“Twilight, honey, you've barely touched your dinner. Are you feeling okay?”

Twilight felt her mother's hands against her cheeks and forehead. She looked up to a series of worried faces gathered round the dinner table.

“Oh, I've seen this look before. She's sick alright.” Great-Grandma pointed with her fork, dropping meatloaf crumbs onto the table. “She's got a sickness of the heart.”

“Heart-sickness, eh?” asked Great-Great Uncle Sterling, stabbing his fork and knife into a slice of meatloaf on his plate. “Well, what ruffian has got you in such a tumble? Do I need to tussle him up some?” He gave a jovial laugh, reliving fond memories of his old boxing days.

Twilight remained expressionless. “Her. And no.”

“Oh,” said Twilight Velvet, returning to her seat, “now we're getting somewhere. You and Sunset fight again?”

“Who hurt who?” asked Cadence, softly.

“I started it” replied Twilight, “Then she me got back. So, I guess we're currently tied.”

“Well, that's good” said Velvet, “Now, you have the opportunity to be the better person. Go and apologize.”

“I tried.”

“O-oh!” came a chorus from the family elders, mostly from Uncle Sterling.

“...only made things worse.”

Great-Grandma gave the teen girl a concerned look. “You two fight a lot?”

“Seems like it. Not fights, really. Rarity calls them spats.”

“But you two always get back together?”

Twilight nodded.

“Well,” she patted her great-granddaughter's hand, “I'd worry more if you didn't fight. Sign of a healthy relationship. I can't tell you how many times your Great Pa Pa and I used to quarrel. Hell, I left him no less than ten times after we got married.”

“I remember” said Grandpa, his mouth full, “There was that one time we didn't see you for a whole month.”

The matriarch paused for a moment, before shaking her head. “I don't remember that. Point is:” she returned to Twilight, “yes, we fought, but we always came back to each other and our relationship was stronger than ever. In fact, I'm sure of it, when I finally join him, the first thing we'll do is have a fight as to why I took so long.”

“Mom! Don't say things like that!” cried Grandma.

“What?” the eldest woman laughed, “I'm old! I can say whatever the hell I want!”

“You're old al'right!” laughed Uncle Sterling.

“Oh, hush!” She threw her napkin at her kid brother, “And wipe your face. You've got gravy all over it!” She returned to the youngest family member. “When you get back with Sunset, do you find that you two are closer together than before?”

“Well, yeah” Twilight shrugged, “I often feel like we learn a little more about the other. We have a cry, kiss—”

“...and get some amazing, sweaty, wall-pounding make-up sex?”

“Grandmother!” gasped Velvet. The others around the table looked rather uncomfortable.

“No” Twilight looked down, “Sunset has held off on any of that...”

“Well, that's good to hear” said Nightlight, taking a sip of his wine, “I was afraid I'd have to give her a stern talking to.”

“I don't think I've met Sunset yet” Great-Grandma said thoughtfully, “ Have you any pictures?” Twilight pulled out her phone and opened the photo gallery. She found a series of her and Sunset and passed them to the elderly woman. “My,” she smiled, swiping through the pictures, “aren't you two a cute pair.”

“Still can't believe my granddaughter prefers holes to poles” Grandpa grumbled into his napkin.

“Now you hush!” Great-Grandma scolded her son, “I think it's adorable. Any chance I'll see her at the wedding?”

Twilight shrugged. “I've asked her to be my plus one. However, with what's happened, I don't know...”

“What about you two? Have a date set yet?”

“No,” Cadence tenderly grasped Shining Armor's hand, “we're still working out our own schedules. It probably won't be for another year, or so. We hope to have a date nailed down sometime soon. Don't worry, you'll all be the first to know.”

“I really don't care about the wedding,” said Velvet, “I just want a grandchild.”

Her grandmother agreed. “Another great-great-grandchild would be nice. A girl this time, perhaps?”

“Too many females in this family” Uncle Sterling griped, “How about another strapping lad?”

“Now wait a minute!” Shining yelped, “We only just got engaged!”

“Doesn't matter,” smiled Velvet, “you've already put a ring on it. You're our only hope for grandchildren now, Shining. Not likely we're gonna get any out of Twilight.”

“Mom!” Twilight's face flushed, “There are other methods!”

“Twins!” offered Grandma, “A boy and a girl. They can do that now with science, right?”

Shining slowly slid down beneath the table. “Can we just please change the subject?”

Unable to take any more, Twilight grabbed her plate and retreated into the kitchen. Not wanting to be wasteful, she scraped her meal into Spike's food bowl, for which the pooch was very grateful.

Throwing her dishes into the sink, Twilight gripped its edges and did everything she could to keep from screaming.

“Twilight?” came a soft and gentle voice.

“The hell do you want?” Her tone may have been a bit harsher than she intended, but she figured it could have been worse. All the same, she felt sorry for her words. Of any of them, Cadence didn't deserve her wrath.

“Look,” Cadence placed her hands on the girl's shoulder. She felt the tension in her muscles amd began to give them a gentle rub. Almost immediately, Twilight started to relax; her breathes evened out.

“I see you're frustrated” Cadence continued her massage, “You want to talk about it? Sister to sister?”

Twilight said nothing.

Cadence ended the massage and leaned against the cabinetry to face her future sister-in-law. “Perhaps, then, if I can make some observations:

“Your parents have had to make quite a few adjustments this past year. In addition to Shining and me getting engaged, you've dumped a load on them. First, leaving Crystal Prep for CHS. Next, your newly-appointed powers from an alternate dimension, let's not even mention Midnight Sparkle. Shortly after, you came out as gay—and with a girlfriend who also happens to be from said alternate dimension—”

“They don't know about that last part.”

“Okay, so, just a girlfriend, then. But, can you see what they're dealing with?”

“I suppose...”

“Now, they see you upset over said girlfriend... You want to tell me what happened?”

“If I told you, you would think me the worst person who ever lived.”

“Try me.”

Twilight hesitated. She could feel her eyes begin to tingle, summoning the flow of tears. “I'd rather not. Suffice to say: I've made a horrible mistake. I did something completely selfish and foolish and, now, I'm paying for it.”

“Okay,” Cadence hugged her sister-in-law tightly, “just promise me you'll tell someone if it gets any worse.”

Twilight's face wrenched as she became on the verge of tears. She pressed her face into Cadence's shoulder and murmured something inaudible. However, Cadence could make out one word.

“Rape? Oh!” She jumped up with alarm, gently pushing Twilight back and looking her straight in the face. “My god! Twilight! You weren't...! She didn't...!”

Twilight shook her head and placed it back into Cadence's shoulder, tears beginning to fall. She wrapped her arms around Cadence, holding her tightly. “It's not what you think.” she choked, “She didn't touch me that way—not willingly. It was me! I made her do it. I forced her to do it. She has no memory of it... She doesn't know what she did... If I had just...” Her body shook with her sobs. “This is all my fault, and I don't know how to fix it!”

“Oh, Twilight” Cadence sighed, “You still love Sunset, don't you?”

Twilight nodded. “That's what's making this all the more horrible...”

“Do you think she still loves you?”

“Maybe. But then what?” she said softly, “How can we move forward?”

Cadence took in a deep breath. “I don't know... Even if you still love her, and are truly sorry--"

"I am both those things! How can I prove it to her?"

Cadence's heart broke for Twilight. "I don't think you can. Everything lies with Sunset now. Only she has the power to decide the next step.

"All I can tell you is be prepared for the worst, but also save a little faith for the best.”

Twilight turned the faucet and allowed the hot, steaming water to flow over her. She closed her eyes and focused on the warm beating upon her skin. She imagined herself as a mountain. She saw the snow and rain falling upon her peak and traveling down to her base, creating winding streams and mini waterfalls.

Twilight couldn't remember exactly the last time she stood under her shower like this, but she could remember why. She was trying to wash off Midnight Sparkle. Which made her start to wonder: What was she trying to wash off now? Guilt? Shame? Regret? Perhaps, a combination of all three.

“There you are!” a little head popped from behind the shower curtain, “Was wondering where you disappeared to.”

Twilight smiled. “Hey, Spike.” She didn't move to conceal herself, instead, she chuckled inwardly. Shortly after Spike gained his ability to speak, Twilight had come across an internet meme regarding the hypothetical notion of “What if pets could talk?” It then recanted its query with a statement inferring to owners performing inappropriate acts before their pets. Well, Twilight was living the hypothetical and, while not engaging in anything inappropriate, she was in full nudity in the presence of an articulate canine. Oddly, it wasn't quite as weird as everyone made it out to be.

“Finally out of your food coma?” she asked.

“Yep!” the pup yawned and stretched, “Best one yet! First, I get my dinner, then your dinner, then Grandma's coffee cake. I don't know how I'm gonna handle Thanksgiving, let alone, Christmas!” He stopped himself, and began to assess the situation before him. He took a more serious, compassionate tone. “This whole thing's got you pretty down, huh?”

Twilight shifted slightly, hugging herself in the process. Spike had seen it before. “Look,” he said, “you know you can always talk to me about it. Even if I'm not as silent as I used to be, I'm still a good listener.”

“I know...”

“So, what's going on?”

Twilight hugged herself tighter. “Everything.”

“Could you be a little more specific?”

“I'm a monster, Spike! And, this time, it wasn't because of some out-of-control magic. This was all me.” She fell to a squat and covered her face her hands.

“Hey!” Spike cried, scrambling up the tub wall. He jumped into the shower and began licking at his mistress's face. “None of that! Yeah, what you did was pretty horrible, but...”

“Just stop, Spike. I know what you're trying to do—and I appreciate it. But, there really is nothing anyone can say that can make this any better. This is strictly between Sunset and me; and I'm done. I've pleaded my case. It's in her han—er hooves—now. Whether she forgives me, or we're really through, I'll...” Her throat closed as tears swelled to the surface. She felt a little wet ball of fur nuzzle closer as she surrendered to weeping.

“You idiot!” a voice screamed inside her head, “You selfish little brat! Sunset was everything. You were her everything. You just had to go and ruin it! You should have known better!”

Twilight nodded to herself. She should have known better. Though the events of the past days only twisted the knife further. She was the one to push the relationship. She was always the one pushing the relationship.

After just a few short months of being together, Twilight had made her first push. Up to this point, she and Sunset had only engaged in hand holding and light kissing. Twilight, however, had wanted more. She had waited one night, during one of Rainbow's soccer matches, to make her move. Unfortunately, Sunset wasn't all too pleased, and had swiftly left the stands in a huff.

Twilight had given it a few minutes before approaching her steaming girlfriend. Brief words were exchanged, and Twilight quickly gathered that, while Sunset wasn't mad, she was clearly upset.

“I'm not against 'expanding on our expressions of affection'” Sunset had struggled to keep from yelling.

“Then why did you push me away?”

“What? And make out? In full-view of the entire school? How about a little tact, Twilight?” She pointed back in the direction of the ongoing match. “That was neither the time, nor the place. We're here for our friends.

“It's just that,” she let out a sigh, “I'm not really comfortable doing things like that in public.” She turned away from Twilight, trying to hide her emotions. Though, Twilight knew she was hurt.

Cautiously, she crept up behind her girlfriend and slipped her arms around her, bringing her into a gentle hug. She released her breath when she felt Sunset relax, which only made her hug tighten. “I'm sorry” she whispered.

“I know” Sunset sighed. “Just didn't think you'd jump me like that. Guess I shouldn't really be surprised. I mean, not like it's not a thing lovers do.” She wiggled slightly to get out of Twilight's death grip and turned back around. She let out a light chuckle and ran her fingers through her girlfriend's hair; a gesture that always made Twilight's cheeks burn.

Twilight gulped as Sunset's voice turned low and silky. “Wish you had given me a heads-up cause, really, if you wanted to make out tonight, I can think of a few far better places than a high school soccer game. In fact,” she wrapped her arms around Twilight's waist and pulled her in, “the moon is shining perfectly on the library dome tonight. Say we skip out early at the after-party and start one our own?”

A wide smile had crept on Twilight's face as Sunset's gently nuzzled hers.

“Twily?” the bathroom door was met with a sharp knock, “You still in there? Are you okay?”

Twilight scrambled to regain her bearings. “Uh, yeah...” She wrapped her arms around herself and tried to re-imagine they were Sunset's.

“Could you please hurry?” Shining continued, “It's late, and I'd really like to shower before going to bed.”

“Y-yeah,” Twilight stumbled, raising to her feet, “give me a sec.” She turned off the water and fumbled around in the steam for her towel and one for Spike. With a preliminary dry, she wrapped the towel around herself and stepped out of the bathroom straight into her brother's arms.

Twilight froze. “Wha-what is this?”

Shining only squeezed his baby sister tighter, ignoring that she was sopping wet. “Just letting you know that, whatever happens, I'm still your big brother and I'm always here to protect you.”

Twilight closed her eyes and let out the breath she had been holding. “Thanks.”

Back in her room, Twilight finished drying Spike and herself off. Putting on her pajamas, she fell onto her bed, too awake to fall asleep, but too tired to do anything. Spike jumped up to join her, shaking off the last remaining water droplets from his fur.

“Feeling better?” he asked.

Twilight responded in an incoherent mumble. Though, the shower did make her feel a little better. Still, she felt like she needed to get away. Physically running away didn't seem a viable option, though. However, maybe she could mentally.

She rested her hands at her side and resorted to watching the moonlight casting shadows on her ceiling. Slowly, she allowed her mind to drift. After a short while, her eyelids began to feel heavy. Deciding it a futile fight, she closed them. She felt Spike curl next to her before letting her subconscious whisk her away.

She awoke in a different room from her own, though Twilight knew very well where she was. She was at Sunset's place, and laying upon her bed as seductively as one could in fall clothing. Her damp hair was wrapped in a towel. Twilight sat up and looked around as details filled themselves in.

It was a Saturday afternoon. She and Sunset had returned from a brief lunch with Fluttershy after a morning of volunteering at the animal shelter. Feeling icky from cleaning the pens and kennels, they'd decided they both needed showers. Being the gracious hostess, Sunset had insisted that Twilight go first.

Now, Twilight laid in wait for her beloved to return. She listened carefully as, from the bathroom below the loft, Sunset hummed to herself, blissfully unaware that anyone could hear her. Suddenly, the humming and the sound of running water stopped. Twilight heard the shower curtain being pulled open and the rustling of Sunset drying herself off.

“Oh, skip the towel” Twilight grinned devilishly, imagining the wet, naked body downstairs, “Just get up here and join me. This bed is so big and lonely without you.”

“You sure you don't want to use my blow-dryer?” Sunset asked, ascending the stairs. She had a blow-dryer in hand, which she extended to Twilight.

Twilight turned over. To her dismay, there was no shimmering, nude goddess. However, it was still her Sunset, though fully clothed in a sweatshirt and jeans. “No, thanks” she smiled, “I've been trying not to use it as much. Rarity says my hair will do better if I air dry it. Turns out, she's right.”

Sunset shrugged and threw her dirty clothes into her hamper. She finished brushing her blown-dried hair and returned the brush to its home on the highboy.

“Now then,” she leered, turning her attention to the girl on her bed, “what am I to do with you with no homework, work, or any other responsibilities to demand my attention on this chilly afternoon?”

Twilight rolled onto her back and stretched, arching it and pushing her bosom upward. “Oh,” she said, coyly, “I can think of a few things.” She let out a light giggle as Sunset slowly crawled onto the bed and hovered over her.

“You know,” Sunset said, her lips brushing against Twilight's, “it's a bad thing to give me ideas.”

Twilight kissed back. “I'll accept the consequences.” She wrapped her arms around Sunset's neck and pulled her down. She moaned as she felt Sunset's hands on her, making their way around her body to her back. She heard a surprise shudder from Sunset and it brought a smile to her lips. She had purposefully neglected to put on a bra after her shower. “That's right, my little pony” she whispered between kisses, “one less layer between you and me.”

Twilight's hands found their way to the hem of Sunset's sweater. Swiftly, they slipped in—a maneuver Sunset had become well-accustomed to. Normally, both hands would travel upward to entertain Sunset's plush areas. Though, this time, Twilight wanted to go for something a little different. While one hand move up, the other moved down. She almost had her entire hand into Sunset's waistband before a stern grip quickly snatched her wrist and pulled her out.

Shocked, Twilight looked to her lover. Sunset's brow was furled and, though she spoke not a word, Twilight instantly got the message that that area was off limits. Instead, Sunset re-directed Twilight's hand to her backside, placing it firmly on her buttocks. “If you want to travel south” she said, “you can go here.”

“Fine” sneered Twilight sensually, and gave the rump a firm squeeze, “You just wait...”

“One day” Sunset promised with a smile. She leaned forward and continued her kissing, “One day, all this will be yours.”

“Why not today?” Twilight said with a pout. She gave a tug, pulling their hips closer together.

Sunset broke their kiss. “Twilight, please don't ruin this moment.”

“Maybe she won't,” came a sinister voice, “but I will.”

The two girls turned to the direction of the voice with a gasp.

“How is this possible?” Sunset cried as Twilight cleaved to her.

Midnight Sparkle let out a laugh from the foot of the bed. “You tell me, unicorn. How is anything possible?”

Sunset let out a low growl, positing herself between the intruder and Twilight. “What do you want?” she sneered.

“Oh,” Midnight feigned a sudden interest in her manicure, “nothing, really. Just thought I'd pop in and see how my favorite inter-dimensional couple was doing. You two really know how to get it on... or not. Seriously, Sunny,” she gestured to Twilight, “how have you not tapped that yet? Clearly, you can see that poor girl is just aching for someone to fill her glory hole. If it's not you, I may be persuaded to alleviate some pressure.”

Sunset pulled Twilight closer to herself. “You'll do no such thing! You so much as lay a single finger on her and I'll—”

“You'll what?” grinned Midnight, “I'm not even real in many senses of the term. Merely a blob of sentient magic.”

Sunset's eyes narrowed. Her voice fell; low and even. “Even magic can die.”

Midnight's face fell for a moment. For just an instant, the demon displayed an expression of genuine fear. As quickly as it came, so did it leave. Midnight shook herself and returned to her belligerency.

“Just look at her” she pointed again to Twilight, “The poor girl suffers for you. She calls out your name in the stillness of the night, while her fingers move about he—”

“Enough!” Twilight roared. She wiggled her way out from behind Sunset and moved closer to Midnight Sparkle, keeping constant eye contact with her. “I've had enough. I suggest you leave. You have no more power over me.”

“Oh, but you're so wrong. You may have defeated me, but I'll always be right here” she placed a finger to the center of the girl's forehead. “I was born from your deepest, darkest thoughts and desires. It was the magic you absorbed at the Friendship Games that allowed me to escape my womb, but I can always crawl back in. Oh, no Twilight Sparkle, you may push me away, but I'll always be here.” She leaned back and snarled. “Now, admit it, you want this sexy hunk of flesh to fuck you till your brain melts.”

“What?” Twilight yelped, “No!”

Midnight raised an eyebrow. “Really? Why did you make that cocktail then?”

“Twi?” Sunset's voice quivered. She grasped at Twilight's arm. “What's she talking about?”

Twilight quickly brushed her off. “N-nothing.”

“'Nothing' she says!” cackled Midnight.

“Shut up!”

“I will once you admit to Sunset that you spiked her drink.”

Twilight was taken aback. “What drink?” She didn't recall Sunset bringing any drinks up to the loft.

“That one” she pointed with a grin.

Twilight slowly turned to see Sunset down the last swallow of water. “Sunset” Twilight whispered, “Oh, no...” She quickly attended to her girlfriend, who suddenly became quite subdued. She was too wrapped up on Sunset, she barely heard what Midnight was saying.

“Remember you're little concoction?” Midnight went on, “Well, I took the liberty of adding it to that glass of water. Nice work, by the way. I couldn't have done better myself. What better way to hurt the one person who drove us apart?”

Twilight watched in horror as Sunset's eyes lost their light. Her expression became hallow. “Sunset!” Twilight cried, gently taking her girlfriend's face into her hands, “Sunny, love, please, come back to me!” Something was wrong—horribly wrong. It didn't work like this.

“Sunset!”

Sunset seemed to hear Twilight's last scream. She slowly rolled her eyes to meet hers and, for a moment, Twilight thought that Sunset was coming out of it. That was, until Sunset snatched her forcibly by the wrists and slammed her down onto the bed.

Twilight found herself pinned to the bed as Sunset mechanically began removing her clothing. She fought to keep herself dressed, but Sunset inevitably won, ripping off first the sweater, then her jeans. Before Twilight could register what has happening, she was strewn, naked, upon the bed. Sunset was still fully clothed.

“Sunset, listen to me” Twilight pleaded, “Fight it, don't give in to it!”

“'Fraid she can't hear you, deary” crackled Midnight, “Really gotta give you credit. You know how to brew a mighty potion. Better make yourself comfortable. You're gonna be there for a while.”

“SUNSET!” Twilight gasped as a pair of lips touched her exposed skin.

“Mmm!...You liked that, didn't you?”

Twilight hissed through her teeth. “Fuck off!”

“Oh, I will—as I watch you two.”

Twilight let out another breath as Sunset moved downward. “Please, stop!” Sunset didn't respond, but continued her journey to Twilight's nethers. Twilight pinched her knees together tightly, but, once again, Sunset proved herself too strong.

“No sense fighting it” Midnight folded her arms, “We all know how this played out.”

Twilight grit her teeth. “Doesn't mean I can't try to stop it.” She reached down and tried to push Sunset away, only to discover that her arms had been tied above her head. She looked upon her bonds with bewilderment. “When...?”

She sucked in a breath. Sunset had found her sacred spot and was loving it tenderly with her mouth. Twilight fell back onto the bed as her brain went into emotional overload. She knew something was about to get shorted soon. She was conflicted. She both wanted and didn't want Sunset's touch. She closed her eyes and kicked and screamed all she could to try to get it to stop.

“I must say,” Midnight prattled on, “making Sunset your personal sex slave was a wonderful idea.” She frowned upon hearing Twilight's cries. “Really, you should be thanking me.” She stopped to observe the scene going on before her. With a grin of satisfaction, she placed her hands on her hips. “Well, now that's what I'm talking about!”

Twilight continued her screams right up to her moment of climax. She jolted as the wave hit her. Tears blurred her vision. “Sunset,” she cried, “I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I never meant for this to happen.”

“Sure” Midnight rolled her eyes, “Keep telling yourself that. Remember, it wasn't I who put it in her drink the first time. Now, you two get back to being busy. I haven't even started yet.”

Almost as if on cue, Sunset returned to her spot between Twilight's legs and reengaged the girl. Twilight's screams resumed. She bucked her hips and yelled out all she could in protest.

“Oh, and one more thing” said a now naked Midnight Sparkle. She pulled out a long strip of cloth and proceeded to tie it around Twilight's head. “You can't cry out for any help. Sunset certainly couldn't.”

Twilight clenched down on her gag in an attempt to scream. Tears stung her eyes as she felt her next orgasm rising.

“Yes! That's it!” Midnight moaned loudly, her hand fervently pounding her own crotch. “TWILIGHT!”

Twilight let a garbled scream.

“Twilight! Wake up!”

Twilight felt something wet and rough slide across her face. “Someone!” she yelled, “Help me!”

“Twilight! Can you hear me? Wake up!” Spike continued lapping at her face.

Twilight's eyes snapped open and she jolted. She laid back and heaved heavily, her body covered in a cold sweat. She closed her eyes and waited for the throbbing in her groin to subside.

Once calmed down, her eyes darted about the room, trying to discern if she was truly awake. She'd had wet dreams before, but none quite as vivid as this one. At that moment, she was thankful that that day was laundry day.

Spike leapt upon Twilight's chest, continuing to lick her face. “You awake?” he asked, “I've been trying to pull you out of it for a while. You were crying for help. Is everything okay?”

Twilight's face contorted. “No” she whimpered, wiping away her tears, “No, it isn't. Midnight Sparkle is back.”

The puppy jumped off the bed in alarm and began searching for Twilight's cellphone. “You need me to alert the others?”

“No” Twilight shook her head, “I know she's all in my imagination.”

“So,” Spike returned to the bed, “what did she want?”

Twilight curled up and turned away. “She's out to taunt me. To make sure I never forget or forgive myself for what I did to Sunset.”

Spike let out a growl. “Don't let her get to you.”

“...and, yet, she's right.”

The pup's jaw slacked. “What? You're gonna let her win?”

“I have little other choice. I never can forget how I hurt Sunset. If this is my penance, then so be it.”

“You can't just give up like that!”

“I already have.”

“No!” he barked, “I won't allow it! There must be another way!”

Twilight looked puzzled. “Another way?” she whispered.

“Sure! There always is! Even Sunset found it.”

Twilight wiped her tears on her sleeve. “Yes,” she smiled inwardly, “there is another way. An other way to punish myself and show to Sunset and the world how truly sorry I am.” She looked at her little pup with wide eyes and rose, scratching him between the ears. “Spike,” she grinned, “I don't care what they say about your species, or breed, you're a genius!”

“Well,” he puffed out his chest, “it all boils down to proper breeding.”

“Yes!” Twilight booted up her computer, “I'll show them an other way!”

Spike's sudden surge of pride faded. “Um, Twilight? What are you doing?”

Author's Note

Okay... so...

This chapter was a little heavy...

The good news is: This is the furthest we descend into Hell.

Light's at the end of the tunnel, folks.