Author's Note

This is the start of my 'rewrite'. As a side note the 'corrupted' text is not meant to be read easily. This will hopefully make more sense once you make it to the end of the chapter.

Thank you

Prologue (Rewrite)

Dragons are a race known for strength and resilience. Claws that are sharp enough to cut through almost anything. Scales strong enough to soak in lava and take a hit from an ursa major without so much as a scratch. Yet here I stand… After days of constant fighting I am the opposite of all we are thought to be. Pain and fatigue dominate my body that is only weakly held up by scared and shaking limbs. Dragons, no matter what is said about us, are still mortal creatures.

A bright flash to my side makes me turn to shield my eyes but only seconds later I’m struck by a …?̨̛͎͓̞̼͔̭̮̑͆ͧ̄̈?̨̣̼̜͈̐ͨ̂̾ͪ͛͞?̴̰̈́͌̇̈̇̀̕

Thrown violently through the air I flare out my wings to try and catch myself but am too quickly returned to the ground. Rolling and bouncing my wings are torn apart before I finally come to a stop. Head pounding and vision swimming I begin clawing my way out of the shallow trench I created. Slowly pulling myself back up onto my paws I fall back into the dirt after trying to take a single step.

Blurrily looking down I see bones poking out between still smoldering chunks of black flesh where my shoulder used to be. Hanging limp beneath the burn my arm didn't fare much better as skin and scales slowly peeled away to reveal charred muscles. Staggering back on my remaining limbs a loud cry to my side forces me to try and block another blow. Without thinking I'm already moving to deflect the attack. Only I couldn't raise my arm fully, horrible pain coursing through my shoulder and stopping me completely in my tracks.

A spear meant for my heart was only inconvenienced by my injured arm as it passed right through it and ended up pinning the charred limb to my chest. Crying out all I hear is a strangled gurgle, the spear in my side letting out a wheezing sound where it must have punctured my lung.

Gasping for breath I glare at the pony Â̷͚͔̠̙̟̲̳̑̕lͨ҉̱̗̖̖̲̳̙͖i̴̜͉̳ͫ̀ͦͧ͆ͭ͑͛c̵̮͈͎ͦ̄ͪͧͦȍ̼̞͎̳̺̜̤ͤͯ͐͊̀̀̚͝ř̛̺̬̞͓̝̰̤͉̉̋ͮͥ̈́ͦͧ͢n̗͕̩̞̆̇ͭ̽ͯ̑͌ͨ̂͝,̭̜͙̣̰͙̰̣̺ͩ̏̈́́̕͟ ̶̲͓̩̣͈̓ͣ̇ͮ̓͂̚͝Æ̃̍ͫͦͫ҉̷͈̤̠͚͖̱s̸̛̻̼̥̄̑͊ͩ̏͋̂i̥͖̅ͫ̂̓̏̉͐̀͠r͔̱̝̉͛̒͒̏̚still holding the spear. With all of my remaining strength I whip my tail around and manage to shatter the wooden shaft in two. Lunging forwards their eyes widen in panic, mouth flapping uselessly as my jaws snap shut around their neck. Warm blood filling my mouth as they frantically beat their hooves against me in an attempt to get free.

It is wrong to enjoy inflicting pain on others. One of the first things I was taught growing up was that as a carnivore I have to kill other living things to survive. Never once was it hidden from me that this was not a painless process, but we were taught how to make it as painless as possible for our prey. Over and over it was drilled into our heads that all life is sacred in the eyes of the great mother and we must only ever kill out of necessity. Our prey must be respected and we should always make their transition to the next life as easy as possible. Ķ̙̺͍͉̏͛̋̐̒͐i̪̲̠̳͚̍͋ͅl̡̤̟̗̳̹̲̰͓̈̀ͭ͘ͅl̡͎͚̥̱̰̎͆͐͗͘͡i̺̹̥͖͎̼ͩͬ͛ͧ͗̉ͣ̂̀ͅn̡͚̬̭̬̜̤͓ͯ̒̽ͩ̎̀g̷͙̙̜̰̰̜̩̣̺̈́̏͗̂ ̶̨̖͙̼̪̣̜̫̼ͮ̋ͤ̚͠t̴̰̩̗͎̫͓͗́̈́ͪ̎h̍̏̃̌҉̹͚̞͓̳͕e̢̻̪͍̺͚͓ͤ̋ͪ͒ͤͣͤͮ ̛͕̱̣͉͕͓͈ͦ͆̀ͣ͌̔ͤÆ̧̯̟̫̞̟ͨ͊̀͐̎ͥ͋̄s̎̌ͭͮ̒̄͏̵̥̬͍̜̼͇̪͎i̴̡̲̪͎̬͐̋͋ͪ͑͒̒͞r̨̛̰͕̘̬͍ͩ͆̓ ̢̙͍̀̒ͨi̷̸̲͇̰̖͖ͦ̇ͮ͆͋͋ͧs͕̖̘̺̦̣̦̃̉ͩ͘ ̠͒ͫ̾̌̌́n̢̪̙̩͖̟͇̬̱̰̉͠o̷̺̞̗̗̩͇͇̙ͮ̋ͣț̡͓͙̦̻̗͓͇̉ͬ̈ͣ͒̈͐͢͞h̹̩͉̜͕̰̳̘̅͂i̯̝͓̬̓ͮ̎͊̆̌̓̕͘ͅn̷͂̒̿̄̆̿ͦͩ͜͏̩̟͓̬g̸̲̻̜̠̗ͦ̐͋̇ͭͩ̌̀̔ͅͅ ̢͖͎͓͈̺̟̜ͨ͊ͧ̈ͬ̅b̬̺̦̰͈͗̒̓̂̉͂ͬ͜͠ụ̶̤̗͇̱͊͐t̸̶̬̰͍ͤ̓̾ͫ ̺̤͔ͬͦ̈́̒̇͢͜a̛̟͍̯̓͒̋͂̉ ͎͎̪̰̿ͤ͟ͅḇ̴̡̮̗̂̉͌̊̾ͯ̚͘l̥̭̐ͪͧ͌ͬ͜e̓ͦ̐̀̿̄͏̶̞͙̬̪s̷̮̪̬͎͎̣̫̙̘̉͆͊̏ͣ͒̆ͤs̵̟̭̟ͭ̎ͮ̃̏̄ī̪̳͉̓̽ͨ̕͝n̴̡͔̬ͨ͋̈́ͩͫģ̢̯͎̙̊̆ ̪͉͇̔ͣͧa̭̙̮͍̗͉̙̓̅f̧̾̈̅ͩ̅̎ͫ͗҉̦̹t̺̩̩̝̬͋͌ͨ͐ͪ̄̋̓e̙͇ͧ̓ͨͨͥ͢r̨͎̅ͦ́͂͑̚͟ ̿҉̭̗̤̯̟̺w̢̺͔͎ͤ̋̎̈́͛̀ẖ̨͓̲̫̃̑̔̔̈͌̀̇ͮ͘â̴͙͔̣̥̟̰ͣ̆ͥ̇ͨ͟t̞̩͍̯̫̮̂̔͗̏͠ ̺̙̯͚̝̞̜͎ͮ̀t̷͔͍̺̼̘͉̄̀̽̉̔ͥ͑́̚͜h̼̜̯̖͖ͫ̆̌̋͑̽̄͛ͥ͘ė̷̷͉̜ͯ͌ͨ̕y͇̳̬̝̜̭ͪ̐̌̆͌’ͩ͂҉̛̫̹̹̯̝̀ṿ̴̙͉͇̦͈ͫ́̀ĕ̵̦̤̦̼͗̈́̂͐̏ͦ͂͟ ̭̺̞͔̖͉̗̖̊͒ͪ̚ͅd̵̮̙̼͇̗͉͑̒̉̎͛͂͢o̔҉̧̹̣̖n̡̮͙͎͇̮ͣ͋͋̚e̴̗̮̼͖̬͈͗̎ ̸̯̠͖̗̤̑ͬ͜t̳͎͙̼ͧ́o͓̞͙̩ͥ̿̆͆ͣ̿̐ͪͯ̕ ̶͎̗̟͇̥ͫͩ̍̑ͯͪű̶̺̆ͨ̔ͬ̒s̴̸̬̪̔ͤ̅̔͌ͧ̌!͔̝̘̥̈ ̍ͣ̉ͣ̿̇͛҉̟͍̜̯͍͔ ̢̺̰ͯ̌͗͘͜

Loosening my grip and feigning letting go, the look of hope and relief that crosses their face is almost cute. Rumbling up from my chest a deep growl is the only warning the pony has before my teeth sink back into their neck again near the base of their skull. Vertebrae snap and flesh tears as my jaw completely closes. Shaking my head back and forth in quick and violent movements their body is thrown around in an identical fashion before finally tearing free with a shower of blood.

F̵͇͉̻̻̖̉̌ͯͧ̄̉̍̋͜e̤̤̟͓̖ͭ͋͊ͪͨ̔͟ả̡̺̲͖̰̰̯̻͙͔̇̇̋̋ͦ͋ş͓̙̗̦̆͒ͫ͌́͘t̍͑̄ͣ̓̐҉̶҉̰̹̠̘̳̻ ̱͙͍̼͈̋̄͐̋̽͗ͨ̕u̶̧̠̻̰͑̎̈̊ͩp͙͕̣̗̣̦͎ͥͥ͒o̡̖̭̗̓ͧ̌̓ͧ̓ͫͅn̖̲̞͓͎̟̔ͣ̎ͯͣ͞ ̙̮͍̳ͥ͋ͩt̏ͯ̿͊̀ͯ̄ͧ̋̕҉̵͓̫̩̪̙͖h͇̗̰ͮ͐͗̎̀̐̃ę̣͇̱͓͑ͩ͘͜ ̠͕̪̳̝̘̗͈̔̐͆͌̑̒ͭͯ͠f̬͌ͦ̓̏ͪ͗͐̈́͑͜͝͝l̟̬ͩ̉͜e̛̱̰̯͗͑ͧ̌̒̒͢s̪̘̳̥̱͆̂ͧ̉ͤ́̀h̞͓͙̣̺̠̲͐ ̵̜̣̪͙̥̔ͩͦ͠õ̡̬̝̻̺̫̻̦̥̇f̢̢̮̭ͭ͌̓̔̕ ̱̲̤͎͔̻ͦ̑͗̓ͅt̹͉̺̖̤̦ͤͯ͡͝h̘̝̤̘̤̙͎̺͒ͮͫ͆e͓̞ͧ̆̊̊͢ ̛̩̲̦̲̪̲̳͎͕̂̇̆̂̈́ͤ̓͟w̺̠̰̺̤̗̻̻͊̎̐ͥ̒į̸̜̖͖͇̲͙͚ͯ̆͛ͩc̡͚̺͖͔̘̙ͨ͒ͦͨ̂́͡k̡̧͚̱͔̖̙̙͇̲͐ͨę̢̼̦̖͛̍̽̿͌̂ͥ͜d̐ͣ̄͏̖.̢̛̖̜̹͈͖̻ͥ̓͂̊̈̉͋̑ ͕͍̗̟̅̊̈͊́͟ ̛̳̣͕̣̮̙͙̿̓ͧ́̆͗́F̺̫̰̳͇̰̠͎̓̉͑̈̐è̢͖̯̏e͍̞̬͚̹͗ͭͣ̍͠ͅḏ̨̥̰̫̖̟͌̀̇ͤͦ̈́͝ ̢̭̲̲̣̈́ͥ̿̋̓ͤ̔̚͡ų͖̞͈̺͈̝̤ͮͪ̓̕͢p̸̪̘̲ͧͤͯ̊̌̔̓̇͘͠õ̅ͬ͝͏͈̺͓͉̬̜ͅň̴͐̄͏͓̼͚̺̘͖̟̟͘ ̛̛̭̖̺̬̤̬̳̔ͤţ̤̮̠̥͚̔ͮ̽̅̇ͧ̈́̀͑͘h͔͍̤̺̠͇̺͔ͭ̇̾ͤ͐ͅȅ̷̩̯͙̫̙̕ͅ ͈̺̯̲̣͕̥̭̲̔́̌͆̚͞Ṱ̨̦͙͔́̎ͧ̂͢͠R̗̹̝̻̩͎̜ͭ̂͂͡A̶̤͖̼̻̝̯ͫ̐̄͐͜Iͭ̓͊҉̥T̵̛̜̲͈̖̂ͥ̿ͪͯO͕̹̗̥ͮ̋ͨͪ̅̎R̷̖̙̼̜̙ͮ̃ͮͫͩ̾!̠̲̯̀͑̆ͮ̄ͤͬ̿̓͝ ̴̷̠̼̞̬͊͊̈́ͭͬ ̴̲͈̘͙̮̬̑͜

Dropping the severed head a horrid cough drops me to my flanks. Gasping for air that isn’t there I can feel each breath getting more shallow. Clutching at the spear to hold it steady I continue to wheeze and cough up blood. Feeling dizzy, my head is forced up roughly by a strong grip. Through blurry eyes the hazy outline of a large white pony slowly takes shape in front of me. With something sharp pressed against my throat the blurry figure advances to only a step away. Ọ̍̑́́̕ͅD̵̜̞̯̟̺̗̠̽ͩͩ́͘͘I̙̤̦̳̤̜͚̜ͤͤ͊͟͝N̬̟̳̻̞̤̳̯ͧ̊̋ͯ͌̒,̜̙̖̐̆͛ͅ ̯̖̞̰̹̲̩̗͂ͩ̋͋ͥ̀ͧ ̴̲͛͒͒T̬̰̜̮͇̫̦̭̐̉ͣ̉͆̇̒ḫ̡̨̺̼̞̽̓͛ȅ̵̲͔̖͈̼̥̘̯̓ ̧̺̭̯̱̙͙̙̜̈́ͮ̏ͧ̌ͅĄ̶͔̻͚̫͈͕̹̊̈́ͪͤ̓̑ͥͨ̿̕l̵͖̐̃ͮͫ̊͛͞l͔͕̺̯ͣ͑ͪ͌̕F̫̜͖̱͎̖͎̍͐͂͜͝ā̯̲̺͈͎͎̯̘ͫͯ̊̾͌̄͗̋͢t̡̛͙̮̙͎̯̠̒ͯ͛ͩ̒ͭ́̚͠h̢̘͍̳͗̂̏e̼̭̞̘̠͂̾͜r̲͍̺̙͂ͬ̾ͧ̚͜.̡̧͎̠̍ͮ͟.̴͉̹̺̺̥͈̋ͨ͛͡ ̓͒ͨ̀̈́̾ͦ͏̫͔̟͇̫̙̝̤ ͖̖̹̱͋́͗ͪͅĂ̴̳̥̪̲̍ͬ͋L̶ͫ̏̄͏҉̬̗͈̝͎͚͎L̯͓̘̖̭̖ͣ̽̊̈ͤ̀͌͂͡ ͓̫͚̞͉̱̮̓͂̽ͪͮ́Ḅ̗͔ͮ̎̔ͯ̄̄́͒͡É̝̣̄͌̒̕͟T̫͇͇͎̮̽́R̛͑͒ͧͥ͂͋ͦ͞͏̘̼̞ͅA̔̐̇ͭ̓̌̈́ͭ͏̝͚̮̦̭͉̤͜Ÿ͈̫͖̗̜͓E͐ͤ̋̒͜͏̸̙̬̯̥̟̩͔̯̟R̗̟̹̘̝̤̟ͨ̿̿̈́ͅͅ

“It’s over, tell your warriors to lay down their arms. Nopony else has to die.” With possibly the thickest accent I've ever heard I can’t help but laugh at their attempt to speak draconic. Ċ̈́̍͏̨̡̩͍̫̦̘̬eͯ̌҉̦͉͟l͎̻ͬ̉͢ę͙͙̯͚͙̟̼̑͡s̢̲͇̺̟̣̟̜ͣͯ̃ͨ̓̃͑ͅt͉̓̇ͧ͋̃̾ͫi͛ͬͬ̑҉̙͔͓͓̣͞͝a̖̞̬̖̫͓͍̾ͩ̒̐̊̃́͠ ̲̱̩̤̟͉́̈ͥͥ̎ͫͩ̈́̕n̨ͭ̃̀ͣͮ͂҉̰͙̗ẻ̷̷̳ͪ͆͋̈́̀͛̓͜ͅv͉ͪ̈́́e̡̛͈̼̦͊ͨ̇͛̓r͈̮̪̞̞͓ͫ̂ͩ̅ͧ̃̋ ͕̲̼͔͕͎͈̋̎̃ͬ͐d̯͔̠̻͍̈ͬͯ͗̓ͣ̐͟i̧̙͖̪͚̯ͥ̓̓͆ͪͭ̊ͤͤ͞d̨̨̖͚̺̟̤̞͓̄́̀̊̅̃ͥ͘ ̙͉̖͇ͦg̴͙̬̜̎ͦ͡ë̵̫̩̥̗͈̯̮̤̳́̄̊̿ͨ̈̊͛͐t̵̡͈͕͚͕́ͧͧ͂̇͝ ̍̽͗͆̓͏̶̴̞͚̼̤͖i̛̘̖͈͎̓͌̐͊̌͒t̴̼͍ͦͩ̿ ͓̟̠͛̅ͥ͊̃̓́d̛͖̫̜̆̓̍́ͫ̾̈̀̚͜ȯ̧̘̗͔̯̮̔͌̀̀w̸͙̖̺̏n̗͓̲̺̗͊͂̋͋͆ͬ͌̒ͣ͞ ̶̸͚̘͑͑̒ͦ͋̓̚ẳ̛̞̫͓̬̩͟ͅs̼̭̬̻̈́͋͐ͣ͑͂͂̓̄͜͠ ̠̮̃̓̇ͮw̓̅ͮ̈̽́̾͂҉̣ê̺̠̺͚̯̠ͥ̅̚l̳͚͇̜̤̼̪͉͒̓ͥ͡ḻ͓̹̰͇̆ͤ̈̽̎͒̾̽ ̜̫͙̩̈́ͪ͘͞͠a̙̪̻͉̻͉͈͈͛̽ͭ̂ͨ̆ͬ̆̾̀s͕̮̘̜̐ͧ͑ͬͨ̊̿ ͉̬̦̹ͣ̓̉͟͠L̵̗͍̲̮̄̀̀u͐͐ͤ҉̝̩̙͇̩̀n͋ͩ̉҉̢̟͓͔̘a̯̺͓͉͇ͫ.̸̨̳̙̲̯̳̩͛͌́̌ͨ͘ Only a single pitiful and hollow wheeze managed to escape my throat before I broke down into another coughing fit. Every cough caused my wound to bubble with blood, the sound of them popping practically deafening even over my coughs. Taking time to recover I eventually managed to look back up to the mare.

“Nopony… Funny.” My throat aches as I speak between wet breaths. The mare stomps her hoof in agitation and presses her sword against my throat.

“I will not ask you again, dragonJ̮̼̮̰ͦͤͬͥ̋̇̾o̼͍̘̱̟̯͓͒̏ͣt͈̭̟̗̤ͯ̾ͭ̐u͍̩̘̝̳̝͔̖ͤ͛ͦ͗̃̎̅ņ̫̩̘̝̳̠̈́͐̎̎́n̽̐ͨ͛ͪͩ҉͔̘̟͉̗͔̗͍͞,̛̥̤͓̓͋ͣ̅̅͞ ̨̲͓̭̥̼͌ͧ̋͠D̵̟̻̱͈̼̦̙̉̄͗ͨ̚E̡͉̼̹̰̤͓ͥͬ͛̒ͣ̑̕͞M̙̻̙̳̱̃̋ͥ͊̎̽̍̍̀͜O͓̜͕̙ͤŃͪͨ̾ͫ̚͏̩̥̲̱̺̗̘̖!͐̒ͭ̽͗̊ͣ͏͕͖Tell your warriors to lay down their arms and surrender. I don’t know why you're protecting that monster, but w-”

“Monster?!” I had to stop to catch myself as I nearly fell over. Coughing and light headed I tried again.

“It is alright little one, save your breath.” Turning to the new voice I tried not to panic. Walking towards us m̴̸̙̳̺͊̇̇̋ͣë̛̖̲̬̩͓͈͌ͫ̽̊ͦ͝ͅ,̵̬̈ͦͤ͠ ̸͍̮̠̔͛̇̊ͦ̈́͗͊M̳̯̝͎̆̇͌̕͜y̯͍̼̤͚̻̣̪̓̂S͒̅̉̐̅̆ͬ̚͏҉̳͇̳̹͇̪̺͚e̝͍̮̭̖͎͕̱͂͌ͬ̊̇̽̾ͮl̡̘̲̬̫̋͐̍̍f̡̘̿̃̒̾̿̊?ͧ̈͐ͥ̈ͧ͢͏͖͍̻̟͉̟͉͖ was a tall nature spirit. Her wooden form knotted together into the rough shape of a wingless dragon. T̳͙̲͖ͨͤ͜h̨̧̭̲͙̫͗e̳̳̍̑͊̂̀ͨ͋̆̌ ̼̝̼̼̗̮̾̍̽͘ͅF̶̛͙̙̯̙̜̦̭ͨ̏̈̈͂̇̅̎ͫa̵̤̟̰͐̽̅̋ͬ͋ͤ͋̀t̶̫ͨ͒ͯ̆̌̀ͬ͒e̟̥̫̱̘̠ͩͬ̓̋͂ͤ͢͝ ̩̦̪̤ͣ̐͛̉ͭ͜͠ȍ͙̭̹̼̮̬̹̊̍̑́f̸̽ͪ͝͏̹ ̏̌ͪ͞҉̰̦̘͇̰͘a̵̢̪̟ͯͥ͗̈̽̈ͬ͆l̖̯͈͚͓͍͖͚ͩͦ̽͐́͟͢l̴̡̙̹͇̟͍͙͇͌͗ ͕̩̙̆̒ͤͥw̵̙̰̬̜͓̍͘ͅẖ̴̟̓̂̋͐̅ͭ͒ỏ͔͖͚̦̟̎̇ ͦ̾̊ͣ̔̑҉҉̙̗͖̠̱o͋̈͊͌͒̆͏҉͚̣͚p̠̗̼̞ͯ̅̚͡ͅṗ̴̊ͬͮ̌̆͂̎҉͙̦o̙̫͔̲̞̼̺̰̎̋ͣ̀͝s̜̽̋͝e̖͎̼̜̍̿̑̽͛̑ ̸̨̰̝̗̝͛̒͠h̨͉̙̯͚̔̌ͮͥ̚i̠̠̪͈͙͖ͯ͗͘͝m͙̻̜͍̮̫̻̝̅̌͢.̛͖̹̃ Moss and fungi grew freely all over her body, and a soft green glowing mist seeped out from the many holes that marred her not quite perfect shape. Walking through the crowd, ponies̢̜̩͚̜̅̇̈͟͞Æ͙͚̤̪̤ͪ͛͂͆̀͞S͇̞̹̙͓̤͙͈ͤ̑ͤ̒͒̈́Ǐ̶̗͈̭͙͒͛̎̆͗R̼̖͓ͩ̒͛̈́̚,̺̤̖̹͓̝̜ͫ͂͆̿̓ͬͭ́ ̨͙̜̊ͥ͌ͬ̏͂Ḋ͗̓͑҉̡͖̻͇̟͎̺E̮͙̺̬̺͍ͪ͆͗̔ͣ͆̇͋̕͢͞M̟̗̣̫̖̔̂̈́͝O̡̹͈̓͊̈̇ͣ̿͗͑̑͞͞N̴͕̱̠̟̊́Š̩̙̣̘͇̦̂ͅ,̷̮̞͗ͬ͗ͩ̍ͭ̈ͧ ̻̱̥̻̱̤͈̮̅͂̀́̌ͤ͒ͨ̀A̻̱͉͑ͯ̓̌͠Ḻ̶̢̘̘̦̘̞̗̠̍ͧ̊͊Ḯ̧̧̫͈͉͕̩̈́̋̐ͣͅC̸̫̿͐̔͑̎̈̾Ỏ̜̮̼̥͎͖̦͛ͣͪ͌̈̓́R̛̗̗̫̬̻͔̗̝̋ͥ̓́͞Ņ̦͎͇ͧ͋͒̓̀̚S̸̝͕ͩ͒̋̂͢scrambled to get out of her way as she settled down next to me. Sitting on her rear she gently cupped my chin and stroked my cheek.

“Mom I-”

“Hush my little wildflower, it will all be okay.” Even without a mouth I knew she was smiling as she looked down at me. N̵͔̫͉̳̹̪̉̎ͦͤͅo͚͚̐̑͊ͣ͠ ̲̺̥͈̥̃ͦ̈͐̂̎j͔͚̝̒͆̐ą̩̹̙̭͚̯͓̎ͤ͗ͭ͌ͥ̕w̴̭͉ͥ͋ͧ͛ͤ̈.͈͚̞͖̈́̋͜ ͈͓͓̘͇̝͕̥̇̋̇͛̓̐̿̊̀̚͘͡ ̪̱ͥ̌̂̊̈́͜Ň̰̫̳̈́̑͞o͕ͥͭ̀̋ͪ̑ ̖̳͈̫̄̓s̱̪͕̺̘̮̙̘̎̃ͥ̀ḿͦ͛ͤͥ͢͏̰͖î̡̡̳̣̦͉̅lͦͫ̏̅̓ͩͦͬ̐͏̵̣͚̪̜̤̬ͅͅȅ̟̇ͬ͒͊͛̐̚.̶̰̥̖͓̪͓ͧ́̉́ͭ̓ͨ̏Even with her so close to me I fought to not shake in fear.

“So you finally decide to show yourself.” Looking up at the mare, mom T̷̛̼̳͍̙̜͍ͯ͐ơ̙ͨ͊ ̶̒̓̂͏̫̣̼͙̦̤̲̺͜l̡͆́͠͏͔̯̭͙̜ȍ̙͉̹͇͍̗̖͙͒̚o̷̬̦̳̊ͦ̈̔ͫͣ̏͟k̡̠̲͉͙͉̹̭ͦ̆̀̿̄̇ ̴͈̬̮̞ͣ̈́̈̉̎̑̉͗͠͝ȉ̥̒̑͑ͭͦ͟͟͡n̴̛̖̬͚̝͕̤̬͍͒̋ͯͪ̇ͣt̘̓͐̆͒̎ͤ̔̊͆͢͝o̢̟̱̙̲ͬ͊͊̄̌ͤ͡ ̧͕̹̰̳̙̦̬̻̀̍̎t͈̪̯̬̼̗̜͗̉ͧ̓̌ḧ̢̰̺̬̯́̓̓̒ë͕͔͈̝̺́ͤͩ̓ͩͨͧ̑ ̧̔͛̔͛͐ͧ͊̅͛͏̗̘̬̭d̛̙̘̤͗ͬ̔ͩ̕͟a̵̪̼̟̪̙͔ͭͤ̀ͅr̀͋̓͗ͬ̀͘҉͙͙̝̳̟̺̣̘ͅk̨͍͉̜̺̬̲̿̉ͨ͘͘ ̵̩̦͚͉̬̇͛ͤͣ̐̕ͅi̳̥͈͎͎͍̬ͪͭ̕ͅs̫̥̖͇͇̮̔̅̌ͭ̒ͪ̽̕ ̊̃̋҉͍̺̥̜̝͘t̡͖̝̝͖͔͇̣̻͐̔͗ǫ̫̩͇̹̺͎̗̪̓͑ͨ̐ͧ̆̈́̃̏͢ ̢̮͕͗̀̈́̅͊̇͘l̟͍ͦ͟͝o̷͎̭͐̋̀̈ͥ̋ͥ̀̓͞o̵̞̱̲̫̠͕͕͂̀̍̎̉̍ͮk̴̠̫̫͌̕ ̛̦͉̘ͦ́ͣ̈́͑ͧ̚͟i̙̟͓̊̔̽̀n̷̶͖̤̜̰̫̄ͦ̾̔̚t͆͆ͫ͞͏̤͈̘̥͔͉o̺̖̙̿͂̍ͫ͛̂̾ͥ̀ ̧͇̩͂͐͝ÿ͚͚̞̪͍̺̮̟͕́͐͂̕o̦̝̖̖ͣͩ́u͆̆ͥ҉̹̙̺͇̗̀r̵̢̤̅̑̂s͋͛ͪ̊͊҉҉̜̺̘̮̱͇eͦ͆ͫ̍ͯ͆̀͢͏͖͇l̒͋̂̂̐҉͓̯̭̣͚̳̘͉f̱͖̥̺ͯ̉͐ͪͯ̚.̱̘̼̖̹̠̔̊ ̸̴̣͚ͨ̾͛͆̚͡ ̛̱͍ͨͦ̉̑ͣ͂̓͡M͆̎̆͗̕҉̺̜͈̲̲Y̡̮̝̜͊ ͔̠͉̠͒̇ͩͧ̒ͥ͂͘s̡͑̄̐̓̀ͅc̠ͪ͘a̤͕̭̮̪̐̑͟l̡͚̦͕̲̫̈́̓͝e̗̣̪̜͎̘ͬ͝͞ͅš̫̥̪̠͕͒̎̋́͠ ̵̩̪͔̣̳͚̙̪̯̿ͦͬ̀͒̀s̐̂ͫͩͮ̋̀҉̷̖h͕̰͌͗̋͐́͑̓i̗͎̒̿͋͢͢n̴̶̥̜̝ͦe̹͎̘̾̅̀ͪ̎̿͢ ̹̹͐͝͝w̧̭̣̺͙̮̞̍͋ͤ̂̽ͅi̒̎̃͑̈̈́̊̚͢͏̧̬̰ṫ̪̝̍ͬͩ͜h̵͎̘̖̄̅̏͞ ̭͈͇̜ͭͧͣ͜t͚̮̜ͯ̐̿͛̌͆ͫh̵̟͚̯̉̑͋ͩ͐̀͡ȩ̺̦̘̜̰̗̖̇̓͂̽́̀̚̕ ̼̲̮̘̬͓̎̽ͫ̎ͤͫ́͡b̹̳͎̥̙͂̒̊̾ͅl̢̯͈̬̹͙̠̰͆ͭ̈́͐̑̌o̟̠͔ͤ͗̃o̶̡̫̖͕̖̦̾ͅd̐͒͏̨̥̩͍͎ ̘̻̞̜̰̹͔̰ͦ̈́̃ͮ͊͒ͭ͡ǫ̻̩͎̩̱̖̗̪̅ͭ̽͆̉ͭ͆̃f̤̭͐ͤ̆̾̚͡ ̥̣͇͖̭̥͔̣̝̐ͬ̽͒̈́ͯͭ͘t̢̧̪̩͚̰̲̒͋̊̓̔ͦͦ͋͜h̝̦̦͈̟̝͙̿̆̇ͮ̌ͫ̋ͬ́e̡̼̪͑̈́́ ͈͔̩̻̻̥͍̙̉i̛̺͎̝̹̤̩̳̝̋̆̽̚̚ṇ̲̟̪͓̰͙͊̈́̔n̲͕̭͋̃͊̾ͫ̾ͦ̀͘͡o̹͎̗ͦͤ̽̅̎ͥc̜͇͔͈̼͔̺̿͑͟e͕ͦͬ̚͡͞n̬̞̙̪̳͓͕̦̞̄ͦ̎ͬ̋͢ţ̴͚̘͈̗̖ͫ̍ͫ̾,̱̾ͥͫ́ͭ͜ ̞͔̘͔̱ͪͥͦ̌͐̄̌͌m͎̻̘͓͇͈͕̝͑̌̎̓̄̕ͅy͆͒̔͠͏̷͙̺ ̨̛̭̤̲̻͋ͣ̍̒ͦ͐͗͛̿f̢͕͉̝̓ͫ̔͐ͣ̑͋ͨl̹̟̦ͭ̍̽͜ë̢̬̻̥͌͝s̵͉̯̣̺̝̱̾͊h̵̬̹ͮ͒ͫͤ̑ ͔͚͎̬̰̫̤̹̞̎ͦ̕a̶̹̪̺̍̃͢s̩̖̣̪̍̔̂̃̇̑̾̚̚ ̵͇͙̬̺̹ͦ̉͐ͯb̡͇̦̗̗̑͒ͅl͉͖̦̦̥̜͉̱̲̎̑̄̈́̑a̮̲̖̭̗̤̺ͨ̉͞͡c̟̦̟̺͕̗̎ͬ̎͜k̙̝̤ͨͫ̾̈ͮ͋͂ ̷̛͕͕͇͇̥͓̝͎́ͮ͆̋̉͂ͪ͜a̳͙͓̤̙̞̺̋ͧ̔̕s̘͙̮̮̄̓͢ ̴̛̮͈̺̳̭͔̠̯̝ͪ̚m̷͎͉̋̔̄̉̓̚͠ẏ̻ͭ ̧̘͓̺̩͙̺̙ͬͣ̓͢s̵̞̯ͫͯo̹͚͙͙̻͔̪͔͊ͪͩ͛͛͑̄ͮů̱̪̜̹͎͙̈̇͆̇ͧͪ͜l̟̫̫̭̤̳̔ͯ͐̀ͦ̆̉̃͢͝.̢̳̗͚͓̥̫͑͠ͅͅslowly settled in next to me and methodically wrapped her wooden form around my own much like she had when I was still a hatchling.

“Oh Celestia, I’ve been here the whole time, I just had to make sure everything was in place before you came.F̪̹̤̤͔̆͗̈́̂o̓ͫ̀ͤ̽͊͗͏̸͇̺̭̣͔͈̣řͬ̎ͤ̅҉̵̳̠͚͇ ̬̱͎͔̈́̾̏̊͒̀t̬͈͔̬ͦ͒ͮͭh͉̣̺̻̣̻͈̬̃ͨ̽̉̏̅̓͆e̸͚̭͉̭͔̠̓ͬͨ ̡̙̟ͮ̑̀W̸͔̬͎͊̆̓̈ͯ̀ͨ̍ͮ͘͞iͪ͆̍̅ͪͥ̓̈͏̮̙͔̹n̡͖̠̦̬̤̗̠̭͕̋ͥ̎t̗͕̫̻͓̹̙̱ͥ͒ͥ̿̃̒ͦ̽͝e̡̙͚̐ͬ̉ͯͩ̓̒͐͆͠r̢̻͎̲̩̪ͫ ̩̗̳̜̆̑͐̆̓͘͠͡i̷̷͙̤̦̤͚̝ͬ̋ͅs̶̟͇͇̫̣ͮͬ͛͆͘ ̮͖͓̰̄̀͋̉ͨL͎̾Ọ̹̫̒ͥͩ̊ͮͮ̒̚͢͡n̅̎̍ͬ͐͏͖̙͉̲͘G̶̤̝̠͑ͫ̒ ̶̘̤ͥ̏̉ͫ͐͘͠ą̸̧͇̙͉̱̱̩̣̑n͙͇͖̙ͧͧ̏̊͛d̫̥̙̯̠̼̱̤͗̏̉ ̨͙̪̗̤̳͓ͤ͛̉ͧ̅ͮ͜Ŵ̧̫̰̭̜̹̺ͣ͂̈́̀̇̀͠I͛ͩ̉͗ͧͨ̽͏̸̠̗͇̟t̨̫̺̼̗̥͕̃ͥͦ͗ͫ̂̂̽̚h͈̝̖̺̜̎ͨ̈̂̈́̒̈́̕͠O̢͕̔̀͂̃͡Ų̛̹͈̼̣̯ͬͪͨ̄ͭ̄̍ͧt͉̗̖̣̍̌́̽̐͛ ̧̖̀͑̇M͉̝̤͛͢E̷͇̤̦̳͍̲̼͒ͭͬ͌ͮ͋͜͠R͇̠̹̆̈̈́̉̉͌͢C̴̖͕̫͔̹̬̞̼ͬY̸͈̗̅̿ͮ́̈́͐̾̚”̷͎̗̤͓̋̾ͫ ̵̧̗͕͖̯͇̪͗̐̃ I watched as theḶ͚͕̃ͨͩͬ̍̀̕I̜̜̫͙̱̯͊̈́ͯ̃͠Ȃ͙̪͉̦̺̫͖̽̎R̸̩̞̟̲̼̲͍̓̊̐ͥ̍̓͐̏ͬͅ,̘̫̳͚̪͑̆́ who I could only guess was Celestia stiffened slightly at her words.

“What did you do?” Ignoring Celestia's demand, mom gently grasped the spear in my side with one paw and offered me her other one. I needed no prompting to open my mouth and bite down on the offered limb. In one swift motion she pulled the spear from my side and then pressed her palm against the wound. Biting down hard from the pain I did my best to make no noise as she pushed her mana into me.

“Nothing more than an incentive for you to stay and listen. Sit, I would like to speak with you about a few things Celestia.” Pulling her paw back from my shoulder I felt myself able to breathe again, but as I opened my mouth to let her arm go she held it in place as she started to poke at my charred skin. Slamming my jaws shut I growled loudly in protest to her actions but otherwise did nothing to stop her.

“And if I don’t? What happens if I strike you down now and rid the world of your vile spirit?" W̵̱̿ͧ̿̿͑̄h̶̻̣̹̝̬̍̽̈ỹͮ̃̍̔̏҉̠̞̖!̪̟͔̖̠͔͈͕̎ͣ̍̓͜?̗͇̗͎̽͐ ̧̆̄ͧ̅҉̖̮̟̼̪͞ͅ ͪ̀҉̼͈̩̹͓̀̕A̳͕̰͈̝̞͚͖̋̇̊͘͠f̴̰͇̯̪̭͓͌ͩ͐͠ͅț̶̢̺̫͍͓̻͕̜ͫͮ͐̉̅̽͡e̱͈̅̎͘ŗ̿͑̍̌ͮ͏̪͇͓̖̘̠̀ ̴͖͔͈̬͎̭̥͊ͩ̒̾ͯ͂͋̀ͅa̸͍̖̦͊ͭ̆l̞̜͇̂ͥͯ̓͗̓͟͝ḻ̡͙͙̞̩̽̍ͫͤ͊͠ ̧̫̠̏ͥ̀͟t̶̙͙̦͉̣̱̹̻̬̑̅ͭ̉ͥ̐ͪ͑h̦̺̹̹̠̪ͮ̽ͨ̾̌̈́̀́ͯ͜͜ͅȩ̂ͩ҉̹̬̪͔̰͍̜̤y̴̝̫̯͖͖̠͈̿̍͐'͍̑̌͒̓͐̽ͦͭ̇v̩͒̉̐̃̾͟e̲̖̘̻̲ͮ̓͌͘ ͗͒҉̶͙̯̤̰ḏ̸̯͖͙̯͍͛̿ͮ̈͂ͯ͊́o̠̝̭̗̖͈͐̆ͭͬ̾̉́͝n̜̬͙͎̾͗̔ͦ͂̏ȩ̙̪̲̠͚̭̺͋ͩ̄͝ ̩͙̦̇ͧ̒͊̂̐̚͢͡f̼̰͋͗͊̊̅̑́̕o̰͓͛ͯ͊͒ͨ̍ͤ͜ȓ̰̹ͦ͛ͣͥ͑ͪ̃ͩ ̴͙̦̜̀̌u̴̫̥̦̩̻̣ͬ̽ͦ͂̄̋ș͋͂̎́̽̄̚͘͡!̙̪̭̙̪̳̗̣͚͋̏̌͗?͚̖͓̍́̽͑̃̿̈͡Stopping her prodding, mom looked up at Celestia and cocked her head to the side.

“Do you really want to find out? I thought you cared too much about your precious little ponies to take risks like that. By all means Celestia, strike me down. I would love to watch as your little perfect world burns down to ash.” With a sigh Celestia finally lowered her spear, the other ponies however kept theirs trained on us.

“No, I do not. ” W̳̞̲ͧ̽͌ͯ̈̓̕h̄͌͐ͣ̐̕҉͖̖̳̫̗͚̞̘ͅỷ̧̱̺̬͉̼̥̓̒ͥ̓͑̕ ̶̗͉͈̙̉ͩ̾ͤ̎́̆̅͢F̛̣͙͎͉͆̈́̓ͥ͑͆ͣͭͣ͠aͨ͂̅̎̔ͥ҉҉̠̼̱̣͔͝t̵̻̠͐̍̽͑̌͝h͉̺͍͚͐͑͋̚̕ẽ̙̲̞̹̭́̽́̑ͦͪ̌ͧř̛͓̝͕̩̪̭͕̫̪̂ͨ́́?̙̠̱͔͙̳̥ͧ̀̈́̎̾ͩͅ ̹̮̦ͮ̎͟ ̫̺̼ͤͫ͗̏̎̇͜ͅT̟͆ͪ̎ͭ̍͒͋̚h̸̙̼̐̾̿e̹̬̟̽͒͂͗̄ͬ̂y̢̙̥̟͚̜̜̫̫ͪ̿͌ͧ̆ͮ̓̀ ̶͉̟̰̊̅͒̊ͣ̽a̟̗̣̪̮̫͑̃̽̐ͮ̑́͜r̸̝̤̲͓̘ͬ́ͯ̒͒͝e̔̍̍ͬ͆̓́̌́҉̯̪̩̮͔͚͙̤̝ ͕̖̺̪͈͓̣̍ͣ̏ͣͩ̈́ͧ͢o̧̯̮̞̼ͪ͌̅̓͝ͅu̴̵͙̭̞̜̮ͨ͢ṛ̯͍̫͚ͭ̊ ͎͆͛͒͂̌ͪ̅f̗͉͉̬͔̠̫̑̓͑͞ͅr̜͚͍̱̓̾̃̋̐̀i̠̣̮̲̱ͬ̋ͧ͐ͧ́̚e͑ͣ͏̠̼̞̜̩̖̳n̠̼͖̪̽̿ͣ͌̈́ͭ̓̚d̓̇̔̌̅͐̏͝͏͕̞̙̗s̻̮̟̹͈̗͕͒̔̎̂̀̕,̷̟͇͖̯̃́ͮ ̦̈́ͦ̀͋ͪO̷͕̳̞̥͙ͯ̌̚u̷̷͇̩̘̠͐̌ͮ̕r̴̝̦̠͚̪̅̾̒͂͒ ̸̷̙̮̖̝̜̥͖̳̈̌ͮͩͨͬͅF̥̣̮̦͍̬̦ͤͩ͆̄͂͑ͅa̐ͣ̌̒͐̌҉̦̫̳͖m̤̬̪̱͔̯ͪi̸̩̯̍ͣͥ̆̓l̴̷̝̫͉̣͒ͥ̽͐ͬͫ̿̈́́͟y̴͋̔ͧ̎́̅̇̄ͨ͏̶͚̠͉̮͓̺̪ͅ!̧͚͖ͮ̂̊̓̓́!̼͙͍̤̮͗̓̕ͅMom turned her attention back to me as Celestia did her best to kill us both with her eyes alone. Biting down hard on her arm again mom started to pick at some of the more nasty chunks of flesh.

“Wonderful!" Mom's voice practically dripped with false positivity. Her ruse was so over exaggerated it couldn't be seen as anything other than an insult.

"Let's start off simple shall we. Why are you here Celestia? Why did you feel the need to march an army into my home and start slaughtering my people in the middle of our most sacred festivals?" Fighting back tears and struggling to remain quiet I held onto mom's arm as if my life depended on it as she used her mana to regrow my flesh and then knit it back together. The pain was excruciating, but I kept myself still.

"March my army? Do not sit there and play dumb! You attacked my ponies! Entire villages have been wiped off of the map because of you! Thousands are dead! You think you can sit here and pretend like you are not the sole reason for that? Not only were your barbaric warriors found among some of the dead, but I went to the villages. Every inch of those settlements were covered in traces of your vile magic. One village still had those wooden abominations you love so much feasting on the dead. Ẉ̡̼̫͖̤̺̮͒ͬͨ̃̌̊̚̕E͒ͥ͂ͫͮͥ҉̡̳̜̗̘ ̬̤̬̥̟̼͔͆̒ͦͣ͒ͨ̌̇̋̀̕H̞̱̣̩͚̮̱͗̄̓̀͜Ȃ̡̝̙ͥ̀̓̀ͧD̰̬̟̲̬͌̕͟ ̔̿͘͏̞̣̺̪̼̪̬͕̹N̶̯͚̭̦̣̹̋̓̏̿͊̀O͍̭̩͚̘̾́̑ͭ̐́́͡ͅͅ ̨̢͕̬̻̦̯̾̈́̍̆ͮ͝C̵͈ͩ͛͐͑̐̔̊̕Ḩ̸̗̙̦̟͍̺ͪ͊ͅǪ̦̪̪̭͋̎̊́ͅI̷̗͇̩̣ͦ̃ͤC͛̓̆͞҉̛̫E̛̲ͬͥ́͐̾̎͘!̧̜̰̮̠̆ͪ̀͌̓̋̕͜ͅ ̮̰̦̜̫̙͎̮̣͒͐͐ͥ͋͐̾͌͠ ̛͇͓̯͉̟̯̜̋͆͞Ă̡͙̖ͪ͑͢͡Ņ̴͉̗͇͓͇̬̀͋̇̃̚C̸͙̘̦̰̼̏̇̆̋̆̈́E̠̱ͮͫ͞S̟͈ͩͥ̅ͦ̈́ͪ́́͝Ţ̴̯̦͓̬̝̗̙͓̝̈̑Ȏ̷̴͉̥͋͗̎̿́ͬR̝̮̈́̐̊̉ͯ̍̄̉͠S̷̡̮̙̺̲̝̐ͣ̓͡ ̧̡̜̬͎̯̆ͤͦͩ͂́͆̂̚͝ͅF͍͑͛͊̕Ô̞͊R̸̃͛͊̓̉̊҉͎̫G͋̿̒̎ͬ̃͂ͧ҉̱̼̠̼͍̱̠͢Ï̹̻̼͓ͥV̥͕̻̼̹̟̘ͨ̂ͧͫͣ͘͠ͅE̫͚̬̊̂̋̀ͧ͂̒̚ ̵̼̙͈̰̝̹̫̗̑̽͂̈́̃̑̉͜͠Mͮͥͮ̍ͪ̆͋ͩ͒҉̪͔̪ͅE̍ͥ̊ͧͬ̄ͤ͏̧̮̯̮ ̤̖̩̜̬̤̼̺̞ͨͪͮͨ̓F̹̰̗̣̗͉̥ͪͯ́ͅỎͨ̓͂ͧ͏͇͈̙͎̟͕̠Ṟ̸̵͖͑ ̸̰͖͖̯͖ͫͦ̽ͩ́̚͟W̪̪̹͕ͭͫ͢͡H̨͇̥̹̺͇̎ͨ̂͐ͬ̐̒̔́ͅA̛̳͕̖̠̬̰̗͊̄ͬͤT̺̟̰̰̦̐̑̃̀ͅ ̢͍̥͈̠̰̑̓͆͐́̕I͓͇̥͎̹͇̯ͤͯ̏̄ͨ̿ͣ̂͞ͅ'͉̥̮͈͍̥͚̹͒͘͢V̰̞̣̂̑ͨ̒͌͋Ě̔͞͏̗͈ ͦ͘̕͏̪͖D̴̡̥̜̟͗̉ͥͪ̎͑͗ͥO̙̮̯̬͉̖̻̗̣̿̇ͬ͗ͯ̈ͯ̃̕͢N̸̢̛͓̪͈̻̭̭̞͂̽͗ͬͭͅE̠͎͖ͧ͗!̦̠̗̥̭͚̐̓͟͢͝ Yet you are going to sit here and pretend that you had nothing to do with any of this?" Mom never looked up from her work as she started to chuckle. In seconds I could feel the air around us start to burn with heat, looking over to Celestia I saw her armor steaming and any blood that was on her burn away.

"Even if I told you the truth it's now clear you wouldn't believe me. Either you are so blinded by your love for your subjects that you cannot see their lies, or you are choosing to believe them. I never sent anyone to attack your ponies, nor did I join them in any attack. I find it impossible for my so-called barbaric warriors to have been found at these villages as we never leave the dead. I can only imagine where your precious ponies found the dragons they claim are my own. As for the wolves I cannot control them, they are not my pets. It doesn't surprise me in the slightest that they would be drawn to the dead. Nature never stops, and every creature has to eat. As for my mana… I will admit I am curious how they managed that. I'm honestly impressed that they would be able to mimic my signature to such a degree that even you couldn't tell the difference." Sighing softly, mom would lightly pat my bare shoulder. Her wooden palm soft against my bare flesh. Cautiously I would open my mouth and she pulled her other arm back only to wrap me in the tightest hug I've ever had. Looking into her glowing green and misty eyes I try to find any hint at what she is thinking.

"It doesn't matter anymore Celestia. Whatever it was that either you or your ponies were playing at is over. You've won, all of my dragons have either been killed or fled. It is only my daughter and I now, and I've used up the last of my mana to make sure she lives."

"What, mom no I-" Mom placed a claw on my lips to quiet me.

"I want you to remember this day Celestia. I want you to learn from it and understand that I don't fault you for your actions. May it be today or years from now you will learn the truth behind your ponies actions… I have lived a very long life Celestia. I've seen civilizations rise and fall, heroes become villains, so on and so forth. Yet through it all I was never as happy as I am now with my daughter. I hope you find that same happiness Celestia, especially with your sister gone…" Mom's eyes flashed brightly causing me to close my eyes.

"I'm sorry sister, but what in our mother's name was that? How in the many levels of Tartarus did this turn into Her last memory. I've never seen something so... chaotic! I would expect this in Discords domain but to find it in the mind of our old friend?" Celestia's ears fold flat against her skull. Unable to look at her sister Celestia instead focuses on the 'dream' in front of her.

"I tried to release her a few years after you were gone. It didn't go well" Luna cringes and wrinkles her snout as if she smelt something foul.

"Do you have any idea how her mind and memories are so corrupted? Even as an observer to her mind I find it hard to make sense of what is going on." Celestia sighs.

"No Luna I just… I was lonely. I thought after all we've done she would wake up as the same dragoness we knew when we were little. Instead she didn't know who, or what, she was and attacked me. I had to reseal her away but... Look you know I've never been the best with dream magic Lulu. I know things look bad but with your help-" Luna flares her wings and throws an arm out to point at the flickering manifestation of their late father's head on Celestia's dispositional body.

"She believes you and the monster our father had become are one and the same Celestia. Even if we ignore the archaic whispers that I can’t even begin to decipher, you fought alongside her to defeat our father. How did you fuck that up? How did her mind turn into this!?" Throwing her own hooves up in frustration, Celestia motions towards the twisted tree in the shape of a dragon.

"Because I don't know what I'm doing Luna! You would think that the countless years I worked on this even before asking for your help I would have at least made some progress. Yet everytime I try to correct her memories or reintroduce once she's lost it Immediately unravels! That stupid tree thing is the result of me trying to recreate a memory of the world tree!" Confused Luna lowers her hoof.

"Everytime? Are you telling me you have tried this more than once without me?” Sighing Luna shakes her head. “I will see what I can do Celestia, but this might truly be beyond me… If I can’t help… I need you to promise me you will stop.” Celestia scoffs.

“You knew that I have been trying to help her long before I ever got you involved. I only just convinced you to start helping me when you-” Luna snorts and stomps her hoof.

“Celestia stop. I have only just come home. I’ve told you in the past that I didn’t want to keep doing this. I’m only really helping you with her again this one time because I feel partially responsible for her current state. It's quite clear now that I was never close to fully healing her mind… Regardless I will do my best to pick up the pieces left and bring her peace, but no more. After tonight you are on your own sister.” Flashing her horn Luna disappears and leaves Celestia alone.

"I'm doing the right thing... I know I am..." Raising her head Celestia struggles to peer through the black tendril swarm that marks the 'memory'. Looking to the burning blue eyes of the injured dragoness Celestia's heart aches. "I made a promise, and I will do everything in my power to keep it."