The Handmaiden

“In short, it was a disaster.”

Twilight sighed, burying her face in her palms as she regaled Sweetie with the story of the day before. Ever the good listener, Sweetie had stood quiet throughout Twilight's story, simply stirring her cauldron and occasionally dropping a few ingredients into the brew. Once she was certain that Twilight was done, Sweetie turned to face her friend and address the issue at hand.

"Y-you know they're j-just trying to scare you, right?" said Sweetie. "The tough guy act, that p-premonition, all of it. J...just trying to get you w-worried before negotiations."

"The thought crossed my mind," sighed Twilight. "In the end, it doesn't make much difference. I still need to get them to agree to the renewed alliance."

"S-something you're more than capable of. You just need to g-get your head on straight."

"I hoped you could help me with that. I've always done better when I have my hands full, so…" Twilight grabbed a heavy apron from the workable and pulled it over her head. "What do you need me to do?"

"I want you to come take a l-l-look at this recipe." Sweetie held up the roll of parchment, letting Twilight grab it up and read the ingredients. "This is the b-b-brew that injured me. S-see anything strange?"

"Hm… No, I'm afraid not," said Twilight. She looked up and down the list again just to confirm. "What is it?"

"N-nothing. That's just it, I've looked these ingredients over and over, c...combined them in every manner and p...p-permutation and yet… no reaction. But, funnily enough… There's breezy soul in this recipe. Three grams of dried breezy soul," said Sweetie, grinning darkly. "And while breezy soul doesn't react with anything in this r-r-recipe, it does react with marsh mallow root."

"Alright…"

"And, wouldn't you know it… R-Rarity had just planted marsh mallow in the g-g-garden!" Sweetie seemed so excited by this discovery that she didn't notice the frown that Twilight wore. "I d-don't remember much of that day, but I do remember wanting to experiment with marsh m-mallow. I m-must've dropped some mallow in the c-cauldron before I brewed."

"So that's what did it. That solves the first problem, just keep marsh mallow as far from the potion as possible," said Twilight with a nod. "But what about the bigger problem? Just because you can make the potion properly doesn't make it a healing draught all of a sudden."

"You're right. Luckily, I have t-two fixes." Sweetie produced a small glass jar from the worktable, shaking the boney, salted finger it contained. "First is something I didn't have at the time. C-chrysalis' f-f...finger. Adds a b-bit of Alteration to the b-brew, which will make it a bit easier to modify."

"And the second?"

"T-tell me, what do you know of the emerald serpent?"

"Its venom is among the most potent of any creature alive," said Twilight carefully. "Why?"

"It is, indeed, very strong. Back when I was Royal Alchemist, I worked with the d-doctor often. I used it f-for the injured or ill that had no chance of r-recovery. Just five drops will p-put you into a peaceful slumber from which you never awake."

"This sounds like more problems rather than solutions."

"However, when subjected to p-p-prolonged heat… the toxins break down. And, when those c-components mix with the marrow from Chrysalis' f-finger as well as the s-sageroot in the recipe…" Sweetie grinned, popping open the vial and dropping Chrysalis' finger into the cauldron. "It should begin to r-regrow my injured f-flesh."

"Excellent! So? What are we waiting for?" asked Twilight. Sweetie chuckled nervously, scratching the back of her head. "Er… Sweetie?"

"Well… We're friends, r-right? And friends help each other?"

"I'm starting to get concerned…"

"Just a moment."

Sweetie grabbed her walking stick and hobbled away, her sights set on the storage room. Twilight tapped her foot nervously, her anxiety rising with each second. After a few minutes of rustling in the back, Sweetie Belle reemerged, clutching a burlap sack tightly around its opening. Much to the concern of Twilight watching on, the burlap sack squirmed and writhed, thrashing in Sweetie's grasp. With somewhat shaky hands, Sweetie limped towards the worktable, never once loosening her grip.

“D-d-did you know that emerald serpents respond well to the s-scent of b-burning coriander?” said Sweetie. “It l-l-lulls them to s...sleep for a bit. Just long enough f-for me to harvest some venom.”

“Is that why you have this bundle of herbs?” asked Twilight, reaching over to grab a bouquet of dark green plants, bound together in twine. “Which of these is coriander?”

“Eh... One of them, certainly. Don’t remember which exactly. That was s-supposed to be for my supper, but I can live with bland s-soup if it means a remedy.” Sweetie held the sack to the table, breathing as gently and evenly as she could manage. “We need to move q-quickly. Light the bouquet as you would a stick of incense, and d-drop it into the s...sack. Then, once the serpent has fallen asleep, I n-need you to hold its mouth over a phial, to collect the v-venom."

"You want me to hold its mouth open?!"

"I d-don't exactly have the best reflexes, T-Twilight. Please, hurry!"

Though it sounded like pure lunacy, Twilight ignited the bouquet of herbs as she had been instructed, letting the leaves smolder in her hand while she waited. As quickly as she could manage, Sweetie pulled the bag open, and, just as quickly, Twilight dropped the bouquet in. The snake thrashed and convulsed for a moment, slowly growing still as the sack filled with fragrant smoke.

Sweetie turned the sack over, letting the serpent tumble free of its confines. Its green scales shone like the gem for which the snake got its name, and even as it may there, dormant, beady yellow eyes glazed over with a dull film, its very presence frightened Twilight greatly. She snapped back to reality when she felt Sweetie pressed a glass phial into her hand, the usual cork replaced with a stiff bit of leather.

"Okay, n-now just force its f-fangs into the leather," instructed Sweetie. Once Twilight did as she was told, the alchemist continued. "Now j...just hold it there, tightly. I'm going to ma-massage the s...snake and squeeze out the v...venom. And d-d...do not let the venom t-touch your skin. It's a h-hell of a burn."

With an iron grip, Twilight held the serpent from behind the head, holding it still while Sweetie worked; The snake began to stir somewhat as Sweetie pressed its body, though it seemed to stay mostly asleep. After a few presses and squeezes, a murky brown liquid began to drip from the serpent's mouth and into the phial. The drips turned to an outright stream when Sweetie pressed down by its neck. Soon enough, the container was about half full of the most powerful poison known in the natural world.

The snake jerked awake, squirming around the table in a daze. Twilight froze, paralyzed by fear, and with that panic came a white haze that essentially erased every single piece of magick she had ever learned. The serpent seemed to sense this weakness, and lunged for Twilight.

A knife came down, swift and decisively, into the snake's neck, severing its head and dropping it onto the table. The serpent squirmed and writhed, its corpse spraying purplish blood from its neck and onto the table like a fountain. Sweetie breathed out a sigh of relief, tossing down the knife and using a spare rag to wipe the blood from her hand.

"That went f-far better than I expected," said Sweetie. She grabbed the snake by the tail and, after inspecting her cut into its neck, let out a satisfied hum and tossed its body into the cauldron. "Th-thank you, Twilight. You're a h-huge help."

"What happened to slow reflexes?" asked Twilight, setting down the phial and trying to calm the drumbeat of her heart. "Is this enough?"

"Plenty. Twelve drops now, and twelve more after it's been aged for a fortnight. I'll n-need you to add the s-second dose for me.”

“Excuse me? Miss Twilight?”

Down the stairs and into the potions cellar came a surprising guest, one that Twilight hadn’t been expecting to see so soon, and not here at all. The Uso made her way down the stairs, any weakness or maladies from the previous day completely gone. Instead of her pale, sickly expression, Sonata wore a polite, good-natured smile as her eyes passed over the handmaiden.

“Oh, what a pleasant surprise!” Twilight pulled her apron over her head and crossed over to meet Sonata. “Miss Sonata, this is Sweetie Belle. She’s my best mate, and the best alchemist to ever stir a cauldron, by my estimation.”

“You f-flatter me, Twilight. I know of you, of course,” said Sweetie, bowing politely in Sonata’s direction. “Uso S...S-sonata of Calypso. An honour to meet you.”

“The honour belongs to me. My sister would like to discuss things with you, and she sent me to fetch you, so here I am. If you are not busy, of course.”

“Sweetie? Can you handle it from here?” asked Twilight. Sweetie nodded, which made Twilight’s decision very easy, indeed. “Then I’m all yours. Shall we go?”

“Actually… As The Uso, I have a particularly strong connection to the spirits and the ancestors. Oftentimes, they will answer my calls, if I have need and my request is just and honourable.” Sonata stepped forward, her eyes focused on Sweetie’s crippled form. “If you would like, I would be more than happy to pray for you, Ms. Belle. To heal your injuries.”

“While that’s v-very kind of you…” began Sweetie, but Sonata cut her off with a gently raised hand.

“I know that your beliefs here in Equestria are much different than ours in Calypso, but the spirits do not discriminate the way my sister does. There’s no such thing as an outsider in the next life, and prayer for you will be just as valid as prayer for myself. Even if you do not believe in the spirits' power... I do not think it could hurt."

After a moment of tentative thought, Sweetie gave a nod, and Sonata approached. She placed one hand on Sweetie's injured cheek, using the other to grab her crippled hand. Melodic chanting filled the room, the same unintelligible, yet beautiful, language that Sonata had made her premonition in. Twilight watched, partly with intrigue and partly with concern as Sonata said her prayer. The air felt different to Twilight, somehow electric. The buzz in the air felt almost like… Sorcery.

No, Twilight decided. Based on what she had seen, the Calypso weren't advanced or educated enough for true magick. Rarity was right about that, at least.

"May the spirits guide you into the ancestor's arms," said Sonata with a bow. "I hope I did not offend your sensibilities by partaking in my people's customs."

"It is n-no offense at all. Thank you, Ms. Sonata." Sweetie smiled politely, bowing her head to the foreign guest. "If I m-may just have one m-more moment with Ms. T-twilight?"

"But of course."

"I wanted to ask you s-something," said Sweetie, watching carefully as Sonata took a few steps back. Her voice was low, even, with an edge of concern. "It is n-not my intent to meddle in your affairs, but I am curious beyond reason…"

"Go on, Sweetie," said Twilight, matching Sweetie's whispering tone. "You can ask me anything. Gods know I owe you for answering so many of my own questions."

"Well, you've been given unrivaled power over the k-kingdom. Free reign to do whatever you want. S...so I'm a bit c-confused. Why not release P-pinkie from Golden Oak?"

Twilight let out a deep sigh, one she had been holding in since Sweetie had begun speaking. There it was. She had been expecting such a question eventually, though she predicted it would be Rarity or the Empress herself who inquired. Twilight hadn't prepared an answer for either woman, so she certainly did not have one for Sweetie. Finally, after ruminating on the question for a spell, Twilight had collected her words to answer the only way she could: honestly.

"Because, at the risk of sounding arrogant, I am a lot smarter than people think of me," said Twilight. She spoke plainly, a candidness she only felt comfortable revealing with Sweetie and, in certain circumstances, Empress Celestia. "In the back of everyone's minds, I'm just a dim farmer's daughter, incapable of seeing the big picture like the rest of the world."

"I n-never said—"

"I know, I know. If anyone has believed in me, it's been you. What I mean to say by this is… Everyone from Rarity to the Matai to the Empress herself thinks I'm too dull to engage in the game of Siege that they all play. But I know how to play this game, too." Twilight sighed again, the stress and exhaustion of the last few days settling onto her once again. "The reason I have not freed Pinkie is because that is precisely the naive, shortsighted decision that people are expecting me to make."

"I'm afraid I don't follow."

"Say I release Pinkie. What then? I send her on her merry way? She wouldn't last a night without help. I could give her a room in the castle, but the Empress is going to return sooner or later. Say you're the Empress. You trusted me with your crown, your kingdom, the very kingdom you murdered your own sister for. And I go out while you're gone and bend the law for my own gain, and free one of the only people I care about more than you. How cross would you be?"

"P-point taken," said Sweetie with a nod. "Even s-still…"

"Do not misunderstand me, Sweetie, my intentions now remain the same as before," swore Twilight. "I will be with Pinkie. I will marry her, and we will live happily ever after. I gave my word that we will die together, and I am not going to go back on that. I just have to go about things carefully, and with the Empress' blessing.”

“Then I wish you luck, T-twilight. And I apologize for intruding. I should know better by n-now than to doubt you.” Sweetie hugged her friend, using her good hand to rustle Twilight’s silky hair. “N-now go on. You’ve got some important matters to attend to.”

“I will see you soon for tea, Sweetie. Until then, stay safe.” Despite all of her stress, Twilight still spared her good friend a smile. The two parted ways, and Twilight turned back to her guest, the youngest Calypso and, as of now, the only one that liked her. “So sorry for the delay. Shall we go?”

Sonata nodded, bowing one last time to Sweetie before following the handmaiden up the stairs to the main corridor. It was quiet for a bit, Twilight wrapped up in thought, not to mention anxious about further damaging relations with the Calypso. As they reached the ground level of the castle, she decided that Sonata was the most agreeable of the three, and if she was to begin earning their trust, this would be the place to start.

"I am very happy to see that you are well," said Twilight, leading the way to the castle gates. "I was saddened that you were unable to join us for dinner last night."

"Communion with the ancestors puts a strain on my body, as I am still a novice in this ritual. But I assure you, I only needed a night to rest." Sonata smiled a bright, genuine, almost childlike grin, one that reminded Twilight of her beloved. "I feel much better now."

"That is good to hear. I admit, I was a bit worried for a while. Truthfully, I don't believe either of your sisters care for me."

"Do not worry too much about them. Aria is very protective of our ways, and she does not see that without sharing our customs, they may well die out," said Sonata, shaking her head. "As for Adagio… She is simply doing what she thinks is best for our people."

"I understand. I only hope that soon enough, she comes to learn that our goals align in that way." Twilight glanced over, noticing a shift in Sonata's demeanor. She slumped ever so slightly, and her lips twitched away from her formerly persistent smile. "Is something wrong?"

"I… I do not think you have nefarious intentions, Ms. Twilight. You are just doing what you must." Sonata spoke carefully, as if afraid of offending Twilight. "But… You can understand why my sister is reluctant to trust you. Your Empress tells us one thing, and yet you are here to tell us another, instead of her. And you cannot even tell us where she's gone? Surely you agree that to be a bit unsettling?"

"I understand," sighed Twilight. "Truly, I wish it wasn't this way, but…" She stopped, gears turning in her head before gently gripping Sonata by the shoulder, stopping her movement. "Fine. If I tell you where the Empress has gone, I will need your word that you will not speak a word of it to anyone. Not even your sisters."

Immediately, Twilight had Sonata's curiosity and attention. She came to a stop beside the handmaiden, studying her face with shock. Twilight held the facade, maintaining her deathly-serious aura, until finally, mercifully, Sonata gave a tiny nod.

"You have my word, Ms. Twilight," said Sonata carefully. "And a Calypso would sooner die than go back on her word."

"Good. The reason the Empress isn't here right now…" Twilight looked left, then right, then left again, as though afraid of being seen, before continuing on in a hushed whisper. "The Empress has gone away… to get married."

"I… I beg your pardon?"

"There is a man from the west of Canterlot, and he caught the Empress' fancy, as she caught his. They love each other so, but his people are suspicious." The lies spun easily from Twilight's mouth, clearly and effortlessly wrapping up the Calypso native with her tall tale. "They fear that Equestria is after their precious metals, but the Empress has no interest in that. She simply wants to begin a life together with her beloved. No one understands, not even her own people. No one but I truly understands that the Empress… She's in love. And she will move heaven and earth for her beloved."

"The heart is a powerful thing. My mother, the Matai before Adagio, she climbed from a simple fisherman's daughter to the chief of her island, and battled all five other chiefs at once for the right to become Matai," said Sonata with a nod and a smile. "She did not desire the crown for its rank or riches, or even the honour that comes with it. She became Matai so that she may marry my father, the man she loved that she could not have."

"Your mother. She would do anything for the man she loves, yes?" asked Twilight.

"Yes. All my mother wanted was to live with my father, and for us to bury them together when it was time for them to move on to their next life." Sonata nodded somberly, a bittersweet smile forming across her features. "Adagio made certain that we fulfilled that wish."

"Then you should understand why Empress Celestia felt it necessary to leave in order to secure her marriage. And, given what happened last year with her sister…" Twilight shook her head. "She is not quick to trust anyone these days."

"I understand. I wish such secrecy wasn't required, but…" Sonata bowed her head, nodding her understanding. "Thank you, Ms. Twilight, for confiding in me. I have my word, and I do not intend to break my promise, though I must urge you… I'm sure my sister would understand your situation, were you to just tell her."

"I'm not meant to tell anyone. Not even the Chancellor knows the truth," said Twilight with a shake of the head. "I do not like to imagine my Empress' reaction should word get out. But you… you're the future Matai, unburdened by the same prejudices and bias that plague your sisters. I'm trusting you, Sonata. I cannot trust anyone else."

"Then I shall make certain that you do not regret placing your trust in me."

Twilight smiled to the visiting Calypso, nodding along before directing her back down the corridor. It seemed that Sonata believed Twilight, which was a very good thing, indeed. Even better, she seemed to sympathize, which boded well for the rest of their meeting. Now that Twilight had one sister on her side, she only needed but one more.

If all went according to plan, she would have that sister by midday.

"And here we are! The inner city!"

Twilight hopped down out of the caravan, gesturing for the Calypsos to do the same. Whereas Sonata accepted the hand from one of Twilight's guards to help her down, Matai Adagio ignored the guard in question, and Aria flatly slapped his hand away as she stepped down with her people’s basket on her back. This didn’t entirely concern Twilight, who was beginning to expect these sorts of reactions from the Calypso. She simply directed them to the main path, approaching her escort with a raised hand.

“Your services will not be required, thank you,” said Twilight. The guard tilted his head, perplexed.

“Are you certain, Madame Twilight?” The guard glanced past Twilight, his eyes landing on the Calypsos. Particularly the looming form of The Mako. “I’m not supposed to leave your side—”

“My satchel and coin purse, please. We will return here in an hour or two.” Twilight accepted the bag and purse when it was given to her, and she nodded to her guard. She withdrew a few gold coins and placed them into the palm of her escort. “As thanks for your excellent work. Is there anything else?”

“No, ma’am. Please, enjoy your walk.”

“Matai. Mako. Uso.” Twilight bowed her head and flourished towards the bustling market. “Shall we go?”

“I suppose so,” said the Matai, surveying the landscape disdainfully. “Though if you expect us to participate in your market, you should lower those expectations.”

“Oh, of course. No, this isn’t what I wanted to show you.” Twilight began down the path, with her guests cautiously following her. “The market is just the most direct route to get there, and I thought it would be nice for you to see Canterlot a bit more closely.”

“We have seen it,” grunted Aria. “We do not like it.”

“Aria, don’t be rude!” Sonata chided her elder sister, frowning in her direction. “It is different from Calypso, but that does not make it lesser.”

“Hmph. Lucky you, Handmaiden.” Aria shook her head as they went along. “You’ve managed to fool my sister, although Sonata has always been well acquainted with the word ‘fool’.”

“Hey!”

“Quiet.” With that single word from Adagio, her sisters fell silent, obeying their elder not out of fear, but out of respect. This intrigued Twilight greatly, who was used to seeing people in Equestria fear their leader more than anything. “Do not dwell on these children, Handmaiden. Though of age, they still lack much wisdom.”

“I believe wisdom is something that we all could do with more of,” said Twilight with a nod. Adagio did not argue with that, which was progress in Twilight’s eyes, and the two fell silent for several moments as they passed several booths and stalls, merchants selling their wares. Twilight knew many of them in passing, and she returned their polite greetings. It wasn’t until the party of four approached a farmer’s stand did Twilight’s eyes light up, a grin forming on her features. “Oh, Matai, just a moment, if you would. Ma’am! Yes, you!”

Twilight waved to the farmer as she approached, a tall, aged woman, whose smile was missing several teeth. Her formerly blonde hair was streaked with grey, and thinning from the strain of time. She stood before a stand of fruits and vegetables, and beside her was an older, worn goat, held in place by a simple rope lead. The farmer bowed her head as Twilight approached, going so far as to kiss the sun in her direction.

“Madame Twilight, what an honor!” The farmer looked up and smiled to the handmaiden. “What may I do fer you t’day?

“Well, I was just strolling through the town with my guests,” said Twilight, gesturing to the Matai and her sisters. “May I ask your name, miss?”

“‘Course, Madame. I’m Applejack, I believe we’ve met once.”

“Oh! Of course! I know you! You were once Chancellor Rarity’s protector, while she was still in training.” The farmed nodded, glowing with pride at being remembered. “The Empress spoke very highly of you. I’m very glad to be doing business with you.”

“Speaking of… Is there somethin’ you’re lookin’ fer, Madame Twilight?” asked Applejack. Twilight browsed her wares, her eyes straying from the fruits and vegetables to the goat by the farmer’s side. “Heh. Sorry, Madame, but Gran ain’t fer sale. She still got three more seasons 'f milk in her.”

“Hm… I think you might be turning me down too soon.” Twilight pulled her coin purse from her hip and withdrew a thick roll of waxed parchment, the center of which held fifty golden coins. She placed it on the booth, followed by another, and another, until there were five rolls on the table. “Does this change your tone?”

“Madame Twilight… Are you…” Applejack trailed off as Twilight set down another three rolls of coins. “Alright, then. She’s all yours.”

“Pleasure doing business with you,” said Twilight with a smile. She accepted the lead from the farmer and smiled as Applejack bowed. Without another word to her, Twilight returned to her guests, goat in tow, and gestured for them to continue. “So sorry for the delay, Matai.”

“Was your wealth meant to impress us?” snorted Aria. “Your money means nothing to us.”

“In Calypso, we deal in barters and Oaths,” said Sonata. “A promise to return the favor in the future.”

“Not gold and silver,” finished Adagio.

“Fascinating… But, no, it was not my intention to impress you. My goal was… Well. You’ll see, soon enough.”

Twilight said nothing more, keeping her party in silence as she pulled her new goat along the path. The walk wasn’t much longer, only a few more minutes, but they felt like ages to Twilight. No matter how much time had passed since her first visit, Twilight was never able to completely shake the sensation of dread that hung in her gut upon viewing the coliseum.

The guards were expecting them, and waved them through to the basement, just as Twilight had all that time ago. The cells that lined the wall were mostly empty, save for a few battered, hopeless souls. None dared call out to Twilight, who, as the wearer of the Empress’ crown, could decide to end their lives right then and there, if she so desired.

Instead, Twilight led the way to the armory, gesturing to the walls of weapons. A few months after Luna had fallen, and the Empress had regained her taste for violent spectacles, Twilight had managed to convince the Empress to give the armory a much-needed upgrade. New arms and armor, as well as an area to the right with straw dummies for the gladiators to practice on. Now, while victory was still unlikely, at least the doomed warriors had a fighting chance.

“Where have you taken us?” asked Matai Adagio.

“This is the Empress’ Arena. Fights are held here for the Empress’ amusement,” explained Twilight. For the first time, she heard what could only be described as a chuckle from the Mako, of all people. “Oh? I take it you approve, Mako?”

“Hmph. Your people were bound to get something right sooner or later,” admitted Aria. “I would not mind an arena to fight in back home.”

“Dagi built you a fighting pit to celebrate your three-hundredth victory,” noted Sonata.

“Hmph. This is bigger.”

“In any case, if you would stand here…” Twilight gestured to the middle of the room, a platform stained with blood, and led the group to it. After tightening her grip on the goat, to keep it in place, Twilight used a wave of sorcery to pull the nearby lever. The room began to tremble, and a thin beam of light shone from the ceiling, from a split in the stone that wasn’t there previously. The Calypsos watched, surely baffled by such technology, as the stone ceiling slowly slid open, the room rumbling with the sounds of the various mechanisms controlling the trapdoor. The floor beneath their feet shook similarly, and, with a mechanical groan, slowly rose into the air, propelled by some gear-powered system of pistons, the likes of which Twilight was certain the Calypsos had never before seen. Their platform rose higher and higher, closer to the surface and the beaming sun. Twilight held strong as her goat fidgeted nervously, keeping it still as they finally entered the arena proper.

“Welcome to the Arena,” said Twilight as their platform stopped in its tracks. She took in a deep breath, a multitude of emotions washing over her, both positive and negative. This was where her story had begun, her new life as handmaiden, a member of the nobility, and a mage. This was where she had become more than she ever imagined she could be. “I stood right here when I first caught the Empress’ eye.”

“You were a fighter?” snorted Aria.

“I was, indeed. In fact, I won my fight, something very few people can say honestly.” Twilight decided that, strictly speaking, she was telling the truth. If surviving the Empress’ menagerie wasn’t a victory, then Twilight wasn’t sure what was. “I slew an alpha manticore with nothing but my hands alone, but that is not why I brought you here.”

“Then why?” demanded Adagio. “What purpose does this serve?”

“Just a moment.” Twilight turned a bit to face the great massive doors that restrained the manticores. She put two fingers in her mouth and let out a sharp, piercing whistle, summoning the big, lumbering stomps of some large beast. “He can be a bit slow before he gets going.”

“Ms. Twilight?” Sonata was, perhaps understandably, a bit frightened by the increasingly powerful footsteps. “What is—”

“Ariesalta!”

There was a loud crack as Twilight brought her hand forward and, with a surge of mana, slammed an arcane wall against her new goat’s head. The force of her sorcery snapped the creature’s neck, killing it almost instantly, much to the confusion and concern of Twilight’s guests. Twilight herself said nothing, just standing there in wait for the beast to finally show itself.

Like blades, his wings cut through the wind, carrying its massive frame forward and dropping it a mere few feet in front of Twilight and her guests. Sonata cowered behind her sisters, and even Aria seemed a bit taken aback. Matai Adagio, on the other hand, was unphased, her heart steady and her will smoldering even in the face of the impossible. The gargantuan frame of a beast that should not exist, smoldering with a silent, seething power.

“W-w-what is that?!” squealed Sonata. Twilight grabbed the goat’s carcass by the leg, heaving it up with a smile.

“This is my pet dragon. The Empress got him for me,” said Twilight. She beckoned to the beast, who brought his muzzle down to meet her eyes. She patted the scaled face with a grin, turning to absorb the shock that the Calypsos displayed. “I brought you a snack. Are you hungry, big lad?” The dragon snorted out a cloud of ashen smoke, much to Twilight’s amusement. She turned back to the Calypsos, giving them a little grin. “He’s called Spike, by the way. Say hello.”

“Dragon… The ancestors claimed to have witnessed the end of dragonkind many, many generations ago,” said Adagio. “How do you have one?”

“The Empress used her ‘witchcraft’, as you like to call it. She brought him back from the dead, and put him under my control.” Twilight hefted the goat forward, tossing it directly into Spike’s waiting maw. The great beast growled his appreciation, voraciously consuming the offering in its entirety. “And that is why I wanted to bring you here. To show you what the Empress is capable of.”

“You dare threaten—” Aria began, but was stopped by a wave from her sister. “Elder Sister, surely you can’t abide by—”

“Hold your tongue, child, until such time as I permit you to speak,” said Adagio flatly. Though she clearly did not want to, Aria very quickly fell silent. “Handmaiden. What is your intention in showing us your weapons?”

“Spike is not a weapon. He’s just my pet. And my intention is to show you what the Empress is capable of,” said Twilight. She stroked her pet’s scales tenderly, as if the dragon wasn’t currently devouring an entire goat. “The reason your ancestors saw the end of dragonkind is because the Empress slew them all. And, just for me, she brought one back. Not to win a war, not to defeat some grand foe. No, she did it to impress me. To show that she could. That is the sort of power the Empress possesses, the sort that can reverse the natural law of the world just for the hell of it. This is the power you’re trying to sever yourself from.”

“So what? We should be afraid?”

“You should be considering that perhaps it may be better to have that power on your side.”

“Sister, she’s right,” said Sonata, much to the surprise of seemingly everyone except the Matai. “The world is a dangerous place. We could use this sort of protection.”

“It is better to perish on your own,” explained Adagio. “Than to live on in subjugation. Calypso may be small, but we value our freedom, and we will happily suffer for it.”

“You know, I was ‘free’ once. Free to freeze in the winter,” said Twilight. “Free to choose which of my shoes my mother would boil for us to have something, anything to put in our bellies. Free to choose whether to sleep outside in the cold or inside where I ran the risk of watching my mother die in front of me from starvation, because she was free to choose to feed her children before she fed herself.” Twilight shook her head, almost incapable of believing that the weak, frail, dirty, starving girl was the same as the powerful, important handmaiden that she was now. “As someone who was free and someone who was subjugated, allow me to tell you from personal experience… Subjugation is grossly underrated.”

"What good is our pride if our people die out? The ancestors, they whisper in my dreams, Adagio," said Sonata, gripping her sister by the shoulder. "They fear the end of our ways, from a threat they know not. Would it not be best to have the Empress to defend us from that threat?"

"You mentioned a lack of wisdom, Matai. I believe Sonata is speaking very wisely, beyond her years," said Twilight with a smile. "I think she will make for a very good Matai someday."

"You know nothing of what makes a good Matai!" Finally, after being restrained since the moment they docked, Mako Aria erupted into an almost savage fury. "How dare you! You, who knows nothing of our ways, our struggles!"

"Aria. Enough," said the Matai. She gestured for her sister to join her side, but the Mako refused.

"Do you have any idea what your Empress has done to us? What she has taken?" demanded Aria. "Your Empress has made it unlawful for anyone but us to speak our native tongue. She outlawed our language, our culture! There are stories, fables of the ancestors that cannot be translated. In a few generations, these fables will be gone. I sit and watch, powerlessly, as my people are made to scale our island's fire mountain to pick medicinal herbs, herbs that could save the lives of the sick and elderly, and your Empress takes them by the crate! And the worst part, what makes me and any self-respecting Calypso sick to my stomach… You call them spices! Our medicine, that could save lives on my island, and your Empress steals them to put in her damn soup!"

Aria grunted in pain, stumbling and nearly hitting the ground from a sudden strike to the back of her neck. She snarled like a beast as she scrambled around to determine who dared to attack her; It was the Matai who stood in her path. Before Aria could speak, Adagio swung her forearm into her sister's face, dropping the Mako down to her knees, all while the youngest sister looked on in horror.

"Dagi!" Sonata stepped forward, stopping cold in her tracks when her elder turned her fiery gaze onto her.

"Interfere and I will strike you just alike. Hush, child." The Matai turned to Aria, grabbing her by the powerful arm with a grip that dwarfed the strength of the Mako. "If you recall, I told you to hold your tongue. Was two enough to teach you to obey your elders?"

"Hmph. Better make it three, just in case," grunted Aria. With little more than a slight puff from her nose, Adagio once again brought her forearm stiffly into her sister's face. "Fine… I apologize…"

"Sonata. Walk her to the outside," ordered Adagio. She pulled her sister to her feet with just a tug, further amazing Twilight with such strength from a small woman. "I will be with you shortly."

"But Dagi—"

"It took Aria three for her to learn her lesson." Adagio stared a hole through her youngest sister. "How many will you need?"

"I...I respect your word, Elder Sister," said Sonata with a bow. She hurried to Aria's side and, after sparing the handmaiden a look of concern, left the arena alongside the Mako. Matai Adagio met Twilight's gaze, but said nothing at first. Twilight was intrigued by Adagio’s demeanor, how strictly and swiftly she disciplined her sister. She didn’t seem to take any pleasure from striking the Mako, but just as surely, she looked willing to do it again should the need arise.

“My sisters are still children. They lack wisdom and knowledge, and most of all, experience,” said the Matai. “Sonata especially. I am no fool, Handmaiden. I know a veiled threat when I hear one.”

“Spike here was no threat. Merely a glimpse into what could someday be your biggest defender,” said Twilight.

“Or my biggest danger. Your intention was to frighten me.” She tilted her head up, her presence and aura standing taller than her own short stature. “Do you deny this?”

“My intention was simply—”

“The truth, Handmaiden. I will not do business with a liar.”

Twilight raised her brow, a bit taken aback by that. Before, it did not seem that Matai Adagio was interested in doing any sort of business with Equestria. Now, that stance had apparently softened.

“Very well. Yes. I wanted to frighten you.” Twilight spoke slowly, respectfully, but proudly and steadfast. “Because the world is terrifying. The only person who is beyond fear is my Empress. I would think that it would be in the best interests of your people to side with the only thing greater than fear."

"You are incorrect. Your Empress is not the only thing greater than fear." The Matai turned her gaze to the dragon, not an ounce of fear in her eyes. "Our honor, our pride, our will. That is what is truly greater than fear. Not raw power."

"Your honour won't be enough to slay a dragon."

"No. It won't be. But that is unimportant. The facts are simple, Handmaiden. Your Empress threatens the culture and well-being of my people, and we get nothing in return," said the Matai, with an unwavering conviction. “I tolerated it because of our treaty, put to word by a former Matai. But now, our ‘alliance’ has reached its conclusion, and the decision is mine. So I will make the decision that is best for my people.”

“What is best for your people, Matai, is to fall in line with the Empress,” countered Twilight. “It’s what’s best for everyone. I am willing to work with you, I give you my word that I will talk to the Empress on your behalf. I am certain I can convince her to change her mind in regards to your language, and I’ll look into some way to cultivate the spices so you don’t have to risk your lives to harvest them. We can—”

“We will not. Do not misunderstand me, Handmaiden. I know that you believe what you say. You truly believe that you are working in the interests of Calypso. You believe your Empress can be swayed by your gentle touch and calm reasoning. You believe, much like your unholy beast, that you can tame Celestia. Your intentions are pure, I am convinced as such. But you are a fool. A naive child who is in over her head. I respect you, Handmaiden, and all you have sought to accomplish, but know this: You and Equestria are no friend to Calypso. And if I had to kill you to protect my people, I would stain these sands red with your blood without a second thought.”

Twilight held her arm out, blocking Spike from advancing with a stern wave. She turned to face the dragon, her eyes alight with a frightening power and confidence. More than enough to send Spike retreating a few slow, lumbering steps. Once the great beast was calmed, Twilight turned back to face her guest, whose expression had not changed in the slightest.

“Forgive him,” said Twilight. “He heard your threat and sought to protect me.”

“It was not a threat. I do not wish to cause any harm to befall you, Handmaiden. If you leave us be, we will return the same kindness to Equestria,” said the Matai. She took a moment, taking in a deep breath before continuing. “When your Empress returns, you tell her what to expect. Expect that we will resume the teaching of our language in Calypso. Any Equestrian forces occupying my islands will be given seven days to remove themselves. If any remain, expect them to be treated as hostile invaders. Your Empress should expect nothing from Calypso, no fish, no spice, not a sound from our islands. And if Celestia finds this troubling, and she seeks to do something to change my tone…” The Matai’s eyes flared with fire and fury, a power and irrevocable force of will in her gaze. “Then she should expect a fight. This is my decision, Handmaiden. And I will not be swayed.”

Twilight felt her face begin to slip, but she held strong. She was disappointed, frustrated by her failures, afraid of the repercussions, but she hid this deep down. Chin up. Bow to no one but the Empress herself. She was clever, powerful. Twilight stood like a queen. Now, she would make her opposition bow.

“Very well,” sighed Twilight. “I understand your position, and if you believe your people will be better off alone… Then I respect that. I hope Empress Celestia, too, respects that when she returns.”

“If we are left to live peacefully, then you shall never need worry of Calypso. We are a simple people, and we lead simple lives. There is no glory in declaring war with no cause, and we do not have cause,” said the Matai. “I will collect my sisters, and we will return home tomorrow, at midday. Do I have your word that you will allow us to leave peacefully?”

“Yes, of course. Absolutely. I wish you safe travels—”

“No. You wish to learn of Calypso’s ways, then you will make a deal as we do in Calypso.” The Matai reached to the waist of her skirt, withdrawing a shard of smooth, black obsidian, with a razor edge and a wicked point. She chanted in her native tongue before taking the glass dagger in her left hand and slashing a crooked cross into her right palm. “You slice your palm and shake my hand. In doing so, you give your word as a woman that you will ensure no harm befalls my sisters under your watch.”

Matai Adagio handed the knife to Twilight, who took it cautiously. After admiring the blade for a moment, Twilight gripped the dagger in her hand and brought its angry edge to her palm, just as the Matai had. She hissed in pain, her right hand trembling ever so slightly as she offered it to the Matai. Adagio nodded, and grabbed Twilight by the forearm with her bloody hand, the two shaking hands firmly and decisively.

“I give you my word, Matai Adagio,” said Twilight. “No harm shall befall your sisters.”

“Good. I trust you to keep your word.” The Matai broke their grip and turned for the exit. “It is unfortunate that our meeting went the way that it did, but it was unavoidable. I do not wish for you to be punished for your failures.”

“Shall we return to the carriage, Matai? If you wish to depart by tomorrow, then you still may desire a bit of rest at the castle.”

Twilight didn’t acknowledge her failures at that time, simply strolling past the Matai and gesturing to the door. The Calypso followed her, leaving the dusty sands to join the Handmaiden. Without another word, Twilight returned the bloody knife, and the two went on in silence to rejoin the sisters outside. In this silence, Twilight was left to simmer on what she had done, what she had failed to do.

And if she could do what needed to be done.

“Well, I suppose this is goodbye, then.”

Twilight stood before the Matai and smiled, arms behind her back as the sisters from Calypso waited at the castle gates for their carriage to arrive. She hadn’t spoken much to her now-departing guests since the Arena, but that was unimportant. Twilight had done all she could, and now she just needed to hope for the best.

“So it is,” said the Matai shortly. “Your hospitality was pleasant.”

“That’s her way of thanking you for inviting us to your kingdom,” said Sonata with a grin. Her smile wavered for a moment as she gave her eldest sister a quick glance. “Perhaps we could visit again in the future and discuss an alliance more?”

“My decision is made, Sonata. Equestria and Calypso will be going their separate ways. You can decide who we ally ourselves with once you are Matai.” Adagio slipped a glance towards Sonata, her intense expression fading into something that, very charitably, could be considered a smirk. “If you wish to fight for it, I will be more than happy to oblige you.”

"I… I don't think that is necessary, Elder Sister…" Sonata shrunk down, apparently amusing the Matai, who let out a huff that sounded suspiciously like a chuckle.

"Well. This is farewell." Adagio bowed her head ever so slightly. "Until we next meet."

"Actually, Matai, just one more thing," said Twilight. She clapped her hands three times, summoning the cellar maid Fluttershy and a cart that was formerly used for tea. Instead of kettles and platters of cakes, the cart was currently laden with two large silver goblets, and a corked jug of Twilight's favorite wildflower honey wine. "It is tradition that the Empress share a toast with visiting dignitaries upon their departure." Twilight uncorked the wine and carefully filled both goblets, offering one to the Matai. "For now, I'm afraid you'll have to make do with me."

"Hmph." The Matai stared at Twilight for a moment before accepting the goblet. "Very well. Toast as you must."

"To peace and prosperity between our peoples. To your sisters' health, and their strength and wisdom." Twilight held her goblet up, and Matai Adagio somewhat half-heartedly met her with her own cup. "To The Matai, to The Empress, to The Isle of Calypso and The Equestrian Empire."

The Matai watched Twilight sip her wine, studying the handmaiden before taking a sip of her own. Twilight smiled, drinking with the Matai until the Calypso had her fill. The Matai set her goblet down and, with a flourish, turned away to lead her sisters to the carriage that would bring them to their ship. Twilight smiled, watching the Calypso disappear down the road and into the city, not taking her eyes off of the road until the carriage had disappeared from view.

Twilight brought her wine to her lips and opened her mouth, letting a deluge of amber liquid cascade back into the goblet.

"M-madame Twilight?" The handmaiden turned to the cellar maid, whom she had temporarily forgotten about. "Is everything alright?"

"Of course. Thank you for your work, but I have one more task for you," said Twilight plainly. She set her goblet onto the cart, turning to re-enter the castle. "Dump this wine in the shrubs, and shatter the jug. Bury the shards and the goblets someplace no one is likely to stumble across. Tell no one what you are doing nor why you are doing it. Ever."

"Y-yes, Madame Twilight." Fluttershy grabbed her cart and began to push it away, stopping for just a moment. "Shall I bring more wine to the Empress' chambers?"

"That won't be necessary. I'll do it myself."

Twilight set off down the hall, raking her fingers through her hair as she did. Finally, it was over. Finally, Twilight could relax at least a bit. Finally, without the Calypso to worry about, Twilight could indulge herself in a proper drink. She stopped by the library for a quick errand, then to her own chambers to collect a jug of wine she had stored there previously (she was so busy that she hadn't a chance to drink it yet). From there it was a straight path to the Empress' bedside.

The Daybreakers that stood outside of the Empress' chambers didn't react when Twilight arrived with a jug of wine in her arms, which suited the handmaiden just fine. She could do without any distractions just then, so she let herself in, taking great care to lock the door behind her. The Empress lay in her bed, hands folded over her ample chest, entirely still save for the subtle rise and fall of her breathing. Just as she had been since Twilight's last visit. Expected, but no less disappointing.

"Hello, Empress." Rarity had told Twilight rather definitively that the Empress could not hear her in her current state, but even still, speaking to the High Queen brought Twilight some small amount of comfort. "The Matai just departed. I did what I could. I hope I did enough."

She sat in a stool that she had earlier placed by the Empress's side, filling the pair of goblets on the nightstand with the crimson wine from the jug. A bloodrose wine that the Empress favored. Though tasty, Twilight was inclined to believe the Empress enjoyed it primarily for its macabre and grisly namesake. For a while, nearly half an hour, Twilight said nothing. She just sat in the quiet, sipping her wine beside the sleeping Empress.

"I hope you're recovering well, because I really need you back," sighed Twilight finally. "I don't know how you do this all on your own." She sipped her wine, shaking her head at the silence that she got in reply. "I've been keeping up with my studies while you’re gone. Haven't had much time to practice casting, but I've been reading up on the next level of sorceries. There's a bit of Illusion magick in the next chapter that allows for the user to manipulate the way one's brain interprets sound. I was wondering if I could somehow use such sorcery to communicate with Spike. That's what I decided to call him, by the way. The dragon you gave me. He's very kind, I like him a lot.

"Aside from reading up on magick and dealing with the Matai… Sweetie Belle has been working on some potions. She says that she figured out what had caused her accident, that she must have accidentally added marsh mallow to a cauldron, but… I'm not so sure. She would have noticed that the root was in her brew before she started adding more ingredients, no? And what's more, I checked some notes on alchemy, and no one has recorded marsh mallow reacting so violently in the amounts that Sweetie would have been dealing with. Perhaps those notes are wrong. I'll need to run my own tests… I've also been researching the P—"

Twilight stopped herself, burying her face in her palm. Her stomach was turning, and though she knew precisely why, she also knew that there was nothing to be done for it. She took a moment to steel herself, shake off the cobwebs, before continuing on.

"Perhaps we shouldn't talk about her right now. Just… Please, Celestia. Come back soon." Twilight's throat clenched, but she ignored it for a bit longer. "I miss you. I eagerly await your safe and healthy return."

With that, Twilight could fight the call no longer; She scrambled to her feet, nearly knocking over her wine as she hurried to the washroom. Among the shelves and wardrobes, she found a spare chamberpot, formerly unused and currently Twilight's only option. She held onto the pot firmly and, after rolling her the sleeves of her gown up, she forced a hand into her mouth. Twilight pressed her finger as deep into her throat as she could, her eyes going watery from the way she coughed and choked. Very quickly, she yanked her hand away, shuddering as she lost her lunch, gagging and heaving out a torrent of sick into the ceramic pot. Twilight coughed, setting the pot down to allow herself a brief spell to recover. While the experience was far from pleasant, it was also vastly preferable to the alternative.

Twilight stood up, standing up and wiping her face with a handkerchief. She coughed harshly, returning to her goblet and taking a great swig. Considering the unsteady nature of her belly, conventional wisdom would be to forgo the wine, but Twilight needed something to cleanse her palate of the taste of bile, and she wasn’t much frightened of the consequences of her actions. Twilight sat the goblet down and found herself by her mistress' side one last time.

"I'm afraid I must take my leave," croaked Twilight. She bent over at the waist and placed a gentle kiss on the Empress' hand. "Until next time, your Greatness."

With that, Twilight kissed the sun and bowed to her sleeping Queen, turning her back and venturing forth into the castle to see all else that may need doing.

Twilight sat calmly on the Empress' throne, hands folded in front of her face as she watched the Chancellor. Rarity stood before the handmaiden with a number of scrolls of parchment in her hand, one of which bearing a wax seal of a spear and a hook, marked as a letter from the Matai. Neither woman made mention of the letter, but Twilight could tell from Rarity's expression that she was expecting the worst.

"You've done your best, Sparkle. No use in moping now. You have the news to hear," said Rarity, holding the schedule at the ready. "Morning report for this day, the 5th of October, the 104th year of the 4th Era. The Matai and her sisters are believed to have made it home safely, and they've sent a letter. Most likely a decree that entering their waters will be met with violent force. Which means we need to begin planning on how we will handle Calypso."

"Hm." Twilight didn't give much of an answer, not committing to Rarity's attempts at planning.

"You cannot ignore this. If we wish to remain strong, we have to meet them head-on." Rarity frowned, growing visibly more frustrated when Twilight didn't answer. "You've done all you can, and the Empress will surely be proud of how hard you tried, but you failed. We failed. So now we have to clean up our mess."

"The letter from Calypso," said Twilight quietly. "Read it, please."

"Sparkle. If the Calypso smell weakness, they will—"

"Just humor me. The letter please."

Rarity's brow furrowed, unsure what to make of Twilight's behavior. She hesitated for a bit but, as the Royal Chancellor, she had no choice but to obey whoever sat upon the Equestrian throne. Rarity tucked the schedule into the breast pocket of her coat before finally breaking the letter's seal and unfurling the length of parchment. The Chancellor cleared her throat and took in a deep breath before she began to read.

"To Empress Celestia, Chancellor Rarity, and The Handmaiden Madame Sparkle, the Isle of Calypso issues forth a decree," read Rarity. "As of the writing of this letter… The Matai has fallen ill?" Rarity glanced up to the handmaiden, shaken by the lack of surprise or concern that Twilight wore. "It is not known if or when Matai Adagio will recover, and she has been determined as unfit to lead over the Isle of Calypso. As such, I, Uso Dusk Sonata, have been crowned the Matai of the Isle of Calypso in her current state. In my first act ss Matai, I wish to rectify a terrible mistake and reverse the dissolution of our alliance. In exchange for Equestria's continued protection and guidance, the Isle of Calypso pledges their loyalty to the High Queen of Equestria…"

"Hm. Looks like we don't have to worry about Calypso after all," noted Twilight. "Is that all?"

"She says that she awaits the Empress' return in order to receive her commands, but that's neither here nor there." Rarity quickly rolled up the latter, all but crumpling it into a ball. "How did you know the Matai was sick?"

"I didn't. We should prepare for Day Court."

"Sparkle, I mean it. Is this—"

"Tell the guards to have the first speaker ready in five minutes." Twilight lowered her eyes onto Rarity, sending a message to the Chancellor that she may be better off not asking questions just then. And while it was clear that she would prefer to be taking orders from the Empress, she could not ignore the handmaiden.

"Very well. I will have the first criminal for trial sent in shortly."