Without saying a word, Princess Celestia entered the throne room. Everyone was staring at her. All lives she held in her hands. The guards, the courtiers and her sister. Her vision of her as a reanimated mangled and burned corpse flashed again before her. She had so many things to do. So many things to teach. She walked up to her undeserved throne and sat down.

"What happened, Celestia?" Luna asked in a scared voice.

Not now. Not yet.

"Wine. Bring me wine." Celestia commanded one of the guards.

When the guard rushed back with a bottle and a glass, Celestia ignored the glass and instead greedily started drinking directly from the bottle, ignoring everyone's worried stares. She knew wine was for males, but she needed to calm her nerves. She had relived the first part of her experience at the Caribou camp one too many times on her way back. She closed her eyes and tried to refind that serenity and certainty she had felt during her baptism. She yet again failed, but at least she managed to steel herself.

"We... have new allies." she began.

"But why were you gone for so long? Why didn't you lower the sun?"

"I was busy."

"Doing what?" Luna asked, accusation mixed in with her worry.

"Learning."

"Learning what? Where are the guards you took with you?"

Dainn still had them in his captivity. This was supposed to be easy. Males were supposed to take care of things like this and she was supposed to take care of them. Now, instead, here she was having to explain why their allies held four of their guards captive. No, the third aspect. She had to employ the third aspect.

"They're on a mission. Timberwolves attacked the Caribou and they're helping them by teaching them how to deal with them."

"Timberwolves? On the Equestrian Grasslands?"

She wasn't good at this. Never before had she thought of lying as a good thing. But it's what the Two Faced God wanted, so she'd have to learn.

"Yes, I was surprised too, but I saw them with my own eyes."

How was she even going to begin this? So much of the way they were living was dragging them to oblivion.

"Announce to my subjects that I'm going to give a speech."

"Right now?"

"Yes, right now. The Two Faced God's patience isn't infinite."

"What are you talking about, sister?"

"Just make the preparations."

A confused crowd stood down bellow, under the palace balcony. Yet again, the gathering of corpses flashed before Celestia's eyes.

"My subjects. I bring grave news."

The ponies bellow mumbled.

"An almost unstoppable force threatens Equestria. And if it wins, we all die a horrible, fiery death."

The had mumbling stopped. Good.

"I can not stop it. My fellow alicorns can not stop it. The elements of Harmony can not stop it. Discord can not stop it."

Discord. She had to send for Discord. Her Khagan had commanded it.

"Only one can. And only one has so far. The only reason we still draw breath is that the Two Faced God protect us all."

The mumbling started again.

"But our way of life is an INSULT to this benevolent entity, an ABOMINATION!"

She looked sternly at the crowd. Even now, she could see some faces show hints of anger at that accusation.

"We will have to change. Every single one of us, including me. It will be hard, I won't deny it. Us mares will bear the brunt of this task. We will have to do many things that will seem weird or outright unbearable."

Celestia shuddered at the thought of losing her horn and her wings. It seemed so right when the Two Faced God had guided her, but now it also seemed so wrong.

"But for your husbands, for your foals, for your friends, I BEG you to do them."

She sounded pathetic. Just like she was and should be.

"I will try to make the changes we have to undergo as easy as possible. In return, I expect cooperation from my fellow mares. Not for the sake of me, but for the sake of Equestria."

Celestia walked back inside. Her sister rushed after her.

"What the hay was that?" Luna shouted at her.

"Meet me in my dreams. I will explain there."

Author's Note

I won't be finishing a fanfic like this in one go like I usually do. The task Celestia faces is enormous and consequently it won't be easy for me to write this either. As more chapters are added, the number of tags will grow as well.