The princesses looked around and saw that the ponies in the crowd were indeed staring at them and looking really confused. Also the guards they brought with them were beating a hasty retreat.

Luna stepped forward to call them back.

Luna stepped back next to Twilight and whispered under her breath, "you think he uses mind control?"

"I don't know," answered Twilight, also in a whisper. "That's a scary thought though."

"If thou doest not use mind control, then explain thy actions." Said Luna.

Twilight looked at Luna in horror, "harvested love?" She whispered to her. "Is Chrysalis planning another changeling attack?"

"Wait," said Twilight. "So you're not here to attack another pony and put them in the hospital?"

"So you know who's behind all of this then?" Asked Luna.

The two princesses looked at each other. "What do you think, Luna?" Asked Twilight. "Is this a good idea?"

"Doubtful, Twilight Sparkle. It makes us feel like we're being played for fools," mused Luna. "But the opportunity to learn something is something I would rather not pass up."

Both princesses nodded in agreement.

They looked at each other in confusion. "Doest thou have any idea, Miss Sparkle? We are ashamed to admit we don't know the city that well."

"I'm thinking. I'm thinking." Twilight paced back and forth.

"Wait?! There's a time limit?!" Shouted Twilight.

Twilight fumed and stomped her hoof on the ground until Luna draped a wing over her, calming her. "It would be best not to give into provocation." She said.

Twilight took a few calming breaths while she thought over the hint, "chaos and victory..." She thought aloud.

"Discord was known for spreading chaos. Does that help at all?" Offered Luna.

Twilight's eyes lit up, "of course! The statue of victory in the sculpture garden. It was a right next to Discord's statue prison."

They took off running through the city, ponies dodging out of the way as they had several near collisions on their way to the gardens. "So Twilight. How hath thine flying lessons been faring?" Asked Luna as they continued to run.

"Well," said Twilight between breaths. "I can't do much more than glide right now. But it is getting easier. It would be nice if I could just fly across the city right now."

"Indeed it would," said Luna. "Keep to thy discipline and thou art sure to be flying soon."

Eventually they found themselves in the sculpture garden and walked through the paths until they found a statue of a pony holding up a flag in their forehooves. The statue of victory. They found Rarity sitting at the foot of the statue with a book laid out in front of her. She placed a bookmark in the book and closed it as she saw them approach.

"Well hello darling," She said to Twilight Sparkle. "I was just reading a fascinating book about magic while waiting for you. I believe today scholars would find it absolutely ghastly that anypony would think this way though." She floated the book over to her.

Twilight looked to the book, realizing it was the book she got from Random that she was carrying on her earlier. When did Rarity get a hold of it? More importantly, how could Rarity be in Canterlot. Unless..."Is that you Spectrum?" She asked.

"Why darling, who else would it be?" She stood up from her sitting position and tossed her mane, letting it elegantly resettle on her side. "It took the two of you a rather long time to find your way here and I was getting quite bored." She said while casually strolling towards them. "So, what should I reward you for the first round?" She flourished her tail as she walked around them. "Oh I know!" She squealed joyfully. "Why don't I tell you when the third attack is to happen?"

"Thou would surely tell us such valuable information?" Questioned Luna.

"Sure, why not," said Rarity. "Tomorrow. It happens tomorrow." She said while turning her back.

Luna fired her horn at the imposter, hoping to incapacitate him while his guard was down, but the beam of energy passed through him and the form of Rarity dissolved into the air as if made of mist.

"So where are we looking for round two?!" Shouted Twilight.

She shirked back a bit, "sorry."

"Um...sure, ask away." None of this was going as Twilight expected.

Suddenly a wave of darkness started at her hooves and rapidly washed over the landscape, blotting out everything. She spun in a circle, looking for anything other than complete darkness. Eventually she found a faint light in the distance and ran towards it with everything she had in her.

The darkness was oppressing and felt like if she stopped moving it would quickly consume her. As the light got closer, she felt herself almost suffocating under the pressure of the darkness, but she continued to press on.

The light picked that moment to rush up and meet her, finding her meeting a pair of floating purple eyes.

A booming voice filled her whole being, "You stand at a crossroads. Two paths lie before you. On one road lies a friend in suffering. On the other lies a suffering nation. You can only help one. Which do you choose?"

Twilight tried hard to think with the oppressing darkness around her. Her ability to reason becoming more and more clouded with every passing moment.

"I would help my friend," she said in a gasp.

"And your reason?"

"Because a true friend never turns her back on her friends."

"Hmmm."

Twilight thought her answer might not have been good enough when the darkness washed away from her, leaving her once again standing next to Luna.

"Are you alright, Twilight Sparkle?" Said a concerned looking Luna.

Her legs buckled as she fought for breath, "what happened?"

"It was as if the shadows were trying to consume you. They filled your eyes and started to spread down your coat." Luna turned to the open air, "Spectrum! What pray tell was that?!"

Twilight got to her hooves with Luna's assistance, "not really, no."

"Are you going to be all right, Twilight?" Luna continued to hold up the other alicorn who gradually started to take her weight under her own hooves.

Twilight nodded, "I think I'll be ok. What do you think that question means though?"

Luna looked a bit abashed, "we are not familiar with the names of modern day textiles. Mayhaps you might share a few?"

Twilight took a few deep breaths as she thought over all the materials Rarity talked about in her shop. "Let's see, there's cotton, silk, wool, satin, and velvet. There's probably more but my head feels kinda fuzzy right now."

"Red velvet," said Luna.

"Excuse me?"

"Red velvet is a type of cake, one of the many I've seen my sister stuff her face with." Said Luna. "However Doughnut Joe has best shop in town. It's also the only shop that sells red velvet doughnuts."

"That's a lot of really specific information, princess." Said Twilight.

Luna looked away blushing, "we may visit that place more than a few times a week." She admitted. "It's also the only bakery open all night."

"That's probably it then," Twilight staggered a bit. "Shall we go?"

"Hold on but a moment Miss Sparkle. You don't appear to be in any condition to be galloping through the city at this moment."

Twilight raised an eyebrow, "what are you suggesting?"

Luna landed in front of the doughnut shop with a blushing bundle of embarrassed equine on her back. She folded her wings as she levitated Twilight Sparkle and set her down next to her.

Twilight felt a bit wobbly on her hooves for a bit while she glared at Luna with an evident blush on her face, "Luna, that was so embarrassing."

"Oh? How come?" Luna looked obliviously curious.

"Because it's...it's...nevermind." Twilight decided to drop it as they reached the door to the shop.

Luna pushed the door open and was greeted by a very friendly shop owner.

"Princess Luna!" Cheered Doughnut Joe. "My favorite customer. I had a feeling you'd be stopping by sometime soon."

"Thou were expecting us at this hour?" Asked a confused Luna. "Tis not our normal hour."

"It's strange," said an embarrassed looking Joe. "I just had a really strong feeling that you'd be by soon looking for red velvet doughnuts. I even set them at your usual table and everything. Was that ok?"

"Thank you fine baker!" Announced Luna. "We shall gladly partake of your confectionary delights!"

"Anything for my number one customer," Joe said cheerily as he returned to behind the counter.

They sat down at the table with a full plate of doughnuts and all three of them grabbed a few. Suddenly realizing they weren't alone they turned to find...

"Pinkie?!" Said Twilight. "When did you get here?"

"Oh silly filly," said Pinkie. "I'm still back in Ponyville, but I just couldn't let you eat all these by yourself." She proceeded to stuff another 3 doughnuts from the towering plate into her gullet, making her shiver. "Oh these are so good."

It was then that Twilight noticed her purple eyes, "wait? Pinkie has blue eyes. That's you isn't it Spectrum?"

"Oh Twilight, you're such a crackup. Of course I'm Spectrum, that would only make sense with this chapter." She paused and started scratching her head, not really sure why she said that. "Besides, I think you two get another question answered."

"Ok," said Luna. "Who are you working for?"

Pinkie giggled, "oh loony Luna, you don't get to pick the question I answer. How bout why the holders are stealing magic? Yeah that'll do. It makes them stronger...A lot stronger."

Luna was intrigued by this information, "how much stronger are we talking?"

Pinkie rubbed her chin with her hoof, "hmmm...technically that's another question, but I suppose I'll answer it. Strong enough to outfly an alicorn, and give another one and her friends the biggest beatdown of their life." She finished eating the doughnut she was holding, "Now I have a question for you, Luna."

They both blinked as Pinkie suddenly jabbed her hoof at her, making her disappear when their eyes reopened.

Twilight watched as Luna's eyes turned black with shadow and veins of darkness started to creep down from her face. It only lasted a moment before rescinding from her face. "Interesting," said Luna, holding her head up with her hooves that were resting on the table.

"Luna, are you ok?" Asked Twilight.

"We...are fine. It was just a test of mental fortitude and an ambiguous morality test."

"What did he ask you?"

Luna shook her head, "the answers to questions of this nature are not meant to be shared with anyone. So we would wish that thou not ask us again and keep thy own answers to thyself."

"You plan to test Twilight again then?"

Twilight tensed up as the oppressive darkness enveloped her again. Her legs felt like they were sticking to tar this time as she struggled to move.

After a bit of searching, she eventually found the light and ran towards it as best she could. The weight on her legs impeding her progress as she pushed forward.

She came to the light again.

The voice filled the space again, the feel of it pounding against her chest. "The knowledge contained in a scroll will bring you joy but will you lose something dear. Do you take take the risk?"

"Do I know what I will lose?" Twilight asked the empty space.

The empty space did not answer back.

"I...I...would probably read the scroll." Twilight hesitated with her answer.

"Why?"

Twilight felt the darkness start to build up its pressure on her, making it hard to breathe. "Because knowledge itself isn't bad. It's what you choose to do with it that matters." She managed to say before it got much worse.

"I see."

The darkness rushed away from her, leaving her in the doughnut shop again.

"How fare thee?" Asked Luna.

Twilight took a few slow breaths, "better than last time. Ok Spectrum, I'm ready for round three."

"Princess Celestia? Why?" She asked the air.

Twilight and Luna made their way up to the palace, the guards took notice of them as they passed but otherwise did not break from their patrol.

"Any idea where Princess Celestia is?" Twilight asked Luna.

"My sister would usually be holding court at this hour. However given current circumstances, we will probably find her in her office."

"Current circumstances?" She gave her a tilted expression. "Did something happen to her?"

"Tis a private matter. Leave it at that." Luna gently shook her head.

They came to the guarded door leading to Celestia's office and walked in. Celestia herself was sitting behind the desk, looking a bit bewildered.

"Twilight. Luna. How goes the search?" She said getting up from her desk.

"It's been a strange day sister dear." Luna shrugged her shoulders a bit.

Celestia made her way across the room and gave Twilight a hug, "and how's my favorite student?"

"Tired," she said. "Spectrum's been having us run all over town chasing him."

Celestia raised a questioning eyebrow, "who's Spectrum?"

The other two princesses readied themselves, expecting him to make himself known again. But one moment turned into two and then three, and then the silence dragged on.

"How odd," said Luna. "Based on what we've seen thus far, that would've been the moment he made himself known."

They waited a bit longer, but the elusive changeling remained silent.

"I suppose I should set the sun," said Celestia after an hour passed with nothing happening. "It is that time of day."

Both Celestia and Luna made their way over to the window behind her desk and moved the heavenly bodies, changing Equestria to night.

Luna made her way back over to Twilight, "he must have fled. How do you presume we should resume our search? He still has thine ring we used to track him the first time."

Twilight shook her head, "I don't know, Luna." She turned to her mentor, "what do you think Princess Celestia?"

Celestia turned around, her eyes were black as pitch and lines were bleeding down her face. A scowl appeared on her face as they watched golden light build in her horn.

"Princess Celestia?" Said Twilight, concern evident in her voice.

At the proclamation, Celestia leveled her horn at them and they were just barely able to leap out of the way as a column of sunlight burned a streak across the floor.

"Spectrum!" Shouted Luna. "What is the meaning of this?!"

"Luna!" Shouted Twilight as she dodged another blast from the solar princess. "What's happening?!"

"I think Spectrum's controlling her!" She shouted back.

"Why are you doing this?!" Cried Twilight. "Who are you working for?"

Celestia spun on Luna, firing the full force of the sun at her. Luna slid out of the way and returned fire. However it was blocked by a magical shield brought up by her sister.

"Luna!" Yelled Twilight. "What are you doing?!"

"I'm only doing what my sister would wish," panted Luna after putting up her own shield and blocking a series of blasts. "She would rather fall in battle than be used to hurt anypony."

"Luna! That's crazy talk!" Shouted Twilight over the sound of the explosions. "We can't attack Princess Celestia."

"We can and we must, Twilight Sparkle." Luna was buckling under the assault, the stone under her hooves starting to crack from the force.

"Twilight Sparkle," Luna was on her knees now, her shield starting to crack under the assault. "I can't last much longer. You need to take her out."

"Shut up, Spectrum!" Twilight shouted as she charged her horn, tears streaming down her face as she leveled her horn at her teacher. She grit her teeth so hard that it was making her vision fuzzy. "I...I can't..."

"Twilight! Help!" Cried out Luna.

Twilight's tears soaked her coat as she fired upon her teacher.

The blast of magic hit true, impacting Celestia square in the chest.

"AHHH!" Celestia screamed in pain as the magic coursed through her like a live bolt of lightning. A shadow tore away from her body along with the blast, flying away from her and leaving a sizable crater as it impacted the wall.

Tears continued to pour down her face as Twilight Sparkle ran up to where her teacher had collapsed after she shot her. "Princess Celestia! Please be ok! Please wake up!" She cried out as she fell down next to her and started looking for signs of life.

"Twilight?" Celestia said weakly. "What happened?"

Twilight buried her face in Celestia chest and just started crying her eyes out, "you're ok."

Luna picked herself up from the rubble, staggering a bit as she fought to stand back up. "You had a us worried for a moment there. You were trapped in an illusion and started attacking everypony in the room. We had to stop you."

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." Sobbed Twilight. "I didn't want to hit you but...I didn't see any other way."

"Shh," whispered Celestia as she wrapped her hooves around her student. "Everything will be all right. I'm so proud of you. That could not have been easy."

"It wasn't...sniff."

Their moment was interrupted by the sound of a body hitting the floor followed by a rush of air. They looked up to see Rainbow Dash pick herself up from the wreckage where the shadow had collided with the wall.

"Spectrum, no more games," said Luna. "We know it's you."

"Maybe I just wanna look awesome," the prismatic mare gave a smug grin and using a wing feather, flicked a small object to Twilight. She looked up in time to catch it and examined the object, "my ring?" She said curiously.

"The Crystal Empire is where you need to need to go. The last of the holders and my master both await you there," said Rainbow as she turned to walk away. "Your friends will be on the ten o'clock train as it passes through Canterlot if you want to travel there with them. You could use their fellowship after everything I put you through today."

The lines around Rainbow blurred for a moment and before anyone knew what had happened, Spectrum was gone.

Author's Note

We are approaching the end, it is coming. I don't know how many chapters I have left in this but it was always intended to end in the Empire.

Fun fact if you've made it this far: Spectrum was originally Random's secret identity. I changed it cause it wasn't fitting in with the narrative once I started writing.