The Dulling of a Blade

Dusk wasn’t sure how she felt. Stupid? No, that wasn’t like her. She felt a bit disappointed in herself, though. Obviously, the Guard wouldn’t have sent a whole bunch of ponies to just stand there and stare in only one direction.

Still, she didn’t feel overly nervous. While her neck was collared, her hooves and wings shackled and she was fairly certain she had a concussion, she had been in worse situations.

“Holy shit, is that Dusk Rider?” A voice called from one of the metal doors she was led past.

“What? Dude, what happened Dusk?” Another voice called.

“Assassin life too much for a dracony?” Another jeered, and was met with hostility.

“Hey, fuck off! She’d kick your ass if she wasn’t chained up.”

“Yeah, if.”

With a roll of her eyes and an extra bit of speed in her step, Dusk ignored them. A few more insults were flung her way, something about ‘mutant’ and other cliché not-as-good-as-a-pony remarks.

A door was pulled open in front of Dusk, and a guard behind her abruptly headbutted her in the back. She yelped slightly, falling forward just past the doorframe. “Hey, watch it.” She snarled, her teeth baring as she craned her neck to look back.

“Make me.” The guard replied, his hoof roughly slamming down, again in the middle of her back. Dusk inhaled sharply.

“You guys are fucking lucky I’m chained up…”

“It’s not really a threat when the chains aren’t coming off until you’re hanging in the courtyard, assassin.”

“Yeah fuck you too.” Dusk remarked, her eyes glaring at the guards until the door shut behind her, a loud CLANG signalling it being fully closed and a lock slid into place.

The Dracony pulled herself up, and looked around. Her room consisted of…nothing. Grey walls, grey door, grey bed that didn’t even have a sheet or a pillow. There was no window, and nothing else but the bed adorned the walls. Her shackles were so heavy that even if a guard were to come in right now, she couldn’t take them.

“…okay…” She felt something swell in her chest, but a hard swallow cleared it. “This is fine…I’m fine.”

Three days went by. Dusk was starting to ache. Her shackles weighed her down, making any sort of training or athletic movement impossible. Obviously, she wasn’t allowed out for any sort of physical activity, so her muscles were beginning to cramp and her body wasn’t happy with its lack of movement at all. The food they served her was sub-par, but really not that different from her normal fare. Mouldy bread, water that probably also had mould in it and was likely taken from the drippings of rainwater off some sweaty stallion’s tail, based on how it tasted.

Dusk wasn’t happy. She never really was, but this was starting to eat at her psyche. When a guard game into the room with two others behind him, she thought for sure it was them coming to bring the news of her execution – but instead, they had just come to mock her. She couldn’t really do anything to protect herself when they pinned her up against the wall, taunting her with remarks about how her great assassin reputation was already dying, and how her life hadn’t amounted to anything in the short time she had lived it.

The abuse from the guards came frequently, but sometimes it was her own fault. When she attempted to crack a joke with them, they’d swing open the door and either tighten her chains to the point they dug into her flesh, or just beat her. She doubted that the warden would care if she told her, so she stayed quiet about it. She had been tortured before.

Three days turned into a week. That week turned into two. By this point, Dusk was starting to lose it. Her muscles practically didn’t even work anymore. She could hardly will herself to stand and do her daily shamble around the 10x10 cell she was trapped in. Every one of her movements was shaky, her eyes now lacking the brilliant lustre they once carried and her body no longer tough enough to take a beating from the guards, so she kept herself silent. She hadn’t spoken in over a week, and her throat felt like sandpaper no matter how much ass-water (as she had taken to calling it in her head) she drank. Not that she got much to begin with.

She kicked a rock. It bounced off the wall, and returned to a similar position in front of her. She kicked it again, and the cycle repeated itself.

Until the door swung open, shocking her. It hadn’t opened in almost four days – food was just passed through a small opening at the bottom.

“Dusk Rider.” A commanding voice spoke, and Dusk’s squinting eyes made out the physique of a stallion in guard armour.

“Y-…” Dusk coughed, not realizing how horrible her throat was. It felt like she had inhaled sand and absorbed it into her pores.

Did a throat have pores?

The sand had created its own pores. I respect the sand more than these things. Dusk thought to herself.

“Your presence has been requested by Princess Luna.” He said. Two guards were already walking forward to pick her up.

“Yeah…” Dusk rasped. “Then why don’t you tell Luna she can kiss my fucking-…”

Dusk was forcefully silenced by the back-hoof of a guard slamming into her face. She fell backwards, feeling moisture brimming in her eyes but refusing to allow them to pour over. “Sh…it…” She coughed again, her head throbbing. The two guards just scowled at her and forced her to her hooves, her legs wobbling and shaking with each step she took.

It was a sorry sight for the prisoners who had seen her the day she walked in. Dusk looked horrible. Already she was slimmer, the lack of proper food and exercise having made her thin and borderline anorexic. Every step made her shake, and each time she was pushed forward it looked like she was going to topple.

“By the sun…” One prisoner whispered. Dusk’s ear twitched.

“Shut it, dude. She can hear you.”

“She…she looks like shit. What’d they do?”

“Doesn’t matter, just keep your head down.”

“Fuck off. Ain’t a guy allowed to feel bad for a mare sometimes?”

“As if you’d care if she came out lookin’ just fine.”

Dusk let a sigh escape her, but even that made her lungs ache. She wondered if her cell had grown black mould at some point…

It took almost an hour for them to reach Luna’s quarters, where she had requested Dusk to be brought. When they did push open the door and lead Dusk in, they had her sit down on the floor. Luna, who was at her desk and writing with a quill, looked up and smiled gently.

“Thank you, lieutenant.” She bowed her head. “Leave us, please.”

“Er…princess, are you certain about that?” The pony at the front of the group glanced at Dusk, who was hunched over and staring daggers at Luna. Her eyes no longer carried the same intimidation that they used to.

“I am most certain, lieutenant. That will be all.”

“…as you wish, ma’am.” The lieutenant and the rest of the guards who had escorted Dusk bowed, and slowly shuffled out of the room. A blue glow gripped the door handle and shut it behind them.

Luna waited until the guards were gone, then turned her chair around and looked down at Dusk. “Here, let me take those.” Her horn lit up, gripping every piece of metal restraining Dusk and removing all of it, leaving the collar for last. When it came off, Dusk reached up and rubbed at her neck, staying completely silent. If this had happened a week and a half ago, Dusk would have immediately jumped on Luna and strangled her until every bone in her neck was broken – but she didn’t have the strength right now.

Without the chains, she almost looked worse. Her body was scraped and bruised, bits of fur missing in the places that the shackles and chains ground against her. One of her wings looked dislocated, and her eyes carried an air of…almost disinterest.

“…so…” Dusk rasped, her voice still unsteady.

“I know you’re probably wondering why I brought you here.”

“Not…really…” She wheezed.

“Goodness, take some water.” Luna levitated a glass over, and Dusk happily drank from it. She barely got any before, and it was usually moldy or tasted like ass. Having fresh, albeit room-temperature water was like a blessing.

“…thanks.” Dusk forced out. Her voice was still quiet, but less sounding like a rake dragging across leaves from two autumns ago.

Luna slowly stood up, pushing the chair to the side and sitting on the floor so she was at the same level as the Dracony. “Dusk, I understand you aren’t the type to want to speak, but it might help you here. I just want to…” She sighed and looked at the floor, then back up. “I want to help you. I really do. I know that you aren’t happy with your current life.”

“What, you mean that cell?”

“Dusk, you’ve been there for two weeks.”

“Two weeks is a lot when you’re treated worse than a dog.”

“Okay, I-…” Luna inhaled deeply, then let it out. “Right. I understand. I really do. But you know what I meant. It’s not like I was the one who sent that team out.”

Dusk rolled her eyes. “Mhm? And who did, then?”

“We don’t know. We just got an anonymous tip that you had been waiting there for two hours.” Luna shrugged. “By the way…what was that about? Are you that confident that we couldn’t catch you, or was it more a case of giving up?”

“A little of both.” Dusk admitted. “I know this is a dream, anyway. You’re trying to oil me up so I’ll just…” she slid one hoof along the other, in an attempt at visualizing what she was saying. “Slliiiiide on back to Canterlot.”

“Dusk, I-…”

“No no, you don’t need to say the rest. ‘I want you to come back, Dusk. I care about you. So does Shining. Buuuuh.’ I get it. Okay?” She waved a hoof. “You’re wasting your time. Take me off this little emotional ride of yours and I’ll be on my way. You can’t get in my head.”

Luna grimaced. She felt that same twinge in her chest again. “Er…Dusk. This isn’t a dream. You’re not-…”

“Okay, yeah. Play it along. Keep going till the execution day, I get it. And then when they’re about to drop me off the platform and I feel the noose around my neck tighten, that’s when you stop everything and give me some speech about where my life’s headed. Cool.”

“Dusk, you need to understand. I’m trying to help.”

“Oh yeah, I know you are. Don’t worry, I got that.” Dusk nodded. “Thanks, and all. But just take me out already. I’ve had enough of you. I’d rather get captured for real.”

“Dusk, I’m trying to tell you…”

“Just fucking give it up, please? It’s cool that you’re persistent and all, but I really just want to wake up and get some work d-…”

Luna abruptly stood up. She reared back and smacked the Dracony right across the cheek, her hearty strike making Dusk reel back and fall on the ground, her cheek stinging. “Is that real enough for you?! Do you feel this is still a dream?!” She let her anger slowly seep out with each heavy breath she took, until her voice returned to normal.

“You’ve uh…” Dusk cleared her throat, rubbing a hook against her cheek. “You’ve got a strong arm there…” Her voice was less annoyed and slightly sullener now, Luna’s painful wake-up call having made her realize where she really was.

“Dusk.” Luna said calmly. “You’re here. You’re captured. You are in serious consideration for execution. The only way that I think I can save you now is to have you speak to my sister.”

“…well that’s not happening.” Dusk grimaced even as the words left her mouth.

“How can you be so bitter, Dusk?” Luna sounded exasperated. “You are staring into the face of death itself and refusing to balk, simply because you hold a grudge.”

“My grudge is justified.”

“Celestia put me on the moon for a thousand years, Dusk. I’m not this bitter. I was at least able to forgive her.”

“It’s easy when you’re immortal. I’ve only got another century in this old thing.”

Luna stepped forward, sitting right in front of Dusk. “Look. I know what my sister did, and I understand your anger. I understand you don’t want to talk to her. But think of the opportunity you’re missing out on. Not only will it save your life, but perhaps it would give you a chance at a new one…”

“I’m…I…” Dusk began, but trailed off. “I can’t…bear to look at her.”

“I know. But listen to me.” Now Luna put a hoof on Dusk’s shoulder. The Dracony winced and started to pull away, but kept herself from doing so. “Celestia doesn’t understand the extent of what she did to you and your Dracony brethren. If you told her, face to face, she might at least feel a bit of remorse.”

Dusk’s face twitched. She hadn’t spoken to Celestia directly in over ten years. “…well you know your sister.” Dusk admitted. “Are you sure this would do anything? If you talking to her doesn’t work, why would she listen to a criminal?”

“It’s worth a try. That’s all I’m trying to say.” Luna shrugged. “I…pulled some strings to get Shining Armour to put in a good word for you, but it hasn’t got her convinced yet.”

The Dracony slowly breathed in, then let it ease out of her nose slowly. “Riiiight.” She suddenly felt a wave of nausea, and nervousness – the second one was luckily hidden by the physical onset of the first. “Oh sweet L-…er…” She blinked up at Luna, then cleared her throat and shook herself. “Fine. I’ll do it.”

“Oh, wonderful.” Luna let out a deep sigh of relief, her horn slowly lighting up and picking up the collar and chains.

“…damnit, do I have to wear those?”

“Yes.”

“Fuck…”

“…and have the delegates from Saddle Arabia and Griffonstone far apart from each other. We have enough problems with them both as it is, we don’t need one tearing apart the other.”

“Absolutely, princess.” A royal advisor bowed, and hurried out of the throne room.

Princess Celestia eased back in her throne, her eyes turning upwards to stare at the ceiling high above. She had been dealing with official business for hours, and it was nice to have a short reprieve.

The throne room opened, the sound of the grandiose doors swinging outwards making Celestia re-focus on it. She allowed her eyes to focus in, before they blinked themselves multiple times to make sure she wasn’t seeing things. Her sister, Princess Luna, had just walked in – and was trotting towards the throne with Dusk rider chained and shackled beside her.

“Luna, what is the meaning of- by the sun, is that…”

“It is, sister.” Luna stopped at the base of the throne, and Dusk slowly shuffled up beside her. She had a muzzle over her face, and was glaring at Celestia like a dog protecting her puppies.

Celestia got over her shock as quickly as she could, clearing her throat and sitting upright. “What is the meaning of this?” She asked, in her authoritative tone.”

“Sister, Dusk Rider was captured by our guards two weeks ago. After a bit of discussion with myself, she has decided she has something to say to you.”

“…and you expect me to humour her? Look at the state of her.”

“No, I expect you to listen.” Luna’s horn glowed, and the muzzle dropped from Dusk’s mouth, clattering to the floor.

The Dracony stood there in silence, staring up at Celestia. The regal white alicorn relented, her voice almost tired. “…very well. Speak, Dracony.”

“My name is Dusk Rider, princess.” Dusk asserted, her gaze meeting Celestia’s. “In case you’ve already forgotten.”

“Criminals don’t receive the privilege of being called by name.”

“And tyrants don’t receive the privilege of being recognized as royalty.”

The tension hung in the air like a thick fog, clouding the perception of both mares.

“What is it you want to say, assassin?” Celestia asked.

“I wanted you to understand something.” Dusk stepped forward, her hooves gently clacking against the stairs leading to the throne and her shackles jingling noisily. “Because it’s come to my attention that you don’t fully grasp what my issue is with you.”

“I truly do not, aside from the fact that all criminals hate the ones who enforce their laws.”

“This isn’t about laws, Celestia. I’d be happy to walk myself to the gallows if you admitted what laws you’ve broken.”

“…” Celestia frowned and glared down at Dusk. “Elaborate. I’ll humour you.”

“Luna?” Dusk glanced at the other princess, who stepped forward, her horn gently glowing.

“And what exactly is this?” Celestia asked.

“A simple virtual reality spell.” Luna replied, slowly touching the tip of her horn to her sister’s. “No foul play. But Dusk prepared a…presentation.”

“This is childish.” Celestia scoffed.

In a bright flash, both Celestia and Luna were standing on a dirt road. The street was populated by draconies, much like Dusk, and the houses lining said street made neat rows all the way to the mighty, majestic palace near the center of the urban area. The whole structure was evidently formed out of gems or some sort of shiny material.

“Bellephron.” Dusk said abruptly. A Dracony walked directly through her, as if to make Celestia certain it was an illusion. “Does it look familiar?”

“…no, not particularly.” Celestia replied, looking around. “I…don’t recall ever seeing something like this.”

“No? Well I guess you wouldn’t have. Not before your ponies moved in.” She waved her tail, and the image changed.

It was the same town, same spot, but everything looked different. Draconies were being led down the street in neat, single-file lines, but in the opposite direction from the palace. They were being led out of the city. “Does this perhaps look a bit more familiar?” Dusk pointed up at the palace, which was far less grandiose than before. It looked like a pillar of solid rock, jutting out of the landscape in an ugly fashion.

“Still no. Are you going somewhere with this, Dusk?”

The Dracony waved her tail again, and once more the illusion shifted. Now, the landscape looked nothing like before. The houses that were once lining the streets were no longer there. The draconies were gone, too. The only thing that looked vaguely familiar to them both was the stone pillar of an ancient palace, which was being slowly dismantled by teams of unicorns standing nearby. Wagons trundled past them, carted by pegasi and earth ponies bearing the Equestrian emblem on their armour or clothing.

“This is much more familiar, I’m sure.”

“…yes.” Celestia said with a nod.

“Now, can you tell me, where is this?”

“As you said, Bellephron.”

“And what exactly did your…” Dusk searched for a word that wasn’t blatant profanity. “Workers do here?”

“They were…” Celestia trailed off, glancing to the side at one of the carts, stacked high with rocks that glimmered with precious minerals. “…mining gems.”

Dusk nodded. “And can you tell me where Draconies were made to live while their home was demolished and turned into a wasteland to fuel your need for jewels?” She asked, accusingly.

“That was the decision of the Duke I appointed to the land. Tempest Diadem.”

“Right, right. So you have no idea?”

“…I do not.”

Another wave of Dusk’s tail and the vision changed to something completely different. A Dracony family, sitting in what looked to be a living room. There was a mother, a father, and two foals. One with a dual-coloured mane of blue, and another with a mane that was red and black. The living room looked horribly kept, with wallpaper peeling off the walls, the furniture ready to crumble, and dust covering most things. The two foals were playing on the floor, wrestling or passing a doll back and forth and muttering words too quiet or jumbled to hear.

“Now, I want you to watch this, Celestia. I don’t want you to look away. At all.” Dusk said. Her tone was monotonous. She, despite her demand to Celestia, put a wing just under her eyes.

At the request of the mare she had promised to humour, Celestia let her eyes roll slightly before fixating on the scene in front of her.

The front door swung open, and an Equestrian royal guard stepped inside, followed by two others. They all had the same white coat and bluish-turquoise mane, and of course the golden armour that all Equestrian guards wore.

“Draconies were only permitted to have one child.” Dusk muttered gravely.

The guards stormed forward, the leader speaking in an authoritative voice. “We have received reports that this household has two foals.” He looked down at the two playing on the floor, and scowled. “And we see these reports are true.”

The female dragony – the mother – stood up. “Wait.” She said, stepping in front of the foals. “What are you planning to do? They were twins, they both came into this world at the same time. We had no control over it.” While the mother clearly cared, her eyes were tired. The flesh under her eyes sagged with pure exhaustion, and as much as she tried to seem assertive, her voice was dull.

“One of the foals will be taken and put into an Equestrian orphanage.” The guard leader said bluntly.

“What right do you have to take our foals away from us and give them to somepony else like property?” The mother grimaced, attempting to show anger that was desperate to be let out.

“Our orders come from Duke Tempest. Take it up with him if you have a complaint. Now, move out of the way.”

The mother stood firm, flaring out her greenish-blue wings. Her eyes attempted to stare right into the guard leader’s, but she kept averting her gaze. She began to shrink back at the captain’s own glare. “I…I won’t let you have either of them. We provide for them both on the rations we are given, they both cause no harm!”

“Rules are rules, ma’am. Now move, or we’ll be forced to arrest you.”

“Please, there’s no need for this.” The father stood up, taking his place beside his wife. “We both understand.”

“Night, what are-…” The mother began.

“We’ll get things ready and send one of them to you when the time is right. Is that fair?” The father asked. A hint of hope flickered in the mother’s eyes.

The guard captain squinted…then shook his head. “No. That’s not our protocol. You have five seconds to move out of the way, or we will use force.”

The father attempted to hold his composure. “We won’t let you take one of our children without preparing them for it.”

“They will be cared for.”

“You’re not taking my foals!” The mother yelled, getting increasingly hysterical.

“We will ensure that the one we take will be taken care of.”

“Get out! Get out of our house!” The mother screamed, and at this point the father was trying to calm her down.

“Ma’am, calm down.” The guard captain bristled. The two guards behind him shifted a bit.

“I’m not letting you take either of them! It isn’t right!”

“We’ll be taking them anyway. Please, just- oh forget it.” The guard started to push forward, but the mother suddenly grabbed hold of him.

“GET AWAY!” She screamed, her tail lashing forward and slamming into the guard’s head. It formed a dent in his helmet, knocking it off of his head. Immediately the other two guards leapt on her.

Dusk glanced at Celestia. She was watching with wide eyes, her mouth slightly open. Her ears were pressed against her head.

“Get off of me!” The mother yelled again, her tail trying once more to hit the captain. Instead, she wrapped it around one of the other guards’ throat, squeezing tight – and as a response, the second supporting guard delivered a hard punch to the side of her head. The mare fell limp.

“Fucking…shit.” The captain stood up, straightening himself and dusting off his mane.

“I…I am truly sorry, my wife is-“ The husband tried to speak.

“Both of you. Both of you are under arrest.” The captain growled. “One of you two, grab the red one.” He pointed at the foals, both of whom were more than old enough to realize what was happening. They pressed themselves against the wall, and the red one was grabbed by the guard who had previously had the mother’s tail wrapped around his throat.

The blue foal stood up in shock. When it spoke, it was clear she was female. “W-wait, put him down!” She cried, but the guards all ignored her. The captain heaved the unconscious wife onto his back, while the last remaining guard grabbed hold of the husband and shackled his hooves. He was arguing and struggling as they all left the house.

“H-hey! I said put him down!” The blue filly ran forward, grabbing hold of the last guard to leave, but he knocked her back with a firm kick to the chest. The filly landed on her back, and the door slammed shut.

The vision went black, leaving Celestia and Dusk standing there in a void.

“…sweet merciful Faust…” Celestia muttered under her breath. Dusk could see moisture building in her eyes.

“You’re telling me you didn’t know about any of this?” Dusk asked, turning her whole body to face her.

“…I…” Celestia swallowed, still staring at the scene that no longer existed. “He…he told me…Tempest…told me…everything was…”

“Peachy? Fine? Happy?” Dusk felt a deep, menacing anger welling up, but took a deep breath to suppress it. “Whatever he told you, he was lying. Whatever you think was going on in that town, in any town that draconies lived, it was a lie.”

“That…it…i-it can’t…” Celestia started stammering. It was the first time Dusk had seen the princess at a loss for words, though she had only spoken to her this directly a few times.

The Dracony stepped forward, now face-to-chest with the princess and looking up at her. “So, do you maybe get an idea of why I couldn’t stand to serve under you, princess?” She asked, her teeth bared. “I don’t care if you didn’t know about this, you’re still the one in charge.”

“…” Celestia still stared straight ahead. Finally she shook her head, her eyes blinking and refocusing on Dusk. “Y…you…I…that…was that…”

“That was me.” Dusk flicked her tail again. The image reappeared, showing the Dracony filly curled up on the floor and sobbing. “My brother, my father, my mother? I never saw them again.” She said matter-of-factly. “Never knew them properly. I was six.”

Celestia was breathing heavily. “Then…h-how did you…when Shining found you, you were…”

“A street rat, yeah.”

“But…y-you were already an adult, how did you…”

“I found my own way. They came to get me the next day – it wasn’t any rush for them, just another useless Dracony filly. I was already gone, though. I went to live with my friends in a house a few blocks down. They never even bothered to look for me. I lived there for a while until my friend and her mother were taken by the guards too. Tempest liked Dracony mares.” Dusk glared up at Celestia, whose eyes continued to widen.

The Dracony pushed away, trotting in the opposite direction. Slowly the vision faded, bringing them back to the throne room. Celestia was still sitting down.

“So, I dunno if this means anything to you.” Dusk turned back to Celestia once she was at the base of the stairs. “I dunno if you care. You probably don’t.” Dusk shrugged. “But when Shining found me, it was the best time of my life. I had a place to live that wasn’t crawling with bugs. I had food to eat that wasn’t mouldy or weeks old. I had…” Dusk’s throat suddenly choked up, her eyes also filling with liquid that she wouldn’t dare to admit was tears. “I had somepony to care about for the first time in about ten years.”

Celestia gulped, wiping her eyes with one hoof. “Dracony- I mean…Dusk…I had no idea. I swear.”

“And I know this doesn’t pardon me of any crimes. I’ve lost track of how many ponies I’ve killed at this point, honestly.” She shrugged, trying to play it off as neutral uncaringness. “But I dunno. I figured you’d get a kick out of seeing what your little gem-mining business did to me. To all the draconies.” She turned herself back around and started to walk down the glistening walkway of the throne room. “I’ll show myself to my cell. Wake me up when you’ve got everything ready for me.”

Luna glanced between Dusk and Celestia, hoping one of them would say something else.

“Wait.”

Dusk stopped, but didn’t look back.

“I…Dusk, I can’t pardon you of all of your crimes. You truly have done too much to excuse them. But…” She paused, standing up and slowly walking towards the Dracony. “I…could possibly arrange for you to…stay here in Canterlot.”

“…what?” Dusk slowly turned her head, looking over her shoulder.

“It won’t fix what I’ve done, and it won’t fix what you’ve done.” Celestia admitted. “But…well…there is clearly a problem in Bellephron.” The princess paused. “…a problem…that you might want to help us deal with.”

The mare standing before Celestia began to turn herself around. Her shackles jangled with each movement she made. “Seriously? So what’s this going to be, you take me as a government assassin ‘til I’m not useful?”

“I…no.” Celestia forced a bit of a smile, wiping her eye with a wing. “I wronged you. I wronged all of your kind. I truly did. But you…I can hardly blame you for leaving when you were given the chance. I…truly am sorry. I want to make this right. But…I can’t simply get rid of Tempest. At least, not until I know what he’s really like.”

Dusk’s eyes drifted to the floor, then back up to Celestia. “So…what, then? You want me to work for you? Or you want me to kill him? Or what? Could you please just spell it out, Princess? Because I really don’t-…” A lump formed in her throat, but she couldn’t bring herself to swallow it back down. “I really don’t want to be used…again.”

“I can’t simply let you go free. Even if you were absolved of all crimes, ponies would recognize you…and they wouldn’t be as formal as I.”

“So…” Dusk stared up at Celestia. “…you know what? Whatever you want me to do, I’m doing it. But it’s not for you.” She stepped closer again, glaring up at her. “It’s for whatever draconies are still around. I don’t want them to suffer anymore. So tell me what I need to do, and…and…” Dusk started shaking. Her exhaustion was catching up with her, her emotions no longer able to cover for it.

“…and…” Dusk gritted her teeth. “And…I’ll do it.” She finished, her hoof shakily reaching up to wipe her eye. “F-fucking…gods…” She nearly fell forward, the weight of her chains more than she could handle at this point. “Take these…things off…” She wheezed, her body abruptly collapsing and falling flat in front of Celestia. Almost immediately her chains were enveloped in a golden aura, and the weight was lifted from her. The shackles on her wings stayed, though.

Dusk slowly rolled onto her front, her front hooves covering her eyes as she allowed herself to cry for real. “You…didn’t even…f-fucking…know…this whole…damn…time…”

Luna glanced at Celestia with an expression that bore confusion.

Dusk felt a hoof on her mane, gently stroking her head. She didn’t need to look up to know it was Celestia’s, trying to comfort her.

Dusk didn’t know if this was a dream. She was almost certain it wasn’t, though. If it was, it was the most elaborate and unending dream that she had ever experienced. She definitely didn’t want it to end, though…