Across The Pond

Vallius and Twilight stood on the sands of the arena. The whole crowd watching as Philomena flew over to Twilight and hovered next to her. In one claw the phoenix held a scroll. Twilight walked over and retrieved the note, not having the magical, nor the mental energy to even attempt to telepathically grab the scroll.

Twilight unscrolled it and prepared herself to read it out loud, mainly to herself. Vallius was close enough that he would hear but even if the crowd was dead silent they wouldn't have been able to hear. It seemed half the crowd was in awe at the sight of a phoenix and the other half couldn't control their own actions as they jumped about from the fight they had just witnessed.

Twilight began to read the letter.

My dearest, most faithful student, Twilight

I have sent Philomena as a means for us to communicate while you are in Tamriel. Your friends have gone there with a small group of my royal guards in an effort to find you, but since Spike has stayed behind it will be difficult to communicate.

In an effort to resolve this, Philomena here will be delivering messages between the two of us so I know you are safe. If at all possible have Philomena bring a message to your friends if they haven't found you yet. Philomena will be able to spot them out. When you do have them send Philomena to me and a letter from you specifically for me so I know you are alright.

Please respond to this as soon as you can, I fear for your safety and wish you a quick return home.

With much love,

Princess Celestia"

Twilight finished reading then looked to Vallius. Vallius just shrugged and said "my father always signed his letters with 'Still at Large' but that's nice too." Though Vallius' attitude was more to what Twilight had come to expect he still didn't smile.

Vallius was clutching his chest as he looked at Twilight then said "perhaps we should leave before they send out someone else for us to fight, besides I wouldn't object to a doctor right about now."

Twilight lightly nodded in agreement and the two slowly made their way to the doors Twilight had entered from. Though Twilight was happy she finally had some contact with somepony she actually knew she could shake a thought from her mind 'my friends are here, in this dangerous place that changed ponies. Has it already changed me?' As Twilight thought this the scene of her first kill played in her mind. 'First and last' she thought, barely holding back the urge to vomit. Philomena followed the duo into the part of the arena known as the bloodworks.

Once Vallius Twilight and Philomena had entered the bloodworks they were instantly surrounded by gladiators. Non wanting a fight, but rather to simply be in the presence of the great warrior that they had seen fight. Vallius managed to silence them and ask "now how did you all even see the fight?"

"There is a place where we can watch from small windows at the base of the walls around the arena" answered one of the gladiators. "They were added a few years back."

Vallius was about to ask for a doctor when a very well dressed, slightly portly Imperial man walked into the bloodworks from off the street.

"Why hello there legionnaire, you cause quite a stir up there. Would you mind telling me why you decided to interfere with my business?" the well dressed Imperial asked.

"I was saving this one" Vallius said as he gestured towards Twilight with one hand, the other still on his chest.

"I noticed, and were you not informed that this is one of my slaves. I own here, legally, and regardless if she is your friend or not she is mine now" came the large man rather indignantly.

"For what purpose, she can barely kill" Vallius spat.

"Well there are two purposes to keep a slave here legionnaire, one is to kill. Can you guess the other?" asked the chubby Imperial.

Vallius stared at the well dressed man. Somewhere in Vallius' mind he knew this, but he didn't want to admit it.

"What is the price? Surely you will not miss a combatant you are just trying to kill off" Vallius said.

"How much do you think she is worth? Because it's such a rare occurrence to have something like her in here. Tell you what boy, how about we work out a deal" the well dressed Imperial said, a glimmer in his eye and wicked smile on his lips.

"What kind of deal?" Vallius asked.

"Well we need a new champion, and I don't need to be out one slave. How about a trade, you for your friend"

Twilight looked at Vallius, confused as to what he was going to do. She had conflicting feeling on this, on one hoof she didn't want to be in this terrible place one more second but to allow Vallius to remain here didn't seem right or fair.

"Deal" Vallius said after a moment of thought. "On the condition Twilight is taken directly to see the Emperor"

"Consider it done" the imperial said with a large ear to ear grin on his face.

Vallius turned to Twilight "Tell the Emperor everything that you have seen since you've been in Tamriel, Twilight, including what has transpired today. Tell him I sent you and everything is going to be fine."

Twilight stared, aghast at what Vallius was saying; though she couldn't manage speak up.

The arena owner started to speak "Get her and that bird to the Emperor, and you" he pointed at Vallius, "we have some paperwork to fill out. Once all the proper paperwork is filled out then you can see the healer down in the bloodworks."

"You must be Twilight Sparkle" Emperor Titus Mede II said as he walked into the large meeting hall Twilight was told to wait in.

"How do you know my name?" asked Twilight meekly.

"Your friends came through town looking for you" the Emperor told Twilight. At those words Twilight's ears perked up.

"My friends?" she asked.

"Yes, they came by a while ago though. So I have to know, where have you been this whole time?" asked the Emperor.

Twilight then began to recount everything she had been through, starting with that last morning in Equestria. She told him of how she first met a Khajiit who was extremely helpful, who had died helping her. She told him of the funeral they had to honor Ra'Zahmirr. The Emperor simple listened intently, not wanting to interrupt Twilight. Though Philomena slept through her tale, the Emperor seemed to care a great deal.

Twilight told him of the protection Vallius offered, how he was there for her until she had made it to her destination. She told the Emperor of how the rich Khajiit in Riverhold had betrayed Ra'Zahmirr's trust and made her a slave. Only to be transported to the arena and the weeks she spent without seeing the sun.

Finally she told Emperor Mede of the day she had. About how Vallius and his friend had jumped in to save Twilight and one had died. She then told Emperor Mede that Vallius had volunteered to be a gladiator to spare Twilight the fate.

Recounting all the events were tough but somehow, saying them out loud to a listening ear made her feel better.

Seeing that Twilight had finished, Emperor Mede said "don't worry about Vallius Twilight, I can get him free though it might take a few days to go through the processing."

Twilight looked at the Emperor tiredly and said "thank you."

The Emperor smiled at Twilight and said "you are welcome to stay here tonight, the guards will show you to your room." And with that, Emperor Mede walked out of the room.

Once Twilight was in her temporary room she decided to write to Celestia and her friends. She grabbed a quill, some ink, and a blank scroll up off the nightstand and began writing.

Dearest friends,

I have been away from you for so long. I was told you were only a few hours north of where I am so I am having Philomena take this letter to you to make you aware I am currently staying in the Imperial City. There is so much I want to talk about but wouldn't know where to begin to start writing.

Please make your way to this city, I miss you all very much.

Twilight Sparkle

Twilight sighed as she looked at what she had just wrote. It seemed lacking but wit the events of the day rattling inside her brain she couldn't think of anything better and just decided to seal it. 'Now for Celestia's letter' Twilight thought.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I have so much to tell you. Did you know they've never heard of you here?

I've learned so much since I've been here, not all of it is good. To answer your question physically I am fine but right now I just need somepony to talk to. For now they will be my friends but when I see you I wish to speak with you about what I've seen.

I miss you, and I miss Equestria. I am ready to come back but I do not know the way.

Hopefully by the time you are reading this I am already on my way home, dreaming of my own bed. For now it seems I must settle for the bed the Emperor has provided.

As always, your faithful student,

Twilight Sparkle

Twilight looked at the second letter, seeming more pleased with this one but still not satisfied. After a long sigh she decided it would have to be enough.

She woke up Philomena and handed her the two sealed scrolls. "This one is for the princess" Twilight said pointing to one of  the scrolls. "And this one is for my friends, I was told they are a little ways North so that should help. If you could deliver them I would be grateful."

Philomena gave what Twilight assumed was a nod and then flew out the window.

Twilight trotted lightly over to the bed in the room and got under the covers. 'Things are finally back on track' she thought to herself. She used her magic to put out the candle then closed her eyes.

When she closed her eyes the vision of the archer on the sand played in her mind again. Twilight's eyes snapped open as she started to cry.