Kill millions, you are a conqueror. Kill them all, and you are a god.

“The Trotting Temperates.”

Frost let out a long, exaggerated groan before his torso sagged over limply, letting his free arm droop by his side. “Seriously. Do you ever fucking get sick of the horse puns? Not everything has to be a fucking horse pun. We get it. You have hooves. You gallop. And - fucking - Ponyville? If my child ever told me they lived in Ponyville of all places, I would execute them on the spot. Seriously. That is the worst name, for anything, ever.”

Neither Cadence or Twilight responded - considering one was very unconscious, while the other was very uninterested.

“Look, fuckass. If you’re coming along - you might as well engage a little bit. Fucking, I don't know. Toss some barbs at me. Spend some time with your old man!”

Twilight looked up towards him.

“...you’re not...my father.” She rasped out.

Frost’s eyes narrowed. “Then who the fuck is?”

Twilight shrugged. “Not...you.”

Frost barely suppressed a snarl - before he felt a twitch on his back. He held a hand up to stop Twilight, and with surprising tenderness set Cadence down on the ground.

Frost turned to Twilight. “Hungry?”

Twilight nodded.

“Okay. Go - fucking...I don’t know. Eat something. Come back here when you’re done. Don’t get lost, but if you do just burn down the forest.” He shrugged.

Twilight nodded yet again - before slinking into the shadows.

Moments later, Frost turned his head to the side. His face was immediately illuminated with a soft, pink glow.

“Tell me where I am right now, and maybe I won’t turn you into dust.” Cadence whispered. Her voice was steel, and even Frost arched an eyebrow.

“You - know I’m immortal, right? And that I could kill you like, in thirty different ways before you could even realize you were dead?”

The corona around her horn became more intense.

“Jesus, you have balls.” He whistled. “Look - if you’re worried that I’m here to - what, fucking...rape you, one - ew, two - ew. I just knocked you out, kidnapped you and a child and I’m bringing you towards where I laid an egg.” He shrugged.

“You’re doing that intentionally. This isn’t a joke.” Cadence hissed as she stood up and looked around. “Where - are we?”

“...Yeah. You’re right.” Frost looked down. “Uh. Sorry. Or whatever I guess. Look. We’re in the - ugh. I’m not calling it the Trotting Temperates. We’re in the Berth of Valerîon.”

Cadence was silent for a second. “Why?”

“We’re here for Twilight. There’s something here - it’s...an egg. And it’s an excess. Like - an eggcess.”

There was a beat of silence.

“Get it. Like - eggcess. Egg, and excess.”

“I got it.”

“Okay. Good. I was just making sure.”

“Can you get to the point?” The corona intensified.

“Fine! Jesus. Chill outa little bit.”

Another beat of silence.

“Get it. Like - chill. And my name is Fros-”

The corona erupted into a blast of brilliant pink energy. The tree Frost struck was reduced to cinders - along with half of his face and a few of his ribs. Frost crumpled into an unceremonious pile before he picked himself up, almost already fully regenerated - his face twisting as muscle fibers knitted themselves together.

“I am not joking, Frost. And I hope that proves it to you. You’ve kidnapped me, kidnapped a foal, and brought us into the middle of nowhere. I want explanations, now. I don’t want any of the crap you’re shovelling. Do you understand?”

Frost grinned slightly. “Yeah. You’re way better than Celestia. I understand.”

This time, there was another blast towards him - but Frost effortlessly sidestepped out of the way. Without missing a beat, Frost continued. “The helion was made with an excess. It’s a magical concept - are you familiar at all with it?” A head shake. “Ugh. Okay. So - an excess is like...an artifact that you use, to channel an excess of magical energy into a ritual so it doesn’t randomly fizzle because the leylines were a bit thirsty that day. That excess - magic can’t be created or destroyed. There was this - thing, I used for the physical excess - and I think that the excess was connected to the imbalance that she was made with. Did Celestia tell you about that?”

Cadence nodded.

“Okay. So - that’s the short of it. Basically - we’re looking for a part of her magic, imbued into a physical form. And I have a really good feeling that it’s here. This is where I performed the first half of the ritual.” Frost crossed his arms.

“...the first half?” Cadence tilted her head to the side.

“Yes.” Frost said. His tone was completely different - a cold flat whisper. Cadence shifted back uncomfortably before falling silent.

“How - important is this to her?”

“Imagine a unicorn that only has their magic, not their horn. Or vice versa. This is - a part of her. Fundamentally. She - needs it.”

Cadence glared. “And you’re not lying to me? You’re not actually doing this for your own gain?”

Frost shrugged. “Of course I’m doing it for my own gain. But I’m not lying to you. But if I was lying to you, I wouldn’t admit it to you. So. Don’t trust me and make your own inferences.”

Cadence stood up and glared even more intensely at Frost. “You’re making no sense. You’re acting nothing like the abrasive - well, ass, that Celestia described you as.”

“Do you want me to?”

“Of course not. I don’t get - why, though. And you’re still being as - stingy with information as she described. Seriously. Squeezing water from a stone. All of three minutes, and you’ve told me two things that you could've said in a sentence.”

“What’s your fucking point, Cadence?” His eyes narrowed.

Cadence stepped backwards. “My point is - just -” She paused for a second. “You feel such a strong hate, that it poisons me. Coming into Canterlot - I threw up three times because of your hatred. How - how can you feel like that, and then be…” She searched for the word. “...somewhat bearable? It - it doesn’t make sense.” Cadence turned her head to the side.

Frost didn’t respond, and the two sat in silence.

The air was displaced with each heavy flap of wings. A deep growl began forming within Beollyssurth’s throat as she dove down towards a set of five, strangely - almost shifting - mountains - the Pentaghast Peaks.

“Tell me about it.”

Celestia shut her eyes.

“It was the day. We had the misfortune of being caught off guard, within the Terrains. It was supposed to be a simple execution of a dragonlord - not…him.

He tore from the mountains. That ravine down there," Celestia gestured, "wasn't always there. His mouth began bellowing black fire, and he nearly consumed my sister whole. We fled as fast as we could - and only barely managed to take it to the Badlands, where I could use my full power without fear of hurting anyone. And even then - even with all of my sister's skill, all of my power - we barely won. His corpse sagged to the ground. It was a shot to the back of his skull - Luna's hammer shattered his scales. She performed the blow with brute strength, not telekinesis - magic resistance, and all."

“What of his armor?” Beollyssurth tilted her head to the side.

"He wore none. Barely any of our attacks scratched him to begin with - his scales were harder than any substance I have encountered, save the Glaive and the Hammer. I believe you know the story from there - Discord dealt with the rest of his army, and then...” She trailed off.

They dove down, landing perfectly down in a cave as far as their flight could take them - Beollyssurth shifting into a smaller form.

“Do you remember those days?”

Celestia nodded as her horn lit the path of the tunnels the two precariously navigated through. It would be awkward, with Beollyssurth’s sheer bulk - but Celestia was one of the few who the Fire-Queen would let see in anything other than her true bulk.

“Not fondly. But I remember them.” She let out a soft sigh.

“One of them was still alive. A self-professed rival. His wings - they were torn apart and burned, and the embers never faded. That was dark, evil magic that you used Celestia.”

Celestia’s smile didn’t match her cold tone of voice. “Please, Beo. Get to your point.”

“Every day since the moon broke, I can feel that magic echoing, Celestia. And speak, knowing that you are among friends in response to this - are you certain that she is good? I smell the Conqueror on her, Celestia. I smell - I smell the same thing that Berzerkiel had on him.”

Celestia opened her mouth.

“Think on this, Celestia. I will ask you again - and only then will I heed your answer. Think on this.”

The Jungles of Panthera were usually quiet. Today, they were ablaze.

A colossal army of creatures tore their path through the jungles as they wielded fire and steel - tearing through the underbrush of the thicket, chanting their cries in a mixture of the common and antheric tongues. Some were specific to their species, to their small sect within the loosely organized army - but there were three words that you could hear no matter where you stood.

“Sic semper tyrannis!”

---

Overlooking the restless army was a small room - with a mare and a stallion currently engaged in conversation. The mare was wearing a set of ornate, religious robes - while the stallion was wearing the bastardized armor of a Judicator.

“And was she always like that? You’re avoiding the question. Painting it in layers of dogma and faith. How can you have faith in a false goddess?” Sunset arched an eyebrow.

“Watch your tone, harlot.” Igneous growled and pushed a hoof deeper into the table.

“I’m not saying she isn’t a deity. That's an objective fact. But you really believe the shit you’re selling? Pedalling? Hm. What is the expression you ponies use nowadays?” She arched an eyebrow.

The Grand Zealot turned his head to the side. “She is the only deity who sees the truth. It’s the simple fact of it. The Lords - they can’t be stopped. They’re endlessly approaching. You should know this, witch.” He hissed.

“So - tell me. Was it your daughter that converted you?” Sunset leaned in dangerously close. “Little girl gets infused with a helping heaping of transtime energy, kills your whole family - and you come to the conclusion that the only solution is omnicide?”

Igneous was silent. The table shattered.

“How hilarious.” Sunset rolled her eyes. “Well - it would be if it wasn’t so sad. All of this - all of your faith, all of your actions...because you’re sad that the universe doesn’t give two shits about things like you.”

His voice was a soft, hateful whisper.

“I was blessed. My Pinkamena - I saw the truth because of her. A void spirit from the blessed tongue of Primordia, spoken unto me. I do not worship Luna. I worship the sweet Oblivion that she will bring us towards - that my daughter will bring us towards. Don’t you understand?” He slowly pulled himself up to his full height. “Why are you here, if you do not understand!?” He hissed.

Sunset didn’t seem remotely phased.

The door opened up as the Nightmare strode in. By her side - a twitching, wide-eyed Rainbow Dash. Every time she blinked, she winced - and there was blood leaking from her eyes and ears as she trembled where she stood. The artificially aged filly was a monstrous sight - a grisly amalgamate of flesh and metal...as well as the long hours Sunset had poured into her, tearing out every ounce of her fight...and, at the Nightmare’s request, carving the visage of her dead mother into her own eyelids.

All because of one failure. Sunset almost felt bad. Almost.

“Celestia has left. Just as the Illusionist said - she and the Fire-Queen are - indisposed. The time to attack is now.”

Igneous let out a grunt before he turned to the Nightmare. “And if they return to Canterlot together? Even our forces-”

“The dragon has got her own issues to deal with.” Sunset leaned back - flashing a look at the Nightmare. “You’re welcome, by the way.”

“And as for Frost?” Igneous sat down.

“...a wild card. Unpredictable. Equal parts as likely to be in Canterlot, or without it. And if worst comes to worse-”

“Then I can handle him, as we agreed.” Sunset leaned in. “It’s been far too long since I’ve had a crack at him.”

“Then it is decided. We leave Panthera tonight - we arrive in Equestria within the week. And then - we attack.” The Nightmare shut her eyes.

Rainbow Dash whimpered as blood leaked from her lips.

The night fell. Sunset Shimmer let out a soft sigh as she walked through the jungle rather aimlessly, her eyes glowing slightly with magic as they illuminated her path.

Slowly, she came to a stop. She turned her head with a small noise - as she observed an absence.

It was shaped like a dark, dark purple wolf - so dark it was almost black - but the edges of his form seemed to blur into reality itself. As always, he wore a rather ridiculous looking trenchcoat and bowler hat - and his eyes, a bright purple contrasted sharply from the rest of his appearance. Sunset froze for a moment, before speaking.

“...Hello, Void.”

“Hello, granddaughter.”

Beollyssurth placed a claw over the slightly marred ground, deep, deep within the cavern. She raked her claws over the dirt - tearing up a small spray of it before she sniffed it.

“Your answer, Celestia.”

“She is not evil. I am certain of that. But - she is not all good.” Celestia turned her head to the side.Maybe, it's one part her nature. There are those who claim that her nature is - well, monstrous. No - her nature is that of a predator. She is not a pony - she’s…” She trailed off. “...something else. I’m not quite sure what to call her, regardless of her physical form. I’ve seen - I’ve seen what lies underneath that flesh. And quite frankly?”

Celestia thought for a moment - a thousand eyes, a thousand mouths, screaming shadows…

“...It terrified me more than anything Berzerkiel, Grogar, or Discord could ever have done. There is so much - potential in her. There are those that would use her as a weapon, or a tool - there are those that would see her become a monster...but I don’t want to see her become any of that. In a sense - I want her...to become herself.”

“I was talking to Cadence, before I left. She is a child. Not a filly - but a child. She is utterly unique, unfathomably brilliant - but ultimately...she still deserves the joy of her youth. She deserves friends, she deserves curiosity - she deserves all these things and more. But as for her - nature, her morality…” She was silent for a second.

“She is young, Beo. Fillies that age are just getting their cutie marks. They're figuring out what they're passionate about. Twilight is much the same - she is figuring out her morality. I’ve seen her kill a stallion for harming me, with no regard for the harm he inflicted on her - and I’ve seen her be so gentle, and so kind to those she calls her friends. I think - I think that she is not all good. I think that there is not evil, but - a darkness within her. But there is good. Her actions - she wants...peace. The best for everyone. Potentially in inherent conflict with her nature.”

“...She is not evil - but there is darkness within her. She is not all good, but there is so much light within her. She has potential for both - and I only hope that I can steer her in the right direction.”

Beollyssurth was silent for a second.

“You are as wise as ever, Celestia.” Her voice was a hoarse, raspy whisper. “I have words on that - but there is a more pressing issue.”

Beollyssurth stepped to the side. Celestia’s eyes widened.

Berzerkiel’s grave was empty.

“Are you trying to get us killed?” Cadence hissed.

The trio had journeyed for the better part of a day - the sky had slowly darkened, they had long since passed the bulk of the thicket...and entered a land of twisted flesh, spiralling marble and pillars of broken stone.

Eos.

“Look. These deer cities are crazy dangerous, yes. BUT, I’ve already been here. I already disarmed all the traps. See?” Frost stepped forward.

Three bolts of crackling energy tore through his head, stomach, and chest. His corpse fell down to the ground with a spray of blood. Cadence stumbled backwards with a soft gasp as she instinctively shielded the unphased Twilight’s eyes.

Frost stood up a few moments later as the hole in his head healed. “...Okay. I guess not all of them.”

“Are you alright?” Cadence whispered - then realized just who she was talking to, and grimaced. “Don’t - do that! You’re - ugh. You’re a madman.”

“Holy shit. Did you just say madman instead of madstallion? Or - madmare? Or madpony? There might be hope for you yet.” Frost grinned and winked at Cadence. “Look. I’m serious. Most traps are disarmed - just let me go first, and we can deal with them one at a time. I wouldn’t bring you here if there was something that could kill you.” Shrug.

Frost then thought for a moment. “Okay, actually, a lot of the things here could kill you. Just - don’t be really dumb, okay?”

Cadence stopped for a second. “Wait - how did we even get here? This is - it’s a continent away.”

Frost shrugged. “Took a shortcut.”

“And you can’t take a shortcut deeper in because...why?”

“Because the magical radiation here will fucking kill us.” He huffed. “I mean, I’d be fine. So if you want me to just dip out…”

“Might be nice.” Cadence grumbled. Frost snorted.

Cadence shut her eyes and let out a long, long sigh. “The - second - that we get the egg, Frost. I am going to throw you into the ocean.”

Frost snorted. “Oh, hush up Master-Speaker. This is probably more excitement than you’ve gotten in your whole career as a deity. Save that whole dragon thing.”

Cadence paused for a second. “How...do you know-”

Frost groaned loudly. “What, you think I didn’t read up on everything that could possibly help me kill my mom? Jeez. You have a bad impression of me.”

“Yes!” Cadence yelled. “A - very bad impression! You - kidnapped me! The only reason I’m not angrier about this is because I’m doing this for Twilight, and so-help-me stars if you’re lying to me…”

Frost grinned. “You didn’t deny that this was more fun than your boring Master-Speaker job.” And with that, he began lightly jogging through the ruins again. Cadence opened her mouth to refute - before slowly letting out a hff of air and looking down at Twilight.

“How are you doing, sweetheart?” Cadence lightly scratched behind Twilight’s ears. “We could take a break, if you’re scared or anything. I just want to make sure you’re alright.”

Twilight shrugged. “J-just...curious. M’fine.”

Cadence ran her hoof through her mane back and forth - before the two followed behind the wolf.

The damage during the battle between Gilgamesh, Freya, Buri and She-Who-Ruled had utterly ruined the city of Eos. The shattered organic technology that lay in ruins around them was testament to that - and the library was so densely packed with lingering magic, that the magical pressure was actually fatal.

The only safe way into the ritual site - the Ghol, as Frost called it, was through one of the shattered towers that lay half-embedded within a once large, ornate building. It looked almost like a cathedral - although Frost revealed it had once been a library.

The three walked - Cadence’s horn glowing with a bright light that served as their sole source of illumination - since Twilight couldn’t cast within such conditions, and Frost’s magic didn’t really have anything in the way of lighting.

And so the trio journeyed deeper towards the Ghol. Frost looked a bit somber as Cadence turned her head, inspecting the ruined rooms that they passed by - most everything save the barest of architecture had been stripped away, but at a certain point there were still scraps of paint forming murals on the wall.

One mural, in particular, showed a great white deer with an even greater lavender doe. Cadence dragged her hoof along the wall.

Cadence glanced at Twilight, before quickly erecting a soundproof, slightly shimmering wall of air in-front of them.

“...Okay. I’ll bite. That’s a semi-soundproofing spell. Footsteps and screams go through, words don’t. Why?”

Frost arched an eyebrow. “Uh. Because that’s how the spell works?”

Cadence shook her head. “I meant - why? Why are you - being nice to me? Is it just nostalgia? You were - a deer once, right?”

Frost’s eyes narrowed. “Why are you still fucking on this? Am I not allowed to be nice?”

“That’s not what I’m saying, and you know that’s not what I’m saying. That’s one of the things you’re do - you swear, get angry - you deflect from the subject.”

“I don’t need you to fucking psychoanalyze me. Better people than you have tried and failed.”

“Then how about this. Tell me - why? Why are you nice to me, but not to Celestia?”

Frost turned his head. He was silent for the better part of a minute - before he turned back to Cadence. His expression was - different. He seemed older - and for a second, Cadence saw who she was talking to. An immortal creature - older than the very planet that they were on.

“You remind me of someone I knew.”

“Who?”

And he was silent.

Fluttershy enjoyed nature.

Once, Twilight had talked to her about a philosophy that said that there were two facets to nature. The Garden was a perfect example of the first, gentle kind - the Facet of Florage.

As the night fell, it was illuminated only by the cold glow of magelight, and the vaguely bioluminescent flora that curled around the path and danced around the maze. There were small little nooks and crannies that Fluttershy liked to dig herself into - hearing the soft dripping of water making its way down off of a leaf.

It was truly beautiful within the gardens. There were also the fauna - so adorable, and also so fascinating. There were - exotic forms of avians, flowers that specifically bloom when activated with magic, creatures of minor myth - she swore once that she had seen a phoenix land on a branch before flapping off.

She felt that the gardens were woefully unappreciated - and she was determined to fix that. Rarity and Applejack were reluctant to come, but she had managed to get them sometimes. As for Twilight - usually, Twilight would sit with her so she’d have someone to talk to - but she hadn’t seen her all day.

While looking for her, Fluttershy had wandered into the gardens - past the slightly glowing maze...until she came upon the visage of one rather strange statue. Fluttershy slowly dragged her hoof over the statue. Its parts looked as if it was in conflict with itself, - a claw pointed back that connected to a far too large part of its coat, some sort of paw that was far too large compared to the rest of its body - strange legs that looked almost dragon-like...

“It’s rude to touch without asking.”

She yelped and recoiled as the voice sounded in her head. Her eyes were wide as she looked around.

“...you - heard that? My, my, my.” The voice sounded almost shocked.

Fluttershy immediately started trembling. “U-um. Y-yes. I’m sorry. Was...was I not supposed to?”

Immediately, the voice guffawed. “Stars above. And you’re related to the one who Conquest chose?”

“I...i’m sorry...I didn’t realize that - um. I...I should leave.” Fluttershy didn’t waste another moment before she turned tail and began sprinting back towards the castle.

Discord was silent for a long time before he sighed and mused to himself -

Why did I save her?

At the center of a city that had been woven from flesh, muscle, blood - crystal, glass, and electricity - there was a Library that three creatures entered.

The first of these creatures was a man who believed he was a hero, just as much as he believed he was a monster. He stood tall as his blade - a fragment of the First Blade - glimmered in a space just beyond his back.

The second of them was a deity. She stood as a beacon of magical potential as she walked through - the aforementioned monstrous hero leading her safely through the traps as she inspected the floor with a look of horror.

The third of them - was something beyond either of the two. Not a man - not a deity. And she realized what that thing was as she looked around the floor - covered in runic circles carved with blood, rich gems and rare ingredients, braziers still burning with magical flame that were chained towards one central focus - the excess...and as she saw the dark purple egg, and felt it call back to her, she knew what she was.

She was magic.

Twilight kept the egg tightly gripped within her magical grasp as she marveled at it - having not said a word since she saw it. Cadence was beginning to get worried - but for now, was more focused on leaving the Berth of Valerîon rather than anything else.

And as they reached the surface - exiting out of the tower from the Ghol, Cadence’s heart immediately skipped a beat as she saw the sun was blotted out by a colossal dragon - and underneath that dragon, the Sun.

Celestia and Beollyssurth dropped to the ground. Celestia’s eyes were glowing with a brilliant light, while Beollyssurth looked just a little bit annoyed. Celestia broke her fall by spreading her wings, catching a breeze as she landed down rather gracefully in-front of the trio.

“Celestia!” Cadence exclaimed. She stepped forward - only to pause momentarily as Celestia held a hoof up.

“Explain. Immediately.”

“I was getting Twilight a gift.” Frost shrugged and gestured to the egg. Celestia blanched.

“You broke the contract.” Celestia whispered. “You aren’t allowed to be with Twilight. We said that. What - is that?”

“Uh, no?” Frost arched an eyebrow. “It’s no one-on-one contact. I brought Cadence with me.” He grinned. “And that - is a part of her magic.”

Celestia stepped forward. “No. No. I will - I will not tolerate this.” Celestia’s eyes narrowed. “You are a cruel, hateful monster. To bend the rules of our agreement - to leave Canterlot, with my daughter, without my permission - and bringing Cadence into this? No.”

Cadence opened her mouth to say something. Frost instead stepped forward and snarled. “I’m doing my fucking job. That egg - that is a part of her. Do you want me to just fucking - fucking neuter her? Then she’s useless to both of us. And I fucking kidnapped Cadence so leave her out of this.”

Celestia blanched. “You - think that makes it better? No, Frost. You know that is not what I am implying.” Celestia whispered, but her voice seemed to shake the world itself. She stepped forward, her wings flaring - until Frost and Celestia were face to face. Cadence just truly realized how tall Frost was now, as even Celestia had to look up towards him. “You could’ve come to me. Informed me of such a subject - not…”

“Gotten the fucking job done? Do you want to save your sister or not?”

There was a single moment. Frost’s hand slowly reached towards his back - Celestia’s horn began to glow with the faintest shimmer of a corona - and Twilight found herself far too enraptured by the egg to even comment on such a thing…

Cadence’s voice broke through. “Please.” Choked, pleading. “The past is in the past. The future will be better. The egg - it’s important for Twilight. It is, Celestia. Just - look at it. And you can tell. Please - both of you. Just...take a step back.”

Frost’s eyes narrowed. He glanced up at Beollyssurth - the two exchanging a rather knowing look, before with a snarl he turned around. “Fucking - fine. Find your own way back to fucking Canterlot. Fucking - children. Of course this is what I get for being helpful for once in my fucking life.” Frost turned his head - and with a shimmer of air, he was gone.

Celestia let out a deep sigh. She glanced at Cadance - who was regarding her with a rather strange expression.

“...you don’t know, Cadence.” She whispered. “I saw what he did. If you saw…” Celestia looked down at the floor for a long while.

Twilight blinked a few times as she set the egg down - and walked over towards Celestia, curling her hooves around one of her forelegs. Celestia tilted her head down and regarded Twilight, who looked up at her with a rather stoic expression.

“I love you.” Twilight spoke, so - so softly...but without the slightest bit of hesitation between her words, as per usual.

Celestia shut her eyes. After a few moments, she slowly stroked a hoof through Twilight’s hair as the weakest of smiles returned to her face. “Come, Twilight. Beo - if you’d be so kind in helping us return home?”

Beollyssurth nodded slowly. She glanced at Cadence with a strange look - before her antlers began to glow as she lent her power towards Celestia. Celestia’s horn lit with a brilliant Corona as she hugged the egg, Twilight, and Cadence close to her form - and with a sharp pop, they were on Celestia’s balcony.

Celestia let out a long, deep sigh. “It has been - a tiring day. Know that my anger is not directed at either of you - just...many other things. Come on, Twilight - let us-”

And it was at that very moment that the first warspell struck the side of the castle, tearing Celestia’s room into rubble -

For the Nightmares had arrived.

-

Author's Note

The stage is set.
Behold! A discord server!

The next two chapters - Penance and Penumbra - are fully planned out. They will be written, then published within a day of each other.