The Handmaiden

“Morning report for this day, the 16th of June, the 103rd year of the 4th Era.”

Twilight watched Rarity unfurl her report, amazed to see that the Chancellor was even on her feet. Despite the orders of the royal doctor, Rarity refused to remain in bed, especially when the news of Luna's escape broke. Even still weakened from her sorcery, currently unable to stand without the assistance of a walking stick not dissimilar to that which her sister used, Rarity seemed determined to serve her Empress. Twilight wasn't sure where she stood in regards to the Chancellor, but she had to admire her tenacity and devotion.

"Just the essentials, Ms. Rarity," said the Empress flatly, leaning back in her throne. Due to much of her resources diverted to pursuing her sister, the Empress had cancelled Day Court for that day. Twilight was grateful at first, but, given the High Queen's mood, she began to long for the 'boring' grievances of the citizens, if only to keep the Empress busy. "I have some things that require my attention, and the sooner I see to them, the better."

"Of course, your Divinity," said Rarity. "Firstly, I would like to apologize for my inability to assist during the execution. Were I just stronger, I could have—"

"The news, Rarity. Now." The Empress flashed her chancellor a glare, beaming contempt, irritation, annoyance. Almost instinctively, Rarity took a half step back before continuing on.

"R-right. The Daybreakers have completed their first search of Canterlot and the surrounding areas. They managed to secure two of the men seen leaving with… her." Rarity cleared her throat. "A Solar guard in the Daybreakers' company interrogated the traitors before handing them over to the Daybreakers for their execution."

"And what did they learn?" asked the Empress.

"Your sister and her band of rebels are calling themselves the Children of the Night. They claim to be a band of hunters from Eras past who sought to protect Equestria from the beasts that may threaten her. According to them, the most dangerous of those beasts… is you." Rarity waited for a response and, when the Empress gave her none, she continued. "According to the traitor that was captured, your sister is taking her troops west. We fear she may be attempting to strike up an alliance with Mother Chrysalis and her Hive. I recommend sending a team of scouts to meet with her and ensure that her loyalty is still where it belongs."

"The Solar guard who led the interrogation," said the Empress, apparently unphased by Rarity's report. "Where is he now?"

"I believe he is retiring to the barracks for some rest," said Rarity. "Late night patrol, you see. Would you like for me to send for him?"

"That won't be necessary." The Empress tapped her thigh restlessly. "Send a team of four Daybreakers to the barracks and have him executed."

"Executed?" Twilight felt a chill go through her as her gaze was met by her Empress. "But he captured a rebel."

"He also disobeyed my orders," said the Empress dryly. "Now, perhaps more than ever, obedience is of the utmost importance. I explicitly stated that any and all of my sister's men be killed on sight. Not after an interrogation, but on sight. I want him drawn and quartered."

"Of course, my Empress. I will alert the Daybreakers at once." Rarity let her gaze linger on the Empress for a bit before scribbling onto her list. "As for The Hive…"

"You will send a hawk to Chrysalis informing her that my sister is on the loose. My Daybreakers will march to her Hive and search for her there," said Empress Celestia. "Be sure that Chrysalis knows what will happen if her people are found harboring my enemies."

"It is done, my Queen."

"Good. I must retire to my study now. I need to do a brief bit of research." Empress Celestia stood up, crossing her arms behind her back. "You will stay here and continue instructing Twilight Sparkle in her literacy, and begin teaching her sorcery. Do not cast. You will simply begin the study of the theory. You will join me in my study when you are finished instructing. Am I understood?"

"Yes, my Empress," said both the Chancellor and the Handmaiden dutifully. Empress Celestia rose from her throne and, after letting her eyes linger on Twilight, turned and departed from the throne room. Neither Rarity nor Twilight moved, nary making a peep until the sound of the High Queen's footsteps had faded away.

"She isn't in a very good mood, is she?" murmured Twilight.

"No. She is not." Rarity frowned, tapping her foot restlessly. "Oh, how my Lady suffers… That wretch deserves all that's coming her way…"

"Chancellor." Twilight cleared her throat with a cough, hoping to jostle Rarity from her musings. "Shall we begin our studies now?"

"Hm? Oh. Yes. I suppose we shall. I have to write a few letters and gather some materials," sighed Rarity. "For now… You need to begin meditation. Focus on your mana, and build it up as bright and hot as you can manage. You should feel as though there is a fire in your belly. Let it rise, then cool, until you can get it as hot as possible in a single moment. That is how most sorcery is cast. Not with a slow burn…”

The Chancellor dug into her breast pocket and withdrew a small golden coin. She gripped it tightly, took in a deep breath, and snapped her fingers. She exhaled as she opened her palm, revealing a small hunk of bread. She held it before Twilight, letting her gawk at it for a bit before continuing.

“But with a nigh-instant flare.“ She threw the bread to Twilight, who clumsily managed to catch it. “Here, eat. Casting on an empty stomach is nearly impossible for a novice, and the Empress skipped breakfast, so I don’t imagine you’ve eaten.”

“Oh. Thank you.” Twilight looked down at the bread curiously for a bit before slowly taking a bite. It was soft, warm, delicious. Orders of magnitude better than the rations she was formerly accustomed to. To think that Rarity was able to create something like that out of essentially nothing was incredible.

“Hm. Consider that payment for bringing me my meals when I was incapacitated. Eat. Meditate. I need to meet with the Empress, I will be back shortly."

With that, Chancellor Rarity quickly departed, leaving Twilight all alone in the throne room. Twilight sighed, quietly kneeling down and sitting on her heels. She had seen Rarity meditate, so she had some idea of what she was supposed be doing, even if she didn't really understand it. Twilight did as the chancellor had over the last few days, closing her eyes and taking in deep, slow breaths. The quiet in the room was cut by the sound of her breathing, as well as the faint sound of movement in the castle's halls. She focused on her core, on the mana she often had trouble believing she had.

Her mind drifted to Luna, wondering how well she had managed to recover since the two had last spoke. She tried to shake the image of Luna, of Flash, thoughts of the Children of the Night from her mind. They were a lost cause, as good as dead. The sooner she put them out of her thoughts, the better. Try as she might, Twilight just couldn't dispel Luna's voice from her head. How she spewed such vitriol and venom towards her sister, and how angry she was that Twilight would dare refuse to lend assistance. Despite her fear, Twilight genuinely sympathized with Luna's goal. Should the Children of the Night emerge victorious, Twilight could be free, live her happily ever after. If they were to fail, however… Twilight couldn't picture another path to liberation. She may be trapped, a slave forevermore.

Twilight felt her stomach turn, her belly bubbling with uncertainty. Allying herself with the Children of the Night would be an unthinkable risk. Were she alone, Twilight may have already joined with Luna's so-called revolution, but her situation was much more precarious. She had promised Pinkie to stay safe, to avoid risking her life, and Twilight was done with breaking her promises. She had already failed Pinkie so many times, even the thought of letting her down again made her stomach turn. Twilight clenched her fists by her side, feeling a burning anger slowly rise through her. There was no decision to be made. Luna's revolution would need to make do without her, because Twilight refused to risk her love for even a second.

"By the Goddess, I see it now."

Twilight jumped, startled by the sudden voice of the Royal Chancellor. Beside her was the Empress, who held a scroll of parchment in her hand. She said nothing as she reclaimed her throne, looking over her document without giving either woman even a sideways glance. Rarity slowly made her way into the room, clutching a collection of parchment and quills under her arm. She wore a look of confusion, concern, disbelief. Twilight slowly stood up, afraid that she may have done something incorrectly to upset the chancellor. That didn't seem to be the case, as Rarity looked more bemused than upset as she made her way over.

"See… it?" asked Twilight carefully. "What do you see?"

"Why the Empress is interested in you. Your mana…" Rarity stopped before Twilight, leaning on her walking stick to offer a hand; uneasily, Twilight accepted and was pulled to her feet. "You have far too much of it."

"How do you mean?" Twilight looked down at her hands, noting how they ever so slightly trembled. "Doesn't everybody have the same?"

"No. Every mage's mana is a bit different, save for a few constant laws. Through practice, meditation, alchemy, and a bit of luck, it is possible to increase your mana pool." Rarity tilted her head, utterly bewildered. "You already have so much. If you ever figure out how to use it… Perhaps you could become a proper sorceress, after all." The Empress let out a snort, though it was unclear if it was in regards to her letter or to Rarity’s claim.

"I doubt that. I still don't know a thing about magick," said Twilight. "I could have all the mana in the world, and it wouldn't do me a lick of good if I can't use it without dying."

"That's what I'm here for. To teach you how to harness your Goddess-given gift in such a way that you can properly serve the Empress and live to tell about it," explained Rarity. "And the first thing I shall teach you is your mana nature." Twilight was visibly confused, causing Rarity to roll her eyes a bit. "There are five families of magick: Illusionary, Alterist, R—"

"Restorative, Destructive, and Summoning," said Twilight. The Chancellor raised a brow, but allowed Twilight to continue. "Sweetie Belle explained them to me a bit. She said you are an Alterist mage."

"I am, indeed, primarily an Alterist. While I am certainly capable of casting from other families of magick, Alterism requires the least effort on my part, and tends to be some of my best work. Finding your nature is the first step to training you in the ways of sorcery."

"And how do we do that?" Rarity set down her materials, looking Twilight over for a moment before using her walking stick to raise Twilight's arms to her chest.

"Below your heart, a bit before your belly, is where your mana resides. It is split among five chambers, one for each family of magick," said Rarity. "The one in which mana bubbles hottest dictates your nature. We just need some way to get that mana bubbling. The safest way is to have you endure a surge of my own mana until the strain gets your mana flowing properly.”

“That is going to take quite some time, is it not?” asked the Empress, her voice as cold as a winter night. “Last time we had a mage to tutor, you opted for much swifter methods.”

“Yes, but…” Rarity glanced uneasily to Twilight. “He didn't last very long, did he?”

“Hm. You’re getting soft, Ms. Rarity.” The Empress crossed her legs, peering more intently on her letter. “Do as you will, Chancellor. Just as long as you do it swiftly.”

Rarity seemed to go a bit paler as she approached Twilight. She set down her materials, as well as her walking stick, and held her palm forward. After a nod to urge her forward, Twilight uneasily did the same, pressing her palm to Rarity’s. Almost immediately, she felt a surge of heat against her flesh. Twilight attempted to recoil, but felt her hand held in place by some otherworldly force. The heat was bearable for the time being, but Twilight could feel it growing and mounting.

“Push back,” ordered Rarity. “Not with your arm, but with your mana. As hard as you can.” Twilight grit her teeth and pushed forward with her mind, doing very little to deflect the force of Rarity’s magick. “Harder, Sparkle… Don’t let all this mana of yours be a waste! Push!”

“I’m… trying!” Twilight closed her eyes, focusing on the fire in her gut, breathing heavily as she attempted to surge her mana out. “I can’t…”

“You can and you will. Push.” The seconds ticked on, growing into minutes with little progress. Rarity glanced to the Empress, who was very visibly irate. “Come on, Sparkle, you have to try harder than that!”

“It hurts!” Twilight spoke only the truth, the sensation of her novice attempts at magick much like grubs wriggling and writhing under her skin. She strained forward more, and the grubs became razors, slicing at her flesh from the inside. “Three hells, it hurts!”

“Do you know what truly hurts, Twilight Sparkle?” Twilight froze as the Empress rose from her throne, slowly strolling forward to meet the two. “In my years, I’ve become quite acquainted with pain. How familiar are you with true agony?”

“My Empress, I—”

“Do you know the pain of having the skin flayed from your back? Of your bleeding flesh salted to draw out your suffering?” inquired the Empress. Twilight said nothing, instead sending another unimpressive surge of mana forward. “Do you know the pain of having stones and bricks laid upon your body until your bones snap? Or the pain of a scythe running through your belly, spilling your innards out onto the cobbles while you try your damndest to scoop them back in you?”

“Empress…” breathed Twilight. She shook her head, forcing her magick forth once more; Rarity finally seemed to react, her hand jerking back slightly. “I’m trying…”

“I have experienced that sort of agony more times than you could believe, and yet… The thing that hurts worse than that…” continued the Empress. “Is seeing it happen to someone you love.” Twilight’s eyes went wide, her blood boiling in time with her mana. “I would be more than happy to show you such pain, Twilight Sparkle. A quick trip to Golden Oak and back would be more than worth it to teach you this lesson.”

“You promised me! You promised to spare her!” The razors beneath Twilight’s skin grew into daggers, trying to poke through her flesh with each surge of mana.

“I did. Under the agreement that you would serve me properly as my handmaiden. And a handmaiden who can’t be arsed to try for the amusement of its mistress is a rather shite handmaiden, wouldn’t you agree?” snarled Empress Celestia. “I warned you what would happen if you stopped trying, if you stopped being interesting. I told you I would give you reason to fear me.”

“My Lady, she is trying…” squeaked Rarity. “I—”

“Hold your tongue, Chancellor, lest you join this worthless handmaiden and her dirty, gypsy whore.” The Empress stepped forward, looking down at Twilight with a scowl. “How does that sound, Twilight Sparkle? Are you willing to let two people die because of your weakness? Your cowardice?”

“I am trying!” said Twilight. Her vision began to blur, the edges of her sight tinged with a deep, murkey shade of blood red. The flesh of her arm was cooking, being charred, she swore it. Her mana bubbled and boiled, successfully sending Rarity back a few steps.

“If this is genuinely the best you can do, then you’re worse than useless,” remarked the Empress. “Perhaps I’ll have a few Daybreakers make the trip to Golden Oak for me. I’ve still got a craving for a public execution, since my sister’s fell through. They could grab the gypsy whore and slap her in the guillotine for a few hours until my subjects get tired of beating the dirty little rat and I finally call the order to give her the sweet release of a blade through her neck!” The Empress laughed sinisterly as hot, fat tears streaked down Twilight’s face. “I wonder if you’d be so keen on snogging the nasty little inbred when it’s just her empty head in a basket. Shall we find out, Twilight Spark—”

Twilight let out a shout, her arm erupting into pain. A dense wave of near-invisible purple light surged forward, knocking the Chancellor over onto her back. The very walls of the throne room shook, quaking dust from the ceiling down as if the whole of the roof was meaning to crumble. The Empress stumbled back a half step before regaining her composure, a thin grin spreading across her features. Twilight dropped to her knees, chest heaving as blood dripped from her nose like a river of red, and turned her head to face her Empress.

“See, Twilight Sparkle? That is what trying looks like,” laughed the Empress. “You needed a bit of a push, and I simply…” Very quickly, the Empress’ grin faded, replaced with a small frown. “Oh. Right.”

“Empress?” Rarity slowly clambered back to her feet, breathing heavily. She searched her Empress’ face and, after just a moment, reached the same conclusion. “Oh. That is… Odd.”

"Odd?" huffed Twilight, wiping the blood from her face. "Odd how?"

"Hm… Some say that one's personality can dictate their nature. Call it an old superstition, if you will." Rarity reclaimed her walking stick, leaning on it for support. "By your personality, I would presume you to be a Restorative mage, perhaps Alterist. But… You're Destructive."

"I'm… Destructive? How can that be? I've never hurt anyone a day in my life."

"It is not that simple. As I said, your nature merely dictates the sort of magick that your mana is most attuned to. What makes this odd… Each family of magick, barring Summoning, has an opposing family. The opposite of an Alterist is an Illusionist."

"Which means the opposite of Destructive is Restorative," said Twilight, eager to show that she wasn't as useless and ignorant as the Empress seemed to think her to be. "But that makes sense. What's so odd about that?" Rarity glanced to Empress Celestia, who had chosen to remain silent as she gathered the papers she had previously discarded

"The Empress has a Restorative nature. You are her opposite." Twilight's eyes went wide at this revelation. How could a murderer and fiend like the Empress possibly have a nature for Restoration magick?

“Ms. Rarity, I will leave you to it,” sneered Empress Celestia. She turned to leave once again, calling out over her shoulder. “Do not disturb me until morning, Rarity. I need time to reflect over things.” Without even waiting for a response, the Empress disappeared through the door to her study, slamming the heavy door closed. Rarity began to slowly pace before Twilight, murmuring thoughtlessly to herself.

“What is it, Chancellor?” asked Twilight. “Is everything okay?”

"This is strange. Positively peculiar,” declared Rarity. “Surely she would have been able to sense your nature if you were Destructive. It’s always easiest to feel mana that is contradictory to your own. So why choose a mage that is directly opposing to her own nature?"

"Perhaps she was just bored, and thought this would make things interesting." Twilight stood up, looking down at her hands while she did. She seemed to look through herself, at the bubbling, boiling power she contained. Never before had she felt it like this, so close to being at her command. "Or maybe she overlooked my nature. Or perhaps she's not truly Restorative. The Children of the Night seem to think her a monster. Perhaps she's Destructive like me, and just hides it."

"The very last thing you should be doing, Sparkle, is siding with a band of terrorists over your High Queen!" exclaimed Rarity. "Those men, if you would be generous enough to call them men, are the lowest trash, and their opinions of my Goddess are without merit!"

"I would never side with anyone other than Empress Celestia," amended Twilight, though her voice lacked the fervor of Rarity’s. "But I find myself curious as to why. Why was Luna sent away? Why is she so hellbent on assassinating the Empress? I don't agree with their methods, but if they truly want to keep Equestria safe… Shouldn't we at least make an effort to understand them?"

"They are bitter, envious lowlives that follow a bitter, envious general. That's all this is, mind you. Envy. Entitlement. Arrogance. A little brat of a girl was told she wasn't fit to be queen and so she swore the rest of her worthless life be dedicated to destroying what my Lady has built." The Chancellor scowled at the very idea of Luna on the throne, utterly repulsed by the prospect. "Before my Empress, there was anarchy. Beasts roamed the land, gobbling up children who strayed too far from their mum. Bandits raided villages, raping and pillaging to their blackened hearts' content. There were demons, monsters, witches and warlocks. Equestria was in ruin, until my Lady brought it back to greatness! I say that earns her the right to rule however she damn well pleases."

"Even at the expense of her own people?" asked Twilight. Rarity froze, chewing on her tongue idly for just a moment before grabbing up her discarded stationery and turning away from Twilight.

"Especially at their expense. Return to your meditation while I finish this letter. Then, if you're up to it, we can do some basic magickal theory."

Once again, the chancellor departed, leaving Twilight alone with her thoughts. Destruction. If she sat and mused for hours about her nature, she would never have arrived at Destruction as what she was at her core. And yet, she apparently was just that, a conduit for violent power. By her very nature, the exact opposite of her Empress. The High Queen could never be defeated, that's what most everyone believed. But, if someone were to conquer Celestia, Twilight thought it would make sense for that someone to be like her, the opposite of the wicked Queen.

Twilight sighed as she kneeled down, breathing deeply in time with the rise and fall of her mana. Not for the first time, and surely not for the last, it seemed to Twilight that her choice had been made for her.

A silent darkness blanketed over the castle that night, the moon obscured by an eerie fog. Twilight noticed it as she strolled the courtyard with Rarity, discussing sorcery and their future lessons. Despite her genuine interest in the practice of magick, Twilight found her mind elsewhere. She was beyond grateful when the Chancellor decided to call it quits for the night and sent the handmaiden off to sleep.

That fog seemed to thicken, clouding Twilight's mind as she approached her room. She had felt this before, knew what it meant. She pushed open her door, not even bothering to shut it behind her. Twilight had been hoping for sleep, and it seemed as though her wish had already been granted.

"So?" The door breezed closed behind her, locking with a click. From behind her marched the two rebels, neither Luna nor Flash saying much of anything until they were before Twilight. "Have you reached a decision?"

"What reassurance do I have that you will be a better Queen than your sister?" asked Twilight. Luna raised a brow, crossing her arms over her chest. She glanced to Flash for a moment before addressing the handmaiden.

"Only my word," said Luna slowly. "But I am a huntress, the leader of the Children of the Night. My word is my bond, better than any contract or royal oath."

"If I were to take such a risk as to assist you in your revolution, I would need some assurance that it would be a risk worth taking."

"We would be more than happy to see to the release of the wrongly incarcerated in Golden Oak," said Flash. "Including your friend, Ms. Pie."

"We will give you land, grain, livestock. A room in the castle, if you two so desire." Luna began to grin, her keen eye easily seeing through Twilight's stony facade. "You will not hunger, nor suffer cold, nor want for anything ever again. You will be free to live the life that you are owed. The life that my sister so cruelly snatched away from the both of you."

Silence fell over the room, with Twilight darting her eyes from Flash to Luna and back. This was madness. That was the only word Twilight could think of to describe this situation, absolute madness. Opposing the Empress was impossible, unthinkable. And yet… There she was, being offered the chance to do just that. Defy the Empress. Stand her opposite, like water to fire, day to night. Destruction to Restoration.

"This plan of yours," said Twilight with a sigh. "Will it work?" Without an ounce of hesitation, Luna nodded, gripped with a level of confidence directly opposite of Twilight's former reservation. The huntress had a look in her eyes, an impossible certainty. She didn't think that she would emerge victorious, she knew it to be so.

"The only thing my plan is missing, Twilight Sparkle," said Luna. "Is you."

"Just Twilight, please." Twilight looked down at her hands, clenching her fists and feeling the surge of mana bubbling within her. Slowly, she looked up, locking gazes with Luna. "Fine, then. I'm in." Luna and Flash grinned at one another before stepping forward to meet the handmaiden. They shook hands with their new ally, who wore no such grin.

"Get some sleep, Twilight," said Luna. She chuckled before raising her hand above her head. "Tomorrow, the revolution begins. For now… We vanish into the shadows."

All Twilight could hear next was the snap of Luna's fingers, and then she was in bed, chest heaving and cold sweat clinging to her skin. She breathed heavily, looking from side to side in search of the rebels. When she was certain she was alone, Twilight let out a tired sigh, rolled over onto her side, and fell, for the first time in what felt like ages, into a quiet, dreamless slumber.