spend some time, together,” he said in a mockingly nice tone, confirming Luna's fears. "No one is getting no one, we both withdraw."

A soon as he was done talking, starting from the bottom of his hooves, he turned slowly into the very goop holding him together, while looking like a sick display of melting ice cream made of flesh. What was more surprising, when the transformation reached Starlight's height she appeared to change as well, turning along with him.

"Like hell, I am going to allow that!" Twilight shouted mentally, immediately intensifying her magical output in preparation to unleash an attack.

“Stop, let him go.” The Night Princess surprised her, putting a leg on her back. Twilight turned to deliver her best - "Are you out of your mind?!" stare. Her fellow Princess was quick to elaborate. “If you attack in any way, Starlight is done for,” she said, quietly enough, so only Twilight could hear. “Either you hit her accidentally, or he will dispose of her quickly for you. ” Luna knew what she was about to say wasn't very reassuring, but she had to say something. “If he hasn't killed her by now, he must have some sort of ulterior motive. And if so, we can still save her. But if we do it without preparation, I don't like her chances.”

Twilight could only look blankly at Luna, searching her mind for some sort of a miracle solution, that will get her precious student free of the mortal peril.

Luna needed for Twilight to believe. “Trust me,” she said. “Starlight is a strong pony, she will prevail. Our job is to rescue her when the time is right.”

Purple alicorn knew that her friend was right, and she hated it. But for all that is good, she won't act if it means endangering another, especially somepony so dear to her. She just had to accept the inevitable. "Again."

Starlight couldn't hear what they were talking about, but when they appeared to be done, one glance from her mentor could tell her everything she wanted to know so desperately. It told her, "Everything is going to be okay, we will get you out of this somehow". It gave her a certain amount of strength, making her feel at least slightly less worried about her future.

But now she felt something different, an irresistible feeling of a foreign presence, and she wasn't talking about the abhorrence still tightly clinging to her. Being a highly trained mage that she was, she could feel it clearly. A sense of wrongness, of something that should not be where it was trying to get in. It entered her mind and as much as she tried to resist it, she couldn't win this fight. "Do not even try," astonishingly she heard Pestilence's voice in her head. "When I connect with someone, even once, it's over. They cannot resist, not for long at least." She felt as he had snooped around, viewing everything even remotely interesting or useful to him. She could practically hear him grin when he found a particular set of memories. "O....Oh....Ohhhhhhohohohoho... Mrs... Mrs. Starlight, you will never know how much time and effort you just helped me save." The mare couldn't know what he had found, but she was certain it will be used against her with all ferocity.

By the time he was done, almost their entire bodies were a pile of green sludge, save their heads. That was fine for Pestilence, for he had only one thing left to say.

He looked directly at the teacher of the one he was cavorting with, in such a serious and meaningful way that it was plainly seen he wanted to make sure that what he was about to say, would stay with her for quite a while.

“It seems you're a very forgiving pony, Twilight Sparkle. Let's see if by the end of this, you can forgive yourself.”

With those final words, both captor and captive completely turned into the ooze, now slowly seeping through the tiles of the floor, soon to be completely gone.

After their vanishing, the only thing that could be heard in the room was abbreviated breathing of a very angry alicorn princess and none dared to stop her from doing wherever.

“Twilight-” Princess Luna tried to say something, only to interrupted by the infuriated Princess screaming.

“Arghh!” she growled loudly, striking the floor with her hoof hard enough to smash it to pieces and leave a small impact crater. The crashing sound was even loud enough to wake up Rarity from her genuine pass out.

After her righteous outburst Twilight stood quietly, with her head hanged low. No one dared to say anything, with most of the ponies just afraid of her possible reaction. Afterward, what felt like an eternity for everypony, without changing her position or even lifting her head the princess addressed anypony that listened.

“Just... just assemble the armed forces.. don't make me regret this and let Starlight's sacrifice go to waste,” she stated quietly and when she was finished, immediately teleported away in a flash of violet light.

Just as everypony was quiet when she was still present, they were doing the same now that she was gone. Half of them not sure how to proceed from now on, the other half that knew how was just really reluctant to be the first ones to do so. Though none of them expected to be rescued from the pickle by a most unexpected individual in the form of a normally very cheery pink party pony.

“I just.. can't believe Starlight is gone,” Killed the silence Pinkie Pie, rarely being seen so serious.

Rarity, who was just now coming to her full awareness with the help of Fluttershy, looked around the room in confusion, only to find no trace of their mentioned friend, indeed. “G-gone?” she asked. “What do you mean by gone?”

Princess Luna was quick to pick up the question before it starts to live a life of its own. “Gone, no,” she replied with confidence, not only to Rarity but to everypony who was listening. “We can still get her back if we play our cards just right.”

The declaration seemed to pick everypony up a little, the toughest of them already planning forth with passion. “Speaking about "our cards",” one of them spoke up, drawing attention to him. “Just tell where, princess, and we will begin preparations immediately. The armies shall march forth!” he said passionately, resulting in the nods of agreement from the most present.

Their enthusiasm was quickly subdued by Captain Sunstreak. “That's the problem. We can't.”

That seemed to upset a few. “And why ever not?” asked another one of them.

“Because...” Lumia started replying, walking up to her own seat in order to sit down. “We're going against Death, as much as I hate to admit it,” she grumbled to herself, but loud enough for everypony to hear. “Even if we were going to treat him like any other regular undead, and believe me there's nothing regular about him, then we have three problems. Firstly, we don't know where he is. Secondly, if we even can defeat him. Thirdly, if we can, then we don't know how.” She thought of a final convincing push. “Unless you just planned to throw yourself at him with spears and expected it to work?”

When none dared to challenge her assessment, somepony had to take control of the situation.

“As much as I hate to admit it myself, both captains are quite right,” spoke for the first time in quite a while Princess Celestia. “Doing anything rashly would just result in our swift perish. That's why, until any further developments present themselves, you're all to continue the collection of forces and tightening security nationwide,” she ordered, looking in the direction of her sister to inquire if they were of the same mind. After receiving a silent approving nod, she continued. “So it's decided. All ranked Senior Officers or above are to stay, and along with us begin on the preparation of plans for as many possibilities as we can, everypony else is relieved until further notice. You can go and tend to your duties.”

Everypony addressed nodded in understanding, bowed to the princesses, and started to filter out of the room. Celestia then turned to the remaining element bearers. “And you all can go find Twilight. I know you would do so anyway, as I would if I wasn't needed here. Goddess knows she needs you, now more than ever.”

“You got it, Princess!” replied Rainbow Dash, naturally being first to act. “Come on everypony. Let's go!” she encouraged them as they too prepared to leave the room in search of their friend. Yet, before they could..

“Wait..,” somepony said, halting them in their tracks. They, along with the rest still occupying the room, turned to the source of the voice, only to find it being a plainly looking solar guard, one of the few remaining.

“Yes, soldier?” Princess Luna asked him. “Something important to report?”

“Yes, in fact,” he said, omitting any titles. “Based on the recent revelations, I believe I have a message for you,” guard exclaimed. Not giving anypony a chance to reply or question, he started twitching uncontrollably. He did so a few seconds while being enveloped in the field of green magic after which fall, he turned out to be nothing but a changeling. Not allied, old looking, black, hole-ridden changeling.

It immediately threw everypony into battle stances, prepared for a defensive fight. To their collective surprise, he did not move, his eyes glowing an unfamiliar emerald color. He spoke, furthering their surprise more, for the voice that came out was not even male. It was feminine, a one they knew too well.

“My, my,” Queen Chrysalis spoke with an uncaring voice, it's emotional depth worthy of a translation spell. “How will I ever get my revenge now that the poor Starlight is whisked away?”

When none of them replied to her taunt, though disappointed, she figured that cutting to the chase is the thing to do.

“Now,” she started. “From what I understood from your little meeting, either you win or we all die. Sooner or later.” she waited for any sort of confirmation to her words and though nopony spoke, she received it in the form of a brief nod from the Princess of the Night.

“I see,” she paused for a second to think. “In that case... I may have a proposition for you,” she said waiting for their reactions and mentally cursing the cruel world for pushing her to do that.

Most of the ponies seemed to know precisely where this was going with not a single one liking it, but none of them spoke out loud just yet. None but Thunderstroke, that is.

He sighed deeply in defeat. “Okay, I give up. Where's the tea set?”

Author's Note

That's the last author notes on the bottom of the chapter, I swear.

Exposition Dump The Chapter.

In which absolutely nothing, except excessive amounts of talking and some vague hints that are going to be important many chapters later, really happen.

I know what I want to say, but can't say it with less than totally overblown jumble of a million words. I wish I could say what I want with short and easy to understand sentences, but I physically can't. Effects of retardation, you see.

Oh. My .God. Is my fic... a soap opera? A damn tele-novella? A bloody Spanish tapeworm?

FUCK

I need an editor guys. Now, that's a surprise. A twist of the millennium. NOT.

Before you ask, butchering English while writing Applejack is pure physical torture. Ouch. What kind of dialect is that, you ask. Angery. Angery one.

NOW, TO THE THOUGHTS OF POST CHAPTER REFLECTION.

"Regarding many different things, they were still strangers, but in this moment, they were one whole."

- HA! Gayyyyyy!

A quick fact. Noir is the masculine version of the french word, while noire is the feminine one. So, as such, I felt that one was more appropriate to Luna. r/Woosh

Yes, I used human months and days names. WHAT ya gonna do?! Okay, actually, you can do a lot. Just get used to it, it's not as bad and scary as it sounds, k? Also, probably a lot of you will say, "Luna should first ask Twilight about what has happened and after that the whole spell case." And you would be right, If it was some other character with Twilight. But not Luna. For her, it is a priority to ensure that none will share her fate if she has anything to say about it. Remember, she was trapped for a 1000 years. After that time all her friends and adoptive family are long dead and gone, so after her return her sister and new friends are all she has. She may rule a kingdom, have subjects... and she cares about them, but her family is the only thing she can relate to and care for on a more personal and deep level.

As many of you probably noticed, Thunderstroke deals with situations stressful to him by issuing a protective ward of humor attempt, +5 to shielding. What a barrel of laughs he is, isn't he?

So, in summary, this chapter is a tangle of drama alert and comedy central in equal parts, changing about every 5 seconds all willy-nilly.

Facts and other utterly useless trivia :

-Chapter fueled by black tea with mango and mineapple. Mmmm! That shit good!
-Year 2k20 - I just managed to disgust myself, while writing guards deaths down. Yay me. That counts as skills, right?
-I intended to have this released for Halloween (2SPOOKY4ME), but what can you do ¯\_ツ_/¯

....And when the guards died under my mighty pen, I listened to the Andrew W.K - Ready to Die, because I'm funny like that.

Also, I'll probably say that in a blog post or something, but what the hell, have it here as well. As since things in my life more or less evened out, I'll try to have a more regular schedule of writing and updating. So... at least once a month, I think? Yay?

Have a little meme as well. You've earned it after reading this.

Hehe. Funny. Like I'd believe that.

Some things that might come in handy later on :

"That kind of text" is for inner thoughts of a character.
That kind in the middle of the sentence is for emphasis on the word.
".." for a short pause.
"..." for a long pause.
"-" for being interrupted, abrupt pause or stutter.
And remember, my darlings : “” is not "" and "" is not “”. Easy, right?

Also, yes. I know "?!" is a mistake. DEAL WITH IT.

References Table :

"Cool and good" - a meme man reference.
"While the words echoed between the individual violet neurons at the speed of four hundred sixty kilometers per hour" - that's roughly the speed at which your thoughts travel. Neat, huh?

======AS ALWAYS FEEL FREE TO POINT OUT ANY GRAMMAR MISTAKES, YADA YADA, YOU KNOW THE DRILL.======