Upon exiting the room, we bumped into Celestia. “Oh, hello,” she said. “Perfect timing, as you can see, I didn’t get you any tea. I thought it would be best to have it out in the gardens. You know, get you out of that stuffy room for a while?”

I smiled and acted oblivious to her obvious eavesdropping on mine and Lyra’s conversation. “That sounds wonderful. We um… have a lot to talk about. Me and Lyra, I mean.” Lyra cleared her throat. “And, also the…” I sighed. “The elements. If- If they want, that is. Of course, it would be best if you were there too. Oh, and Luna.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow. “I see.” She nodded. “Very well. I shall go and fetch them. You know the way to the gardens correct?” She asked Lyra who nodded. “You two go and take a seat in the gazebo. We’ll be with you shortly.”

And a short time it was. Not ten minuets after we took a seat did the Princesses show up, along with Twilight and only one of the other five elements. Kindness. A surprise to be sure. I guess I sort of understand why the others wouldn’t want to come. I thought Honesty would come for sure, but Kindness? Twilight and Kindness took a seat around the round table in the middle of the gazebo. It was quite confined but not uncomfortably so. It was a place for intimate conversations and meetings.

The gazebo was an old, off-white thing. The paint chipping in places. Who knows how many meetings have taken place here at this very, weather-rotted table? How many knives have been plunged into the backs of nobles by nobles, who only seconds before, considered themselves life-long friends or business partners? How many cups of tea has Celestia consumed here? How long has she sat at this table, alone, longing for me, for Luna, for anyone? The thought alone brought with it a cloud of anger. And yet, I was the one who condemned her to that fate. The cloud darkened. Off to a great start, Artemis…

“Where are the others?” I asked.

“They didn’t want to come.” Luna said, neutrally. I stood as Luna approached and she embraced me. “Thank goodness you’re alright, we’ve all been so worried.” She let go and we all sat down.

“Ah, you know.” I said, shrugging. “A little blackout isn’t going to keep me down.”

Twilight huffed. I pretended not to hear. Kindness said nothing as both she and Twilight were situated between the Princesses. The surroundings of the gazebo where quite wide open, large flowerbeds surrounded us with a single bee hive in the middle of one. A great deterrent from eavesdroppers as well as being aesthetically pleasing. The open space, I mean. Not the beehive. Its not like the palace has trained bees, waiting for someone to sneak up with flapping ears, right?

A single maid walked towards us from a small side door on a stone annex. The atmosphere was awkward as she approached. No one spoke, so we had no choice but to either watch or listen to her hoofsteps. The faint sound of bees buzzing only seemed to amplify the silence. When she finally arrived, she gave a short bow and asked, “Refreshments?”

“A pitcher of Iced water and a pot of Darjeeling tea.” Celestia said. The maid gave a curt nod then began to leave.

I spoke up. “I’d like a cup of Earl Grey with three teaspoons of honey, a shot of spiced rum and a slice of lemon.”

“Ooh,” Luna said, interested. “That sounds good, I’ll have one of those too.” The maid nodded again, hesitantly this time, then started back towards the annex. The silence returned once more.

I pursed my lips. “So… Nice weather.”

They all ignored me and Celestia spoke in her ‘Princess tone.’ “Most - if not all - of what you will hear from Artemis will likely be regarded as state secrets. While you have not taken any sort of oaths as elements of harmony, nor whilst under myself or Artemis’ tutelage.” She said, looking to Twilight then Lyra. “You are citizens of Equestria. Do you know what that means?”

Lyra spoke without missing a beat. “I’m guessing that means that those spikey rooms we walked through to get to the interrogation room would become our permanent places of residence if we were to repeat what we hear?” Go Lyra. “Princess?” Nice. Kindness shivered and somehow managed to make herself smaller.

Celestia blinked. “Yes… Quite right.” Her Princess mask slipped and she sighed. She looked around at the gardens. There was no one nearby, but she spoke in hushed tones anyway. “Lyra- May I call you Lyra?” My apprentice nodded, surprised that Princess Celestia would talk to her that way. “Lyra, please understand. I’m not saying this to scare you.” I folded my arms. Celestia grinned sheepishly. “…Mostly. I’m saying this for a few reasons. The first is political. Our past, mine, my sisters and Artemis’ is…”

“Dour?” I supplied, trying to be charitable.

Celestia nodded. “Artemis is new to this generation. Not only her species, but her methods too. I want all of our subjects to accept her, just as you have. Freely and without reservation. Though I think you are a unique case in that regard. Ponies fear what they don’t understand. If Artemis is to rule by myself and Lunas side, knowing the past will impede the road to that acceptance.

“The second reason is personal. This is our past. Our private past. And… it is a painful one. Dredging up these memories will be hard, but it has to be done. Not only to gain some of your trust back, but to make you understand. Artemis, although not banished, was in a self-imposed ‘exile’. Whether she likes it or not, she is from a different time, things have changed so much since she left and now it is up to us to guide her.” Celestia looked to the two elements. “Just as we did with Luna.” She then reached over me and grasped Lyra’s hand. “Your help would be invaluable. Not only as her apprentice, but as her friend.”

Lyra looked to me, then to Celestia and with grim determination, nodded.

“Hang on, hang on, hang on.” I said, cutting in. “I don’t need this- this… Intervention! I know that what I do is, well, its awful. I know that. But I have to do it. Apparently, no one else will, and its not my fault that all you ponies have gone soft in the time I was away!”

“Artemis.” Luna said. “Calm yourself.”

“Calm myself?” I barked out a laugh. “Calm myself.” I nodded. “Yes, I’ll just do that. We are in the middle of an invasion. Do you get that? We. Are. Being. Invaded!” Kindness was flinching at my every word, but I continued. They needed to hear this. “We are being invaded by an enemy that could be anyone. We can’t see them, but we know they’re there. Hells, it could be one of you!” They looked to each other.

“Ahem.” The maid was back. Awkward. She set the refreshments down and walked back wherever she came from. I leaned over my tea, inhaling deeply. The citrusy aroma penetrated deep into my lungs and I immediately calmed.

Celestia began pouring everyone else their tea and then poured an additional glass of water for herself. “No one is saying that the situation couldn’t be better.” Why does she always downplay everything...? “But unfortunately, at the moment there is nothing that we can do. We are looking into solutions, magical or physical, whichever comes first, that will help us combat this hidden menace.”

I stared at her. “‘Hidden menace’, ‘Looking into solutions’?” I shook my head. “Unbelievable. You sound like you’re talking to the fucking press.” Twilight and Kindness flinched at the harsh language. “I’m your wife. Moreover, I’m supposed to be a Princess in this… what? Triarchy?” Celestia was staring into her cup. “I want straight answers before I start talking about what action we should take. And yes, the action that we take will be my decision as Princess Protector of the Realm. So, tell me like it is. Tell me like I’m not reading it from a fucking newspaper.”

“We don’t know okay?!” Luna shouted. “We don’t know. It has been three weeks and a few days and the only thing we know is that they can communicate via some sort of hive-mind. That’s it. And that already puts us at a major disadvantage on top of the other major disadvantage of not knowing who in the hells we are fighting.”

“Well… What have you tried?” I asked.

“Oh please, Artemis. If we sat here going over every single thing, we would be here until the sun sets. Tomorrow. You are just going to have to trust us on this, we have tried.”

“You don’t have any ideas?” I said looking to both sisters.

“For now, our trump card is you.” Celestia said. “They know you exist, but they know nothing of your capabilities. You will act as a trap-door spider, lying in wait for them to act, at which time, you will pounce. Arachnids often favour insects for their meals, do they not?”

I nodded and took a sip of the steaming tea. It was hot going down, and the added rum burned all the hotter. “Good plan. Except for the fact they probably do know my capabilities. At least some of them. Let’s not forget who the monster changed into…” Another sip. And then another. “How they knew is an entirely different can of worms.”

“Yes, I’ve thought of that.” Celestia said.

“…And?”

“‘And’?” She spoke. “There is no ‘and’. They knew – Know – who she was. Or… her appearance at least. How? I do not know. We just have to hope that it was some sort of fluke. Some of your… latent or distant memories leaking into their hive-mind due to your stress.”

I smiled, not believing that for a second. “I’m going to choose to believe that because the alternative… No. I’m not entertaining an alternative. Let’s table this discussion for now.” We were all quiet for a few minutes after that. All of us just thinking.

Kindness reached over and refilled her teacup. “Why are you here?” I asked her. She hid behind her pink hair. “Sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean it like that. I meant, why is it only both you and Twilight who came? Out of all the elements, I didn’t expect you.” The butter yellow mare stayed quiet, but I could see she was trembling slightly.

Twilight cleared her throat and spoke up. “The others-”

“I didn’t ask you.” I cut in. Focusing on Kindness, I could see she was trembling more now that I didn’t let Twilight speak. I need to cut this one some slack, she’s done nothing wrong… “Kindness… Fluttershy,” I spoke softly. One of her large cyan eyes peaked out from behind her mane. “Why, out of all of your friends, did you come here? I was told that you were the most affected by what happened. To be honest, I was worried about you.”

She tried to speak, but nothing came out. I didn’t push, just waited. But, once again, Twilight spoke. “If she doesn’t-”

“Twilight,” I said, not taking my eyes off Fluttershy. “I’m not going to explain this to you again. If I’m not talking to you, be quiet, and wait your turn.” Celestia sipped her tea. “Fluttershy?” I prompted, gently.

Once again, Fluttershy’s mouth opened. Then closed. She sipped her tea, then shook herself as if to shake something off her head and then sighed. “Um… Well… It’s true.”

“What’s true, Honey?” I asked. She took a nervous look at the other mares at the table. “It’s okay.” I said. “You’re safe here. You can speak freely.”

“I- I was the most affected. Um… I think, anyway. I can’t really speak for the others.” She finished her cup of tea in a few gulps then refilled the cup again. “What you did, it was… I’m not sure. Or- Or rather, I am sure. It was the most terrible thing I’ve ever seen. But… I couldn’t look away.”

Once again. Twilight spoke. “That’s because you were in shock, which is perfectly understandable because-” And once again, I cut her off. With an effort of will sent towards her mouth it closed with a click and stayed shut.

“And now you get a time out. Five minutes.” I said. She furrowed her brows and tried to say a few words but they only came out as a hum. “Oh, I'm sorry, would you like to go for ten minutes?” I asked. She leaned back in her chair and when she stopped making noise, I looked Fluttershy, “Please continue.”

Fluttershy looked to Twilight. “Um… Twilight. You’re wrong.” Lyra snickered. “I wasn’t in shock.” Twilights brows raised. “Don’t get me wrong. I was shocked. But I wasn’t in shock.” I nodded in understanding.

She was quiet for a few moments longer, gathering her thoughts. “I- I couldn’t bear to look at the creature.” She continued. “Especially with how much pain it was in. Not- Not to mention that I couldn’t do anything about it. But I couldn’t look away from you.” She said, looking at me.

“Me?”

She nodded. “Although you were doing something terrible, I could tell you didn’t want to do it. Your face was blank, and- and it looked like it didn’t bother you, but I could see your eyes. You were so sad. You gave it a chance, but it refused. You didn’t want to do it, you had to.” She said, her delicate and quiet voice hitching. “I don’t know why, but I knew I had to help you. Had to be there for you. And in that moment, I understood why you had to do what you did. You do those things to protect us, and in being so awful to things that want to hurt us… I think… In some twisted way… that makes you very kind. You’re like a mama bear protecting her cubs.”

The silence after that was crystalline.

“May I cut in?” Celestia asked me. I rolled my eyes and nodded. “Fluttershy, I think that you are very brave-” The mare shook her head but said nothing as Celestia continued. “-and I think that you are a credit to your element. If only the others where here to hear your speech, they may have come around. Twilight?” The mare in question was looking at the table, deep in thought. I subtly released my will on her mouth so she could speak again. “Your thoughts?” Celestia asked.

Twilight was quiet for a time, then looked to me and said, “I don’t want to be involved with you anymore.”

“Twilight…?” Celestia asked.

“I mean, we’ve only really had one official meeting and, let’s be honest, it went terribly. I… I messed up. And, I know we’ve moved past that… mostly, but a betrayal of trust is hard to repair.” She looked to Celestia. “I would like to formally resign as Artemis’ therapist.” Celestia looked to me.

I held up my hands. “Don’t look at me, we haven’t even had a session yet!”

Celestia sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “If that’s what you want, Twilight, I can’t force you. Honestly, I think we have bigger things going on at the moment than Artemis’ alcoholism.” I took another sip of tea. “But how do you feel about what happened?”

Twilight was quiet again, and then said, “I don’t like you, Artemis.” Lyra growled at this. “You’re rude, and ever since what happened between us at the library, you’ve been pretty horrible to me.”

Lyra slammed her hands on the table. “Well maybe if you weren’t such a sycophantic know-it-all!”

“Lyra!” I shouted. She huffed and crossed her arms.

Twilight recoiled as if Lyra’s remark struck her. She took a deep breath and then said, “Believe what you want. I’ve been bullied for being a ‘know-it-all’ my entire life. Someone else adding to the pile isn’t going to bother me.” She looked to me, resolve in her eyes. “Artemis, I think what you did down there was disgusting and I will not condone your methods, regardless of the results. The ends do not justify the means. But…” She looked to Fluttershy. “I support my friends.” Sadness crossed her features. “Even if they are divided right now.”

Fluttershy hugged Twilight and Celestia reached and grasped her hand, giving it a squeeze.

“Lyra?” I asked and the minty mare looked to me. “What do you think?”

“I’m with Fluttershy.” She said, without really thinking.

“Seriously?” I asked.

“Yeah. She made some good points. After what happened, I was ready to bolt and cut all ties with you. But… Fluttershy’s right isn’t she? You would never do anything like that to us. You… You love us. Don’t you? All of us I mean. Ponies?”

I laughed a bit. “More like every living thing. I wouldn’t be the Princess Protector of the Realm if I didn’t.” I felt Celestia squeeze my hand and Luna smiled.

Lyra nodded. “When I said I couldn’t trust you back in the room, I meant it more that I couldn’t trust whether you were going to hurt me if you needed something from me… or something.” She looked to the side. “I don’t know… It’s stupid.”

“No, it’s not.” I said, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “I scared you. All of you. And… And I’m sorry. But now do you understand why I do what I do?” I asked the two elements and Lyra. “It’s my job to be the monster. The monster that the darkness fears. I stand in defence of the weak so that they may live the best life they possibly can. It’s the duty of someone as long-lived as I am. That’s part of the reason Celestia and Luna took up the crown.”

“Hang on, Artemis. We’ll get to that in a minute.” Celestia said. “First, Luna?” Said mare cocked her head. “How do you feel?”

“Hmm?” Luna looked confused. “Oh! Artemis, you know we would follow you to the ends of the realm.” She said waving a hand. “It is not even a question.”

I smiled. “Thank you, Lu. You know I would do the same for you.”

She grinned. “Of course.”

Celestia smiled too. “As for myself,” She said. “It does bother me, what you did. As it bothers all of us. Even Luna, although she doesn’t show it. But that is why I usually left those matters to the two of you.” She said looking to both me and Luna. “I know why you did it, for the good of the country and the realm. We had to know.” She looked into my eyes. “I love you. That’s all there is to it.” Then leaned in to give me a kiss on the cheek.

Lyra spoke next. “Um… You said that you where going to explain who it changed in to.”

I furrowed my brow and stared at the table. I felt Celestia’s hand tighten over my own. “I’m going to need something strong for this.” I spoke. Celestia clicked her fingers in what must have been some sort of signal for more drinks. "Let me tell you the tale of how I became the last human.”

Author's Note

Hello Everyone,

I hope you enjoy. As always, if you see any mistakes, be they spelling, continuity or anything like that, please let me know!

Love and peace.