The Handmaiden

The time has come.

If there was ever a time where Twilight felt more anxious, she could not recall it. The pit in her stomach threatened to swallow her whole, and there was this hollow sinking feeling that everything was going to go wrong. She took solace in the weight of the dagger in her hand, its presence somewhat soothing her troubled spirit. It gave her some sense of certainty, of safety and control. Even if it was all just an illusion, Twilight needed all she could get.

Twilight paced the length of her room uneasily, turning her dagger over itself as she did. Strictly speaking, Twilight was supposed to be in the kitchen, preparing the Empress' tea cart as she typically did at around midday. This day, however, was far from typical. About as far from typical as Twilight could imagine.

As she strained her ears to the door, Twilight could hear the sounds of shouting, then the hurried footsteps of scrambling guards. She couldn't make out any specifics, but she heard mention of going south, some attack that was slowly marching its way to Canterlot's walls. The Children of the Night were mounting an assault, and the Empress wanted every available man to see to it. It seemed that Luna's plan was working. That meant it was time for her to act. Twilight took in a deep breath and, clutching her dagger tightly as she did, pushed open her door to step into the hall.

"Move it!"

Twilight stepped back quickly to avoid being bowled over by a passing guard. He didn't look back at the handmaiden, too focused on getting to their positions. With the bedlam that was going on in the castle, from guards scrambling to their posts, servants fortifying the castle's defenses, and Daybreakers marching stoically to battle, Twilight was able to make her way through the castle with relative ease. No one stopped her to ask her business, as they were all far too busy in their own right, and so Twilight's trip to the East Wing Courtyard was swift and one without trouble.

The courtyard was a simple fixture, consisting of a simple grassy field, and a stone fountain at the center with a path of cobbles stretching out in four directions to the various other wings and corridors. The courtyard was deserted, as expected given its nonessential nature. Twilight approached the fountain, heart pounding in her chest as she did so. She froze as she approached the fountain, somehow having neglected to notice the guard that had taken a seat there. As the guard stood up, Twilight quickly turned to walk away, and she collided with another guard entirely. She hit the ground, scampering backward to avoid him when Twilight realized the guard was reaching down to offer his hand.

"I know it's been some time since you've seen me in this getup," said Flash, grinning down at her. "But try not to be too shocked. I was a guard, you know."

"Gods above, you about gave me a heart attack!" Twilight scrambled to her feet without aid from Flash, dusting the dirt from her dress. "Are we finally ready to do this?"

"Just about, Twilight Sparkle." Luna, the apparent guard that was seated at the fountain, approached the pair, beckoning with her hand. "The arcana. I need to cast my half of the sorcery on it."

"Be quick about it. I don't know how long we'll have before someone comes through." Twilight offered the dagger to Luna, who immediately grabbed it up and inspected it. "I presume I cast it correctly?"

"Perfectly. You're far more competent a mage than you led me to believe." Luna removed her gauntlet and quickly slashed a small nick into her fingertip, using the blood to trace runes into the flat of the blade. "I just need a moment to focus…"

"How are you doing?" asked Flash, giving Twilight a look up and down. "You seem… distracted."

"I… I've been struggling with something lately. Something personal," said Twilight, taking in a deep breath. She tried to keep the memories out of her mind, as she often did, and was unsuccessful. "Something I'd prefer not to talk about."

"Fair enough. Just know, if there's something, or someone, troubling you, I'm here to help."

Though Twilight knew Flash meant well, and she appreciated his display of friendship, it brought a dark bit of amusement with it. The problem to which she was referring had been dealt with, in spectacular fashion, and she needn't any help in that regard anymore.

"I've got things well in hand," said Twilight with a small smirk. "But… you'll be the first to hear of it."

"Hey! You lot!"

Twilight swore to herself as a guard approached, this time very clearly not an ally. He jogged up the path, weapon drawn, and Flash stepped forward to meet him. Suddenly, Twilight stepped forward, placing herself between the real guard and the imposters, hands on her hips, and a pout on her face.

"What in three hells are you doing here?" demanded Twilight, to the surprise and confusion of everyone around. The guard slowed his approach, tilting his head in confusion.

"I could ask you the same. Don't you know that Canterlot is about to be attacked?" said the guard. "We need all available men defending the walls!"

"Unfortunately, these men are not available." Twilight stepped forward again, doing all she could to keep the eyes on her. "These are my personal guardians, assigned to me by the Empress herself. She told us to stay here until she returned for us."

"The Empress never said anything of the sort to me."

"Yes, because I imagine the Empress of all of Equestria has time to convey every single order to every single one of her subjects," snorted Twilight. She crossed her arms over her chest, tapping her foot against the cobbles. "If you would care to wait for her Greatness to return so you may ask her yourself, then I invite you to do so. That said, I don't think I'll be able to convince her that you were just doing your duty as a guard when she hears that you were harassing her handmaiden."

"H-harassing?!"

"Obviously, I don't see it as such. But the Empress likely won't be as understanding as me." She glanced back over her shoulder almost nervously. "She should be back soon. Please, for your sake, get out of here. Hurry!"

The guard flinched slightly at Twilight's tone, but only hesitated for a moment. He gave a curt, tense little nod before running off to rejoin his squad. She maintained her facade until she was absolutely certain he was gone, and then Twilight let out the breath she had been holding in. Flash laughed, patting her firmly on the shoulder and forcing a begrudging smirk to the handmaiden's lips.

"Quick thinking, Ms. Twilight," he said, nodding his approval. "Certainly less trouble than what I was going to do."

"You bought enough time. The arcana is ready." Luna held the dagger up for all to see, the crimson tunes fading into pale blue light before dissipating entirely. "Well done, Twilight Sparkle. The time has come."

"Then let's go. Ms. Twilight, lead the way."

Twilight took in a deep breath before pointing down the path that led to their destination. She set off down the cobbles, lightning coursing through her veins. This was it. This was the end. There was no turning back after this. They were on the road to changing everything, turning Equestria on its head. Twilight thought back to what Flash had said before, and she couldn't agree more with his description of the coming events.

It was time for a paradigm shift.

"As soon as we're through the door, get out of the way, Ms. Twilight," whispered Flash as the trio made their way down the corridor, marching ever-closer to the throne room. "I wouldn't expect her to go down without a fight. Do not interfere unless absolutely necessary."

"Flash will handle any protection surrounding Celestia while I will do the honour of saving our kingdom myself," added Luna. "The only obstacle we have unaccounted for is the Royal Chancellor. She should be with the rest of the guard, fortifying the south. If, for whatever reason, she's here in the throne room, then we'll need you to intercept her."

"I can handle Rarity," said Twilight. "I've been studying destruction magick on my own, and I know a few things that she hasn't taught me. I should be able to surprise her and hold my own for long enough."

"I like that confidence. If there's one thing we could do without today, it is doubt." Luna spoke with a burning, smoldering energy in her chest, almost physical in its intensity. "That is how Celestia has kept her place atop the throne for so long. Doubt and fear, moreso than even her might, were her most dangerous tools. Now, facing us three, three without doubt, without fear…"

Luna stopped before the doors, the great, glittering doors to the castle throne room. She reached forward, as if to grasp its handles, but stopped short of making contact. She clenched her fist, pulling the arcana dagger from her belt and holding it before her.

"Now, her reign is at its end. Now, the three of us will usher in a new era," said Luna. Her voice shook somewhat, wavering and uneven in its delivery. She sounded a lot like she did in Twilight's dream. Her vision.

"We stand behind you, ready to bring the world into the future, Milady," said Flash, clasping her shoulder. "At your command."

Looking to her allies one last time, Luna gave a tiny nod, more to herself than anyone. She grabbed the doorhandle, heart surely pounding like a drum, and pulled it open swiftly. With confidence, conviction, and, above all else, fury, Luna strode into the throne room, followed closely by Flash, and lastly Twilight in the back. As she crossed the threshold of the room, Twilight pulled the door closed behind her, the quiet click of the lock trapping them all in the chamber.

"Fortifica."

Luna let out a howl of pain, tossing down the smoking, sizzling dagger that she held. She swore before diving down for the blade, grasping nothing as it vanished from sight. It next appeared across the room, in the hands of the High Queen. Empress Celestia rose from her throne, pulling her multicolored hair from her face with her fingers as she slowly approached the trio.

"Hello, Luna," said Empress Celestia, her voice frosty and chilling in its cold, unflinching disgust. She did not meet Luna's gaze, looking past her to the two traitors behind the huntress. "I wish you would have told me you were coming. I would have had a feast prepared to celebrate."

"You countered my arcana? How?" demanded Luna. The Empress did not answer; Instead, she let out a sharp whistle. As the sound rang through the room, a dozen silent, stoic, intimidating Daybreaker soldiers stomped in from behind the Empress. Upon seeing Luna, they all let out a chorus of winding, rattling, terrifying groans, shaking Luna's bold defiance somewhat. "You would use my own tools to defeat me?"

"I could accuse you of the same." The Empress gestured to Twilight, who said nothing. "Filling my handmaiden's head with your lies and false promises, and for what? A few more months of you escaping my wrath?"

"There were no lies. I told Twilight Sparkle all she needed to know, and she made her choice. The right choice."

"Now that, dear sister, is something we can agree on." Empress Celestia clicked her tongue twice, then pointed to a spot beside her. "Here, girl."

Luna and Flash watched, with rage and disbelief and all that lay in between, as Twilight slowly approached her mistress. The handmaiden was silent, the only sound coming from the click of her shoes against the floor, and came to a stop beside the Empress. She offered her leash, which the Empress grasped tightly, twirling the arcana with her other hand.

"You… you spineless coward!" Luna's eyes were aflame with anger, contrasting directly with Twilight's cold, unflinching gaze. "Traitor!"

"Twilight Sparkle is the very last person here who you may call a traitor, Luna. It is as you said, you told her what she needed to know to make the right choice." The Empress patted Twilight on the head affectionately before returning to her the leash to freely use both hands. "She came to me, told me of your plan, of your arcana. I'll admit myself impressed. Simple, but effective. If not for Twilight's warning, it may have even worked."

"How… How could you?" Flash spoke not with anger, but grief. Pain. "We trusted you…" The Empress shook her head, examining the resistance before her. Her eyes landed on her former guard, her expression not dissimilar to a mother who was cross with their child.

"Look at this boy, Luna. So young..." scoffed the Empress, gesturing to Flash. "Have you no shame?"

"Me?! Shame?! How—"

"Yes, Luna, you! Flash Sentry was a good soldier. He was due to be captain, and Gods know I need a new one after what my pet did to Spearhead." The Empress took a step forward and, by reflex, Luna took one back. "But you stole that from him. You made him believe he could have more, and he believed your empty promises. Why wouldn't he? The wise, powerful Luna of Equestria wouldn't lie, would she?"

"I think for myself. I do not defy you to serve my own ends," said Flash defiantly. "I defy you to better the kingdom of Equestria! I defy you because no one else would! There was no one else who would stand in the face of your wickedness."

"That is not without reason, Flash Sentry. Whether Luna ever intended to grant you the life she promised is irrelevant, for you were told an even greater lie." The Empress stepped forward again, but Flash stood strong. "She convinced you that you had a chance. She made you believe that you could somehow defeat me. So, Flash Sentry, I want you to understand that what happens next is not my fault. Remember who put you in this position. It is Luna who is ending your life, not me."

"I do not fear you, tyrant. If you should strike me down, then take your best swing. I would rather die with honour than live beneath your boot in fear another day."

"That conviction is something worthy of respect. It's a travesty my sister poisoned your mind," sighed the Empress. She raised the arcana dagger as she approached Flash Sentry, gripping the hilt tightly in preparation to end this little rebellion. "I will do my best to end you swiftly and without much suffering, Flash Sentry."

"Wait, sister, don't!"

The Empress halted, tilting her head curiously at her sister's outburst. Luna pulled her helmet from her head and tossed it to the ground, fully displaying her misty, tearful eyes. She offered her hands forward, as if to be shackled, and slowly strode forward to meet her sister.

"You're right. I am what caused Flash to fall from his path. It is my fault, not his," said Luna. "So I beg of you, spare him. I will go peacefully, give myself to do whatever you desire, just let Flash and the rest of my Children walk free."

"No! If the Children are to fall, they will fall together." Flash drew his sword, pointing it threateningly at the Empress. "And they will not fall easily."

"Flash, no!" Luna turned her back to her sister, staring down her loyal hunter. "You've done so much for me. Let me do this for you." Flash softened slightly, his intense glare slipping for just a second before he recovered. He stood up a bit straighter, held his sword a bit higher, and stared down the High Queen with defiance.

"If you wish to kill me, I do not intend on making it easy for you," spat Flash. The Empress paused, tilting her head curiously at the former guard.

"If we battle, you will lose," said the Empress plainly. Flash tightened his grip on his blade, preparing himself for battle.

"I know."

"If you make me fight you, I will be forced to make you suffer."

"I know. Make the first move, or else I will."

"Truly a travesty. You're exactly the sort of man I would want serving me. But, alas, you had the misfortune of meeting my sister…" The Empress sighed as she took another step towards the disgraced guard. "I can make you no promises, Flash Sentry, but I will try my best to remember you."

"Stand down!" Luna dashed between the two, arms extended in a perhaps futile attempt to keep the pair from coming to blows. "Flash. You cannot do this."

"Die a worthy death rather than live a life of dishonour," said Flash. "It was you who taught me that, Lady Luna."

"Lies. It was all lies. Everything I said to you was a lie." Luna spoke slowly, as if the words were causing her pain. Twilight knew that tone, and could barely bring herself to listen. She remembered sounding like that at Golden Oak, on nights she had to tell Pinkie that they wouldn't be able to eat that night. Luna spoke as if fighting off tears with each word. "I told you whatever I thought you would need to hear to do what I asked you to. But not anymore. I will not let you sacrifice everything in my name."

"E-Everything?" Flash could barely choke the words out, his grip on his blade beginning to waver. "Everything was a lie?" Luna hesitated for a moment, chewing her lip thoughtfully before responding.

"Perhaps not everything. Perhaps… Perhaps I meant some of what I said to you. All the more reason that I cannot let you do this." Luna squeezed her eyes shut, but could do nothing to combat the hot, fat tears that were beginning to streak down her face. "Please. Please do not suffer for my mistakes any longer. Please. Put down your blade and let me save you."

Twilight glanced to her Empress, who had remained eerily quiet throughout the whole confrontation, and wondered just what was going through her head. She had not yet agreed to Luna's proposal, though whether that was due to her opposition to the idea, or her lack of desire to interrupt the clearly personal moment, or something else entirely that Twilight could not yet fathom, was unclear. If she was a betting woman, though, Twilight would say that she was simply waiting for Flash to make a decision himself, before she intervened.

"Lady Luna," said Flash, through misty eyes and gritted teeth. "I l—"

"I know. And that's why I won't let you do this," said Luna. "Lower your blade. Surrender. Denounce my name. Live another day."

"Is that an order, milady?"

"If it needs to be."

A short silence descended upon the throne room, all quiet save for the rattling, groaning, almost hungry breathing of the Daybreakers. Though the silence lasted only a minute or two, it felt to Twilight like an eternity. She hated this, but she had no choice. She only hoped that the man who did have a choice made the right one.

"Very well," grunted Flash. He threw down his blade with a clatter, staring down at the ground. "If it is my Lady's will that I should not fight, then I will not."

"Be a dear, Twilight Sparkle, and fetch that sword for me," ordered Empress Celestia.

"Yes, my Empress." Twilight strode across the room, her discomfort rising the closer she got to Flash. To her surprise, he said nothing as she neared him, not even as she stooped down to grab up his discarded sword. She stopped, as if to offer some words, but decided she had nothing to say, and so Twilight turned back to face the Empress and her sister. The hate she received from Luna, the simmering, boiling, bubbling disgust in that gaze nearly made Twilight ill.

"Why?" The way Luna said the word made it sound less like a question and more of a stab to Twilight's character. "I trusted you."

"I saw your dream, Luna. The dream where you won," said Twilight.

"You would sell me out because of a bad dream?"

"It wasn't just a bad dream, and you know that. It was a vision. A premonition. You felt it just as I did, heard it the same as me. I can still hear it." Twilight grabbed her head, massaging her temples. "I know you can too. You can hear Him laughing. If your plan succeeded, He would take Equestria whether you sat on the throne or not, and I could not allow that."

"Incredible. Alive for a fraction of your life, and yet my handmaiden is still wiser than you," snorted Empress Celestia. "She can see the simple things that you cannot. She can see that you were not meant to rule. Twilight Sparkle may have been a slave, but she can tell the difference between a divine being with a higher purpose and a bratty little girl born of a rapist and a whore."

"We shared a father, Celestia," snorted Luna. "That rapist sired you, as well."

"True. But at least I was born of a rapist and a respectable sorceress. Though her customers may have described your mother's body as 'magical', I doubt they spoke of things as noble as spellcraft." The Empress allowed herself a tiny grin. "Because of Flash Sentry's courage and resolve, two traits that you sadly do not possess, I will allow him to live. He has three days' time to gather the rest of your feeble rebellion and remove them from my kingdom. If a single one of your Children sets foot on Equestrian soil again, I will eradicate them all. This is the only time I will be extending an offer as generous as mere banishment."

"It will be done. Flash, you will lead the Children in my stead," said Luna. "Not as a rebellion or a revolution. You will live as I taught you before, as peaceful, noble hunters. Am I understood?"

"Yes, Lady Luna." Flash grimaced, staring down at his boots. "As you wish…"

"Very good. Luna, if you would be so kind as to remove your armor," said the Empress. With a silent, resolute nod, Luna began to pull off the stolen, gold armor in pieces, tossing them aside. "Flash Sentry, you will observe what befalls your leader. Do you understand me? Every moment, or our agreement is null."

"My lady will stare death in the face and take it with grace," said Flash as he turned his gaze up to meet Luna's. "And I will do the same."

"I'm sure. It is not her death that you should concern yourself with," said the Empress. "It is what comes next that I want you to see." Luna deposited the last bit of her armor to the ground, standing before the party in just her cloth shirt and leather trousers. "Your shirt and trousers as well, Luna."

"I… Very well." Luna glowed in humiliation, slowly and bitterly peeling her clothing off. It was evident that Flash wanted to avert his gaze, but he stood strong. Seeing his lady before him, exposed to the world save for her undergarments, quite clearly brought him distress.

A chorus of groans and growls filled the room, sending a chill down Twilight's spine. It was the Daybreakers, taking a clanking, quaking step forward. The Empress did not turn to face them, instead extending a palm in their direction. Slowly, as if begrudging, the dozen guards came to a stop. They let out a rattling snarl, as if to voice their displeasure.

"You shall not wait much longer. Just a moment to say goodbye," declared the Empress. She approached until she was standing just behind her sister, looming over her with a dagger in her hand. The Empress brought the blade to Luna's chest and, with a deft slice, slashed her brassiere in two. "When you are dead, you will be purged from my history. In fifty years, none shall know of your existence, and all of this would have been for naught. What have you to say of that?"

"My only regret is endangering the men who trusted me to keep them safe. I do not fear what you may do to me or my legacy, and you have my respect for sparing these innocent, misguided souls." Luna took in a breath, glancing at her supposed ally with fury. "I thought you my friend Twilight Sparkle, but I now see that I was wrong. I will be awaiting you in Chaos, and you will answer for your treachery."

"I highly doubt that." The Empress grabbed her sister under the chin, tilting her face up so that she locked eyes with Flash across the room. "Say goodbye, Luna."

"Lady Luna…" Flash let out a shaking, sorrowed gasp. "I won't forget you."

"Nor I, you. My dear, do not weep for me. My body will be gone, but I will be with you, always. In the—"

The Empress plunged her dagger into Luna's chest, burying the enchanted steel into her breast, her very soul. Flash watched, trembling with fury, but could do nothing but watch. A hoarse, whistling wheeze came from Luna's chest, her last breath as her lungs filled with blood. Twilight shook her head, wishing it could have ended differently. This wasn't necessary. If only Luna had been more honest.

With a downward flourish, Empress Celestia slashed a seam down Luna's middle, splitting her like a fish. Luna attempted to shout in pain, in horror, but a gasping, bloody gurgle is all she managed. With a sick, wet, sloshing sound, Luna's insides spilled onto the floor, followed swiftly by the rebel herself. As her body hit the ground, Flash finally broke into proper, shuddering sobs. The Empress wiped the blood from the blade onto her gown before beckoning to Twilight.

"You've done well today, my pet. You surely saved my life, and that is not something I am likely to forget. I will be sure to reward you for your loyalty soon," whispered the Empress as Twilight approached. She returned the dagger to the handmaiden, giving her a wink and a grin. "You do not want to be here for what happens next."

"She's already dead," said Twilight. "What more could you do to her?"

"I can do nothing. My Daybreakers, however… I owe them a pound of flesh, so to speak." The Empress turned to face her guards, who were barely maintaining formation with all of their trembling and quaking. "She's all yours. Save her head when you're finished. I would like it as a trophy."

The Daybreakers offered no response, simply marching forward and grabbing up Luna's corpse. Some held her upright, while others groped her breasts and rear, one Daybreaker even going as far as to jam a few fingers into her cunt. It was at that point, when the Daybreakers that weren't molesting Luna's corpse began to peel their armor from their tepid, sickly-grey flesh, did Twilight truly understand the horror that was about to befall the huntress.

"E-Empress…" squeaked Twilight.

"I assure you, this is not my doing." Though the Empress spoke with no joy or thrill at the idea of her sister's lifeless body being used by her unholy knights, she also made no effort to avert her gaze. "Discord has a very odd sense of humor. And a perverted streak to make even my late sister's mother blush. This is what he promised these beings, when Luna accepted their help. The body of the fallen sister."

"Gods above…"

"You should leave before they get started. Fetch Ms. Rarity and have her recall our troops, and then report to the kitchen to prepare our supper. I'll allow you to arrange the menu as you see fit."

"Thank you." Twilight bowed and kissed the sun, immediately turning for the door. She shuddered in disgust as she pictured what would be done to Luna, the mental images accompanied by the very real sounds of the Daybreakers grabbing her and pulling her around by her guts. With a shake of the head, Twilight made her exist, stopping just behind Flash. After a moment of thought, of battling herself to decide what she would say, she opened her mouth.

"I know you hate me. I don't expect you to forgive me," said Twilight quietly. "All I can say to you is, truly, I am sorry."

"Fuck off," said Flash, growling those two words through gritted teeth. "Fuck. Off."

Twilight reasoned that she deserved that. She deserved that and more, but she would rest at night knowing that she did the right thing. Flash could hate her for it all he liked, but Twilight knew that what she had done was right.

With a quiet, almost inaudible "goodbye", Twilight exited the room, hoping to put this whole bloody ordeal out of her mind forever.