The Handmaiden

Canterlot was, for the first time in recent memory, under siege.

Twilight hadn't seen anything like it before. The city of Canterlot had always been a glittering city of gold, untouchable and untaintable, even during Equestria's darkest points. And yet, Luna managed to dash that image in mere minutes, with a half dozen casks of blast powder and a few choice arrows. Even as the fires were being contained, while Twilight rode along with Rarity, it was chilling to see the shining gem of the Empire in such a state.

"Here." Rarity barely spoke, one hand still loosely gripping her throat, her fingers tracing the bruised skin from where the Empress grabbed her, while the other held onto Opal's reins. Twilight pulled her horse, taken from a guard who had been killed in the invasion, to a stop before the chancellor's home. Waiting in the doorway, basket slung over her arm and leaning on her walking stick, was Sweetie Belle, her mangled face twisted with concern.

"I heard the b-b-blasts," said Sweetie, limping towards the pair. "I'm ready to help."

"The Empress asked for you, we're here to take you to the castle," explained Twilight. Sweetie nodded, slowly limping to her sister. "Er… maybe you ought to ride with me. I think she needs a moment."

"What happened to her?" Sweetie struggled to clamber onto the back of Twilight's horse, eventually managing with a bit of assistance. With a nod, Twilight snapped her reins and set off down the path towards the castle. "Who d-did this?"

"She's not seriously hurt," said Twilight. "She'll be okay."

"I appreciate you trying to p-put me at ease, but that's n-not what I asked." Sweetie's voice grew a bit stiff, her burned lips curled into a tiny scowl. "I want to know who h-hurt my s...s-sister."

"It was… It was The Empress." The pair went silent for a bit as they slowly made their way throughout the city. The fires were being tamed by men with buckets of water, castle staff doing their best to minimize the damage. Luckily, it seemed as though there would be rain soon, judging by the dark, grey clouds filling the sky. "She was angry about the attack, and Rarity spoke back to her when she requested you. The Empress choked her for a bit."

"Damn… These rebels…" muttered Sweetie. "C-c...can't see the damage they're doing, or else they don't care! They'll never win, all they're d-doing is getting people hurt! They're playing with fire…"

"In more ways than one," remarked Twilight. Sweetie shook her head, clutching her stick tightly.

"This was no normal fire," she said. "This wasn't j-just black powder barrels."

"Hm?"

"The way the fire sp-spread. It's not natural. And the sm-smell. It smells like rotten f-fish. That's from what was in those barrels." Sweetie stared at the destruction surrounding her, letting out a sigh as the beginnings of rain drizzled down onto the burning city. "A mix of mercury, kirin blood, s-sea serpent bladder, and… Well. My guess is Lover's Loss root."

"I was reading about that," said Twilight with a nod. "Their sap is highly flammable, so much so that it can ignite on the sand from just the desert sun."

"Mh-hm. Combine these elements into a paste and p…p-press it down, they make for excellent siege weapons," explained Sweetie. "The paste c-catches flame and sp-sp-splashes everywhere to maximize damage. A few more barrels and they might have done s...serious damage to the c-city."

"Chrysalis…" Rarity didn't look at either her sister nor the handmaiden, her focus still directly ahead. "It's Chrysalis…"

"Lover's Loss only grows in the s-south of Equestria. Near The Hive." Sweetie let out a sigh, looking to her sister with concern. "Looks like the Empress' s-sister has allies."

"Rarity has a meeting with Mother Chrysalis in a bit under a week," noted Twilight. "Perhaps we'll find some answers then."

"We need answers, but not to that q-question." Sweetie winced, reaching for her crippled leg as a flare of pain flashed across her ruined features. "Damned leg…"

"I'm sorry." It was a quiet apology, and so out of the blue that Twilight initially thought she had imagined it. But it was clear, after a glance to Sweetie who wore a matching look of confusion, that the Chancellor had indeed spoken, after all.

"You… didn't do anything," said Sweetie slowly, her visible concern growing. "S-stupid leg just acts up s...s-sometimes."

"You got hurt, and it was my fault. You shouldn't even be here. You should be at home, but instead… This is all my fault. I've failed you, and I'm sorry."

"No, it isn't. Don't be s-silly." Sweetie stared at her sister with her good eye, examining her carefully. Twilight hadn't ever seen the chancellor like this before, and it was beginning to make her nervous. Perhaps Luna's attack was even more successful than she first thought. "You didn't do this. Any of it. D-don't blame yourself for what happened to me, or to Canterlot. You did everything you could to p-protect us. Mother would have been p-proud."

"No. She certainly would not have been." Rarity shook herself firmly, and her demeanor shifted somewhat. She sat a bit straighter, gripped her reins a bit tighter, and when she next spoke, there was more of a spark in her voice. "Right. Enough mucking about, we have work to do. Sweetie, what sort of brews could you mix up?"

"I'll need to s-see what they have at the c-castle," mused Sweetie. "At the very least, I can make a batch of a s-s-sensory potion. Heightens hearing and vision in the dark, for pursuing rebels."

"An adequate start. Sparkle, you and I will at once begin fortifying the castle. Though you do not know any specific magicks to help, your mana will no doubt be a useful contribution. I'll need every drop you can spare to maximize our defenses."

"Of course," said Twilight. "And after that?"

Rarity took a moment to think, pursing her lips as she contemplated the situation. The light sprinkle soon became a full-on downpour, the frigid rain descending onto the city. It was silent in that time, save for the sound of near-frozen droplets pattering against the road. After nearly a minute, Rarity whipped her head back, sending her wettened hair out of her face.

"That rebel bastard attacked my Queen. We are going to show her why that was a damn foolish thing to do."

"Bright and early tomorrow, Sparkle. We'll be in the library, we need to look into more defensive options"

Twilight nodded to the chancellor, muttering an agreement under her breath. It didn't matter how loudly she spoke, for Rarity was already on her way down the hall. The night was still fairly young, the sun only just barely set by the time the two had decided to finish their work for the day. Twilight had exhausted nearly every drop of her mana for the day, and much of the outer walls of Castle Canterlot had been arcanely fortified. Twilight could offer no more assistance to the chancellor, who had plenty of other tasks to complete. Rarity assured Twilight that there would be opportunity to help around the castle in the morning, when her mana would have replenished somewhat, and the best thing the handmaiden could do for now is get some rest.

Unfortunately for Twilight, she had a hunch that sleep would elude her for a bit longer. As she entered her room, the familiar fog of Luna's magick descended upon her. She closed the door behind her and collapsed onto her bed, enjoying the tranquil silence for a moment before closing her eyes and laying down flat on her back. Almost immediately, Twilight felt her head cloud slightly, growing fuzzy around the edges of her mind. When she opened her eyes, she was sitting upright and stood face to face with the woman who was quite possibly the most wanted criminal in Equestrian history.

"Did you enjoy our little performance?" asked Luna with a grin.

"It was quite the spectacle…" returned Twilight, her delivery flat and lacking in energy. "I'm glad you're here, we need to talk." She glanced around, frowning slightly. Conspicuous by his absence was the knight she had taken to liking since their meeting. "Where's Flash?"

"He'll be along in…" Luna closed her eyes and snapped her fingers. "Hm. Now, it seems."

"Luna." Twilight blinked and, suddenly, Flash had appeared just beside Luna. He was lacking in his typical kind smile, his lip curled up into a frown. "We need to talk."

"Oh, you too, hm?" sighed Luna, shaking her head. "Well, then, what is so important that we need to discuss?"

"What in three hells were you thinking, Luna?" demanded Flash. "We had a plan, and you deviated from it."

"I improved on it."

"You bombed Canterlot," said Twilight. "You could have seriously hurt someone."

"But I didn't. I made certain of that," promised Luna. "It was simply a strategic move, to disrupt and disorient Celestia." Flash looked away from his leader, and slowly began pacing the length of the room. "What? Is there an issue?"

"Aside from your bomb run being reckless, and aside from the fact that you conveniently forgot to inform me of your 'improved' plan…" Flash gripped his head, running his fingers through his hair nervously. "You shot at the Empress. Why in three hells would you do something like that?"

"I'm going to kill her soon anyway," said Luna with a shrug. "What difference does it make if I take a shot or two at her now?"

"It makes all the difference in the world! Until now, we've been resisting the Empress, defying her," snapped Flash. "Now? Now you've attacked her! You've made it personal, and she is not going to take kindly to that."

"She's furious, Luna," agreed Twilight. "Before, you were merely rebellious. Now, you've disrespected her, you're a threat, and she isn't going to rest until she's stamped you out."

"Forgive me for not particularly caring about whether or not my sister 'takes kindly' to the method of her assassination," droned Luna, crossing her arms over her chest. "Have you two forgotten who it is that we are up against? This is the same woman who forces innocent children to fight to the death for her amusement. If you could have seen what she did to my mother… You would agree that drastic measures need to be taken."

"You bombed a civilian city, endangering the lives of both the innocent masses and your own men," argued Flash. "Just as bad, you kept it from me. I'm your friend, Luna. Your ally, your right hand, and you lied to me."

"Say what you will about Empress Celestia," said Twilight quietly. "But at least she's no liar."

Luna's face flared with anger, a scowl creeping to her lips for a fraction of a second before it retreated. She clenched her fists, closing her eyes and attempting to maintain her calm demeanor. That flare, that momentary scowl, it unnerved Twilight somewhat. Luna fancied herself a hero, and Twilight had initially agreed with that sentiment. Now, on the other hand, it seemed her motives weren't quite as selfless as she originally made them out to be. Twilight was beginning to doubt that Luna cared about anything except her revenge.

"Very well. I didn't think you would feel so strongly about this." Luna turned away from her allies, clasping her hands behind her back. "Perhaps that was short-sighted of me. It was never my intention to deceive you, nor was it to put anyone at risk. I apologize."

"Lady Luna…" Flash let out a sigh, shaking his head. "I know that Celestia hurt you in ways we simply cannot understand. But you have to remember, this isn't just your fight. This is all of Equestria we're talking about. Please." Flash approached his Lady, holding his forearm forward. "I want to help you, but I can't do that if you're hiding things from me. No more secrets. Okay?"

"No more secrets…" Luna stared at Flash for a moment before meeting his arm with her own. "Right. No more secrets. Forgive me."

"Let's kill this tyrant, then we can worry about forgiveness." Flash turned back to Twilight, as if he had temporarily forgotten she was there. "We apologize for the fright, Ms. Twilight. We hope that you didn't suffer the Empress' anger too much."

"I didn't, but Mother Chrysalis of The Hive might," remarked Twilight. "The stuff in your bomb barrels. You got it from Chrysalis?"

"We never met with The Hive, no," said Luna. "But some of our allies happened to reside near there, and Lover's Loss was among the supplies they delivered."

"It was supposed to be used defensively, if we needed to abandon our base and remove evidence of us being there," sighed Flash. "But I suppose that's out of the cards now."

"In any case, Mother Chrysalis will be here in a few days, and the Empress won't be happy that you lot bombed her city with materials that are thought to only come from The Hive."

"Shite. We don't want The Hive getting mixed up in all of this…" Flash rubbed his chin thoughtfully for a moment. "You're our only hope, I suppose. You'll have to vouch for Chrysalis. The Empress is clearly fond of you, perhaps you could sway her."

"I'll try my best. Is there anything else?"

"Falsa Somnium. That's the spell you can use to contact us if you need to," said Luna. "A simple bit of magick, it shouldn't give you much trouble at all. Simply cast it before you lay down to sleep, and I will be with you shortly. Got it?" Twilight nodded. "Good. For now, you need to start looking for something you can turn into an arcana. We don't have the spell ready yet, but soon… Soon, we'll be moving on to the final stages."

"Alright. When should I expect our next meeting?" asked Twilight.

"We're not certain just yet. We still need to get some things in order," said Flash. "Just keep an eye out, and please… stay safe." Twilight nodded and crossed the room to shake his hand. After a slight second of hesitation, she brought her arms around him and gave him a hug.

"And you as well, Flash."

"Alright, alright, we must get going. Keep your head down, Twilight." Luna turned back to face the pair, giving a little bow. "We have a lot to do. Twilight, until next time… We vanish into the shadows."

Twilight felt herself awaken, but elected to keep her eyes closed, in hopes of falling into a proper sleep. The seconds ticked into minutes, nearly a quarter of an hour before Twilight decided that sleep was out of the question. She was just too jittery from the day's events, regardless of her physical exhaustion. Twilight let out a sigh, rolling herself out of bed and approaching her desk to grab her candlestick.

"Ignis minora." To Twilight's dismay, nothing happened. She had cast this spell so many times now that it had become second nature and yet, when she needed her fire now, she received nothing. The day's sorcery had taken a larger toll on Twilight than she initially thought, and so she resigned herself to lighting her candle with a match she had on her desk. She struck up a flame and bathed the room in a dim, orange glow. After taking a moment to ensure that her nightgown was straightened and neat, Twilight opened her bedroom door and stepped into the hall.

The castle was quiet at this hour, many members of staff still working in the city to make repairs and offer protection in the event that the Children of the Night make another attack. Twilight was used to this by now. In the months since she had arrived at the castle and begun learning to read, she spent many a sleepless night walking through the dark, shadowy corridors in pursuit of the library. As good of a teacher as the chancellor was, Twilight had essentially taught herself how to read with all the time she spent in the library. Every free moment she had, though few and far in between, she spent with a book in her hands.

Twilight slipped into the library, taking great care not to create much noise. The Empress had long ago given her permission to visit the library whenever she needed, but waking half the castle while she did so would be unacceptable. So, Twilight crept deeper into the room, as quiet as a mouse, to the section that housed writings on Destruction magicks. Tomes that only she, Chancellor Rarity, and the Empress herself were permitted to read. With a stack of spellbooks under her arm, Twilight returned to the front of the library, where several long oak tables resided, for scholars and readers to sit and conduct their work. Twilight sat down with her books and cracked one open, losing herself almost at once in the words on the page.

There was the sound of footsteps, then the swinging of the door as it opened and closed. Twilight paid it little mind, until the steps drew closer and closer. The Chancellor, it must be. Twilight just kept her focus on her book, waiting for Rarity to appear before her.

"Just a bit of late reading, chancellor," said Twilight as the steps neared her. She closed her book and looked up. "Care to…"

Twilight froze as her eyes landed on her visitor, who was decidedly not her magick instructor. Instead, a man stood in the dim candle light, clad in the lighter leather armor that some guards often wore in between their shifts. He smiled a wicked smile, the scar across his face wrinkling and stretching around his features.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?" Spearhead stepped forward, sending a chill down Twilight's spine. "Did you miss me, bread whore?"

"What are you doing here?" Twilight stood up, slowly taking a step back. "What do you want?"

"I've been watching you. Something just didn't feel right," growled Spearhead, taking a step in Twilight's direction. "You go out with Sentry, and the very next day he breaks the Empress' whore sister out. You get attacked by the rebels, who killed two Daybreakers, and yet you walk out unscathed. Then, during an arena game, a match that was such a surprise that I didn't even know about it until the night before… the rebels somehow manage to sneak in a dozen bomb barrels and a small army past our defenses."

"Whatever it is you're accusing me of, you are mistaken," said Twilight defiantly. She glanced to the door, far beyond her reach and with the table and, more threateningly, Spearhead directly in her path. The exit may as well have been miles away. "I am innocent. A loyal servant of the Empress."

"See, you shouldn't bullshit a bullshitter, bread whore. I know you're lying. It's no surprise that you've got that useless chancellor fooled, she's too busy trying to lick the scum from the bottom of the Empress' feet to see what's going on around her." Spearhead took another step forward and, just as quickly, Twilight took one back. "And Celestia is so high on her own vapors that she can't see the traitor right under her fucking nose. But, to be frank… I don't give a damn about where your loyalties lie, Sparkle. The only thing I care about…"

Spearhead swiped the books from the table, sending the tomes flying across the room as he leapt over the table, until he was upon Twilight. Before the handmaiden could make a move, she was gasping for breath, Spearhead's big, sturdy, powerful hand wrapped tightly around her throat. Twilight's heart pounded in her chest, her blood going cold when the captain of the guard drew a plain silver dagger and pressed the point gently against her middle.

"The only thing I care about is finally taking what I am owed," snarled Spearhead. "Scream and I'll gut you like a fucking trout, do you understand me?" Twilight said nothing, paralyzed with fear, and Spearhead pressed his dagger firmly into Twilight's middle, just barely refraining from piercing her skin. "Nod your fucking head if you understand, you stupid fucking cunt!"

"P-please…" Twilight slowly nodded, the fear poisoning her mind. She couldn't think, her brain frozen and just barely responsive. Spearhead smirked and grabbed the front of Twilight's nightgown, yanking it down and exposing her breasts. "D-don't do this…"

"Where's your magick now, bread whore? Huh? Aren't you supposed to be something special?" Spearhead grabbed her breast fiercely, digging his nails into her sensitive flesh. "No, I don't think so. You're nothing, Sparkle. You're just a cunt, a worthless bitch who sucks cock for food! And you thought you could deny me? That you had the right to resist me? You should be thanking me for even touching you, you dirty whore."

Spearhead grabbed Twilight by the hair and yanked her head back, arching her neck and forcing her to look up into his eyes. He forced his lips onto hers, forcing his tongue into Twilight's mouth, while the handmaiden shuddered and fought in his grasp. Twilight screamed inside of her own head, shouting every sorcery and piece of magick she had learned, to no effect. She struggled and fought, but she simply couldn't overcome the captain's power. Every single second was a fresh new hell, Twilight's skin crawling in disgust as she was used in this way. She hadn't ever kissed anyone but Pinkie like this before. And now that she had been tainted, Twilight wasn't sure if she would be able to bring herself to kiss her true love ever again.

"I told you, bread whore. I told you I'd take what I wanted from you eventually." Once he had gotten a taste of his prize, Spearhead pulled away and, after taking a moment to drink in Twilight's fear and disgust, he spat harshly across her face. Captain Spearhead brought his dagger up, teasing Twilight's nipple with the edge of the blade, chuckling darkly at the way Twilight whined and resisted. "I tried to let you come to me when you were ready, but you were just too damn proud to see yourself for what you really are. You're nothing but a cunt, my cunt, and it's time that I claim you as mine."

A strong right hand across the face turned Twilight around, just for Spearhead to grab her by the hair and throw her back. Her hip connected with the edge of the table and, before she could move to resist, she could feel Spearhead's hand against the back of her head, slamming her forward and bending her over the table. Panic clawed at Twilight, her fear mounting as she felt the hem of her nightgown rise up, exposing her simple cloth panties. She could feel Spearhead grind against her, the firm bulge of his erection pressing against her slit. The fine point of Spearhead's dagger traced down her back, swiftly slicing down the seat of Twilight's panties and finally exposing the cunt he had been desiring for so long.

"Please, please don't hurt me." Tears welled in Twilight's eyes, fearful, furious, disgusted tears at the sound of Spearhead fumbling with his belt. "P-please! Just let me go…"

"You want to hear something funny, bread whore?" laughed Spearhead, slowly pressing himself against Twilight, the head of his dick painfully spreading her lips as he slowly forced himself into her. Twilight tried to cross her legs over one another, a desperate attempt to keep Spearhead at bay. He very easily pulled her legs apart, digging his nails into Twilight's soft, delicate thigh as he manhandled her. "The begging, the crying, the way you struggle. You know who you remind me of? You know who else cried like you?" Spearhead leaned forward, pressing his body against Twilight's and bringing his mouth close to her ear before letting out a low, growling, breathy whisper.

"Your dyke pig at Golden Oak."

Fury and loathing flashed throughout Twilight, replaced immediately by a sharp, tearing pain as Spearhead slammed his hips forward, piercing her delicate, virgin flower with his length. Twilight could feel the blood dripping from her cunt, and the tears soon followed down her face.

"Fuck, but you sure as hells don't feel like her! Gods above, you're tight!" Spearhead slid his hips back and slammed them forward, stealing a shuddering, pained gasp from the handmaiden. "Not like that sloppy bitch. It's a shame, really. You spent all that time and energy to save yourself for your prize hog of a girlfriend, and yet… By the time I got to her, her cunt was so loose I could have worn her like a boot. Her arsehole, on the other hand…" His sinister, cackling laugh filled the room, working his hips as he did. Each stroke racked Twilight's body with pain, her entire body screaming with resistance. She could feel the thick, warm drip of blood down her thigh, her hymen thoroughly torn and her virginity viciously stolen. "That was the only way I was going to be able to even feel her, nevermind cum. She must have started fucking every male inmate the moment you left the tree! Probably took them three or four at a time, anything to stuff that fat fucking face of hers. Be it bread or cock, I doubt the cow cares much."

"N-no…" Twilight let out a shaky sob, her entire body quivering from beneath her rapist. After all she had done to protect Pinkie, it had all been for naught. This despicable, disgusting bastard of a man had gotten to her, Twilight's soft, innocent love, and it was all her fault. "You lie… She wouldn't…"

"Oh, grow the fuck up, you stupid cunt. Life isn't a damn fairy tale. Sure, your bitch may have been saving her loose lips for you when you were feeding her, but the moment you went to sod off with the Empress, she was on her own. So she made use of her only talent, as a cum receptacle. Oh, but cheer up. Given the number of men she must have satisfied by the time I had my turn, your dyke must have eaten like a queen." Spearhead groaned as Twilight tensed around him, her sobs shaking her body in time with each throb of pain from Spearhead's cock pounding her virginity to pieces. "Good, you pathetic little bitch, cry. Let me hear you sob, it just makes my cock even harder."

"Please…" Twilight choked out a sob, each vicious pump bringing her to the tips of her toes, her body jerking with every painful motion as she tried with all of her might to defend herself. Her sorcery refused to obey her command, the strain of the day's work leaving her pool of mana entirely dry. With every attempt to resist Spearhead's advances, Twilight could feel herself fading, her head swimming and her vision doubling. The pain and strain were just too much, and it was clear that Spearhead wouldn't be stopping until he had his fill, regardless of whether Twilight would remain conscious long enough to see the end.

"Beg all you want, bread whore, it won't change a damn thing. I'm still going to use you for the cock hole you are. Maybe if you're lucky, I'll knock you up and you can at least birth me some sons." Spearhead's voice had gone low, gravelly, as if he was just barely holding himself back. "Then you'll at least have some fucking worth. Then, you wouldn't be able to deny it any longer. You'll see that you belong to me. You are mine, bread whore! Do you hear me?! You belong to me!"

"Doloria!"

A scream echoed through the library, nearly loud enough to make Twilight's ears bleed. The weight over her body rose, followed by another scream and the thud of a body hitting the ground. Twilight shakily scrambled away, turning over with fear in her heart. The Empress stood a bit behind her, reaching down to grab Spearhead from the ground. She yanked him up, clutching him around the throat. The Empress snapped her fingers and a flash of golden light surrounded the captain; he spasmed and kicked his legs, screeching and howling in agony. The High Queen beamed fire and fury at the captain of the guard, reducing him to a quivering, quaking, terrified pile of a man.

"No." The Empress barely breathed the word, her voice slithering through the air like a serpent; sharp and fanged, all but dripping with venom. "She most certainly does not."

"Empress…" Twilight shuddered, barely able to see through her hot, fat tears. She could just make out the Empress' form, watching the High Queen drop Spearhead back to the ground. The Empress grabbed the dagger that Spearhead had been using to threaten Twilight from the floor and, after kicking Spearhead over onto his back, she plunged the dagger down, burying the blade in Spearhead's thigh. The captain of the guard let out another howl, the sound making Empress Celestia's lip curl with disgust.

"I will be back for you, bastard. If you attempt to run, I will ensure that you die tired," said Empress Celestia. She turned away from Spearhead, her attention dedicated to her hysterical handmaiden. "Come along, dear. Let's get you out of here. Can you stand?"

Twilight shook her head as she struggled to pull herself upright, her chest still heaving as she attempted to catch her breath. Empress Celestia glided forward, grabbing Twilight by the wrist and gently pulling her to her feet. With one last incendiary glance to Spearhead, the Empress carefully guided Twilight along, allowing her to rest most of her weight on her as she dragged her shaky legs, heavy like lead, beneath her.

Twilight's mind went fuzzy, her body moving with little conscious input on her part. She couldn't see, couldn't speak, couldn't even think. All Twilight was capable of doing at the moment was to cry. Her body shook and quivered with every quaking sob, threatening to collapse if not for the Empress essentially carrying her along their way.

"You, send a pair of guards to the library and have them secure Captain Spearhead." Twilight looked up, some part of her confused to see where they were; The Empress had stopped before her royal bedchamber and was conversing with the guards that stood sentry outside her door. "Make sure he lives long enough to suffer my judgement. Then bring my tea cart to my chambers." Empress Celestia glanced down at Twilight for a moment before adding. "Ensure that there's a jug of wine on that cart. Am I understood?"

"Yes, your highness!"

The Empress spared them no further attention, instead pushing open her door and guiding Twilight through. Twilight allowed herself to be dragged through the room to the Empress' bed, where she was gently deposited. Even in her hysteria, Twilight knew that she wasn't meant to be there, and she made an ill-advised attempt to stand.

"It's alright. You've been through quite the ordeal." The Empress placed her hand on Twilight's chest and gently pushed her back down onto the bed. "Rest, girl. I will have your clothes replaced and get you cleaned up soon enough. Get comfortable."

"T-thank you." Though she felt out of place in a bed that extravagant, Twilight did as her Empress instructed, and curled herself up onto the bed. "You saved me…"

"Just as you have your duty to serve your Empress, it is my duty to protect my handmaiden." The Empress produced a handkerchief from thin air, using it to wipe away the tears from Twilight's cheek. "I promise you this, you will suffer Spearhead's hand no longer."

The Empress rose from the bed, turning away to deal with the mess awaiting her in the library. Before she could take more than a step, Twilight leapt forward, grabbing the High Queen around the wrist. Twilight had calmed down enough to stop crying, but her body still quivered and she still struggled to properly breathe. The Empress arched her brow, surely surprised to be grabbed so firmly, but she did nothing to resist. She simply stopped in place and looked Twilight up and down.

"P-please don't leave," whispered Twilight. "I… I don't want to be alone right now."

The Empress tilted her head slightly, examining her handmaiden carefully. She was in shambles, pitiable, pathetic. In no fit state to be left on her own. The Empress let out a tiny hum before gently shaking herself free from Twilight's weak grip. Instead of leaving, the High Queen rounded to the other side of the bed, laying herself beside Twilight.

"Very well. I will stay by your side while you rest."

"Will you… Will you really?" asked Twilight. The Empress sighed, then pulled the handmaiden in close, wrapping her arm around her quivering body. A strange sort of calm descended onto Twilight in the Empress' grasp. She felt shielded, protected from the world. With the most powerful woman in all of the land embracing her, Twilight, for the first time in ages, felt safe.

"I give you my word, Twilight," whispered Empress Celestia, brushing aside a lock of Twilight's hair. "Rest, my dear. I will be here for you in the morning. Everything will be okay."

Even if she wanted to fight sleep, Twilight wasn't sure if she could manage that for long. Her body had long ago given up on her, and her mind was sure to follow suit no matter how hard she fought it. Instead, she gave herself to her exhaustion, letting her heavy, aching body float in the arms of a Goddess while sleep finally claimed her.