Choices

Princess Twilight Sparkle stood upon a forked path, on her left stood Princess Cadence, on her right stood Princess Celestia.

"How could the both of you?" Twilight snarled. "You both perverted everything you taught me to hold sacred. The power of an Alcorn is meant to protect and guide, not dominate and control."

Rounding on Celestia, she addressed her former mentor. "Do you know how much guilt I harbored over the want it need it spell incident. How much I tortured myself after I became aware of how much my Neurosis drove me to do. Yet you never condemned me. I did that because I was so scared I had failed you in not sending you a friendship report. Yet, Jack was condemned for protecting a friend. I should have suffered the same punishment or worse, because what I did was with the understanding of an adult, Jack Trades did what he did from an abused child's point of view."

Not waiting for her mentor's reply, she then turned to Princess Cadence. "You, more than anything else taught me humbleness. You where an Alicorn that held me at night. You refused to put on the airs of the nobles, you chose to go to highschool like any other teen. Then I find out that you used your love spell in an act of vengeance. Tempest thinks it was a one time thing. But I know how that spell works. You would've had to cast the love spell on Heartbreaker and Jack multiple times for them to stay together. Tell me Cadence, did it feel good to force two individuals to love each other? Was it worth it? By the way, Tempest suspects, but I was able to confirm that Heartbreaker was just Chrysalis by another name. That's why she targeted your wedding. It was her act of vengeance. Oh, in casting that love spell repeatedly on her, you've driven her completely insane. It's likely that she'll have to killed because your abuse of her emotions have so twisted them that reformation may be next to impossible. Wonderful job! I am so proud to call a manipulative piece of trash like you my sister. My brother is so lucky to have someone that would corrupt her very being on such a frivolous thing."

Twilight then addressed the both of them.

"I will see you both pay for this. What you both did is beyond redemption. It makes you worse that any villain I have ever faced. Discord only twisted who we were momentarily, you two did it at your whim, Sombra was at least honest about his intentions, Nightmare Moon was broken by madness, the same can be said of the Pony of Shadows, Sunset Shimmer was broken hearted that her mother could never love her, even the Sirens were just trying to get home. But the two of you hid the rotten festering things that is your hearts behind a pleasant mask. You two fooled everyone, even me. Well, no more. I will see the two of you deposed. There will be consequences."

"Twi-" Celestia began but Twilight rounded on her again.

"SHUT UP!!!!! I HAVE CLEANED UP YOUR MESSES, PROTECTED THE REALM OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND FOR WHAT? SO YOU COULD CONCEAL YOUR CRIMES AGAINST OTHERS? HOW MANY MORE JACK TRADES AND SUNSET SHIMMERS AND CHRYSALIS' EXIST BECAUSE OF YOUR INCOMPETENCE?!!!!! HOW MANY MORE?!"

Celestia shrank back from the onslaught, Twilight in this moment was quite literally on fire. The Element of Magic pulsing with the power of her rage. Then Twilight was engulfed in navy blue wings as long charcoal colored limbs pulled her close. The bonfire that was Princess Twilight Sparkle first struggled, then shivered and finally, as the flames died, allowed the Princess of the Night to hold her close. Princess Luna glared at the two before her. Her visage was stern and strong, but also sad.

"I will not judge either of you. Sister, you did an impossible task for decades. Moving both the sun and the moon meant little rest and yet you still held Equestria together on your own. But I will be looking into Jack's file and searching the archives for any like him. This must be handled and it must not be kept in the darkness any longer. Princess Cadence, I see that you have already felt Savage Grimm's ascendancy and know that your own meeting with him may be shortly oncoming. You were a teen with the power of an Alicorn, you made a poor choice and then furthered it by keeping silent. However, you have also not used that particular love spell since and have stuck to moving behind the scenes in order to further the cause of love. I release you both from this shared dream. I need to speak to young Twilight and inform her of some things."

The two rulers slowly faded away like fog before the sun. Princess Luna continued to hold the smaller Alicorn wrapped in her wings, her arms holding Twilight tightly until the Princess of Friendship sobs feel silent.

Opening her wings Luna looked down upon Twilight, a comforting smile on her lips.

"Twilight, I need you not to confront Savage Grimm."

"Wait, I thought his name was Jack Trades?"

"Jack Trades is no more. The second that Tia warped Jack's cutie mark she made a barrier between the young colt's inner personality and the mask that was his outer. That inner nature, as his own rage grew at his misfortune, became known as Savage Grimm, the mask that allowed him to function and pursue a normal life maintained the name Jack Trades. The Elements will not work on Savage because he is in no way out of balance, he has in fact come into balance with himself. His Inner Nature is ascendant and the mask has been discarded and destroyed. If we tried to replace it we would be no better then Tia and Cadence, with what they tried."

"But he's going to hurt others. I don't care what that ultimatum was. What he's doing is wrong."

Luna's eyes grew stern. "Do you know that another group of guards tries to corner Savage?"

Twilight shook her head, "We have to help them!" She cried.

Luna again pulled her to herself. She whispered, "Those Guards followed what they knew to be a false order. I've made it so that no other Ponies will be injured. All doors will be locked to them and no creatures will help them. I know this is bloody and horrible. But the Hybrid Protocols were put into place by myself and Tia to prevent these situations. Each of those Guards forfeited their lives when they disobeyed those procedures."

"But I have to do....." Twilight began, but Luna held her tighter.

"I am sorry Twilight, but he will turn you and all of your friends to his purpose. I can not allow that to happen. So, until this is over, I have placed all of the Elements into a deep sleep. I am here with you because I alone could hold you. Please Twilight, I love you too much to see you slaughtered by one of his minions or turned to his purpose. When he reaches Alla Round this will be done. Both sides have played their cards, it just remains who had the better hand. Stay with me warm in this dream and allow me and my guard to protect those not involved."

A drowsiness came over the Purple Alicorn as she snuggled deeper into the warm embrace of the Princess of the Night. Soon Twilight rested, safe within Luna's grasp, her last words sending a blush to Luna's face.

"Alright Luna, Love you too."