Black Sun

Twilight's Castle
October 21st

Compared to the agitated atmosphere that seemed to have permeated every inch of Canterlot she'd travelled to, Ponyville felt as though nothing in Equestria was wrong. Maybe it was because ponies believed that they had Princess Twilight and her friends to watch out for them. While such an attitude was little more than a case of ignorance being bliss, there was no denying that it was a welcome attitude to be around after everything that had happened.

Twilight allowed herself to smile slightly as she sat on the balcony of her castle, taking in the view as the sun began to make its long ascent over the land. It was almost as if nothing had changed since the day she had fought Lord Tirek all those years ago, the ponies below starting their days and going about their usual business like a threat that could change Equestria forever wasn't looming over them all. It was yet another gentle reminder of just what she was fighting for as well; making sure that those who were able to live in peace could see another day like this one. There was also the less subtle reminder that was still lying in a Canterlot hospital bed, likely arguing with Moondancer right now over how many days would be needed to monitor her new wings before being allowed home.

Still, the calm air was soothing to her. There was no denying that she'd needed a few minutes to turn off her mind, bask in the sunlight and simply watch, priming herself for what was coming next. She and her friends had managed to find several ponies willing to stand against the new darkness with them, but she needed to be sure that they understood exactly what they were up against. So the first order of business was a briefing with everypony, both to give them a chance to back out if they desired and to decide on their next course of action. Even as she blinked herself back into focus, Twilight straightened up at the sight of the pegasus Applejack had talked to flying toward the castle.

"Greetings, Princess Twilight," Deep Note said as he slowed into a hover in front of the balcony. "Applejack said that I should come here today for...Whatever it is, that's happening."

"Good to meet you too," Twilight said, motioning for him to relax before he tried to bow in mid-air. It was a lot more difficult than most ponies expected. "Spike will see you through if you head through the main doors, I'll join you once everypony has arrived. And I'd stick with him, it's surprisingly easy to get lost inside."

Deep chuckled slightly and nodded, dropping down to the front doors of the castle. Twilight looked over the railing as he headed inside before looking back toward Ponyville, spotting her friends and those that had chosen to come making their way through the streets. Applejack was walking with Bounty, talking in a way that barely masked the tension between them. A casual passer-by might mistake their looks for something more intimate, although everypony knew it was a bit more complex than that by now. The CMC were also coming in a group with Trixie and Quick Fix on either side. Despite herself, Twilight couldn't help but frown slightly at the sight of her former adversary. Despite Trixie effectively moving to Ponyville once she had found success, the two of them hadn't talked directly in years and there was still some air of animosity when they were in the same room.

Still, this wasn't the time for her irritation over decades old events get in the way. There was a good chance most of their grudge was only in her head at this point, if Scootaloo's friendship with Trixie was anything to go by. Twilight silently chided herself for letting it get this far and put her focus back on the matter at hoof. She could see Pinkie Pie and Rarity just arriving now and decided to head down to meet everypony, Aurora was the only one she was waiting for now and he could just teleport in. She headed back inside and took off down the hallways, flying being a little quicker than walking for her. By the time she reached the main foyer everypony else had gone through to the map room, Spike waiting for her by the doorway leading into the castle.

"You ready for this?" He asked her gently as she approached.

"Yeah. We've done this kind of thing before. It's just a case of making sure everypony's alright with sticking by us." She replied, placing a hoof against his right shoulder. He placed a hand on hers in response, the two of them sharing a moment of mutual support.

The moment was broken by the sound of a unicorn teleporting into the lobby. Spike looked over to where it had come from and gasped, causing Twilight to wheel around quickly. It was actually two unicorns: Aurora, and his 'secret weapon'. A pink mare with a purple mane that limply dangled everywhere, the aquamarine highlights somewhat faded. Weary blue eyes and a cutie mark of a purple and white star. Seeing that mark again, attached to its original owner, was almost enough to make Twilight charge her magic to a hostile level on instinct. Even though she managed to hold back the reaction, any sense of relaxation she'd felt had been erased by the sight.

"Aurora..." She said as she approached them, teeth gritted slightly to keep from raising her voice. "I know you thought this was a good idea, but would you please explain why you thought the best pony to help us was Starlight Glimmer?!"

"Well first and most importantly, because I know she's changed," Aurora replied unflinchingly, stepping forward and meeting his aunt's gaze head on. "Second, because she wants to help stop Sunset Shimmer too. Thirdly, I trust her."

"Why?" Twilight replied flatly. Aurora replied by turning to the crestfallen Starlight and casting his sensory magic, eyes paling as he studied her. It wasn't immediately clear which point he was responding to, until he opened his mouth.

"Guilt. Her strongest feeling for the last two months. Disappointment in herself, how others see her. Fear, that everypony's reactions will mirror your own. So much sadness...Almost overwhelming. Her soul is being crushed with the weight of her past, she just wants a chance to move past it and prove she is more than she was."

Twilight' ears twitched ever so slightly as she listened. If it had been anypony else telling her this, she'd be hard pressed to believe them. She knew Aurora never lied about what he felt through his magic though, and he had been assisting in recent attempts to reform Starlight while she was being held in Canterlot. The part about her wanting to fight Sunset, that checked out too. From what Pinkie Pie had told her about what had happened at her compound, Starlight was probably itching for the chance at payback. Payback alone wouldn't be enough though. Even if she believed that this was the real thing, personal experience kept her on edge.

"I see..." She said simply as she stepped in front of Starlight, who by now was hunched up slightly and staring at the floor. "You do realise what you're getting into by wanting to help, right? Not just what we'll be facing now, but how difficult it will be afterward."

"Yes," Starlight replied meekly, looking up at Twilight. She hardly resembled the former vengeful, time altering threat she had before. Now she was little more than an aging, tired, scared mare that looked like she expected to be attacked at any moment. "If throwing myself into the jaws of Tartarus means that ponies might believe that I'm not who I used to be anymore, I'll do it."

Twilight paused for a moment as she watched. Starlight had looked away again almost as soon as she had finished talking, but it hadn't been enough to hide the look in her eyes. She was scared of Twilight. Even for a pony she had considered an enemy, the thought that she might be honest about changing and still felt that way did not sit right with the princess. Coupled with her thoughts about Trixie earlier, she realised that she needed to give this chance just as Starlight needed it. A chance to better the both of them.

"Alright. It may be a bad idea for you to join everypony right now though. The others might not be so reserved about how they see you."

"It's alright. I'll just, wait here." Starlight rubbed her leg and looked away again, the sight pitiful enough to make Twilight feel genuinely bad for her.

"Why don't you stay with her, Spike?" Aurora suggested. "You can fill her in if she wants to stay and we'll bring her in once everypony's up to speed."

"Sure. I'd probably be the best choice for that too." Spike commented. Twilight gave him a look but didn't object.

"Alright. We'd better get moving then. Everypony's waiting for us."

Aurora nodded and followed Twilight toward the map room, Spike and Starlight staying in the foyer. As they opened the doors, Twilight took a moment to double check everypony was present. Applejack, Fluttershy and Rarity were in their seats, Pinkie was letting Apple Bloom sit in hers for now and Scootaloo was in Rainbow Dash's. Sweetie Belle was standing by Rarity's chair, Quick Fix by Fluttershy's, Bounty by Rainbow's, Deep Note by Applejack's and Trixie by Twilight's. She had to admit to herself that she was a little surprised that Trixie was waiting beside it rather than on it.

"-even asked really nicely," Sweetie Belle was saying. "But he said he was more help keeping the peace in Canterlot."

"Sweetie Belle, as much as I enjoyed working with him too, you can't expect him to drop his duties at such short notice." Rarity told her gently.

Sweetie's reply died in her throat as she noticed Twilight and Aurora coming in. The others noticed or picked up on it almost instantly and everypony immediately turned their focus toward them. Twilight looked over to Aurora, the look in his eyes telling her that this was not his area of expertise yet. She flashed him a quick, reassuring smile before moving up to the map and taking her seat.

"Thank you all for coming," She started, practically feeling the familiarity of the situation wearing away at her concerns. "We've asked you here because we believe you can be of help in combating a threat to Equestria that-"

"Err, Twilight?" Applejack interjected. "You don't need to be so formal."

"Right, sorry, force of habit," Twilight shifted and cleared her throat, taking a moment to get her mind back on track. "First things first then. Aurora, Bounty, Trixie, Quick Fix, Deep Note. Before we discuss things any further, I need to be honest with you. While you're here because we think you'll be able to help us, our duties as the Elements of Harmony tend to be a lot more dangerous than ponies think. All the risks of going up against something capable of destroying Equestria aside, it's also a lot of mental pressure. Knowing what's at stake and what, or who, you can lose. Speaking from experience, the consequences of any potential lapse can be disastrous...I'm only telling you this because I don't want to see anypony else get hurt. If you want to back out, everypony will understand."

As she finished her warning, Twilight looked round to gauge their reactions. Trixie and Quick both looked nervous, though neither seemed like they were about to walk away. Deep was looking over at Applejack, his expression unreadable. Bounty was rubbing his chin thoughtfully, seemingly debating the issue in his head. Aurora simply kept studying the map, determination etched on his features.

"I've run long enough..." Trixie said quietly to herself before looking up at Twilight. "After everything I've done in the past, putting my magic toward saving Ponyville for a change is worth the risk. I'm staying."

"As am I," Bounty chimed in. "The way I see it, this is going to be for us like it was when you faced Nightmare Moon. Only we'll have all of you to help us through it, so it can't be quite as bad."

"Well when you put it that way..." Quick stepped forward slightly and nodded, though he sounded a little shaken. "Yeah...Yeah, I'll stay and help however I can."

Twilight nodded, making a mental note to keep a guilt-free exit option open for each of them. Deep Note was less likely to need one since he had been the only newcomer to offer their help rather than being asked, and Aurora's drive rivalled her own. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had already given their support and had lived through his kind of thing before. Besides, the trio were almost inseparable once together. If any of them had been rejected they would have come along anyway. Now that that was settled, it was time to get down to the real business.

"Thank you," She told them reassuringly before leaning forward, placing a hoof on the edge of the map. "Now...No doubt you've all heard the rumors over the last few days. What we discuss about them today cannot be told to anypony outside this room."

"And this isn't just some regular secret," Pinkie interjected, looking round the table quickly. "This is serious business if we don't want a panic riot party starting. That'll just make everything worse. We need a Pinkie promise that you won't tell anypony about this!"

"A ah...A what?" Deep whispered to Applejack. As the only non-Ponyville resident present, it made sense he had no idea what Pinkie was talking about.

"Just follow the motions. It's something Pinkie takes pretty seriously." AJ whispered back to him, grinning slightly as he attempted to mimic the others actions. Once everypony had finished, Pinkie looked to Twilight and nodded.

"So...In the shortest terms. Nightmare Moon is back, and she's found a way to jump from Princess Luna and possess another pony. A former student of Princess Celestia called Sunset Shimmer." Twilight explained. Attempting to explain about Tantabus and the lekli would likely be a bit too much right now.

"We don't know why she did it, possibly to give herself a little more freedom in her next takeover attempt," Aurora added, looking steadily at everypony. "It also seems to have done something to her mentality. She's taken to calling herself Tantabus for whatever reason. Unfortunatly, she isn't pulling any punches this time either. She's volatile, she's aware of our capabilities and unlike Princess Luna, Sunset is a highly powerful unicorn that doesn't seem capable of reining her in."

"It gets worse," Twilight looked down for a moment, trying to figure out how to phrase her next sentence without giving too much away. "It turns out she and Princess Luna had some kind of, symbiotic relationship with each other. I don't know how deep it goes, but it's already clear that if we don't find a way to reunite them..."

The table went silent for several seconds as the implication sunk in for everypony. If they weren't aware just how high the stakes were before, they were fully aware now. To their credit, all of them still looked ready to stay and do their part.

"Do we even know how to do that?" Bounty eventually asked, the cautiousness in his voice attempting to mask his nerves.

"Princess Celestia and I are working on a spell to do just that. In the meantime, Aurora has been figuring out our next course of action." Twilight explained. It was far from what she wanted to say, but the truth was that there was no existing countermeasure for a situation like this. Why would there have been when knowledge of the lekli's capabilities, their whole existence, had been lost to the world for tens of millennia?

"Thank you, aunt," Aurora said as he leaned over the map, studying it and glancing up at the others with intent. "As things stand, Tantabus is currently in hiding, probably making a plan like we are. Commander Night Glider of the defence force's Recon Corps has every available pony searching for any sign of her whereabouts, but even if they find her, the best they could do is track her movements. Right now our opponent's power is stymied due to the fact that, as talented and ambitious as Sunset Shimmer is, her magic is significantly less powerful than Princess Luna's. Her first priority will be finding a way to overcome that flaw. Unfortunately, there is an artefact that basically exists for just such a purpose."

"Oh no..." Trixie gasped before she could stop herself. The outburst momentarily drew everypony's attention, only for them to catch on as they realised why she was having the worst reaction.

"I'm afraid so," Aurora continued solemnly. "The Alicorn Amulet. Even worse, with how into studying magical artefacts Sunset was, it'd be foolishly naïve to assume that she didn't find out where it was hidden during her studies."

"And one way or another, Nightmare Moon will get that information if she has it," Rarity deduced, resting her chin on a hoof and frowning slightly. "Or, Tantabus, whichever we end up calling her."

"Yes. Once she has the amulet, her next focus will be denying us the power that stopped her last time: The Tree of Harmony and the elements within."

There were more than a few flashes of concern on everypony's faces as they processed this new development. Twilight was likely the only one present who could currently stand up to Sunset, and that wouldn't mean much without a means of stopping her for good. Princess Celestia would be preoccupied aiding her sister and taking care of wider Equestria. If Tantabus succeeded in getting her hooves on the amulet now, everypony's situation would be much direr.

"Do...Do we have ANY advantage?" Sweetie Belle asked timidly, looking more unsettled than anypony right now. Rarity placed a hoof on her sister's shoulder and let her lean into a supportive hug.

"We have each other," Twilight told her reassuringly. "There are fifteen of us, including Spike, against one of her. There's a lot we can do with that. Most significantly, we can retrieve the amulet and the elements at the same time, giving us a major advantage. That's why-"

Twilight's explanation was suddenly cut off by an enraged scream coming from the foyer. She immediately teleported out to the source of the disturbance before the others could even get up. She had no idea what to expect, yet as she reappeared she was still caught out by the sight before her. Spike was holding back a mare that was furiously attempting to force her way past him and to Starlight Glimmer, who was cowering against a wall, holding her head in pain. The instant everypony else arrived and saw what was happening, the atmosphere in the room froze over.

"Peace Walker?!" Apple Bloom exclaimed. "What the hay're you doing here?"

"Never mind that," Applejack said tersely as she looked toward Twilight and pointed at Starlight. "What's SHE doing here?!"

Twilight shot Aurora a look of momentary irritation before withdrawing it, remembering that this entirely wasn't his fault, even if he'd brought Starlight here. Right now though, they were going to need to do a lot of explaining to everypony.

"We have a bad history." Peace Walker told Twilight simply. Considering what Spike had told her, how Peace had come into the castle looking completely calm, only to launch herself at Starlight the instant she had spotted her, that seemed to be something of an understatement. Quick Fix had taken Starlight through to a side room and was checking her over while they spoke.

"Really bad, don't ask about it," Pinkie told Twilight, getting a small nod of thanks from Peace. "Though, how did you get here? Did you set up some kind of secret network to break you out from hospital and avenge your husband?"

"Not quite," Peace told her, allowing herself to chuckle slightly at the very idea idea. "I still had my papers for getting discharged after we talked. Just had to keep them out of Dr. Searcher's way until he left and then check myself out. It's all been done cleanly and legally, so now I'm here. I know about what happened, thanks to Pinkie Pie and Apple Bloom. I know you're going to go after Sunset Shimmer and I know I want to help deal with my husband's murderer. I can track, I can fight, and I have as much reason as anypony else to be here."

Twilight studied her silently, weighing up her options. Both Pinkie and Bloom's accounts of what happened in the San Palomino Desert and their more recent meeting with Peace painted her as a determined trooper, even more so considering how forceful her tone was. Sending her back to Canterlot would probably just see her attempt to follow the group again or track Sunset down alone. Either one would just add an extra layer of tension when everypony needed it least and only put more ponies at unnecessary risk. Not to mention she was volunteering to help. Maybe...

"You're not going to take no for an answer, are you?" Twilight asked, watching as Peace shook her head firmly. "Alright. We'll have you with us, but you have to stay with either me or Spike when outside this castle. It means nopony will attempt to drag you off again for now but you have to follow our directions at all times, and you can't give Starlight Glimmer any more trouble. You two are on the same side now."

Peace looked unimpressed at that last point but didn't object. She simply nodded and turned to look at everypony else she'd be working with.

"So, you're sure about Starlight?" Fluttershy piped up, glancing over as she saw Quick approaching. Starlight was hanging back in the room they'd been in, avoiding meeting anypony's gaze.

"Spike and Aurora both think she's at least genuine about wanting to stop Sunset. If nothing else, I trust their judgement," Twilight replied before turning to Quick. "How's she doing?"

"Well, Peace did manage to slug her between the eyes before being restrained," Quick explained. "Lucky for Starlight, she's got quite a thick skull. Nothing worse than a bruise and a headache."

"Alright," Twilight thought for a moment before nodding. "Aurora, you fill Spike and Peace Walker in on the meeting and what everypony else will be doing. Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Bounty, Trixie, Starlight, I'd like to run through what we'll be doing and some spells that will help us."

As the gathered unicorns followed her away, Spike watched her silently. He'd been through this 'Fate of Equestria' scenario enough times to know the warning signs. Twilight was under more stress than she was letting on. For now though, he just had to hope that their coming tasks would prove successful and the pressure would be off before things escalated further.