Hybrid Breakdown

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6

Chapter 1

Princess Celestia watched Nightlight discuss his findings before the council of nobles. While he attempted to ignore it, the glaring looks of the royal houses burned him like salted knives. After her sister's defection to the Gryphon Kingdoms, the nobility found their lucrative trade agreements vanish in the span of months. That wasn’t even taking into account the dumping of the Equestrian bit by foreign governments and investors. Losing so much wealth in a short amount of time would make anyone ornery, but she still couldn’t have predicted what happened next to house Sparkle.

“I-In conclusion, while the hybridization program has failed in its original goals, we believe it might have given us a stopgap of labor. Without the current hybrids, our current agricultural output would have declined far more sharply. T-that’s not even taking into account the decreases in yields from lack of fully staffed weather teams.” While Nightlight attempted to sound positive and confident, the princess could see the beads of sweat trickling down his wrinkled brow.

Blueblood coughed. “That’s all well and good, I’m sure everyone here enjoys being well fed. However, what about the time and resources you wasted on the harvest and implementation of the hybrid program?” He leaned forward, arching his back like a vulture from his high seated position. “You had assured the members of this council, including the princess herself that the project was a success. That Canterlot Labs could instead focus its efforts on review and study of the foals development, along with the preparations for the now failed coverup. It seems you have failed by all measures.” The deep bags and greying fur on his once pristine muzzle seeming more present than ever.

Nightlight stood strong but his eyes betrayed him his pupils shaking ever so faintly from stress. “I’ll a-admit the original purpose of the hybrid project with specimen 16 has failed, we have restarted our efforts in other avenues.”

Fancy Pants pushed his glasses back up his greying muzzle clasping his hooves together. “As attempts to fix the issues with the second generation of hybrid foals have borne no fruit?” A deep frown covering his face.

“Our efforts in that area have been slow going... Canterlot Labs has decided to expand our efforts back into fertility research for generation zero....” He swallowed.

“You mean to tell us your spending your considerable resources on mares and stallions whose ages leave their prospects of conception dubious in the best of circumstances?!” Jet looked incredulous at the elderly researcher.

“Yes their ages do come with inherent risk factors, but as of this moment treating the aliments of gen-“ Nightlight was silenced as Blueblood stood up from his chair. Slowly trotting down from the raised pedestal like seating, while not the oldest member of the consul his joints hadn’t aged as well as others. Leaving him with what was known as the Blue gimp, a rather noticeable impairment they came to his family in their early golden years.

Bluebloods eyes never left the old blue stallion as he climbed down the marble steps slowly approaching him. He stopped scarcely a hoofs length away from the scholar, allowing him to gaze into his eyes. While the princess couldn’t imagine what he saw, the scholar's face paled deeply. The prince leaned forward and kissed the stallion on the lips, poor nightlights back legs collapse as the white stallion pulled away. Allowing her to see his face go from pale to white, his eyes had shrunk to pinpricks. The other nobles seemed to take this as the sign to leave, standing up from their chairs, following the prince out of the chamber. None bothering to ask her to leave, or to wish her a good evening. A subtle gesture compared to what Nightlight just endured... but the meaning was all the same

Celestia waited until the last noble left and slowly stood up from her throne. Her golden shoes echoing as she made her way down the steps toward the near-catatonic pony. “You... and by extension, myself have lost the support of the nobility.” She exhaled slowly, steam almost seeming to radiate off her. “The kiss has not been used in over 1000 years. But I don’t believe I have to tell you it’s meaning....”

“If I don’t find a solution soon....” He swallowed staring blankly forward.

“Then the burning of your family’s home was just a shot off the bow of what’s to come...” She shook her head, she knew the nobility were responsible, but they were experts at covering their tracks. Arresting them without evidence would only cause further unrest, something she had learned the hard way long ago.

“I know...” He shook his head as if hoping to wake up from a nightmare.

“Look me on the eyes Nightlight.” She ordered.

The stallion hesitantly raised his head, struggling to meet her piercing gaze.

“Can you fix the fertility problem? Tell me I haven’t gambled and lost my countries economic well-being, political relationships, and my pony's future using your solution.” Her stoney facade started to crumble, looking and sounding almost pleading.

“Princess! I-I assure you I just need more time! It’s a complex issue, but I assure you if we’re given some patience we’ll find the working solution!” He pleaded backing up, his old legs wobbling beneath him, the pressure of everything threatening to cause collapse.

“But how much time Nightlight? Jet Set is correct that the parents of generation 0 have begun to reach their final years of procreation. You’ve also admitted yourself that treatments for generation 2 have not borne fruit.” She stepped forward closing that gap. “We can’t wait 10 years, we’ve wasted too much time congratulating ourselves thinking we found the golden goose!” She forced her muzzle into his, preventing him from looking away.

“A-a year! I-I just need a year!” He sputtered.

Princess Celestia slowly pulled her head back, staring into him one final time before closing her eyes. Taking a deep breath she spoke. “Return to Canterlot Labs... I don’t think I need to tell you that trotting in the open now is dangerous...”

“Y-yes, princess....” He lowered his head submissively and hobbled out of the chamber leaving her.

He had lied to her... right to her face...
——————————————————————
Sitting in her private bedroom at her desk allowed her ample view of Canterlot. From the great tower, it seemed nothing had changed in the gleaming beacon of pony civilization. Turning her head back to the desk she looked over the latest message from Zebrica, demanding the release of their kind. Canterlot Labs was only one of several facilities spread throughout Equestria’s, with stakes as high as they were they couldn’t risk having everything in one place. While they all operated under the same goal, they explored different solutions. The idea from the EverFree was to breed studs traditionally that would be suitable for breeding new ponies. The original donors had been released after the mind wipe... but their children had not. Zebrica wanted those children released to their custody, along with the ponies responsible for the research, Sweetie Drops among those listed in the letter. Setting it down in a pile of earlier correspondence she moved onto a message from the Gryphon Kingdoms.

The letter borderline threatened war unless they released their countryhens from the facility in Smokey Mountain and by extension the hippogriffs and centaurs, with whom they had recently signed an alliance. While the bitter memories of the past between the three races still caused issues, it was a worrying development. Like the zebra it was hopped by breeding with the hippogriffs, gryphons, and centaurs, they could inherit their reproductive capabilities. After breeding out the unwanted... non-pony traits to get them ready for harvest. It was admittedly a long shot, but the brood had been fertile. So while a more roundabout way than the work with zebra it looked somewhat promising.

But the two facilities Achilles’ heel was the use of time spells to speed up development... while they could physically grow the subjects to adulthood... the same couldn’t be said about their minds. The subjects were horribly developmentally stunted and exhibited signs of psychological problems. Sweetie Drops theorized that it was a combination of the lack of parental interaction, rapid physical changes, and environment. While her reports were professional, the princess could read through the lines, they would never be able to integrate into society. They also had been struggling to breed out the non-pony traits. Be it a zebras stripes, mane, and dietary “requirements”, or a centaurs extra limbs. If they used the fruits of the project too early would only cause problems when the populous started asking questions. That wasn’t even taking into account the high risk of sterility and cancer brought on by the rapid aging process.

Tossing the letter to another pile she looked over the latest message from the minotaurs. To say that Emperor Ironback was a colorful author wouldn’t do him justice. He was somewhat notorious for his saber-rattling at the Counsel of Kingdoms. But this time she wasn’t so sure he was all bluster, especially after one of his Navis Rostrata’s rammed an Equestrian merchant galleon who had been desperately seeking trade. No doubt the nature of the Galloping Gorge facility influencing his more hostile approach. With the theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics they had hoped to use transformation spells to create suitable studs.... long term use of transformation spells had never been done before. Normally they wore off after a day or so... but for weeks... months... years?... it caused physiological and psychological issues they hadn’t foreseen.
The facilities while offering different approaches to the problem came to the same ends found at Canterlot Labs. Failure... over and over again... leaving them with subjects she couldn’t bring herself to order to terminate... but couldn’t release... but out of all the letters and threats she received one stood out. Grasping the dark brown parchment she unfurled it, 4 words from Dimondia awaited.

“Deliver Him To Us.”

While not threatening on the surface, their actions spoke volumes, a patrol of royal guards had mistakenly wandered over the border while tracking a criminal... they were found after five days. Backs tied to the mouths of cannons while masked canine centuries watched on and stood ready... what happened next traumatized the search party for life... cannons while clumsy could be devastating to fortifications... but to the flesh?... at such close range?... She had no choice but to order the guards to retreat at least a mile's distance from the nearest marker when word reached her. News soon spread about it despite all attempts to keep it under wraps.

“Princess....” a voice from behind her brought her out of her thoughts.

“Yes, General Battlement?...” She turned to look at the stallion, a few years ago he was a strapping rising star in the royal guard. But his time as commander of their guard during these trying times had aged him rapidly.

“I have come to deliver my report...” He maintained his professional demeanor, but she could tell he was exhausted.

“I see...” She stood up from her desk and made her way to the tea table by the balcony. Motioning for him to sit down as she began to pour two cups.

“Our trade routes in both the Shimmering Sea and Dryadic Ocean have been completely cut off. Any attempts to break the blockade have been rebuffed with ballista and rams.” He dropped two lumps of sugar into the cup. “The Crystal Empire is also lost to us I’m afraid... any attempts to make contact with Princess Cadence have not borne fruit. From what we can gather, she has destroyed the tracks collecting the Crystal Empire to Equestria and has opened up an alliance with the Yaks to the north.”

“What of Shining Armor?” She asked frowning.

“I’m afraid we don’t know... however after learning how we discovered the Crystal Ponies nature...” He shook his head. “I won’t make guesses, but I can’t imagine she took it well... especially knowing that her husband had been helping our scholars smuggle her subjects out of the country for testing...”

“I see... what’s the assessment of our military?... how long could we hold off the on slot?...” She wouldn’t lie to herself about the dire situation.

“Considering that we have enemy’s on all fronts?.... it depends...” He shook his head solemnly. “Equestria’s military hadn’t had the best service record when handling attacks from organized forces... The Storm King was far from a tactical genius, but his army was tenacious... they practically overwhelmed our forces in hours. Additionally, the reports Princess Twilight had given about the alternate timelines paints a grim picture. In the Crystal War Timeline, we were effectively pushed into a war of attrition against a single city-state. The Chrysalis Timeline was a complete loss...”

“Is there truly no hope?...” His frown continued to deepen.

“Maybe against one... or two at most... we could make the cost of victory too high... but if more than that attack?... I don’t think I need to tell you the outcome...” He looked at her seriously.

“Surely our forces have improved?” She poured herself another cup struggling to steady her hooves.

“They’ve improved somewhat with the more rigorous training... but we are at a disadvantage in terms of pony power. The average age of our population is ticking up fast. Meaning we have a shrinking pool of suitable recruits, in five to seven years we will have far more spears and armor then ponies to wield them.” She exhaled setting his cup down. “Has diplomacy offered alternatives?...”

“The only option given was the release of all the subjects... and scholars to their custody... I don’t think I have to tell you the issue with that.” She exhaled.

“While those scholars haven’t offered solutions yet... they are the most knowledgeable of the situation... losing them could cost us years ... years we don’t have...” He stared into his cup. “And if we don’t...”

Celestia just stared blankly into the distance. “Does that conclude your report?...”

“No, we have other problems...” He shook his head.

“What else could possibly go wrong?...” Celestia just felt so tired.

“Morale is low in the barracks, rumors are abound, and I struggling to keep up with AWOL forms...” He rubbed his muzzle shaking his head.

“You can’t squash this?...” She hated how that sounded but this was the last thing they needed.

“I can tell guards what to do... but not what to think Princess... It’s hard to motivate them if they feel like these are our final days....” He shook his head. “Sometimes it’s a struggle to get them out of their bunks.... others are demanding more leave with their family’s....” He sighed.

“Can we afford it?....” She asked biting her lip.

“Maybe... a hoof full going to visit their family’s each week.... but as it is we are understaffed.”

“See what you can do... Equestria has become a powder keg... we will need the pony power to keep it under control...” She rubbed her temples.

“I’ll try... but I’m not sure how long that will buy us...” He exhaled.

“Is that all?....”

“Yes, your Majesty....” He bowed his head.

“You may take your leave...” She didn’t watch him go turning her attention back out the window to the city. A look of longing covering her face as she stood back up from her pillow, making her way to the balcony. Looking over the City of Canterlot... in the past, it was truly the jewel of the world... but slowly the economic realities of isolation were creeping in. Shops once specializing in excess were now boarding up windows... pastry shops rationing baked goods as ingredients became rare or nonexistent with lack of trade... even mundane stores specializing in raw foodstuff were looking more empty than usual. No nation is truly an island... her ponies were quickly learning just how much they depended on other countries.

Her moment of quiet contemplation was interrupted by a young guard forcing his way in. “P-Princess!”

“What’s the meaning of this?!” Her eyes widened while the young stallion was tackled by the palace guards.

“Your highness please forgive our lapse he-“ The palace guard was interrupted with the guard stallions shriek.

“Sweetie Pie is missing!” The stallion managed to scream desperately while being crushed under the arresting guards.

At that moment Celestia’s heart stopped, motioning for the palace guards to remove themselves from him. “Explain... now...”
——————————————————————
Celestia found herself standing outside the Pie family rock farm, little had changed during the last two decades since she attended the wedding ceremony between Cheese Sandwich and Pinkamena Diane Pie. As well as she knew the mare she couldn’t fathom the motives she and her family could have for taking Sweetie Pie. Inhaling she slowly stepped forward motioning her guards to stay with the Sky Carriage, but just as she reached to knock on the door, it swung open revealing a familiar... if aged face.

“Princess Celestia?... I’ve been expecting you....” Pinkie Pie brushed her strait greying mane from her sad eyes.

“You have?...” She sounded surprised.

“I was hoping you would have made it in time for the ceremony... but better late than never....” She sounded so tired... far from the peppy grandmother, the princess had known less than three years ago. As hard as the Princess tried she couldn’t help but remember watching those bright eyes dull over the months in Canterlot Hospital. Going from a cheery soul chatting about all the things she would go with her granddaughter... to shambling shell trotting through the halls.

“Ceremony?..... Pinkie Pie... where is Sweetie Pie... surely you must know that taking her from the hospital is dangerous!” The princess was confused and deeply concerned.

“Dangerous for who?.... you... or her?....” She shook her head as if shaking the spiteful thoughts away. “Nevermind... Do you want to see her?....” It felt like a stab through the heart to hear something so spiteful from a mare she knew so well.

Struggling to swallow the pain in her chest she spoke. “Y-yes! Of course, I do!” Celestia looked horrified at what she was implying.

“Follow me... “ Pinkie made her way past the princess, the faintest skip in her limp leading the princess around the old home. But it looked more forced than out of habit... as if she was attempting to hide her feelings.

As they circled she could spot the familiar form of Cherry sitting on a hill. Her back facing them as they approached her head tilted down. A faint lullaby could just be heard, Celestia could feel her heart relax, the foal was ok. She just needed to convince them to let her rush her back to Canterlot Hospital. But as she got closer a pit started to form in her stomach, Cherry was sitting in front of... a stone?..

“What have you done?....” Celestia's eyes widened the sickening feeling in her stomach growing, as her mouth became as dry as the badlands.

Cherry seemed to twitch hearing her voice, turning her head she revealed her red irritated eyes, cheeks stained dark with tears. “I gave my daughter what you wouldn’t... Peace....” Her voice was raspy and weak seeming like she was ready to collapse from exhaustion.

“Y-you killed your own filly?!?” Celestia took a step back, the realization filling her with dread.

Cherry struggled to her hooves, closing the distance. “No... I did the hardest thing any mother can do... I let her go... while she was surrounded by her family in her ancestral home.” She ran her foreleg over her face, attempting to clean away the tears.

“Let her go?! What are you talking ab-“ She was silenced by a powerful hoofslap, the sound of her hoof colliding with her teeth ringing through her skull as she staggered backward attempting to process what happened.

“You made my daughter a sideshow you whorse...” She growled.

The slap didn’t hurt so much physically as emotionally, she had known this mare since before she had opened her eyes to the world. “W-what are you talking about?...” Her breath grew shallow as the feeling of emptiness started to come back.

“Luna sent a letter to us... along with a message from her grandfather... her real grandfather....” She inhaled shuttering struggling to keep herself from breaking down again. “I might not have known him... but Aaron deserved to be here as much as I and my husband Rock Slide...”

Celestia felt the breath stall in her throat. “Did he put you up to this?...” The faint flicker of rage building behind her eyes.

“Is that what you think?...” She lowered her head... and started to chuckle... before her back legs gave out behind her as she succumbed to full-on laughter, tears pouring from her eyes.

Celestia grew increasingly unnerved almost wanting to run from this place, but the feeling the gaze of Pinkie on her back she didn’t move. As if the elderly mare had some sort of power keeping her rooted to the spot. “You cost my family everything and you think I needed someone to tell me the only way it could end?!” The heartbroken mother practically screamed at her.

“I-I was attempting to help your family!” Celestia tried as she might she couldn’t make it sound genuine, the weight of this mares heartbreak weighing her mind down like a lead ingot.

“Celestia... with everything that happened... who do you think suffered the most from your help?” She wiped the tears from her eyes. Staring deep into the Princess pupils, looking at most as if she was attempting to see her soul.

“Suffered... from my help?...” Saying that left a bad taste in her mouth that made her want to retch.

“Was it my mother... whom you lied to about your treatment?...... was it my father thinking he had finally created a legacy with his own seed?..... was it me?... being denied the one thing that matters most to a mare?....” She just looked so tired, her neck slumping shaking her head side to side.

Celestia swallowed unsure what she wanted to say, seemingly trapped watching her break.

Cherry struggled to swallow before continuing. “It was Sweetie Pie.... a filly I loved dearly.... but should have never existed....” She raises her head back up. “She should have died years ago.... but you poked and prodded her.... forcing her to live on.... why?..... don’t lie to me!” Looking into those eyes Celestia knew she wouldn’t take anything but the truth. No matter how much it pained her to admit, or how painful it was to hear.

Celestia just started holding her tongue before exhaling. “When your daughter lived so much longer then others.... so many saw it as hope.... evidence that it wasn’t the end... before her... mothers across Equestria had begun to refuse to procreate... the heartbreak simply too much... agricultural and industrial outputs declined rapidly... our economy was on the edge of collapse.... social unrest was a hairs breath away from an inferno....” She tried to sound professional but it just came out as cold. “That couldn’t be allowed... Equestria must prevail... sacrifices had to be made for the good of everypony...” Saying that out loud made the Princess feel dirty... the kind of dirty that no bath could ever wash clean.

“Equestria is dying... who knows why... all you did was prolong the inevitable....” Cherry shook her head. “Just pay your respects and get out....” She slowly struggled back to her hooves before trotting to the house. Cheese opening the door and looking at the Princess with pity before closing it. Likely to try and comfort his adopted daughter.

She slowly stepped forward to the carved stone marker, it wasn’t anything partially flashy... The Pie family burial traditions disallowed anything seen as hubris in death. A simple Boulder with the filly’s name carved into the rock. The Princess didn’t even notice her own tears until they dripped onto the grave.

“Princess....” He heard the tired voice of Pinkie Pie behind her followed by gentle elderly hooves hugging her side.

Celestia slowly turned her head to look at the greying pinks mare. “P-Pinkie?...” She hesitantly wrapped her hoof around her.

Giving the Princess a tight squeeze for a few moments she slowly pulled away. “I... Can’t forgive you for what you did to my family... but... I won’t see someone suffer alone on my land...” She sighed shaking her head.

“... I was just trying to do what was best for my ponies...” Celestia said but it didn’t come out as strong as she had hoped.

“I don’t doubt it... but it doesn’t make what you did to us anymore right... I’m sorry... but I think this will be the last time we’ll have you as a guest...” She shook her head.

Celestia knew they couldn’t stop her from coming... but that wasn’t the point. “I understand...” She slowly trotted away leaving the old mare by the gravestone.

Seeing her approach the guards at the carriage stood at attention, one of them moving forward. “Princess shall we arrest them?”

“For what?...” She sounded distant, her eyes staring off into the horizon.

“Murder... they killed their own daughter!” He sounded incredulous.

“You can’t kill what was already dead... we’re leaving this place...” The Princess climbed back into the carriage while the guards hooked themselves back up. Sharing glances at one another before they began to take off. As they did so she took one last look at the Pie Family rock farm with longing before closing her eyes.
——————————————————————
The princesses hooves echoed through the hallways as she made her way past the cells. Her eyes focused on a single destination, the massive vaulted door that held him. Taking the golden key she watched it slowly slide open, revealing the occupant sitting in the corner of his crystal enclosure. Dabbing his bush into a palette, while he worked on a massive canvas, seemingly having not noticed her presence.

“I was wondering when you would come for another visit...” He spoke slowly stroking his brush over his artwork.

“Expecting me?...” She slowly trotted up to the prison.

“Eventually... I’m not able to see the future... but I can make educated guesses.” He set the palette and turning around, making his way to the edge of his prison.

“Did you tell them to do it?...” She glared at him.

“Do what?....” He tilted his head a deep frown on his face.

“Kill their filly you cur!!!” She bellowed slamming her hooves against the crystal walls of his prison.

“So they made the choice?...” He looked melancholic. “No, I may have sent them a letter... I didn’t tell them to do anything to Sweetie Pie...”

“If you didn’t, then what was in that letter?!... tell me!” She growled.

He looked into her eyes. “An apology...” He sighed sitting back in his chair running his hand over his face.

“An.... apology?...” She sounded confused.

“Choice or no... it was I who helped cause their misery... and the suffering of their little girl... I might delight in your suffering but I don’t delight in the suffering of those who must deal with the consequences of your actions....” He looked serious.

“I was attempting to save my ponies!” She protested.

“I never said you weren’t... but the thing about desperation... you often see only what you want to see....” He leans forward. “A leader often has to make bitter choices... for what they consider the greater good of their people.... but it doesn’t mean those choices will work out....” He shrugged. “In your single-mindedness to solve the problem you created something much worse.” He tilted his head and smirked.

“You say you don’t enjoy their suffering yet you smile at my own...” She slowly sits on her haunches.

“Your the cause of it... though I wonder about your own motivations... are they truly as pure as you think?” He hummed.

“Trying to save my ponies isn’t a good motivation?” She growled, her frown deepening.

“No... it’s a good goal... but not the true motivation... Luna agreed with the goal... but not your motivation...” She shook his head.

“Don’t you dare talk about her... because of you she betrayed me.” She steeled her eyes.

“I did nothing, Luna had felt distant from you and your ponies for a long time... you placed her on the moon for over 1000 years and expected her to integrate back into your kingdom like nothing happened?” He chuckled at the absurdity of it. “I understand why you had to do it... but it was a bit idealistic a mare from such a different time would be able to so..”

“She had friends! She was adjusting!”

“She made friends with Twilight and the elements... who she saw... how many times each year?” He raised an eyebrow. “Maybe a handful of ponies entertained her... but you made her irrelevant in your country... Not by design, I’m sure... but the end result was the same... she was a vestigial relic of a different time.” He frowned sitting down in his chair, looking more depressed than anything.

“Things were getting better for her...” She slowly trotted around his prison in order to face him.

“Possibly... but she couldn’t stand what you had become... if it wasn’t the loneliness it would have been you...” He slowly started to pour himself a drink. “Crystal Wine? I understand trade with the Empire has been completely cut off... not many bottles of this left I’m sure...”

“This is too serious to drink... What are you talking about, how could I have pushed her out? After everything I did, just to bring her back!” She sat down in front of the Crystal wall watching him sip the wine.

“She left as she was all those centuries ago... when she came back she found her sister unrecognizable...” He shook his head.

“What are you babbling about?” She looked at him evenly unamused.

“....You gave up a lot for your ponies didn’t you?” He tilted his head looking up from his sparkling wine.

“Neither I or they would be here if I hadn’t...” She seemed to stare off before shaking her head.

“How much of yourself have you sacrificed for them? How much is even left after millennia of service to them?” He slugged the wine back before setting the challis down.

“Does it matter?” She exhaled slowly.

“It does when it affects how you see them...” He traced his finger around the rim of the empty cup. “You’ve hollowed yourself out... scarcely had time to sleep let alone a moments of peace... it’s hard not to see them as just an extension of yourself isn’t it?...”

“What are you saying... get to the point, Aaron!” She was growing tired of his voice.

“If they were to vanish tomorrow... what would you do with yourself?” He finally asked.

“That’s an absurd question...” She glared am empties started to graw at her stomach.

“Is it? Luna told me about your vacation together... she had never taken you as the adventurous type... yet there you were diving headfirst into danger... the mare who couldn’t even brave a chicken!” He chuckled amused.

“I hadn’t had a vacation in centuries, I don’t think it’s that odd I might want to try new things.” She huffed.

“Try new things... or fish for something else?...” He shook his head. “It’s no secret you’ve been grooming Twilight to take your place... having second thoughts?”

“I’m handling a crisis, it’s best to leave it inexperienced hooves, once it’s over we can begin the transition of power...”

“The transition of power to a mare who would follow your every direction.” He leans forwards.

“Be wary, I don’t care for how you describe Twilight...”

“She’s done a lot of truly amazing things... but how much can be honestly said to be from her own merit? It’s not hard to conclude you played a hand in her development, once her surge got your attention...” He clasped his nose. “She’s exactly as you groomed her to be...”

“Leadership isn’t something you're born with, it’s cultivated...” Her tail swished.

“...Agreed... but have you created a leader? Or just another follower?” He frowned deeply. “Twilight has learned to handle more singular enemies... I understand that one individual can be extremely dangerous in your realm... but it seems that collective threats are growing... what happens when she faces against those new threats using what she’s learned?”

Celestia twitched looking a bit uncomfortable. “She wouldn’t be so careless...”

“If it’s all she knows then what else does she have to fall back on? You got lucky with the Storm King and Chrysalis... but what happens when the supposed big bad.. is holding back someone worse?” He shook his head mumbling something... “She would have to fall back on you... the world is changing, you changed things...”

“With my countries research?”

“Yes and no... before that... your ponies helped show time and time again the risk of depending on a singular individual... it took quite a while to sink in but the lesson was learned....” He tapped his chin. “Victory has defeated you... your research offers an easy excuse to mobilize...”

“Enough...” She looked... tired... arching her head down, she knew this all already, but hearing it out loud was something else. “If you truly don’t want to see my ponies and your brood suffer... then tell me... how can I save them?...”

“Answer my counter-question and I will give you the answer... though I doubt you will like it...” He slowly sat up making his way to the wall, until he just had to tilt his head down to look her in the eyes. “Without your ponies.... what are you?” He gave her a deathly serious look.

She swallowed uncomfortably, sister was one of the first things that came to mind... but that was gone now.... a teacher?.... Twilight had graduated from her tutorage long ago... an aunt?... Cadence disowned her... and Blueblood had made his position clear...

“You sacrificed so much for them... they are as much a part of you as the wings on your back... without them... are you even Celestia anymore?...” He just stared at her with cold empty eyes.

Celestia felt the pit growing in her stomach, shifting uncomfortably she inhaled steadying herself. “An Alicorn...”

He didn’t look impressed. “You know that’s not the answer...”

“It’s the answer I’m giving...” She stood fast.

Sighing he spoke deciding to give her something out of pity. “The Galloping Gorge facility is futile.. the theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics is fantasy... it fell out of scientific consensus as research was found to favor Darwinism and Gene Theory... keeping those subjects around only causes more suffering and aggravates Ironback further... throwing him a bone and the scholars under his wagon will placate him for a while...”

“You want me to throw my ponies onto his sword?...” She looked disgusted.

“Would you rather his ships pay your coastal cities a visit?... I have no doubt he wants to make a spectacle of the perpetrators, he can’t do that with just a few mutilated Minotaurs....” He shook his head. “No, he wants something to humiliate... to parade through the streets.... right until their execution.... don’t give me that look... the scholars here talk often about world events... it’s hard not to listen...”

“You sound like you know him well...” She raised an eyebrow.

“Luna kept me well informed about global politics...” He shrugs. “I don’t think I need to tell you it’s a temporary solution... it will placate him for a while... but the question is how long?”

“...I know...” She sat back on her haunches. “Anything else?...”

“...I heard about Dimondia... Blowing from a Gun is truly a horrible way to die... even worse to witness....” He shook his head.

“Your people used such a wretched execution?...” She stared at him.

“Not for nearly 100 years... It was normally used to send a message... I take you got theirs loud and clear?”

“Yes...” She looked into his eyes again. “What are you to them?”

“Hmm?” He tilted his head, showing those rows of unnaturally white crooked teeth.

“The other nations scarcely mentioned your imprisonment in their correspondence... more focused on their own...” She leaned her head in closer to the wall. “They didn’t even mention those we hold of their kind... just you.... why?”

“Why indeed...” He hummed his smile forming a frown of contemplation. “It’s quite a mystery, isn’t it? When I first arrived here you and your little foals playing scientist couldn’t make heads or tails of me... before all of this if you asked me what a Diamond Dog was I would think you to be referencing a musician... yet while I didn’t know of them... they seemed to know much about me and my kind.”

Celestia looked increasingly troubled. “...If I were to release you from this place... what would you do?” She shook her head looking directly into his eyes.

“Leave you to your fate, I’m no warrior or general Celestia, you may have denied me the release that waits for all men... But I have no true magical power like yours. I won’t rush at you with a sword to soothe my ego or get some petty revenge.” He sounded so dismissive. “Besides... what hell could I ever envision for you... would be worse than what you have created for yourself?” His frown formed back into an unnerving smile showing his rows of crooked teeth.

She stared at him for a while, searching those eyes for any hints of deceit in those pools of emerald green. Beyond his hatred, she just saw the tired emptiness that had filled him since the day she found him swinging from the ceiling. Turning around she made her way out, feeling those eyes burn into the back of her head, even as the vault sealed shut.

Author's Note

Still not 100 percent happy with this latest chapter, but I think it captures what I was going for. If anyone has suggestions for improving it I would love to hear them, improving my writing skills is a goal of mine.

Chapter 2

Twilight yawned, slowly working her way into a sitting position in her bed. Taking a moment to rub her eyes, she swung forehooves over the side of the bed, dragging herself out from the covers. After wobbling on her hooves, she slowly trotted to the nearby balcony, ripping open the doors to let the sun in. For a few precious seconds, she could almost pretend everything was as it was years ago. Then her vision cleared, revealing empty market stalls, boarded up storefronts, and the occasional elderly bum sleeping in the alleys. It was a far cry for the cozy hamlet she had overseen decades ago during the Summer Sun Celebration. With a growing frown, she turned back to her room, heading to the vanity mirror running a brush through her mane.

Once the hair was out of her eyes, she stared into her reflection. The image did little to help her souring mood, alicorn longevity or not; the situation wasn't kind to her complexion. Glancing over at the ponyequin, she began to levitate the solid purple quartz regalia onto herself before applying makeup to cover the wrinkles and greying fur. Turning her head side to side, she eventually nodded to herself, standing up from the vanity making her way out.

Beyond the few guards standing at attention, the Castle of Friendship felt more like a Fortress of Solitude. It was almost like it could feel something was wrong as it slowly lost its luster over the last few decades. She would stop in the main hall glancing up at the chandelier above the static cutie map, seeing a few artisans looking it over shaking their heads.

Clearing her throat, she spoke. "Crystal Ware?"

A greying brown coated pegasus fluttered down to the floor, bowing as quickly as he could. "Princess Twilight."

"How goes the repairs?" She didn't bother with pleasantries, looking up at the dulling crystal.

He bit his lip, taking a deep breath. "They... aren't..."

"Pray to tell why? Is it a question of bits? Workers? Tools? Because I'm willing to pay whatever it takes to save my home." She kept her voice steady but firm.

"I'm afraid it's not a question of bits or resources. To be honest, princess... I don't know what to tell you, in my 40 years or Crystal restoration, I've never seen anything like-"A piece of the chandelier fell off and shattered nearby. "This... any spells or methods we've tried only seem to slow the rot."

"Crystals don't rot." Twilight twitched her tail.

"Well... I don't know what to call it; I've never seen Crystal deteriorate like this. Even if we remove the greyed areas, I worry it wouldn't be able to support itself; it's just too intricate." He looked over his clipboard. "Even ignoring the threat of the collapsing fixture above us... it's my recommendation we remove the map and thro-"

"You're not removing them." While she kept her voice even, the volume was enough to cut him off.

His nervous demeanor melted away in response. "Well then, if you won't remove the cause, then I see no reason to continue this.”

Ignoring his disrespect, she seemed to pause before speaking. "...Cause?"

"Princess, I've worked with Crystal all my life, but this place... continues to baffle me." He glanced around. "Whatever this blight is, it started from there." He motioned to the blackened table and chairs.

Looking at those chairs began to bring back bittersweet memories. "...How can you be sure?..."

"Beyond the blackened colors?" He ran his hoof over his face. "Princess, look at the thrones and map. The dust from the crumbling crystal alone makes half my staff sick masks or no; I'm not even sure how you've managed to live here. The deterioration also follows the black veins to a tee, with the worst of it all centered around the map... wore this anypony else's home I would have condemned it..."

"The room?" A pit started to form in her stomach.

"No, the... Castle... Princess, I'll be honest... I'm going to have to bring in ironworkers to build trusses for most of the structure." He continued to flip through the papers. "The decay has largely attacked the load-bearing areas... the outer structures are holding... for now... but long term they won't last."

"...How much would it cost?..." Her throat felt increasingly dry.

"To be honest... with the shortages?... Princess, it would be cheaper to build a new castle than to save this place... I'm sorry..."

"...I see... you may return to your work... I expect to see a complete report on my desk when I return..." Trotted away without so much as a goodby, lost in thought. Only through instinct did she avoid crashing into the grand entryway. Her horn glowed, forcing the massive doors open, the guards just outside standing at attention as she passed into the square.

Trotting down the road, she would glance up at the various guards standing at attention on the rooftops and streets. Ensuring her safety during her few and infrequent walks through town. The sad state of Ponyville doing little to help her mood, be it the homeless bums snoring in the alleyways or the boarded-up businesses left to rot. Unable to look, she turned her attention back down to the cobblestone road focusing on making her way through old Main Street. Eventually, making her way to the old dirt road, she could see the familiar sprawling acres of her friend's farm in the distance.

She mumbled in distaste seeing the guards had followed her out here. Keeping their distance or not, they had become an annoyance, necessary as they may be. Shaking her head, she turned her attention back to the farm, sighing gently as she closed her eyes. She could almost smell the scent of apples wafting over her nose, a faint smile forming on her face as she dreamt. Keeping her eyes closed, she could practically imagine nothing had changed... but just as she opened them again... an orange figure seemed to be hobbling towards her in the distance.

Twilight held her breath, watching the figure become more defined as they got closer. At first, it seemed as if Apple Jack hadn't aged at all, looking like that same friendly farmer she had first met all those years ago. But as she climbed the hill, the tell-tale signs of aging became apparent. Greying mane and coat, tired eyes, and gimp brought on by years of apple bucking, but the most telling was the deep frown lines covering her muzzle, which only grew more noticeable seeing the princess.

"Princess..." The older mare struggled to bow.

"Applejack...." Twilight swallowed.

"May I ask why you're stalking mah family again?..." The greying orange mare looked unamused.

"I wasn't talking... I was just enjoying the weather." She tried, but the raised eyebrow of her old friend showed they didn't buy it.

"You come here every day... did ya think I wouldn't notice?" Applejack stamped her front hoof irritably.

"No... I didn't..." Twilight motioned for the guards to stand down.

"What were you hoping to accomplish then?" Aj eyed the retreating guards.

"I don't know... I was hoping... we could talk?..." Twilight struggled to hide the discomfort from her friend's stare.

"We don't have much to talk about..." The orange mare snorted, digging her hoof into the grass. "I think Ay and the girls made things clear."

"I didn't know things would turn out like this..." Twilight sighed, lowering her head. "I'm sorry about Pink La-"

"Don't even try that... don't you bucking dare..." Applejack forced her muzzle into the alicorns, a look of pure rage covering her face. "She's dead cause of you and Celestia."

"I-I didn't know the treatment would cause that; you have to believe me! I would never hurt your family; you know that!" She backed up, struggling to keep herself together.

"But you did! When you lied about the treatment, and when your damn solution caused Pink's foals to die in her hooves!" Applejack took a step forward.

"W-what are you talking about? Y-you were so happy when I told you the treatment would help you a-and Pokey conceive!" Twilight avoided eye contact.

"Aaron says differently..." Hearing that name Twilight seemed to freeze. "Surprised I know his name?... After Pinkie got his letter... she made sure to notify the rest of us..."

"... What do you you want me to say?... Celestia needed our support for the program..." Twilight slowly ran her hoof over her belly.

"Convenient you never had to worry about the side effects... your pretty generous with your friend's wombs, though." Applejack said with malice.

"I would have volunteered if I could! But I've been sterile since I was a filly...You know that...." Twilight looked deeply hurt. "I didn't know about the side effect until it was too late!"

"Twilight... I can forgive you lying to me... maybe even damaging my family as you have... but your mentor's lil project? How she got her magic cure-all?... I can't... you had us conceive a whole generation in evil!" She shoved a hoof into the young alicorn's chest.

"W-what are you talking about?..."

"A four-letter word Twilight... Rape... but on a scale, I've never thought possible..." Her eyes burned into the purple mare. "You took something that was supposed to be beautiful... a manifestation of the love between a mare and stallion... and... and... tainted it with your lies!"

"I-it wasn't r-rape..." Twilight seemed to say more for herself than her friend. "I-it was the harvesting of materi-"A hoof smack stopped her; it was scarcely enough to make her cringe, though the shock seemed to hurt worse.

"Don't even try that! I might not have been the best when it came to new creatures in the past like Zecora, but he ain't some science project! Use his damn name!" Apple Jack took another step forward, forcing her to look at her. "Your daddy pumped him for all he had against his damn will! Don't pretend he's just some animal!"

Twilight shook her head. "C-Celestia said he wasn't willing to help us... what else could we do?... we needed donors!"

"So kidnapping creatures from around the globe was her solution?! And you wonder why every damn exchange student was taken out of your school!" Applejack looked incredulous.

"She couldn't risk it getting out! It was for national security!" Twilight tried to argue, but even she was struggling with it.

"Well, she did a great job, Twilight! The world hates our guts now!" Applejack ran her hoof over her face. "I wonder..."

"...Wonder what?..." Twilight seemed relieved the mare had calmed down a bit.

"How many?..." She looked back up.

"How many what?..." Twilight tilted her head.

"How many of your students ended up in her little science project?..." Applejack looked back up into her friend's eyes. "How many young'ns that walked into my class ended up getting milked by your daddy and his crony's?..."

Twilight stared; Applejack wasn't even angry anymore... she was crying. She wanted to lie, to tell her something to comfort her. But she knew that it wouldn't work. "I don't know the exact number... but... I know my student directory was used..."

"Did you even try to stop them?... or were you just happy to let them use your school as breeding stock?..." Applejack struggled to keep herself from stuttering as the tears started to flow. "They were foals Twilight! They trusted us!"

"It... was nec..." She couldn't even say it; just imagining that word made her sick to her stomach.

"So you know it was wrong... but how long?" Applejack looked unamused.

"Since...I found out and handed over the school's records..." Twilight lowered her eyes and sighed.

"And yet you still did it..." Applejack snorted, rubbing the tears from her eyes, struggling to control herself.

"I had to... we... you... ponies were dying out... what was I supposed to do?!" Twilight stomped her hoof down, struggling to contain herself.

"A-anything...but this." The older mare's back legs gave out as she clutched her belly. "Your daddy... h-he made me... and so many others part o-of... t-this... this...." She seemed to dry heave for a moment. "I-I loved Pink... b-but seeing her... so... so.... broken at the end... I-I wish...."

"Y-you can't mean..." Twilight looked horrified.

"I-I wish... I never let you take me to that clinic... I hope you and your daddy never has to know what it's like to bury a child... cause it never heals..." She clutched her heart. "But we had to bury two... you best leave before Big Mac gets back Twilight..." She snorted. "He didn't take losing Apple Tart well... who knows what he might do iffin he sees ya..."

"Applejack p-please..." Twilight bit her lip.

"How many times do I gotta tell ya... Y'all ain't welcome here... you and your... mistress..." She shook the tears from her eyes. "But this is it, Twilight... next time any of us see ya... We won't be talking... you best just hope we just chase you off..." She growled, working back to her hooves, turning around, causing her tail to slap the princess one last time.

Twilight watched the orange mare hobble away, the last piece of her heart breaking painfully in her chest. She lowered her head back down, trotting away from the old farm. Her lip trembling as she tried to ignore the stares of her guards. Slowly she made her way back into town; even there, the eyes of the few remaining locals leered at her from their decrepit homes. Closing her eyes, she fought the urge to gallop but picked up her pace to a respectable amount. Peaking through her eyelashes, she saw the Castle approaching, opening the doors, she slipped inside.

She seemed like she was about to call for someone before closing her mouth and shaking her head. Igniting her horn, she quickly teleported to her private chambers, and more importantly, her desk where a stack of parchment and an ink-pot waited for her. Once she was seated, she levitated the quill from the pot and began to write.

"Dear Princess Celestia..." She mumbled to her self almost like she was dictating to someone. Her eyes occasionally glancing at an old empty basket near her bed.

Once she had finished writing, she levitated the letter to a candle with a flickering green flame. The moment it touched the paper, it disintegrated into smoke spiraling out of the nearby window.

She stared out the window for a while, waiting... until a trail of smoke slithered back, a bright flash causing a letter to appear on her desk. The bright yellow wax seal still warm to the touch, sighing; she broke the seal and glanced over it. "No turning back..."
——————————————————————
"Twilight, you don't have to do this..." Celestia trotted next to her former protege.

"Yes... yes, I do..." Twilight snorted as she walked through the halls entering the disused sitting room.

"Why?..." Celestia pressed as she hesitantly reached out a hoof to the bookshelf.

"I lost my friends because of this project... I deserve to see the source..." Twilight glanced at the shelf and pulled the book herself.

"He's dangerous, Twilight... don't take him lightly..." The sun princess said as the shelf opened to reveal the gilded elevator. "He turned my own sister against me..."

"I know..." Twilight said faintly as she stepped in, turning around and staring into her mentor's eyes. "But... I have to see him..." She said as the gate closed and she started to move down.

Even years after the Royal Wedding, the caves beneath the city caused her skin to crawl. Closing her eyes, she attempted to steady her breath losing track of time... until she heard a familiar stallion clear his throat.

"Hello, sweetie..." She opened her eyes to see the wrinkled face of her father.

"Hey, dad..." The purple mare trotted forward, pulling her father into a hug. "You're looking... well..."

"Your too kind little spark..." Nightlight hummed, leaning into his daughter's embrace.

Pulling back, Twilight continued. "How's mom?..."

"Still adjusting at Celestia's estate..." He avoided eye contact with his daughter. "Losing her home was hard on her... we weren't able to save much from the fire..."

"And the guard still doesn't have any leads?..." She asked, following her father deeper into the lab.

"No..." He lowered his ears as they made their way into his office; once he was seated, he took a moment to catch his breath wheezing a bit.

Twilight sat to the opposite of him. "Have... you made any progress with the hybrids?..."

"... I see you're here about that..." He opened one of the drawers to his desk, digging around before pulling out some documents. "... no... we haven't..." He passed them over to his daughter.

Twilight levitated the documents to her face glancing over the parchment. "They seem to be healthy... excellent IQ scores... strong physical aptitude... no physical deformities..."

"Yes, yes... everything seems wonderful... except the fact they can't have viable foals!" He pulled a bottle from his desk and took a swig.

Twilight stared. "You promised mom you quit...." She said while watching him take a long drink.

"I did... but right now... need it..." He set the bottle back down on the desk.

"The meeting with the Royal houses... didn't go well, did it?..." Twilight eyed the bottle.

"No... no, it didn't... with the leak... their wealth practically evaporated overnight... they blame everypony in Canterlot Labs... and rightfully so..."

"What happened wasn't your fault; Luna stole your journals!" Twilight reached for her father's hoof only to see him slide it just out of reach.

"Doesn't matter... Luna isn't here and out of their reach... they hate her plenty... but your mother and I are the easiest targets..." He crossed his forehooves to support himself.

"Your under Celestia's protection... the burning of the manor was just theatre." She spoke attempt to comfort him. "They wouldn't dare harm you and mom... besides, she's safe at the Estate, and you're here, in one of the most secure facilities in Equestria!"

"We're alive... but are we living?..." He stared up at the ceiling. "Twilight... as happy as I am to have you visit... I feel you've come here for a different reason... haven't you?..."

"Is it that obvious?..." She mumbled.

"I can tell when my foals are upset... I'm not that blind yet..." He adjusted his glasses. "Trouble at home?..."

"...Yes..."

Leaning over, he sighed. "Spike wasn't able to come?...”

"He's... taking a vacation back East..."

"… I see…" Her father mumbled, looking back down at his desk.

"Dad… I need the key…" She said faintly.

"Right…. Right…." He levitated the keyring to her. "I hope you find what you're looking for…"

Twilight nodded her head, taking the keys.———————————————————————-
The walk through the lab wasn't long, but she seemed to freeze once she had reached the door to the holding cells. She would slowly work through each key on the ring, though she didn't have to… they were all expertly labeled… but she found it therapeutic. Sadly after going through the ring for the fifth time, she could feel the eyes of the scholars on her… unable to take it, she shoved the gilded key into the lock. Quickly opening the door and slipping inside the massive stone hallway.

The musty smell of the converted dungeons caused her nose to wrinkle slightly as she took tentative steps. Passing by numerous empty cells, many of which still had signs of their former occupants. Drawings on the walls, messy bits of furniture, crumbling books gave the place a rather unsettling feel. As she made her way deeper, the loud clicking of a beak reached her ears. Turning her head, she saw a giant gryphon standing before the bars.

"Well, well… I was wondering when we would see the other princess…" The gryphon hummed, pacing along the edge of the bars. "Twilight Sparkle… princess of friendship…" He said sarcastically.

"… Yes… your… Gifford, right?" She asked, glancing behind him at the sorry state of his cell.

"Mmmm… yes…." He ruffled his feathers. "I'm surprised you know my name…. I trust you've been keeping up on the reports?…."

"I have too… I am a head of state…" Twilight said.

"Oh, I'm sure… But I doubt you came to check up on me… Sky Streak, Rover, or Rex…" He gave her a cracked smile.

"No… I haven't…"

"So you're going to see the freak…" He chuckled. "Want some advice?…"

The princess swallowed, nodding her head slowly.

"Come closer…." He leaned his head against the bars.

Twilight looked side to side as of checking to ensure no one saw her before approaching his cell, swallowing nervously.

He leaned his beak through the bars and whispered into her ear. "Don't…"

"I… what?…." Her eyes widened.

"He made the Princess of the Sun crack her own mask… the rest of the world has spent Millennia trying to find the grand weapon to expose her… yet he made her stagger with just a few petty words…." He tilted his head. "What do you think he'll do to you… miss Lesson Zero?… he's broken the sanest mare alive… what chance do you stand?"

Twilight stepped back from the bars. "I'll keep that in mind…" She made her way deeper into the dungeon.

Her hooves echoed as she made her way deeper into the facility. Avoiding eye contact with the muttering hippogriff who paced back in forth in his cell. Despite her attempts to focus on the task at hand, the scribbling of a quill against parchment caught her attention. Looking back up from the stone floors, she glanced to her left, seeing a runty Diamond Dog writing by candlelight on a well-worn desk.

"May I help you?…." Rex glanced up from his work.

"Just curious, I suppose…" Her eyes wandered over the stacks of paper that filled his cell. "What is all this?…"

"A closing chapter… few get to see an empire fall before their eyes… normally scholars have to piece it together from rotten manuscripts… half-truths from sagas… endless theorizing…." He hummed, dropping his quill back into the ink.

"Equestria is not falling…." Twilight looked insulted, but a brief flash of worry showed through her eyes. "I doubt you can get much information down here… I'd be surprised if most of this wasn't just filler…."

"Oh… we hear plenty, don't we Rover?…" Rex gently while Twilight looked behind herself, seeing the more ragged dog resting in the center of his cell, eyes closed with his ears occasionally twitching. "You'd be amazed what you can hear even in these conditions… your father and his parasites alone have been invaluable… but over time… Our net has expanded…"

"Expanded?… you couldn't mean…" Her eyes widened.

"Diamond Dogs have advanced hearing thanks to countless millennia of subterranean living…" He chuckled. "With the right technique… one can hear a lot… especially when you're under a capital…"

Twilights eyes widened before narrowing. "Why are you telling me this?…"

"Because I doubt you'll stop us…" Rex tilted his head to the side.

"What makes you say that?…"

"Because despite your title, your not one to stop the pursuit of knowledge… You always seemed more scholar than princess… especially when you nearly bankrupted yourself funding the expedition up north to find Dream Valley…" Rex purred.

"…How is that relevant? Archeological expeditions are nothing new…."

"They certainly aren't… But normally, they are funded straight from the Royal Treasury, not one's personal expense account…" The dog hummed, tapping his chin. "I'm guessing the Solar Princess disapproved?”

"I don't see how that's relevant…"

"But it is… especially since you only announced the expedition after they had returned with their findings… with quite a bit of fanfare, I might add… then?… nothing! Not a single peep… just what did you find?" He stared emotionlessly.

"Celestia has decided… the findings would be too upsetting… and ordered the records and artifacts to be sealed for 50 years minimum…" Twilight said, sounding rather… empty…

"Meaning by the time they are declassified, ponies as a race will be buried… and Celestia will have no reason to let the information see the light of day…." He stood up from his chair, slowly making his way to the bars.

"No… Ponykind will endure…" She stamped her hoof, but the emptiness started to grow in her stomach.

"Please… we all know Celestia's solution has failed; it's a matter of when, not if they all realize they're doomed. If the unrest doesn't destroy your nation, the embargo's and war will." He said rather offhandedly.

"That won't happen… Celestia will find a diplomatic solution to prevent war… and fix the breeding issues…" Twilight attempted to put passion behind her words… but they just seemed to die in her throat.

"If you can't convince yourself, how will you convince anyone else?" His muzzle grew a toothy grin. "The Umano will tear you apart."

"Umano?…" She took a moment to run the word over her tongue. "You mean Specimen 16…"

"Celestia went in there full of conviction… and left shell… what do you think he'll do to you?”

"…" Twilight searched his eyes, though, for what, she wasn't sure.

She soon felt a second pair of eyes begin to burn into the back of her head. "I have a suggestion for you, pony…" The more gruff voice of Rover caught her attention.

Twilight quickly turned herself around to face the yellowed smile of the familiar mutt. "And what would that be?…"

Rover grabbed the bars pressing his muzzle between them. "Go home…"

"What… after coming all this way… with you in your position… you think you have any authority to…"

"I'm not telling you to do anything, pony… I'm giving advice… you won't like what you find…" Rover said, staring into her eyes with… pity? “The Anthropos can be as kind as he is cruel to those he sees as enemies…”

"I can't…" Twilight turned away, trotting deeper into the complex, the quickened place sounding more forced. As she approached the massive gilded vault, levitating the keys, she slowly sorted through them. Eventually, shoving the key into the lock and twisting it, the heavy locks began to slide open after a moment. The sound they made like granite dragging against the floor, steadily each lock opened, but as each opened, an unseen weight seemed to press down on her. Feeling as if she was being crushed by an invisible force, her legs shook as she struggled to stand.

Finally, the door began to swing open, revealing the crystal cage inside and, more importantly, the occupant inside. His back turned to her as he worked on a vast canvas, occasionally dabbing his brush into the palette in his left hand. Swallowing, she lifted a shaking hoof over the threshold, but try as she might, she wouldn't take the first step.

She almost didn't notice the occupant slowly set his tools down before the painting, standing from his seat and turning around. Two green eyes focusing on the younger princess as he slowly walked to the edge of his enclosure. He said nothing, but his presence was more than enough, like the weight of the sins in this place was crushing her alive.

"I… I…" She tried to form words, but nothing came, she had focused so much on coming here… to see him… she hadn't thought about what she wanted to say!

He stood in silence, watching her. Though she couldn't be sure for what purpose, it felt as if he could see her soul.

"I'd like to ta-"She was cut off by his arms slamming against his prison. It wasn't near enough force to even crack the crystal… but the suddenness of the movement and sound nearly sent her running.

Staring into her eyes, he opened his mouth and spoke. "No…"

"W-what?…" She struggled to speak.

"Not interested…" He said, leaning against his prison.

"What are you talking about?…" She struggled to swallow the bile building in her throat.

"Why are you here? To accuse me of destroying your friendships? To ask how I tainted my seed, so daddy dearest isn't at fault? Or perhaps just to probe me for the secrets of my world?" He tilted his head, staring. "You won't ask anything that hasn't be asked before… be it with words or…" He grabbed his robes, opening them to reveal intricate scarres on his chest and stomach. "With the edge of a knife…"

She couldn't hold it back, emptying the contents of her stomach on the floor.

"You like them?~… your father made many of the incisions himself… attempting to find some kind of biological safeguard…" He traced them with his finger. "Do you know what it's like to be violated in such a way?… to watch a bunch of creatures who, after milking you like cattle… fish around your insides with their dirty little hooves?…" His eyes pierced into her own "All while you scream… begging them to stop?.." The way he talked… so emotionless.. it wasn't right…

"H-he wouldn't!" She shook her head, her back legs giving out behind her. But as she stared at the grizzly display the familiar voice of her father whispered from her memories.

“That’s it little Spark… the way you start any dissection is to cut from the chest down… then left to right.” Flashes of a frog imposed over the strange creature before her. “Once you’ve made the proper incision… you begin to peel back the skin…”She continued to shake her head trying to deny the familiar work before her eyes.

"He's desperate, pony… you think he wants to go down in history as the one who doomed his race?… Or to have to tell the one protecting him and his wife… that he's in over his head?… when ones pressed against the wall… you'd be horrified what they can do…." He twisted his lips into a toothy grin. “So tell me… what could you possibly ask me?…”

Twilight felt as if her heart would burst out her chest as it beat fast, pummeling her rib cage. She shook her head as tears slowly began to fall; backing up, she turned around and ran… unable to suppress the flight instincts. Not even bothering to close the vault as she galloped, attempting to flee from what she had seen… what she had heard. Passing Rover, she caught a glimpse of his sympathetic stare before it vanished in the blur of cells around her. This place… it was everything Applejack said it was… and more… But just as she reached her lowest… something new began to grow inside of her.. taking the place of her broken heart.
———————————————————————
Celestia sat at her desk reading through the reports, each one souring her mood further. But one stood out above all the others… Rusthoof a settlement right at the border between Equestria and Dimondia, a constant diplomatic thorn in her side. Especially since they accused the settlements mines of crossing into their own territory… something she wished they were wrong about… but with the country lacking in metals, it was too valuable to dismantle… Despite the situation, they had never been willing to embark on military action to stop it… but things had changed.

Before she could think further on the matter, a Royal guard burst into his chambers. "Princess! We have a containment breach in Canterlot Labs!"

Her eyes widened. "Have the specimens escaped?!"

"No! It's Twilight!" He screamed in terror

"…Mother of me…"

Author's Note

So I'm currently enjoying summer break after having to work full time due to the pandemic and study for a full load of classes. Thankfully now I can focus my creative energy on writing again, and have a little challenge for my readers! I'm curious to see what Tropes apply to my stories, and would love to hear you reasoning behind them so I can begin writing my own TV Tropes pages. Even if they aren't flattering I still want hear from you guys as it can only help me with my writing.

Chapter 3

A deafening crack echoed through the ruined streets of Canterlot; Celestia struggled to breathe as she felt her student go limp on her grasp. Gasping, the princess slowly opened her eyes, looking down at the burnt face of her former student, her neck bent at an odd angle, that manic smile covering her face. Reaching out a shaking hoof, she closed the remaining eye before slowly looking up, where she saw the elderly mare and her daughter shaking in the corner of the ruined home. A long scorch mark trailing the wall, just stopping short of the two mares who remained in frozen shock.

Before the princess could say, a word guard stallions flooded the area. The greying commander hesitantly approaching her. "Princess, we have begun to reestablish order, and rescue operations are underway…."

"…I….I…. Excellent…." She struggled to form words.

"What are your orders, princess?… we can't contain this… the whole city saw you two fighting… and the spells could be seen for miles…." He glanced at the two mares in the corner.

"…. Institute marshal law… there's going to be a lot of panicked ponies… we can't afford to lose control now…." Her throat felt so dry.

"What about… her?…." He motioned to the motionless student that lay in the princesses' forehooves.

She stared at her students remaining glazed over eye; even in death, that madness seemed to stay. "…Place her in the royal mortuary…." Celestia placed her back down, her hooves shaking as she worked herself into a standing position.

"And…. Them?…" The captain motioned to the survivors.

"Place them under the care of Tendermane…." She began to trip away woodenly with a thousand-yard stare.

The captain could only not his head, seeing he was unlikely to get much else out of the princess. Turning his attention back to the two catatonic mares, just as he began to trot closer, a bright flash and heat of teleportation was felt behind him. And more importantly, on the view of the two mares who started to scream in terror, reliving the horror again in their minds, making his job much harder.
———————————————————————
The princess stumbled through the castle's hallways, occasionally dodging rubble the was strewn through the grounds. The shattered stain glass, crumbled marble, and broken walls went unnoticed as she robotically made her way through, only focused on her destination. Even the corpses of the servants and guards went unnoticed by the shell-shocked mare as she approached the royal infirmary. Countless rows of injured ponies lined the chamber, some even having to lay on the floor. She paid them no mind as she approached the large doors, pressing her way inside, seeing Doctor Caduceus, she cleared her throat.

"O-oh Princess, my apologies… I'm a bit overwhelmed with the patients…." He quickly bowed his head.

"I understand… but I must know… did Nightlight survive?…." Her voice was horse and dry.

"M-miraculously yes… I had to attach a bellows to him… but he's alive…." He seemed to want to say more.

"Speak…." She glanced down at him.

"Princess… what happened to him?… when he arrived in my care, he looked like an elementary colts dissection project…." Despite what was all around him, that seemed to terrify him the most.

"Do unto others…." Celestia mumbled under her breath, pushing past him.

"P-Princess, wait! He needs to res-"One look at the princesses face caused him to lose all color and silence his protest.

Turning her head back to the door, she pushed her way inside, the stench of vinegar and bile filling her nose. Locking the door behind her, she approached the veiled hospital bed, the soft creaks of the magical bellows reaching her ears. She stopped just short of touching the Mosquito netting, gazing down at the bandaged stallion below. Faint tinges of red just peaking out of the stark white cloth which encapsulated him like a mummy.

"Nightlight?…" Her voice was monotone as she watched the stallion stir. His eyes just barely opening.

Just as the bellows began their downstroke, he spoke. "P-Princess?…" it was scarcely a whimper out of his lips.

"Twilight said some things…." She looked deathly serious at him.

"T-Twilight? P-Princess, please tell me…." He was cut off as the bellows began to refill, only continuing when they pumped the air into him. "M-My filly is alright…."

"She's dead…." She gazed away from him, staring blankly at the nearby wall.

"N-no… I-it can't be… she's just…." He gasped, waiting for the air to fill his lungs. "C-confused…"

"There's no mistaking it… she died in my hooves…." She slowly looked back down. "Tell me… when I found you strapped to that desk… with her looming over you… what did she mean by… Do unto others?…."

"W-we had an… argument… I-it just got a little… h-heated!" He gasped before moaning in pain, just talking, causing the pain wrenching his body to worsen.

"An argument about what?… what happened down there?" She pressed down on the bellows stopping it for a moment. Pushing her head through the netting until she was nearly faced to face with him. "Lie to me… and your daughter and the hundreds of ponies she killed won't be the only things on my conscience."

Celestia rarely saw fear in the eyes of her subjects, even fewer that she had caused. The stallion's pupils shrunk to pinpricks as he gasped weakly for air. Releasing the bellows, she allowed him to breathe once more.

"T-the vivisections…" He struggled to gasp out.

"You mean dissections…." Her stomach began to twist.

"N-no, I don't…." He wheezed out.

"You… operated on living subjects?… that wasn't what we agreed too… but as long as you used anesth-"

"We didn't…."

She took a step back. "W-what?.. why in the name of Faust would you operate on conscious subjects!" She struggled to control her volume glancing at the door behind her. Thankfully it seemed no pony had heard her outburst.

"T-the shortages… we couldn't stop… our work… and living subjects are more valuable… for research…." Hearing that made the princess feel sick to her stomach. "The results pushed our understanding of biology ahead d-decades…."

"Results?… what… what kind of results could you find in living conscious subjects that you couldn't find in unconscious or, for Faust sakes, dead ones?!" She said in a just short of screaming.

"…we were running out of options and ideas… we used anesthesia at first… but as years went on shipments became increasingly rare until… well… we hadn't gotten a new shipment in months … we scarcely had enough to treat a toothache… let alone put a creature under…." The bellows made it painfully slow, which only seemed to twist the knife in the princesses heart further. "So… we… stopped using them…. You said we had to explore every avenue… I-I followed your orders to the letter…."

"H-how many died…." She stared into his eyes.

"I lost count after 30… some died on the table… others from infection… some just… killed themselves rather than go through it again…."

"I was told they were returned to their homelands safely…." The princess said quietly.

"W-we did… but sometimes… it was just… there remains…" He avoided eye contact.

"The furnace…" She said in realization.

"Y-yes… healing magic doesn't work on… the dead… so cremation was the only option to maintain secrecy…." He gasped and groaned. "With… all the disasters in Equestria… I-it wasn't hard to come up with cover stories… p-placing them among the obituary's…."

"I have one final question… your honesty is not asked of… it's commanded from you…." She began to harden her heart.

"Y-yes, Princess…."

"Can you fix the hybridization problem?…" She said it, her eyes burrowing into his.

"I-I… c-can… I…" Tears began to leak out of his bloodshot eyes. "I-I can't even save my own daughter! I can't! T-this it's beyond me! It beyond all my colleagues." He gasped and choked on his own breath. "I-I was studying the breeding populations of puckwudgies before all this! T-then you say you need my expertise to save all of Equestria?! I-I'm n-not a hero, I-I'm just a stallion who applied for the easiest research grant!…." The tears soaked the bandages around his eyes. "W-we're racing in a marathon a-against extinction, but we were late and don't even have a map of the course! T-the gaps in our knowledge are too great! I-I thought we could fill them in time… b-but the more we learned t-the more we realized we were missing!…."

She watched the stallion break down into painful sobs, his body shuttering from the pain. At that point, the hollowness in her heart began to re-emerge; she felt so cold. "I see… Then I see no point in trial…." She pressed her hoof down on the bellows.

The stallion's eyes widened as he struggled to breathe. "Y-you p-promised… y-you…."

"I didn't say I wouldn't kill you for telling the truth…." She forced herself to watch as he began to convulse on the bed, the red stains on his bandages only becoming more visible as he tore open his stitches… but as quickly as it started, it ended. It took less than a minute before he passed. Raising her hoof from the bellows, she allowed it to rise again. "I'll make sure your wife is comfortable…." Turning her back to the dead pony, she left him alone.
———————————————————————
Her walk through the ruined grand halls of her palace was a blur; even the moans of the injured and dying didn't seem to reach her. Entering the sitting room, she glanced around; it was so eerie, the palace was crumbling around her, a massive hole was blasted through the day courts floors… and yet this place remained as untouched as ever. Turning her attention back to the shelf, she opened the hidden passage and began her descent into the bowels of her city. As the gate slid out of her way, she was greeted with numerous ponies in smocks working to clean the grizzly scene. While they worked by lantern light, the sun had just begun to shine through the gaping hole in the ceiling.

She didn't bother to ask about their progress instead of turning into the dungeons. However, before she even approached Giffords cell, she turned down another hallway, reaching a heavy wooden door. Pausing, she stared at it before carefully pushing it open, revealing a massive furnace on the far side. The iron behemoths grate even now glowed with an off orange color, as the enchantments kept it lit, even after the battle had shaken the city.

Slipping in, she glanced at a rusted metal gurney near the large grate. Pushing it out of the way, she grasped the handle with her magic and slowly opened it. The flames just leaking out, almost looking like the tongues of a hungry beast. For the briefest moment, she swore she could see a charred skull peaking through the flames, staring at her with empty sockets. Slamming it shut, she clutched her chest, attempting to calm herself. Closing her eyes once again, she steadied herself, exiting the room and making her way back to the dungeons.

Opening her eyes, she first saw Gifford sitting in his cell, his usually stern gaze covered by an improvised veil, while solemnly ringing a pair of spoons like a bell. Under the fabric covering his face, she could just make out his beak moving in silent prayer. He didn't seem to acknowledge her as she passed, too focused on his ritual. Skystreak seemed as comatose as he was before… but tears seemed to leak from his eyes. While maintaining the blank look that disturbed her to her core. Even the Diamond dogs seemed to be mourning bizarrely, staking loose stones in their cells to precarious heights before clasping their paws together and preying. Enraptured with repeating the process, though, for what reason, she couldn't hope to understand.

Reaching the vault, she opened the door; it seemed to have remained unlocked during all this madness. For a brief moment, she feared he had escaped, but as she pressed her way in, she saw him in his enclosure. Resting at his table as he sipped from a crystal glass with a look melancholy.

Approaching the enclosure, she ripped it open, grabbed his robes with her magic, and roughly pulled him from his seat. Levitating him before her, he showed little response as he held his glass, which only made her blood boil.

Before anything could be said, her hoof flew to his chest… and gore flew out his back. Roaring, she threw him down to the floors watching his gasp and croak as maroon substance poured from his chest and back. Looking down, she stared at her foreleg, the pristine fur stained with his vitriol. For a moment, she seemed horrified… before rage overtook her; screaming, she straddled the man and began to see red. Her tarnished golden slippers tore flesh and smashed bone. The creature's face steadily caved in as her herculean strength destroyed in his face.

Only once it was reduced to grisly mess on the Zebra can rug did she stop, shaking as she looked up from his corpse. Her gaze stops at the nearby mirror, seeing her barrel and face covered in vermillion. She just froze, seemingly incapable of processing what she saw. It was hard to know how long she sat like that, but she eventually looked back down at her victim. Bits of bone and flesh slowly rolling from their resting places as they began to resemble like a twisted jigsaw puzzle.

Pulling herself from his body, she sat just to the left of him, watching bits of grey matter reconnect. Before bits of skull began to cover it, fusing back together. Soon the flesh started to stretch back over, having a deathly pale hue. Glancing back down at his chest, his heart slowly grow back. Watching in morbid fascination as it reassembled and grew before her eyes.

Thump…. Thump….. thump… she watched it twitch as it began to pump once again. Slowly his eyes opened, grey glazed over irises having replaced his once emerald eyes. "You done?…" his voice hoarse but lacking emotion.

"I-it's that all you have to say?… I killed you…." She looked down at him, devastation covering her face.

"You know… your little pony's opened me up so many times… I died on the table over and over… only to be dragged back from the abyss, again and again. At this point… it's lost all meaning to me…." Coughing, he turned his head over to her. "Tell me… can you even imagine waking up… watching aliens pull out your heart and lungs… holding them before your face while they talked shop… teasing you like lab rat… do you know that kind of humiliation… that dehumanization?"

"Ponies died because of you, innocent ponies!" She yelled, unable to control herself, the stress from everything weighing her down.

"That… wasn't my intention… or my fault." He glanced at the shattered glass, the rich wine lost in the fibers of the carpets.

"Your intention?…"

"I won't deny, I wanted to kill your scholars… with all they've done… can you say they didn't deserve it?" He stared up at the ceiling. "Looking at you… you killed someone today, didn't you… from the ruckus I heard... I can guess who…."

"She's dead because of your actions…." She snorted.

"She was always a hairs breath from madness… the moment she walked in here… I saw how close she was to the cliff. I didn't even push her; I just refused to let her play the blame game…."

"The blame game?… that's what you call it?…." She looked sickened by how he could be so callous.

"She blamed me for what happened to her friendships; when she poisoned them for you, she began her own destruction long before I met her…." He looked back to his killer. "Heh… I was right… you asked her, didn't you?…"

"The elements have a lot of sway… ponies were hesitant to go to fertility clinics." She exhaled tiredly, but the bitter taste makes her ill.

"You knew she would never refuse, and she would dog her friends into submission. Did you even think of the potential consequences? A mare doesn't get to that point unless they already had issues, her friends kept her grounded, but did you consider what happens when she was inevitably alone? How much did you make her sacrifice… for you." He slowly sat up, his spine cracking unnaturally, still unfinished healing properly. "You expect me to believe the great savior you needed just showed up at your doorstep? That the ponies needed to power the elements just happened to all be in a podunk town a few decades ago was barely on the map?"

Celestia looked at the far wall. "I did it for my country and my ponies."

"How many times do you have to say that before it loses meaning, when it stops being an excuse and becomes just a reflex?"

She didn't respond, instead changing the subject. "If I let you go… what would you do?"

Unaffected by the change, he looked back at her. "Go with the dogs… there's nothing here for me but death…."

"You were determined to kill those who wronged you… how do I know you won't come back for me?"

"I told you the answer to that." He looked annoyed.

"How can I trust that? Is that truly the only reason? My suffering?" She pressed.

He shook his head gazed up at the ceiling. "I did promise Luna, she's turned her back on you, but you're still her sister. She doesn't want you dead, even if she can't stand to look at you."

"You expect me to believe she has so much sway with you?"

"Who do you think comforted me during my first years of isolation? When they poked and prodded me like a guinea pig, and when you denied me my mortality?" He struggled to his feet. "You took my humanity… who else could ever hope to understand what it's like to not even be considered a person? That's the one thing I have left, someone who understands…."

"What would letting you go accomplish?"

"For you, not much… maybe one less enemy, but you've already dug your grave. You don't have enough non-ponies to hold hostage; even then, they say it's a war to get their people back. But we both know what this is… what it really is." He gave her a look that reminded her of a blood-sucking banker.

"What is this really, then?" The emptiness returned to her like a tide.

"The biggest land grab in history… what all those nations need, you have in spades. Arable land, freshwater, minerals, trade routes, infrastructure, magical artifacts, the list goes on." He stretched out his arms. "They feared your power, but now they know you're on borrowed time. They can't afford to wait for you all to perish when so many others desperately need it. Anyone who hesitates risks losing out on a real future."

"A future built on the corpses of my ponies…." She sounded disgusted.

"Your little scholars were happy to build it on the corpses of others; the history of empires follows that pattern. But it's always different when the empire finds itself being added to mortar while another ascends." He stared back. "Put as much makeup on it as you like. Equestria isn't any different. All you can hope is enough is found to justify adding it to the history books."

Celestia seemed to be in deep thought before trotting away. Leaving Aaron behind her as he limped back to his painting, peering at it. Sighing, he grasped his palette and got back to work, slowly pouring a bit more white onto it. Before he began to dip his brush into the paint starting to make small strokes onto the canvas.
———————————————————————
Celestia stepped to her balcony and looked over Canterlot. The city was in ruins from her student's rampage; just how many had died, she couldn't be certain. But it seemed the death toll only rose by the hour as they dug her subjects from the rubble. A sickening stench of death reached even to grand overlook. No doubt it would remain for quite some time, which did little to lighten the increasingly dark mood.

Shaking her head, she stepped away from the balcony, making her way back to her desk, seeing the ancient desk crushed under diplomatic pouches. Equestria's Embassies worldwide were forced to close under the best of circumstances; under the worst… they had to evacuate. Approaching the desk, she stared at the broken seals; she had read over all of them. These final reports all signaled to one thing, the very thing she feared… war. Using her magic, she swept them aside, pulling out fresh parchment and ink she began to write.

Millennia of practice allowed her to finish it within moments, despite the seriousness of the contents. Rolling it closed, she stamped hot wax onto the paper, lifting it carefully in her magic rang the service bell. Waiting a few moments, she eventually heard the heavy hoofsteps of a guard.

"This is a high priority message to the Kingdoms Diamondia and Fluoritia… send our fastest scout."

"B-but Princess! They're preparing for invasion!" The guard was obviously concerned.

Celestia stared down at him; she knew why he was so apprehensive. While many rattled their swords and paced the borders, they were the first and only to actually kill ponies so far. Their cannons brought fear to many, but for as long as even she could remember, they had always pointed them at each other. "Which is why this message is of vital importance." She steeled her eyes.

"I… yes Princess, I'll give it to Pound Cake; he's our best flier…." He bowed his head, quickly taking the scroll into his mouth and retreating from her presence.

"What hath I wrought…." She looked at the ruins of her capital, the fires had been put out, but the smoke had yet to clear. Mixing the old smog of the city, only further tarnishing what was once the center of the world.

Chapter 4

Celestia glared at the carriage's only other occupant as it rocked side to side. Aaron, despite his restraints, only gave her a wolfish grin; he hadn't said a word since she had him loaded onboard. He hadn't said a word since their last talk, not even when she had removed him from the labs allowing him to catch his first glimpse of the sun in decades as he was wheeled into her transport. Looking back out the window, she watched as the thick forests flowed below them like a vast sea of pine green. Despite the seriousness of the situation, it was oddly cathartic to watch, but just as she began to let her guard down, she heard Aaron clear his throat through his muzzle.

"You know, getting the Hannibal Lector treatment really shows how much you care..." She heard his muffled sarcastic voice through the mask.

"You're getting what you want; isn't that enough for you?" She ignored his strange comparison.

"I'm strapped to a standing gurney with a leather muzzle on my face while you enjoy silken cushions and proper lumbar support." He raised an eyebrow.

"Gotten to used to your gilded cage, I'd be happy to throw you back in." She stared back into his eyes. "After what you did, you should be thankful I've decided to let you go." The princess snorted in irritation.

"Please, you're letting me go because while everyone else dances at the borders, daring the other to cross first, the Dogs have drawn blood." He stared at her.

Celestia exhaled. "They had already begun to invade just as my messenger had arrived."

"I take it you're attempting to keep it under wraps?" He struggled to tilt his head to the side coyly.

"It wouldn't be ideal if word got out to the other nations." She admitted.

"I suppose one can be thankful for small miracles." He sighed, leaning his head back.

"Miracles? What do you care? One would think you would be cheering for my fall..." She grit her teeth.

"And who would be dying before your fall?" He blinked.

"My ponies..."

"No... my children." He glared back.

"They are not yours." She growled.

"They aren't?" He leaned his head forward, making the leather creak. "Was it your suffering and seed that created them? Did your little scholars milk you for days unending so this doomed generation could be birthed?"

"Enough! They are my subjects! Ponies pledge their loyalty to me, not you!" Celestia's voice shook the carriage.

He was unmoved. "When a ruler turns the world against their people, it's only a matter of time before they grow disillusioned." He finished.

Celestia didn't bother saying anything else, turning her attention back out the window. As the carriage began to bank to the left, she saw the others in the heavily guarded convoy, just barely catching a glimpse of the two Dogs resting in the third transport. On the surface, her entourage was as grand as it had always been. But while she had tried to fill in the gaps with the best of the guard, the lack of representatives from the aristocracy and nobility was felt. Both houses of her government had distanced themselves from her, leaving the council chambers at Canterlot Castle barren. Instead, they choose to have meetings at their private estates, always at alternating times, to prevent their princess from dropping in.

She was doubtful they would rebel, but their lack of support was already wearing thin. Celestia couldn't run the country alone, and they knew it. Emergency budgets went unapproved, defense plans sat in their folders, tax policy went unamended. She was drowning in paperwork, with the whole situation an exercise in futility because after giving her stamp, they were sent to the house's representatives and never seen again.

The destitute ponies gathering at the base of Canterhorn scarcely allowed her to leave unmolested; it was only by the rebuffs of the guard they had gotten through. If one looked close enough to her private carriage, they would see hoofmarks and imprints left by desperate ponies. Seeing the convoy bank again around a large hill, she saw their destination in the distance. A vast encampment, the likes of which had never been seen before on Equestrian soil, perhaps on any nation. Tents and fires stretched as far as her eyes could see, with swaths of the forest cleared to make way for their advance and to fuel their military machine.

"Even if they are true to their word, it will be generations before this valley heals..." She said to herself.

Aaron turned his head as far as it could go, just catching a glimpse of the temporary settlement, oddly finding it distasteful. " A pity, Luna once told me this was her favorite place to vacation." Not receiving a response, he continued. "The older settlements and untouched wilds reminded her of simpler times."

"They're all gone now... That army has raised every settlement to the north of them." She shook her head, remembering the desperate refugees. "For you..."

"I never asked them to do so; what happened was only because of your inaction." He stared back at her looking far more melancholic. "You were scared of letting me out of my bottle, assuming some great catastrophe would happen, only to set in motion exactly what you feared."

"Your insane." She said it as a fact rather than an argument.

"And whose fault is that?" He twisted his face into a wolfish grin as the carriage began to land.

The two of them sat in silence before she began to light up her horn. Unbuckling the restraints, she observed as he began to stand up under his own power. Stretching his limbs, making a few popping sounds before rolling his neck. "You know I could tell them about my treatment while in transit." He mumbled as he pulled the muzzle from his face tossing it to the side.

"You could, but we both know you won't..." She took one last look at her regalia, polishing it with her foreleg.

"And why is that?" He raised an eyebrow but looked curious.

"You hate me, but you don't hate them." She sounded so tired. "You relish in my suffering, but it destroys you knowing they suffer as well. The only way you could help them is to keep your silence about this." She stared into his eyes coldly.

"One last power trip before I go... Clever." He smirked as she began to open the door, following after her as she stepped out into the mud. Wince at the light despite the grey overcast, it had been decades since he had seen natural light, and it showed. His skin was like porcelain, a pale hue that even the princess was unsure would ever vanish.

The tension could be cut with a knife as the two of them stood before the seemingly endless army. Celestia remained impassive on the surface, but they could hear her hoof shaking against her golden shoes if one listened closely. Even Aaron seemed to pause to take it all in, almost frozen by the countless eyes focused on him. He scarcely noticed Rex and Rover disembarking as well, carrying crates of their collected writings. Quickly making their way over and taking positions at opposite sides of him.

For a while, they stood there awkwardly; eventually, Celestia broke the silence. "Just go...."

He looked over, confused. "No grand speech?" He blinked, seemingly surprised.

"No, just go." She said emotionlessly as she motioned her head.

He nodded his head to his followers as they began to walk towards the line. The army parted like the Red Sea before them, but he stopped turning his attention to a runty canid instead of continuing. Her sensitive ears couldn't make out what was said, but she watched as they handed over a knife. Aaron slowly inspected it before working it behind his head, carefully cutting away the long blonde braids that covered his back. Leaving them to fall into the mud before handing it back.

Aaron kept his eyes forward, keeping a mask of indifference, but decades of isolation made all this attention like he was drowning. A few of the soldiers around him slowly sheathed their weapons and removed their morion and kettle helmets, holding them tight to their chests as they stared up at him. Even the most exhausted and lacerated-looking warrior would stand up straight before him, gazing up with reverence he would expect only for holy figures. The silence was deafening as he made his way through, watching the soldiers continue to part before him. Time seemed to lose meaning as the trio slipped deeper into their ranks; vast da Vincian war engines would eventually take the place of soldiers. All showing signs of battle, from scorch marks on a wooden and iron tank bristling with cannons to chariots wheels stained red from the blood of their enemies. The mole-like creatures that powered them were covered with scars and fresh wounds tugging at their reins while their handlers begged them to be still before him, seemingly spooked by his presence.

He almost didn't notice eery veiled robed figure waiting behind the rows of war engines, their stillness almost making them blend in with everything around them. When they started to approach, his attention was finally drawn, the flawless white and purple contrasting with the muddy surroundings. The long robes almost made it appear they were gliding above the swampy grounds, bizarrely untouched by the filth below.

Their steps were measured and meaningful, not all dissimilar to that of a nun or perhaps a ballerina. Rex and Rover seemed to hold their breath seeing them before quickly averting their eyes. As if expecting to be struck down for daring to look at them directly so shamelessly. Aaron, meanwhile, couldn't pull his eyes away; they didn't move like the Canids, and the body shape was far off; it was so... human.

The figure stopped before him, just a head shorter than him but still taller than most around them. Reaching up their long sleeves before brushing them against his face as if trying to remove a mask. They then carefully slid down to his arms, grasping his hand, bringing it close to the purple veil tilting their head as they worked the digits. Paying particular attention to the joints, almost obsessively counting each finger, as if expecting a miss count. Before just growing still, still enough, Aaron wondered if she was even breathing.

Their arms shook as they brought their covered hands to the veil, pealing it upward, finally revealing what was underneath. "The Lunar Princess was truthful; Man has returned to us." Tears slowly leaked down of furred caricature's face. "Come, the kings are waiting for you..."

He followed her deeper into the encampment attempting to ignore his discomfort with the grotesque imitation, nodding his head, seeing they approaching a grassy hill where two tents waited. One a rich green and the other faint blue, both with enough gold accents to make even the wealthiest blush. They also showed signs of use; stains from long campaigns could just be seen on the canvas and then... there they were... two kings who once would have slaughtered one another as soon as seeing each other... sitting side by side, despite their greying muzzles, a level of ferocity still remained, which only came from a lifetime of hardship and war.

"The rumors were true..." The brutish Pitbull king of Diamondia sized him up, slowly leaning forward in his chair, causing it to creak under his muscular bulk bowing his head, "Shall we begin another campaign worthy of being chronicled in song?"

The more petite Border Collie of Fluoritia pushed up his glasses, shaking his head. "No, surely you bring us a new age of enlightenment." His clouded eyes stared at him as if he had the secrets of the universe.

Looking at each other, they growled but nodded their heads. "But first things first... The Equestrians," They said in unison.

Aaron seemed to be in thought, seeing their armies in person, he'd be a liar to say he wasn't tempted. With barely a word, they would have happily burned it all to the ground; in his mind's eye, he could see the looks of despair of the solar princess as everything she built was destroyed. After everything she had done, could he deny she didn't deserve it? But even his twisted heart refused to let them further harm those who carried his blood.

Taking a deep breath, he spoke. "Leave the princess to her fate."

"But what of the lands? Surely we aren't walking away from such wealth?" The Border Collie beat his rival to the punch.

"I never said we were walking away from the wealth." His mouth grew into a crooked grin showing rows of perfectly white teeth. "You asked what I bring. Conquest or Knowledge? The answer is both... I bring you... Banking." The two dogs looked at him like he was mad.

The sun had just begun to set on Celestia's command. Since she had left Aaron, the pit in her stomach had only grown, like she had released a great evil into her world. Trotting back onto the familiar marble floors of her palace, she approached her throne, the only thing in the grand hall that seemed to have escaped her student's carnage. As pristine as the day it had been presented to her a millennia ago, she never truly believed she would grow into it. As a filly, it seemed so insurmountable, and yet she had. Approaching it, she sat down, looking over the small army of stonemasons and artisans attempting to make the palace presentable again. Try as she might, a feeling of futility washed over her as she watched them working, her keen eyes seeing the telltale signs of age that showed through even the burliest of stallions.

Occasionally one of them would stop their labor, groaning as they attempted to recover from the aches and pains that came with aging bodies. Others struggled to catch their breath, occasionally leaning against the walls or materials, before quickly returning to work under her gaze. Acting as if they had been caught stealing from the royal purse, they pushed themselves to their limits. Closing her eyes, she nearly fell asleep as the stresses of the day had finally begun to catch up to her.

"Princess, what shall we do with his cell and its contents?" The voice of a guard broke her from her daze.

Celestia kept her eyes closed, entering deep thought; it would be so easy to burn it all, pretend it never happened... with everything around her, could she be blamed for it? Inhaling, she looked to the guard. "Seal it, but don't touch a single thing inside..."

"Yes, your highness..." He seemed to want to continue but saw the exhaustion on his sovereign.

"Wait..." She raised her hoof. "Have we gotten word from our scouts yet?"

"Yes, they report the Dogs have started a slow retreat from our lands." He bowed.

"Make sure to keep me updated until they are fully out," She ordered almost robotically.

"There is another issue, princess... The protesters are still gathering at the base of the mountain; the captain is concerned but unsure how to handle the growing unrest?" His professionalism seemed to slip as a deep frown formed on his muzzle, undoubtedly uncomfortable with the events.

"Maintain the checkpoints; Canterlot can't handle such a massive influx of ponies." She shook her head, the orders tasting bitter on her tongue. "Send out the royal guard; the aristocracy and nobility have made their point, I'll hear their demands, in return for them helping manage this crisis." She rubbed her temples, attempting to relieve the migraine that had formed over the course of the day.

"Yes, your highness." He bowed, taking his leave.

Standing from her chair, she began to make her way to her private chambers, exhausted as the weight of a nation crushed her. The moment she saw her bed, she collapsed into its sheets. Becoming dead to the world that was crumbling around her, faint snores could be heard. But even in her dreams, she couldn't escape the grim reality she was trapped in.

Chapter 5

Silphium... the city that acted as the capital of two warring nations, the descriptions from Rex didn't do it justice. Even from the great distance we approached, I could see the towering statue of its founder, Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, The First Man. A veritable wonder of Equis, it towered over the tallest buildings, supposedly rivaling the Crystal Castle, despite its advanced age. The elderly figure held a Pilum in one hand like a walking stick while he held a variety of scrolls under the opposite arm, his toga spilled over him, seeming to be blown in a breeze despite being made of stone. His eyes cast over the great valley where his city presided, watching for eons as it prospered, despite the devastation beyond the mountains around it.

Aaron couldn't help but lean against the windows of the carriage as they passed the imposing aqueducts, impressed by the amount of detail afforded to the civil structures. "Impressive, despite their age, they continue to serve their city."

"Vitruvius wanted the founding city to last a million years; his careful planning has allowed us to flourish in these lands with minimal changes to his work." The robed figure nodded her head.

"It's hard to believe there was a war going on around this place," Aaron said as they passed sprawling wheat fields.

"Even as Diamondia and Fluoritia burned, neither of their armies would dare foul this place with bloodshed..." The said in a stern voice.

"Really? Those two nations have been wearing for hundreds of years; their royalty live in exile from their own capital. Neither side has seen fit to capture it?" Aaron said in disbelief.

The robed figure exhaled before leaning back in the seat. "A general from Diamondia once attempted to capture this place in hopes of his own glory to be remembered..."

"What happened?" Aaron raised an eyebrow curiously.

"He and his soldiers were slaughtered by the two warring armies and used as mortar for that Aquaduct we just passed." Their eyes steeled. "it's known as The Flumen Proditores..."

"The River of Traitors," Aaron mumbled as the figure nodded her head.

"You're familiar with the first language?" They asked.

"Yes, though I rarely used it outside of religious services," Aaron said, looking back at her.

"We are much the same; while still used in more rural areas, its use outside the Library has been declining for centuries."

"When did English become the standard?" Aaron asked as they passed over a canal where narrowboats could be seen being dragged along by Giant Starnosed Moles and their handlers.

"After the Last Man's arrival to gift us the blessings of your kind, Thomas Newcomen. His time with us was short, but his Atmospheric Engine allowed us to reach new depths into the earth. Many also believe it's the key to yet greater things." She said as they began to enter the city, even through the thick walls of the transport, the sounds of festive music penetrated into their eardrums. The surrounding architecture was predominantly Roman, but anachronistic designs from various eras and civilizations could be seen.

"It seems we've arrived in the middle of a festival..." Aaron hid his own smirk at the new information, the gears in the back of his mind already turning.

"They are celebrating your kind's return for the first time in centuries peace between the two kingdoms seems possible... Perhaps even reconciliation." They clasped their hands together over their lap.

"Rex explained the war to me, but it's still hard to believe that while sharing the same goals, the matter of methods would cause so much woe." He sighed as he sank back into his seat, looking somewhat overwhelmed by all the activity outside.

"Wars have been started for far less than disagreements over how best to spread civilization."

Luna sat on the wicker chair as she looked over the balcony of her abode. The rich sea air filled her lungs as she brought another deviled egg to her lips, chewing it slowly and swallowing before using her tongue to pick out the raisins left behind. The former princess of Equestria had done quite well since escaping her sister's shadow. Perhaps her role was not as grand sounding as princess, but the feeling of having something of her own gave her the fulfillment she always wanted.

Turning her attention to the ledger on the tea table, she levitated it to her face along with a freshly dipped quill. Her eyes glanced over the pages, occasionally making small changes before nodding her head. Setting it down, she cleared her throat; not long after, a robed gryphon approached. "Yes, ma'am?"

Luna tapped the booklet. "I finished looking over the ledger; while not stellar, the situation is far from unsalvageable. With the changes I've made, we'll break even for the first few years, then make a profit by year 6."

The robed gryphon raised an eyebrow, picked up the ledger, and began to flip through it. "That seems... presumptuous for a company that had just declared bankruptcy....." His eyes widened as he saw the revised shipping routes. "You can't be serious... Diamondia and Fluoritia?" He swallowed, trying to not look at her like she was touched in the head.

"I have a... contact that has promised me exclusive trading rights." She smiled, leaning in her chair.

"Prin-... Master Luna, trading with just one of those nations is impossible; the other always sinks the approaching vessels regardless of flag, trading with both... it's a folly of fools!" He swallowed as he began to imagine his future unemployment. "Fortunes greater than yours have been lost trying to break the blockades!"

Luna snorted in response. "That was because of the ongoing war; tell me... when was the last time you heard about the conflict?" She leaned forward, staring into his nervous eyes.

He opened his beak before closing it, seeming to be in deep thought. "I suppose it's been a while... most of the hearsay is about Equestria..."

"Exactly, every creature is too busy dancing at my sister's borders, daring the other to be the first to catch her wrath. They have blinded themselves to the opportunities behind them." She poured herself a glass of Hawken Brandy. "They are so focused on building their armies to secure the land they've forgotten about the future."

"The future?" The gryphon tilted his head confused.

"They started melting down cooking pots and silverware, and now they are smelting pickaxes and chisels, all with a single-minded goal to produce more weapons for the war effort." She hummed, taking a sip of the amber liquid.

"They're grinding the seed corn...Won't they just seize Equestrian goods to make up the difference?" He asked, following her logic.

"Because my sister is doing the same; the moment I left, she launched a recycling campaign in an attempt to secure war materials. They'll find only the crudest tools being used at the farms. I'd imagine with the aging workforce, substance farming is all they'll find."

"How can you be sure?" He looked uneasy but curious.

"Because agricultural production was already beginning to decline before I left. With the lack of metal ore, there are few other sources my sister can use." She smirked.

"Meaning the new tools will have to come from somewhere unless they want to farm by talon or hoof..." He nodded his head. "Or live in mud huts..."

"There's more to it; even when they secure the lands, it will be some time before they can properly use them. Farming is not a skill learned overnight. They also all have large armies to feed. Army's that vastly outstrip their ability to supply for more than a year."

The gryphon seemed to think. "The rationing has gotten stricter lately."

"Starswirl once said, a marching army consumes more in a month than a peaceful one in a year." Luna closed her eyes, remembering the elderly unicorn.

"And with the Gryphon army so desperate for food and the peasants in need of wares... you can name your price..." His eyes widened as he began to piece it all together. "But that all hinges on your contact and the peace with dogs lasting... how can you be sure either will last?"

Luna seemed to pause before looking back out to the sea. The gryphon would continue to stand awkwardly, expecting an answer one to see her wave his off with her wing. Bowing his head, he quickly took his leave; the sound of scrambling claws could just be heard once he was out of sight. The former princess watched the setting sun as it vanished into the waves on the horizon; only when she was sure she was genuinely alone did she finally crack.

A tear leaked down her cheek falling into the glass, which she quickly tossed into her throat as if attempting to drown her guilt. She would continue to rest on the balcony, watching her-... the moon rise, basking the seaside town in a dower glow. By the time the servant returned to check on her, the bottle of Hawken brandy would be found empty and smashed against the wall.

Celestia looked over the reports, sighing she sipped her tea, but despite the care put into the brew, it still tasted bitter. The last princess of Equestria would continue to skim the various scrolls before she was broken from her thoughts by a gentle knock at her door. "Come in." She mumbled tiredly as she continued to prepare herself for the upcoming meeting.

General Battlement trotted in, carefully shutting the door behind him. "The nobility has finally started to arrive, your highness." He muttered under his breath. "Fashionably late..."

"I see. Have you prepared as well? We have a lot to cover..." She set down her papers, taking a moment to shut her eyes to rest.

"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't." He steeled his eye, letting out a snort. "Even so, it doesn't matter how well-read we are if they aren't willing to do their part."

"I've agreed to hear and weigh their demands." She opened her eyes, feeling so worn down.

"But will you be willing to grant them? This is different from the past, where you could stall by saying you'll put it under advisement... They have the kingdom by reigns, and they know it..." He looked up at the princess with concern.

The princess didn't speak, only nodding her head in response just as the Canterlot bells rang throughout the palace. "The meeting is about to start; we best be on our way." She stood up from her cushion and walked past the elderly general.

The trip to the counsel chambers was long but uneventful, but she felt uneasy stopping at the vast doors. Steadying herself, she listened; the faint murmurs that once filled the halls were missing. Part of her wondered if they had decided to leave, ignoring her promise to hear their concerns. Pushing open the doors, she felt numerous eyes on her and the general; the silence was deafening, no talk between them; they acted as one. Her concern grew as she approached the center of the room, taking her seat.

Before she could say a word, Blueblood beat her to the punch. "Let the Council of Nobles convene." He stamped his hoof against the stone block.

"I am glad you have decided to return; we have much to discuss." Celestia ignored the slight from her once-adopted nephew.

Fancy Pants was the next to speak, his mane having long since faded into a silvery grey that framed his wrinkled muzzle. "Indeed, our demands are simple; should they be agreed to, we will fulfill our duties with dignity."

Battlement snorted, but a snap of the princess's tail made him bite back a retort. "What are the demands?" He quickly corrected himself, but his annoyance could be seen.

Fancy inhaled before responding as the ponies around him straightened their backs. "Since the attempted coup by Nightmare Moon, you have seen fit to centralize power while leaving this counsel to handle the bureaucratic matters related to your edicts. Regardless of our concerns about their effectiveness or necessity." He shook his head. "The consequences of your unvetted decisions are plain as the day you represent."

"I have ruled this nation for a thousand years; the peace and prosperity we have enjoyed speak in my defense." Celestia narrowed her eyes at the old unicorn, who met her gaze evenly.

"While our military has atrophied to the point that Equestria's very existence has hinged on the actions of a few untrained mares." He leaned forward. "I won't pretend to understand the cosmic forces behind the Elements of Harmony or why they choose those five mares and your mad student. But our dependence on this quasi-sentient and temperamental weapon has left us exposed."

"I see you've reread the Discord reports." She eyed the stack of papers on the stallion's table.

"Indeed, beyond that, you are more than happy to throw untrained civilians into dangerous situations without that vary MacGuffin." He rested his hoof at the bridge of his muzzle. "You sent an animal caretaker to face a sleeping adult dragon, that same mare who would later on nearly cause a Parasprite outbreak. Doesn't that speak well of her competency, to think all those bits wasted on pest identification campaigns?" He ran his hoof over his muzzle in disappointment.

"Then there was the Diamond Dog Reservation dispute, regardless of our previous concerns of letting them settle in Equestria. Rarity Belle repeatedly trespassed on their allotted lands, resisted arrest by the Alphas charged with policing the region, then was broken out by her friends while stealing yet more of their property. Please remind this Council of the reparations we had to pay in order to keep them from taking it to court, especially after you refused Extradition." Swan Song followed after pushing her glasses back up her nose.

Celestia listened to them continue to leave the once-heroes of their lands exposed to their mistakes and even went as far as to teardown their successes. Be it how Applejack's hardheadedness nearly caused a frontier town's destruction or how Pinkies handling of the Yak representatives nearly caused a war. Even Rainbow's service record was called into question, though she noticed they brought up the Wonderbolts more often than the mare herself in their review. She remained emotionless as they continued their tirade, waiting for a gap in the speaking before finally responding.

"Perhaps I have relied on the actions of an untrained few for too long. But that's not what this is about." Her eyes steeled. "What would you do now that I haven't already done? Hindsight is easy, but working with what you have at the moment is much harder."

Blueblood sighed, leaning forward in his chair again. "I certainly have ideas; we should begin stockpiling grain now while our agricultural economy is still viable." He met her gaze. "In the years to come collecting the needed food will only become harder. Even my own holdings have seen a decline in production, regardless of incentives."

"You would pull hay from the mouths of our own ponies?" She snorted, looking aghast.

"Don't pretend you haven't thought of it yourself, Auntie." He rolled his eyes. "You dance around the inevitable like the hordes at our borders. They may have less on their plate, but compare that to nothing at all if we are invaded, tell me which is the greater evil. A single marching army is like a cloud of Parasprites, but we have multiple salivating at the fat of our lands."

Fancy followed. "These hard decisions should not be left to an individual; we all must bear the responsibility." He looked over the scrolls before him. "Cuts must be made for national security, audits done of our forces, ponies must be held accountable."

"A reckoning is long overdue." Swan Song said, nodding her head.

"Do they speak for all of you?" Celestia asked, looking around the room, only to see those who remained quiet nod their heads as one. Celestia took a moment to weigh her options before sighing.

Aaron walked through the grand halls of the Musaeum of Silphium, statues of those who came before him staring back. It was hard not to feel small among the likes of Andreas Vesalius, Gemma Frisius, and Nicole Oreseme (the only ones he recognized). As he followed his guide, it was hard not to stare at the monuments. Philosophers, Artisans, and Military leaders from innumerable civilizations held their tools as they were surrounded by their works. Which even now were being carefully studied, copied, and theorized by the eery-robed Keepers. While they tended to their duties, he could just hear their faint whispers as he passed, further unnerving him.

"The elders say that visitors from your realm are rarely unimpressed by this place." They looked up, their veil long since removed, revealing a furless and flattened face of a Canid.

Aaron nodded his head as he turned his attention back to the marble floors. "It's a lot to take in, in a world without us, the idea we could mean so much is..."

"Surprising?" They chuckled with a faint smile. "When the first man came to us... we had little." She spoke as they approached a massive Atrium where odd yellow flowers grew around a great fountain. Sitting on its ledge, she motioned for him to join her. "Living in deep caves and tunnels, our earliest history was strife, struggle, and changing masters." She sighed, swirling her digits in the nearby water.

"It surely couldn't have been that bad?" Aaron sat down next to her frowning.

"We had brief periods of freedom, but lacking the magics of ponies or the ferocity of the gryphons whatever progress we made was quickly erased." She gazed at the blue sky above them. "Before The First Man arrived, it looked as if our destiny was to repeat the cycle forever... But then he appeared to us...aged and beaten by our oppressors... but unbroken ...he taught us tactics, strategy, and logistics, helping us push our old masters out. But he was never content; he continued to bless us with your gifts, teaching us agriculture, irrigation, and architecture. He gave us a foundation of rock which helped us truly become a civilization." She caressed a flower in her paw. "This garden was his final legacy to us... for which he named this great city for." She picked the flower and handed it to him.

"Silphium..." He said, his eyes staring at the supposed extinct plant.

"Even as he built the great city, it's said he obsessed over them; he had scarcely a handful of pods." She watched him inspect the flower closely. "For all the wonders he helped build, it was getting a few plants to grow that perplexed him... but he succeeded in the end."

"I don't even know where to start..." Aaron finally said as he ran his fingers over the stem.

"Perhaps a visit to the bathes will help clear your mind?" She smirked as she stood up, motioning for him to follow.

He tiredly nodded as he followed her deeper into the vast complex. He was so enraptured by the mosaics and statues he scarcely noticed the heat wafting up from the floors. The humidity also slowly made itself known, making him huff a bit as his thick robes stifled him. Thankfully they reached their destination, and he wasn't disappointed.

The bathes were vast, easily eclipsing an Olympic Sized pool countless times over, almost seeming like a small lake. The crystal clear waters were as smooth as glass, with a thick fog of steam rising up. Aaron seemed to focus on the waters, ignoring the various murals, statues, and columns rising to the domed ceilings. "It's been so long..." He muttered.

"Since you had a proper wash?" The Keeper asked curiously.

"A wash basin is not an ideal substitute..." He shook his head tiredly, reaching for his robes only for her to step to his side to help.

He was so desensitized that he didn't even flinch as his clothes were peeled off, revealing his deathly pale skin. Thankful the surrounding air was relatively balmy, he slowly approached the steps into the pool, sighing as he slipped into the waters. After letting himself acclimate, he dove under, swimming a few lengths before coming back up for air. He floated on his back, shutting his eyes as he allowed the waters to soothe decades-old aches and pains.

Discord exhaled as he watched his adopted home crumble in his spectral form. Farms that once dealt in abundance slowly atrophied as Equestrian families became increasingly insular. Shops lay bare as locals attempted to hock whatever remained of their wares. Approaching a dilapidated building that looked like it tried to mimic a carousel. He shifted his body through the walls peering around the dusty Ponyikins. Floating through the peeling walls, he approached the singular room with light, the faint sounds of a hoof-powered sewing machine just reaching his ears.

Rarity yawned as she punished the mismatched fabrics through the needle; once upon a time, such a clash of styles would have made her faint. Now, however, she was more concerned about making cheap winter blankets and tunics to sell. Shuttering her head raised from her work, her ear twitching before slowly rotating around the room. "Discord?" She asked in an oddly warm tone.

Discord blinked but sighed, slowly regaining his form behind her just as she turned around. "I still don't know how you do that." The draconequus fell onto her threadbare, fainting couch.

"Work as long as have in fashion you not only can tell when someone is watching you but also who." The aged mare stretched before working to her hooves. "Would you like some tea, darling?"

"That would be lovely." He gave her a crooked smile watching her set a kettle on her potbelly stove, which has its stove pipe crudely patched through an old window. "That's new." he hummed, watching her add a few more logs to the fire.

"It was too hard heating the entire Carousel Boutique; at my age, it's much easier to work from one room, especially with things as they are..." She frowned as she watched the kettle boil.

"I see; I suppose that's sensible..." Discord shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

Rarity looked back at him with a blank expression before giggling, a genuine smile forming on his wrinkled muzzle. "Sorry darling, just hearing that from you of all creatures..." Discord seemed to think about it before nodding his head, chuckling along with her.

"So what brings you here? It's been a while since anypony has seen you..." Rarity poured two cups, bringing them over before sitting down next to him.

"After..." He bit his lip. "...you know who asked Fluttershy for her... help... we had an argument and.... took a break..." He shifted uncomfortably.

"Ah, I figured as much..." Rarity nodded her head, levitating a cup to his paw. "Twilight could be very persistent when she wanted to be..." She looked into her cup, watching the amber liquid swirl.

"I-I had it all planned out... even set up a picnic at that meadow she likes and then... then..." The Spirit of Chao stuttered and mumbled like a teenager.

"Twilight asked for her help and took her to the fertility clinic." She rubbed his back. "Fluttershy was never the type to refuse to help a friend..."

"...Yes..." He muttered, looking back at his cup before taking a small sip. "When she told me... that she let some... nurse use a baster on her like that... after we talked about having... h-having..." His eyes started to tear up.

"...after you left, she spent a lot of time here... pregnant mares are very sensitive, you know." Rarity looked up at a needle print on the wall of the two of them together, along with portraits of foals.

"Which ones are hers?" He asked curiously, seeing the two mares together in the various pictures with foals.

Rarity seemed to pause before setting the cup back down. "None of them..."

Discord froze. "What? She was pregnant when I-"

"The... treatment didn't take... she... miscarried..."

"Oh..." He noticed the mare shifting uncomfortably. "What happened after?..."

"Twilight... took her to the clinic again..." She swallowed. " and again... a-and..."

"She didn't... s-she couldn't..." Discord looked horrified.

"She burned down Canterlot just a few weeks ago." Rarity stared back at him. "Failure wasn't an option for her..."

"What happened after that?..." Discord clutched his tea.

"A little stagecraft..." Rarity ran her hoof over her belly.

"After all that, your saying Twilight..."

"Yes... made us tell a story ponies wanted to hear." She brushed her greyed mane back. "A story about heartbreak, perseverance, and a heartwarming ending." Rarity scoffed, shaking her head. "She was a wonderful mother... but after the foals grew up, she left."

"The Everfree Forest." It wasn't a question from his lips.

"Playing the role was hard on her... especially after she..." Rarity looked down, blinking away the mist in her eyes. "She said she needed time away..."

"I assume with what's happened, she won't be coming out again anytime soon...." He mumbled.

"No... I think she's had enough of ponies in general, I'm afraid." She rubbed his back. "She missed you..."

"I assumed she hated me after how... we left things." He leaned against her slumping down.

"You, of all creatures, should know it's not her nature to hate." Rarity smiled sadly up at him.

"You at least should hate me then." He glanced at her.

"Why would I?" Rarity tilted her head. "I'll admit, when you left, I was angry at first, but over time, I realized how much it hurt you. She was going to be your first... wasn't she?"

"I-I don't know what you mean. I've been with plenty of mares!"

Rarity gave him a knowing look to which he wilted under from embarrassment. "I know the look a colt gives when he meets his first true love. Intimacy never interested you before her, did it?"

Discord twitched uncomfortably. "Of all the Chaos I've caused and experienced, Lust was never one I considered. How did you know?"

"Sometimes, a mare just knows; when I figured it out, I knew you had truly changed. You were willing to leave your comfort zone for her, so the two of you could start a family. So when she refused because of her duty... it hurt you, didn't it?"

"Worse than the Elements." He mumbled.

"It was one of her biggest regrets, I assumed she knew what I did, and that was mine."

"It doesn't matter." Discord said tiredly.

"It does; she's still out there, you know."

"What do I even say? It's been decades." He looked back at the floor

"Hello is usually how you start a conversation."

"This isn't a joke." He snorted.

"And she's been waiting for you; please don't make her wait any longer."

Discord set the cup down, sniffing as he ran his mismatched hands over his face. "Where would I even look?"

"Just go to the Everfree; I'm sure her animal friends will tell her." She smiled, helping him up despite the size difference.

Discord stood up, taking a deep breath. "Thank you, Rarity."

"Don't be a stranger; a little company now and again can be the most generous gift."

Chapter 6

Dusty Bones yawned as he rubbed his grey foreleg over his eyes; he had been working triple shifts writing death certificates. So many ponies dead after the rampage... but he was numb to it. His special talent was being a mortician; after all, it's only expected he'd become used to death. While ponies wept in woe at the fallen princess's destruction, he grumbled about all the extra work he had to do. He massaged his neck as he struggled to his hooves and set the finished scroll down.

Turning his attention to a heavy iron door, he slowly trotted to it; levitating a wrought iron key, he unlocked and opened it. Icy cold air seeped out, making him shiver momentarily as he entered the dark enchanted freezer. He made his way past numerous gurneys covered with white sheets, his green eyes focusing on one that seemed to be kept away from the others. Working his way behind it, he began to push it with his forehooves, eventually exiting the dreary place.

Stopping the gurney near his operating slab, he used his magic to slide the sheet-covered corpse onto it. Once it was adequately placed, he pushed the gurney away to the corner of the room. Returning, he noticed the sheet was slightly ajar. "must have snagged it..." He shrugged as he dragged his tools over.

With little decorum, he pulled the sheet off, revealing his subject. He stared at the half-charred face, grasping the unblemished side of the mare's muzzle; he turned the corpse's head side to side. Undisturbed by the cracks from its broken neck or the pealing skin from its third-degree burns. "Hmmm, well, aren't you a messy filly?" He chuckled faintly, running his hoof over the remains of her ruined mane.

Grasping a bucket, he carefully washed the dirt grime with a damp rag, occasionally tossing some of the disintegrating burnt hair away. Once it was rinsed, he poured some shampoo into his hooves and began to massage it into her scalp; once it was adequately lathered, he carefully washed it out. Dusty slowly made his way down, gently dabbing at the brunt side of the mare's face, careful not to further damage the flesh or her horn as he cleaned her. The process was slow and meticulous, but unlike writing the death certificates, he seemed actually to enjoy it!

Dusty had a faint smile on his face as he finished cleaning both her forelegs. "You know I read that book you published with your friends... It was a little juvenile... but charming... I'd be a liar if I said it didn't cheer me up after a long day at the office." He said while working his way down her barrel. "I always envied you for making so many friends... In my line of work, it's not easy to meet ponies; I'm sure you can understand."

He continued down her body, washing her back legs with a rag. "Huh, you're more muscular than I thought you be... I take it from running all over Equestria to save the day?" Once he finished her back legs, she carefully flipped her over.

Grasping a scrub brush, he dipped it into the bucket and ran it down the length of her tail. Dusty gently tugged out the knots and picked out the bits of rubble tangled in them. As he brushed her tail, he looked up at her Cutie Marks. "Must be nice having such a broad talent; a lot of ponies aren't so lucky, you know? Most of us have more pigeon-holed special talents if we're fortunate enough, it's something valuable... like civil engineering or gem finding your set for life... others get something... less valuable and gotta settle for a more... humble job..." He shook his head. "Me? My special talent is being a mortician... it certainly pays well, but it can get awfully lonely at times... Huh? Why? Well, ponies don't like to think about death, that's why! Even if I cover my Cutie Marks, I swear they can tell what my lot in life is by looking at me..." He said sadly as he washed her Cutie Marks with a rag, slowly making his way up her back, stopping once he reached her wings.

He levitated some tweezers over. "No, I don't regret getting my Cutie Marks. There's a particular pride in helping ponies get ready for their final day with their families." He slowly pulled out some tweezers and plucked the broken feathers and bits of stone out. "Hmmm? Yes, even you... I've had many supposed monsters pass through my morgue; I never treated them any differently."

He raises an eyebrow as if hearing a response from the corpse. "Because even their families deserve closure." He ran a feather brush through the primaries. "Even if no pony shows up, I think everyone deserves to be buried with dignity... if only to show the world what could have been..." He sighed sadly, shaking his head.

"Well, I think that about handles your cleaning, don't worry, you'll get your coat and mane more properly groomed later." He hummed as he began to trot away from the slab, approaching an odd machine and grabbing it with his magic. "Let's begin the embalming process..." He hummed as he lifted one of the large needles in his magic and turned around, speaking like a doctor about to give a foal an inoculation, only to freeze on the spot.

Dusty Bone's eyes widened as he saw the corpse sitting up on the slab, its head hanging limply to the side at an unnatural angle. Words died in his throat as the eyes of Twilight Sparkle opened, revealing twin purple vortexes that pierced his very soul. He couldn't even look away; it was as if something was puppeteering him... but he could still scream.

Equestria
Canterlot
Royal Morgue
4:43PM

Princess Celestia solemnly made her way to the castle's lower levels, to the Royal Morgue. The snow white alicorn looked haggard as she trotted through the stone keep, her movements seeming more instinctual than purposeful. The lack of sleep and growing burdens placed upon her left her looking like a shell of herself. Yet, despite her exhaustion, she was determined to see her student, if only one more time.

Approaching the wrought iron door, she knocked on it. But she didn't hear a response, blinking she knocked again. "Dusty? I've come to see my student... is she presentable yet?" Still nothing.

"I'm coming in..." She mumbled, pushing the door open. Her sensitive ears twitched, just hearing a faint murmuring as she peaked inside.

Looking around the room, she saw that it was impeccable, besides an overturned wash bucket near the operating slab. Yet something felt wrong; her eyes scanned the room again, widening as she finally saw Dusty huddled in a corner. He scarcely moved, yet she could hear him whisper. "Dusty?..." She took a cautious step closer.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." He whimpered as he stared into the corner, not responding to the princess's hail.

"Dusty?... what has happened?" She reached out her hoof hesitantly, yet even as she touched his back, he still didn't respond.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." He continued to mumble as the princess grabbed his shoulder and forcefully turned him around. Tears streamed down his cheeks while his eyes glowed a faint purple filled with guilt.

Celestia's eyes widened, shaking him in a vane attempt to snap him out of it. "Somepony fetch me the royal physician!" She slipped into the Royal Canterlot voice, causing the chamber to quake.

Gryphon Empire
Grover Shores
Crescent Trading Company
4:44 PM

Luna shivered, pausing in the middle of the docks, much to the surprise of her gryphon assistant, her knees buckling underneath her. Her barrel crashed into the rough-sawn dock as her body convulsed; she groaned as the spasms contorted her body. The former princess gasped for air quaking in a heap; it took all her effort to keep down her lunch.

"Ma'am? C-can you hear me?" The gryphon quickly peeled off his jacket, setting it under her head.

Luna struggled to steady her breath. "I... d-don't..." She shook her head. "Just a spasm Giovanni, nothing more..."

Giovanni looked unconvinced but was quick to her side, helping her back to her hooves. Once she was sitting, he gently patted her back as she coughed. "If you say so..." He grabbed his jacket, digging around before pulling out a flask and handing it to her.

Luna grabbed the flask in her magic and began to take a long swig, shuttering briefly from the bitter taste. "Gah!.. thank you..." She mumbled, rocking herself forward back into a standing position before handing him back the flask.

"We can do this another day... perhaps you should rest?" Giovanni clicked his beak nervously.

"No... I must inspect the vessels so they can begin their voyage tonight. The repairs alone have set us back enough..." She grumbled, slowly making her way back down the docks.

Giovanni sighed, knowing better than to push further, following after her as she looked over the old galleons.

Silphium
Musaeum
Inner Sanctum
4:45 PM

Aaron set the quill back into the inkpot, freeing up his hand to slowly rotate the cramping joint. A Keeper approached carrying a tea set; setting the tray down on the ironwood table, she began to pour him a cup. As she worked, it was hard for him not to marvel at what generations of selective breeding accomplished, as ire as it was. Taking the cup from her, he brought the green liquid close to his nose, inhaling the bitter scent.

"How are your writings coming along?" The Keeper asked, tilting her head curiously.

"Slowly... I underestimated just how lacking the world's knowledge of banking is..." Aaron rubbed his eyes. "Assuming your collections are as complete as you claim..."

"They are...."

"Then the most developed country in terms of baking is Equestria... and their understanding of the practice is little better than dumping their Bits into a vault and collecting fees...." He groaned faintly.

"The way you speak about it implies theirs more to banking than that?" She tilted her head curiously.

"I've been writing for days and haven't even scratched the surface... while the practice of loans is at least... crudely understood... they haven't developed much beyond an individualistic practice between friends and family..." He sipped from the cup. "Interest isn't even a concept that's been discussed, let alone practiced... Though I suppose that's to be expected..."

"Interest?" The Keeper seemed curious.

"Think of it as a fee the bank charges-" He dropped the cup and clutched his head with a splitting headache. The porcelain shattered against the floor while the Keeper rushed to his side, keeping him from falling over.

"Aaron! What's wrong?" The Keeper looked panicked. "Fetch the Physcians!" She shouted at the guards outside the chamber.

Aaron heaved, holding his hand over his mouth in an attempt to hold down his drink. Shuttering, he pulled his hand away, noticing blood staining his thumb and index finger. Before he could react, the Keeper brought him a cloth to stop the nosebleed. "Thank you..." Aaron mumbled. While the worst of the sudden migraine had passed, a dull throb remained, which wasn't helped by the hurried steps of physicians rushing into the chamber to tend to him.

Equestria
The Everfree Forest
Castle of the Two Sisters
4:46 PM

Discord shuttered, having collapsed onto the floor, his body convulsing as if he was having a seizure. The Draconequus struggled to breathe, scarcely hearing the rushed hoof steps of Fluttershy. Thankfully, the spasm ended as quickly as it appeared, though he didn't seem to be in a condition to move for a while. Struggling to open his eyes, he gazed up at the winkled butter-yellow pegasus holding his head on her lap.

"Something terrible just happened, didn't it?" Fluttershy frowned and looked down at him.

"I'm not sure..." He said, biting his lip. "But... that magical pulse... was f-" He shook his head, seeing her worried face. "It doesn't matter..."

"I doubt you can finish taring the roof in this condition..." Fluttershy sighed, nuzzling him between his horns. "How about we get you near the fire while I finish the hazelnut soup?...."

Discord weakly smiled as she helped him back onto his feet. "I'd like that..." He leaned against her side a bit, allowing her to lead him to the old servant's quarters where she had made her home. "I still can't believe you've thrived out here..." He said, looking around and watching the small animals scurry about the abandoned castle.

Fluttershy chuckles. "I didn't do it alone; I have been a forest ranger and animal caretaker for decades." She huffed as she struggled to help her larger friend. "I watched over these animals and their families for generations... they think it's only fair they pay me back... despite my attempts to tell them otherwise..."

"Well... it was a relief to find out you've been well taken care of all this time..." He blushed, settling in a nest near the cooking hearth. Letting out a faint groan as he felt the intense warmth wash over him.

"I always felt more at home in nature... foraging was a hobby I particularly enjoyed too." She hummed, returning her attention to a bubbling caldron over the fire. Sniffing the soup inside, she shook her head and motioned to the squirrels to get more nuts.

"Still despite... what happened... don't you miss Ponyville?" He looked up from his nest.

"Yes and no..." She sighed, stirring the soup. "I miss what it used to be... but at this point, there's no going back to that... seeing it now would only ruin the memories I have..."

"What about the foals you raised with Rarity?" Discord asked in a concerned tone.

"When the economic situation started to sour, they had to leave for the cities in search of work... we used to get letters from them weekly... but over time they just stopped..." Fluttershy bit her lip.

Discord didn't know what to say in response; instead, he just coiled around the old mare hugging her close.

Emperor Ironback stood quietly as he gazed at the lights of Manehatten harbor at the horizon's edge. It looked so inviting in the darkness of the moonless night, like a flame luring in a moth. He held out his hand, allowing a servant to set a goblet into his grasp; bringing it to his snout, he inhaled the aroma of the sweet wine before taking a long slow drink. Once it was finished, he handed the goblet back to the servant and grabbed an ordinate war horn, staring at it for a while. Taking a deep breath, he brought it to his lips and blew.

The cheers of his soldiers onboard his flagship and among the fleet began to join in as the sails rose. There was no going back now; he could feel the ship pick up speed as they caught the wind and the rowers began to heave the oars. Stepping up to the bow, he held the railing and closed his eyes, taking in the sea air that was starting to give way to the smells of a port city. Opening his eyes, a smile formed on his muzzle while his eyes steeled.

"Just wait, little ponies; we'll be there soon." He chuckled as the sounds of the soldiers beating their spears and swords against their shields became deafening. The thrill of the coming battle overwhelmed their nerves. "We'll give you the same courtesy you gave our fellow bulls."