The Handmaiden

”Wake up."

Twilight heard the voice, so familiar and yet so utterly foreign, but her mind had no response. She was gripped in shadow, essentially fast asleep if not for this distraction. Her body felt so heavy, too weighty to even toss and turn, and so Twilight merely laid in place as the world spun around her.

"Time is running out."

"It's… So late…" Twilight tried to sit up, with little success. "What is…?"

"Now, Twilight Sparkle."

Suddenly, Twilight was sitting upright, her heart threatening to bust through her chest. That voice, that tone. The silky way that the words seemed to slither out of her mouth, all but hissing the name "Twilight Sparkle", it was unforgettable. Though she couldn't be seen, Twilight knew that it could only be the High Queen.

"Empress?" Twilight recoiled slightly at the sound of her own voice. It echoed and shimmered unnaturally, as if Twilight was speaking underwater. Naturally, she assumed there to be some manner of sorcery at play, although she knew not what sort of magick could be responsible.

"Not quite. Please, Twilight, time is running out. We only have a few days…"

"I… Wait. I know you. Your voice." Though her head swam, Twilight was starting to put things into place. "Who are you?"

"Unimportant. Do you remember our previous meetings?"

"I don't… You said you need my help," said Twilight slowly. "You said… Kill?"

"Damn this spell! My mana is too low to continue this connection much longer, and we have so much more to discuss! It's no use, you'll have to learn later."

"You're not making sense. Who are you? Why do you need my help?" Twilight tensed as the gravity of the Voice's requests slowly sank in. 'W-who do you want to kill?"

"I do not desire to kill anyone, but it is a necessity. If Equestria is to be saved, we have but one recourse: slay the tyrant on the throne."

"You mean to tell me…?"

"Yes, Twilight Sparkle. You shall help me kill Celestia. But that comes later. For now… Remember my Voice. Remember what she's done. And, most importantly, remember that Celestia is a wicked husk of a woman with no heart or soul. No matter what she may say or do to lead you to believe otherwise, you mean nothing to her. No one does. And that is why she must die."

The cold hand of fear grasped Twilight by the throat as she jerked upright in bed, her body drenched in a cold sweat. She blinked firmly, looking around her room carefully. Her candle, nearly burned out, was still just barely lit, bathing the parchment on her desk with a dim, dying orange glow. On said parchment was the alphabet, given to Twilight by the Empress a few nights ago to begin her education in literacy.

"I must have taken a rest and dozed off." A reasonable enough explanation, and yet it felt so false. Twilight wasn't so much recounting events as she was attempting to justify a strange, impossible occurrence. "That dream…"

This was not the first time Twilight had this dream, she was certain of it. Nearly a week and a half in the castle, some variation of that dream had haunted her every night. Always that voice, talking to her from nowhere. The harder she strained and reached for a grasp of the dream, the more it slipped from memory. Twilight was grabbing at mist, the answers slipping between her fingers with each passing moment. Before long, it had vanished entirely.

"I'm going mad…" muttered Twilight, clutching her head. She felt like portions of her mind were dissipating, memories running away from her. "Only a few days in and this castle is driving me mad…"

There was a knock at the door, which meant Twilight was out of time to muse and ruminate. Now, she had work to do. The handmaiden quickly dressed herself in one of the silk gowns from her wardrobe, all garbs that felt a bit unnatural to Twilight. Most strangely, she found, was the addition of her new "accessories", as the Empress liked to say. Twilight shuddered as she lifted the collar, branded with the Empress' insignia, and strapped it snugly around her throat. Finally came the leash, the handle of which Twilight was forced to carry until she met with the High Queen, at which point she would offer it to allow herself to be yanked and dragged around at the Empress' behest. Of all of her duties as the handmaiden, being the subject of the Empress' humiliation was her least favorite.

"Just a moment, Chancellor," said Twilight as the knocking resumed. With no windows, and no way to see the sun, Twilight wasn't sure of the time, but she was certain that it couldn't have been much past dawn. Not that it mattered. She could be hours early and still find a way to earn the ire of the Royal Chancellor. With the threat of that fury mounting, Twilight tiredly crossed her room and opened the door, prepared for what would surely be a long day of work.

"Good morning, Ms. Twilight." To her immense surprise, it was not Rarity waiting for her in the corridor, but instead a guard. Twilight peered at him carefully, attempting to make heads or tails of the situation.

"Flash?" Twilight traced the gaze of his gentle, blue eyes, quickly darting to the collar before returning to meet her eye, and felt her ears burn in embarrassment. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh. I suppose Chancellor Rarity didn't tell you?" said Flash. "Both she and the Empress are very busy until tonight, and so they dedicated today to showing you around the city." Flash waited for a beat before continuing. "I think that's a 'royal' way of saying that the Empress wants to flaunt you around to the common folk, drum up a little drama. She gets bored."

"I've noticed… So, I'm to be following you all day?" asked Twilight. Flash nodded, giving the handmaiden a tiny grin. "That sounds quite nice, actually. Where shall we go first?"

"I have a quick errand to run, if you don't mind, ma'am." Flash stepped aside, allowing for the handmaiden to join him in the corridor, and raised a parcel that had been resting against the wall. "My captain wanted me to bring his dagger to his home for him. Just got it back from the smithy. Then… I don't imagine you've had the opportunity to explore the city."

"Ah. Your captain…" Twilight walked beside Flash, venturing through the halls. She gripped the handle of the leash, her fingernails digging into the leather. "Spearhead…"

"That's the one. He's, uh…" Flash paused for a moment before continuing. "He's a determined man, is about the nicest thing I can say."

"That's one way to put it."

The two continued on in silence, save for the clanking of Flash's armor against the floor. Dedicated to his duty, Flash remained vigilant, his eyes trained for any unforeseen danger. For the first time, Twilight found herself at ease by the presence of a Canterlot guard, instead of on edge.

"I, er… I didn't think you'd remember me," said Flash.

"Of course I remember you. You're the first guard to ever treat me like a human being," said Twilight. "You said you weren't being nice, but you really were. I've been looking for you ever since, I wanted to thank you properly."

"I don't think that's something really worthy of thanks. You strike me as a decent person, prisoner or not. Figured I ought to treat you like one." Flash's eyes once again darted to Twilight's neck, turning straight ahead almost before Twilight noticed. "May I ask about… that?"

"The collar is to show that my body belongs to the Empress," sighed Twilight, squeezing the leash tightly. "And the leash… so I'm always within the Empress' grasp. I'm meant to wear it whenever I'm in her presence."

"Ah. Clever thinking, as to be expected from our High Queen." Flash spoke almost bitterly, as if he spoke those words because he was told to rather than because he believed them. "Although… I doubt we'll bump into the Empress on the way to Spearhead's house. If you were to, perhaps, take that collar off once we leave the castle grounds, I don't think there's much I could say to stop you."

"That's… that's very kind of you," said Twilight, clutching at the collar. She peered at the guard suspiciously. "This isn't some sort of test, is it? You've not been sent by the Empress?"

"Nope. In fact, I've only ever personally met the Empress once, when I enlisted in the Royal Guard." Flash grimaced a bit at the memory. "I… I bumped into her and dropped my sword. Nearly lopped off her toes…"

"Gods above!"

"Yeah, she wasn't happy about that. Threatened to have my eyes poked out, to give me an excuse for being so clumsy," said Flash with a dark chuckle. "Thankfully, Chancellor Rarity convinced her to spare me such a severe punishment. Instead, I just had my back whipped for a few hours."

"How merciful…" droned Twilight. Flash just laughed, which brought a small smile to the handmaiden's face.

The two chattered and conversed as they departed from the castle interior to the courtyard, where Flash's horse awaited. He assisted Twilight in mounting the horse before climbing on himself, setting the steed forward at a slow, peaceful canter. As they left the castle grounds, Flash made true on his words; he quickly went about unstrapping the collar from Twilight's neck and stowing it in his saddlebags. Twilight sighed internally, her body suddenly lighter now that it was free of the Empress' mark, if only for a few hours.

The two rode into town, stopping fairly soon into their journey at the Captain's home. Twilight remained on the horse as Flash made his quick stop, knocking on Spearhead's door to deliver the weapon. To the surprise of Twilight, it wasn't the captain, rather, his wife who answered. Twilight watched the brief interaction from afar, baffled by the very idea of a man like Spearhead marrying at all. His wife was a dark, shadowy sort of woman, lacking light and warmth in her eyes and voice. Even as she spoke to Flash, her eyes were trained on Twilight, beaming forth contempt and hate, and a third thing Twilight couldn't quite identify. She wasn't certain how or why, but Twilight thought that may have been envy that she saw.

"Sorry for the delay, ma'am," said Flash, clambering onto his horse. "That's all I need to do. For the rest of today, I am at your beck and call." He flashed her a smile. "So? Where shall we go?"

There had always been very little time in Twilight's life for recreation. First a poor farmer, then a prisoner, and now a servant of the Empress herself, there was never much time for her to consider her own pleasure or amusement. As such, her day out with Flash was a breath of fresh air, a rare time to enjoy life. There was so much she hadn't yet been able to see, so much of Canterlot's art and music yet to be discovered. Exploring the golden city was fascinating, liberating. It was fun.

But now, the day was over, and fun was but a memory. Now, she was back to serving the High Queen's will. Her time out in the city with Flash had stretched out into the evening, and upon her return to the castle, she was accosted by the Chancellor, who ordered her to report to the Empress' bedchamber and await further instruction. Twilight was nervous to receive such an order, not having been in the Empress' room this late, but she did as she was told. She stood waiting in the lavish room, not daring to sit, for hours, until the sun had set and the full moon rose into the inky, ebony sky.

"Come along, dear." Twilight flinched, taken off-guard by the Empress' sudden appearance in the doorframe. She turned to face the High Queen and quickly offered her the leash that she so begrudgingly wore. Empress Celestia smirked as she crossed the room, gently grasping the leash and pulling Twilight along. "I do say, Twilight Sparkle, that collar does suit you. When Chancellor Rarity is done recovering, I'll have to ask her to design more for you."

"Recovering?" While Twilight would never consider herself a friend of the Chancellor, it put her on edge to know that something may have happened to her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, yet. Soon…" Empress Celestia snickered darkly, giving Twilight a firm tug before continuing their way out of the room. "I will explain in due time. For now… Join me in the garden. Tonight is a very important night, indeed, and I want you to be there to experience it."

Without any more explanation, the Empress led her pet into the grand halls of Canterlot Castle, turning down the East Wing. At this hour, few guards and servants were out and about in the halls, which gave the entire castle a dark, ominous air to it. Empress Celestia strode boldly through that ominous darkness, stopping at a seemingly innocuous painting on the wall. The Empress casually waved her hand, sending the painting turning on its side; the wall let out a sound of groaning metal, the hidden gear mechanisms sliding the secret door out of place. The Empress pulled Twilight into the newly revealed tunnel, closing the door with another noncommittal wave.

After following the dark tunnel to its end, the two found themselves in a garden, smaller than the ones in the castle's courtyard, covered by a dome of glass. Many different plants grew inside, flowers and vines and even a few small trees. In the center of the garden was a perfectly round pool of water, so crystal clear and pristine that Twilight could see her own reflection without a single blemish or distortion. Waiting beside the pool, flanked by a Daybreaker on either side, was Chancellor Rarity, who was looking over a decidedly ancient-looking tome, the arcane nature of which Twilight could only speculate.

"What's the verdict, Ms. Rarity?" asked Empress Celestia as she approached. "Is this another colossal waste of my time, or do you actually intend to deliver on your promise?"

"I will give you the results you desire or die trying, m'lady!" promised Rarity, closing her book and bowing to the Empress.

"Hm. For your sake, I do hope you are correct in that assessment. Barring a success here… It would be advantageous for you to die before I can punish you for failing me again." The Empress laughed a light, airy laugh, as if she had made a casual joke at a friend's expense. "Fire when ready, Ms. Rarity."

"Y-yes, Empress." Rarity strode slowly around the pool, her eyes closed as she muttered under her breath. Her chanting became more intricate, twisted and winding in her whispers, until it seemed less like she was speaking the words and more as if the words were scrambling up her throat to escape her of their own accord. Empress Celestia handed Twilight the leash, stepping forward to examine Rarity.

"Yes, yes…" she murmured, watching the Chancellor carefully. "Sweetie's potions did you well, your mana is much more concentrated than usual…"

"Tenebri locus umbrus stellar…" Rarity stopped her pacing opposite of the Empress, her eyes beaming out bright white light. She repeated her incantation, faster than before, and a faintly visible aura of white light surrounded her. Faster and faster she spoke those ancient words, power coursing through not only her own body, but the entire garden. Blood began to drip from Rarity's nose, and then her eyes, her body quaking and trembling from the weight of her own sorcery. By some instinct, Twilight took a step forward, just to be stopped by the Empress.

"Wait," she said simply.

"Vincula lumina solara fortifan…" The light bathing Rarity soon began to shine from the pool itself, turning the perfectly reflective surface of the water to a wall of bright white. "Now, Empress!"

Empress Celestia strode forward, raising her hands forward and above her head, taking in a deep breath. The room seemed to get hotter, an audible buzzing in the air as the High Queen charged her sorcery. The gems on her anklets began to glow, first with a light that was similar to the stone's natural color before fading to that same bright white. After the anklets, the gems in her rings began to glow, as did the ones in her pendant. Twilight watched, awestruck by the almost physical weight of the Empress' power, all coming to a head as she uttered her own simple incantation.

"Solara carcerem."

A torrent of water spewed from the pool, and the light faded from the Empress and Rarity. There was a thud as something hit the ground, something Twilight soon surmised to be the Chancellor fainting from the strain of her magick. Another thud soon followed, followed by desperate, gasping breaths. The water soon stilled, and the heat dissipated, leading Twilight to believe that the sorcery was over.

Laying in front of the Empress was a woman older than Twilight, perhaps a decade her senior, with pale, porcelain skin and a long head of cerulean hair. She was nude, covered in water as she pulled herself to all fours and coughed more water from her lungs. She looked up at Twilight, her navy eyes so dark that they initially appeared to be black, before quickly turning her eyes back down.

"Hello," said Empress Celestia, after a weighty silence. She glanced over to the Chancellor, crumpled weakly on the floor. "I know what I said earlier, Ms. Rarity, but I would be incredibly disappointed if you died on me so easily. I hope you don't intend to remain in that state for much longer. Twilight Sparkle, dear, please help the Chancellor."

"I just… Need a moment, m'lady…" gasped Rarity. Twilight approached her, stooping down and pulling Rarity to her feet. Too exhausted to argue, the Chancellor had little choice but to lean against Twilight, slowly collecting herself. Her flesh seemed as if it was on fire, her body drenched in sweat from her exertion. Chancellor Rarity produced a handkerchief from her coat's pocket, first wiping away her cold sweat, and then dabbing away the blood from her eyes and nose. "Your assistance is… Appreciated, Sparkle…"

"H-how…?" gasped the woman, her voice sending a shock through Twilight's core. She knew that voice. It was the same voice that had been eluding her, driving her mad as she tried to sleep. But it couldn't be, it was impossible. She'd never seen this woman before in her life, how could she have possibly heard her voice while she slept?

"You weren't supposed to arrive for a few more weeks, but I thought it prudent to bring you home early," said Empress Celestia. "I just couldn't wait to see you."

"Mortemio!" The woman shouted the ancient word, gesturing wildly at the Empress, with little result. She let out a frustrated snarl, shouting again, louder. "Mortemio!"

"Your inflection on the incantation is off. If you want to kill me, I suggest you practice your diction. It's meant to be 'Mor-temi-o', rather than 'Mort-emio'. Try it properly this time." The Empress waited, shaking her head in disappointment as the woman stubbornly continued her own version of the incantation. "You never managed to get a mastery of the basics, which is why you were never as good as I was, dear sister."

"Sister?!" Twilight hadn't meant to speak aloud, but her shock got the better of her. Empress Celestia glanced back, as if she had forgotten about Twilight, and smiled.

"How rude of me. Sister, this is my new handmaiden, Twilight Sparkle," explained the High Queen, gesturing to Twilight. She pointed down at the woman on the ground before her. "And this poor girl who's too stubborn to realize that her magick simply will not work… this is my baby sister, Luna."

"Your sister… and the rightful heir to the throne!" spat Luna, her heavy breathing slowly steadying. She still avoided her sister's gaze, instead looking down at the ground. The Empress narrowed her gaze at her sister, frowning disappointedly.

"Your claim to my throne is as valid as the mouse's claim to the lion's crown." Empress Celestia extended her hand, to help her sister to her feet, just to have it batted away by the younger woman. "So stubborn, sister. You never could see the obvious."

"And just what is so obvious?" asked Luna. She turned over into a seated position, covering her shivering body with her arms.

"That I am trying to help you. Has it not occurred to you that you should be dead?" asked the Empress. "I could have killed you ages ago, and yet I spared you. The least you can do is look me in the eye."

"Why? My sister is dead." Luna slowly stood up, doing her best to cover her moderate chest with her arm. "You're just wearing her skin."

"Very well. If you refuse to accept my help, then I suppose there's nothing left except your arraignment." Silence was the only response from Luna, much to the High Queen's annoyance. She let out a sigh before she continued. "Luna of Equestria, you stand before the High Queen accused of the crimes of treason, inciting a rebellion, a dozen attempts to assassinate the Empress, conspiracy against the crown, practice of sorcery and black magick, and the murder of countless of the Empress' guard. How do you plead?"

"Guilty. And I would proudly do it again," said Luna boldly.

Empress Celestia tensed, slowly closing the distance between her and her sister. She grabbed Luna gently under the chin, turning her face up. Still, Luna avoided the Empress' line of sight, her dark eyes looking past the High Queen and directly at Twilight. She seemed to almost look through Twilight, piercing her body with her gaze and into her very soul.

"You are my sister, and, despite your crimes and your troubling heritage, you are the only living blood relative I have. It would be a shame to kill you," whispered Empress Celestia. "So I am going to offer you a golden opportunity. I will spare your life. I will annul you of your crimes. I will restore to you your position on the throne. You will rule beneath me, your authority outmatched only by my own. In return… you must bend the knee. Swear to me your eternal fealty, loyalty, and obedience." The Empress gripped Luna tighter under the chin, pulling her closer. "Join me on the throne. Bend the knee. Obey."

It was quiet for a spell, as Luna seemed to mull over the offer. Both Twilight and Rarity watched, tension rising, as Luna slowly turned to finally meet her sister's eyes. There was no sisterly affection in her eyes, no love or warmth. There was only fury, contempt, loathing. Luna took in a breath, then made a foul hissing in her throat before spitting a thick gob of saliva into the Empress' eyes.

"Fuck you," hissed Luna, her body trembling from cold and fury in equal measure. "May your soul rot in the three hells for all of existence."

"You bitch! How dare you!" Rarity took a step forward, collapsing weakly in a heap. Twilight had to brace herself to prevent the Chancellor from hitting the ground. "M-my Empress…"

"How… Disappointing…" sighed the Empress, wiping her face with her palm. She pressed her middle finger to Luna's forehead, letting out a sigh. "Doloria."

Gold light wrapped around the Empress' arm, concentrating around Luna's head. Empress Celestia snapped her fingers, and her spell took hold; Luna screamed in anguish, her body quaking in pain. Tears rolled down her face as she swung her hands at her sister's arm in a futile attempt to free herself. The Empress watched her sister scream for a moment, absorbing her agony with a cold glare for nearly a minute before she snapped her fingers again. Luna fell limp in Empress Celestia's grasp, hitting the ground when the High Queen released her.

"Tomorrow at noon, you shall face public execution. Torture, ridicule, and worse, until, eventually, you will be beheaded," said Empress Celestia, an almost tired weight to her voice. "If I am to rot in the hells, at least I will have decent company awaiting me." She looked to her Daybreakers, pointing at her sister's trembling, anguished form. "Bring her to a cell, and ensure that she lives long enough to see her execution."

The Daybreakers let out a rattling, groan of acceptance, lurching forward to grab Luna up under each arm. With ease, they pulled her up and dragged her away, down the tunnel and out of the garden. Empress Celestia sighed, shaking her head in disappointment before turning to face her two servants.

"Please forgive my sister for her behavior. She was never one for manners… Ms. Rarity, you did well tonight, although I urge that you learn to keep your cool moving forward," said the Empress. "Twilight Sparkle, bring Ms. Rarity to her room so she can get some much-needed rest. Then, get some sleep yourself. We have quite the day before us tomorrow."

"Yes, Empress." Twilight pulled Rarity up and, after sparing the Empress a cautionary glance, lugged the Chancellor's almost lifeless body away from the garden. "Er… I don't actually know where your room is."

"Just down the hall…" panted Rarity. "I… Goddess above, I can't see… You'll need to be my eyes, Sparkle…"

"Oh dear," squeaked Twilight. Her concern for the chancellor was beginning to mount as she dragged Rarity along the secret passageway and back into the castle proper. After opening the doorway with the painting, Twilight followed the whispered instructions that Rarity gave her. They made their way down the corridor, slowly and carefully, until they came across a door emblazoned with the insignia of Empress Celestia's sun, the very same symbol the chancellor wore so proudly on her lapel.

"Should be unlocked," said Rarity. Twilight pulled the door open and dragged Rarity inside, finally setting the chancellor down on her cushy four-poster bed. Rarity murmured something that Twilight chose to interpret as a thank you. "So hot… I need… Out… clothes."

Twilight nodded, and quickly went about stripping Rarity's coat from her body. Beneath her crisp jacket was a simple undershirt, absolutely drenched in sweat. Twilight tried in vain to pull the shirt over Rarity's head and, when that proved ineffective, Twilight simply split the cloth with a letter opener that lay on Rarity's bedside table. Now that the fabric was essentially ripped in two, Twilight could easily remove the garb, leaving Rarity in her simple silk bra.

"What in the world…?" muttered Twilight, covering her mouth in shock. Decorating the chancellor's body was a myriad of scars, bruises, and burns of various sizes and severity. Some cuts were a bit smaller than Twilight's little finger, while others were nearly as long as her forearm. Most curiously was the burn over her heart, mostly obscured by her bra. Twilight could only make out half of the marking, but the image of a wing and the outward flare of the sun made it very clear that the brand was in the shape of the Empress' insignia.

"Was the Empress… Pleased?" asked Rarity weakly. Twilight paused, unsure of how exactly to respond. From where she sat, it did not seem as though the Empress was very pleased at all, though that hardly appeared to be Rarity's fault. After considering the chancellor's state, Twilight reasoned that it would be unwise to upset her.

"I think she's very happy with you," said Twilight. Rarity let out a sigh of relief, letting her breathing even out. "Will you be okay?"

"Mere mortal men weren't meant to cast sorcery the likes of which I just attempted, and I merely acted in assistance to her highness' magick," says Rarity quietly. "Were it not for my Goddess' intervention, and Sweetie's potions, I surely would have perished. But I will recover. My sight is already returning." It got quiet for a spell, until the chancellor spoke again. "I didn't expect you to care."

"While I think it's fair to say we're not exactly the best of mates, I certainly don't want to see you dead." Twilight sighed, her mind tangled up by memories of Luna's voice in her dreams. "What did you even do? That sorcery, what was it?"

"The Empress says it's the same magick the Gods used to create reality," said Rarity, smirking slightly. "I used it to fold existence over itself. With the help of my glorious Goddess, who graciously loaned me a fraction of her power, of course." Rarity let out a weak chuckle, her amusement lost into a coughing fit. "I do not think I should attempt this again…"

"Fold existence? Where in the world…" Twilight shook her head in disbelief. "Where has Luna been? I've never heard mention of the Empress having family, nevermind a sister."

"That disgusting, graceless, honourless rat…" Despite her weakened state, the chancellor attempted to push herself up on her elbows, seething with rage. "My Lady was willing to ignore her heinous crimes, offered her the world, a position she doesn't deserve to even imagine herself in… I only hope that I'm mobile enough tomorrow so that I can see the cunt get what she deserves…"

"Please, Ms. Rarity, calm down. I didn't mean to upset you." Twilight reached forward, hoping to settle the chancellor back in bed. The last thing she wanted was for the woman's heart to give out under her watch. "You should rest. That sorcery of yours… Absolutely amazing. I'm in awe, really. I see what you meant before."

"Hm?"

"When you said I wasn't like you by a long shot."

"Hm. No, you and I aren't alike. However…" Rarity let out a sigh, shaking her head slightly. "Now that the Empress is able to wipe that disgusting blemish from this world and we're not quite so busy… I suppose I may be willing to teach you the sorcery I know. At the very least, I should be able to determine what class of mage you are."

"That's… That's incredibly generous of you, Ms. Rarity. But you shouldn't worry about that right now. You ought to get some rest," said Twilight. It grew silent for a while, save for the labored breaths of the Royal Chancellor. After a few uncomfortable minutes, Twilight stood up from her seat. "I'll leave you be, Ms. Rarity. Please get some sleep. I hope to see you come morning."

"Wait." Twilight paused on her way to the door, looking back to the chancellor. Rarity had pulled herself up to a seated position, her chest heaving as she swallowed down air. "Sparkle, I have a favour to ask."

"Yes?"

"If I am unable to participate in the execution… I want that traitor to suffer for what she's done to my Empress." Twilight bit her lip, no immediate response forming in her head. She wasn't even certain of what it was that Luna was guilty of, and she was being asked to ensure her suffering. Twilight never considered herself to be a violent person, she didn't have it in her. And yet… Chancellor Rarity was one foot in the grave. There was only one thing Twilight could think to say.

"I'm certain that she will, Chancellor."

The next morning weighed heavily on Twilight, the severity of the coming day rocking her to her core. This woman from her dreams had suddenly arrived, and would be put to death just as quickly. She had so many questions, so much she wanted to know about Luna, how she had gotten into her head and why she was speaking to her at all. She was deathly curious as to where the disgraced Royal had been all this time. She had never heard any record of the Empress having a sister, or any family at all. Twilight wished she could have spoken to Luna before the Empress had called on her to the royal carriage. Now, on the road with the High Queen, Twilight was afraid that she would never get her answers.

"You seem distressed, Twilight Sparkle," noted the Empress, pulling on the leash and grabbing the handmaiden's attention. "Speak your mind."

"You're going to kill your sister," said Twilight plainly. Empress Celestia gave Twilight a sideways glance, nodding slowly. "Why?"

"I haven't seen my sister for years. Longer than years. Longer than you can imagine," said the Empress. "And the first thing she does upon our reunion is attempt to kill me. Why do you question my actions before hers?"

"Respectfully, Empress, Luna is not here."

"Fair enough. Well, Twilight Sparkle, my sister is a traitor. She has made numerous attempts at my life, and she very nearly claimed it." The High Queen glanced out her cabin's window, watching as they approached the city square at the very heart of Canterlot. "Perhaps I will tell you more about our past during the execution."

"We have arrived, your Excellency!" called the driver. The Empress nodded to Twilight, who opened her door, rounded the carriage, and opened the Empress'. Empress Celestia stepped out, wrapping her hand around the swath of leather attached to the handmaiden's neck and leading her forward. A stage was prepared, with a modified stocks positioned in the middle. The modification came in the form of a wickedly sharp guillotine attached to the top, ready to bring its angry edge down into the Empress' enemies. A crowd was starting to form, the crowd parting and bowing as the Empress and the handmaiden made their way through the sea of onlookers. Their destination was clear, a pair of luxurious seats raised above a wide swath of spectator seats. It reminded Twilight of the Empress' box, from the arena.

"Just up here, Twilight Sparkle." The Empress led Twilight up the stands, never once giving her subjects even the briefest of glances as she made her way up to her seat. Waiting there were four guards, two standard soldiers and the other two Daybreakers, who flanked the seats and stood at the ready. The Empress sat in her throne, gesturing for Twilight to take the seat beside her.

"The condemned will be arriving shortly, your highness," reported one of the guards.

"Good. The sooner the traitor is dead, the better," sighed the Empress. She beckoned for the guard, who nervously approached. "That blade does not fall until I give the order. Am I understood?"

"Yes, your grace. I will relay the information to the team down below right away!"

The Empress nodded as he departed, watching him disappear into the sea of people down below. The crowd grew as the minutes ticked on, until it seemed that all of Canterlot was there, awaiting the death of the royal they never knew they had. Twilight squirmed in her seat, her unease rising as the execution crept nearer. Aside from the poor girl in the arena, and her father years ago, Twilight had never actually seen anyone die before. Even then, those deaths were relatively quick, and it appeared as though Luna's execution was meant to be anything but.

Soon enough, a wagon came along, rolling to a stop just before the stage. The guards at the front of the cart unmounted, going around the back to grab the prisoner. Luna emerged, all but dragged out by the Empress' men. She had been given rags to wear in her final moments, a rough cloak that just barely covered her body. The guards pulled her into the stage, bending her at the waist and forcing her into the stocks, the sturdy wooden frame holding her head and hands in place. Luna had her eyes trained on the Empress and Twilight the whole time the guards locked her in place, boldly staring down her killer.

"Do your worst, butcher!" Without the aid of sorcery, Luna managed to shout loudly enough for her words to reach the High Queen's ears. "Why not kill me yourself? Or are you too cowardly to face me?!"

"I'll have to remember to penalize Ms. Rarity for making me do this myself," murmured the Empress, rising from her seat. She whispered an incantation under her breath and, when she next spoke, her voice shimmered and echoed loudly enough to reach the peasants down below. "Luna of Equestria! You have been found guilty of your crimes and shall be put to death! As of now, your body is the public property of Canterlot. You will endure the abuse of my subjects until I grant you the privilege of death! People of Canterlot, show this traitor to the crown no mercy!"

Empress Celestia sat down in her throne, waving away the sorcery she used to amplify her voice. She watched her loyal subjects erupt into noise, jeering loudly at the so-called traitor on the stage. The mob surged forward, people fighting to get to the front and get their hands on Luna. Those who couldn't reach the front took it upon themselves to throw rocks at the stage, most falling short but a few reaching the prisoner's face.

"Foolish girl…" sighed Empress Celestia, crossing her legs and resting her chin in her palm. "This could have been so easily avoided…"

"Why not just… In the garden?" asked Twilight, her stomach turning as a man pulled himself into the stage. "You had her at your feet. Why not… finish her then?"

"Tradition dictates that threats to the crown be executed publicly." The Empress switched legs, folding the left over the right this time. She let out a dark, wicked chuckle. "Aside from that… This is far more of a spectacle. Much more exciting."

"Er… Your Divinity…" The lone guard remaining beside the Empress cleared his throat and pointed down at the stage; the man who had clambered into the stage had found his way behind Luna, grabbing her roughly by the hips. The prisoner thrashed in her binds, silently fighting the man's grasp to little avail. "Is that…?"

"I said to give her no mercy. If this is how my citizens decide to punish this traitor…" Empress Celestia laughed. "Then so be it. Interfere if you wish, but be aware that you will be taking her place."

"A-apologies, my Empress."

"This… This is harsh, don't you think?" asked Twilight. She watched the fear flicker over Luna's face, quickly becoming boldly defiant once more, even as the man undid his trousers and hastily forced himself into her; she grimaced, her trembling breaths shaking her body while this stranger had his way with her.

"Yes. I do think. I offered her the throne, and she spat in my face." The Empress matched her sister's gaze, the younger woman silently crying as the man forcefully and unforgivingly brought his hips forward. He rocked her body with every thrust, much to Empress' dark amusement. "So now she must suffer."

"My Empress, may I please… wait in the carriage?" asked Twilight, her stomach turning over on itself. She had been expecting to see Luna suffer, but not like this.

"Oh? Do you find this disturbing?" asked the Empress, tilting her head curiously. Twilight nodded, which brought a smile to the High Queen's face. "Good. You will remain by my side until I dismiss you. Now look ahead, Twilight Sparkle, and learn what happens to those who dare oppose me."

"Yes, my Empress…" Unable to disobey, Twilight turned her eyes forward. Slight relief washed over her, as the man brought his hips forward one last time before going still; it seemed that the worst of the rape was done. The man pulled himself free, returning his pants to his waist and climbing down the stage. Just as Twilight sighed in relief, another man took his place, a pit forming in her stomach when she made out just who the new rapist was. Spearhead grinned greedily, approaching the shaking form of Luna like a beast approaching prey. Before he could reach his prize, another assailant shoved him away and took his spot behind Luna.

"Flash… No…" Twilight was horrified to see Flash Sentry, the one kind, good-hearted guard in all of Canterlot, gearing up to participate in this twisted pageant. She felt her insides twist up at the sight of a man she trusted to be a decent, honourable human being undo his belt and reach into his trousers. She glanced to the Empress, frightened by the flare of emotion on her face. The High Queen was surprised, a scowl spreading to her lips.

"When will your treachery end?" growled the Empress, standing up suddenly.

"What…?" Twilight turned back, leaning in to see better. Shockingly, Luna wore a grin, as did her would-be rapist. Flash kept himself contained in his trousers, withdrawing instead a scrap of parchment with some strange, magickal symbols inscribed on it. The paper began to glow bright blue, shaking the whole of reality around it.

"It's an arcana. It allows non-magi to cast a bastardized form of magick, he's going to—”

A flare of blue light erupted from Flash's arcana, blasting the stocks to pieces and allowing Luna to pull herself from the splintered wood of her confinement. The guards leaped into action, drawing their weapons to contain the threat. A dozen spearmen led by Spearhead swarmed the stage, circling Luna and Flash threateningly. Luna smiled wider, raising her hand above her head and snapping her fingers; all but two of the spearmen turned, pointing their spears towards Spearhead and the rest of the encroaching guard.

"My children!" roared Luna. She took another arcana from Flash, raising the glowing parchment above her head. "Vanish into the shadows!"

There was a flare of cerulean light and, when it faded, the group of Luna, Flash, and the spearmen were gone, disappeared into a wisp of smoke. The masses went into a tizzy, scrambling and shouting in fear, confusion, doubt. Twilight felt her heart pounding in her throat, turning to her Empress for guidance. The High Queen seemed supremely focused, her magick once again sparking to life to magnify her voice.

"Still thy hearts!" Her voice echoed loudly enough to shake the very earth, her words commanding obedience in a way that few things could. The crowd slowly came to a halt, looking up to their goddess. "You will return to your routines until the traitors are apprehended! Anyone who is found to be harboring these fugitives and granting them safe quarter will be summarily executed! Report any sightings of my traitor sister directly to my guard. You will be rewarded your weight in coin for the traitor, alive!" The Empress scowled, pointing down at her people. "None shall kill her but me! Now begone! Find the traitor, lest she find you first!"

Empress Celestia dispelled her sorcery, slumping down into her throne. She shook her head, her body trembling slightly. Twilight reached forward, her fear rising into abject terror when she realized just why it was that the Empress was quaking; she trembled not with fury, not with rage, but with amusement, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she laughed.

"Perhaps not so foolish, after all…" mused the Empress.