The Monument to All Your Sins.

“She was here...!” Bek shouted as she tried to get up from Zecora's bed, being immediately stopped by the zebra as it tried to cover a large wound on the unicorn's chest with a strange black liquid.

“I strongly recommend you stay still, unless of course hurting yourself further is your goal” Zecora let Zecora sternly.

“Yes, she came to the castle and started asking questions and even though they weren't that obvious, it was obvious she wanted to know about you...” the alicorn looked at the ground in embarrassment ”I'm sorry...it was my fault, I thought I could handle it”

“Don't apologize...” Twilight was surprised at the unicorn's calm response “It wasn't a matter of if she was going to find out or not, it was a matter of when...”

Twilight looked up to meet the sympathetic eyes of Bek who gave her a small smile.

“Although, all the effort to get the antidote now was in vain...” said the unicorn with airs of irony.

“I wouldn't state that with such certainty, otherwise I couldn't be treating you so gently” said Zecora as she finished applying the potion.

“So that's...?” asked Twilight with resignation.

“That's right Twilight Sparkle the devouring insect antidote, a more appropriate tentative name for this healer” Zecora walked over to her table where vials filled with the black liquid rested and what appeared to be a giant fingernail just as dark rested against the wood.
Twilight admired the potion for a long moment together with the bloody nail, before turning and asking in distress.

“Did that thing...?”

“It's not dead” Bek stepped forward ”You'd need a whole troop to take down one that big...”

Silence reigned in the room for a moment as Zecora applied salve and bandaged Bek's wound.

“So now...what do we do?” finally asked Twilight.

“We have to go” answered the unicorn immediately surprising Twilight.

“But...but, where? Why?”

“Because she already knows, it will only be a matter of time before she comes back and applies more persuasive methods to find me...”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, if you think what you've seen so far from her was horrible, wait until she actually starts threatening and demanding...” Bek paused “If you and your friends stay here she will use everything you love as an incentive to tell her the truth, this includes your loved ones, friends and any other being that brings you a modicum of happiness, I've seen her do it...in the end, her victims always begged and screamed for her to kill them.”

Twilight swallowed saliva and began to sweat, in other times she would have disavowed what the unicorn told her, claiming that what she said were falsehoods, but now and given the circumstances, she had nothing to say.

“And ....a where?” she said defeated.

“I don't know...” began to say Bek ” I don't know this kingdom, I don't know anything about it, but it has to be a safe place, far away as possible, away from her and her influence, a place so secluded that even she would have a hard time getting to and....of preference, with someone we can trust.”

Twilight was silent for a long moment, she knew this would be the point of no return, that once she made up her mind it would be the end of her life as she knew it and no matter how it went, she knew she would have to drag her friends with her.
Finally Twilight stood tall before the unicorn, looking at her with eyes full of determination, raising her voice and saying.

“I think I know where that might be....”
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The next day, at dusk, Twilight was in what was once her old room, filling her saddlebags with everything she might need for the trip, Applejack had offered to carry all the food so she was taking care of all the medical supplements.
She wanted to be sure she was carrying everything and enough, so she checked her list over three times, finally closing her saddlebags with a heavy heart, when she heard a rumble and a voice behind her.

“Twilight!” said Spike as he came crashing into the room, walking briskly towards her.

“Sorry Spike I told you already you can't....”

“Why not!” shouted the little dragon angrily, startling Twilight and making her turn around.

“Spike...” started to say Twilight but again she was interrupted.

“Is it because I'm small, do you think I can't fight, do you think I'm so weak I can't take it!” as she shouted tears began to fall down the dragon's cheeks.

Twilight at this couldn't help but hug him and start crying too, silencing her cries as Spike also put his arms around her.

“You know that's not the reason Spike...”

“I know...but...I don't want you to walk away from me like this..” the little dragon kept sobbing, losing himself in his words and hugging Twilight even tighter.

“I know Spike I know, but I have to...” Twilight thought about it “It's for everyone's sake.”

“Everyone's good or just hers?” asked Spike with an annoyed tone in his voice.

It took Twilight a moment to answer.

“She's important to all of us, she's the connection to everything we've missed, and besides...she's a pony in trouble, she needs our help, and you well know that, that if someone is in trouble, I should be there, that's my job, that's who I am...”

The hug lasted a long moment, when they finally separated they both looked at each other and smiled even with tears, finally Twilight reached over and gave him a kiss on the forehead.

“Take care of everyone here for me okay?” said Twilight wiping her tears.

“I promise...” replied Spike.

Once again they hugged and stayed like that, until Twilight looked over Spike's shoulder, finding Starlight waiting in the doorway, as Spike also noticed her presence they both separated and Spike left the room, still downcast but with determination in his eyes.
When he had finally left both mares looked at each other not knowing what to say, it was finally Starlight who broke the silence with her uneasiness.

“Are you sure about this?”

“The truth...I don't know” Twilight replied honestly.

“Then why are you doing it?” Starlight stepped forward with a look of dismay, receiving no response from her friend the unicorn persisted.

“Do you understand that if you do this it will all end, no more masks, no more lies, no more...secrets...”

“I know...”

“And you'll risk all this for a crazy unicorn who comes from an extinct and forgotten age?”

“The world deserves to know Starlight...”

“Know what!?” exclaimed the mare ”That your kingdom was founded and thrived on a pile of corpses? That everything you thought you knew about your regents is false? That everything you've ever known and lived for is just one huge lie?!”

“Yes...” Twilight replied quietly Starlight calmed down as she noticed the look on her teacher and friend's face, so distressed and full of doubt.

“I believe that everyone deserves to know, and if to do that I have to go to the end of the world and through the darkness...I'm going to do it...” There was silence for a moment, Twilight was about to lower her head in defeat but then Starlight responded.

“In that case I will do everything I can to help you...” starlight's tears had begun to flow, both mares moved closer and gave each other a deep hug, one that soaked Twilight's shoulder with Starlight's tears.

Finally they both pulled apart and looked at each other smiling.

“Do you think you and Sunburst can handle the whole school while I'm gone?” asked Twilight in a more teasing tone to ease the tension, receiving a chuckle from Starlight in response.

“Oh please, when you return this school will be so prestigious that you will have no choice but to move up as the new headmistress.”

They both laughed for a moment, Twilight wished that instant would never end, but in the end it did, she finally gave Starlight one last hug as she magically put on an elegant dark purple cloak with silver accents and a hood.

“Well...” said the alicorn at the edge of the door ”I'm going now.”

“Yes...” replied Starlight who stood in the middle of the room ”Good luck...”

And without further ado Twilight walked away down the hallway.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Twilight walked through the streets of Ponyville with her head down, trying as hard as possible not to attract attention.
Even though the sun was already threatening to set on the horizon there were still many ponies outside, doing the last shopping of the day, closing their businesses and strolling leisurely.

The alicorn headed for Sugar Cube Corner, as she had promised to pick Pinkie up before she left.

As she approached the colorful establishment she could notice how the pink pony hugged Mr. and Mrs. Cake tightly at the entrance, even Mrs. Cake's new husband was there, also the twins, they were all huddled in a big, tight hug, which didn't end until Twilight got close enough for Pinkie Pie to notice, breaking the grip and dedicating some last words of farewell to her family.

“You don't know how much I'm going to miss you guys...” it seemed Pinkie Pie struggled to hold back her tears.

“We know Pinkie Pie...” spoke Mrs. Cake, also with a broken voice.

“And you should also know, that no matter how long it takes you, the day you decide to come back we will give you the best welcome party ever” said Mr. Cake with tears in his eyes.

“And never forget Pinkie that here, you will always have a family” concluded Mrs. Cake already unable to hide her tears.

Pinkie Pie sobbed, approached the twins who reached out their arms to hug her one last time and she whispered to them.

“Don't forget to always smile” with that said she gave them both a kiss on the forehead and said goodbye, taking her saddlebags, which Twilight knew were full of candy and streamers.

They both slowly walked away from the bakery, Twilight could notice how little by little her friend's tears started to moisten her fluffy fur while Pinkie was doing her best not to explode.
Twilight reached over and wrapped one of her wings around her friend, comforting her and allowing the mare to let off some steam by hiding her face in her feathers.

After a moment Pinkie stopped crying and pulled away.

“Well...do you know if Bek likes cupcakes?” she asked spontaneously trying to regain some of her happy tone.

Twilight shook her wing a little which caused some moisture and snot to fall to the floor roughly.

“Well I...I haven't really asked her...”

“Ahhh...” Pinkie exclaimed “Do you know what that means!!!?”

“Ehhh...” Twilight didn't know what to answer.

“It means I'll have to give her a taste of all the flavors to find out her favorite!” Pinkie returned to her usual festive attitude, prancing forward as Twilight kept pace with her, headed for the meeting point.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“But Rarity...!” exclaimed Sweetie Belle irritated ”I don't want to stay with mom and dad, I want to go with you!”

Rarity was running around inside her boutique back and forth, she had had a whole day to prepare and still hadn't been able to choose what clothes she would take with her for her trip, she had struggled a lot to find someone to look after her boutique in Ponyville while sending letters to her other stores to inform that there would be no new designs for a while, Not to mention that she had had to deal with her parents explaining that she would no longer be able to take care of Sweetie Belle and that she would be away for a long time, all this together had made it impossible for her to find a wardrobe that looked spectacular enough but at the same time didn't attract attention and now, she had to deal with her younger sister's tantrum.

“I told you Sweetie Belle, you can't come with me, it's a very important and long trip for the elements of harmony...” Rarity was trying to excuse herself but Sweetie Belle interrupted her.

“It can't be that long if you're going to carry your best saddlebags, you would never let anything happen to them..”

“Listen honey, the reason I'm carrying my best saddlebags is because this trip is going to be so long and tedious that I at least want to take some glamour with me...”

“But if that's so why don't you tell me where you're going, you didn't even tell mom and dad why so much mystery?”

“Well that's because...”

“And why are you so nervous about a trip with your friends? No matter where they're going I see no reason for you to be like this.”

“Well I think that...”

“And you didn't even want to pack the nice peppercorn pie I made for you and only the crust was burnt...”

“Sweetie Belle! Keep quiet for a damn second!” Rarity exploded, immediately silencing Sweetie Belle who just stood still where she was, she had never seen her big sister so furious.

Rarity tried to go back to her activities but noticed how Sweetie Belle started to cry.

“Sweetie Belle I...” she started to say but didn't finish because Sweetie Belle immediately ran off in the direction of her room, crying and yelling at her sister.

“I hate you!”

Rarity tried to go after her but Swetie Belle slammed the door in her face and leaned against it, preventing the unicorn from opening it.
The dressmaker could hear her little sister sobbing on the other side of the door silently, trying to open the door a couple of times until she gave up.

“Sweetie Belle...” began Rarity on the other side of the door ‘Listen I'm sorry I don't...I didn't mean to yell at you, it's just that so many bad things have happened lately that I don't...’ the unicorn felt a lump in her throat ‘I'm scared okey?’ Rarity could hear how her sister seemed to stop crying ”I'm scared, of everything that has been happening and everything that could come to pass, all the others seem so sure of this but I...I can't...”

Now it was Rarity who had started to shed tears.

“I have no idea what to do....o if I'm coming back, I don't know if this will be the last time I'll get to see your face I...I don't want my last memory of you to be that we fought...” The unicorn collapsed on the ground, crying profusely as she covered her head with her hooves, tousling her mane a bit.

She lay there for a moment until she heard the door open, raising her gaze to meet Sweetie Belle's drenched face, also covered in tears.
The little girl pounced on her big sister, hugging her so tightly that Rarity felt short of breath, but she didn't care, returning the embrace with the same amount of strength.
The sisters stayed there, on the floor hugging each other and crying, they stayed there until both of their tears ran out, until their sobs became mere gasping breaths and they could find the strength to let go, dropping down and facing each other.

Rarity smiled and wiped Sweetie Belle's cheeks as best she could, smudging the a bit of makeup in the process.

“Look at you darling, you're a mess...” Rarity couldn't help but let out a giggle.

“Me? you should look in the mirror.”

They both laughed for a long moment while Rarity drew a mirror with her magic slyly to see her own face, which was completely misaligned, with makeup smudges under her eyes and her hair disheveled.
When their laughter died down they were silent for a moment.

“You really don't know when you're coming back?” finally asked Sweetie Belle with her head down.

“No dear, I don't know...” Rarity replied heavily.

“Well, in that case...” Sweetie Belle stood up abruptly and ran inside her room, making a lot of noise as if she was looking for something among her clutter.

Rarity was puzzled for a moment until she saw her younger sister come out of the room with something wrapped behind her back.

“I umm... I started to make this for you when I knew you were leaving, I wanted you to take something with you that would remind you of how fabulous you are, just in case you forgot...” the little girl approached with her horn a badly wrapped package and offered it to Rarity who took it with her magic and hurried to unwrap it, being careful not to tear the paper and dirty the floor.

As she finished removing the wrapper Rarity was puzzled by what she saw, it looked like a pile of misfolded red fabric, it wasn't until she spread it out in its entirety that the unicorn could see what it was.

It was a traveling cloak, the beautiful red cloth had been hastily stitched over a golden sheath that adorned the inside of the cloak and hood giving it a strange and irregular shape, on the back of the cloak, where the wearer's flank should go, was embroidered a small golden insignia, Rarity recognized it instantly and couldn't help but cry again.

“It's a tribute to the first great garment you made me...” began Sweetie Belle ”I know it's not perfect but, I wanted you to have it, it's my way of saying that I love you very much sister and that no matter how far away you are, I will always continue to do so.”

Sweetie Belle also cried again as she noticed the tears on her sister's face, they both hugged again and stayed like that again for a long time until Sweetie Belle heard her sister whisper in her ear.

“It's perfect, the most beautiful article of clothing I've ever seen in my life...” the little filly couldn't help but laugh at that.

“You know that's not true” they both laughed again, enjoying their closeness until the clock in the master bedroom chimed, indicating it was time.

They both squeezed each other in their embrace one last time before they let go again and started walking towards the exit, as they went Rarity deftly levitated all her things, her saddlebag was filled with sewing and makeup items, she also packed extra blankets as well as brushes and her favorite sweater, She draped Sweetie Belle's cape over her shoulders, adjusting it and admiring herself in a mirror, it was a crude and simple job, but the measurements were just right and the unicorn was sure that, given enough time, she could turn it into the cape her little sister no doubt wanted it to be.

Finally standing before the exit door already open, with her sister at her side, Rarity turned to see her sister who was struggling to hold back her tears, standing firm to look brave.
The unicorn knelt down and stared at her, to her mind came the memory of the first time she saw Sweetie Belle, sleeping peacefully in her crib, the tears threatened to come again but she quickly wiped her face, just as her sister decided to present bravery in the face of her sadness.
They both hugged one last time without saying a word, as they parted Rarity stood up again, turning and walking out of her tent, but barely two steps in she stopped, Sweetie Belle looked quizzically at her sister as she turned around.

“Sweetie Belle...” Rarity started to say with a lump in her throat “Please never forget...you are...you are the best thing that could have happened to me in my life and I'm...I'm proud to be your sister...” Rarity couldn't control herself, she cried as she looked into the eyes of her younger sister who was also shedding tears on the other side of the door.

Finally after a few more moments of crying Rarity wiped her face, turned and walked in the direction of the forest.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Applejack and Rainbow Dash had decided to say goodbye together, that was the reason to summon the Apple family as well as Scootaloo at the gates of the farm.
There they were, both mares standing in front of who were the most important ponies in both of their lives, Rainbow was hovering in the air, with a hoof on Applejack's shoulder who couldn't find the words she wanted to say.

“Well...” finally said the farmer ‘I think it's time...I, I want to tell you that I will let you know as soon as I can where I am and if I'm okay, just, promise me that you will take care of the farm for me and...no....’ Applejack's voice cracked with every word, she tried to hide her tears under her hat but it was impossible, quickly the whole family rushed to her, squeezing her and comforting her in a shattering hug.

While this was going on Scootaloo approached Rainbow Dash who was distracted by the Apple scene.

“So, that's it?...” asked the little foal in anguish ‘You're just going to leave and give up everything? Your career? Your home? Your...family?’ the little girl was starting to cry but was trying her hardest to avoid it.

Rainbow Dash watched the little girl who was her number one fan crumble in front of her, she could feel something in her chest shrink, yet Rainbow stayed strong and replied in a confident voice.

“You don't have to worry about that little one, i left nothing behind, everyone knows that, despite the fact that I am the most amazing pegasus that has ever lived in Equestria, I am not the only one capable of doing my job, besides this trip is not final, you can be sure that I will be back.”

Scootaloo looked up hopefully.

“You're really...you're really coming back?”

“Of course! Did you really think that I, Rainbow Dash, the best pony this town ever saw won't return home? No little one!” Rainbow descended to the ground to give Scott a rough caress on the head, which ruffled the filly's hair ‘I guarantee you, one hundred percent, that I will return and dedicate a Rainplosion Sonica to my biggest fan, who I hope, won't be too sad about my departure’ Rainbow Dash winked at her.

Scootaloo at this smiled broadly, happy at the certainty with which his heroine spoke to him, if Rainbow Dash was so sure of something, then it must be true.

“Of course not!” exclaimed Scootaloo finally ”I promise I won't be sad, in fact I will be the happiest and most determined pony here, I will wait and wait until the day you come back and then you will see that your biggest fan is not a baby girl!”

Rainbow couldn't help but smile, hugging the little girl tightly and bumping hooves afterwards.

As this happened the Apple family broke away from the hug, minus Grandma Smith who was holding her granddaughter with her fragile hooves as she cried.

“Oh my child, how sorry I am, you're trying to leave and here I am crying like a leak on an autumn day...”

“Don't apologize grandma, you don't know how much I wish I could stay, if you've taught me anything throughout my whole life, it's that family stays together, no matter what, and I...I'm here breaking that sacred rule...” Applejack was feeling her words heavy again, about to cry again but interrupted by Grandma.

“Oh nonsense!” exclaimed Grandma rising up to look at Applejack ”Family always stays together, no matter the distance between them there is always a connection that is never broken, even in death all Apple will always be linked together, so don't cry about it because you can be sure, like the sun rises every day, that we will always be there when you need us, even if you can't see us!”

Grandma held Applejack's face as she smiled at her, the farm mare couldn't help but think that the situation was very similar to when grandma scolded her when she was little, this drew a wide and beaming smile on the pony's face which was returned in kind by the elderly mare, who finally pulled away.

Applejack then turned to her brother and his wife, Big Mac was struggling to hold himself together but his tears kept coming, while Sugarbelle hugged him from the side.

“Well...” began Applejack ”Now you're both in charge, I hope you...have a great harvest and that...when the family grows up, your foals can enjoy the sunshine among the trees.”

“Y...yi...ye...” tried to answer Big Mac but the lump in his throat wouldn't let him.

“You can trust us Applejack” Sugarbelle said giving the mare a smile.

Applejack then hugged them both tightly before pulling away and turning to look at Apple Bloom who wasn't even trying to disguise it, crying her eyes out and sobbing.
Applejack stood firmly in front of her, looking down at her from above and not knowing what to say.

“When...“ she finally began to say ‘When mommy and daddy first put you in my hooves I...was afraid of hurting you, you were so small and fragile I thought if I held you too tight you would break, but daddy told me ’That little girl is stronger than you think” and looking at you now, I couldn't agree more...”

Applejack let out her tears as she bent down to look Apple Bloom in the face.

“Apple Bloom you are the bravest little filly I have ever met, and I am sure you will grow up to be an even braver and stronger Apple...” Applejack then took her hat with her hoof and placed it on Apple Bloom's head “Keep it for me until I come back” the farm girl gave her an approving smile and then hugged her.

The little filly couldn't believe her sister would let go of her hat like this, the thought that this was goodbye forever filled her thoughts causing her to cling to her sister tightly, so tightly that it seemed the little girl wouldn't let go, but she finally let go.
Applejack stood up and took one last look at her farm, then looked back at her family and smiled at them again.

“Apple's united...” she began to say.

“Apple's forever,” her family concluded.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack grabbed their saddlebags walking away down the trail, before crossing the hill they both turned to see their loved ones who were waving goodbye effusively, they both returned the gesture by raising their hooves before turning around again.

“So how did the girl take it?” asked Applejack to the pegasus.

“She took it well, she's very rough...” replied Rainbow Dash.

“And how did you take it?” the earthling asked with a smile.

“I..ehh..well, you know, I'm even tougher than her” Rainbow Dash looked away but Applejack could see a tear trickle down the pegasus' face, moving closer to her to wrap her hoof around her and walking in silence.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The cowgirl and the pegasus were the last to arrive at the meeting point behind Fluttershy's hut in the direction of the forest, where Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Twilight, Zecora and Bek were already waiting.
The sun had already recently set on the horizon and Twilight couldn't help but notice that Applejack no longer had her hat on.

“Everything okay girls?” asked Twilight somewhat worried.

“Yes” was the only answer she got from the farm girl, the alicorn wanted to ask more but she didn't want to make her friends uncomfortable so she decided to focus on the mission.

“Well, we are all here, the route is already planned and revised and, according to the calculations, we will arrive in three months...”

“Three months?!” complained Rainbow ”That's too long..”

“That's how long the trip will take us without taking any busy trains or shortcuts,” replied Twilight.

“Are you sure there is no other way?” asked Applejack.

“Quite sure, according to Bek's directions, we should stay as far away from villages and other ponies as possible...”

“To ensure that no one knows where we're going...” Interrupted Bek stepping forward “It is vital for our survival, that your princess does not know where we are headed, at least, until we get there, once we are established we can plan the next step to expose her and defeat the...”

They all looked intrigued at Bek who seemed the most ready to embark on the journey, which made perfect sense as she was leaving nothing behind.

“And what about Fluttershy?” asked Rainbow worriedly.

“That's right...!” started Rarity ”Are we going to leave her here?”

Twilight and Bek looked at each other.

“Last we heard, her friend is in Canterlot castle...” began Bek heavily.

“We thought about planning a rescue mission to get her out of wherever Celestia put her, but if she's in the castle...” Twilight was silent.

“If she's in the castle we can't get her out,” Bek term abruptly.

“What do you mean?” returned Rainbow Dash now annoyed ”Are you saying we won't even try!”

“Rainbow is right...” continued Rarity ”We should at least try, after all we got you out...”

“This is different...” interrupted Bek ”During my rescue you had the element of surprise on your side, your princess didn't count on anyone knowing about my confinement let alone anyone being stupid enough to try to rescue me, now she knows and rest assured she will do everything she can to prevent another possible break in.”

They were all silent, Twilight would have preferred not to be so direct about the situation with her friends, but on the other hand she was glad that Bek would make the decision to be certain, so there would be no doubt left about her current situation.

“What about the poison?” asked Pinkie ‘They said she was very sick and needed the antidote as soon as possible That Fluttershy won't die if they don't administer it soon?’ pinkie's doubt was interrupted by Twilight.

“We think Celestia took Fluttershy as a backup token, so she'd have something to threaten us with if we got out of line...”

“What pens are you talking about?” asked Applejack in confusion.

“We mean your friend has become an unspoken hostage, a very valuable one...” Bek waited for them to understand what she meant but only received looks of doubt, after letting out an annoyed sigh she continued “It means it's not in your princess' best interest for her friend to die, despite the fact that she doesn't have what it takes to remove the poison I'm sure she'll find some way to treat her or at least keep her alive...”

“And just leave her there while the princess uses her as a meat shield and experiments on her?” asked Rarity indignantly.

“That's where Zecora comes in” replied Twilight giving way to the zebra.

“You are quite right Rarity it is normal for you to be distressed, but I can assure you that your friend will be saved” Zecora held up the vial filled with black liquid for all to see.

“This is the antidote...” Twilight started to say ”Zecora will travel to Canterlot to administer it to Fluttershy so that she recovers from the poison...”

“And is that potion safe?” asked Rainbow at the disturbing appearance of the antidote.

“This medicine certainly looks strange, but I can swear to you that it is not viciously made” said Zecora looking at the bottle ”There is no side effect or discomfort that this one leaves, unless the cured is special or wanders away.”

“So what does that mean?” asked Applejack.

“It means it will only affect creatures with tainted blood like the monster under the castle in a bad way” replied Twilight appeasing any doubts regarding the antidote.

“And how exactly will Zecora give the antidote to Fluttershy if they say no one can enter the castle without Celestia noticing?” asked Rarity curious.

Zecora, Twilight and Bek looked at each other with intrigue, taking a few seconds before the question was answered.

“That's the part we haven't figured out yet,” Twilight replied defeated.

“The path certainly seems circuitous, still I won't let that ruin your joy” Zecora stood firm before the mares ”If infiltrating the castle is necessary to save a friend, you can be sure I'll face it, whoever your enemy is.”

They were all surprised at the zebra's bravery, which seemed completely committed.

Zecora took her leave shortly after, leaving the girls alone and ready again.

They all checked their saddlebags one last time to make sure they didn't forget anything, Rainbow, Applejack and Pinkie pulled out their cloaks putting them on and covering themselves appropriately; Rainbow's cloak was a beautiful bright blue, with gold and grey embroidery of lightning and clouds, Applejack's was a patched light brown, with an embroidered apple patch and Pinkie's was pastel pink and purple, with spots of candy, chocolates and frosting.
Bek also dressed in a cloak made of straw given to her by Zecora, covering her head with a large round hat.

When they were all ready the first to set off were Applejack and Rainbow, who were moving diligently towards the depth of the forest, followed by Pinkie and Rarity who were chatting happily, trying to distract themselves, finally Twilight stood still, watching her friends slowly moving away, she wanted to move forward but felt her hooves like heavy stones anchoring her to the ground, caught in a tide of indecision she didn't notice how Bek approached behind her, talking to her and bringing her out of her trance.

“Are you afraid?” asked the unicorn calmly.

“Yes...” replied Twilight without looking at her.

Bek pondered for a moment what to say to her in order to comfort, finally finding the words and sharing them with understanding and consideration.

“A good friend once told me, that the darkest journeys start with the first step...and once you take it the next one gets easier.”

Bek began to walk following the mares leaving Twilight behind, the alicorn thought about the words and then thought about everything she was leaving behind, all her friends, everything she built and thought about the new world that awaited them if this journey went well, at that thought Twilight took a breath, closed her eyes and took a step forward.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Celestia was sitting on her throne in the middle of the night, looking straight ahead with her gaze lost and her hair waving in the air, the only thing that could be heard was the silence of the night and some noises of the guards making their rounds through the corridors, the princess of the sun began to close her eyes, relaxed by the soothing silence, she was about to close them completely when a sound made her wake up and took her sleep away instantly.
The sound was fleeting but voluptuous, the snapping of fingers gave way to a brilliant flash of white and immediately followed by the appearance of a strange, elongated, horned figure approaching Celestia.

“You called for me?” said Discord with a serious expression.

“Oh Discord dear, how nice that you were able to make time to come see me, I hope your trip to the Delphian Mare gaming convention was exciting...”

“Get to the point Celestia” Discord's attitude was not at all like what everyone was used to, even his posture reflected a seriousness never seen before in the draconequus.

“Oh wow you're in a bad mood, I get it, well...” Celestia stood up from her throne and started walking towards Discord “You see Discord I don't know if you're aware of what's been going on in the kingdom these past few days...”

“Are you talking about the assassination attempt during Princess Twilight's coronation? I assure you I am more than aware...”

“Oh but if you knew that the attacking pony who made an attempt on my life and my sister's was none other than one of the star members of Luna's former legion?”

Discord's eyes widened in surprise.

“Luna's legion..you're talking about those brainwashed ponies you used to steal the territory you now claim as your own?”

“Exactly that very thing!” Celestia exclaimed with mock glee “And you see, it seems that old mare was a lot smarter than I expected and went and convinced none other than my best student of her crazy story...”

“Wow, who knew one of those ponies would be so smart” said Discord mockingly.

“Yes, it looks like she managed to convince her that what she was saying was real and now I have on me the risk of losing everything I've worked for.”

“And you want me to take over?”

“Oh no no no no no no dear, of course not, I wouldn't trust you even if you were the last living draconequus on this earth or the next, which, by the way, now that I remember, you are” Celestia returned the same mocking expression to Discord causing him to frown.

“So what do you want then?” he asked angrily.

“That's very simple, I want you to do nothing, nothing at all.”

Discord was taken aback at the request.

“That's all?”

“If that's all, with this whole thing hanging around and the possibility of my dearest pupil revealing herself against me I can't have the lord of chaos, who by the way, is a very good friend of hers, running around using his powerful magic to ruin my plans, it's just a risk I don't feel like taking at all.”

Discord couldn't help but smile at this.

“Oh well, this is interesting, after so many centuries of perpetual silence, the supreme alicorn comes to me to beg me not to have fun, I'm so sorry my dear, but how could I pass up such an opportunity, can you imagine the chaos a civil war would cause, uy just thinking about it gives me goosebumps!”

Suddenly the room was filled with Celestia's thunderous laughter, that mechanical and timed one.
Discord couldn't help but feel uneasy at the apparent fit the princess was having in front of him which laughed for a torturously long minute until it came to a screeching halt.

“Oh I'm sorry dear it's just that it's so funny the conclusions you come to, you really think this is the desperate plea of an elderly queen who can't stand up to you in any way and is helpless before your great power am I wrong?”

Discord swallowed saliva before answering.

“Yes?” he replied doubtfully.

“Well let me tell you dear that you are wrong, I am not at all helpless, I have resumed the old habit of , having an az up my sleeve..” Celestia paused markedly.

“What...what do you mean?” asked Discord nervously.

“Oh well, I mean, knowing how sentimental and corny you are, I don't think you'd let anything bad happen to your dear friend Fluttershy.”

Suddenly the room filled with a roar like a thousand lightning bolts, discord increased considerably in size, his claws and horns grew to become like sharp swords and his fangs lengthened to spears, Celestia watched as the draconequus towered over her filling the room with shadows and growling violently.

“YOU FILTHY BITCH IF YOU DARE TOUCH A SINGLE HAIR ON HER I SWEAR I'LL ....!!!”

“Pepepe” interrupted Celestia raising her helmet ”Very careful what you are going to say, your pegasus friend's life now hangs in the balance.”

Discord stopped dead in his tracks, he didn't return to his original form but held still.

“Your dear friend, she went where she shouldn't have and was attacked by a memory-eating insect, I don't think I need to remind you that those fearsome creatures possess a very particular incurable poison that kills its victims very slowly and painfully...” Celestia gave a haughty look to Discord as he slowly returned to his original form “Right now your friend is past the time limit and the only thing keeping her alive is the power I keep constantly flowing to her, if I wanted to annihilate her I would only have to turn off my magic for a second and boom, she will vanish just like a dry leaf.”

Discord could only listen helplessly as he gritted his teeth, trying to devise a way to save Fluttershy.

“Surely you're thinking that you could find her in an instant, transport yourself to wherever she is and remove the poison before she dies but let me tell you that I have placed magic blockers in the room where I have her kept and I can also sense any fluctuation of chaos magic in a fairly wide range, if you even try anything, even the slightest thing, I will know instantly and she will die before you can do anything ¿Do you understand your situation now dear?”

Discord was sweating with fear, for the first time, throughout his entire immortal life, he was feeling something he thought he could never experience, the purest terror at the hands of the being he swore he would never obey again.

“Why?” he asked almost as a whisper.

“Did you seriously think I freed you from that statue because I wanted us to be friends? No dear, no, I freed you from that statue because I saw an opportunity to put you at the mercy of the most fearsome power in all the lands, a power so dark and sinister that it would make even the mightiest being bend Can you guess what it is?”

Discord looked at the ground defeated, helplessness covered every part of his being, he thought that these horrible techniques were a thing of the past, he remembered seeing many ponies perish in such ploys and remembered how he pitied those poor souls, wishing he never had to experience such pain.
With nothing more he could do he simply replied.

“Love...”

“Right dear! Love, love causes any conviction or desire to be destroyed, it is the killer of ambitions, that is why one must be very careful about who one decides to give it to...” Celestia was silent for a moment reveling in Discord's suffering “Well, as I was saying, here's the deal, you go back to your dimension of pure chaos while I sort out all the problems here and when everything is back to how it's supposed to be I'll return you to your dear friend and you can go fuck, making her give birth to a bunch of nature's mistakes, I'm sure you'd like that” Celestia mocked, smiling broadly at the defeated draconequus who could only look up at the triumphant face of the princess, swallowing her pride and dedicating some last words of resignation and hatred.

“And I thought you had already left all this in the past...”

Celestia sighed, losing her smile for a second before exclaiming again with joy.

“Yes well dear, you know what they say, on notice there is no deception.”

Outside the room a mare listened, Luna stood silently by the door so she could hear Celestia and Discord's entire conversation.
Having been horrified by her sister's cold-bloodedness the princess of the night reflected, this had gotten completely out of control, it seemed that Celestia did not understand all that her actions could unleash, this could be the end of Equestria, she had to do something but could she? Was she willing to go against what she and her sister had been pursuing for so long, could she even stand up to it, she didn't know, she didn't know how to deal with it or her conflicted feelings, but one thing she did know and that was what she was most sure of, she had to help her friends.