Twilight's Element

Chapters

Chapter 1: Waking World
Chapter 2: Where Knowledge Is
Chapter 3: An empty Dream
Chapter 4: Once Upon a Time
Chapter 5: The place we use to know
Chapter 6: This Day Was Going To Be Perfect

Chapter 1: Waking World

<”Where… Where am I?”> She said, her voice echoing. The only thing she could see was an absolute darkness. The black and silent world she was in made her uncomfortable as it overwhelmed her. All her attempts to open her eyes seemed to be futile, <”my body… I-I feel it, I feel a blanket over me, but why can’t I move?!“> She struggled to move her limbs and wings, to scream, even just to open her eyes, but none of her attempts did anything for her.

< “Did I… Did I Die?”> As she questioned this, her mind began to shift to her most recent memories, but all she could remember of her last minutes before now was deep and crippling sadness, followed by a sharp and extremely intense pain in her head. “<No, no… It has to be something else… Maybe I’m just suffering dream paralysis! Or, maybe this is just a dark room, maybe a dream? That is why it seems like I can’t move… Maybe… Maybe it’s all just a dream!Haha!“> she exclaimed with a laugh, <"Of course it is a dream!">

<”Is anypony there! I need some help! Please!“> Her voice echoed through wherever she was. <“Hello!? Shining?… Are you there? Cadance? Princess Celestia? Princess Luna?… Girls?…“> Every word she desperately screamed, was replied by the same oppressing silence, no matter what she said nor how much she screamed, it was always the same. Oppressive. Absolute. Unending. Silence.

As she filled with terror her pleas turned to shrieks and screams. Her thoughts turned to desperation, she couldn’t tell if second, minutes, or even hours had passed. The only thing she knew was that she was alone and that the silence... the oppressive and disturbing silence was slowly consuming her dulled senses and weakened mind. If there is a limbo she mused, it could easily be this.

At some point a glimpse of light appeared before her. Almost as a divine sign. A sign of her beloved Celestia perhaps. Could it be?... she thought, her eyes full of the hope that she had always had in her former teacher. Once again Celestia was her light, her lighthouse; Guiding her through the darkness to the safety of her warm and kind embrace. Her eyes were misty, at the edge of crying and her heart pounding in anticipation.

<“Celestia? Is that… You?“>

The shimmering light slowly became brighter as it started to engulf her vision completely, blinding her with its shine. At first, the light caused her eyes to struggle to see what was in front of her. She blinked a couple of times, or so she thought, until she was able to see colors and shapes. These slowly turned into her surroundings, yet she was still unable to move her head to see everything properly.

The morning sun warmed and brightened the room. There was a clock, a rather unknown kind of clock hanging over a nightstand in her vision, it read seven in the morning, and the light in the room supported that time.

<”W-where am I? Princess? I-I can’t move…”>

It was certainly not a hospital room as she thought it would be, instead, it had a very distinguished style: Wooden furniture combined with a polished stone ceiling and brown painted walls adorned the square room. She tried her best to look for anything that could tell her where she was, unfortunately, the the only thing she could see was the outstanding clock over the wood nightstand.

The room didn’t have common furniture, or at least, not the kind she knew, but in the end it was clearly just a room, not unlike any other room in a house, much like the one she shared with her parents in her old home in Canterlot, except hers was more colorful.

She looked at the clock with curiosity, as it seemed a rather unique piece of machinery. She hummed at how instead of hands pointing to the hours, it had rings and gears moving a few centimeters above a metal plate, showing the time with a reflection of light that created the illusion of numbers floating in the middle of the circles.

She still was unable to move her back legs. She tried desperately to move her forelegs instead to touch the clock, but just like the rest of her body, they ignored her every command. Her eyes were no exception nor her lips as she couldn’t move them either.

Her sight was fixated into the clock as she recalled some theories about the manipulation of magic fields that could mirror the behavior of the mysterious device in a similar way, but again, those were only speculations and theories. <”Did they managed achieve the manipulation control of the static magic field while keeping the mat—”>.

“Argggh, Why do I have to wake up early on a Saturday morning!?” a soft and sharp, slightly drowsy, maybe sleepy, yet clearly feminine voice echoed in her head.

The voice sounded clear and close, yet she couldn’t see her. Desperation grow as she tried to scream since her body had failed her once again.

<”Wait… Who is there!? Hello!?“> She asked once again, trying to reach the owner of the voice. But just like before, she receive no answer, <”Can you hear me? Hello? I can’t move!“> she said while struggling, <”Why is nopony here? Why they are ignoring me!? Help! Please!... Somepony...”>.

Still, she was unable to move any part of her body. Yet, for some reason, she yawned. Loud and profoundly, like a corpse back from the dead. Not by her own will but her body’s. And just like that, her forehoof took the clock without her moving it.

The moment she saw her arm, something sunk in her, something dread. Desperation grew in a moment as her pupils shrieked. She saw in fear how her lavender coat was now bright green from her forearm all the way up to her body.

<”Wait, what!?“>

Her body started to move again. First it took of the white blanket that covered it and with a hoof it scratched her eyes.

<”Argh, What is happening to me!“>

Her body moved again and stretched. She could feel how every inch of her body was now waking up. Her wings spread as if they were about to fly, her limbs became sensitive once again and a loud yawn came out of her. Then, without her permission, her body jumped off from the bed in a quick move as she heard an “Eyup” coming from her own muzzle in the form of the same sharp voice that she had heard before. Then it glided slowly across the brown room and through a wooden door into a soft pink colored bathroom. The sound of the hooves on the wooden floor caused her ears to peek up and her fur to crisp due to the sudden contact with the cold air in the room.

The cold wooden floor, the soreness in her left wing, every twitch of her ears, even a small pain in her back legs as she walked. The sensations were too vivid to be a dream and too real to be her imagination. She saw and felt everything, like a passenger of her own body, a mere spectator.

<”Come-On!“> she exclaimed while using all of her concentration to stop her own body. <”Why-You-Don’t-Do-As-I-Say!“> repeated with a lot of effort in her tone.

“I guess I should see if Lily is okay. She took the worst part in that… ‘landing’… Oh boy… her dad will be mad if she had even the smallest of scratches…“ The voice was less dizzy, but clearly still sleepy.

<”You, whoever is talking! Hello!? Argh, Why is nopony listening to me!?“>

Her body kept moving through the soft pink room before stopping in front of a crystalline frame adorned with golden trinkets showing various different shapes and forms that reminded her of Thorax’s horns combined with the two sisters seal and some others signs that she didn’t recognized.

The pristine surface showed a young mare with no more than eighteen years with a golden mane and bright green coat, her yellow eyes was fixed on the mirror, looking at her as the mare adjusted her mane a bit so it wouldn’t look as messed as it was.

She spread her wings widely, displaying them in all their splendor. Her wings, carefully preened: Her feathers, almost perfectly aligned and clean. She moved her head and wings to her left side to see clearly what seemed like a small bruise in her left wing that was causing her to stumble every now and then. It should be because of that landing… thought as she touched the sore limb with her mouth, Doctor Percival should fix me up. The green mare then opened her mouth to see her throat and checked on her eyes for something that were off. Finally, she took a small piece of cotton with her right wing and cleaned carefully her ears, finishing her morning routine while happily humming.

In that moment she realized that she could hear and feel the cotton rubbing against her ear in the exact same way as the mare on the frame. It took her a few seconds before she realized it.

<”I can’t move my body… I can’t talk… Her voice is identical of the one I heard in my head before and let’s not forget the fact that I am feeling what she’s doing right now…”> the gears aligned a second after, leading her to the despicable truth, <”Wait. WHAT!?“> she shrieked, sharp and loud enough to break all the Crystal Empire, except she couldn’t make any noise. The mare in the frame did a small jump spooked by the outburst. That caused her wings to spread out and her fur to crisp instinctually.

“Who said that!?” yelled the green coated mare to no one, her eyes darting from side to side. “Show yourself! Whoever you are!”

<”Who are you!? Why are you in my body!? Wait… I think I’m in your body. Why I’m in your body!?“>

“What!? What are you talking about? Where are you!?” asked the green mare while looking below the sink and behind the mirror.

<”In you! I mean, not physically of course, that would be weird. But I think I can see and feel everything you do, It’s quite fascinating, but that’s not the point! Where is MY body!?“>

The mare arched her brows, “how am I supposed to know!? Get. Out. Of. Me!” she yelled while recklessly shaking her head.

“<I already told you, I’m not physically inside of you, that would be impossible due to Pauny’s principle of exclusion. But that’s not the point! If I knew how to return to my own body I would do it immediately!>”

“Get-Out!” yelled the green mare as she swung her hoof into her head repeatedly.

<”Stop that! It hurts!“>

“Why do you think I’m doing it!?” she said without stopping her hoof, causing her to feel increasing pain on her head.

<”Calm. DOWN!“> she screamed, but the mare refused to stop her self-assault, <”STOP!“>

Suddenly, the green mare’s hoof stopped in mid-swing, and with a dumbfounded face reflected on the mirror, she said:

“How… How did you do that?…”

<”Do what?“>

“What do you mean with ‘Do what?’?”

<”I mean I couldn’t have done anything, as I am not capable of doing anything at all.“>

“Then… What… Was that…” The green mare looked at her hoof, uneasy of the fact that her hoof stopped by itself. She took a few seconds before she continued, “Okay, it’s nothing. I’m sorry. I think we should… I don’t know… Start again?”

<”That… That would be perfect.“> she smiled, even if the mare couldn’t see her. <”My name is Twilight Sparkle, nice to meet you.“>

Hmm… I think I have heard that name before… But where?... I should ask her later. Nice to meet you, Twilight Sparkle. My name is Emerald Dusk.”

<”Just Twilight, Emerald Dusk, and thank you for stop hitting me eh- you… Stop hitting yourself I mean… Gosh, this is weird.“>

“Yeah, sure… You welcome, I guess. Just Emerald it’s okay, Twilight. Now, tell me. Why are you in my brain again? Not that I don’t like you and all but, you know, I don’t remember letting another pony inside of my head,” Emerald sat on her haunches as she scratched a freshly formed lump on her head with her wing. Every time she touched the lump, it sent a jolt of pain, followed by a warm feeling to Twilight.

<”I… I don’t know… I just woke up here, I mean here: inside your brain, mind, wherever this place is.“>

“‘This place?’ What does that mean?” She asked while rubbing her forehead softly.

<”It’s like a dark and empty room-“>

“Yup, seems like my brain,” she shrugged.

Twilight chuckled, <”It’s not quite like that… I can feel every one of your senses. I can even tell you how my- your left wing hurts. And that you are really hungry. It feels, weird. To say the least…“>

“Well, everything is true though… I’m starving. That doesn’t explain why are you in my brain,” she stood up and stretched her wings, sending a comfortable sensation to Twilight once again.

<”I’m afraid I don’t have the answer yet… This has never happened to me before, neither have I heard or read anything like this before. It could be a dream, an advanced spell, or something like that.“>

“I can assure you that I’m not a dream, oh well,” she then spread her wings and moved her mane, “maybe I am, but also I am very real.” Twilight laughed loud enough for Emerald to hear her, and with a warm and bright smile she replied, her eyes fixed not only in the reflection of her bright golden eyes on the mirror, but into them Almost like if she could see Twilight in them, “I’m glad you feel better, Twilight.” she said, noticing a brief shimmer in her eyes afterwards.

<”Thank you, Emerald, I… I needed that…> Twilight sighed in relief, her heart now calmed and her mind soothed. She felt like the situation got a infinite better, as if, at least, she had a friend and somepony else to rely on. She took a few seconds before resuming in her usual scholarly tone, <”besides, I have been through worse. Once I went to another dimension and transformed into a human teenager for a couple of days, by Celestia, those humans have a really bad hormone system. I thought I would die in a mix of feelings that made absolutely no sense!“>

Did she say… Celestia?“Really? Do you mean, worse than mares?” she asked, genuinely concerned.

<”Waaaay worse.“>

“How do you know?”

<”Well, I myself am a mare and I can tell you that they have it a lot worse… I guess it’s fair for you to doubt since you can’t see me at all… Can you?“>

“No… And that’s pretty unsettling to be honest,” she chuckled while she began to preen her wings carefully. The sensation was no unknown to Twilight. It was pleasant and revitalizing for her to have a known sensation even in her situation, as she started to felt relaxed and comfortable.

<Of course it is… Do you want me to describe myself to you? Maybe that will help you.>

“That would be perfect,” she plucked one last feather, causing a jolt of pain coursing through her wing to her body and to Twilight.

“Sometimes it just feels kinda good, right? And how do you know that?” she said as she spat out the feather.

<Well I have wings… Had… In my body… You get it. I’m a lavender kind of purp->

“Can you explain me after the breakfast, I mean, if you are fine with it. I really need to eat something.

<Well, sure, of course. No problem.>

“Wonderful! Let me fix myself up and then we can go downstairs for some food. Then you can tell me your story and maybe we could see what happened to you. Maybe if you remember something else we can start searching?”

<”Wonderful! I’m hungry too… I mean, of course I am since it’s your body and. Gosh… This is weird.“>

“You tell me girl… You tell me…”

Author's Note

So, it seems like a while, right? I apologize for the delay but, well, health issues, school issues, life issues (like not having one), and mental issues are being my biggest enemies the last months. But chapter 2 only need to be edited though, so, hey, that's something.

I can't thank enough to sejox for his support and proofreading, and to Hubris for fixing the mess I and sejox left, hehe. Thank you so much to both of you.

And to anyone who like this things I call "stories" hehe.

Thank you. To all of you.

Chapter 2: Where Knowledge Is

The sound of Emerald’s hooves on the wooden floor made a rhythmic song that Twilight knew too well. This time, it made her feel uneasy. To feel, to see, and to hear those steps the way she did and not being she the one who was making them. The stairs she was traveling went far below, as they crossed across many doors and windows in what seemed like a endless stairway to the ground.

<Emerald, Wait!>

Emerald immediately came to a stop, Twilight’s yell sent a bolt of fear down her spine, “What happened?!”, her eyes darting from side searching for a yet unseen threat.

<I a-amm— nothing, but... Could you please look through the window?> Twilight asked.

“Well, sure…” Emerald said with a sigh. “You didn’t have to yell for that, you know? You could, I don’t know, just ask?” Emerald continued with a chuckle, “You scared me there”.

<Right. I… I’m sorry, I just… I think I saw something…>

Emerald slowly stepped closer to the wooden framed window that let through a bright sunlight that illuminated the otherwise dark and solitary stairway.

It was at that moment that Twilight saw it for her first time. Dozens of colossal structures, all fifty or more stories tall, blocking out the bright morning sunshine, splitting it into small rays as they blocked Celestia’s beautiful sun she had always loved. They rose far into the clouds, as if challenging the mountains in the distance, threatening to make their massive heights commonplace. The structures seemed like they were made mostly from stone and iron on the outside. If the building she was in were any indicator then they would all have wooden interiors. They had more windows and balconies than Twilight could count from her small windowed view, she did try though, as each one of the stories had at least more than twelve windows and two balconies on each side, not taking in count other structures she didn’t recognize.

Emerald could feel Twilight’s fascination overwhelming her, the unbridled intrigue enveloped her as each building the same as the one she stood in now piqued an interest she had never felt before. Suddenly they seemed so beautiful, so majestic…

So magical.

They rose up from the ground in and further up into the skies, giving home to thousands and thousands of creatures that she didn’t know existed. She was seeing the same world she inhabited, but through Twilight’s fascinated eyes.

“Twilight?... What—… What exactly are we seeing here? Why— ” asked Emerald unable to turn away from the beautiful sight, almost as if drunk from Twilight’s emotions.

<This… Those… Designs… I…> Twilight couldn’t find words to explain what for her seemed like a dream come true in more than one way, <Emerald. Where… Where are we? What is this place?>

“Why, It’s Ponyville of course. Why do you ask?” answered Emerald, unamused.

Twilight’s fascination quickly shifted with those words, <T-this cannot be Ponyville! W-where is everything? I-it's all gone!…> Twilight began to feel the weight of the unknown. She searched for something that could be called part of ‘Ponyville’, yet she could find nothing familiar in what was supposed to be her home. There was no Carrousel Boutique, Sugar Cube Corner, Sweet Apple Acres, she couldn’t even see her castle, once the largest and most ostentatious building in all Ponyville. it was hard to believe, that her beautiful town have now become such an incredible metropolis. She knew what that meant, she had been theorizing it since she had gained consciousness. But she was afraid. Afraid of the answer she already knew.

Emerald’s eyes began to mist as Twilight recalled clearly how the the crystal walls of her castle reflected the light into a myriad of colors with the sunrise showering the town with its light. She always loved that, how it turned the center of Ponyville into a spectacle every single day, as unintentional as it was. It was her home, her refuge, the one place that she belonged. Even Golden Oaks Library, as much as she didn’t want to admit it, wasn’t her home anymore. She had so many adventures in that castle, and so many new memories.

But now, all of that was gone, that beautiful sight of Ponyville, once clear and warm, was now a gray and dull landscape, similar to how she remembered Manehattan but even darker. It was amazing and sad at the same time. All that made Ponyville what it was was gone, but now, it was the home of so many more lives than she could ever imagine.

Emerald felt Twilight’s depression barring down on her, the world Twilight had known appeared before her as a mysterious and unknown place. She didn’t know where she was anymore.

“Twilight, is something wrong? Did I say something or—“.

<No, no… Is just that…> her voice broke for a moment, Twilight’s tears streaming down Emerald’s face, <W-where is the—> her heart sank the moment she remembered her old home in Ponyville. The heartbreak that caused the loss of Golden Oak haunted her for so much time. And now, her castle was gone too. Everything was gone. <Is there…> she paused, <A library nearby? … I… I really need to check on something...> Twilight muttered.

“Sure… I… There is one just a few blocks away. We can go after breakfast if you want,” Emerald awaited without answer, “Twilight?”

<Sure, I-I...That… That would be nice, Emerald…> Twilight replied quickly.

Emerald stepped away from the window, and continued downstairs. Each time they crossed a window, Twilight tried to peek outside from the side of Emerald’s eyes. What lie outside of those walls made her eager, anxious… afraid.

After a few more flights of stairs, Emerald stopped in front of a white metallic door labelled ‘forty-seven’.

“Finally the cafeteria, hopefully they have some hayburgers left. They usually run out pretty fast.”

Twilight couldn’t do anything but smile at the sound of something familiar,

“Twilight…”

<—ate this morning, it makes sense for me to be hungry. I admit—>

“Twilight…”

<—that it is fascinating. The fact that I feel everything you feel. It’s not only like I’m inhabiting your body but—>

Emerald rolled her eyes at the unstoppable Twilight’s self-speak. She trotted through the room filled with creatures of all kinds; from changelings to bat ponies and even hippogriffs. She stood in line at the buffet, they had entrees for everyone from vegetables for the herbivores to meat for the the carnivores, and even some meals in between, including things that Twilight have never seen before.

Emerald moved one metal plate across the bar with her left wing, “Good morning, Bell,” greeted Emerald to the feline creature on the other side, “How’s the family going?”.

<—all. And what if this is Ponyville, but in another time? It must be the future. But why would my mind be hibernating and for how long? I mean. Starswirl theorized that the mind of a pony and their body are deep bonded by the—>

Emerald stood with her gaze lost at the infinity as she drifted her attention to the creature on the other side of the bar. The brown fur creature that weared a white apron turned his frown upside down in the instant he saw the green mare, “Emerrald! Haha! And herre I thought you would skip brreakfast this morrning! Family has been going good, yes! Lovely wife, lovely daughterr, lovely life isn’t?” he said while moving a silver spoon around, “I suppose you will be heading to the Wonderrbolt Headquarterrs today too, right?”

“Oh, no, no. Not today, Bell” she waved her wing dismissively, “I have to go to the library today.”

“The Librrarry? Did the Pinkish “Book Bug” finally bite you? Hopefully not literrally, Miss Dusk,” said the feline with a grin while mixing a bowl of salad.

“Well,” she chuckled, “not exactly.”

“Say no more, I underrstand. Then, Miss Dusk, what do you wish this wonderrful day?”

“Lovely as always, Bell. I’ll have: One hayburger, one milkshake and two flower bars… And… Do you want something special, Twilight?”

<—the implications of something like the Thaumic system being combined into one being is scientifically groundbreaking as—>

“I’ll take that as a ‘No’ then,” Emerald shrugged, at first, the feline did a puzzled face when Emerald began to talk with herself, but he dropped the thought a second after. “This ponies and their names. In my land we used to have names based on our parents—” he said enthusiastically as he walked across the bar taking ingredients for Emerald’s order. After a minute, he returned with a silver plate and left it on Emerald’s head.

The feline gave the mare a huge smile while spinning his spoon around. “Have a grreat day, Miss Dusk.”

Emerald nodded at Bell, she then walked through the room, greeting everyone as she crossed them, every other returning the gesture calling her by the name “Emmy” as she smiled at them.

She then took an empty seat far away of the bar from where the crowd was and put the plate on the yellow metal table. Her mouth began to salivate in excess as she smelled her first food in the morning, a dish she loved, and prepared by who she thought was the better at it.

With her fore hooves she took first the hayburger and give it a bite.

<—but again that shouldn’t be possible, I mean wha—> Twilight mind received a shock of emotions as the flavors of the hayburger were being poured suddenly in Emerald’s mouth, and tasted by Emerald’s tongue, <W-What the… Hay?…> the sweet flavor of the honey mustard sauce was dancing across the crunchiness of the hay and lettuce. It did make the hay to taste less, but that caused the lettuce and spinach to shine into the mix that were between the two crispy honey buns. The pickles added a salty touch that allow the mix to not feel oversweeted, <What kind of food is this? I mean, why does it taste so… Good…?>

“What do you mean? The hayburger? Is just a regular burger, I guess,” said Emerald with her mouth full, “why do you ask?”

<Well, first thing first, you shouldn’t talk with your mouth full, that’s not appropriate. Second thing; I can taste it. Not only that, but I can feel all the flavors and textures in the burger. I have to say that it is really... weird, to feel all the flavors being injected in your mind without even touching the food… I’m not munching it, yet I can feel how crunchy it is in my teeths, and taste the pieces of hay in my tongue.>

“Well, did you felt my hunger before right? Then it’s logical to think that you could feel my taste too, isn’t?” Emerald took another bite of the burger, each time she munched the juicy hayburger, she could felt how Twilight gasped in delight for what it seems commonness to her, “why is so impressive?”

<Because I’m not only tasting it. I’m feeling how you are tasting it. In fact, this is not even close of what I had eaten before, I mean, for what I saw on the windows, clearly I have been... sleeping... many years. I didn’t expect for food to become this good. Or maybe…>

Emerald pupils shrank at the moment Twilight said that last words, she had a feeling, a bad one, the same that she had the moment Twilight began to speak endlessly a moment ago, “Twilight… Are you going to—“

Emerald had her mouth full again. She took her time to taste every little flavor on the hayburger before gulping, “Well, you could say it, these are my favorites by far after all,” she said while giving the burger another bite.

The sudden realization of Twilight caused Emerald to squeak a small “Eeeep” and jump a little, enough to being noticed by many of the others attendants to look at her.

<Then, it IS possible that I’m experiencing a whole new sensations caused by your own body sensibility to the world—>

Emerald took a look at her surroundings, many of the creatures looked at her with a smile while some of them dismissed the issue with a chuckle. Her cheeks turned red as she moved her hoof dismissively, prompting her spectators to don’t mind her behavior.

<—many ponies theorized the way that sharing emotions could work, but none other than Star Swirl could perform an emotion swapping spell, the way that the body works made impossible that a simple mind swap could—>

Emerald rolled her eyes before taking a zip on her frosty strawberry milkshake from the red and white straw.

<—but again, Clover the Clever was the one— Woow. That is sweet, and creamy, and… Strawberries? What is that?> The sudden rush of sweet strawberry contrasted by the salty and bittersweet flavor of the hayburger that was on Emerald’s mouth caused Twilight to stop her monologue in order to understand that new sensations she was now going through, <was that the milkshake?>

“Mhm,” replied Emerald without even took off the straw out of her mouth.

<It’s sweet… Cold… A touch of bitterness at the end. It really blends with the taste that the honey left from the hayburger.>

Emerald chuckled, “I know, right? They always told me that the bittersweet honey mustard and the pure sugar sweet from the milkshake shouldn’t mix. She raised her hoof, “foolish creatures who accuse the mare’s food without reason!,” she said with a smirk before put the straw again in her mouth.

<Where did you… Oh well, I don’t really know if it’s mix well on others, but for you, it surely does… Then… That means—>

“Oh no…”

<I perceive the world through your senses, but still, I have my own, I have my own way to understand your environment based in my experiences and feelings. That means that even when I share your feelings, I still can experience them in my own terms!”>

Those words cause Emerald to think about what happened on the window, the emotions Twilight send her. Her sadness, her sorrow, her hope slipping away. “I… Twilight.”

Actually… I think we do share emotions...

“I—... Well, when you did look through the window, I felt something…”

“Sadness, sorrow, despair… Pain…”

“But I also was full of joy, the city seemed different, it shone with a bright I haven’t seen before. I think… I think that that amazement was your’s too, wasn’t it?”

“I don’t want you to feel sorry about anything of this, Twilight. For some reason we do now share our feelings, for some reason you are in my head. That’s for the good and the bad. And… It surely was something, you know? That... magical view.”

Twilight rested in silence for a couple of seconds, causing Emerald to think that she made a mistake and that she did hurt Twilight in anyway. For a moment it was true, but it changed in matter of seconds,, Twilight waited until she could feel Emerald’s doubt fading away, then she continued, <And, for what I can feel, you are already full don’t you?> she said with a chuckle.

The milkshake had almost the half of the glass yet, but Twilight knew that even if Emerald wanted, she couldn’t afford another zip of that sweet, sweet nectar. Emerald sighed in relief at Twilight’s words. “Yeah… You’re right…” she chuckled, “you know how weird it is that someone else told me exactly how I feel? Even if I don’t even know for sure. It’s… Interesting though, it’s like having a second mind,” Emerald said, then took the silver colored plate and the half full glass on her back and began to walk to the main bar in a rather slow pace.

<Well. Te~echnically I AM a second mind of yours. The only thing we don’t share is our memories, I think. From my side it’s like somepony else is using my body… But it’s not my body because is yours. It’s hard to explain, if you like I could—>

“Oh, no, no. It’s ok. I think I get it,” Emerald interrupted in an instant hoping to dissuade Twilight’s monologue, “don’t worry about me,” she walked across the hall with her eyes occasionally seeing up her, as if she was talking directly to Twilight, “besides, it will surprise you how much I know. A friend of mine is actually a very smart—“

“E~emmy!” a sharp voice echoed through the hall along with a euphoric buzzing.

“And there she is… Twilight, allow me to introduce you—“ Emerald rolled her eyes the very moment she was interrupted by the mysterious voice.

“Emmy, why didn’t you wait for me?! I thought today we will have our breakfast together!”

The owner of that sharp voice was clearly a changeling, something that brought Twilight utter joy for Emerald’s unknownment. The little changeling had a brilliant pink chitin with yellow shades. Her eyes shone with pure green joy and her wings couldn’t stop buzzing at a very high speed even when she was not even flying. She had a pair of yellow sleeves with black stripes on her forehooves and a pair of silver brooch with the shape of a spider on the base of her horns.

“Hi, Tia…” said Emerald unamused while rising a hoof. The little changeling began to fly and give Emerald a hug that, if not because she could barely surround Emerald’s neck with her arms, Emerald would have to fight to breath, “I told you not to call me Emmy like that... at least not here...” whispered Emerald, “they will think… Things… About us… You know?”

“Did you say something?” replied Tia while her wings ceased their movements, not listening to Emerald’s complains.

“No, it was... Nothing,” Emerald signed and then chuckled as the little changeling resumed her affection display and buzzing.

<Is her name Tia?> asked Twilight, the sound of that name bringing her back some memories.

“Not at all, her name is Aurantia, Aurantia Argiope,” answered Emerald, not noticing that the little changeling was still hugging her.

“What did you say again?” asked the little changeling. Her wings stopping once again.

“Ammm…. Nothing?” answered Emerald, avoiding Tia’s eyes.

“Oh, ok,” Tia chuckled, tightening the hug and buzzing yet again.

<I guess is better that way. They might think you are crazy or something,> Twilight said, a bit disappointed.

Emerald did only nod before breaking free from Tia’s grasp, “so, Tia, are you going to eat just now or…”

“Oh, no, I already ate,” she did stop her buzzing. Her wings folded inside her chitin while sending a hoof up her chin, “why do you ask?”

“Oh, I was going to the library, and if I remember you had a book to—“

“Areyou going to the library!?” Interrupted Tia. “You have never gone to a library! What happened!?”

“Well, I have never had a reason to go before, I guess.”

“And now?”

“Now I have.”

“And what is that reason, may I ask?” said Tia while hovering in order to poke Emerald’s shoulder with her own. A huge grin painted on her face.

“Well, you could ask, or we could go together,” Emerald replied with a smirk, “besides, you have a book to return if I’m not mistaken.”

“Oh, right! Spells and Incantations thirty-two. I finished yesterday. It was awesome.”

<Spells and Incantations THIRTY-TWO!? There are SIX more books?! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my—>

Emerald showed a hurtful expression induced by Twilight shriek, causing her ears fell flat.

“Right,” said Emerald with her ears ringing, “so, are you coming?”

<—my gosh! Six whole books more! Please let me read it, Emerald! Please! Please! Please!—>

“Of course! Let’s go!” replied Tia with her wings buzzing.

“Yeah… Let’s go…” said Emerald, unamused, “to the library...”

<To the library!>

From the very moment they left the building, Twilight was astonished for what she saw. Species from the whole world were walking side to side. The scenery was no longer colorful and warm, but rather fast and noisy, just like Manehattan if it was a multi-species city.

It brought a troublesome and melancholic feelings. Yet the unbelievable scenery in front of her kept her distracted from them. Every time she saw a new machine, a new building, a new vehicle, her mind couldn’t stop from theorizing how it works, what they were called, because of what, and with what purpose. She didn’t spoke a word, but her feeling were crystal clear to Emerald.

“Those are Crystal Chariots. They are magic propelled vehicles,” Emerald said calmly.

Twilight noticed the gesture, and so, she sighed at Emerald’s awareness.

<I’m that obvious?>

“Is that, or you have never seen a changeling in your life.”

she chuckled, <do you no longer depends on horsepower?>

“Do you mean, trains and vehicles pulled by stallions? … No… Not that I remember…” Emerald replied, unsure of what to say and if she should. For what she remembered, she have never seen horsepower vehicles, at least, not since she was born. “Why… Why do you ask?”

<It’s just fascinating how fast technology did change. To achieve this in a few years...>

Emerald said nothing.

A moment pass, they came across a couple of streets, and her destiny didn’t felt closer. Emerald did not know where exactly the library was since she have never been there before, and everything she knows were things that Tia told her.

“How far is the library, Tia?”

“You don’t know where it is?” replied Tia, dumbfold.

<You don’t!?>

“No, I have never been there before. I just know it exist only because of you, remember? I asked you for a book one time.”

“Oh right, what was its name… Mmmm… ‘Sixty-Nine ways of Preening’, right? That book is kind of fascinating. I never knew that there was so many movements on your wings.”

Emerald cheeks turned red as she could swear she hear Twilight chuckle, “yes… that one…” she signed, covering her face with her hoof.

“Well, it’s not far from here,” said Tia, calmly.

“How far?” asked Emerald, while Tia did just stop.

“It’s right here, silly,” she raised her hoof towards the huge building in front of them.

The library was made of pure crystal. It was like a castle over a crystal tree. Its walls, ceiling, even the balcony were of made of a blueish and pink crystal. The door was a huge one made of wood, it has a lot of golden details, similar to those on the ceiling, and on the top of the castle there was a flag with a purple star on it. It has dozens of all kind of beings flying and walking in and out of it carrying all kind of books.

<This…> Twilight’s heart began to fill with mixed feelings of nostalgia and confusion, <This is my castle…>

Melancholy took over Emerald as Twilight saw her old home in front of her. A single tear trailed down Emerald cheeks, damping her green fur while she watched the building unamused, trying to contain Twilight’s feelings as hard as she could.

“Your castle?” she said, her voice broken, “… You mean…” she was trying to recover her voice at the time that she cleared her eyes with a gently rub of her arm, trying to only dry the tears and not harm her eyes.

On the front door, there was a golden plate with a memory on it.

Twilight's Library.

In memory of the Princess of Friendship.

May your knowledge guide our future.

And our friendship last forever.

Always your Number One Assistant.

—Spike, The Dragon

The golden plate had rusty spots on the edges, but the center was perfectly clear, almost polished.

Emerald’s eyes began to mist, her heart sunk and her head began to hurt, “Twilight… Is… Is that Twilight, you?” she received no answer, yet she could feel Twilight’s pain scarring deep into her own heart, “Twilight, please…”, she tried to speak with Twilight, but her words couldn’t reach her.

<Oh Spike,> she gasped with a low and broken voice, <I’m so, so, sorry…> Emerald could barely understand what she was saying. Twilight rested in silence for a moment before speaking again, <How much time did I sleep? ...> she asked.

“I… I don’t know… To be honest, I don’t know who you are or why your name is there… But please, Twilight, you have to endure it,” replied Emerald with a heavy voice, at the verge of tears.

<I… I understand… It-> she signed, <It doesn’t matter anymore. I’m sorry. Let’s get in, can we?>

“Sure… I… I’m sorry…”

<You don’t need to apologize, Emerald. It’s not your fault…>

Almost instantly, Emerald felt relieved. She tried to recover her breath from how exhausting was to bear Twilight’s feelings that she stood in front of the door for a couple of seconds more, only breathing. Slowly.

Aurantia was seeing the whole scene from the entrance of the library, wondering why did Emerald stood there. After her friend regained herself, she waved her hoof at her, prompting Emerald to follow her friend.

They walked to the imposing wooden door. Emerald felt each step heavier as Twilight’s emotions began to swell more and more, even so, she knew that there was nothing she could do, but bring her the answers she was looking for.

And so, Tia opened the door.

Dozens and dozens of shelves full of books of every kind and genre thinkable were there. They were perfectly ordered by topics in a numeric system and divided in languages from A to Z. Every single language Twilight knew was there, from every corner she traveled and from every one she had meet.

Twilight sorrow suddenly became bearable to Emerald, as her eyes regained something of that shine she had lost before. The pain was there, yes, but it was less oppressive and crushing.

“So, what book are you looking for?” asked Tia

“Something about modern history, or anything where I could read what happened in the last years could do,” Emerald couldn’t turn away her eyes from the utterly extensive library.

“Mhm… I’m not known to history, at least, not in general. You should ask to the librarian. He surely knows, I mean, he runs this place after all, and he has made an incredible job” chuckled the little changeling.

“Sure, and… Where is it?”

“Oh, that’s easy. You go straight from here and then to the right. He is always on that room.”

<That… That room…>

“Thanks Tia, I’ll see you in a moment. Be right back,” Emerald began to hover into the corridor as she crossed many different changelings, ponies, and all kind of creatures eager to learn the mysteries of the world. She wondered why she did never came herself to the library and where the books of wings care could be. “Twilight? What is the matter with that room? If may I ask.”

<That is… I mean, was the room where the Cutie Map was…>

“Cutie Map?”

<It’s nothing… Maybe it still works, but we will see there. There is no use to explain anything here for something that may not exist anymore… Not without me and...>

That last word clicked on Emerald, knowing that Twilight was hiding something from her, “well, I trust you,” Emerald could feel Twilight’s relief when she dropped the subject.

It took only a couple of second before they reached the room. It was a bit different, but was the same room that she remembered. The Cutie Map Hall.

On the ceiling was the same roots of the Golden Oak tree, with all the memories it held and even more. But now, it also had Twilight’s cutie mark hanging from the center with photos of her and Spike. The map was no more than a table, as it seemed to have lost its power long time ago, or so it looked by the marks of dust all over it.

On the sides there was countless of books that Twilight had never seen. Her wish to read them was creating conflict with her need to cry, yet she remained in silence.

The seats that her friends once used, were now dirty, full of dust, covered in white blankets and left them to time to make its work. The light and the safety that once emanated from them, gone.

That pierced Twilight’s heart more than anything that she could bear. Memories of her beloved friends were dancing on her mind, and now, in Emerald’s mind too. They made Emerald’s voice to disappear as she tried to contains the sorrow that Twilight was passing on her. Emerald heart began to ache as the room began to felt smaller with each passing second.

She was seeing Twilight’s memories.

Her lungs began to beg for air desperately at the same time her eyes started to dart from one side of the room to another. Twilight’s voice reverberated in her mind totally overwhelmed by despair as she mumbled names and places unknown to her among some city names as Ponyville and Canterlot.

The voices of the creatures in the room, once full of cheer as they spoke their mixed knowledge, began to sound more and more distant as the only thing she could heard was her breath and a distant “Spike” echoing on her ears.

The walls felt closer and closer. The ceiling began to fall over her. Her hooves trembled as her ragged breathing turned more desperate and shallow. Until, with the corner of her eyes, she saw something that made Twilight’s heart beats once again.

A purple book with a horseshoe on the cover, a purple star in the middle and five different colored crystals on it.

It was the journal. The Journal of Friendship. The book she wrote along with her friends long time ago. Ponies, Changelings, and all kind of creatures were moving side to side picking up copies of that same book with illusion on their eyes. The same eyes she and her friends had when they all first wrote it.

In an moment Emerald recovered her voice. The voices ceased. The room shone once again. She felt invigorated. Full of Twilight’s regained strength. In a second, Emerald’s heart began to beat once again, to breath once again. The voices around, clear as crystal as they were seconds before. A warm sensation, full of hope and love took over her in a split second and with that, the world suddenly didn’t seem to be shattering around her. Tears began to trail off her cheeks and onto the floor as the kind feeling took over her.

Twilight’s resolve awoke.

The moment she fixed her eyes on the purple book, the warm sensation regained strength, ‘that book…’ she thought after feeling the effect it had on Twilight, her misty eyes keeping her from seeing clearly such book.

‘Who are you? Twilight Sparkle…’ she asked to herself.

Emerald eased her mind. She began to control her breath once again. She closed her eyes. Slowly. Fully embracing Twilight’s feelings for a second. Twilight took that time gratefully, as it used it to compose her mind. The Princess of Friendship was again… Full of determination.

Emerald rubbed her eyes with her forearm. Twilight felt Emerald’s tears on her own forearm. She wanted to comfort her, to stay by her side, yet she knew that it was because of her that Emerald was in such state. She wished she could do something for her friend. But she couldn’t.

<I’m so so-rry Emerald. I-I did this to you…> Twilight heart sunk, but in a moment she realized how her sorrow would only hurt Emerald. <But… You are stronger than this! I know it. I can feel it!>

Those words didn’t sink on Emerald, but made her feel better anyway. Meanwhile, the whole scene attracted the curiosity of certain creature lingering from above.

“Who is there?” asked a imposing voice that echoed through the room. Causing Emerald to move rapidly her ears and head.

<What was that?>

“I…” She hesitated, but something encourage her, as if something, or someone was on her back, giving her strength. It was Twilight, she didn’t know it, but her faith was now Emerald’s , ”I’m, looking for the librarian,” she asked, searching for the source of that voice. Her mind were a mess of emotions, but she was now here, and Twilight counted on her.

“Well, that should be me,” the voice chuckled.

<It… It can’t be… Could it?>

A gust of wind traveled from above as the sound of wings took over the room. Soon after, a huge figure appeared in front of Emerald.

The librarian had a slim yet muscular figure, his fangs were visible through his mouth and his purple and green wings had the size of half the room as he descended covered in a brown robe. Emerald could see that his purple and green scales had some scars and scratches long time healed and her eyes reflected pure serenity and profound wisdom.

The creatures in the room didn’t blink an eye at the appearance of such a creature. Their coats and manes moved with the wind caused by the creature, yet none of them seemed to be scare and some didn’t even blink, while others came closer joyfully carrying notebooks and pens.

“What bring you to this enclosure of knowledge, my little pony?”

<How…>

Emerald pupils shrank as her heart and breath accelerated. She was unknown of the cause, but again, it seemed to be Twilight’s feeling flowing into her. She tried to understand how Twilight felt and what was she thinking, but everything she could feel was noise and confusion, a mix of emotions and words that had almost no sense to her. She tried to reach the Twilight in his mind, but she was lost. Lost in herself.

A couple of second passed away. The powerful dragon in front of Emerald give her a puzzled look as he got closer to her.

“Are you okay? Do you need medical assistance? little one,” asked the dragon.

<For how long…>

His voice drilled deep inside her mind. Unable to control her and Twilight emotions.

Twilight said only one word. Gathering all the strength she had and taking some more from Emerald’s. That word weighted more to Twilight than what Emerald could endure, it was too much to bear, too much to take, too much pain, and too many emotions.

Emerald began to cry loudly, as loud as she could. Leaving the dragon uncertain and worried.

<S—... Spike?…>

Author's Note
My editor Hubristic is having some busy days, so I decided to just go ahead after the pre-read. So... You might (and surely will) notice all kind of mistakes and all that. I will appreaciate very much all kind of feedback. English isn't my first language, so you should expect weird things.

With that being said. I hope we can work together again Hub, and I want to thanks Sejox for all his help and to you guys, for reading this stuff.

Thank you.

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Chapter 3: An empty Dream

A broken shriek of despair traveled through the crowded halls of the library, perturbing the ears and mind of every creature inside of it. Emerald’s cry was loud and sharp as it echoed through the room, making Spike’s face change from worry to actual fear at the sudden cry that came along with a burst of tears from the unknown green mare in front of him.

“W-what’s happening? Are you okay!?” said Spike to Emerald, getting no response from her. “Does some creature knows this mare!?” he yelled, taking the mare in a soft embrace, “do not worry, little one. Everything is going to be fine, do you hear me? I’m here,” he whispered on Emerald’s ear “I’m here...”

The touch of Spike´s scales on Emerald skin broke Twilight’s mind even more. That simple contact did nothing but bring her back to other times, to memories she didn’t want to see, not now, not here. She saw that mighty dragon in front of her, protecting Emerald, and alluring other creatures towards him in seek of knowledge and a soothing presence. They all looked up at him the way she looked up at Celestia, like a creature above time itself, a creature of unmeasurable wisdom and kind, totally above the commonness of simple mortals. Emerald felt inside of her a sudden emptiness in her chest the moment Twilight realized how much time did pass without her. The same moment she understood that she will never see the Spike she knew anymore. This Spike was confident, powerful. He had a solemn aura that she had only seen in her former mentor before. She feared that she couldn’t see his little assistant anymore, that he might have resentment towards her, that he might hate her, that he might had forgot her. Every doubt Twilight had, every newly formed tear that fell down her cheeks and every single thought that crossed her troubled mind, they were all assaulting Emerald’s heart fiercely as the green mare fought the urge to scream.

<I… I wasn’t there…> said Twilight, her voice full of bitterness that Emerald had never heard before, <I wasn’t there for him! I left him!> her broken voice the only thing Emerald could hear echoing in her mind, while her loudful cries drowned the room.

<I left him…> she said, <I left him! …> she repeated, <I… abandoned him…> she cried. <Oh Spike… I wasn’t there… You got your wings and I wasn’t there! … I left you alone in this place… I didn’t see you grow… I wasn’t there to see you turning into who you are now…> Twilight didn’t stop, she couldn’t, not now, not after seeing him, so great, so full of the scars of time, <I left him alone for Celestia’s know how much time! … I left him! … I was his—…> she paused, only for a second, <I-I was supposed to take care of him! To protect him!>

“T-T-T… wi—Light—“ Emerald tried to speak through her tears and clenched teeth.

Twilight’s mind and heart were crushed in an instant. She thought that nothing could hurt her after seeing that her and her friends’ lessons did endure over time, after seeing the Journal of Friendship in hoofs and claws of so many creatures. She thought that she did accomplished something after all. That was what she thought until she saw him, and what she did miss with him, all those days, all those celebrations, the gifts she had planned for each birthday and each party, all those books she wanted to gift him, the time she has lost, the life she would never get back.

<He counted on me… And I failed him!>

“W-W-Why ar- you do-ing t-this— …” Emerald stuttered , helpless. Unable to speak due her own uncontrollable breathing.

<Oh, please… Forgive me spike… Please forgive me… I… I failed you…>, Twilight continued, every word she spoke felt like a thousand nails piercing through Emerald’s heart, striking again and again while she could only try to endure whatever Twilight was sending to her. <I failed you and I failed Equestria!>

And that was the last nail.

Emerald’s cry became almost impossible to bear from anyone who had the misfortune of being nearby. That moment Twilight Sparkle fell into a pit of despair, and took Emerald with her. The whole scene perturbed the heart of any creature who hear her desperate cry. Some of the presents thought she was having a breakdown, other whispered that she might be crazy, while all that Spike could do was think of a way to help the mare.

The scene kept its course, Spike didn’t leave Emerald’s side, not even for a second, even if it was hurting for his ears and heart, he stood there with her, embracing her, repeating that “everything will be fine,” until from the hallway a sharp voice came along with an extremely fast buzzing.

“I do know her! I do!” cried a little changeling on its way inside the crowded room and between the confused crowd, wasting no time in greetings or manners before standing at the mare’s side as fast as her body allowed her.

Spike took a step aside, leaving the little creature and the mare alone, not knowing what to do or who they were. Uncertain, he just tried to give them space, gesturing every creature in the room to give the two friends some space.

“Emmy!? What happened? Are you okay!?” asked the changeling desperately, hearing no answer from the mare. Emerald’s voice was hostage of Twilight’s feelings, leaving the changeling in the uncertainty, only able to watch her friend suffering from an unknown ailment. “Please! Say something!” she cried, as Emerald used every inch of will power she had just to keep her body breathing. Twilight sorrow was oppressive, overwhelming. Unending.

<This can’t be…>

“T-T…” Emerald was trying so hard to speak, so hard to breath, but Twilight’s guilt kept her away of the break she desperately cried for.

“What are you trying to say!?” asked Tia.

<How did this happened?>

“T-Tw-Tw-Twi… P-P-Please…” stuttered Emerald between shaking breaths.

“TWILIGHT STOP!“

A deep silence suddenly took over the room. Spike felt a chill coursing through his spine as the mare outrageously shouted a very familiar name. It wasn’t just the name the pony yelled, it was the way she screamed it, the way she spoke, as if she wasn’t talking about her or for her, but to her.

For much he wanted to talk with her, he knew better than just step in between two friends. And with that in mind, he waited, while the two girls were talking with each other.

“She is fine everyone, please return to your own affairs,” he said, hiding his own worries, prompting every other creature to return to their eyes to the books in front of them, “she is in good care,” he continued while watching how strong was the changeling’s embrace. That bond was something special, something else, something that could only be shared between those whose friendship could last through the ages, whose destinies were entangled together, whose paths were now the same. They could speak a world without saying a single word, and they did it. That simple, yet powerful gesture, brought him memories of him, of her, of better times.

Spike did wait until the two of them were ready, a few whispers were shared by the pegasi and the pinkish changeling that he couldn’t understand, neither that he tried. Instead, his mind drifted to the infinite possibilities for the mare to shout that name. The reasons behind the mare’s to know that name weren’t few. It was the way in which she shouted it what made him all the more anxious, causing his mind to drift to the infinite possibilities for the mare to spoke that particular name among any other in everything he had studied and learned across many years around the globe. Did she know her by the books? he thought, the idea didn’t last long since he had never seen that pony on the library before. Is there another creature called Twilight? Possibly, but why would she scream her name like that?

From the dozens and dozens of possibilities he thought, none of them seemed to make sense, until a soft voice, a weak one, but unmistakable spoke to him.

“Y-You said you were Spike, right?” asked Emerald, her voice barely audible and her eyes bloodshot. The changeling did help her friend to stand up, receiving a simple gesture afterwards that prompted her to step aside, answering the nod with one of her own.

“Yes,” answered Spike, his eyes fixed on the mare while keeping his solemn pose, “why do you ask? And most importantly… Who are you?”

“I-I have something to tell you, but she i-insist that I tell you about h-her first,” Emerald was having problems to control her breath, but she continued, “sh-she… she wanted to tell you ‘It’s me, Spike’, whatever it means… But by her… reaction, I think you two know each other, right?” she said, never looking at Spike at his eyes.

Spike stood dumbfounded for a second, his mind trying to deny that it was Twilight the one whom the mare was talking about, dismissing it as a simple joke or a coincidence. But he couldn’t, Twilight would not allow him to not investigate something like that. He will not allow that.

Spike got on his knees, and lowered his face to see the mare eyes to eyes and stood there for a second, “Are you…" "" he mumbled mostly for himself before attending to the mare by his side again, " are you talking about Twilight? Twilight Sparkle?”, the dragon asked.

Spike got on his knees, and lowered his face to see the mare eyes to eyes, “Are you…” he paused, and scratched his temple and groaned, “good Celestia... This can't be happening... Not like this...” he mumbled mostly for himself before attending to the mare by his side again. "Are you talking about Twilight? Twilight Sparkle?” the dragon gulped, waiting for the answer of a question he wished was just a joke.

“Y-yes… sh-she wants to… to...—“ the mare did hit her head with her hoof while raising her voice, “I know! I know! Just… Just give me a second, Twilight. Can you? Please…” Emerald took deep breaths while closing her eyes, and began to move her wings in circles, stretching them.

“Are you… All right?” he asked at the obviously troubled pony.

“No, I’m not. But, I’ll survive, I guess,” she replied with a sigh, “look. I… I’ll make the story short for you, and you will not believe me, but I swear by her name” —she raised her hoof to Tia, who in response pointed herself, confused— “that everything I’m going to tell you is the honest true. Is that fine to you?”

Spike did look at the little changeling and just nodded afterward.

“F-fine… Long story short. I don’t know who is Twilight Sparkle, but obviously you do, and I don’t know who you are, but obviously she do,“ —Spike rose a brow— “ the point is… She is in my mind, and I can feel everything she feels and so she does with what I feel, she wants to know what happened to her, why, how, and who so she can get out of me -in a good way- or something like that…” she said, raising a brow and with her hoof on her chin while taking a deep breath. “And~ that’s it; actually… It wasn’t that long I suppose.”

Emerald looked Spike right into his green eyes, only to turn her gaze to the floor a moment after. Her face and eyes full of sorrow.

“I—… I’m sorry, Twilight. But that thing you did… It was too much. I was fine with you feeling bad in the entrance, I was fine with that overwhelming melancholy in the stairs, but that right there, that was too much, even for me…” Emerald stood in silence for a second, looking to the crystal floor of the castle and seeing her own reflection on it, doubting of who she was in it, “I-… I thought I was going to die, Twilight… I really thought so… and I… I don’t want to die…” her voice turning heavier and quiet, "and..." she breathed in, her eyes lost in her own reflection, as if she could see Twilight in her own eyes, "you do not deserve any of this... All this... trapped-in-somepony-else-mind thing..."

Spike stood dumbfold for a couple of seconds at how the green mare were talking with herself, and for what she said, he could infer that she was talking with Twilight. It is impossible in so many ways, he thought, “I’m sorry, little one… But, I think you are mistaking something… Twilight… She—“

“I know!” yelled Emerald, , causing Spike to interrupt his words, the mare’s eyes fixed on the ground and her head down, “I know, Twilight, I know you didn’t meant that, don’t blame yourself like that… But please… Please promise me something… Don’t do that again… Do you promise?” Spike just rested in silence before looking at the little changeling with an brow raised, receiving only a shrug from her afterwards. “I don’t know what kind of promise it was, but I’ll take it. Thanks, Twilight…” she said, a weak smile painted on her face, weak, but a smile nonetheless. “I’m sorry if I did hurt you, I didn’t meant that… I was just—“

Spike was craving to talk with the mare, yet he didn’t know how to interrupt someone that was talking to herself, “Listen, little one… I—“

The mare chuckled, interrupting the dragon once again while covering her mouth with her hoof, “He really did that?” continued, almost laughing, “I know you won’t believe me, but, as a proof that Twilight is in fact in my head, she said that you used to read something called ‘Power Ponies’. And~ that you used to play with girl’s dolls, specifically, her dolls,” she said while trying hard to contain her laugh, and utterly failing, her smile contrasting with the bloodshot color in her eyes, and the damped face she had.

Spike’s cheeks turned red while Emerald finished her sentence. “Those where action figures!” he answered by pure instinct, realizing in an instant the nature of his reply, “you… How do you know that?!… The only one who knew were...”

“Twilight, and her friends… Apparently,” finished Emerald.

“B-but, how is that possible? Did you found her memories? Or did you found her notes?!” asked the dragon, “why did she left that in a note? … “What else did she left in notes?!”

“I told you. She is in my head. Entirely, not only her mind or memories,” Emerald stood in silence looking from side to side, while her ears twitched now and then, “She said that even her body is there, and that is weird if you ask me,” said the mare with a gesture of her hoof, unamused.

“How… How can it be…” Spike said, “when did this happened?!”

“Today morning?”

“How did that happen?!”

“I don’t know.”

“Why did it happen?!”

“I don’t know.”

“Who did it happen?!”

“That makes no sense, you know?”

“Neither does this! My Celestia! …” he got closer to Emerald, slowly, and look at her into her eyes, “What is this…” he then took out from his robes a necklace. In between a golden frame and a golden chain, there was a heart shaped ruby with a letter “R” carved on it.

“What are—“

“Answer…”

“…Fine…” for a second, the only thing that could be hear was Emerald gulp as her ears twitched and her eyes drifted from Spike’s, Spike could see how Emerald cleaned her eyes now and then, wondering what was happening inside her head.

Several seconds passed, more than one time Spike did look at Tia, wondering why Emerald was taking so long, and noticing just then that the changeling had now a pencil and a notebook on her hooves", “It was a gift… For Rarity…” said Emerald, with a heavy voice, and glistering eyes, “Twilight… she… she told me everything. That you loved her. How you were about to lose yourself to your greed, and that in the end, she saved you, she saved everyone. You kept a picture of hers and the fire ruby you gave her always at your bed’s side so you would never forget what you did that day, for the good and for the bad. It’s the same ruby, isn’t?” asked Emerald, tears were clouding her eyes, but she refuse to wipe them. Those were not Twilight’s tears, not this time, “she told me that you had nightmares... every single night... they were always about that day... And lasted for weeks..." she said while rubbing her shoulder with her wings. “She even told me that often you sat on your bed and watched the picture all day long, just sighing… She always wondered what were you thinking about. I guess you never told her…”

Emerald paused for a second. She did look directly to Spike's eyes. His voice was gone, stole by the sudden realization. Emerald got closer to him, and then continued. “She asks if you sent her all those letters and poems she helped you with…”

At first, there was silence. A long and uncomfortable silence that only was threatened by the murmurs of the other creatures in the room. Emerald lifted her arm and wiped her tears, this time, slower. Spike did the same.

"Well... That's what she said... I... I think it's your turn now," a single tear rolled through Emerald face, a weak smile painted on her face while she looked up at Spike's eyes."

A faint laugh broke the silence left by Emerald’s last words . It was Spike’s laugh, it was heavy, and slow, her eyes glistening while he tried to dry the tears with his robes.

The drake's wings spreaded wide, embracing Emerald as hard as a pony could endure while the complains of the now groaning mare did only made the dragon happier.

Tia stood up, only to take a step back afterwards. “Yes… Yes I did…” he paused, “and it was the best day of my life… I can’t believe it’s you…” he said, “after all these years… It’s really you…” he tightened his hug on Emerald, as strong as he could without hurting her. His cry was not audible, but it was there, it was real. Still, his breath was calm, and his voice was still solemn. He was even happy. A few seconds passed, but he never let Emerald away, “I-I missed you so, s-so m-much…” Spike’s voice stuttered while his new tears became more and more evident, “I-I-I’m sorry! I-I couldn’t save you! I should have seen it but I didn’t! I-I disappointed you… I was your a-assistant… A-and I failed you, Twilight…”, He noticed how his voice was broken, “we all failed you that night…” he sat on the floor, with Emerald on his arms, his grasp now weak as guilt took over his strength, "I... we all tried our best but..." he breathed in, his embrace slowly tightening as his voice became heavier. "I froze... Everything was so fast—" he gasped slightly, as distant memories coursed through his mind, "I'm so, so sorry... I'm sorry Twilight... I'm sorry..."

“S-spike, I…” interrupted Emerald, trying to control Twilight’s feelings and her owns, it wasn’t sadness, no, but pure joy and melancholy, “c-can I call you Spike, right?” Spike looked at her with his misty eyes and nodded, “I will take that like a ‘yes’. Spike, we …” she sighed, “we need to talk …”

A few minutes passed until they both stood in calm once again. Emerald did help Twilight to calm with breathing exercise she learnt from Tia while Spike just sat down, his legs crossed, carefully looking at Emerald and how she was talking with Twilight.

“So… What do you want to talk? It was a long, long time after all, Twilight.”

Emerald was finishing her exercises, her eyes closed, and her ears draw back. “First of all, I need to talk with you. Second, I’ll tell you everything she want to ask you. Third, my name is Emerald. And last one, can you please tell me what in Equestria is happening? If you don’t mind. And, well, I think there’s no use in whispering, but what kind of relation do you two have?”

<Hey! It isn’t anything like that, we are just—>

“Let him speak, I’ll not believe in ‘we are just friends’, Twilight. Not after that,“ she replied, eyes closed, while breathing slowly.

Spike chuckled as he only could see Emerald fighting with herself, but he knew that Twilight was on the other side, that thought give him a weak smile. He remembered Twilight and imagined the kind of things she would be telling to Emerald. Spike’s robe’s neck was damped, his image was now the one of a child that found his parents at the market, there was no imposing dragon anymore, and he couldn’t care less. He smiled at the question, and remembered all kind of things that had happened between him and Twilight.

“Well,” he sighed, “it’s… complicated…” his face with a little shade of red, just like his eyes. “We should speak in private. I… I know a room. I think you do too,” he said.

“Actually, I don’t. I don’t know what Twilight’s know. But I think she will remember which is the room we are heading to, and then she will remember something about her life, and then she will feel sad, and I will feel sad, and all those images will come to me again and—“

<Wait, images?>

“Why, yes. When we first got into that room with the books and the crystal table on the center, I saw a couple of unknown ponies of many colors around the table. Then, when he shows up, I saw a very small purple dragon. It has the same colors that him though,” she said while pointing to Spike with her hoof, “but like a fraction of him, and without scars, and silly, and he wasn’t as h—… it was the young Spike, wasn’t it? …”

<Yes. It was.>

“Yes. I was.” answered Spike.

“But… But… He was so… Adorable and small! And now he is so… What happened!?” she yelled with her cheeks turning more red with each passing second.

<Awww~, he still just as adorable as he was, Emerald. He just… grow up, it’s something that we all do after all.>

Spike only rose a brow before speaking again. “Yeah, it took me some time to get this shape you know? Many exercise, many explorations in ancient caverns to uncover ancient spells of all kind with the only objective of bringing back the d—… Never mind. It was a very hard work out, you know?” he said with a smirk, “we should head up to the room then, we can speak freely there… I…” Spike moved his eyes from side to side, looking for something, or someone, “the walls have ears,” he said.

“The wha—?”

<Oh no…>

“What are you two t—“

“There’s no time to explain. Follow me,” interrupted Spike.

Aurantia did only listen to the scene, noticing their faces, their movements, writing everything they said, and everything that was happening. As soon as Spike stood up, she closed her notebook and shoved it between the chitin and her wings. She then walked at Emerald side without saying a single word, her eyes occasionally drifting to Spike.

“So, Twilight, I think you are going to tell me anyway, but where are we going? And what was that reaction?”

<If it means what I think, we are heading to my room, my old room>

Spike heard Emerald talk but he didn’t say a word, he walked through the room, adamant, simulating what he was going to say to Twilight first, and wondering how she will take it.

A few seconds passed until they reached an apparently wooden door. The three of them crossed it, Spike gave at the changeling a worried look as the door crossed behind them while Emerald just head it to the nearest chair.

A series of security mechanism activated behind them, two magic seals, three combination lock, a dampen barrier, and least but not last, a door knob lock. He turned back and looked at the two mares at their eyes.

“We should be able to speak freely here. I have taken a fairly amount of measures against peepers and unrequested guests over the time to made sure to not lift any flags.”

<What is he talking about? What flags?>

“Wait, you don’t know?!”

<If I’m honest, I know as much as you at this point.>

“Then you know nothing, Twilight Snow,”

<Is ‘Sparkle’>

“I know what I said,”

Every other creature in the room except for Twilight laughed, leaving Twilight even more confused. The little changeling took out her notebook and pencil, while Emerald just sat on the floor at the lack of chairs. Spike did just sat on the side of the perfectly arranged bed, he then fidgeted with his claws, anxious.

<It’s exactly as I left it…>

“What is it?”

<My room… Is exactly as I remember… Even the bed… Did he never used it after… Whatever happened to me?>

“We can ask him: Spike, did you use the bed, or, well, this room at all? after you know, whatever happened to Twilight?”

“No…” he smiled, “I never dared to change a thing that were not the door or the windows. This… This was her room after all...”

<Spike… I—>

“No, no, no, Twilight. You promised it,” interrupted Emerald while giving a disapproving gesture along with a dismissing hoof

<Right, I… I-Im sorry,> chuckled Twilight, she remembered how her old student use to be that direct with her, of how she always told her what she thought was wrong, and how much she missed her, <Emerald, can you ask him what happened with... Starlight?…>

“I will ask that: Spike, she—“

“Before anything… Let me introduce myself. My name is Spike. Former assistant of who was and will always be ‘The Princess of Friendship’ and the ‘Embodiment of the Element of Magic’.”

“He is also the one who united the Changelings, Dragons, and Ponies. He is one of the few dragons that can use magic flames, and he traveled all around the world looking for new species to teach them about the magic of friendship!” interrupted Aurantia, her wings buzzing fast enough to make her hover a few centimeters from the ground, “I—… sorry,” she chuckled.

“Well, everything is true though, Thanks. What was your name again?” replied Spike, his face red as he tried to maintain his solemn pose,

“Aurantia. Aurantia Argiope, Sir, my friends call me Tia. Well… Only Emerald call me that way though,” she said, her head down.

“Oh, I see, the lesser sister of the Argiope family if I’m not mistaken,” said Spike calmly. “I heard that you have a brilliant future, little one, but I’ll get on that later, Tia,” the gesture didn’t pass unseen by the little changeling as her eyes became shinier. “Emerald, I think Twilight didn’t told you who she really is, and I will not tell you either, it is up her to do it,” Spike walked to the furniture where Twilight had her mirror, and from behind, he took a big box with a purple Star along with seven smaller white stars around it. He put his necklace on the top and it shone in a green light before unlocking itself with green flames. He took several papers with Shining Armor’s and Cadence’s sign on Crystal Empire unique paper and arranged them on the floor.

Many of the notes had the marks of Celestia and Luna, other papers had names on them. The acronym ‘S.M.I.L.E’ underlined in red across all of them along with pictures and blueprints of devices that Twilight had never seen before.

After that, he focused on Aurantia’s and Emerald’s eyes, and with a solemn voice, he declared:

“We need to talk.”

Author's Note

Well, again, it has been a while isn't? hehe. The truth is that Ch3 and 4 has been writen from a few months, but Sejox and Hubristicwere having problems and stuff and I decided to wait for them.

I can't thank them enough for having me patience and for their help, and you guys, for your INCREDIBLE amount of patience for chapters I upload not even mothly.

I'll try to be more active... But well, vacations came in and then I'll be the school and stuff and God...

Well, see you later, I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

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Chapter 4: Once Upon a Time

Spike began to pull dozens upon dozens of papers out of his box in many sizes and shapes. Piles of paperwork, blueprints and various other items came from what seemed like an infinite space contained in a box no bigger than a pony head.

Aurantia’s wings began to buzz as names began to pile one over another, her hooves focusing on taking notes at the same buzzing speed as her wings.

<What is all this?> asked Twilight, her eyes growing bigger with each paper that passed in front of Emerald’s eyes. Anxious at not being able to take it in her own hooves or magic.

“I don’t know,” she said, as spike continued to organize the documents. “Spike? Can you…” asked Emerald, her eyes darting between the papers and the excited changeling.

“Of course, just give me a moment, let me finish to put this in chronological order,” he replied without looking at her, totally consumed by his work as his claws moved with great expertise.

After almost a minute passed by and the dragon’s task didn’t seem to be nearly over, <Why is he taking so long… How much time was I—I…> Twilight asked.

“Sleep?” Emerald offered.

<Right… Sleep...>

The question was painful for Twilight and by extension, for Emerald. A myriad of questions and hypothesis stampeded into Twilight's mind. She tried to ignore them in order to do no harm to Emerald. Meanwhile, papers kept piling up higher and higher before them. After a few more seconds, Tia chimed in, pencil still writing at burning speeds. “Are these… are all of these from operation ‘Return of Harmony‘!?” The buzzing sound of her wings followed her excitement as she started to circle around Spike and the papers from above, taking pages and pages of notes at lighting speed and creating her own notes from them, “Yes they are! Ohmygoshohmygosh! I had read about them, It was like super-secret information that Spike and the Captain of the Royal Guard acquired after Twilight’s d—“

A dragon claw lunged quickly into Tia’s mouth, silencing the small changeling mid-sentence, “Disappearance. Yes… Yes, they are,” he said with glistening eyes, “Twilight… Emerald... first of all. I need to make this clear,” said Spike before releasing Aurantia, “and I want to be the one who tell you this,” he gave the little changeling a warm and reassuring smile, his apology shown on his face.

Aurantia ceased her buzzing, her hooves touching the crystal floor one at the time as she broke eye contact with Spike before returning to where she was seated, head down, “I… apologize,” she said.

Spike smiled sadly at the changeling. “It’s okay, do not worry,” he said, still smiling. “The truth is… Twilight… You...” Twilight felt Emerald’s heart pumping strongly, anxiety building up inside her, she looked at Tia's eyes seeking for comfort. Her friend's brightful eyes now filled with pitiness made Emerald uncertain, and Twilight suspicious of the truth.. Tia’s eyes were glued to the floor as Spike continued. “You died a hundred and fifty years ago.”

Silence.

For a moment. Nothing happened.

Spike maintained his focused sight. Aurantia stood in silence, both carefully waiting for Emerald’s reaction.

But there was none.

Emerald only felt a vague sense of hope vanishing out of her as those words sank into her mind. She didn’t feel bad, not even the least, instead, it was like if something was now missing, gone into her own mind. Her heart became slower, her surrounding seemed grey and dull, everything disappeared. Everything was silent. Everything was meaningless.

"Twilight..."

<...>

"Are..." Emerald lips were shaking as her eyes were looking into the deep dark corner. "Are you... Are you okay?"

<...>

Spike set his scaly arm in front of the little changeling. Aurantia saw his face; his eyes avoiding hers and his claws tightening. She touched his arm and he lowered it just enough for the little changeling to see her friend, and lowered her head a moment after. They didn’t dare to look at Emerald, not at all. Tia was trying with all her strength to keep her body to fly to her friend’s side, to be with her and tell her that everything will be fine. She left her notebook and pencil on the ground and crossed her arms, shaking, eyes closed. Spike did look at the little changeling, leaving his claw on her shoulder afterward, knowing how hard it is to left a friend on its own, even if it is for its own good.

“Twilight?" asked Emerald, her eyes darting from side to side, trying to figure out what did she miss, what did she lost to feel like if her own world were breaking apart before her eyes without her even noticing. "This isn’t funny... I... I know you are there," she said, wimping, "I can feel it… Somehow… So please... Please answer me… Twilight...”

<…> A few moments passed by. Emerald could hear a deep breath before Twilight spoke, <you’re right. I can’t hide from you, can I? I’m sorry… I just—>

A huge and broken smile grow on Emerald’s face as she faintly heard Twilight’s voice on her ears. “I-If you need time, y-you should take it Twi— “

<No, no. I’m fine… I- I kind of knew it already…> Twilight’s voice quivering, <Is just...The city, Spike all grown up, all the creatures around, the castle…> her broken voice caused Emerald’s ears to fall flat along with her head, <dragons grow pretty slow, you know? … I thought that at least sixty years did pass. I think… I think I was wrong… Just like a hundred and fifty years ago…> she said with fake chuckle.

“Twilight, you don’t know that, maybe— “

Spike interrupted, a decisive and regal tone broke the long remained silence. “Twilight, I know you probably knew it already. The fact that many years did pass without you. Now you know exactly how many. I wanted to tell you this because you…” Spike glimpsed at the papers on the floor and took a long breath before continue, “you succeeded,” he said, releasing a sigh, massaging his nose bridge and avoiding Emeralds eyes. A mix between regret and sadness painted on his face.

<Did I?>

Emerald tilted her head. “Did she? In what?”

“In— “

“In creating our new world, Emmy,” replied Aurantia quickly with a enthusiastic voice. Noticing a bit after that she just interrupted Spike. She turned to see him at his eyes while he returned the gesture with a reassuring smile and a nod, prompting her to continue.

The little changeling stored her book again and turned to Emerald, full of determination, “the one you are living in this very moment, silly. She is the one that made all of this possible,” continued Tia, looking for a approving look from Spike once again and receiving it in an instant, “you made all of this possible, Princess Twilight Sparkle,” she walked and sat in front of Emerald, “it was only after yours—” she coughed, “—disappearance, that all the creatures in the world saw how vulnerable we were if we are alone. If the Princesses of Equestria couldn’t stop an attack in their own castle, there was no more hope for any of us,” her head lowered. “No kingdom possessed such power as Equestria, yet, it was not enough to stop whoever did the attack that night…”

“I always hated history class,” said Emerald, her voice softer with each word, “but something is telling me that Twilight do likes this one,” she said with a faintly smile.

Aurantia got closer to Emerald, trying to bring comfort, not to the Princess, but her friend, “I know Emmy, this one is short, I promise,” she said, getting closer to her friend as she talked. She raised her head and look at Emerald’s face, “not much after that incident a hundred and fifty years ago, all the races in the event that you organized signed the pact in an instant. They all wanted to collaborate to find whoever did that to you and for never let it happen again to no creature,” she did look directly into Emerald’s eye with a certain bright on her eyes, “you inspired them, Twilight. They loved you, if they did hold any doubt in collaboration, that attack did only give them an excuse to join the treaty. If anyone failed, it was your attacker and any creature who was behind.”

“W-why didn’t I know about this?” Emerald’s voice was shaking, Twilight feelings mixing with hers.

“Because you fell asleep in class too often, you dummy,” she chuckled while she took Emerald’s head and drag it close to her chest. Twilight said, releasing a giggle, a faint one, but one that Emerald did notice and was glad to feel.

<And how often was that, Emerald?> she said, her voice less broken than before.

Emerald didn’t fight Aurantia’s embrace and just let her fiddle with her mane. It often stuck on the holes of her legs, but she never cared, she loved that, the way she combed it in such a slow pace and the feeling of her chitin on her head .

Emerald took a deep breath to enjoy the moment. Her voice slow and tired. “N-not that often, actually, I— “

“She slept almost a whole school year, I had to help her study before every and each one of the test,” interrupted Tia as she kept her hooves moving.

<Almost a whole school year? I only knew one pony capable of such expertise at napping, she… She might not be around anymore though…> Twilight’s tone waved with each passing word on her last sentence while Emerald could felt the weight of Twilight’s feelings.

Emerald thought on what would happen to her if she did lose Tia, her mind coming only to dead ends everywhere. She couldn’t conceive her life without her friend. She wanted to comfort Twilight, but her mind was dizzy due to Twilight’s feelings.

The very moment Emerald’s was about to open her mouth, Tia interrupted, “I know, Princess, you must be devastated for this, but it was not in vain. That day Twilight’s treaty was born. A treaty in your name. That is what made all of this possible. From new technology everywhere in a couple of years thanks to research, peace, and an outstanding amount of agreement of all kind. The very fact that I can be here with Emmy,” her voice becoming softer, “with many other creatures and… all this new and different races that now lives in this new Ponyville… It is all because of that single moment in history, is all because of you…”

Aurantia dropped Emerald’s mane and hugged her, noticing then how Emerald was shaking, “without you and your sacrifice, Princess, we would never have been able to walk in a society without fear of any kind…You did this, Princess Twilight… You did succeed at uniting the kingdoms. It’s in the books too, see!” she released Emerald from her embrace causing a groan from Emerald as she lied down with a frown.

Tia smiled, then, she took out from her chitin a notebook covered in brown, a totally different from the one she had been writing in, “Right here, in page— “

“W-where do you keep all that stuff?” asked Emerald with a smile and misty eyes.

“I have my secrets, Emmy,” replied Tia with a smirk. “Here it is and I quote: It was by Princess Twilight Sparkle’s death, that the world felt the loss of the hero they much needed. Her death didn’t pass unnoticed, and it was that after a couple of days under Princess Celestia’s charge that a new and united Equestria was born. One that meant a new future for every single creature. One that followed what the Princess wrote in the ‘Twilight’s Treaty, and one that stood for the values that The Princess of Friendship left for us,” she brimmed, “I had always believed in what the Twilight Sparkle in the books wanted to teach us, in that Twilight Sparkle that believed that every creature can be friends with each other’s and that we could work together for a better life… And I hope that that Twilight Sparkle is the same one that is now within my dearest friend…” Tia closed her book and saw in silence at Emerald’s face.

That brief moment of silence broke the moment Emerald jumped to hug Aurantia, dropping her book and making a loud eco across the room. “I love you so much Tia! You are the best… Did I told you that already?” she said without letting Aurantia go, her tears dropping onto the crystal floor as she rubbed her face on Tia’s chest.

“Just a hundred of times, Emmy… I love you too,” she said, returning the gesture in kind, “but tell me,” Tia separated to see Emerald’s face, “how much of that was Twilight’s doing?” she said with a smirk.

“Well~, about fifty-fifty I would say,” replied Emerald, nuzzling her friend afterwards.

<She seems like to be a very special friend for you, Emerald. The kind that you should never take for granted.>

Emerald began to remember those past days with Aurantia. How she had to protect Tia in school from bullies that made fun of her yellow tone at the point that she changed it often. It was until Emerald stood for her that she began to use her yellow and pink colors again. They both had been together since then, “She is…” Emerald’s life came like a flash in front of her eyes as she noticed how Aurantia where in every single one of her happiest memories. “Yes… Yes, she is,” she said with a single tear rolling through her face.

“Are you alright, Emmy?” asked Tia, tilting her head.

“Yeah, yeah, Twilight just got emotional, you know how she is,” Emerald chuckled.

<Hey! That wasn’t me! … This time …>

Emerald did only smile, slowly releasing Aurantia from her grasp as she looked into her eyes, “Thank you, Tia,” said Emerald before dropping her hooves onto the floor and picking up Tia’s book, “this is yours,” she said before giving her back.

“Thank you, Emmy. Actually this book— “

“Ahem” interrupted Spike. “That was an incredible job Ms. Aurantia” —Tia blushed— “but allow me to take it from there,” Spike pointed to the first column of the papers, “The information I’m going to tell you does not come on any book you could have read, nor you should know it. So, please, nothing that you hear here can be said outside of this room… Was I clear?” Spike voice suddenly became serious as the room ambient become heavier.

Twilight gulped, Emerald and Aurantia just nodded.

Spike did only look at both mares in front of him before continue, “two weeks after Twilight’s death, her brother: Shining Armor, Princess Celestia, and I started a secret investigation, the one you may know as ‘Return of Harmony’. Many other creatures got involved, but none of them were told about the true objective of such operation,” Spike moved between columns and papers. “We managed to find some names, plans, and evidence, but before we could find the culprit, Celestia shut down the investigation claiming that it was attracting curious eyes and ears on her and her sister, threatening the peace we achieved until that day,” he sighed. “The change began because of a king’s fall. We didn’t want to risk any creature to thing that it was just a transfer of power. And so, after fifteen years of investigations, the case was over,” he said while drawing an imaginary line between two piles of papers and the rest.

<Fifteen years … who could have such power to threat Princess Celestia and Princess Luna in their own castle? In thousands of years something like that never happened before …>

“Maybe followers of the Storm King? He had more power and wealth that any creature, even the Princesses. Even now we still searching for his vaults all over the world,” followed Emerald, “vaults full of magic artifacts and lost antiques with unknown power.”

“If you are talking about Storm King’s allies as suspects,” continued Spike, “we already thought about that. They weren’t. We send an Agent that Twilight must remember, one devious cat that knew kludge town very well,” he took another piece of paper with the photo of a brown cat with a top hat.

<Capper!?>

“She said: Capper!?” Emerald faked a gasp.

“The same. We found that none of the Storm King’s allies were involved, in fact, we found them before they could do anything and judge them in trial. But, what we found was something else. The bullet that … killed you. We discovered why nopony could stop it. It was made from the same material that the last Royal Guard’s weaponry, the same mineral that our friend Frizzle used on the Princesses the day we meet. A black stone capable of nullify all kind of magic.”

<Tempest? Tempest were off to tell the world the fall of the Storm king’s!>

“Before you ask it, no, she never left Equestria, in fact, she never left Canterlot,” continued Spike. Taking away another pile of papers.

“Emmmm,” interrupted Emerald, hoof raised. “She already asked it.”

“Of course she did,” said Spike rolling his eyes, “what Tempest did couldn’t be just forgiven, the reason why Princess Celestia didn’t sent her to tartarus was because of a deal. She would teach Celestia how she was able to nullify magic, and she would work to protect Equestria from then on. Duty that she accomplished in the Royal Guard as captain not long after. She retired after thirty years of service and passed by a few decades ago…” a faint smile curved Spike’s face, “She seemed happy. I mean… If you wanted to know,” he added, his voice noticeably lower.

A single tear rolled through Emerald’s face, “I think she said thanks.”

Spike painted a reassuring smile on his face, “I’m glad… continuing with the project, we found that the weapon was a prototype developed in S.M.I.L.E, made to use the new bullets that Tempest helped to develop for Celestia’s secret agency,” he separated a blueprint from the rest of papers. Letters in red and white marked annotations in all kind of parts of the machinery, “after that, Celestia told us to stop.”

Emerald ears twitched, “Twilight ask if it was a betrayer among that secret agency.”

“About that… Shining Armor used his influences as former Royal Guard Captain to investigate the agency. We found just a codename. A deviant ex-agent mare called ‘Fiddle’. She had an obsession for music and utterly for Twilight…”

“Then, you did found the culprit?” asked Emerald, dubious.

“Not exactly… You see, she was an ex-agent, she couldn’t get into the S.M.I.L.E research facility to take the prototype or the bullets. Also, she couldn’t slip between the Royal Guard, the Night Guard, and the Wonderbolts at the same time. She was an expert in language, not camouflage, sharpshooting, or infiltration… Somepony else did help her in her task…” Spike dropped the blueprints and took another file with documents from the middle column.

<Then… The one who helped her needed to be somepony into the Royal Guard… Or even the Night Guard, or the Wonderbolts…>

Emerald raised her hoof again, “not exactly, Twilight. The Wonderbolts didn’t had an ‘on paper’ schedule. They were instructed at the moment they arrive to the Castle about their patrols and times in order to prevent any filtration.”

Twilight stood awestruck, <And how do you know that?>

“There is only one kind of history you need to learn to enter to the Wonderbolts, and it is its history…” Emerald lowered her hoof, and contemplated the dumb folded faces of Tia and Spike, “What? I still hate it…” she mumbled.

“Ahem,” Spike coughed, “you are right, Emerald. Still, if she is asking about the Wonderbolts role in this, we found nothing. As Emerald said, they were instructed on the act. There was no way for them to filter such information. And there was another problem… The Royal Guard shouldn’t know the existence of S.M.I.L.E., the fact that she could get the schedule means that there was more than one pony helping her… From those who let the door open, to the ones who put your scenario in that sight of view for Fiddle to shoot…”

<Oh my…>

“And what about the Princesses? What they did about it?”

“Celestia got cold with everypony after Twilight’s death… Something changed on her. She became distant, tired… She never looked at us in our eyes after that… She blamed herself for what happened… And because of that, she dismantled S.M.I.L.E. and her Royal Guard to create a new Guard from scratch. She became fearful, doubtful of her own actions. She lost her self-confidence… I don’t know what could’ve happened if Luna weren’t there for her sister…” some papers slipped from Spike hands as his claws began to shake.

“But… It’s over, right? It was a hundred years ago. Nopony could live more than that, and the agency was disbanded too… wasn’t it?” said Emerald, panicking.

“I wish it was the end, Emerald… I really do…” Spike massaged his nose bridge to ease the headache, “after a while. Shining Armor and I decided to talk with Celestia. She… she got mad at us for continue the investigation on our own… She… She then broke contact with the outside world… The last time I saw her was at Applejack’s funeral a few decades ago…”

Emerald tears began to cloud her view. “What happened with Twilight’s friends?” her voice quivering.

“I’m sorry, Twilight… They all died long ago… If makes you feel any better, they all lived long and happy lives and died in peace with their beloved ones by their sides…”

“‘Except for me’”, said Emerald, “I mean, for Twilight… That was what she said…”

Spike raised a brow, noticing Emerald’s word, but forced himself to ignore the matter. He took a deep breath “Twilight, Emerald, Ms. Aurantia. You must go to the Crystal Empire. Tell Cadance that I sent you. Ask her about Shining Armor’s notes on the project Harmony…” he began to select few specific papers and put them inside a folder, “not too long after we found the link with the Royal Guard and told her Celestia about it, Shining were almost killed by the same weapon. We couldn’t confirm who used it, but the bullet was exactly the same… Neither they manage to replicate the prototype, or it was something we are missing… After that, Shining never left the Crystal Empire in fear that they might attack Cadance or Flurry Heart… I was traveling when the notice that Shining Armor died because of natural causes got to me…” he sighed. Tears visibly dropping to the floor despite his tries to hide that fact, “I wasn’t there for him after all…” he said, his voice broken as his shaking claws made the task of collecting the documents almost impossible, they were now too big for them. He remembered how those papers, now dusty and fragile, were once his life as it gave him purpose after Twilight’s death, and how Shining Armor was the only family he had left.

Spike paused for a second, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath that lasted a few seconds, “I returned a decade ago and brought all this books with me. And with all the knowledge I acquired I created this library. The Twilight’s Library… And, well… I hope you like it…” he paused and looked at Emerald, “honestly, I never thought you would see it… And I’m grateful to be wrong,” a faintly smile returned to him.

<Oh Spike… I love it…>

“Yes… She loves it.” Emerald cleaned her misty eyes with her arm, “and also does Tia, and so I… I think I like it too,” Emerald rubbed her arm with her hoof again, “but first, let me get this straight. We must go to the Crystal Empire, see Cadance, try to reunite your notes with Shining’s, found what really happened, explain it to one of the rulers of all Equestria so she can stop blaming herself for all eternity about something that happened a hundred years ago… And what about Twilight?” she said, her brows crossed.

<Emerald… I… If it’s true that I died, and I think it is. I’m afraid there’s nothing we could do about it… I’ll try not to be a burden to you… But… I’m afraid this is permanent…>

“That’s not what I was talking about, Twilight. You can’t just live inside me, that’s just not fair for you! There must be a way to get you out, maybe with another body! I don’t know, Tia might know a way to make another body for you or something… There must be a way!” her voice becoming lower with each word, “It’s just… Not fair…”

Aurantia and Spike crossed sights. Tia nodded after that.

Aurantia got closer to Emerald, “Twilight. Spike and I will find a way for you to recover your life or give you a new one, but first we need to set things right. We need to end what Spike and Shining Armor began. Whoever started this, we need to make sure isn’t working against Equestria anymore… If it’s true it was an organization, we need to find proofs and get Princess Celestia’s help,” her face a mix between sadness and decisiveness.

<But… There’s so much things I want to know… So much things I missed…>

Emerald didn’t think it twice, “Spike, can’t you come with us? That would make things faster, also you could talk with Twilight a little more…”

“I’m afraid I can’t… If those behind the first attack are as powerful as we thought, a dragon like me wandering around will surely raise some flags… The reason why I trust you is because of Twilight is with you… And she deserves some answers.” he looked at the folder between his claws and at the box, “We all do… For those who can’t get them anymore…” said Spike, heads down.

“Twilight is… she wants to know what else she missed, about her friends, about her family… About you,” Emerald’s eyes misted.

“And I want to tell you… But this is simply not the time… If I don’t comeback soon to the library, some creature might notice it.”

“I see…” said Emerald resigned. Her ears twitched afterwards.

A few moments passed in silence. The only sound made was the pencil on Tia’s notebook and the occasional weep that Emerald did.

Twilight didn’t want to separate from Spike again, she wished she could stay there and talk with him like she used to. She wanted to give her little assistant a huge hug and cuddle with him in front of the chimney, like they used to. She wished that nothing of that would happened, but that would be just a selfish dream. So much creatures find new purpose and new life after her death. Emerald and Aurantia are something she never thought she would see. Ponies and Changelings that were such close friends like if it did never matter.

<If only it had not cost me everything…>

Twilight’s words dwelled on Emerald’s heart. She wanted to comfort Twilight, but she knows that she was right. It was because of that attack that the world was how it’s now. It’s because of that that she had Tia by her side.

“Twilight. You are my friend now… And I swear I’ll do anything in my power to help you get through this… I will be there for you. With you. Even if you don’t want to… What are you going to do? Run?” said Emerald with a smile.

<… Thank you, Emerald… You are a really good friend… I appreciate it.>

“No need to thank, Princess. I should apologize for not realizing who you were, but you heard her, I’m bad at history.”

<No problem. I myself didn’t expect to be so important after a hundred years though, it feels weird. To your life been told so much into the past, and your yesterday to be in history books…>

“And weirder things are going to happen. Something tells me that.”

<It was me, I was thinking about that,> Twilight laughed.

“Oh… Well, guess we are going to the Crystal Empire?”

<To the Crystal Empire it is>

Spike could only see Emerald smile, but it was everything he needed, he saw the folder one last time and ensure that all the right documents were in, “everything is ready then. Take this and use them to find what Shining and I failed to do…” Spike left out a little laugh, “I can’t believe that after a century, we still depending on you so much, Twilight… Thank you… For be always there for us…” his laugh contrasting with his misty eyes.

Emerald ear twitched as her eyes began to fill with tears. After a second she just nodded and trotted to Spike.

She got as close as she could to where Spike was sitting, and in a fast movement, she took Spike unprepared and planted a soft kiss on his forehead.

Emerald got away without seeing him at his eyes, “She said: Thank you Spike, for everything you have done. Also she wants to know those new spells you learnt, or something like that,” said Emerald, a huge smile planted on his face. One that made Spike see, even if it was a fraction of a second, the same smile that Twilight had. One that was so pure. So bright.

So full of hope.

One that the world didn’t deserved. One that he felt like he failed to protect.

One that come to save him once again.

His words were taking from him for a couple of seconds as he touched his forehead trying to understanding what did happen, realizing it just a moment after, a huge smile planted on his face. He sighed “take care of the little Emerald, Twilight. And Emerald. Good luck with Twilight.” he chuckled while Emerald ear twitched, “after this is over, you should go and see the girls’ grandsons and daughters, maybe you can tell them stories about their grannies…” Spike eyes drifted from Emerald’s and into Twilight’s bed, “It’s a shame you didn’t let me some ‘Sparklings’ to take care of, right? Twilight,” his smile turning into a smirk.

Emerald’s green coat turned red as she felt her face becoming warmer. “Oh please, Twilight! How old are you? Twelve!? Why does that make you blush!?”

“She did never was with a stallion before,” Spike was trying to cover his smile with his robe, and utterly failed, “also she is a little ‘shy’ for that kind of matters”

<SPIKE!>

“Are you serious?” replied Emerald, joining the laugh, “and how you managed to go through str— “

Spike coughed, “she had her Twilight Hour now and then,” replied solemn.

<You knew it!?>

“Really? Tia often help me with that by transforming into— “

<I DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT!>

Emerald had a ringing on her ears, “All right, all right. Just for you to know that Tia and I are really close friends,” she said with a treacherous smile painted on her face.

<Please, don’t make me feel that…>

“Don’t worry. It isn’t forced if you enjoy it.”

“Emmy.” a single word came from Tia.

“Right, right. I’m sorry, Twilight. I’m not going to force you to go through anything you don’t want… besides, you aren’t that lucky,” Emerald smirked as huge as she could.

“Emerald Dusk! You will stop perverting the Princess of Friendship right now or no more snuggles for you!” Tia said while crossing her arms,

“B-but!—“

“Emmy!”

“Okay, okay… I’m sorry, Twilight… This time for real. I apologize if I did bother you. I tend to be a little blunt when I’m stressed.”

<It’s okay, Emerald. This is still your body after all. And if you have something to do, you shall not mind me.>

“Still I’m not going to do anything you don’t want to do. That’s definitely not how I work.”

Twilight smiled, <All right, Emerald. I appreciate it… More than you think.>

“I think I can feel it. Don’t worry Twilight. The offer still stands.”

“Emmy!”

“Just saying. Or are you going to be against the wishes of a Princess, Tia?”

“No, but, I—“ Tia’s chitin wasn’t yellow anymore as it turned into a pinkish shade of red.

As the voices of the mares joking in front of him began to sound distant, Spike remembered how Twilight and her friends used to talk like that, making fun of each other’s like sisters. He often didn’t mind to not being included into those talks, he saw them laughing, smiling, having a good time, and being so happy, that alone was enough for him. It was everything he needed to be happy. It was everything he could wish for.

To see his friends’ happy.

He found new hope in that simple talk. He imagined how awkward it was for Twilight for talking and imagining those things. He pictured her, cheeks turning red as the ruby he was holding on his claws, her wings desperately trying to cover her face and shy smile that came along.

Just like it was more than a century ago, his problems seemed to be nothing but far cries of a phantom threat that might never come. He saw those mares, and remember those moments. The times from so long ago when he was Twilight’s number one assistant. Those times when he was…

Happy…

He realized how much he needed that… Friends.

Friends to share his burden and his joys. To carry his sorrow away. To being there with him.

I missed this so much… he thought.

Yet, his lips said something else of what it was in his heart. “You should go now, I’m already late and I know somepony that would lecture me in the importance of punctuality if I’m late,” a melancholic smile forming in his face, “Ms. Aurantia, I wish we’ve had meet in another circumstances that allow us to socialize a bit more, maybe I could teach you about the Elements of Harmony if you like.”

Aurantia snapped from her talk and tried to dissimulate her brush, “I would really love it! Spike, Sir,” her eyes darting side to side hoping that she will never meet Spike eyes, “any lecture with you will be fine.”

“It’s settled then. I wish you a safe return, my new friends,” he said while storing the box in its secret compartment behind Twilight’s mirror.

Spike got closer to the door. A single and slow breath from him poured green flames into the door, unlocking several magic locks as the flames traveled upwards. In an instant, the sound of the crowd invaded the former quiet room.

“And Emerald,” said Spike, his tone less formal than before. “Thank you. For making me remember what Twilight taught me many years ago…”

“And what was that?” replied Emerald, head tilted.

“The Magic of Friendship.“

The door closed.

Spike split from Emerald and Aurantia side, and with a deep smile, they both departed from Twilight’s Castle.

Towards the Crystal Empire.

Author's Note

Hey!... Ehmm... I'm not that dead, yet. So~

Just say I am a bit better on english, and I'll try to not rely too much on editors and trust a bit more in my style

In other words, I'll try to work more and doubt less on what I do and how I do, hehe. I just want to deliver the story. I apologyze if it becomes hard to read. English not only isn't my first language, everything I learnt has been because of what I have read on books, stories, etc. So, that.

I'll say something else in a blog, hehe. Thanks for reading!

Really... Thank you very much for reading ^^

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Chapter 5: The place we use to know

<And~ where are we going now?>

Emerald and Aurantia walked down the stairs, out of Twilight’s Library, both, with a smile, and a new direction thanks to the dragon that now was managing the crystal castle in Ponyville.

Downstairs, creatures were going in and out, carrying books of all kind and sizes with them: on claws, hands, paws, mouths, hooves and even magic. The knowledge of the entire world was on that castle, meticulously organized and categorized, and as the two mares walked out of it, the Princess of Friendship thought back, and thought about the future, one that she now knew she made real.

Emerald looked back. A single tear rolled through her cheek as she saw what for her was an unknown castle with her heart full of pride, happiness, and a bright on her eyes that she didn’t knew she had.

Outside of that library, Aurantia and Emerald found themselves watching their backs, searching for eyes on the walls and the sky, just to notice that no creature payed attention to the mare that talked with herself and the yellow changeling with silver brooches on her long black hair. Only a few saw those silver spiders and gasped, yet, no creature came close to talk with them.

After turned back, Emerald replied, “we are heading to the train station,” she said. “It’s the only way to the Crystal Empire these days,” continued, her hooves loudly shifting between the crystal floor of the library stairs to the concrete of the street below, “don’t you remember about, you know, those things we just discussed with Mr. Spike?” she said with a grin. “And I am the one who sleeps, ha!”

Aurantia tilted her head, at the same time, Emerald’s ear twitched.

replied Twilight, a smile on her face as she happily remembered somepony that had a similar behavior,

Almost instantly, Emerald stopped. Her wings and eyes wide open. “Nononono. We are not going into that station,” she said, shaking her head. “We have-” she lifted her arm around Aurantia, the last, raising a brow, not knowing what was suddenly happening, “-Miss Aurantia here. She has a special permission to use the other station at will, along with some acquaintance of hers, if she knows what I mean,” her brows going up and down rapidly.

The yellow changeling giggled, taking off Emerald’s arm gently. “I don’t really like to use it, I did it once only because my mother insisted. A lot. It was many years ago when I first came to Ponyville,” she took her brooch out of her hair, showing the shining silver spider on it. “It will be my pleasure to help, I’m glad to see that I can be useful with this, amm, thing?”

<What is that?> asked Twilight, trying hard to see the brooch that Aurantia had on her hooves from the corner of Emerald’s eyes.

Emerald ear twitched. “Oh, that is like an identification. She, as member of the prestigious Argiope Family, is allowed to do many things when outside of her hive,” answered Emerald, with a smug smile heavily planted on her face. “Did I mention how prestigious her family is? I think I did,” she said with a small laugh.

Twilight’s question went unnoticed by Aurantia, she wanted to ask what Twilight said, but instead, she bumped Emerald’s side, carefully.

Aurantia laughed, “stop that!” she said, “I told you I don’t like to use my family prestigious name. My mom will never stop saying ‘I told you’ if she knows I had to use it! Just imagining her voice saying:” -she stopped doing mimics with her hoof, her voice turning more and more raspy and fast, “'You should have never left our precious Hive my sweet little girl, we have everything here! and those! - those creatures might—”

Emerald heard that each-word-higher voice, interrupting her immediately. “Calm down,” said Emerald. “Don’t worry, Tia. I know. I was joking. Nothing more,” she said, her smile now gone, “besides… I would never use your family like that. I don’t want your mom bugging me all day with her messages, you know?” Tia giggled, and also did Twilight. “But… can we use it for this li-i-ittle trip?” she said, slowly getting closer to her friend, “I usually would fly my way through, but you know how the Crystal Empire is. They are all security and safety and ‘no fly’ thing,” continued Emerald, her ear twitching a moment after. “Oh, right. A couple of years ago, they suddenly ceased all their visits. No creature can get in or out without proper papers or some kind of license, which of course I don’t have, I think, I don’t really know, maybe being a Wonderbolt gave me that license, maybe? Tia knows better… Probably. Tia?”

The little changeling tilted her head once again. Trying to figure out what the question was in first place. “Is she asking about the Crystal Empire enclosure?”

“Yeap, she is,” nodded Emerald, eyes closed.

From behind her translucent-yellow wings, Tia took the brown notebook she had and passed across pages and pages of notes. “It was after Shining Armor’s funeral. No creature really knows why. Some said that the King Shining Armor left some kind of instructions for the Queen. Others said that his death was too much for her to bear and she didn’t want to see anycreature else. I now think that is because of what Spike told us…”

Emerald ear twitched once again while Aurantia stored her notebook. Emerald only said: “I’m sorry,” before some sadness were poured into her.

A few seconds passed, Aurantia waited for Emerald to walk as her ear twitched a couple of times. Few creatures noticed the apparent ‘tick’ that the green mare had, even so, most of them only smiled at it.

Aurantia smiled. “So, what did she said?” Asked Tia, more curious, than concerned.

"She said that…–” Emerald turned to her friend’s face, only to see her huge smile, expecting. “Wait, how did you know she said something?!” she said, not noticing her own volume.

“Your ear, silly. It twitches whenever the Princess talks,” she replied with a smile and getting closer to Emerald to walk at her side as close as she could.

“I do?! I mean, it does?! Why no creature told me!” said Emerald, her hooves in the air. “Agh!”

Aurantia smiled. A memory coursing through her mind as she saw Emerald. “Why? I think is cute,” she said.

“Because-… Wait, what?” asked Emerald, her hooves making a loud sound on the street.

“Well… Yes?” replied Tia, tilting her head, “why wouldn’t-”

“I-I mean, what if my captain sees it as a-a… a genetic flaw or something!” her eyes began to dart from side to side, not looking for a suspect, but for anyone that could watch her face. “T-They would fire me f-from the Wonderbolts!”

“They are extreme! The Wonderbolts only allows the best of the best! I already have a… emm… record with them… One more mistake, and I’ll be fired… Probably…”

Aurantia ears fell flat. “Was because of me… was it?”

“No, no… It’s… It is something else. Don’t worry…” she replied, stopping in an instant.

They both shared a heavy silence. Even Twilight keep quiet as the cheerful atmosphere disappeared into thin air.

A few moments passed by. Twilight had troublesome feelings. Some didn’t belong to her, some didn’t make sense, and some that she already had. And for those she already knew, she knew what to do.

Emerald ear twitched. She nodded, and fixed her eyes on her friend.

“It’s okay, Tia. Everything is going to be okay! I swear,” said Emerald, as she began to walk again with a big smile, Aurantia following her a moment after with a little grin growing on her face. “So… Miss Aurantia, which train do you want to have your travel, Milady?” asked Emerald, smiling at her friend.

Aurantia didn’t answer, a few seconds passed. Her eyes misty as she held that genuine smile. “W-We… should go on the Friendship Express. After all, we should try to caught the less attention possible.”

“You’re right in that aspect, I mean, you’re always right, but~, consider the following: Fluffy cushions, delightful food, great service. Just think of them, and that they are waiting for us on that train. Just saying,” her smile slowly growing as they both keep walking the crowded street.

Aurantia eyes went wide as she remembered her first and only travel on that train. She recalled the food, the seats, the soundless atmosphere and the incredible view it has of Ponyville and the mountains around. She wanted to see that again, she always wanted, but not enough to leave. “I know… I know,” she said, biting her lips, “but… What if we caught somecreature attention?” she said taking off the silver brooch. “I mean, that train is pretty showy…”

Emerald smiled. She bumped Tia’s side and lent her head close to her “Wouldn’t be even more showy ‘the lesser of the Argiope family’ using the Friendship Express?” replied, still smiling, her volume down as well as her pace.

“But…”

“Please~ Just this time. I had never use that train! I want to see it at least one… Please? I mean, Please~?” She wiped her eyes and arranged her feathers as fast as she could. The bloodshot she had was already fading, and even if her eyes seemed tired and her face dirty, she still had that same bright that Aurantia always loved to see.

Tia sighed and closed her eyes. She breathed in, slow, as if the world would stop if she took enough time. The moment she opened her eyes, that puppy eyes were still there. “You are getting confident because the Princess is here, don’t you?” said Aurantia, a brow raised while she tried to contain her laugh.

“Maybe?” replied Emerald, cleaning the dust of her tum and looking at the little changeling with a guilty smile, a moment after, Emerald ear twitched a couple of times. Gesture that Aurantia caught clearly.

“And what does she say?” asked Tia, a little smile growing on her face.

“She? Emhh… Nothing, no. She said it’s okay if you want to.”

Her ear twitched again.

Aurantia laughed, calmly while covering her smile with her hoof at the obvious lie. “Well, if she insists~” she said, picking up her brooch and put it on her hair. She turned to Emerald, a huge grin painted on her face, “let’s go, Princess, I’ll tell you everything I can about Ponyville and how much it changed! I really hope you like it,” she said, winking at Emerald.

It was fast, and unexpected. For Emerald, that gesture didn’t mean anything special, but inside, Twilight was laughing.

Emerald face shows her confusion as she switched her eyes between Tia and the empty void that was Twilight’s image on her mind. “What… What did I miss?”

Twilight giggled.

“Nothing,” Tia giggled.

Emerald made a frown and walked at Aurantia’s side, still thinking about what did just happened. They laughed, they disagreed, they smiled and they went through sadness in just minutes.

That fated morning, Emerald didn’t want to see Aurantia in the morning. Now, they both were smiling, she was happy, she felt happy. That day, the three were walking to the south of a new Ponyville, going down the street, leaving Twilight’s Library behind of them along with their own houses.

They three, smiling at the little things that made their life worthwhile, and their friendship special.

The crowded street suddenly became less and less populated. The gigantic buildings were now smaller with each passing street as the vehicles that were by dozens were now just a couple.

“Tia?” Asked Emerald. Aurantia tilted her head at the mention of her name, asking herself what were those two saying about her, but smiling afterwards.

Even if the two mares caught some creature’s attention, it was just for an instant, just a glimpse of a stranger face menacing their schedule, yet, at the moment they saw the little yellow changeling, their faces turned back to their unamused state.

Emerald looked at her friend, but she said no word.

Twilight giggled, feeling the calm sensation that was being poured into her through Emerald, she said with a smile,

Emerald nodded. A smile slowly growing on her face.

Aurantia stood close to Emerald. Closer than before, closer with each passing street as her eyes wandered between the creatures they passed by. Even those on the other side of the walk received a look from the little changeling.

“Is magic, isn’t it?”

They both giggled.

“So, that’s from where it came, uh?”

“Friendship is Magic”

“They teach us that phrase on the school—”

“Did you pay attention?! Oh Emmy, I’m so proud of you!”

“I saw you sleeping on all our Friendship classes, now I see you wasn’t!” Aurantia’s wing buzzed while she was trying to not jump over Emerald.

Aurantia fixed her eyes on the far distance, “And to learn the key phrase on Twilight’s chapter!” she sighed, “I really miss that class… Do you remember Ms. Clockwork? You used to call her Ms. Dorkwork!... And so did everycreature else…” the little changeling closed her wings, a hoof on her chin, “I never got why. I think she was cool. All those machines and mechanical arms she had, l really loved them! Even if sometimes they would explode-”

Emerald interrupted, trying to end the subject before it became something she couldn’t handle. “She wasn’t my favorite though… I guess-”

<…Mechanic fluid across the length? Or was it…>

Aurantia kept talking, her eyes darting from side to side whenever a new memory appeared in the front of her mind. “I liked more Mr. White’s chemistry class. He really knew about explosive and magic compounds. I never knew what he meant when he told me about the ‘business’. Did he have some type of workshop? Maybe a research! Do you think-”

“Stop! One question at time, please!” Exclaimed Emerald, her eyes wide open and her right eye twitching. “Gosh. It’s like having two of you!”

“Me?” Said Aurantia.

<Me?> Said Twilight.

Emerald sighed. A long and tired one. “It’s okay. It’s okay. Everything is going to be fine. We just need to board the train and everything will be fine” she whispered, slow, steady.

Aurantia tilted her head, coming closer to Emerald, “What did you said?” she asked, confused.

“Wait, did you hear me?” Said Emerald, walking slower, looking at blankly in front of her. Not acknowledging Aurantia’s question.

Aurantia looked around for somecreature else that Emerald could refer to, no creature nearby. The few creatures were already almost exclusively workers. Pegasi, Griffin, Gargoyles, and all kind of creatures were flying down the street. Many carried packages while others did only wear blue uniforms.

“I didn’t,” she said. Not sure if she should answer. “Or was you talking with the Princess?”

“I was talking with Twilight,” replied Emerald, a little confused.

“No, wait, I was talking with Tia on that. But—”

Aurantia’s ears peak up at the mention of her name, “oh, it was with me? I’m sorry! I wasn’t paying attention, what did you just said?” she asked.

“Ahhhhh this is too confusing!” shrieked Emerald. Hooves on her head as an increasing headache become present on her mind.

The creatures from above gazed down. Watching the screaming mare, but paying no attention further after seeing the little yellow changeling with the black socks with yellow stripes.

“I say something to her but she doesn’t hear but then she does but she thinks I was talking with her but then she then I was talking with me and then I don’t know with who I’m talking because it’s like speaking intwochannelsandeverythingisgoingoutofmymind!” she yelled, desperately. Her breathing faster with each word until she finally makes silence," she took her hooves up to the air and embraced those seconds of silence. She was fast. But everything else seemed to move even faster than her. "Can we please just walk in silence until the train station? Just… I just need a few minutes. Please?

“Oh, I’m sorry. I understand. Do not worry, Emmy,” Aurantia lifted her hoof up to her face and made a sign, closing her lips and winking afterwards.

Emerald only smiled, almost laughing, while her eyes became soft and warm. She just nodded, sighed in relief and then just they just walked.

The three mares moved in silence. Emerald was only seeing the street, thinking in everything that just happened in a few hours. She thought on her past. Her future. Her dreams. It was a calm and peaceful day. Even if for her, everything seemed different, she knew it was the same sun she saw the day before. It was the same Changeling that has walked by her side for many years now. Those were the same street she crossed once in a while. Even with everything that was happening, everything felt in place.

And so, Emerald, looked at her friend, Aurantia, which in response smiled clearly, saying no word afterward. Her ears up, the chitin over her wings slightly open and her shining black eyes full with love.

Emerald smiled back, for she knew that as long as she had her friend at her side, everything was going to be fine.

And everything was fine.

The clip-clop of the two mares’ hooves were soon drowned by vehicles and creatures yelling side to side while claws and paws made the walk a cacophony of creatures going back and forth across the gigantic gray street that was the outside of the train station, many, if not all, were carrying packages or guiding creatures across the many doors on the sides of the street. A big, brilliant and metallic plate had the name “Inter-Equestrian Station” written in many languages, and under it, a metal door, with no creatures coming in or out of it.

“How much different?” asked Emerald, paying no mind to everything that caught Twilight’s attention, still feeling that urge of curiosity that Twilight poured into her.

They walked up the metal stairs at the end of the street. Emerald reached the top first, a single metal door with windows alongside and a blue crystal on the top were there.

The moment she turned back, waiting for Aurantia, she saw Ponyville again.

Emerald eyes went wide, even if she didn’t know.

Twilight saw that incredible view, for her, what was before a small town with wooden houses and straw cellars, was now transformed into a huge metropolis, more brilliant that whatever she could imagine.

Creatures of all kind and shapes were flying from outside and inside town. Buildings bigger than her own castle, even bigger than the one in Canterlot. She saw that place before her, that incredible city, and saw a place completely different.

Her memories became confused. For Twilight, only a few hours ago, that place was a small town with few houses. A small town she loved and where all her friends lived.

Now, on the center of it, they had a huge statue of a powerful alicorn, made of stone and gems: its wings, wide spread, making the sun displaying a huge spectacle of light and shadows beneath it, its hooves, raised up in the air, holding a book made of onyx, its eyes closed as she turned her faced to the sky, like embracing it, on her head, a golden crown, and an amethyst star on the center of it. The monument was colossal, bigger than many buildings around it.

“Yeap. It is…” said Emerald, calmly. “The Princess of Friendship,” she said, pointing her hoof at the sky and waving on a very exaggerated way.

Twilight smiled, not only at Emerald’s gesture, but at the statue itself

“You feel sad and a bit flattered, you’re happy but afraid. And I think you’re also a little bit angry.”

"

“I can feel it too! silly— I mean, Princess.”

“Oh, then that’s me. Why they didn’t add “Twilight Sparkle” on that statue!? I mean, that could’ve been very helpful!” she said while pointing at the statue at the distance.

Twilight giggled. And that made Emerald smile. Her rant was clearly a joke, but still, she wanted the statue to have Twilight’s name.

A calmed smile painted on Emerald face. “I… Of course we can, Twilight. Of course we can…”

A couple of seconds passed. They waited in front of that cold, metal door until Aurantia came up, tired, panting.

The moment Aurantia stepped up, the crystal at the top of the door began to shine brighter and brighter, just a second after, the door opened.

“Why did you take so long?” asked Emerald.

Aurantia, still heavy breathing, waited a couple of second before speaking, “I almost lost my brooch. Almost, but I—” she breath in, “I found it—” she breath out, “it was pinned on my sock—” she breath in, “I thought I would have to go back to my house for another one, but then I thought I was going to waste yours and the Princess time, and then I flied around and then I thought it might fall of on the street but then I found out it was on my sock and now I am here!” said Aurantia, breathing in and out. Her wings spread and her hair messed.

“Oh… Well… You could tell me and I would have helped, you know?”

“But I don’t want you to know!” she said while putting the brooch on her hair again

“But…”

“Let’s—” Aurantia breathed in, “let’s get into the station and find a seat. P-Please!”

“Well… But I think you should exercise more,” replied Emerald, giving her friend a helping hoof.

“Don’t… You… Worry…” replied Aurantia, unable to catch her breath," “Books… Are… Best… Exercise!”

Emerald rolled her eyes. It was like having two of them, for the good and the bad, but mostly, for the good.

They entered the build. A clean, metal-plated floor made each hoof step louder than the last one. The few creatures that were on the other side of the building awaited calmly. Not a sign, not a gesture or greetings just the sound of the door closing behind them.

Inside the building, windows allowed any creature to clearly see what was inside and outside of Ponyville. On one side, colossal buildings, creatures of all races, the technology that allowed so many vehicles and delivers working in totally synchrony. On the other, green hills, mountains and the same Everfree Forest that Twilight always knew, and on the edge of it, a little and lonely house.

A surge of relief came to Twilight’s mind. At least, some things didn’t change. Her castle was there, the forest was there, and on the verge of it, a little wooden shelter, a long forgotten one, but one that she will never forget.

Emerald could feel her happiness and sorrow alike, she tried hard to endure it, until it suddenly stopped. It was an unbelievable sensation, to be at the edge of crying, and then, nothing. Her face went from a grin, to a painful gesture and finally, to nothing.

She heard Twilight sniffing, she said, asked Twilight, taking long breaths afterwards.

“Oh… Well,” Emerald used her left wing to clean her eyes, meanwhile, Aurantia was following the pattern that marked the line to the front desk, even if it was empty. “Most… Most of them are residential…” she answered, trying to calm herself, “only a few are actually workplaces or stores, so, I don’t see them as something impressive. About the city…I don’t know, is not that big or incredible, isn’t?... But now that you say it… They really are, aren’t they?” replied Emerald. Her eyes shining with some of Twilight’s fascination. She saw those buildings like not only something unimaginable for what she knew, but straight from some kind of book she read long time ago. They were now bright, colossal, mysterious and unknown.

“And now I want to know too… Agh!” replied Emerald while taking her hoof up to her face, “but they are all somecreature home! We can’t just enter like that! What would they—”

“Do not forget there are also a couple of embassy too!” interrupted Aurantia, her wings open and her breath a lot calmer, head down, looking and following the arrows on the floor, “many of them funded a couple of years after you… Ammm… Left us… Not all of them are houses, and many are open to everycreature! Wait, why do you ask? I mean, I know you didn’t ask, but why are you talking about them now? Is because of—! Ehmm… Her?”

Emerald rolled her eyes.

“Yes, Tia, she wants to know who made them, why, how, how many creatures lives in them,” her ear twitched, “wait what? why do you want to know th— I don’t think she knows, why would— Wait, wait, wait. Too many questions! What was the first one?”

Aurantia looked around, her ear peeks up the moment Emerald started to raise her voice, even then, no creature payed attention to them. They stood behind their windows, just looking at how Aurantia was following the empty line and waiting for her nonexistent turn.

“Okay, she wants to know if you know whoever knows or not knows? What?... If you know who knows who now knows… Who made the buildings? … I think… She is just talking too fast for me at this point!... Aghh! I will!” Even if her voice sounded angry, she actually had a huge smile on her face, enjoying that little moment out of her job, of her routine. If it was Twilight’s feelings or her own, was unknown, even for her.

On the beginning of the line, Aurantia was looking at her side. Wondering if they were listening, trying to figure out if the magic crystals on the top were taking imprints of their movements. Ever since they left the library, she felt watched, but was unable to see anything besides those who rode their vehicles and the magic crystals.

“Tia? Are you okay?” said Emerald. Waving a hoof in front of her friend.

Aurantia blinked a couple of times. Her eyes slowly focusing Emerald’s face. “Right, yes! I-I was just looking around… Long time since I was here, you know?” she laughed nervously, “what… what was you saying?”

“N-… nothing,” answered.

On the front desk, one pony began to wave at them. His face twitched as he tried to keep his smile up, even if they already noticed how fake it was. “I think is your turn, Tia,” said Emerald with a reassuring smile.

“Oh right!” replied Aurantia, nervously walking to the front. “Hi! I mean, good morning, Sir…” the pony on the other side raised a brow, "Three- I mean Two! Two tickets to the Crystal Empire. Please.

The pony took several papers on his hoof, never breaking eye contact with Aurantia, putting seals and signatures on things that she didn’t gave him. “Sure, Miss. May I see your identification, please?” he said.

Aurantia was looking to every other side, avoiding the pony’s eyes every second she could. “O-of course. Here,” she said taking the silver brooch out of her hair and leaving it on the desk.

The stallion on the other side grabbed the brooch. On his side, a blue crystal shone with a dark and purple light. The moment he lends close the brooch, it began to vibrate. The Crystal turned off a second after and he returned the brooch to its owner.

The pony saw how, from the blue crystal, a bright ray burned the piece of paper that was beneath. A moment after, he nodded.

“Thank you, Miss Aurantia. The Inter-Equestrian Rail Thanks you for your preference, the train will arrive in ten minutes. Don’t hesitate on telling our helper if you need anything. Have a nice trip.”

With that, he printed his hoof on another paper and send it across the room over a tunnel on the ceiling. The sound of the cylinder where the paper was echoed across the empty room until it stopped a few meters behind, on the other desk.

Aurantia smiled, nodded, and said “thank you, Sir,” before turning back to Emerald.

“And… that’s it? No license, no papers, no inspections or questions?” Asked Emerald.

“Sure. Why do you ask?” replied Aurantia, her head tilted.

“Well. I don’t know. I thought it would be like the Friendship Express, but nicer.”

“I haven’t used it yet. It is that different?” said Aurantia.

“The security is over the top. Sometimes you have to do all those things I said and even more! I mean, we Wonderbolts always do, it’s all about security, still, I’ve seen a couple of felines and changelings do it, one lizard, and almost all simians, Kirin too. But yeah. That’s a thing.”

“And that’s why you don’t like to travel?”

Emerald tucked her wings strongly at her side, at the same time, she backed up a couple of steps “They touched my wings! That’s awful!”

Aurantia got closer to Emerald. “Poor little Emmy,” she said, patting her head softly.

Emerald stopped Aurantia, not because she didn’t like it, but because the two ponies on the desk were watching. “I… I’m way bigger than you, you know.”

“That was not what you said the other night, did you?” replied Aurantia, giggling.

Immediately, Emerald pushed Aurantia, “Heeyyy! Not in front of the Princess!” she said, laughing.

“Oh my, you’re right! I’m so sorry P…”

Emerald ear twitched. Her head tilted.

“She said it’s okay. But… On the other hoof… I think she did blush.”

Aurantia laughed, she tried to cover her smile but her fangs and mouth showered over the small holes on her forelegs. “I…” Aurantia saw at her sides, thinking that maybe her laugh caught the attention of the workers. None of them payed attention, they were all looking down or looking at the windows, just waiting. “Emmy, can you come to the bathroom with me. Just for a moment.”

“Tia? What are you planning to-?”

“Emerald… Can you please accompany me to the bathroom…?”

Emerald keep in silence. She saw directly to her friend’s eyes. They pointed to a door at the other side of the room, far of main hall.

Quickly, Emerald looked at the workers.

Nothing.

None of them even seemed to care.

“Yeah… sure” she replied, her voice low.

The metallic echo of their hooves crossed the room side by side. The ears of one mare behind the counter twitched, but she didn’t raise her head from the papers in front of her.

The door opened. A clean, white space welcome them along with the emptiness of the room. Not a soul was there. Even then, Aurantia looked at the corners of the room. They were empty.

She closed the door behind them, “Emmy. I don’t think we should say ‘Princess’ just like that…” she said, speaking low.

“But, she’s a Princess, right?” replied Emerald, confused.

“Yes, but… don’t you remember what Spike told us? They never found those behind that attack… We just don’t know who might be working with that creature nowadays,” she stopped and looked directly into Emerald eyes. "I… “I’m scared…”

Emerald look at her with incredulity. “You really think they just randomly listen to anycreature conversation? Isn’t that like, too crazy?”

“It may… or may not… If they still exist just between Celestia’s guards, they already know where are we heading to and who we are.”

“How could they…” Emerald saw her face. Her eyes let it through a dash of sadness as she stood in front her and pointed up with her eyes. “The brooch?... How could that… The passage…”

Tia only nodded. Preoccupation all over her face.

“Well…” Emerald said, shrugging “I’m a well-trained Wonderbolt and you are an incredible smart bug. What’s the worst that could happen?”

Aurantia got closer to Emerald. “They… they murdered the embodiment of magic in front of the most powerful beings that Equestria had ever known…”

Emerald blinked. Mixed feelings of sadness, remorse, anger and loneliness coursed through her mind in a split second.

Twilight felt a grim reminder of what was of her. She remembered that night. Standing in front of the Princesses, of her brother, her family, her friends, and suddenly, in an instant, everything was gone.

Emerald looked down. She usually would argue about something, stand over her name and confidence, anything, but not this time, they both were right, she too felt the weight of losing everything, she too felt the chills. “Who would say… you’re right,” she said with a defeated smile. “We must take care, and, who know, maybe I’ll think before speak, that would be new.”

“That wouldn’t be you,” replied Aurantia.

“Maybe what you need. What she needs, is not me…” her head and ears dropping.

“And maybe this is all just a book. We will never know. But what I know, is that I need you, and she… Well, she does not have any options. With due respect of course!”

Emerald showed a faint of a smile. A single tear rolled through her cheek and to the floor. She raised her head, and saw Aurantia, smiling at her. “I… I’ll try my best. Thank you…-”

“Passengers to the Crystal Empire. The train is coming. Please be ready to get on board as soon as the machinist allow you. Thank you.”

“Well. Guess that’s our carriage, Princess,” said Emerald with a gesture of her hoof.

“W-what happened!?” asked quickly Emerald, fearing the worst, her wings spread and her posture changed in an instant.

Instantly, her wings closed, her body relaxed as her posture became more carefree “I’ll not pay for them…”

“That will have to be another day, P… wait. We may need another way to call you, don’t you think?” said Emerald, stopping her walk before opening the door.

“What about PT?” said Aurantia.

“Nah. Sounds like a videogame.”

“Too obvious” replied Emerald with a hoof on her chin.

“What about Sunset Shimmer?”

“No creature would believe that name…”

“Then… Twibright?”

“Really?”

“It’s too obvious… why not-”

From outside of the room, a voice came out. “The train to the Crystal Empire is leaving now.”

“Well, it will be later… let’s go, Tia and pending nickname.”

Author's Note

I'm more or less alive.

This one took me so much because natural laziness and depresion are a very dangerous combination.

Also everytime I re-read it, I added more and more and more! I mean, I had like 3,000 words and ended with more than the double...

Well... I hope you like it.

I aprecciate every comment. Really. Every chapter takes a lot of time and read and read and re-read everything until many things become meaningless that, well, sometimes the feeling of "no one cares" keep me on the bed for too much time.

But that are things for a blog or something. I really hope you like it. And if not... Well, that's fine too! Hehe.

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Chapter 6: This Day Was Going To Be Perfect

asked Twilight, watching the mountains moving surprisingly fast from the corner of Emerald's eye.

"I don't know…"

Asked Twilight again, already thinking on her next question.

"I still don't know."

"Yeah, I can feel that that," she said in a sad tone, "Princess, why did you picked my mind to come back? I can't help you with anything, I'm not smart, I'm not an alicorn, not even a unicorn..."

Twilight could feel Emerald’s sadness pouring into her. She suddenly felt useless and hopeless.

"I don't think she had another pony into her mind if you ask me," replied Emerald, heads down.

Twilight chuckled

"Why not we see this other creature? It may help us, right?"

"I… I don't know who are you talking about, but I believe you. I said I was going to help you with everything you need, and if you need Princess Celestia, then, I guess I need her too," she said with a faintly smile.

"Look, Twinkle…"

"Maybe… I just came with it, do you like it?" Said Emerald, looking up as if Twilight were over her head.

said Twilight, smiling.

"Well, I think that if Spike, that huge dragon from a library I didn't know it existed, said that you are our only hope to bury this once and for all, I would believe him."

"So… The plan is to discover who, ehem, did that to you, who is threatening the two sisters and the crown, and finally, help you to get out of my head, right?"

"And this was going to be my day off…" she said stretching her wings, a jolt of pain traveling from one of her wings short after. She made a small gesture of pain and then resumed. "Oh well, at least Aurantia seems happy."

Twilight felt relief the very moment that Emerald looked at the smiling face that her friend had. In a moment, everything was fine once again. The pain on her wing, the tiredness, the uncertainty, everything went to the background in Emerald's mind. In that moment, her friend was alright, and that was enough.

Twilight said, calmly.

"Yeah. Don't worry. Is not a big deal I just… Crashed down a little bit," replied Emerald smiling, "It was worth though."

"Maybe later. I don't want Tia to hear me out. If you don't mind of course."

Emerald was smiling, she saw how on the other side of the train, a little changeling was watching the mountains that formed the landscape they were traveling in. She saw them since they appeared on the horizon until they disappear behind them as if looking for something.

"Tia, are you okay?" asked Emerald, smiling. Watching her moving her head from side to side.

"It has been years since the last time I used this train. I forgot how fast, and how incredible was the view from here!" Said Aurantia, her wings buzzing.

"If they allowed us to fly, we could have an even better view, until we got into the endless winter of the Crystal Empire, of course, nothing can fly through it."

"I know! I can only imagine how the snow feels between my hooves or the cold wind in my hair"

Emerald remembered how Tia's hive was surrounded by a desert, the legacy that an ever-hungry queen left to them. "Tia…You and I, and Twi… nkle, probably, we are going to have a snow day when this is over. I promise."

Aurantia saw the decisiveness on Emerald’s face and smiled. "Thank you, Emmy, that… That would be amazing."

Emerald saw through the window, far away was the Crystal Empire. Crystal walls surrounded the city just at the verge of the Crystal Heart protection. There was only one way to get in and only one way to get out. Out of the wall, where the eternal winter froze everything fool enough to stay for too long, was an outpost. Guards stood in and out of it with special equipment to endure the ruthless and cold wind as they ensured that nothing but the train came in or out. Inside of the outpost was a giant crystal that keep the place warm enough for the passengers to stay comfortable while they waited for their inspection.

Emerald and Aurantia stepped down the train. Every creature looked at the two silver spider brooches as they walked into the inspection room. Inside, questions about what they were doing there, how much time they will spend, and even how much bits they were carrying were the norm. If the guards decided, they could begin an even more meticulous inspection. They looked for almost anything that could be a weapon or the slightest threat.

Emerald had nothing with her except for a badge that identified her as a Wonderbolt, her type of blood, name, and rank, all in a single piece of metal.

On the other side, Aurantia was struggling explaining why she had so many books with her, she explained her pencils, her notes, even the folder that Spike gave her, sealed, as the guards were passing a blue crystal around her brooches in order to confirm that she was the one that was supposed to wear them.

After the crystal confirmed who she was, they stopped asking about their possessions, instead, they asked about her family, names, place, and age.

After almost an hour of waiting and more questions for Aurantia, she came out of the room, shaking, tired.

"They only asked me for the brooches on Ponyville…" said Aurantia. "I did read about the security here, but I never expect it to be so…"

"High?" replied Emerald.

"Abusive…" said Aurantia, "It's like they were expecting an attack from me, like, I don't know… They just hated me… I saw ponies come in and out of the room but I remained there…"

Emerald sighed, "the Crystal Empire and changelings never stood as friends…I saw it before... The way they take any changeling as an enemy is just… Disgusting."

"It's okay, Emmy, let's… Let's keep moving. With all this security, I don't have much hope for them to let us see the Princess."

"Me neither, but hopefully our friend Twinkle can think on something," said Emerald while pointing to her head.

As they crossed the outpost into the walls of the Crystal Empire, the cold became a warm and cozy feeling and the atmosphere turned into one of a living city. They crossed the gateway and, suddenly, they stood in another world.

Houses and giant buildings, all made of pure and brilliant crystal. Ponies and all kinds of creatures were walking on the street, laughing and smiling as if the world outside didn't exist. The sun shone brightly on the middle of the sky, making Princess’ Castle even more beautiful, even more marvelous and, below, the Crystal Heart protecting every creature around.

Emerald felt a surge of melancholy coming from inside, from Twilight herself. The Crystal Empire changed little to none besides the huge walls that surrounded it, the same buildings were there, the same houses, the same business, and the same castle. The only thing that changed was their population. There was now so much life where only were a few ponies. Not only crystal ponies but all kind.

They walked the streets. Twilight noticed how the names didn't change. Emerald was there just heading in front, to the castle, while Aurantia was buzzing side to side writing notes about everything she saw, from ponies to flowers and even the street. She wrote of how the endless winter was outside, waiting for the Crystal heart to lose its power, she noticed how they all looked at her and then smiled, unlike in the Outpost, she felt welcomed.

In no time they stood in front of the giant Castle's door. Around it was several guards, watching, waiting.

"Excuse me, sir, my name is Aurantia Argiope, I came here to talk with Princess Cadance, may I-I see her?" Her voice low and calm.

The guard looked at her, at her brooches, and at Emerald. "The Princess isn't taking any visitors today. I apologize for the inconvenience ma'am."

Aurantia looked at Emerald as she only shrugged at how her only plan was dismissed.

Emerald rolled her eyes and looked at the guard, "Sir, I'm afraid this is international business," she said, putting her hoof in front of Aurantia.

"And you are?" Asked the guard, looking clearly at Emerald in her eyes.

"Emerald Dusk, sir," she said taking out her badge, "I'm an official Wonderbolt and I'm here to escort Miss Aurantia to an audience with the Princess, sir," said Emerald, confidently looking at Aurantia, "Right, miss?"

The guard stopped and took the badge, it has the Wonderbolt emblem and the name, he saw the pegasi, still doubting.

"R-Right. My mother, Protensa Argiope has some issues that she wants to discuss with Princess Cadance. Unfortunately, she is busy in the hive, that's why she sent me here instead."

The guard looked at the pair of silver brooches and hummed, "I don't have any appointments today, miss, I'm afraid you'll have to wait for inspection."

"I have been waiting enough!" Exclaimed Aurantia, anger showing in her face, "now, l-let's be clear. If I come back to the Hive saying that 'I don't have a-an appointment', t-two things are going to happen. First, I'll come back here, furious, then, you are fired. So, I could go back n-now, or you can keep whatever y-you are doing here. What's going to be, sir?"

Emerald turned back, confused, looking at her friend and asking her if that was the same creature she boarded that train. On the other side, the guard was sweating, struggling to even talk as the solely mention of the name "Protensa" makes him clear of who he was dealing with.

"I-I understand, Miss, b-but there's n-nothing I can d-do."

"Let. Us. In. Dear."

The guard saw the shine on Aurantia's eyes and then the two brooches. He broke. "S-Sorry Ma'am! P-Please don't tell the Princess a-about this! I don't want to lose my job! Please!" He moved aside and gesture his friend to open the giant wooden door.

"Thank you, sir," said Emerald, walking at Aurantia's side and into the castle, making an effort to not to laugh.

After a moment, the door was closed behind them.

"Oh. My. Gosh. What was that!" exclaimed Emerald, "Who was that! That was amazing! Even Twilight asked me if you were okay! Wait, are you okay?"

The little changeling was shaking. Her eyes fixed in the hallway and her wings slightly open. Her lips trembling, whispering words she already said as if she couldn't believe what she just did.

"Tia?" asked Emerald, touching her friend's shoulder. "Are you there?"

Aurantia's heart was racing, she could hear her friend but it was only a far cry on her mind. Her heart was pumping in her ears, her wings felt heavy and her body of steel. Her legs was shaking as her thoughts began to get clearer within each passing second.

Immediately, Aurantia collapsed onto the ground, heavy breathing and smiling. "That. Was. Incredible!" she exclaimed, "I just thought about my mother and began to talk like she does and, and, I don't know! I thought I was going to faint right in front of the guard! Emmy That was so unbelievable! Let's never to that again! I was so scared!"

Emerald smiled, she came closer to her friend and give her a huge hug. "You are the best!" She said, moving Aurantia's hair out of her face. Her big and shiny eyes in tears. "Come on Tia, we have an appointment with the Princess," said Emerald, giving her friend a hoof. The little Changeling took it, and together they followed the red carpet that led the path to the throne room.

said Twilight, smiling at the way Emerald saw her friend shaking and how she felt.

Emerald smiled, "sure she is," she said, calmly, "sure she is…"

They were now both walking inside of the crystal castle. Candles and a red carpet lead the straight path right to the throne room. Emerald noticed how empty the palace felt, still, dished the thought a minute after, thinking that it was normal. Aurantia was talking about the history of the castle, about Shining Armor and Cadance, about Flurry Heart and the Crystal Heart. For her, the guards didn't even existed, she was alone with her friend in one of the most important places of all Equestria, watching, pointing, smiling and taking notes on everything from the shape of the crystals to how the lights in the windows lighted the whole castle due to reflection. The lights shone with the rainbow from time to time when the right beam struck the right crystal, making the whole path a light show.

Minutes later, they were in front of another door and four guards keep it safe.

"The Princess is waiting," said one, giving the sign to the others to move their black crystal spears and open the door.

"Thank you, sir," said Emerald, prompting Aurantia to follow her inside the room.

As soon as they crossed the door, the guards firmly closed it behind them, making a metal sound indicating that it was locked from the other side.

They looked in front of them. The throne was there, in the middle of the room, brilliant and magnificent as the sunlight reflected a myriad of colors around like if they were dancing for her king and queen.

"I wasn't expecting visits today," said a female voice behind the throne as the creature began to show itself, "still, I'm truly honored to receive a daughter of my friend Protensa," the creature showed her pink horn, pink coat, and slim figure. A golden crown rested on her head and her mane and tail shone like the crystals in her castle. "Then, what issue shall we discuss?"

"Princess Cadance!" said Aurantia, "w-we have very, very unbelievable news… Uh, we wanted to talk with you, Princess, in private, i-if isn't that too much to ask."

"I'm eager to know what has Protensa so intrigued, after all, she always set an appointment beforehoof. Always. I wonder what happened," said Cadance, getting closer to both mares, "but first, I want to know why did you both lied to my guards. Now." She said, planting firmly her hoof on the ground, creating an echo through the room.

Emerald stood in front of her friend, her head up watching Cadance in her eyes, "Princess, we-"

"I want her to speak, not you, escort," said Cadance, moving Emerald aside, enveloping her in her blue aura. "Now."

"It had been a century, Princess, ponies change!" Replied Emerald, trying to get through Cadance magic.

Cadance got even closer to Aurantia as if she could know what she was thinking, "w-we lied, b-but we have a good-"

"There's no good reason to lie a Royal Guard! Tell me. Who. Sent. You."

"S-Spike! P-P-Princess. Spike sent us!" Replied Aurantia, her eyes closed in fear.

"He would send me a letter first, stop lying!"

"We are not lying, Princess! I swear!"

Aurantia was shaking while Cadance got closer and closer to her. Her eyes filled with anger. "Were them!?" She asked. "Are they going to finish their dirty job!?"

"Yeah, sure, but she doesn't believe anything we said!" She said, still pushing through Cadance magic.

In an instant, memories of something Twilight used to do began to flow into Emerald's mind, memories of something strange, something unique.

Her cheeks turned red as she was watching those memories one by one as Twilight were remembering them with a melancholic smile.

"Princess… I'm not going to do that…" said Emerald with a troubled face.

Cadance was still getting closer to Aurantia, her horn began to shine as she spoke, "Tell me. Who sent you."

"Princess, we came here with Princess Twilight Sparkle, allow us to show you, please!"

"She is long dead… A century now… Now, for the last time. Who sent you!"

"Guards! Come—"

"Sunshine… Sunshine… Ladybugs awake…"

Cadance looked aside, slowly, "What did you…"

"C-clap your hooves and… And…" Emerald closed her eyes as she turned back, moving her flank side to side "do a little shake..."

Cadance stopped her magic. The magic shield was gone as she got away from Aurantia. "How… How did you know that?" asked Cadance, astonished.

Emerald turned back, heads down, "Princess Cadance… Twilight Sparkle told me… She… She is inside of my head."

"You… You're lying, aren't you?!" she said, the blue light of her horn began to disappear as her face showed pure confusion. "This has to be a trick!"

"No Princess, I'm not," Emerald got closer to Cadance while she was trying to set distance of whatever she thought Emerald was. "She said that it was your greeting from when you were foalsitting her... She showed me how you did it many times…"

Cadance remained silent for a moment, she got away of the little changeling a focused on the pegasi on her side, "there's only one creature that knows that damned dance"

"What?" said Emerald

"What?" said Aurantia

Cadance looked down and smiled. "You surely are harder to kill than I thought, Sparkle."

Suddenly, the room was filled with green light as green flames appeared around Cadance. In a matter of seconds, the rainbow colors of the room were no more, and from the flames, a fanged grin showed herself. Cadance pink coat, horn and crown turned black, her wings translucid and her eyes green as from the fire came a figure that Aurantia knew very well.

"Queen-"

<-Chrysalis!?>

Author's Note

I really hope you like it.

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