Collision Zone

Chapter Seven: Samsara

Not since the days of Luna's return had Celestia felt such pain. Seeing her student like this, and knowing that she was the cause utterly shattered the thin façade of normality she had managed to muster in the face of Luna's rejection, allowing the grief to pour through.

No, not you too... please... don't leave me!

She twitched, and for a moment it was her sister laying in her lap. Accusing turquoise eyes stared up at her, filled with fear and loathing.

“No, no, have mercy sister! We did not mean to cause such strife, we did not-”

A tearful sigh, and a bolt of rainbow light. “I am sorry, sister, but this time you have gone too far.”

The vision faded, as the moon seemed to shift in the sky, acquiring a strange new visage.

No! That cannot be so! I... Luna has returned! We can forge anew what we once had... I can make all things right, in time!

“Can you fix me too, sun goddess?” Twilight's recumbent form seemed to mock her.

A bitter reminder of her sister's words to her before the first age of night echoed in her ears as she cried softly.

“One day, sister, we shall commit a deed no powers alone can fix. I pray that day comes later, rather than sooner.”

Twilight... please, don't leave me... not you too...

In the grim silence as they waited for a medical team to arrive, she caught a faint jerk from Twilight's hoof. A moment later, it moved with purpose, dashing a cross over her chest. For a moment, Celestia almost allowed hope to enter her heart. She's still alive... I can fix this. I still have a chance...

Her horn lit with a pale golden aura, but the unicorn in her arms suddenly jerked, pushing away from her, crying out weakly in unmistakable agony.

Why, why this once must my powers fail me? Why... my student. How could I hurt you so?

“Thou hast had no problems hurting those dearest to thee, hast thou sister?” A voice all too familiar remarked, cold and biting.

A faint purple glow lit Twilight's coat, which seemed to shiver and curl at the ends, swirling in an intangible breeze. Where burns once covered her flesh, healthy fur sprouted, as Twilight's eyes snapped open, though not as they had once been. Celestia stared in mute shock into eyes of midnight black, lit dimly by a blanket of hostile stars.

“I return thy student to thee, Princess of the Iron Sun, in accordance with her wishes. Were it up to me, I wouldst see thou burn for thy transgression, however well meaning thou might be.”

The voice was cold, harsh and hollow, as if the void itself had chosen this moment to speak through Twilight's body.

“What are you, and what have you done to my student!?” Celestia finally found her voice.

“I am Terminus, the Marker. The beginning, and the end, risen anew in the fires of the old. Pray we do not have need to speak again, sun princess.”

The shrouded eyes seemed to stare into her very soul, stare into the light of creation itself, before the body in her grasp went limp, the alien gaze reverting to Twilight's pleasant purple irises. All of that fled her mind when Twilight let out a shuddering gasp, her back arching, hair expanding, becoming a writhing mass of black coils that wrapped around Celestia, filling her with a numbing cold. Twilight's eyes lit from within, glimmering like miniature stars as she twisted in Celestia's lap, before once more coming to rest.

An ethereal mane!? Her aura... it all makes sense! Oh Twilight, what have you done?

“Twilight? Twilight Sparkle?” She gently shook the unicorn, almost dreading to look, or listen.

If she survives... she may never forgive me. Once again, I bring hurt to those I love... why?

“Princess...?” Twilight said, struggling weakly in the alicorn's death grip.

“Don't you dare die on me, Twilight Sparkle,” she growled, surprising even herself. Rock Steady looked on, grim and watchful, seeming utterly unphased by the events taking place before him.

“D-die? B-but I feel fine?” Twilight sounded puzzled, as if she herself couldn't quite believe it. She tried to pull herself up, and Celestia hurried to aid her, although wary of the little unicorn's bizarre mane. She brushed her hesitancy aside upon seeing Twilight stumble, allowing her student to lean on her, despite the chilling slickness she encountered as the mane coiled around her shoulders.

She... she didn't leave me. She came back.

Celestia smiled dazedly as she helped push her student upright, still cradling Twilight's head with her forelegs.

~~~

The world swam in Twilight's vision, yet somehow she felt more healthy than she had ever been, as if her entire body was bursting with energy. Still leaning heavily on a warm, silky shoulder, she gingerly got to her hooves, wobbling a little.

“Mmh...” She groaned, sniffing the white fur curiously.

Copper filings and vanilla essence... can you smell sunbeams? Twilight idly brought up one hoof to rub her forehead, only to pitch over forward, forcing Celestia to steady her. Wh-what happened?

A great roaring light, endless and eternal. An immaculate white orb, sprouting segmented tendrils, pulling her back into a black gulf so vast it defied rational thought, lit by the hostile remnants of alien stars. A biting cold, surrounded by numbing heat, as if she had burned and frozen simultaneously. Hundreds of conflicting images crowded in, until she feared her skull would burst in a fountain of contradictions, but one thought shone through, clear as day, imprinted with burning determination in her memory.

I refuse to die.

But something felt wrong. Something was missing. She tossed her head, feeling a strange tugging sensation as she did so. Cold dread filled her, as she blearily turned to look up at Celestia.

No. No no no... not after I worked so hard, not now... please, please, oh sun what must she think of me?

Celestia's eyes were puffy and bloodshot, her cheeks wet, but she smiled widely at Twilight, a faraway look in her eyes. Her chest was almost completely wrapped in black, silky hair, which shivered and curled, Twilight once again feeling a faint tugging toward the princess.

No.

I have to fix this... I have to. She didn't see... she shouldn't... oh, why now!? Focus, Sparkle. You can do this.

Magic gathered in her horn, sputtering faintly, a dark purple aura enveloping her hair. She felt it settle, heavier than usual, like a leaden weight upon her shoulders.

At that moment, she heard a shrill cry, like a wounded animal, and felt a body scramble away from her. Why? Why do I suddenly feel so cold? The spell collapsed, and a soft tinkling sound filled the air, as tiny glass-like pebbles fell from her mane.

A halberd edge pricked her neck, and the grim visage of Rock Steady suddenly filled her vision. “Lady Sparkle, please release Princess Celestia. I am prepared to use force, if necessary,” he stated, his words containing neither emphasis, nor any particularly strong emotion.

“N-n-no, stand down! She did not in-intend to harm me.”

Twilight whirled, ignoring the weapon pointed at her, to stare at the princess. Celestia's shoulders and small areas of her chest looked raw and reddened. I just... I hurt her. She... she tried to save me, she helped me, brought me back... and I... She felt bitter tears well up, and she ducked her head, hiding her face behind a curtain of twisting black.

“P-princess, please, forgive me...” She whispered, bowing low until she was almost resting her forehead on the dirt. Celestia threw her a horrified glance, boggling at her through the tears, before grabbing Twilight by the scruff and lifting her with worrying ease. Twilight flinched, going limp in Celestia's grasp, her heart hammering in terrified anticipation.

H-h-here it comes... banished to the moon... turned into a newt... please, just make it quick.

Tingling warmth flowed through Twilight as soft forelegs encircled her. Celestia bent low, and she felt hot breath at her ear. She could feel the princess's heart thumping and unconsciously snuggled closer. “Do not ask my forgiveness, for I am not deserving to give it to you. There is nothing I would not forgive of you at this moment, little one.”

O-oh... mmh... I could get used to this... Twilight felt her cheeks heat, realising the compromising position she was in, laying flush against one of the most powerful mares in Equestria. She shot out of Celestia's grip, blushing furiously, stammering something unintelligible. The princess made a little whine of protest, but also hurriedly got to her hooves.

“We must discuss your... physical developments, but now is not the time, nor the place” Celestia said, gingerly wiping her eyes with one hoof, “I trust you are capable of invoking your actuality?”

“H-how did you...”

Celestia gestured elegantly to the glassy pebbles she had previously conjured. “Surely you think me capable of recognising a fragmented transmutation, my faithful student?” the princess said drily.

I don't think I could focus on anything right now, let alone split my attention up piecemeal...

“I have an alternative that's less draining,” Twilight muttered, biting her lip.

'discuss my physical developments'... you make it sound so pleasant... ohdear ohdear...

“Then I suggest you use it quickly, before the paramedics arrive,” Celestia said, although Twilight thought she heard a hint of laughter in her tone.

All right. Whoa... no pressure or anything... She slowly drew magic into her horn, a dark purple field slowly forming around her. Her hair writhed and curled, but with a soft grunt and an application of precisely the right quantity of magic, a personal illusion snapped into place. Celestia smiled appreciatively at her, and Twilight looked away, worrying at her lip furiously.

“A fine piece of magic. I must say, your attention to detail is quite excellent, my student,”

“Th-thanks, Princess.”

“Would you stay with me at the palace for a few days? There is much we need discuss, I fear,” Celestia said softly, “And... a proposition, if you are amenable.”

“W-whatever you think is best,” Twilight said, sinking back down onto the ruined flowerbed, rubbing her forehead with one hoof. Celestia shot her a glare, and she quailed, sinking further.

Wrong, wrong, wrong...

“No, Twilight Sparkle. That is not an acceptable answer!” Celestia sternly admonished, but her eyes softened at the sight of the trembling unicorn, “Would you like to stay at the palace for the next few days?” She said, this time more gently, “I would very much like it if you stayed,” these last words a needful whisper, a tone Twilight would never have attributed to the strong, kind sun princess she knew.

Why would you do that to me? I-I could never refuse, if you ask like that... Twilight blushed softly, mind whirling through hundreds of possibilities, most of them-

No, I am not thinking about that. She would never-

“Make way! Make way!” A medical team rushed into the garden, followed by the bravest of the banquet guests. Twilight watched as Celestia spun a tale of saving her injured student from a botched assassination, omitting any mention of her abnormalities. Twilight just crawled out of the flower bed and nodded at the appropriate parts, her mind filled with worries of what Celestia would say regarding her physical appearance. Now that she was out of immediate danger, Celestia seemed to distance herself, but for Twilight the illusion had been broken.

I don't care what Terminus believes... Celestia's eyes filling with tears, grasping at her so desperately... No, she's just a mare. A hot, tingling wind made her leap away, barely avoiding a case of instant sunburn as Celestia's shining aura coalesced into a full corona. Wha!?

“-bsolutely disgraceful response time! My student would have died in the time it took you to arrive, and your excuse is 'all the pegasi were on break'!? Not good enough!”

The errant medical ponies shook nervously, backing away, heads bowed in shame. One of them managed to find his voice, sounding very small in the process, “U-uh... would you like us to, um... treat that frostbite, Princess? Oh sun please don't kill me,”

Celestia snorted, tossing her head contemptuously, the wounded flesh steaming, seeming to boil, physically reforming into undamaged white skin before their eyes.

“Just go. Your services are no longer required. I will be personally investigating your department in the near future. Do not disappoint me.”

Twilight shivered. Celestia's deadly calm was disquieting, but that last line was said with such quiet menace that it frightened her. I-I... I don't think she's ever really been angry with me...

Those beautiful pink eyes shot her a worried glance, and the fiery aura collapsed as if it had never been. Celestia left the medical team to remove themselves, easily making her way over.

“Do not worry, Twilight Sparkle. I cannot think of a single thing you might do that would so earn my ire,” She bent to nuzzle the top of Twilight's head, and Twilight flinched away.

Oh, did I just? Oh dear... She saw a flash of pain cross Celestia's face, and hurried forwards to nuzzle the Princess's chest, the highest she could reach without craning her neck. Celestia smiled softly to her, before turning away, her voice taking on the booming quality of magical amplification.

“Thank you, everyone, for attending, however in light of the recent attempt on my life, it would be prudent to end the festivities here. Know that you are each valued highly by the crown for your excellence in your respective fields, and I hope that despite this interruption, you all have a splendid night.”

Twilight looked on apprehensively. “Will we be departing for the palace, Princess?”

“Indeed. Go on ahead, I will be along momentarily.”

She nodded, then took a step back, mindful of the effects of her magic. The palace, specifically the tower where she had stayed much of her foalhood, fixed in her mind. She felt warm and nostalgic just imagining the room, and with a quiet sigh, gently dispersed into a swarm of dark purple sparks.

~~~

Metal shod hooves echoed dully on the flagstones of the Canterlot Hall, the only sound to be heard after the myriad guests had departed. Celestia gingerly sat upon a gilded bench, alone among the aisles of identical chairs. For a long moment, all was silent save the quiet breathing of the mare, who stared listlessly at the patterns of dust swirling in the moonlight. A quiet sob, and the mare's shoulders began to shake softly, her face contorting as hot tears spilled forth. She had held onto her sorrow, erected a mask of porcelain between herself and the world, but in one fell swoop, that had shattered, leaving her alone with her regrets.

~~~

In a spire of crystal and gold, high above the streets and rivers of Canterlot, a purple mare stepped forth from roiling cloud of sparks. Books rattled softly in their shelves, and a great hourglass emitted a soft answering 'plink', along with a small puff of oily black smoke. Smells and the soft sounds of a laboratory in motion met her ears, sparking fresh nostalgia in Twilight for the days she had spent in Canterlot.

“Twilight Sparkle!”

I'm sorry! I-I don't know w-what went wrong! Everything was so wonderful, and then suddenly there was this golden light... oh, Terminus, it hurt... it hurt worse than anything I've ever felt...

The little unicorn shuddered at the memory of the searing agony, of thrashing in an invisible grip as it had slowly began to consume her.

“No, no... it is not your fault, dear one. Neither of us could have predicted the violent reaction our union would provoke. I have never experienced a pact such as ours, and this... this was not present any records to which I was privy...”

Terminus trailed off, the soft speech giving way to an almost rambling tone as the voice seemed to begin to catalogue records and memories. Celestia can hear you, can't she?

“What? Oh, yes. Hence my extended silence in her presence. She came close to catching me on the way to the Canterlot Hall, but to my luck she seemed awfully distracted by something,”

Princess Luna...

That sad little nod, as empty magenta eyes stared listlessly at a black lacquered bench.

“I tried to shield you from the pain, dear one. I am afraid I was not strong enough,” Terminus soft whisper carried a mournful hint, and once again something soft and malleable tugged gently through her fringe.

W-what happened after that, though? I remember... I remember the princess... A sharp pain in her chest as she remembered the desperate way Celestia had clung to her, plead with her... I remember, she looked so beautiful, even through the tears... and a great white sphere, pulling me into a dark gulf, where space and time became meaningless. What happened to me, Terminus?

“I was forced to bring you back. It... was not a pleasant process for either of us, dear one. You do not remember the entirety of the event, and in truth it is likely best that you remain ignorant.”

… 'bring you back.' Twilight's eyes took on a hollow look, and she collapsed backwards onto her old bed, curling up amongst new yet familiar blankets.

I died back there, didn't I Terminus? It seemed hopeless. Unfathomable. She had died, and yet here she remained. She chewed nervously at the edge of a hoof, twitching as she felt a sharp stinging pain, and a faint taste of copper. Please. Tell me.

“I cannot lie to you, dear one. You came close to passing, but some part of you would not go on. You lingered in the threshold, and that was all the time I required to find you.”

I refuse to die.

The words burned like silver fire in the light of her thoughts, as clear as day, interwoven into her very being. Cross my heart, right girls? The hoof moved across her chest, and once again she felt a slight tingle.

“What shall we tell your princess, dear one? You know her better than I.” The voice merely sounded resigned at this point. Twilight sighed again, rolling over on the bed, wiggling uncomfortably.

What can we do? She knows something is wrong, and she won't stop digging at 'I had a magical accident'. That would just make her want to fix the problem.

“That... would likely be fatal for the both of us. She knows that. Would she truly risk the life of her 'faithful student' again, so soon after she came so close to killing us both?

“You are correct in that, at least, starspawn,” came a cool voice from the shadows between the bookcases. Twilight nearly swallowed her tongue when Celestia, this time dressed in her minimalistic regalia, stepped forward, her eyes red and puffy, but her tone icy.

“P-p-princess... I d-didn't hear y-you come in,” she stammered, rising into a sitting position on the bed and hastily attempting to bow.

“None of that, my faithful Twilight. Now is certainly not the time to stand on ceremony.”

Twilight blinked, straightening up almost mechanically. My faithful Twilight... she felt the sudden urge to hug herself, a warm blush making its way up her neck.

“You are correct in that attempting to separate you at this point would be futile. Terminus, unless I'm mistaken?”

“That would be correct, Lady of the Sun. I am the one they call Terminus,” came a stiff, though not necessarily hostile whisper from near her ear. Celestia seemed to find it intelligible, at least. A wry smile crossed the Princess's face at this.

“Last we spoke, I believe you said I should pray we never need speak again. What has changed, in the intervening fifteen minutes?”

Twilight felt confusion radiating from her passenger, and a moment later Terminus answered with hissing indignation, “We have never spoken to one another, Lady. Of which conversation do you refer?”

“How interesting. It is of no matter. What are your intentions on Equestria?” Celestia said, smiling mysteriously.

Twilight fidgeted, feeling like an awkward intermediary in the verbal jousting. Celestia walked forward, sitting gingerly on the small bed. She smiled and nuzzled Twilight's ears affectionately, wordlessly acknowledging Twilight's worries.

“My intentions... you must understand, I did not come here by choice, Lady. This form of existence is not preferable to me, but seems inescapable... it is some small solace that I am of use to dear Twilight, at least,” the voice trailed off, sounding almost wistful.

“Indeed. You understand that I will need a binding oath from you in order to permit your presence here, yes?” Celestia's voice gave nothing away, carefully neutral, despite their close proximity on the unicorn sized bed.

“It isn't as if I have any other options, Lady. The 'ball', as it were, is 'squarely in your court'.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow at that, tittering quietly into one hoof. “Hoofball references? Really Twilight? What have you been teaching this creature of our culture?” Twilight shot her a surprised glance. Hoofball? What? No, that can't have been me, I hate hoofball.

“That wasn't me, Princess!” she shouted indignantly. Celestia merely shrugged, a surprisingly graceful motion, the smooth white fur rippling in the moonlight- Focus, Twilight. Focus. She looked away guiltily.

“Regardless, an oath from you that you will not seek to harm any Equestrian subject during your stay here, however long that may be.”

Twilight heard a soft buzzing noise, like a swarm of angry bees, “No, that is not acceptable. I am willing to swear that I will do nothing to harm Equestrian citizens, provided I am allowed to take actions in self defence in the event of my dear one's injury. I cannot promise to never harm an Equestrian citizen, but I can promise that any actions wilfully taken that cause a citizen to come to harm will be in self defence only. Is that acceptable?”

“It is. For now.”

Terminus was quiet for a moment, and Twilight felt a curious tickling sensation at the base of her neck for a few seconds. A moment later, it resurfaced, its voice taking on a droning quality as if it were reading from a script.

“I, Terminus, do so solemnly swear, in both this form and any other that I may take, that I shall not at any time during my stay in Equestria:
One: maim, injure, bully, verbally or physically assault, kill, or otherwise violently interfere with the lives of any residents of Equestria;
Two: contract another pony, griffon, person or associated race to maim, injure, bully, verbally or physically assault, kill, or otherwise maliciously interfere with the lives of any residents of Equestria;
Three: play any so-called 'pranks' on the residents of Equestria with malicious intent;
Four: intentionally annoy, harass (sexually or otherwise), bother, or otherwise aggravate residents of Equestria;
Five: use any so-called 'Area of Effect' spells to destructive ends under the guise of doing a simple task.
The only suspension to the above clause is in the event that I, Terminus, or my pact-bearer, Twilight Sparkle, am in clear and present danger of termination of life from an outside force, at which point I, Terminus, may use the lowest amount of force possible to get myself out of danger. I will, when possible, move Twilight Sparkle's current body as far from the source of danger as necessary to sustain her life, and request the assistance of Celestia and Luna in the interest of preserving the life and health of Equestrians, and that of my pact-bearer, Twilight Sparkle. ”

Celestia reared back, eyes widening, then she let out a choked laugh. “I knew letting you read those books on Equestrian law was a mistake, Twilight Sparkle,” She said in a mock scolding tone. “I accept the terms of this agreement, Terminus.”

A fiery tingle raced through her chest, and Twilight gasped, bringing up a hoof to cover the offending spot. The princess glanced oddly at her, then placed her own hoof over Twilight's, gently rubbing it in a soothing manner. “Do you feel it, Twilight? A magical oath just activated. We will work through this, I think. You do understand that you are incomparably lucky that this particular Being is not immediately malevolent, do you not? How incredibly stupid it was to enter a pact without the proper precautions?”

“A-ah, y-yes Princess.”

Twilight looked away, a dark blush covering her nose. A small part of her revelled in the feeling of Celestia's smooth, metal clad hoof over hers, but mostly she just felt creeping shame, and a growing urge to hide under the covers. She gave a little start when the other hoof reached for her chin, gently bringing her gaze back to Celestia's face.

“It's Celestia when we're alone, Twilight Sparkle,” the princess said simply, giving her a shaky smile.

O-oh... oh my... She leaned forward, not entirely sure what she was expecting, and Celestia's eyes widened, pupils contracting in panic as a soft blush tinged her cheeks. The princess hurriedly got to her hooves, releasing Twilight, who swayed dizzily for a moment.

“I... I bid you goodnight, Twilight. I will send a servant to attend you. If you need any resources within the palace, they are yours, although be mindful of your passenger around sensitive information. Terminus... sleep well, if indeed you do sleep.” And with that, she dispersed into a cloud of golden mist, scattering brilliant rays of light across the library.

Twilight sank back onto the bed with an explosive sigh. What just happened?