Homecoming

by seeker9709

Rating: teen
Tags: Octavia, Adventure, Shining Armor, Violence, Twilight Sparkle, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe, Rainbow Dash, Romance, Princess Luna
Length: 246061

Thought to have been killed as a filly, Twilight Sparkle is discovered to be returning to Canterlot. Instead of a joyous reunion awaiting her, a trail of destruction follows her as Celestia and Luna struggle to discover how, and why, she's returned.

Twilight Sparkle was presumed to be dead. Destroyed without even a body to bury, the young victim of a deadly magical surge that claimed the lives of many others along side her. More than a decade later, reports of a violent murder by a pony bearing her name are brought to Celestia and Luna's attention. A trail of carnage leading directly towards Canterlot's doorstep, brought by a pony who strikes without mercy. As Twilight approaches, in service to an unknown master, the Alicorn Sisters desperately try to uncover what happened all those years ago.

Edited by Zintegy and The Pink Mugsy

Chapter Heading Art by KirillK
All Sketches and Artworks can be found HERE

Published 2013-01-02 22:20:01 UTC
Last updated 2023-07-04 21:03:59 UTC

Know my name

White.

For miles, only white.

It's a cold, hard environment. A place where you must fight to survive. A place where the outcasts go. I looked out, scanning the snow for anything. I continued walking, trying to find anything. A cave, a house, even a tavern would do. I continued walking listening to the cold wind, and signs of anything.

I tightened the straps of my bags and adjusted my scarf so it was covering my muzzle. I pushed forward, never succumbing to the cold or the bitter wind. If you allow the cold to take you, you will die. It is the harsh world of an outcast. Never trusting anyone else, never staying in the same place, never leaving a trail.

An earth pony would have it easier. They are naturally born with more strength and endurance than other. A pegasus would even have it easier. 'Since they can control weather and fly'.

But as a unicorn, we have it the most difficult. We can't fly, or control weather, or run for an entire day. We only have magic and trickery. Luckily, trickery is my game. But that's not even the hardest part. The hardest part is being a mare. To everything else out here, you're a special kind of weak. You have to really show who you are to stay alive.

I continued listening for the sounds of danger. A regular pony wouldn't be able to find a boulder if it was 5 feet in front of them, but for outcasts like me. Well, lets just say that you learn to see everything, and if you don't, you wont live long.

The baying of wolves could be faintly heard behind me. I turned and saw dark shadows with glowing red eyes behind me. I turned and ran. The snow was deep and powdery, making it difficult for a pony with heavy gear to run, ‘but wolves are smaller and lighter, and able to move much more freely.’

I quickly realized I would not be able to escape. I stopped running and turned to face the pack. They began circling me. The grunts and the smaller ones going around to my side and back, while the leader of the pack faced me.

Rule 1 of the wild: Intimidation. If you're going to run with the wild animals you need to show them just how powerful you are. Not many know, but the look in some ponies eyes can tell you a lot about a them. Direct eye contact is considered a challenge. A mental battle that can decide whether or not you live.

I met the eyes of the pack leader, it's eyes were glowing red and showed no mercy, but mine. Mine were something different. What it saw in my eyes was something it had never seen before in somethings soul.

What it saw, Was nothing. It saw nothing, like I had no soul, that I was just an empty shell, the funniest thing about it though.

It was right.

The wolf let out a low moan, like it was being hurt. Just not physically. It began backing away. The other wolves around me grew uneasy and upset. Like they could feel the despair coming from their leader. One wolf from behind me began growling. The leader barked and snapped at it but it didn't stop.

The pack respects strength. Those who are not strong do not survive. The leader regarded me with one last look. A look of respect, before calling to the other to move on.

I turned and walked past the other members of the pack. They shrunk back and some even seemed to bow, as I walked past.

I continued my journey through the perilous storm. It had grown dark before I came across a small town. Most likely a town full of thieves and murderers seeking refuge from the law, who would never come this far north.

As I walked into town, I noticed the streets were empty. But not just empty. Deserted. The only place in town with the lights still on was the local tavern.

I walked the short distance before throwing open the doors and walking in.

The blizzards wind were forming ripples and my cloak as I walked in. Every eye turned on me. I was right. This place was full of murderers and thieves. It was the epitome of filth. Every stallion's eye was on me. Searching me. Looking for a weakness. Finding any way to take advantage of me, and than defeat me.

I walked past the horrendous crowd and over to the bar looking to get a drink. As I walked, they all watched me. Their eyes never leaving me. I took a seat at the bar, still under the evil gaze of all those in the tavern.

The bar tender came over and looked me over for a few moments. He was a large earth pony with a grey coat and a black mane. He had a smirk etched onto his face as he looked at me. “Well well, what have we here? What's tha matter little girl, did you get lost?”

All of the filth roared in laughter.

“And what will you be having tonight?” He asked with an evil twinkle in his eye.

“Hard Cider.” I replied with disgust in my mouth.

He smiled evilly “That seems a little to strong for someone like you. Sure you wouldn't like an apple juice.”

They all laughed again. He joined in to this time. He chuckled along with his joke for a few moments before freezing. His smile disappearing in an instant.

I smirked underneath my hood. “What's the matter?” I asked him “Cat got your tongue?”

He stood their frozen, barely moving. He gulped before one of the other stood up.

“Hey.” He shouted “What are you doing?”

“Tisk, tisk, tisk.” I clicked my tongue in reply “You colts need to show some respect. Don't you know how to treat a lady?”

Another stood, yelling “Crazy bitch. What are you doing.” before throwing his mug.

It flew through the air but just a few feet before hitting my head it split in half. Flying harmlessly passed my head.

I giggled “You aren’t very good at this are you. I suggest you stop before you get hurt.”

He froze to. “H-hey, I don't want no t-trouble.” He replied. “You better leave. Or y-you w-will have some.”

The others drew their weapons. Some holding them with magic, some in their mouth, and some with their wings.

I giggled again. “Oh don't be so silly.” I dropped all amusement and playfulness from my voice. “I haven’t even had my drink yet.”

They all charged me. They brought their knives and swords down on where I was. There was a small flash and I was gone. They lofted their weapons expecting to find a mangled corpse beneath them, but their was only a destroyed bar stool.

“You know you should try better than that.” I called from the far side of the pub. They all turned to me I sipped from on of the flagons on the table. “Seriously, I could go like this all day.”

“YOU BITCH.” One yelled and charged me. He took exactly three steps before his throat exploded in blood. His head nearly coming off from the wound.

The others looked down in horror at what had just happened to him. “Wha-What did you do to him?” One practically cried.

I finished the drink and stood. “Well. Enough warming up. Now it's my turn.”

My horn lit up and the pub exploded into chaos. Ponies being ripped to shreds by an unseen enemy.

Those who weren't killed ran from the bar. Running as fast as they could into the night. Some only stood in shock.

A few moments later the bar was near empty and quiet. “Well thanks for playing everyone, and thanks for the drink.” I nodded to the bartender who was cowering in fear.

I began walking towards the door, when one voice called out.

“Wait.”

I stopped and turned my head to look at who had called me. It was the colt who threw the glass at me earlier.

“Yeeeees?” I asked

He stood there in fear and awe. “Who are you?”

I chuckled “Who am I?”

I turned my back and began walking out the door. “My name is Twilight Sparkle”

A champion

Canterlot was not what you would call a quiet city. Ponies were always bustling around going about their business. The guards were always patrolling, looking for any sign of danger. And of course day court was in session.

Day court was where anypony could come in to the castle and petition to Princess Celestia. Anypony from the poorest farmer, to the richest duke, could come and question a law or have an argument settled about ownership of land.

It may sound boring to you. Sitting in a throne all day listening to other ponies problems, but Celestia actually enjoyed it. She always wanted to find a way to help ponies with their problems. It was just another day in her kingdom.

The only problem was that bad news always seemed to come during court. A pegasus guard came running through the doors, a panicked look on his face.

He ran to the throne and bowed respectfully to Celestia.

“Is their a problem?” Celestia inquired.

“A rare bird was spotted just north of Canterlot, apparently it hasn't been seen for years.”

Celestia's raised an eyebrow. “What be the colors of it's feathers.”

The guard gulped before responding “Black as night.”

Celestia's eyes widened. “I see.” She turned to the ponies who had gathered to speak with her. “Attention everypony. I apologize, but something of urgency has come and day court is canceled. You, come with me.” She commanded to the guard.

As they walked out of the room she pointed at another guard “You. Tell my sister to meet me in the green room.”

Rare bird, black feather, and green room were all code words for an emergency. They were created by Celestia, Luna, and the royal guard to avoid a panic in case of emergency. Black feathers was for high alert criminals, who were considered extremely dangerous.

Celestia and the guard ran towards the 'green room', which was the code name for the war room. Luna was already waiting for them when they arrived.

“What is going on?” She questioned Celestia.

“A rare bird was spotted just north of Canterlot”

Luna scrowled “It's feathers?”

“Black as night” Celestia replied grimly.

Luna's jaw dropped and she covered her mouth with one hoof. “Are you sure? Can it really be her? After all these years, I thought she would be dead.”

''Commander Silver has briefed me on what has happened.” Celestia said while motioning to the who had alerted her. “The damage could only be done by her. Commander. Please explain to Luna what you told me.”

The guard had grown pale, but nodded. “We were contacted by a local town a few hundred miles north. They had reported a cloaked mare coming into the local tavern and murdered several ponies inside. I took several pegasus with me and we checked it out. The bar was a mess. We counted 8 killed and over a dozen injured. Those who weren't dead were in shock.”

He took a moment to catch his breath. “Those who were killed were...

He stared into space. The moment to horrible to put to words.

Celestia put a hoof on his shoulder “It's fine was their anything else?”

He nodded. “There was one stallion, who was catatonic. He was shivering and wouldn't let anyone touch him. He was repeating the same name over and over again.”

“Twilight Sparkle.” Celestia finished

Sadness filled Luna's eyes. “What do we do Celestia?”

Celestia looked down refusing to meet Luna's eyes. “The only thing we can Luna. We will most likely have to kill her. She can't be controlled. I don't want to have to kill anypony, but she might not even be in control. But the problem is who do we send to stop her. We can't just send regular guards. They would be killed. I would prefer someone who could capture, but kill if necessary.”

Luna thought for a moment. “Follow me. I have an idea.”

They entered the barracks for the guards. The building was deceptively large. From the outside it looked to be a large mansion, but on the inside it went down another 3 levels underground. As they walked through the building guards bowed in respect. One guard who was wearing gold and purple armor walked up to the princesses.

“Princess Celestia, Princess Luna. This is an unexpected pleasure. What brings you to the barracks?”

Celestia met his eyes, a grim look clouding her features. “I'm sorry Captain Armor. News came from town north of Canterlot. She is alive and she is coming back.”

The stallion removed his helmet. He was a bleached white unicorn stallion with a multi blue hued mane and tail. A look of pain and sorrow on his face. “T-Twily is a-alive?

Luna spoke “Yes, but we are taking no chances. Apparently she was spotted at a tavern in the north lands. 8 were killed and many more injured. We came to get HER. I believe she is the best one for the mission.”

A scowl crossed Shining's face. “Yes. That makes sense. Come see for your self though. Your timing couldn't have been better. She is in the dojo now.

They walked down a set of stairs. “We had to move her to the largest dojo available. The others are still under repair from her last training battle.” Shining remarked. “She may be powerful, but she has little control. Here we are.”

They had reached the bottom of the stairs, and walked through a door to a huge room.

The room was at least 50 yards long, and 30 wide. It had 3 levels with balconies so the other guards could watch the fight. They were on the 3rd balcony looking down on multiple guards wearing full armor. There were 14 of them all gathered in a circle around a pegasus mare. She wore black armor with moon emblems on the helmet and chest piece. Her helmet had violet and maroon hair sticking out from the top, and she was sitting with her eyes closed. She had two long knives strapped to her sides.

The other guards stood at least 10 yards from her, their weapons at the ready. They were a mix of earth ponies, peagasi, and unicorns. They stood in crouched stances waiting for the battle to begin.

There was silence in the air for a few moments. No one moved. No one spoke.

The silence lingered.

…

…

…

“BEGIN!” A guard shouted. A gong sounded, and the 14 attacked.

They drew their weapons holding them with teeth, magic, and wings, and they charged. The mare waited. Not moving. The others grew close, and when they were just a few feet away her eyes snapped open. Her armored wings shot open and she held one knife in her mouth.

The others brought their weapons down on her. Her wings snapped up, and their was silence again.

From the spectators point of view it looked as if she had been skewered, but the attacking guards new what had happened. The mare spun in a circle throwing off the guards and she alighted. She waited until they had all stood and recovered their weapons before attacking.

Her wings sprung to life and she began zipping around the room at an unnatural speed. Her body blurring, she flew past each guard striking with her knife or her wings.

"Interesting. She even uses her body as a weapon.” Celestia noted

Luna smirked. “That's why she is one of my top night guards and assassins. She has incredible speed and precision, and she can analyze the enemy quickly. She is perfect.”

The mare flew directly at a unicorn holding a sword with his magic and a knife with his teeth. They clashed blades, and dueled for a moment. The mare clearly toying with him. They dueled for another moment before she swept his legs out from under him and bucked him into a wall.

The battle continued on like this for a few more minutes. The mare flying around and landing small strikes on the others, before sending them flying one by one. Soon there were only 4 left. They grouped together hoping that they could fight her off together instead of being taken out one by one.

She hovered in the air for a moment using her front hooves to pull two round objects out from underneath her armor.

She threw one at their feet and released a huge puff of smoke. A smoke grenade. And threw another into the cloud. A small explosion and a flash of light came from the cloud, a flash bang. The remaining guards screamed from inside before the mare flew in. The sound of clashing blades and grunts could be heard from inside the cloud.

Just a few moments later the mare walked out of the cloud. Her knives sheathed. The cloud cleared and showed the remaining 4 guards battered and knocked out.

The mare looked up to the crowd and saw the princesses watching her. She flew up to the balcony, and bowed before the royalty after removing her helmet. “Princess Luna. Princess Celestia. I wasn't aware you would be here.”

“Rise Wing Commander Dash. We have a mission for you of utmost importance.

The Mare lifted her head to reveal a cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane.

She flashed a toothy grin to the princesses. “Well then. Lets not waste any time.

The mission

“So what exactly is the mission?” Rainbow Dash inquired as she, Luna, and Celestia walked to the green room.

“You are to find and capture a high profile target. She has been gone for years, and has resurfaced,” Luna replied.

Rainbow Dash furrowed her brow. “What is her danger status?”

“Black.”

Rainbow gave a low whistle. “Interesting. I’ve never seen a pony labeled as Black before. What did she do?

Luna and Celestia exchanged a worried look for a moment. After a pause, Celestia spoke.

“Do you know who Twilight Sparkle is?” Celestia asked.

Dash thought for a few moments. “No... Doesn't ring a bell. Why? Who is she?”

Luna spoke up. “15 years ago there was a young filly who was a... problemed unicorn. She had little control over her magic, and she often had moments where her horn would come to life and begin shooting random spells. We had the best teachers and doctors try to help her, but it was for naught. Celestia herself tried to help the filly, but still nothing worked.” She glared at the floor as they walked, refusing to meet anypony’s eyes.

“The other fillies would make fun of her and wouldn't let her play with them. She went into a depression and refused to leave her home. Her only friend was her brother, Captain Armor, and even he was rapidly losing faith.

“One day she finally left home, but according to her family, she was different. She was happy and aloof, and she seemed not to care about her problem. We were told she had left her home. Nothing else is known about what happened later that day, except that there was a massive magical energy explosion.

“When the guard arrived at the scene, a local playground for young ones, the place had been decimated. The blast was so powerful the sand had been turned to glass. We still don’t know exactly what happened, but apparently, she had been followed by the bullies again.

“A few of the fillies were killed, and the rest were in severe injury and shock. They were put in hospitals until their minds and bodies had healed. Twilight was allegedly seen fleeing the scene, and she was never seen or heard from after that. No one ever knew what had happened to her, so she was assumed to be dead.” Luna stopped, her face a mask of sadness and despair.

Celestia continued where Luna left off. “When one of the children awoke, he told us what happened. He said they had chased her to the playground, and from what we were told, Twilight led them to the playground and turned to face them with a look of pure insanity. Her magic exploded out and the bullies were hit by the wave of magic.”

“But how did you know all of this? Were you there?”

Luna gave a solemn look. “These were mostly witness accounts and explanations from her family.”

Dash sat down, her eyes wide. “Wow... That poor girl. She's not a murderer, she's just damaged.”

“That's why we brought you in, Commander Dash. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to bring her back, and hopefully convince her peacefully.

Rainbow Dash’s brow furrowed again as she considered the operation, then spoke, “I accept the mission.”

~~~~~~~~

Back in the green room, Celestia, Luna, and Rainbow Dash were looking over maps of the north lands.

“She was spotted here just a few days ago,” Luna described, pointing to an area on the map. “There were multiple deaths and injuries before she fled the scene. She has not been seen since.”

“Was she on foot?” Dash asked

“We believe so, but we’re unsure as the only time she was seen was in the bar,” Celestia replied.

“What about the weapons she used? What were they?”

Luna paused for a moment. “From the report we were given, she had no visible weapons. The survivors told us that she sat there as they were torn to pieces.”

“Was it telekinesis?”

“No... Telekinesis couldn't have cut that finely. The marks and injuries on the dead were blade marks. They were all clean cuts.”

“Could it be Kamataichi?” Celestia asked.

Rainbow Dash looked up in confusion. “What is that?”

Luna and Celestia gave her a quizzical look.

“What?” Rainbow asked defensively

“As a pegasus, we assumed you would know what that was,” Celestia retorted.

“Well, as much as I hate to admit it, I don't know everything. So what exactly is it?”

Luna replied, “It means ‘cutting wind’. It is the power to move wind in such a fine line that it can cut.”

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “That's a possibility. What was her attitude like?”

It was Luna's turn to look confused. “Why do you need to know that?”

“By knowing their attitude and the way they react in situations, I can get an idea for their next move. If they get angry or move quickly to act, they are probably in a hurry, but if they stay calm and carefully choose their actions, they will take their time. From what you said about her relaxing while the others were killed, I can assume that she doesn't doubt her strength. She is probably very powerful, and she knows it.

Celestia was mildly surprised, but Luna was indifferent. Luna simply praised Rainbow with the words, “That's why you’re my best.”

Rainbow gave a cocky smile before turning back to the map. “What is the closest town to the one she was seen in?”

“Twenty seven miles,” came the reply

“How many days has it been?”

“Two.”

Rainbow Dash frowned. “That's no good then. She will have moved past that by now. What's the next one?”

Luna looked down the map, and identified another city. “Thirty four miles.”

Dash stood up straighter. “I'm leaving now.”

Luna quickly looked up to see Dash leaving the room. “Commander, where are you going?”

“If I leave now, I can make it there in time to stop her,” Dash called back.

Luna ran after her. “Fine, but first I have something for you. Follow me.”

Dash followed Luna into the armory. Pieces of armor covered one wall, while weapons covered the adjacent wall. At the end of the room was a pair of large metal doors with a small hole, just large enough for a horn to fit into.

Luna slipped her horn into the hole, and the door glowed for a moment before opening. Inside were see-through pieces of armor, as if they were made out of glass.

Using her magic, Luna carried the pieces and placed them in front of Dash.

“This is a new stealth armor I have been working on. Since you are going on this mission, I wanted you to try it out.”

Dash slipped on each piece of the armor. When she was finished, the armor turned black and violet with Luna’s symbol, the crescent moon, on the breast plate and helmet.

“I...I don't know what to say, Princess,” she gasped in awe.

Luna smiled. “Just say thank you. The armor will blend in with the background, and it's stronger than steel.”

“Thank you, Princess. This means a lot to me.” She turned to leave and began walking out.

“Commander Dash?” Luna called, one last time.

Rainbow turned to look at her superior and mentor.

Luna gave her a warm smile. “Good luck.”

Rainbow saluted the princess. “Thank you, your majesty,” she responded, before taking off from the ground.

The Letter

Welcome travelers...

The sign was worn down and barely readable. It was originally longer, but it seemed like the rest of the sign had been smashed off.

Twilight adjusted her saddle bags as she walked into a town. It wasn’t very welcoming – the town was dirty, and, with the exception of a few half-dead beggars, the streets were empty and littered with rotten garbage. The buildings were moldy, and some had caved in from the snow.

As she walked through the streets, some of the beggars looked to her for a moment before turning their eyes back to the ground. 4 of them were huddled around each other to stay warm. They were covered in mud and looked like they hadn't eaten in days, since their ribs were showing through their coats.

Twilight walked over and kneeled in front of the beggars, a warm smile upon her face. She levitated a few bits in front of the beggars.

“Go on. Take them.”

The beggars’ faces lit up. Their eyes shone with gratitude.

Using her magic, she divided up the bits between them. They each took their share and thanked her. One even stood and embraced. She was surprised for a moment, but returned the embrace with a tear sliding out from underneath her eyelid.

The beggar released her and ran off with the others to find food and shelter. Twilight followed behind them to do the same. As she walked, she noticed something strange - ponies were peeking out at her from inside their homes. Pairs of eyes were staring out at her through doors and windows. Whenever she made eye contact with them, they would slam their doors shut.

“If I have learned anything, it's that this is not a good sign,” she muttered to herself.

As she continued walking to find the local market, the eyes followed her. She grew slightly uneasy as she felt their stares upon her.

She finally arrived at the market. A lone earth pony stallion, lazily reclining in a chair, looked up to see her coming.

Moaning, he stood to meet her. He looked extremely bored and wasn’t in the mood to talk.

“Wha da you need?” he asked flatly.

Twilight gave the colt a stare so cold it could have frozen the sun, an unamused look on her face. She asked, demanding answers, “What is wrong with this town? Why is everyone so scared?”

“What do you mean?” I just sell the produce,” the colt stammered, clearly unnerved by the young mare in front of him.

Twilight glared at him. She spoke in a deep voice, “What is going on here? I visited this town almost 8 years ago and it looked nothing like this. Who is in charge?”

He began to shrink back, a worried look on his face. “Look. I don't want any t-trouble. I-I just sell the...” He suddenly froze, not unlike the way the others at the tavern had.

Twilight almost glowed with anger. She asked again, “Who. Is. In. Charge?”

Eyes wide with terror, the colt responded. “C-captain Render. He is in charge. He comes every week to collect his 'protection' money. If we don't pay, the creatures come back.”

Twilight’s eyes widened. “What creatures?” she asked skeptically.

“...Manticores.”

“What?” Twilight asked, confused. “Manticores? This far north?”

“Y...Yes. They are very common around here,” he stated, sounding very unsure.

Twilight stared at him in disbelief for a moment. “Just like Render. Scaring others with his lies. I hate to tell you this buddy, but there are no manticores this far north.”

“Yes there are. One attacked last week and destroyed half the town,” he said, motioning with his hoof to the broken buildings.

Twilight looked with disapproval at the wrecked homes. “Where can I find Render?”

The colt looked at her with concern. “Please don't do anything you'll regret. Render and his men are fearsome warriors. They don't take kindly to those who stand in their way.”

The colt froze again. Twilight’s glare returned. “Where. Can. I. Find. Him?” Her voice was eerily calm.

“He'll be in town later this evening,” he cried, his voice filled with panic. “He comes twice a week for his payment. If he doesn't collect, he comes back 3 days later and gives another chance.”

Twilight angrily looked around. “That's fine. I'll wait for him. I need some supplies anyway.” Using her magic, she floated a list of winter fruits and vegetables out from one of her bags and showed it to the salespony.

She turned away, walked over to the nearest house, and kicked open the door. The ceiling had caved in, and so much snow had piled up that the snow was taller than the building.

Twilight looked around the building for a moment before setting her jaw forward in decision. Her horn began to glow purple, and she pointed it towards the pile of snow. Flames shot from her horn and began melting the pile.

Seconds later, only puddles of water, broken boards, and broken glass remained. She lifted the broken pieces with her magic, repairing the window, the floor, and the ceiling.

She went to the next house and continued. For almost an hour, she went from house to house, fixing and cleaning with her magic.

As she worked, the people of the town gathered in the street to watch as helped them. Twilight was so caught up in her work that she didn't even notice the crowd until she had finished the final house. As she emerged, she was met with huge applause from the ponies of the town.

She was taken aback from the sudden gratitude. She smiled uneasily at the crowds, but as they clapped the smile became more genuine. The crowd gave her a respectful space as she walked into the street, but still looked on in wonder.

Twilight smiled back and began making her way to the food carts when she was stopped by a little unicorn filly. She gazed at Twilight in awe for what she had done.

“Th-Thank you miss...” She began, but trailed off as she didn't know what their savior’s name was.

Twilight gave a warm smile to the filly. “You can call me Dawn, young one. The dawn represents a fresh new start. The beginning of a new day. Always remember that.”

The filly beamed at Twilight. “I will, and thank you again.” Twilight watched her run off to her parents.

Twilight made her way back to the food stalls. The sales colt from earlier was looking at her with a look he had rarely given anypony before, a look of respect.

“Do you have my order finished?” Twilight asked.

The colt looked at her for a few more moments, stunned. He finally gained control of himself and gave her the bags of her food.

“I can't believe what you did for these ponies. This is both good and bad. The houses are fixed, but when Render sees them, he will think we are withholding his payment.”

Twilight grew serious. “Listen. You let me deal with Render. I have a score to settle with him. For now, though, I would like to rest.”

She trotted over to a porch covered by a small roof. Using her magic, she levitated a small white enevelope out of her saddle bags. She held it in front of her, smiling softly, before her horn lit up, and the envelope disappeared in a white flash. She sat down in a rocking chair and pulled her scarf over her mouth and her hood over her eyes and she slowly drifted off to sleep.

Canterlot was the place to be. The place where you can be anypony you wanted to, whether it be a rock star or a Wonderbolt. Canterlot was the place was the place to go.

Octavia wanted to be a soloist. She was an amazing cellist and had been told many times that she was an amazing player. What she could do with her cello could make just about anyone fall in love with her and her music.

She was standing upright with her large instrument leaning against her. As she pulled her bow across the strings, her long dark mane flowed over her shoulder. The deep music and melodies brought peaceful thoughts to the judges as they listened to the young performer.

Eyes closed in concentration, she continued the long slow pulls across the strings, losing herself into the music as she always did when she played.

She finally finished her set and lowered her cello. She turned to the judges, awaiting their response.

The judges sat in silence for a moment before one of them finally spoke. “That was absolutely beautiful. I have never such an amazing tune from a soloist.”

Another spoke. “I agree. I believe you are perfect, Madame...” The judge paused as she realized she didn’t know the mare’s name.

“Octavia. My name is Octavia,” she replied with a slight British drawl, her voice smooth and deep, just like her music.

The stallion responded, “Well, Miss Octavia, I would say you are ready. We have an opening for the Gala in a few weeks, if you are interested.”

Octavia bowed low. “Thank you for this opportunity. I will not disappoint you.”

She packed her cello as the judges left. She slung her case over her back and walked out of the theater into the winter afternoon. Often she would get a strange look from carrying the massive instrument on her back, but it wasn’t a problem for her, since she was an earth pony.

It took her only a few minutes to get from the theater to her home. It was a large duplex which she shared with her friend Vinyl Scratch. Vinyl, like Octavia, wanted to be a performer, but of a different style - Vinyl was a talented DJ who went by the stage name DJ P0N-3. She worked at night and always slept through the day, so Octavia thought the house would be quiet.

She walked in and went to her room where she set down her cello and removed her winter layers. Her room was nothing grand, just a small bed and some shelves. She walked into the kitchen, and put on a pot of water for tea, when a voice called out from behind her, causing her to jump a little.

“Hey, Tavi. Did you get the part?” Octavia turned to face Vinyl. Only she called Octavia by that nickname.

“Good afternoon Vinyl. I didn't expect you up this early. It's only 2:30pm.”

Vinyl snickered and adjusted her trademark violet glasses. “I have an earlier show tonight, so I’ll be home around 11:00. That way, we can spend some time together tonight.” She smiled seductively as she finished the thought.

Octavia just smiled and rolled her eyes. “Well, if you must know, yes I did. They offered me a spot in the Gala. Naturally, I accepted.”

Vinyl raised her eyebrows in a mock playful sense. “Oh, wow, the Gala. That’ll definitely get your name out there. Now be honest with me. Mares or stallions?”

“Vinyl!”

“Okay, okay,” Vinyl chuckled back. “Oh! By the way, a letter came for you.”

Octavia raised an eyebrow. “Really? I never get letters unless they’re invitations or solicitation. Who sent it?”

Vinyl dug through a small pile of envelopes, and pulled one out. “Here it is. There was no name, but it has three violet ribbons around it. I wonder what they aAAAAHHHH--”

Before she could finish her thought, Octavia rammed into her and took the letter from her hooves, sending her flying into the next room.

“You could just say thank you,” Vinyl called back from the next room.

“SorryVinylthisisreallyimportantI'llbeinmyroom,” Octavia yelled as she ran into her room and slammed the door shut.

Vinyl slowly stood while rubbing her head. “What’s her problem?”

Octavia sat on her bed staring at the letter. 'Does this mean what I think it means? Is she really coming? It has to be her. After, all she promised.’

She tore open the letter and looked at the page.

Dear Tavi:

I have missed you dearly, and can't wait to see you again. I am on my way and will be in Canterlot in a few days. It has been a few years, and I am so excited to finally see you again. I've heard you are becoming quite popular, and I can't wait to see you perform.

Yours truly, T.S.

PS: Remember, you mustn’t tell anyone about this.

Octavia sat for few minutes staring at the letter. 'She is coming back. She is finally coming back to me.'

She sat in silence for a few more minutes. A knock at the door broke the silence.

“Hey Octavia. Are you okay?”

Octavia continued to stare at the letter for a few more seconds. She smiled to herself.

'I am now.'

A midtown fight

Twilight felt her body roll back and forth slightly. Still half asleep, Twilight cracked an eye open
from under her hood and turned her head slightly to see a hoof on her shoulder.

The shop keeper was looking down at her, clearly nervous. He stared at her for a few moments
before drawing a ragged breath. “Render is here,” he breathed out.

Twilight looked at him for a moment. She could hear galloping from a few blocks away. The
ponies that had been walking through the streets were now running into the nearest buildings.
The homeless were quickly grabbing the food and bits they had. Windows slammed, and doors
locked.

Twilight surveyed the scene for a few moments before looking back to the colt. “I'll be up when
they get here,” she replied nonchalantly before closing her eye again.

The colt stared at her with an open mouth. “Uh... Didn't you... just hear me? He's here. Aren't
you going to-?”

The colt stopped as Twilight's hoof filled his mouth. “Shh. Just go to your stand and act natural.
Trust me.” Her tone grew serious. “I won’t let anypony get hurt.”

The colt looked uneasily at her as she removed her hoof from his mouth. She didn't look like,
much especially against soldiers, but she had to have a few tricks up her sleeve. She was far too
calm.

“Do you have a plan though? They aren't exactly unarmed,” he stated to her, panic filling his
voice. “The stallions are serious fighters, and they have the battle scars to prove it.”

She opened both of her eyes and gave him a look of annoyance, not unlike one a teen would
give to a nagging parent.

She looked him up and down for a moment before closing her eyes again. “I understand. You're
scared, and you have every right to be, but don't worry. I’m a lot more powerful than you think
I am. I want to watch their actions, moves, and reactions.” She smirked underneath her scarf at
the last part. “That reminds me. I never got your name.”

The colt stood there for a moment until her question finally registered. “Oh um... Dasher.
Thanks for asking.”

She was silent for a moment. “Looks like they're here,” she said, peeking out from under her
hood.

The colt turned to see 5 soldiers galloping towards him. Dasher took a deep breath and walked
out to meet the soldiers.

The group was made up of all three different types of ponies. Two of them were large earth
ponies, two more were pegasi, and the final pony standing in front was a unicorn. He wore
old and cracked golden armor with a sun and moon emblem on the front, marking him as a
commander for the royal guard. He had a light red coat and mane with black stripes down his
mane and tail. As he approached the store, Twilight could feel a commanding air from him. He
was somepony you didn't want to pick a fight with.

Dasher and Render locked eyes, and Render walked up to the balcony. “Hey
there, Dashie. Who's your girlfriend?” Render teased him.

Dasher sighed and glared at him. “First, I thought I told you to stop calling me Dashie. Second,
can we just get down to business?”

Instead of being angry, Render raised his eyebrows in mock surprise. “Well, well, well. You
seem to have grown a pair. Regardless, do you have our payment or not?”

Dasher took a deep breath and stared at the ground. “No. But maybe if you would give us more
time, we could pay you for once.”

Render took a deep breath and gave Dasher a skeptical frown. “Now, now, Dashie, you know I
hate liars. Are you going to pay up or not?”

Dasher slammed his hoof down onto the ground. “I'm not lying. We don't have any money. No
one comes into town, so we can't make money.”

Render and Dasher glared at each other for a few moments before Render broke the stare and
surveyed the town. He looked over the newly repaired buildings with scrutiny. “Really? You
have no money?” He asked Dasher, all sense of playfulness gone from his voice. “You seem to
have enough to hire a team of ponies to fix this pathetic mess of a town. Now then...”

His horn lit up, and, using his magic, he dragged Dasher towards him. “I'm tired of coming to
this damned town and leaving disappointed. Now pay what you owe before I stop being so
nice.”

Dasher couldn't move away from Render and stared back at him. Staring at each other for what
seemed like hours, Dasher made an action. He spat directly in Renders face.

Pure rage filled Render’s mind. “WRONG ANSWER!” He threw Dasher onto the ground and
drew a knife, preparing to finish the pathetic earth pony, when something hit him squarely on
the forehead.

He stumbled back in confusion. He brought a hoof up to where he was struck and pulled back
to find some blood on his fur.

“Honestly. Can't you ponies play nice?” a voice called from the patio. Render looked up to see
the cloaked mare on the porch, three stones revolving around her head with magic.

Render’s brow furrowed in anger. “My quarrel is not with you. Mind your tongue, mare, or-”

Before he could finish what he was saying another stone struck him, causing him to fall.

Twilight yawned. “Or what? What were you going to say?” she called back nonchalantly.

Render quickly rose onto his hooves, a small river of blood leaking from his forehead. His vision
turned red as he sprinted towards the mare. He made it a few steps before he tripped.

His head struck the ground and left him dazed, but he recovered quickly. He tried to stand,
yet he found he couldn't. He looked back to see Dasher clinging to one of his rear legs. Render
picked up the knife with his teeth and kicked Dasher off of him. He whirled around and brought
the knife down on the defenseless pony.

Dasher squeezed his eyes shut, awaiting the inevitable. There was a flash of light, and he froze.
Was he in heaven? Yes, this must be death. He couldn't be alive, could he?

He slowly opened his eye. Standing with her back to him was Twilight. Her hood was thrown
off, and a curved blade was clenched between her teeth. Her blade locked with Render's. His
mind was still red with fury. As his eyes finally adjusted, he saw who stood before him.

Render went from furious to confused. He jumped back a few feet and sheathed his blade
before turning back to the mare. His eyebrows knitted together in confusion. He lifted one hoof
up to rub the injury from the rocks.

“I must have been hit too hard, because I’m seeing a ghost.”

Twilight threw her knife in the air and caught it with its sheath. Her lip stuck out in a mock pout.
“Aw, come on, Render. You really don't think it's me?” A smug grin replaced her pout. “Even
after what happened to Short Sight?”

Render snapped his head toward her again. His eyes were wide open and his teeth gritted in
barely controlled fury. “Don't. You. Ever. Speak. Her. Name. AGAIN.” His horn charged, and he
fired a beam of pure energy towards Twilight.

When the beam disappeared, Twilight was gone.

“Wow. That was close. You almost singed my tail,” a voice taunted him from right behind him.
Twilight was leaning against him, cleaning out a hoof with a knife. “Honestly. Can't you make it
just a little bit more exciting?” she asked, sounding bored.

Render jumped away again and fired multiple smaller energy blasts at her. She drew two
knives and used them to deflect the shots. As she did, Render got more desperate. Running
backwards, he fired more small shots before charging his magic to fire a giant ball of energy.
Twilight used her blades to deflect some shots while avoiding the others in what seemed to
be a dance. She dodged the all the smaller shots, then realized that a large ball of energy was
quickly approaching her. Instead of dispelling the ball, she sheathed her blades and faced the
energy ball. Just before it hit her, she raised a hoof and enclosed it in a magical shield, then
batted away the projectile.

Everypony watching was in awe. She had not just dispelled it, but used her hoof to do it. Her
eyes were closed in concentration as she knocked it to the side. There was a small explosion
as it connected with a building next to her. She looked at the destroyed house and cursed at
herself for being so careless.

As she recovered and turned to face her enemy, she almost burst out laughing at the
expressions of those watching. Render, his men, and Dasher had blank looks on their faces with
their jaws on the ground. She gave a smirk and started walking towards the soldiers.

Her approach snapped them out of their daze. Render looked back at his men, still staring at
the powerful unicorn. “Don't just stand there, get her!” he commanded the soldiers. The group
looked uneasy, but obeyed and circled Twilight. She looked at the soldiers around her. They all
looked unhappy to be in the fight, like they never intended for this to happen. She looked up to
Dasher who was still watching her in awe.

“Dasher,” she called to him, bringing him back to his senses.

“...Um. Yeah?” he finally replied.

She gave him a warm smile. “You should probably get inside. I'm done playing nice,” she stated,
her voice cold. She watched Dasher until he entered one of the houses.

She turned her attention back to her attackers. She cocked her head and gave a wide smile,
“This will be fun.” She threw off her cloak.

Underneath, she was wearing a solid black jump suit adorned with two rows of sheathed knives
along her sides. Each side had five knives. She levitated four knives out from their sheathes, two
from each side.

“So?” she asked to the group. “Who's first?”

They all stood in a fighting stance, though none of them wanting to engage the powerful
unicorn.

“ATTACK, DAMN YOU,” Render shouted. The other guards drew their weapons and charged.
Twilight’s knives shot out, met each of the guards, and began dueling them. Another knife
unsheathed and hovered over Twilight as she faced Render. “This is between you and me,” she
shouted. She gripped the knife in her mouth and charged at Render.

As she ran, Render grabbed two small swords with his magic and charged at Twilight.

As Twilight ran, Render brought the swords down on her. She slid past him and gouged one of
her knives into his side. Render’s armor saved him; if not for his armor, he would have been
split open, and the battle would have ended instantly.

He quickly spun and stabbed down at Twilight, but she caught his blade on the hilt of her knife.
He used his other weapon to stab her again, but there was a flash of light and she teleported
a few feet away. She immediately recovered and sprinted towards Render again. They dueled
for a moment until one of the pegasus guards defeated Twilight's knife and charged her from
behind.

Twilight fired a blast of magic at Render, knocking him back while she spun and engaged the
guard. The pegasus was quick on his hooves, and dodged many of Twilight's strikes and spells
quickly. Their blades clashed as they tried to overtake each other.

Render recovered from the blast Twilight had sent his way, lifted one of his swords with magic,
and ran towards her. She sidestepped the guard’s knife strike and kicked him in the chest,
causing him to stumble back. She turned and blocked Render’s downward strike. She slashed
him across the chest, but was blocked by his armor again. As they fought, another one of
Twilight’s knives fell to the ground. A large earth pony barreled towards Twilight, his earlier
target now down.

Twilight, knowing that fighting too many targets at once would be suicide, blasted the earth
pony guard with a spell that knocked him down. Jumping on the opportunity, Twilight regained
control of one of her fallen knives, and the knife began battling the earth pony once again,
though she knew that it wouldn’t last long.

Twilight came back to her battle with the pegasus guard and Render. She blocked the guard’s
knife and stood on two legs to knock the pegasus to the ground, then spun to fight Render.
Render brought his sword down, and she teleported behind him, stabbing the knife into his
armor. The armor mostly stopped the blade, but it still gave him a cut. This only seemed to
anger him more. He ripped the knife out with his magic and threw it at her, nearly impaling her.

The pegasus guard recovered from the kick, and Twilight charged him again. She teleported
behind him and drove a hoof into his left rear leg, firing a blast from her horn that knocked him
twenty feet into the air.

He attempted to right himself in the air, but she teleported next to him and drove her hoof into
his chest, knocking him down. The guard fell and met the ground, disabled. If not for the softer,
lighter body of a pegasus, he would have died instantly.

She smirked and ran back towards the others, shouting, “One down, four to go.” As she ran,
she picked up one of her fallen knives. Render had recovered from the blows he suffered, and
the earth pony had just defeated her knife once again. The two stallions took a short breather,
then fought Twilight once again. They dueled for a few moments before she kicked out the leg
of the earth pony and stabbed her knife into a chink in his armored leg. She fired a magic blast,
sending him flying into a building.

“That's two.”

Another earth pony ran and tried to stab her from the side, but she flattened herself on the
ground and rolled to point her horn right at his chest. She flashed him a quick smile, before
charging her horn to fire another magical blast. The guard was tackled from the side just as
she released the blast, barely missing him. She quickly stood and drew her last two knives.
The other pegasus guard was standing next to the earth pony, and they charged her with their
weapons at the ready.

She met them and the blades clashed. She tried to kick the pegasus guard, but he evaded, and
the earth pony kicked her leg out from under her. Both guards brought their blades down, but
Twilight teleported behind them. She attempted to stab the earth pony in the flank, yet her
blade was stopped by Render's sword. He charged and attempted to stab her, but she grabbed
one of her knives off the ground with her teeth and stopped the blade with the knife hilt. The
other two guards attempted to stab her, but she used her other two knives to stop their blades.

They held their weapons locked for a few moments, before Twilight face broke out an insane
smile. “Game over,” she called. She spun and dropped the weapons before aiming her horn at
the ground and releasing a massive amount of energy.

All four ponies were blasted into the snow. Silence lingered in the air for a few moments, until
Twilight slowly stirred. She shakily got to her hooves and surveyed the damage. All five guards
were passed out in the snow. Twilight concentrated with the little magic she had remaining and
brought all ten knives back to their sheathes. She slowly stumbled over to Render. She slung
her pack off of her back and brought out a large piece of metal with backwards writing on it - a
branding iron.

“Captain Render,” she looked down at him with a disapproving gaze. Her horn lit up again and
the iron caught fire. “I name you a bully.” She pressed the iron into his side, and he let out a
howl of pain.

After a few seconds, she brought the iron away from his side, and he lost consciousness. She
repacked the iron and turned to see a crowd gathered behind her. Some of the faces shone
with gratitude, but some looked horrified from what she had done.

She regarded them each, before succumbing to exhaustion and losing consciousness herself.
Dasher quickly ran and caught her before she hit the ground. Dasher’s face was a mix of
confusion and gratitude.

One of the onlookers stepped out. “What do we do, Dasher? We have to tell some pony about
this.”

Dasher looked at the destruction and made his decision. “And we will. Nightshine!” he called,
turning to a young unicorn. “Send a letter to Canterlot. I don't care how; just do it. Tell them
we-”

That was as far as he got. Twilight's eyes snapped open, but they were pure black. She fired a
magical blast towards Nightshine, knocking him unconscious. Dasher spun to question her, but
what he saw terrified him. Twilight eyes were open, but they were empty. It was like looking at
a doll. No emotion, no sign of life was in her eyes. Her face twisted into an insane smile before
her horn glowed black, and she disappeared.

Into the rabbit hole

It was getting late. Celestia's sun had set a few hours ago, and Luna's moon shone on the icy land. Rainbow Dash loved the way the ice glistened in the moon light. Celestia's day was more important, but Luna's night was always more beautiful, especially in the winter.

She had been flying since earlier that afternoon, and it was almost midnight. The new armor Luna gave Dash kept her warm, even in the sub-zero temperatures. During the flight, she was trying to understand an enemy she hadn't even met.

'According to the princesses, we don't know her mental stability... Her threat level is black, but... Don't know how she will react to certain emotions or events... Been on her own for nearly 15 years... Can kill without blinking an eye... Anything she holds on to or loves... Is it murder or self-defense? ... How do I beat her?' “Argghhh. This is impossible,” Dash thought out loud, frustrated.

Constant thoughts swam in her head at all times. She hated not knowing anything about her target. It infuriated her to not have all the info. That was her specialty - she was the soldier who couldn't be beaten. She knew everything about her target: their strengths, weaknesses, need, desires, every little detail.

Then there was Twilight Sparkle. No one knew anything about her, only that she has no fear of killing.

Rainbow reached into a pocket in her armor. She pulled out a glossed piece of paper. A photograph. She looked at it and calmed down, a warm smile spreading across her face.

It was a picture of her and three others after her graduation from the military academy for the royal guard. Standing in the center was Rainbow, pride shining through her eyes, happy that she had achieved her goals. Standing off to her right was none other than Princess Luna, her mentor and friend. To Dash’s left was a soft butterscotch pegasus with a pink mane. One half of her face hid behind her mane, like a curtain. Fluttershy had a small smile on her face. Standing in front of Dash, in between her front hooves, was a small orange filly with a light purple mane whose mane and tail always reminded Dash of a chicken. Scootaloo.

She always carried this picture whenever she was upset or anxious. It reminded her of whom she was doing all this for. Her only friends.

Dash looked up and saw a soft light in the distance. She had finally arrived. She tucked the photo away into a safe pocket, and grinned like a daredevil. 'I just hope I’m not too late,' she thought to herself, before blasting off towards the town.

=

While Dash was speeding towards the winter town, Luna was doing her own searching. As Princess of the Night, she was also the princess of dreams and nightmares. She could find anypony’s mind and enter it. Anypony’s but one. When Twilight first disappeared, Luna tried to find her in the dream realm but could not, leading her and her sister to believe the young filly was dead.

But now she was going to try again. She had told her sister she what she was going to do, and her sister agreed. Luna walked into her room and ordered the guards outside to allow no one in for any reason. “I don't care if Discord is back,” was what she told the guards.

She walked to her balcony and drew a curtain over the doorway. She turned and picked up four candles with her magic. The wax sticks were solid black and sat in deep blue dishes. She used a match and lit the candles. Instead of a warm yellow light, they shone with a pitch black tone. As the anti-candles grew bigger, the light and sound in the room lowered. Soon, the entire room was pitch-black.

This was not a problem, since Luna could see perfectly in the dark. She moved to the center of the room and sat on her haunches. She slowly closed her eyes. When she reopened them, she was floating in darkness. Not darkness just as the absence of light - darkness as simply nothing. Surrounding her were tiny white lights. Each light represented a pony and his or her mind, but there was one in particular she was looking for.

She swam through the darkness, scanning each orb, looking for Twilight's mind. Swimming on and on in this world, for what seems like hours, is only minutes in the conscious world. Luna continued, searching and sensing for anything unfamiliar.

'If she is alive, her consciousness must be here. If I can't find it, this could mean that she is possessed, or she's so far insane she doesn't have a conscious state,' Luna thought, searching for some salvation to come. After what seemed like days, she was almost ready to give up when she stopped.

Just in front of her was one orb, slightly bigger than the rest. But the colors were wrong. The others had been shades of white. This orb was a mix of white, black, blood red,

Luna stared at the mind of Twilight Sparkle for a moment before setting her jaw in decision. She floated towards it and touched her horn to the orb, letting her magic flow into it. When she reopened her eyes, she was standing in a hallway.

She immediately noticed the walls. On her right were simple, white marble walls with no specific pattern to them. On her left, however, the walls were decayed and seemed to be made from yellow sandstone. Black veins ran under the walls, leaving huge indentations.

On the right wall, there was a door a few feet away. It was a mahogany door, with no other designs. The door on the left was an old and worn down steel door, covered in rust and mold. The veins under the walls sprouted out and covered the door. They were thick black tendrils, similar to the ones Luna saw wrapped under the walls.

Luna walked over to the mahogany door and slowly opened it. Inside was a room filled with toys and stuffed animals. The room reminded her of a nursery for foals. She walked in, leaving the door open, and explored the room.

The room was large, at least 30 feet long and 20 feet wide. Scattered everywhere were toys and other things to keep a small child busy.

“Would you like some tea?”

Luna turned her head and saw a young filly sitting at a table with some stuffed toys.

The filly was Twilight Sparkle.

At least, it was how Luna had last seen Twilight.

She just had her plain lavender coat; no cutie mark. She had a short mane and tail with stripes of magenta, dark pink, and dark blue. A smile was plastered across her face, one that shone with the innocence of a child.

She was sitting in a chair next to her stuffed animals with a small plate of cookies and a small pot of 'tea'.

“You would like some? Okay,” she spoke towards the teddy bear. She tipped her head down and concentrated on the pot of tea. A moment later, her horn began to glow and encased the tea pot. The tea pot rattled and floated an inch of the table before clattering back down. She tried again, with the same results. She looked at the pot with a small frown, and Luna could tell that Twilight was about to cry.

Her eyes began to tear up, and she put her head in her hooves. A moment later, Twilight heard rattling and saw the tea pot, encased in a dark blue glow, begin to pour the 'tea' into one of the cups. She stared, astonished, and turned around to see Luna, standing tall and smiling down on her.

Her face broke out into a wide smile. “PRINCESS LUNA!” she called out. She jumped from her chair and nuzzled the chest of the alicorn. Luna bent her head down and returned the show of affection to the young unicorn.

In that moment, Luna forgot the darkness. There was no way this filly would commit such murders and travesties.

The filly pulled her head back and looked at the alicorn in confusion. “Princess? I didn't know you were coming. What are you doing here?” she asked with innocence only a child is capable of.

The princess was stunned for a moment before she responded, “I-I came to check on you.” She continued, her motherly smile returning, “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

The filly’s smile came back, and she wrapped her front hooves around the princess’ chest. “It's so great to see you again. I was going to see you soon anyway.”

Luna's eyebrows knitted together as she cocked her head at the filly. “See me soon?”

The filly looked up at her, the smile still on her face. “Yeah. You didn't know? We're all-”

“INQUIO.”

The filly and Luna turned towards the door. Standing there was a young unicorn, approximately the same age Twilight should be. She had a light yellow coat with a golden mane and tail. She was leaning against the door frame with a scolding look on her face.

“Inquio? What did I tell you about talking to strangers?”

The filly Inquio groaned. “But Benevolentia, she's not a stranger. She's the princess. I've met her before,” she argued

The golden unicorn gave Inquio a look a parent would give a child for talking about something they don't know.

“She is if I say she is, and-” She looked at Luna for a few moments, taking her in with her eyes. “-I say no. Go back to your tea party.”

The filly grumbled and looked to the princess. “Come back soon okay?” she asked, her cheery attitude returning. She sat down and munched on a cookie.

Luna turned back to the golden unicorn. She was still staring at Luna, biting her lower lip, as if not knowing what to do with the night princess.

Benevolentia set her jaw in decision. “Come with me. I'd like to introduce you to some ponies.”

[ hr ] =

Rainbow Dash dove towards the town. The air began rippling around her, threatening to break the sound barrier. A few hundred feet from striking the ground, her wings flew open like parachutes, and a few seconds later, she struck the ground.

She slowly stood and surveyed the town. The townspeople had gathered and were watching her, but she had no time for them. She walked towards the center of the town and called out to them. They looked at her confusedly, like they weren't sure if she was here to help or kill them.

Rainbow cleared her throat, ignoring their faces. “Attention, everypony. My name is Wing Commander Rainbow Dash. I am looking for a fugitive, and I have reason to believe she has or will come through your town. Her name is-”

“Twilight Sparkle.”

Rainbow looked for the voice that had called out. The crowd parted and Dasher, the shopkeeper, walked out and met her.

“Twilight Sparkle,” Rainbow confirmed. “Has she been here?” she asked the pony in front of her.

The earth pony looked at the damaged buildings, and Rainbow Dash followed his gaze. He turned back to Dash. “You should come with me.” He turned and walked to the general store, and Dash followed her.

Once inside, they took a seat at a table in front of a fireplace. Dasher put his hooves to his temples and began massaging them.

Rainbow gave one of her famous smirks. “Rough day, huh?”

The colt put his hooves on the table and wouldn't meet Rainbow's eyes. “Confusing, you could say. Twilight Sparkle?”

Rainbow grew serious. “Yes. She was here, I take it?”

The colt exhaled massively. “Yes. You could say that.”

Rainbow leaned forward. “What happened? Spare no details.”

“…In the end, her eyes went black, and she teleported away. Not just her eyes, though. The way she looked at me right before she disappeared. It's like she wasn't in control. Like she was rag doll. Not to mention that smile. It just screamed-”

“Insanity?” Rainbow asked.

Dasher gave a sullen look to the table. “That's the only thing you can call it.”

Rainbow Dash sat up. “She's a lot more powerful than I thought before. Fighting with two knives against multiple opponents is extremely difficult for most ponies. I mean, most unicorns can't even move one ball up and down and another left and right without messing up. Using 4 weapons and fighting with another is nearly impossible. The amount of concentration and power required would be massive.

“If the expenditure was enough to knock her out, even for just a few minutes, she might face serious withdrawal.” Rainbow looked out the window at the pale moon and shining ice. “You don't have a motel or anything, do you? It's best to search in the day.”

Dasher nodded and turned to a stallion at the bar. “Dusk. Hey Dusk Shine! Give this gal a room for the night.”

The stallion turned to get a set of keys.

Rainbow stood and walked past Dasher. He spoke up, “Oh, and one more thing: She had a letter with her. She sent it via magic to Canterlot. It had three violet ribbons around it, if that's of any use to you.”

Rainbow Dash continued walking. “All information is useful. I'll see you in the morning.”

Deeper in.

“Get back. Get away from me, damn you.”

Twilight ran down a twisted corridor. The walls were aged with mold and were dry and cracked. A sheen of sweat coated her face, and a look of anger and determination clouded her features.

“How many times do I have to kill you!?” she screamed behind her.

She galloped around a corner and continued running. A voice called out from behind her.

“You can't keep running from me, Twilight! I'll eventually win this fight.”

Twilight snorted and kept running. “Bullshit. I've done it for years, and I'll keep doing it. You hear me? I'll. Never. Stop.”

Her pursuer simply giggled. “You say that, but when you are at your weakest, I will take you, Twilight Sparkle, and nothing will stop me. I almost won after your little fight with Render, yet somehow, you managed to hold on to your sanity. Not for long...”

Twilight kept running, not turning back to retort. She heard the clopping of hooves and looked next to her.

Running next to her was a replica of herself. Her mane and tail were disheveled and looked like they had been cut by a foal with scissors. Her expression was twisted into a smile, though not one that showed happiness or laughter. It was a permanent smile that showed insanity and hate

“I'll just take your body now.”

Twilight screeched to halt and ran down another corridor. “Like hell you will,” she called back as her copy missed the change. As she galloped, she reached a hoof into her saddlebag and pulled out a spike with words from another language engraved on it.

She began chanting as she ran:

“Bavanneer chattis jangir aagyavetal masna veerll
Bavanneer chattis jangir aagyavetal masna veerll
Khaata bol tyacha jeev baandhul
Maar tyacha haat baandhul”

“NOT THIS TIME,” Twilight's copy screamed from behind her.

Twilight turned her head slightly and saw the evil thing running straight at her. Its head bent sideways so far it looked as though its neck would snap.

“Pahil tyache doole baandhu, baandhu nau nadi baandhu, bahattar koti baandhu, baandhu ne-baandhull
Karl Bhairavachi aan, guruchi aan, maazhi aan, guruki shapath, meri magat furo mantra ishwari vaachal”

“NOOOOO,” the copy screamed as it jumped at her. Twilight whipped around and struck the creature in the neck with the spike. It dug in and left a gaping hole in its neck.

“Aree aree Hanuman, tum bade bemanl
Hum thumare paavpar bahattar rog dur karl
Ne kar tyala l-”

Instead of crying out in pain, the creature's smile seemed to grow even larger. “Clever pony thinks she can kill me?”

“Ram Laxman ki gwahi l”

The creature's body slumped onto the ground, blood pouring from its neck. “Oh well,” it rasped. “Next time,” it said before winking to Twilight.

“Gorakh Macchindra ki gwahil!”

As Twilight finished the chant, she stabbed the spike into the head of the copy. It winked at her one more time before its body melted into black and the world blasted apart.

=

“Excuse me, but could at least tell me who you are?”

Luna looked down on the golden unicorn before her, a look of cautious curiosity on her face.

The unicorn only smiled. “You heard Inquio. My name is Benevolentia, but you may call me Dawn.”

The princess gave her a stern look. “I know your name, but who ARE you?”

Dawn looked at the princess with an unimpressed look. “Hmm. Impatient, are we? I am one of six, but I don't think that will satisfy the question. Come with me.” She turned and walked up to the door to Inquio's room. Luna followed her as she walked up to the old and broken door.

Dawn turned a long bolt and faced Luna. “Welcome to the mind of Twilight Sparkle.”

From a presentation like that, Luna expected a grand room with ornate decorations. Luna was left disappointed.

While the room was large, it was rather plain. The room was a dome. It was at least 50 feet tall and 100 feet long. The walls were pure white, and the room was bright, but Luna couldn't find the source of light. A few feet away from the door were couches and chairs with two mares reclining on them reading books.

The mares, Luna supposed, were similar to what Twilight Sparkle looked like now. They were both lavender and similar in height, but that’s where the similarities stopped.

One mare was lying on the couch, a fierce look in her eyes. Her mane and tail were cut long and sharp. Her legs, chest and even her face were marked with black tattoos that looked to be runes or markings. Her eyelashes, long and curved in a manner that expressed beauty and intimidation.

The other mare was much plainer, except her mane and tail were much longer. Her eyelashes were long and curved, and she had the look of one who would seduce anypony they saw.

As Luna and Dawn approached, the mares seemed not to notice them. Dawn stood for a moment before clearing her throat. The mares turned their heads away from their books and immediately focused their vision on Luna.

“Princess. Allow me to introduce you to Judicium,” she said while motioning with her hoof to the tattooed mare, “and." indicating with her other hoof to the long haired mare. "Vindicta."

“...Judgment and Vengeance,” Luna stated to the mares before her. “That's it, isn't it? You all represent something in Twilight.”

She turned to face Dawn. “Benevolentia is another word for Kindness.”

She turned to Judicium. “You represent Judgment. You see the ponies she interacts with, and you decide what should happen to them.”

“And you,” she turned to Vindicta. “Your name is self-explanatory. You take revenge on those who have done you wrong.”

Vindicta just smiled. Her smile seemed more seductive than happy. “The Lunar Princess knows well,” she complimented Luna. Her voice was high but controlled and sickly sweet. “She's much smarter than she looks.”

Luna replied only by glaring at the offending pony. “I think I've seen enough.”

“HEY!” a voice called out. Luna looked across the dome to see a door explode open. As it opened, flames shot out from within it. In a moment, a blazing blur shot out from the opening. It sped across the room and stopped just a few feet from Luna, causing Luna to stumble backwards a few steps, a look of shock and bewilderment covering her features.

Standing before her was a pure white unicorn with a mane and tail that seemed to be made of pure fire. Her eyes glowed cherry red and seemed to radiate heat themselves. She stared at Luna with a look of hate and disgust.

“YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO SAY THAT!”

Her voice was deep and loud, like she didn't know how to speak without shouting.

“You and that bitch Celestia gave up on Twilight, and you've seen enough!? You have no idea what it is like for her.”

“Saevio!” Dawn screamed. “What are you--”

“Shut up, Dawn. You know I'm right.”

“I agree with Dawn, Saevio,” Judicium replied, her lip curling in disbelief and disgust. “This is taking things too far. Return to your chambers THIS INSTANT.”

“What’s wrong?” she sneered at Judicium. “Are you upset that I'm taking your job? Whatever. Defend her if you want, but you know I spoke the truth.”

She turned briskly and walked away, returning to her room. Dawn, Vindicta, and Judicium turned to Luna with pained expressions. Luna had a shaky hoof covering her mouth. Her eyes were tearing up. When she met the gazes of the other mares, she closed her eyes and turned her head to the side, small tears leaking out from underneath her eyelids.

The four remained in silence for a few minutes before Dawn finally spoke, “That...that would be Saevio. Twilight's rage.”

Luna had mostly recovered from her shock, and took a deep breath. “I see,” she croaked.

Judicium cleared her throat. “Princess... Do not take her words to heart. You may not approve of me, but I judge all. You have no reason to be sad. You tried to help Twilight, and even though you lost hope as well, you have no need to feel that sorrow. I could tell you wanted to heal her, but you could not. That is not your fault.”

Luna turned to Judicium but said nothing. The smile she gave her said enough.

“Princess,” Dawn inquired. “I fear you should leave soon. I only showed you all of this because I felt that you should know what you are up against. If Twilight finds out, it won’t go over well with her, and Saevio's little outburst may have alerted her. She might be here soon.”

Luna nodded. “Very well. I thank you for your kindness, but I have one last question. Earlier you said there were 6 of you, but I've only seen 5. You, Saevio, Judicium, Inquio, and Vindicta. Who is the sixth?”

The three mares drew sharp breaths. Judicium and Vindicta turned to Dawn. Vindicta spoke first, all sense of seduction and playfulness gone, “D-Dawn?”

Dawn stared at the ground uneasily. She took a deep breath and gulped. “T-There... is another...”

“Dawn...” Judicium called in a warning voice.

“The darker part of Twilight's soul and mind...”

“Benevolentia...” Judicium called, louder this time, and more forcefully.

“The one that exists in the farthest point of Twilight's mind.”

The door to Saevio's room flew open yet again, but this time, Saevio simply stood in the door frame. Instead of hate and rage, her emotions showed panic and intense fear.

“DAWN,” she screamed

Dawn's voice was but a whisper now. Luna strained to hear the final word she spoke.

“...Dementis...”

Suddenly, a dark chuckle filled the air. “Aw. Did somebody call me? What a surprise. No one ever does.”

Luna took a step back. She once knew a voice like that. Darkness flowed through its words, trying to corrupt the minds of those who heard it speak. “Insanity…” She muttered.

Saevio fled back into her room.

The voice laughed again. “I see. The night princess herself is here. Hmm, and to what do we owe this great honor? Do you know my voice, princess? Can you feel the power beneath my words? Of course you can. You've experienced it before.”

A cloud of black smoke began forming in front of the four mares. As it formed, it changed color. Its legs and body were lavender; however, its mane and tail were pitch black. The creature’s head hung, so none of the four could see its face.

The creature chuckled again. “You, my princess... heh heh heh... you have experienced... the NIGHTMARE.”

The creature lifted its head to reveal solid black eyes. Its head cocked to the side so far it looked as if the neck would snap. Its face was a mess of cuts and scars, and an insane smile stretched across it.

“Feed me, princess. Let me taste your magic.”

Luna sneered and fired a magic blast at the creature. It struck the creature in the chest, knocking its breath from it. Its mouth hung open for a moment before turning into a wide smile. The black orb of magic began spreading across the creature. “Yes...Yes... More, night princess. Give me more.”

A stream of magic began pulling from Luna's horn. She fought to stop it, but she couldn't fight against the insane being before her.

The creature just smiled as it absorbed more and more magic. “Excellent. I can feel the-”

The creature's head suddenly whipped back, and the creature gave a strangled gasp. “No. Not now. Please...let me have more.” It faced the four mares again, with giant spike protruding from its forehead. It's smile, now a grimace.

Two more spikes shot out from behind the four mares, striking the monster in the chest. Blood did not flow from the wounds; instead, black smoke and Luna's magic poured out. The stolen magic returned to Luna, spreading through her.

Luna and the others turned to see somepony they never expected: Twilight Sparkle. She wore a cloak, and four spikes, similar to the ones sticking out of Dementis, were held in her magic. Her mouth was moving, speaking magical words. She glared at the creature floating in front of her so intensely that it made Saevio look like a puppy.

“Gorakh Macchindra ki gwahil!”

The creature screamed before blasting apart into nothing. She returned the spikes underneath her cloak. She gave a disapproving look to where Dementis had been.

“I thought I told you to never speak that name.”

Dawn bowed her head in shame. “I am sorry, master. Please forgive me.”

Twilight simply narrowed her eyes, still staring at the air. “I'll deal with you later. However…”

She turned to face Luna. “You do not belong here.” Her horn began glowing and her lip curled in disgust.

Luna's face grew stern. “Twilight! Stop-”

“Be silent!” she commanded the princess. “And get out of my head.”

She fired a blast at the lunar princess, banishing her from Twilight's mind.

Note. Dementis should look something like this, but with a black mane and wider smile: Dementis

And Judicum like this, but without leg nets. Warning. The image is slightly R34ish. Only one I could find. Judicium

Returning

As Dasher set up his fruit stand for the day, he smiled for the first time in months. The storms had cleared, and a new shipment of food would be coming in soon. The townsponies seemed to be in brighter spirits as well; most of their worries were gone now that Render was no longer lording over them.

When Render was in power, he had created a field of magic that prevented magical delivery. As soon as Render was defeated, however, the field broke, and the mail finally sent. Canterlot had sent soldiers to collect Render and his men, assist in the rebuilding, and bring in new shipments of food to help the citizens get back on their feet.

He looked out onto the street. Thankfully, the damage from the battle the other day had been minimal. The only destruction was a large hole in one of the unimportant buildings and the impression of an earth pony thrown into another.

He stared out into the icy plains as he thought about the fight. Despite his smile, he couldn't forget that look she gave him. He felt like she had stared directly into his soul before she disappeared.

Dasher whispered, “That look… Damn. I’ll never forget it. Thinking about it still scares me… She wasn’t in control of herself. She wasn’t-“

“Dasher?”

He looked over to see a small white unicorn staring at him. She was full grown but only 4’ 3”, almost a foot shorter than Dasher.

“...Oh… Yes, Snowflake?” he asked.

While it was a fitting name, Snowflake despised hers, as her parents were extremely unimaginative, and she thought it was too simple of a name.

She ignored her name and stared at Dasher. “You were staring off, mumbling into space. You also looked pretty scared… Are you okay?”

Dasher put on a warm smile. “Yes, yes, yes. I was just thinking. Anyway... We should get back to work. Come on.”

=

While many would disagree, Shining Armor actually enjoyed shopping with his wife. As the captain of the royal guard and married to one of the immortal princesses, Shining didn’t get much time to spend with his wife. The young couple spent the last three hours browsing various clothing stores, from the most luxurious stores to the small shops around the corner.

Cadence loved visiting her subjects. She loved seeing their bright faces and smiles. Unlike her aunts, who were given a wide birth at all times, Cadence enjoyed talking to her subjects in private. Simple pleasures.

As they returned home, they were stopped by two of Celestia's royal guards. They were panting heavily and bowed as they approached the princess and their captain.

“Captain Armor... Princess Cadence...” one said in between panting breaths. “The princesses... have called for a meeting. Top priority.”

Shining and Cadence exchanged worried glances before thanking the guards. They left their bags with them before breaking into a sprint to the castle. A few minutes later, they arrived outside the throne room. They stood for a few moments, catching their breaths and preparing themselves for what the princesses had to say.

Shining opened the doors to find a surprised Celestia and serious-faced Luna looking at them. “Shining. Cadence. We were worried. We sent guards out to find you an hour ago.”

Cadence laughed sheepishly. “Sorry. We were shopping and got the message a few minutes ago. What’s going on?”

“Luna has found some interesting information that she is going to share, and I though you should be aware of it, Captain.” She looked at Cadence for a moment before turning back to Shining. “Have you told Cadence about the situation?”

“Yes,” Shining and Cadence replied in unison. Shining visibly wilted at the question, knowing exactly the situation of which Celestia spoke.

Celestia simply nodded. “Good. Now, follow me. We are going somewhere a little more private...”

=

Dasher looked up from the table. His fur stood on end and warning lights were going off in his head. He looked over at the earth stallion next to him. They both knew in their minds that something was wrong. They met each other’s eyes and walked out of the small building they stood in.

While earth ponies have an incredible strength, they also have an amazing sensitivity to magic signature and weather changes. Very few ponies discover this, but those who do are excellent at recognizing the signs. Dasher could tell when Render was coming, but that sign was relatively minor, and he usually didn't notice as the noise overcame the feeling. This was a massive change.

They looked down the street, to the outskirts of town, and saw a figure walking towards them. The magic signature definitely originated from that figure, but they couldn't see who it was.

“Get everyone inside. This could be bad,” Dasher spoke to the stallion next to him. The stallion ran off while Dasher slowly walked towards the figure. He still couldn't see their face, but he could see a cloak. He realized who it was, and he finally recognized this magic signature.

“...Twilight.”

The unicorn continued walking, and Dasher slowly made his way towards her. As he got closer, he noticed a magical shimmer surrounding the mare. She was only 50 feet away when he got a look at her face. Her eyes glowed and her face was twisted in a piercing glare.

She was not here for a casual visit.

She was out for blood.

Dasher turned and ran. Behind him, he heard the sound of magic being charged. He threw himself on the ground and saw a blast of magic fly over his head. The magic soared past him before dissipating.

Dasher quickly recovered and broke into another sprint, sparing less than a second to look behind him. He saw Twilight walking towards him calmly, her face stone-like and blank. She met his eyes, and while her face didn't change, something in her eyes did. They grew colder, so cold that the eyes looked like they were trying to kill Dasher with just their gaze.

Her horn lit up for a moment, and Dasher turned to look in front of him just in time as a shimmering wall of energy appeared. He tried to turn to the side, hoping he wouldn’t hit it, but his efforts were for naught.

He struck the wall hard, driving the air from his lungs. He lay on the ice trying to recover as Twilight approached him. She looked down at him, but her facial expression didn't change. She cocked her head as if she was observing him.

“Hey, Dasher. Why are you running? Didn’t you miss me?”

Dasher stood up and stared up at the unicorn, his eyes wide with fear. “What do you want, Twilight? Why are you here?” he demanded, trying to keep his voice steady.

Twilight kept looking at him with that cold blank stare. She walked right to his side and brought her head inches from his. “Okay, Dasher. Let's not play games. We're both adults, so let’s act like them. You know why I'm here, so don't bother hiding it.”

She stared him directly in the eyes. “I want it back.”

Dasher only blinked. “W-what? You want wha-”

Before he could finish, Twilight rolled her eyes and struck his face using the back of her hoof. The resulting strike knocked him back down to the ground. He brought one hoof to his cheek and spat blood into the fresh snow.

Twilight's expression didn't change. “Now then. That was your one warning hit. Lie to me again, and I will do much worse.” As she spoke, two knives unsheathed. They hovered menacingly at her sides, daring Dasher to lie.

“Where. Is. My. Knife?”

Dasher stared at her for a few moments before sighing in defeat. “A pegasus guard came through here looking for you.”

The calm look on Twilight's face disappeared and replaced itself with a glare. “Damn it,” she cursed under her breath.

Dasher took no notice. “She asked for any evidence, and I gave her the knife, but she left hours ago. She could be anywhere. She went looking for you. Who knows where she is?”

Twilight smirked at the pathetic stallion. “Looking for little old me, huh? Well. It's her lucky day, ‘cause she's about to find me.”

Twilight turned away from Dasher and walked to the edge of town. Her eyes closed in concentration. When they opened, they were pure white. Her horn sparked and glowed brighter before letting off a massive beam of pure white energy. It shot into the sky, shining bright as the sun. Something like that must have cost massive amounts of energy, but Twilight looked unfazed. She walked back to Dasher.

The grin returned. “And now we wait.”

=

Rainbow had been flying for hours, and she was getting frustrated. She had to be here somewhere. Rainbow had searched all around the town within a 50 mile radius.

Rainbow was a patient mare, but 7 hours of staring at snow would make anypony tired. The good commander had eyes that would make a gryphon jealous, yet she still hadn't found anything. She stopped and hovered in midair for a moment to rest.

She glared at the snow through her goggles. She sighed as she continued flying, scouting for Twilight.

Suddenly, she felt something. A power surge! She spun and tried to find the source. A moment later, a massive beam of light shot up from the ground. It came from near the town. Rainbow's eyes lit up and shot open in surprise. She watched for only a moment before shooting off towards the town.

'I just hope I'm not too late.'

An unexpected visitor

Twilight stared into the clear abyss. Clouds were gathering again. The clearing wouldn't last, and the storm would be back. She sat in the middle of the town square, waiting for her opponent to arrive. Behind her was Dasher, a magic chain wrapped around one hoof and connected to Twilight's horn.

Twilight's face wore a mask of calmness, but underneath, she was furious. This little interruption could go wrong very quickly. Guards could arrive, and she would have to deal with them. Or the storm could be too heavy to walk through and she would lose a day of traveling.

Twilight,” Dasher asked.

“WHAT?” she turned to face him, her facade shattering. As she did, the end of her mane smoked, like it would combust.

...Are you... Okay?” As he spoke, Twilight narrowed her eyes. She turned back to where she was looking without answering.

But Dasher wouldn't stop.

“Twilight, please stop. You're scaring these people. These ponies have done nothing wrong, and you look like you're going to blow up the whole town.”

“Stop talking.”

“Twilight,” he continued, not listening to her. “The guard doesn't even want to fight; she wants a peaceful meeting. Please, Twilight, don't fight.”

“Dasher...” Twilight warned in a booming voice.

“Why are you doing this, anyway? There’s no point to fighting now.”

“SHUT UP.”

Twilight turned and drew one knife. She held it to Dasher's neck as she spoke.

“Do not question my motives. You cannot even BEGIN to understand why I do what I do. I'm done with your questions. One more word and I'll cut your throat.”

Dasher eyes went wide as the unicorn growled at him. Her voice wasn't shrill or uncontrolled. She seemed still in control, even when she was furious.

Twilight's eyes narrowed. “Now, then.” Her knife held itself to Dashers neck.

“Do you have anything else to say?” she asked through gritted teeth.

“How about we all just calm down?” a voice suggested from behind her.

Twilight turned to see a mare with a rainbow colored mane standing a few feet away. Her features held a blank look, like the look of a child walking in on a conversation not of hers.

Twilight took in every detail of the mare before her. Rainbow did the same.

Rainbow took a cautious step forward, and Twilight jumped into a defensive stance. Rainbow threw her front hooves out in front of her.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. No fighting. I'm here on peaceful terms. My name is Commander Rainbow Dash of the Lunar Guard.”

As she spoke, Rainbow drew her weapons and dropped them on the ground.

“I just want to talk. I have been sent to bring you to Canterlot for questioning.”

Twilight stared at her for a moment before chuckling. She laughed to herself and hung her head. When she lifted her head, she had a warm smile across her face.

“That's great. I was already on my way to Canterlot. There's just one problem though.” Her smile disappeared.

“You have something of mine, and I want it back.”

She fired a blast of magic at Rainbow. Waiting for such an attack, Rainbow dodged it with ease and flew a few stories above Twilight.

“Hey,” she yelled down. “If you start this fight, it won't end well for you.”

Twilight gave her a disappointed look. “Funny, I was going to tell you the same thing. I'm really busy today, so I can't stay and chat. I'll have to make this quick.”

All nine of her knives shot out from under her cloak, embedding themselves into the snow. She gripped them magically and returned her gaze to the commander. She flashed an evil grin. “Let's begin, shall we?”

=

“Princess, what is this about exactly? I mean, it's not every day you call for a personal meeting, and I can tell this isn't for tea.”

Shining Armor and his wife were standing outside Celestia's personal room with the two royal princesses.

Shining continued, “And it's even more interesting that we are in your private chambers. What's exactly going on?”

The Princess remained silent as they entered her room. The room was a few meters tall and dome shaped. On the ceiling was a painting of the heavenly bodies as they shone across the earth.

On one side of the wall was the moon shining down on a winter tundra. The painting was beautiful and elaborate and showed the winter flowers growing from the ice, and the beautiful light show in the sky that was the Aurora. Beautiful constellation shone in the night sky and told the stories of many great ponies. On the other side was the sun, shining down on the fields of the pony workers and bringing light to the world. The sky and clouds were incredibly realistic and seemed to move across the ceiling.

“They are.” Celestia called.

Shining Armor and Cadence tore their eye away from the paintings towards the princesses, who sat on their haunches on Celestia's large bed.

Celestia was smiling warmly and had a twinkle in her eye. “The ceiling is enchanted. The clouds are moving, and so are the sun's rays and the moons beams. The things magic can do…”

“Uh-huh,” Shining replied, his mouth still agape towards the ceiling.

Her tone grew serious. “But this is not why we are here. Luna has learned something about our... situation. Shining? You have briefed Cadenza, correct?”

Shining looked down and pursed his lips. “Yes. She is aware of Twilight.”

“Is that what this is about, Aunty?” Cadence had a sad, worried look on her face. She hated bad news. Being an alicorn of emotion, negative feelings made her feel sick.

“Yes, Cadence. It is.” Cadence and Shining nudged against each other, hoping to find comfort in each other’s warmth.

“Come take a seat.” Celestia gestured towards a spot on the bed next to her for the couple. “Luna will explain everything.”

They took a moment to get comfortable before turning to Luna.

She cleared her throat. “Before I start, I must have you swear not to tell anyone about the status quo. This information is not to leave this room. I don't want word of the purple mage or whatever ponies come up with spreading around Canterlot. Do I have your word?”

Both Shining and Cadence nodded in unison before Shining found his voice and spoke, “Yes, your majesty.”

“Good. Now, one of the reasons we thought Miss Sparkle was, well, dead, was because I couldn't find her mind in the dreamscape. I can find anypony’s mind except those who are dead, but she found a way to shield her mind from me. No other pony has done that, not even the great Starswirl, who is easily the most powerful unicorn in history. However, last night, I tried again. I found it. I found her. Or all of her, you could say.

“Her mind is splintered. Multiple ideas and emotions make up her mind. There are six. Benevolentia, kindness. Inquio, innocence. These specific emotions are what make up most of Twilight's mind. Deep down, she is still the wonderful little pony we had all known, but she is suppressed, you could say, by the darker emotion. She has more: Saevio, her rage; Judicium, her sense and idea of justice; Vindicta, her sense of Vengeance; and...” Luna took a shaky breath. She didn't want to have to tell her audience about the final being in Twilight's mind.

“The final part is a twisted form of Twilight. It makes up the darkness in her mind and is incredibly powerful.” She looked into the eyes of her sister, niece, and nephew. “The being is called Dementis, insanity.”

Shining let out a gasp and looked at the floor. A frown played across his lips.

“Something intrigued me, though. The being was so powerful it attempted to leech my power, and it would have been successful if Twilight had not intervened.”

The three looked into Luna's eyes in shock and surprise.

Luna continued. “She used some kind of enchanted spikes and what seemed to be an anti-curse to destroy Dementis. I know that this was the real Twilight. The fragments of her mind treated her like a queen and even called her master. From this, I can assume that this was Twilight.

“She didn't seem surprised to see me, though. She regarded me as if I was a slight annoyance. She banished me from her mind, simply saying, ‘You do not belong here.’”

Once again, her audience regarded her with looks of shock. “I understand your surprise. Yet another thing that a mortal pony has never been able to do: it took her only a moment to prepare and cast the spell. She must have a massive magic reserve. She is incredibly powerful and is a force to be reckoned with.”

The room became silent for a few moments. Shining finally broke the silence, speaking, “Why didn't you tell us about this as soon as you found out?”

Luna regarded him with a small frown. “I've been awake for two hours and fifty-six minutes. I passed out after Twilight banished me from her mind. As soon as I awoke, I alerted the guards to find you and Cadenza, and I found Tia.”

Celestia blushed for a moment at her pet name before turning to her other family members. “Are you two okay?”

Cadence seemed fine, but Shining was clearly taking the news hard. “You said... that... she's fighting... it. That means... there's still hope...right?”

Celestia looked to the captain. “Shining, look at me.” She waited until he finally met her gaze.

“There is always hope as long as you believe there is. If you give up, only then is all hope lo-”

The princess suddenly froze. She closed her eyes in concentration for a moment before quickly turning to Luna. “Do you feel it sister?”

Luna concentrated the same way her sister had. A moment later, they both rushed to a balcony at the end of the room. At one end was a staircase leading towards the roof of the palace. The princesses quickly ascended the stairs, Shining and Cadence following closely behind.

On the roof was a large round slab of stone. The sisters began circling it, looking out into the distance, trying to find something. A moment later, Celestia spoke up, “THERE. LUNA, I FOUND IT.”

Luna sprinted over to Celestia, and they both stared off into the distance. Nothing to be seen for miles. “P-princess Celestia? Are you okay? There isn't anything out there. What do you see?”

“Wait just a few moments, Captain Armor. You'll see it too.”

The four of them stared into the distance. A few seconds passed until suddenly a massive dome of light appeared miles away in the distance. It was hundreds of miles away but could still be clearly seen. The group stood with mouths agape.

“Auntie?” Cadence called in a panicked voice. “What is that?”

Celestia swallowed the lump in her throat. “Sol Invictus.”

“Unconquered Sun," Luna finished. “The power of the sun, released.”

Shining snapped his head towards the princesses. “WHAT!? That's not possible. How much of the sun’s power is that?”

Celestia spoke this time. “If I guessed, I would say approximately one-sixth of a percent. The sun is so powerful; even I can barely release its full power. But somepony has released even the smallest amount. Only one pony I can think of has the capability of doing this.”

“Twilight Sparkle. That's correct,” a voice called from nowhere. There was a sudden flash, and standing in front of the group was a cyan pegasus. Her rainbow mane was knotted and tangled. Her armor was shredded, like some pony took a can opener to it. She and the armor had deep scorch marks on them. Along her left side was a massive gash in the armor and a deep cut running a few inches down her body. Blood poured from her open wounds, and she spit blood from her mouth.

The group stared at her in shock and awe. She stared back, taking huge breaths, and flashed a wide smirk.

“Boy, do we have a lot to talk about,” she said, before collapsing at the feet of the night princess.

Explanations

“Rainbow Dash!”

Luna dove towards her fallen soldier and caught Rainbow's head before it hit the ground. She used her magic to remove the destroyed armor. Rainbow winced as the breast plate came off, fully revealing the cut along her side.

Luna glared at the injuries on her soldier. Without saying a word, she levitated Rainbow and sprinted off to the medical bay. Celestia, Shining, and Cadence followed behind.

Luna threw open the door to Celestia's room and pointed at the guards standing there.

“You two. Get my best doctors, and get them to the medical bay.”

The guards took one look at the Lunar Princess and the cyan pegasus held by her magic. They quickly broke into a sprint, eager to avoid any harsh punishment.

As they ran off, Luna teleported the group into the medical bay.

=

A few minutes later, the princess sat in a waiting room as doctors tended to the injured commander, her eyebrows crossed in frustration, sadness, and rage. She glared at the floor. Commander Dash was one of the best fighters and strategists in the entire guard, and now she was just a mess of bruises, broken bones, and severe burns. She had been able to cast a minor healing spell just in time to stop blood loss – if Rainbow had lost any more blood, she could have died.

Her once beautiful features were... No. A ruler shouldn't think like that. She would most likely make a near full recovery, but it would take much time, given the extent of her injuries.

The princess sighed. 'And Twilight Sparkle.'

Luna gritted her teeth. This was turning into a mess. The guards will have to be on high alert, and just a few weeks from Hearths Warming. Many of them are supposed to be going home to their families in 3 weeks, and now they might have to be working double shifts.

Luna growled and stomped her foot so hard it broke the tile underneath. ‘How could a mortal pony be so powerful?’

“Lulu?”

“Auntie?”

“Princess?”

She turned to see the concerned faces of Celestia, Cadence and Shining Armor. She gave them a small smile.

“Been standing there long?” Luna asked.

“Only a few moments, but long enough to see you are clearly upset,” Celestia answered as she walked over to her sister.

Celestia sat down next to her. “You need not worry, sister. She is strong, and she will survive.”

Luna sighed. “Oh, I have no doubt she will. It's just the circumstances. I mean, she might not even make a full recovery with injuries like that.”

Celestia gave her sister a warm smile. “You know how strong your student is. She’ll be fine.”

'Besides. I know you have feelings for her.' The two princesses often communicated with thought when they wished for nopony to overhear their conversation.

Luna snapped her head towards her sister, her eyes wide with shock.

'That's a lie.'

Celestia gave her sister a playful smile.

'No. THAT'S a lie. You love your student and you know it.'

'Of course I do. I love all of my subjects.'

'Yes, but you have feelings for Miss Dash. Don't deny it.'

'I will deny it. It isn't true.'

'Yes it is. I would wager even Cadence and Shining knew it.'

'We do,’ affirmed two other voices that Luna hadn’t heard.

Luna turned and glared at the young couple, who was trying their best to avoid eye contact with her and not laugh.

Luna gave a huff. “Are our thoughts not private?”

Cadence smirked. “Not to family. And that includes in-laws,” she said, motioning to her husband.

“I will banish all three of you to the damned moon if I have to.”

“Way to disprove the accusation, Aunt Luna,” Shining teased. “You DO like her, don't you?”

“I am casting a teleportation spell right now.”

Celestia chuckled at her flustered sister. “No one is going to the moon today, Lulu. Besides, I think we are about to receive some news.”

Luna turned to see a white earth pony walking towards them. She had a soft pink mane and medical cross for a cutie mark.

Luna stood to meet her. “Nurse Redheart. How is she?”

Luna heard a snicker behind her and turned to see her family finding a sudden interest in ceiling tile, their faces blank as a stone. Luna gave them a glare before turning back to the nurse.

“Dash is badly injured, but she’s fine now. We found multiple broken and fractured bones, most likely from a crash. If she hadn't, and I'm assuming she had, worn armor, she would’ve been cut to ribbons. She had severe burns on her flank and lower wings, which will make flying and sitting rather painful for a few weeks. But those burns saved her life.

“The long gash on her side was very deep and narrowly missed some major organs. That burn mostly cauterized the injury, and if it hadn't, she would have bled out very quickly. She’ll have to stay in bed for a few days, and assuming she listens to the doctors this time, she will be back to full health in about a month and a half.”

Rainbow, while very skilled, was notorious for resisting doctors and their judgment. She had critically injured herself multiple times for continuing to train while seriously injured. During one instance, she was hospitalized after breaking three tendons in one wing and cracking two ribs. She was found the next day in one of the sparring rooms. She had to be subdued by twelve guards and Shining Armor, and during the struggle, she broke three more tendons in each of her wings, fractured three more ribs, and got a concussion. She still showed up for roll call the next day.

“I see,” Luna sighed. “May I speak to her now?”

Nurse Redheart gave her a smile. “Yes, you may. The doctors just finished, and she’s ready. Brace yourself. She isn't pretty.”

The nurse turned and began walking towards Rainbow's room.

Luna turned back. “Are you three coming with?”

Celestia replied, “No we'll stay. Don't want to be third wheels.”

Luna glared at her sister and began walking towards the room.

“Keep your hooves to yourself, Lulu.”

'THAT'S IT!'

She spun and fired a blast of magic at the three. Celestia had just a moment to throw another teasing smile and a wink to her sister before she, her niece, and her nephew disappeared.

'And they thought I was kidding.'

She followed the nurse through multiple doors and entered a large surgery room. Tools suspended from the ceiling by metal limbs. They were moved back, exposing a bed.

The pegasus laying on it was a mess of stitches, lotions, and wrappings. She lay on her stomach with her hooves lying spread-eagle.

Luna walked to her front to see an extremely annoyed look on her face. A large plastic cone was wrapped around her face, and Luna couldn't help but laugh at the pegasus.

Rainbow turned to her teacher with annoyed pout. “Oh, great. My boss comes to laugh at me. Could you please explain to these morons that I don't need a cone? I'm not some dog; it's not like I'll scratch.”

Luna finally stifled her laughter. “Why don't you take it off? When have you ever listened to a doctor?”

Luna could have sworn she saw smoke coming off of Dash’s head.

“I would, but they gave me a paralyzing sedative, and I can't move at the moment. This one must be new, but I'm not worried. I'll fight it off eventually.”

Luna could only shake her head. “Why do you always put up a fight? You won’t win. You hate the hospitals, but you keep putting yourself back in. Don't you learn?”

Rainbow snickered. “When are YOU going to learn that it will take much more than a few broken bones to put me down for the count? Now are you going to get this damn cone off me or what?”

Luna chuckled at her student and removed the cone off of Rainbow's neck.

Rainbow shook her neck for a moment. “Oh finally. Now, then. Where are the other three? I need to tell you about what I learned.”

Luna gave a mischievous smile. “Give me a moment. I need to bring them back.”

She took a few steps back, and her horn lit up. A few moments later, there was a flash of light, and Princess Celestia and Cadence appeared, standing over a choking Shining Armor.

He took massive heaving breaths before he finally spoke, “How do you... freaking alicorns... breathe out there?”

Celestia laughed softly. “We don’t. We can just deal without oxygen for longer than regular ponies.”

Luna walked over to Shining Armor. “You thought I was kidding when I said I would send you to the moon?”

Rainbow got up off her bed and walked towards the Captain. “You sent them to the moon? Why?” she inquired.

“No reason,” they called in unison.

Rainbow took a step back, her eyes wide. “Okay, okay! Anyway, come on while it's still fresh in my head.” She began walking back to the gurney when Luna called to her in a disappointing tone.

“You fought it off ALREADY?”

“Told you it wouldn't take me long,” she called back without turning.

Shining finally got his breathing under control. “Which one did they give her this time?”

“Some brand new one,” Luna replied.

Shining went back into a coughing fit. “WHAT? We spent months developing that one, and you fought it off in an HOUR!?”

“You do realize that the more you give me, the more resistant I become, right? You're making it easier for me.”

“Damn it!”

“Anyways,” Luna interrupted, “Rainbow is going to tell us about her battle. It would be best for us to listen.”

“Thank you, princess.” She took a moment to get herself adjusted on the gurney.

“So it happened like this...”

“Hey,” she yelled down. “If you start this fight, it won't end well for you.”

Twilight gave her a disappointed look. “Funny, I was going to tell you the same thing. I'm really busy today, so I can't stay and chat. I'll have to make this quick.”

All nine of her knives shot out from under her cloak, embedding themselves into the snow. She gripped them magically and returned her gaze to the commander. She flashed an evil grin. “Let's begin, shall we?”

Four knives flipped up and launched at the commander. They were straight shots, and Rainbow dodged them easily. She dove towards Twilight, slipping a small dagger from inside her armor into her hoof.

She met Twilight's gaze. Twilight wore an evil smirk and stared into Rainbows eyes. Rainbow turned her head to see the knives speeding her way.

She spun and turned sharply, trying to avoid the knives. They sped past her, grazing her wing guards. She tried to knock the blades away from her, but to no avail. She flew higher, trying to escape the reach of Twilight's magic.

Twilight was fast with her magic, but she couldn't chase Rainbow, who was undoubtedly the fastest mortal pony in Equestria.

Rainbow took a moment to observe her enemy. ‘She clearly doesn't want to waste time and wants this battle to be quick. She’s only using four knives as weapons; the others could possibly be for her defenses. She's confident in her skills, and is sure she can't be beaten.’

Rainbow grinned. ‘I’ll have to prove her wrong, hm? Let’s test her reflexes first.’

Rainbow slipped a second dagger into a groove in her hoof guard before diving towards Twilight.

Twilight attempted the same strategy as before. Her knives launched at Dash, but this time, Dash didn't slow down. She continued diving at massive speeds, and Twilight braced herself. She began running in zigzags, hoping to out-maneuver Rainbow.

But Dash was too fast. She brought her knife in front of her, while Twilight formed a shield with hers. They locked in place for a moment trying to stare the other down. Rainbow knocked her knife to the side, breaking the lock, and struck with the second.

Twilight jumped backwards, trying to evade, but was given a small cut on her cheek for her efforts. She rolled back and stood in another defensive stance, all eight of her knives at her side.

'Wait a minute, eight?'

Rainbow heard a quiet whistling sound coming from her left. Instinctively, she lifted her dagger, covering her neck. A moment later, there was a clang of metal and a force against her hoof.

She could feel something fighting her blade, but couldn't see- no. There it is. A shimmer in the air. It was cloaked.

“That clued me in to the fight at the tavern,” she explained to the royal group. “She enchanted her weapons with a cloaking spell, and just swung hard and fast, creating the image of ponies being ripped to shreds. It probably made her look like a demon or a god.”

She grinned. 'Close one... but not close enough.'

She disengaged the blade and launched towards Twilight again.

Together, they ran, stepped, jumped, stabbed, and sliced, trying to hit the other. Back and forth, they struck and dueled, only hitting armor and air. Onlookers saw blades whirl and heard metal ring.

When the two started fighting, they forgot about the storm that gathered around them. Quickly, though, the pair began noticing their vision impair from the sudden snow and wind. Blows began landing, and cuts began forming.

The duelers disengaged and jumped back, inspecting their wounds. None were serious, just simple nicks and cuts along their faces and sides. Despite the intensity of their dueling, they were neither breathing heavily nor breaking a sweat*.

They tore their eyes off of each other momentarily to observe the now white world that took up their vision. The snow was thick, and the wind was fast. They could barely see two feet in front of themselves. They turned back to each other and grinned. They were both in their prime.

The assassin and the snow mage disappeared into the white.

“Fighting where others can't see me is the best thing I can do.” She pointed towards her teacher. “You taught me that personally...”

Luna smiled warmly at Rainbow.

“… So you can understand my surprise when she could blend in just as well as I could. I will say, though, she was good...”

Twilight wrapped her cloak around her and slunk back into the snow.

Rainbow’s eyebrows crossed in a glare. The damned unicorn was getting on her nerves. The storm had come sooner and now was in her way. But on the plus side, she would make quick work of the battle with this added snow cover.

Twilight closed her eyes and cast a quick spell. A veil of magic whipped across her face, and when she opened her eyes, they glowed white. No matter how good she was, the pegasus couldn't hide from thermal vision.

She surveyed the area for a moment before she saw a dim orange light in the distance, outlining a crouched pony.

Twilight grinned to herself. Two of her knives sped off into the distance, and the sound of steel meeting flesh and bone could just barely be heard in the distance. Quick work indeed.

Twilight sheathed the rest of her knives and walked the distance to her fallen enemy. When she arrived, she found not a dead pegasus, but a fading illusion spell.

Her eyes widened. “What is-”

Twilight was cut off by an explosion of pain on her side. She turned to see Rainbow standing next to her, grinning madly.

“... But I'm better.”

The cut along Twilight's side was deep. Twilight gripped her side with one hoof.

“... How?” she cried out, Wincing as she tried to stop the blood flow.

Rainbow gave her no time to stop. She jumped forward and tackled the unicorn. They rolled over each other, fighting for dominance.

Twilight kicked Rainbow off of her, but found herself pinned again only a moment later. Twilight found her hooves pinned beneath Rainbow's.

Rainbow was breathing heavily, and finally spoke after she regained her breath.

“Now, we’re going to Canterlot, and you're coming with me. Would you like to try peacefully, or should I go on?”

Twilight glared intensely at Rainbow before her horn sprung to life and sent Rainbow flying. A moment later, Rainbow felt herself inside a magical grip, and was slammed into the ground. Metal was smashed, and bones were broken.

Rainbow's vision blurred. The thick snow storm didn't help, either. She shakily got to her feet to see a lavender mare standing directly in front of her, a calm smile across her face despite her injuries and the circumstances.

Her smile reminded Rainbow of a motherly smile, one that says everything would be alright. She had seen that look on Luna's face before.

Rainbow felt an invisible grip wrap around her throat as she was lifted a foot in the air. Twilight floated up and met her eyes. The eerily calm smile was still on her face. Rainbow coughed and struggled against the force holding her.

“Now, now, Miss Dash, that's quite enough of that. You've caused me a lot of trouble today.”

As she spoke, she used her magic to withdraw her lost blade from a pouch in Rainbow's armor.

She removed her stare from the choking pegasus and inspected her weapon. She looked with a close gaze, inspecting for the slightest mark or scratch. She gave a sigh of relief as she replaced the weapon with the others, except for one. She levitated it towards Rainbow's chest and held it there.

“Do you have any last words, anything you want me to tell your family?” she asked sarcastically.

Rainbow's eyes crossed in a flash of anger, but melted away a moment later. A small smirk replaced the anger.

“The thing about magic...” she said, meeting Twilight's eyes.

Her smirk grew into a grin. Her hoof flipped a small coin into the air in front of Twilight. It had a glowing rune on one side.

“...is that you don't have to be a unicorn to use runes.”

The rune flashed, and Twilight's magic grip disappeared. The knife she held in her magic grip fell to the ground. Rainbow's wings shot out and held up.

Twilight jumped back, pure rage enveloping her. She charged her horn and fired off a spray of magic blasts. Whenever they came within two feet of Rainbow, they dissolved before they even touched her.

“NULL MAGIC?”

“The very best, my dear. This is personally made by Princess Luna. It stops any magic that enters it field, which means...”

She disappeared in a blur of colors and reappeared behind Twilight.

Twilight didn't even have time to turn and react. 'She's too fast…'

“...you just lost all hope of winning this fight,” she finished before slashing Twilight across the back twice.

Twilight fell forward, but caught herself with magic. She turned and threw up the most powerful shield she could create, but Dash simply walked through it.

“You’re powerful, kid, but you couldn't hope to beat Alicorn magic.”

Rainbow brought her hoof to stab the powerless mare, but was blocked by Twilight's blade.

The blade was locked in her teeth. Twilight visibly shook from her anger. Dash noticed something coming of her mane and coat.

‘Smoke…?’

Twilight sliced forward, but Rainbow simply jumped back.

“I'm not that easy, Commander. I have a few tricks myself.”

Rainbow flew back as a wave of flame came off of Twilight. Rainbow watched as the fireball consumed the unicorn. The flames receded to reveal a flaming Twilight. Her coat was pure white, her tail and mane pure flames, her eyes glowing ruby red.

Although its origin is unknown, rage sparks have been noted throughout pony history. When an exceptionally powerful unicorn reaches a point in their anger, they can literally burst into flames. Only a talented few unicorns were recorded experiencing this phenomenon, such as Clover the Clever or Starswirl the Bearded, and despite their incredible strength and magic power, they could only hold this form for a few seconds.

But Twilight is used to breaking records.

Rainbow charged, not fearing the fact that she would be hurt by magic. She began slashing and stabbing towards Twilight, but was shocked to find that she could feel her skin burning from the heat. Even her knives glowed red.

“Sorry, commander,” Twilight called, her voice deep and smooth. “Null magic protects you from magic, but it won't help you against pure elements like fire.”

Rainbow dove forward, slashing down with her knife across Twilight scalp. Such a blow should have killed her, but she found there was no injury, only a silver trail running down Twilight's face.

Melted steel.

Rainbow’s knife was now a small metal stump.

Twilight gave a huge grin. She whipped her mane, sending a wave of white-hot flame towards Rainbow.

The pegasus shot into the sky as the flame passed underneath her. Where she had been standing, the snow melted and solid ground turned burned and black.

Rainbow flew back into the white of the storm, only to hear a chuckle from the flaming mare.

“Oh, commander,” she called into the white. “How can you hide if there is nothing to hide in?”

Her body glowed with heat, and a massive wall of flame exploded around her. The flames formed a dome of heat, melting snow and ice, revealing the cyan pegasus a few hundred feet away.

Rainbow dove towards Twilight, weapons at the ready.

Tendrils of flame erupted from Twilight's mane and launched towards the pegasus, forcing Rainbow to a halt. The flames shot back behind Twilight as she grinned.

“Sorry, Commander Dash, but the same trick won't work twice.”

A moment later, Rainbow zoomed out of the white, a panicked look on her face. A massive column of flame followed her.

Twilight grinned as the flame consumed the troublesome pegasus. She wore face of victory as she turned to leave, her flames extinguished as quickly as they started. Yet immediately, she was slammed to the ground by the commander once more.

The two mares collected themselves yet again. Twilight threatened to burst into flames again. Both mares were cut, bruised, and beaten.

“I have killed some pesky creatures, commander. Ponies, diamond dogs, griffons, minotaurs, the sorts. But you… You are, by far, the most annoying of them all.”

Rainbow grinned. “Well, then. I'm about to get infuriating.”

She still had one more trick up her sleeve. Rainbow slipped two crystals from her armor and clapped them together, cracking them.

Twilight's eyes widened as they landed in front of her.

‘Flash crystals!’ She spun to avert her eyes, but she wasn't fast enough. The crystals exploded in a wave of light and sound, leaving the unicorn blind, deaf, and stunned.

Rainbow took her chance and sprung into the air. She struck Twilight in the side of her head, knocking her down and keeping her dazed.

Wasting no time, Rainbow jumped back into the air. She flew around Twilight, but her injuries made her slower.

Twilight soon recovered enough to stand. Rainbow still circled, flying at incredible speeds, the air buffering around her.

Growling, Twilight attempted to ignite herself again, but couldn't – Rainbow's flying had created a vortex around her. Twilight yelled and cursed, striking the air around her with knives and hooves, trying to strike down the commander. She missed again and again.

Rainbow flew until she and Twilight were inside a rainbow funnel. Still continuing the circle she flew lower to Twilight's level.

“I'm giving you one last chance. Surrender or I will take you by force,” Rainbow’s voice came from all sides.

“Never.”

There was an audible sigh.

“I'm sorry, then.”

Rainbow continued her flight. Faster and faster, she flew around Twilight.

Twilight still fought, yet lashing out with her knives, she still could not land a strike. She saw this and ceased her assault. She watched as Rainbow flew faster and faster.

‘If I don’t stop her now, the vortex can suffocate me, or… No… She can’t be...’

Twilight gritted her teeth.

‘This needs to end now.’

Twilight carefully watched Rainbow. She watched for a pattern, anything she could use against the pegasus.

2...

3...

1...

1...

2...

3...

1...

1...

2...

3...

Twilight grinned.

‘Gotcha.’

She sheathed her blades and gripped one between her teeth.

‘I’ve got one shot… this will have to work.’

The wind formed a cone around Rainbow. She braced herself. This was going to hurt, though it was going to hurt Twilight more.

Time slowed as she passed by Twilight one last time. They met each other’s eyes for one moment.

Twilight's blade sank into Rainbow’s armor and skin as the wind around Rainbow released, breaking the sound barrier.

“You used the 'rainboom,' as you like to call it, didn't you?” Luna asked.

Rainbow nodded. “Yes, but at that range, it hurt us both.”

Rainbow lay in the snow. She listened to the sound of her own breathing. The pain of the crash from Twilight, the effort of creating a rainboom, and the crash following made the pain almost unbearable. She slowly opened her eyes to see that the storm had cleared. A few gentle flakes fell from the white sky.

Slowly, she regained the feeling in her limbs and made her way to her feet. As soon as she stood, she lost the small contents of her stomach and nearly fell down. She choked as she recovered.

She inspected herself. Her armor was shredded, and entire pieces were missing or broken. Some of the pieces were digging inside her, leaving blood trails down her rear legs, making walking painful, but not as painful as flying on sore wings.

Breathing heavily, she spotted the lavender mare a few hundred feet away, lying flat in the snow. She wasn't moving.

Rainbow breathed a sigh of relief. She slowly made her way to Twilight.

It took her almost a minute to cross that distance. She had almost reached the unicorn before her hoof touched something. She looked down to see a small book lying at her feet.

'Whatever it is, it can wait till later,' she thought before putting it a side compartment in her armor.

As she did, she heard coughing. She turned to see Twilight coughing gently.

Suddenly her eyes flew open, and she sat upright almost instantly. She was taking huge ragged breaths.

Her head rolled back. Her eyes stared into the white sky, her mouth agape, still drawing strangled breaths.

Rainbow stared at the unicorn in confusion and wonder. Twilight drew another breath, but stopped mid-way. Her head slowly rolled to the side to meet the commander’s stare.

Her ragged breathing turned into a deep chuckle. It started out soft, nothing but air. But it got louder and louder, until it was almost hysterical.

Rainbow glared at her. “Shouldn't you be asleep?”

Twilight’s laughter ended abruptly. A massive smile formed on her face.

“The other one is asleep. I am awake.”

“’I’? Who is ‘I,’ exactly?”

“My name will serve you purpose. The dead have no use for names.”

“Dementis. Stop." Twilight cried out. Trapped in her own mind. "We can't afford to-”

“BE SILENT. You had your chance, and you lost. Now it's my turn. Saevio? Would you like to help me with this one?

“Sure. What did you have in mind exactly?”

“How does roast pegasus sound to you?”

“Delicious.”

Dementis grinned.

“Prepare yourself, commander.”

Rainbow began backing away from the unicorn. She noticed for the first time that Twilight’s eyes were pitch black.

Her horn glowed with golden energy Rainbow had only seen from Celestia herself. She took off and flew as fast as she could away from the unicorn.

Golden energy gathered around the body and horn of Twilight before releasing.

To many, it would seem as though a second sun had risen from the north, or they would pass it off as some unexplained phenomenon. Only seven ponies knew what it truly was: the power of the sun.

Rainbow ignored the pain of her wings as she flew higher and higher, trying to escape the massive dome of golden light racing after her. It was hundreds of feet away, yet she could feel the heat burning her hooves.

Had she been at full health, Rainbow could have escaped the field of light with time to spare. But she was not. She was seriously injured and sluggish, and the light was catching up to her. Her breathing was getting heavier as she desperately tried to escape her death.

Her wings were burning, but she barely noticed it because of the adrenaline pumping through her veins.

She reached her hoof into her armor, trying to find anything that could mean her salvation. She pulled out a rune and sighed at it.

‘This is going to hurt. Again.’

She clapped the rune with her hooves, activating it. She threw it behind her and braced. As she flew, the rune exploded, sending out a shock wave propelling Rainbow up even faster.

She raced forwards, flying hundreds of miles per hour. She turned her head to see the field of light no longer following her.

She stopped her wings and began falling back towards the ground far below. Every few hundred feet, she flapped her wings to make sure she didn’t fall too quickly.

A few minutes later, she landed roughly. Where snow had once been, there was only blackened earth.

A tired and angry unicorn stood over her. Her horn sparkled from magical depletion.

She opened her mouth to speak, but Rainbow interrupted her with her hoof.

“We'll finish this battle another day, Twilight Sparkle. Not today.”

She clapped her hoof on her final rune. She teleported away, leaving Twilight staring at the empty space before her.

“And so that was it. I teleported back here and that was that. I'm assuming you enchanted the rune to take me back to you, Princess?”

Luna nodded. “I have but one question, commander. What was the book you found?”

“Oh, that's right. Princess. The armor, if you would?”

Luna brought over the broken remains of the stealth armor and dropped them at the group’s feet.

Rainbow crouched and grabbed different pieces, searching for the compartment where she had put it. She soon pulled out a small leather-bound book.

“I didn't exactly have the opportunity to get any reading done, so I don't even know the contents. It could be a spell book or a -”

“It's a journal,” Shining interrupted. He grabbed it with his magic and opened the weathered pages. “This is Twilight's journal from when she was a filly.”

“I’ll take it for research,” Luna stated.

“I'm keeping it,” Shining maintained.

“Hey, I was the one who had to fight the bitch,” Rainbow protested.

“You watch you call my sister, damn it. She's my sister, so I'll be taking her journal.”

“You sound like you're used to stealing your sister’s diary,” Luna teased.

Shining's face grew red. “This is family property, so it's my duty to keep it safe.”

“I’m the one who's in the hospital for this journal, therefore it's mine.” Rainbow plucked the book right from Shining’s hooves.

The journal was wrapped in a warm golden glow and lifted from Rainbow's hooves.

“No one will be taking the journal today. The day grows late, and we have our royal duties to attend to. We will decide on this matter on the morrow.”

Celestia was right. The sun was setting, and the day was coming to a close. Night court would be starting.

Shining sighed, “Very well, Princess. Tomorrow, then,” He voiced before he and his wife departed.

“Well, I’ve got work to do as well. See you tomorrow,” Rainbow declared before she was enveloped in a magic grip and placed back onto the gurney.

“Oh, no, you don't. You're injured too badly this time. You're staying here and making a recovery.”

Rainbow opened her mouth to argue, but was cut off by a stern glare from her teacher.

“You are one of my best soldiers, and are of no use to anyone in this state. Promise me you will stay here for three days. Then you may go about your business. But three days.”

Rainbow had no choice but to agree.

‘These are going to be three long days…”

Luna smiled. “I'm glad you agree. Come, sister.”

She and Celestia walked out of the hospital and into the winter air.

“Were both reading tonight, aren't we?” Luna asked.

Celestia gave a teasing smile.

“Yep.”

Twilight wanted to scream. She wanted to yell until her voice died. She wanted to do anything to release the hate and anger inside of her, but she couldn't. Her magic was depleted, something that hadn't happened in over a decade. Her vision was blurry, and her ears rang from the rainboom. She was badly injured, and she was physically beat down.

She only wanted to sleep now.

But first she needed to get away. She couldn't be found here.

She turned when something caught her eye. A scrap of paper. She slowly picked it up with her hooves. The hate left. The tiredness drained away. A smile found her lips, and grew to a massive grin.

‘Maybe something good did come of this hell.’

Of Journals and fillies

Luna sat at her desk. Sitting in front of her was the journal of Twilight Sparkle.

Luna studied the book in front of her. It was a brown leather bound book with a cover flap. It was wrapped tightly by some simple string but was most likely enchanted. Twilight was never one for coloring or decorating, so it didn’t surprise Luna that the book was plain.

She and Celestia were both going to read it, but Celestia had to tend to her student. Luna smirked as she thought back to earlier...

=

“Let us attend to the evening ceremonies. Then, we will look into the journal,” Celestia suggested as she and Luna walked into the palace. “I am eager to start as soon as-”

“Princess!”

As they entered, a servant mare rushed up to them, interrupting Celestia. She was a white unicorn, and she looked flustered. Her mane was disheveled, and she was breathing heavily, as if she had just come back from the Running of the Leaves.

“Your student... gasp... is having issues...gasp...again.” She made sure to put the extra stress on issues.

As if on cue, a shriek came from down the hall, as well as a flash of light and the sound of splintering wood. Celestia heaved a huge sigh before turning to her sister.

“Well, Lulu, it looks like you're on your own tonight. I need to go calm the poor thing down before she blows another hole in her-”

Before she could finish, the palace shook from another blast.

“Damn.” Celestia gritted her teeth. Her horn lit up, and she disappeared in a flash of light.

=

She had eventually gotten the young filly and her magic under control and repaired her broken room and the hallway outside.

Luna shook her head and turned back to her main focus.

She touched her horn to the string around the book to check for enchantments and was surprised to find none. Nothing was keeping the book away from strangers.

She slowly opened the old cover and began to read.

Moon's day 21, Janus, 1265

The doctors gave me this journal. They said that writing might help me overcome my sadness and stress. I'm not quite sure how this does anything for my magic. Magic flow has nothing to do with writing. I didn't want to, but Shiny said that writing will make me feel better. Maybe...

Saturn's day 27, Janus 1265.

I told them I don't know what to write about, and they said, “Write out your problems, frustrations, or issues. Either for your day or your month.” I still don't want a journal. I like reading books, not writing in them.

Tuesday 6, Februa 1265

It happened again today. It was during class, too. We were just sitting there reading history books when it happened. I just felt a surge of energy, and the next thing I knew, there was a hole in the floor. I'm starting to get scared. The “power surges,” as the doctors call them, are getting more common and more powerful. What if I hurt somepony?

Saturn's day 10, Februa 1265

We were at the hospital today, getting more tests done. The doctors were talking to Mommy about something. I couldn't hear them very well, but I think they said something about the princesses. What could they mean?

Sun's day 18, Februa 1265

It happened again today, but even worse. Somepony actually got hurt. I... I don't want to hurt ponies. I just want this to stop. The doctors mentioned whatever they were talking about last week and said it had been cleared. Why won't they tell me what’s going on?

Moon's day 19, Februa 1265

I can't believe it! Today, Mommy, Daddy, Shiny, and I went to the palace and got to meet the princesses! They were super nice and said that they were going to help me. I'm going to be staying there for a few weeks if Mommy and Daddy say so. We’re going back soon. Maybe they will let me stay.

Luna smiled fondly, remembering the bright faced filly as Twilight met her and Celestia. She had been delighted in meeting Twilight and fell in love with the adorable filly.

Freya's Day 02, March 1265

Today, I move into the palace. The princesses are going to watch me, study my magic habits, and try to find what is blocking my magic and causing it to burst out. Tomorrow is the first day, and I will be with Princess Celestia. I wonder what she will have me do…

Saturn's day 03, March 1265

Today, the princess had me doing breathing exercises. She talked about how we need to make my magic flow. It was pretty boring, but I didn't want to disappoint the princess. I do feel a little better. Maybe it did help. I can't tell yet.

Thor’s day 08, March 1265.

I’ve spent the last few days trying to make my magic flow by doing more breathing exercises with Princess Celestia. Princess Luna has also been trying to find the source of my bursts. They make sure to give me breaks, and they are lots of fun. They tell great stories and are always smiling. I love being with them, even if my lessons can be boring sometimes. Princess Luna has great stories about past sorcerers and magical creatures like humans. Princess Celestia loves to play games and is always fun to be with. And I spend a lot of time with playing with Cadence too. My parents and Shiny come and visit me every few days, and I can tell Shining has a crush on Cadence. He always blushes when she walks in the room.

Luna chuckled at the last couple sentences, thinking about the recent royal couple.

Saturn's day 10, March 1265

Today, I had my first magic burst at the palace. I was doing my exercises with Princess Celestia, then the next minute, I was on my back, and the room had an entire wall missing. Both princesses were there when I woke up. They looked really upset but told me that nopony was hurt. They were able to stop me before anything else happened, but still...

Odin's day 14, March 1265

I had two more “magic attacks,” as Princess Luna calls them. The princesses had a different test today. They had me lay down, and Princess Luna made me go to sleep. I guess they were watching for patterns in my sleep, mind, and magical reservoirs for anything unnatural. I don't think they found anything though.

Odin's day 28, March 1265

It's been two weeks and nothing has changed. I'm having magic bursts every other day now, and the princesses still haven't found what’s wrong yet. Maybe I can't be cured.

Saturn's day 31, March 1265

Today, I went back home. I've been at the castle for a month, and the princesses wanted me to stay with my family again while they try to find a cure for my magic problems. I'll be here for another month or two before the princesses will take me back again. While I love my family, I can't wait to see the princesses again. They showed my parents and Shining a spell, so I can send them letters and talk.

Saturn's day, 07 Aprillis 1265.

I went back to school, and I'm still getting made fun of. It used to be just a few mean words, but now they follow me and won't leave me alone. I'm not special because the princesses are helping me. Why do they keep saying I'm “special?” I just can't use magic. Shining says it's because they’re jealous, and that I should ignore them, but... I can't ignore what’s always around me.

Moon's day 09, Aprillis 1265

I had nightmares the last two nights. I guess they weren't really nightmares, but they scared me anyway. I was in a foggy garden, and there was a voice calling me over and over again. It was a colt’s voice, and he just kept calling my name and laughing. I finally called back, but he just laughed even harder and said, “It's time for you to wake up.” I'm scared because I can still hear it clearly. It's still echoing in my head, but I don't want to tell anyone. If I do, they'll say I'm crazy.

Thursday 12, Aprillis 1265.

He's still calling me. Every night, he is calling my name. I want to go to him. I want him to stop. Every time I walk up to my parents or sit to write a letter to the princesses, something stops me. It's like I physically can't tell anyone. My voice will just stop or my hoof will freeze. I keep waking up and sometimes I won’t go back to sleep. I want to answer him. I want him to stop calling for me.

“I think it's story time, Lulu,” Celestia called.

Luna looked up from the book. Standing in the doorway was a smiling Celestia and a small white unicorn. Her face was bright and young. She was only about seven years old. Her soft pink and lilac mane circled around her and bounced as she ran over to the night princess.

Luna smiled warmly. “Very well.”

She turned to the young filly. “Let me talk to Celestia for a moment. Then I’ll read to you, okay?”

The filly beamed. “Okay. I'll wait, but hurry back!” she called.

Luna exited the room and turned to her sister. “How is she?”

Celestia gave a proud smile. “She's making progress. We were able to conjure a few sparks after I calmed her down. We found out singing is the key. She can use magic through music. So far, it's very little, but little is better than nothing.”

Luna smiled. “That's wonderful to hear. I've been reading the journal. Everything seemed fine when she was staying at the castle, but when she left, she began writing about something in her dreams. Something had been calling her, and it was taking a toll on her waking life. I will investigate more tomorrow, but... sister?”

“Yes, Lulu?”

Luna's tone grew serious. “We can't lose this one. We will try for decades if we have to, but we will not let the same thing happen to your student that happened to... Twilight. Whatever happened to her, we can't let it happen again.”

Celestia drew a deep breath. “I know, Luna. Trust me, I know.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”

Luna reentered her room and saw the young filly lying on the bed. She put back on her smile and jumped up next to the filly.

“So, Sweetie Belle? What shall we read today?”

=

While Rainbow would never admit it, she was happy she got to sleep. Even she would realize when she pushed herself too hard, but even then, she still would do nothing to stop or change it. If Luna hadn't kept her in the hospital, she probably would have collapsed in the street.

She lay in bed, her hooves folded on her chest, thinking about her la--
“RAINBOW DASH!” the young orange filly screamed before jumping into Rainbow's arms.

She buried her head in Rainbow's neck. “I'm so glad you’re okay! When they said you would be in the hospital for a few days, I knew it must have been bad…”

Rainbow returned Scootaloo's hug. She chuckled softly.

“You shouldn't be too worried. I'll be out of here in three days. Princess Luna wanted me to stay, so I agreed.”

“Yeah, well, I wouldn't rush it. Some guards came and told us you wouldn't be coming home for a while, and Fluttershy is pissed.”

Rainbow winced. “Really? How bad is it?”

“She's cleaning her cast iron pots.”

“Well, damn. Scoot? Imma need you to tell Fluttershy I died, or she will make sure I do.”

The two laughed in each other’s embrace.

“So, what did you do today?” Dash inquired.

“Not much. I mostly helped Fluttershy, and I got to play with Sweetie Belle, but that's about it. She's pretty worried. Every time you leave, she starts mumbling to herself about how you’re too reckless. Now that you’re in the hospital, she's especially worried.”

“Hey, now.” Rainbow hugged the filly even closer. “She knows better than that. I will never leave you two alone. I never have; I never will.”

“But Rainbow…”

Scootaloo sat up, looking down at her big sister. “You left today and didn't even say goodbye. What if something had happened, and we never saw you again?”

“Listen, Scoots.” Rainbow sat up and met the filly's sad eyes.

“Growing up was hard for us. All three of us. I always took it upon myself to make sure you guys always had food and a safe place to sleep, even if it meant I didn't. I would sooner give up my wings and never fly again if it meant you two were safe. I will never leave you and make sure you never get hurt, and if you did... If you do, I would make sure whoever hurt you paid dearly for it.”

Rainbow sighed. “That's why I push myself. I do it for you two.”

Scootaloo wrapped her hooves around Rainbow again.

“But you’re no use to us if you’re dead. Please be more careful. I couldn't bear to lose you, but imagine what it would do to Fluttershy. When the guards showed up, she almost had a heart attack, thinking they were here to deliver the bad news.”

“Alright, I'm sorry. Didja bring any books with you?”

Scootaloo rifled through saddle bags that Rainbow hadn't even noticed before. She pulled out a thick book with an adventurous mare on the front.

“New Daring Doo, if you're interested.”

“No way! Really? Come on over; let’s read it together…”

Discovery

Twilight lay in the soft grass. It was cool and moist and seemed to put the life back into her body.

Twilight.

It was like being a filly, not wanting to get out of bed for school.

Twilight Sparkle.

School. She hadn't thought of her school life for years.

Wake up, Twilight!

She didn’t want to wake up. She needed to heal, anyways.

WAKE UP, DEVIN!

Twilight's eyes shot open, and she jumped to her feet. Breathing heavily, she surveyed her surroundings. There was a heavy fog surrounding her, but she could tell she was in a grassy surrounding.

She breathed a sigh of relief. “You know you could ask nicely and not give me a heart attack at 24.”

“Maybe if you would wake up the first time I tell you, I wouldn't yell.”

Twilight snorted defiantly. “I'm not in the mood to talk to you, especially after your ‘gift’ used up every drop of my magic. What do you want?”

“My, my, we are sour today.” The voice had no owner and came from all sides from the fog.

“You need to get moving. Canterlot is two and a half days away, and you are behind schedule.”

Twilight scoffed. “I wouldn't be behind if a certain piece of me would stop trying to use my magic. Your little ‘gift’ keeps trying to take over my magic every chance it gets. I was so close to sealing it away for good, when the damned moon princess decided to invade my mind as well.”

“It's not my fault you let your mind barriers slip.”

Twilight began shaking with rage. “I was busy fighting!”

“Ah, ah, ah. You were the one who said you could control it. Can you or can't you?”

“I can, but it always attacks when it's difficult. When I'm in battle. When I'm asleep. I will tell you again. TAKE. IT. BACK. It will not be missed,” she yelled to the voice.

Something shot out of the fog and came face-to-face with Twilight. It was a large snake, at least 20 feet long. Its skin was tight and scarred. Its black eyes were beady and hungry, and its tongue flickered. Twilight remained unflinching.

“Watch your tongue, mare. Show some respect to the one who kept you alive all the years.”

Twilight gritted her teeth. “The reason I'm alive is going to be the reason I die. And then, what happens to you? I'm out of magic because of your ‘gift,’ and it could take months before I'm back to full power. Unless I have a seed.”

Twilight got down on her front two legs and tipped her horn to the snake. “Would the master be so kind?”

The snakes tongue flickered for a few moments before it let a short hiss, almost like a snake groaning. It closed its eyes, and a moment later, a black beam shot from its mouth and struck Twilight's horn.

Dark tendrils of energy coursed through her horn and spread over her body. She shook, jolted, and fell over, curling into a ball.

Soon, the energy stopped, and Twilight shakily rose to her feet. Her legs shook, and she heaved a massive hacking cough. Gasping, she lowered her head and bowed again.

“Thank you for your kindness, master.”

The snake was gone and the voice came from the fog again. “Watch your tongue next time, mare, or I won’t be so kind. Now, tell me, how did a pathetic pegasus defeat you? You were trained for so many years, yet a little blue bird brings you to your knees? How pathetic.”

Twilight gritted her teeth as she composed herself. “I underestimated her. It will not happen again. I will not show mercy. Besides...”

She pulled her scrap of paper out of nowhere.

“I have my trump card.”

“You'd better. I am patient, and you are expendable. Finish your mission, however, and you shall be rewarded beyond measure. Now get out of my sight. Your caretakers are waiting for you.”

“Caretakers... What caretakers?”

The voice didn't respond, and the world began turning to black. Twilight sighed.

“Whoever it is, please just don't let it be the-”

Then the world collapsed into darkness.

=

“Is she awake yet?” a voice hissed.

“No. We applied the bandages and stopped the bleeding, but she is still asleep,” Another hissed back.

The first voice gave a deep throated growl. “It's been almost eighteen hours, and the queen grows impatient. Wake her now, Doppelganger.” The first threw a small metal bar towards Doppelganger before he turned away.

Doppelganger gave a nervous chitter before picking it up. He slowly moved next to the unconscious mare and gave her a light push on her flank.

The first spun as he heard the sound of metal meeting bone and the shriek of Doppelganger as he fell. He turned to see the lavender mare clutching the pipe between her hooves, looking down at the writhing changeling before her. She snarled at the other as he stared at her in horror.

“I hate changelings,” she stated, as her vision bore into the skull of the standing changeling.

He understood the message. He sprinted off to find medics for his fallen brother. Twilight watched as he did and dropped the changeling-blood-covered pipe. She looked down at the pathetic excuse shuddering at her feet. The poor thing would most likely live if attention was given, but Twilight wouldn't be the one to help.

“Must you always beat my children to unconsciousness every time you see them?” a two toned voice called from behind her. “Honestly I'm tired of you hurting every changeling you come across. It sends a bad message, especially when we all serve the same master.”

Twilight snorted. “You are nothing but filthy insects who hide deep down in their holes, waiting to trick some poor pony into loving them before you completely devour them. At least, when I kill, I'm upfront about it. My enemies know what’s coming, and I give them a chance. Your kind chose the cowardly way.”

There was a moment of silence before the double voice began chuckling. Twilight turned to face the tall changeling behind her. “How have you been, Chrysalis?”

The chuckling turned to a wince. “I have seen better days,” she replied as she walked out from the shadow she hid in. She was badly scarred. Her hooves had gashes and more holes than there used to be. A section of her lower lip was torn away, revealing wet gums and sharply pointed teeth. Her crooked horn was cracked in some places, extremely dangerous to magical creatures.

She stood over her crippled child, looking down on him as he convulsed. She shot a beam of green magic at him, and his convulsing stopped. The green magic enveloped him, and a moment later, where he was lying, was a green pod. Inside, Doppelganger was floating in the green water.

Chrysalis breathed a sigh of relief, knowing her child would be safe.

“Whoever did it sure did a number on you. What happened?” Twilight asked.

Chrysalis snarled. “An invasion in Canterlot went wrong, and that's all that will be said on the subject, child. Understand?”

Twilight nodded solemnly. “Well on the bright side, I'm heading to Canterlot and looking for a shortcut. Would you happen to know of one?”

Chrysalis harrumphed. “I don't think you should be going anywhere. Your injuries are still fresh, and you’re out of magic. Do you think you should put yourself back on the radar? According to what the master told me, they will be expecting you.”

“While that may be true, he lent me some magic, so that my reserves will begin filling again. Besides, it’s better to have less magic. The princesses will try to find me, so since I have less magic, it will be more difficult to track me down.” Twilight looked around uncertainly. “Hey. Shouldn't there be changelings swarming this place, since I injured their brother?”

“We're a hive, Twilight, in mind and body. They know when another is in trouble, and when they are same, because of me. I transmit messages through the entire hive. You've been here multiple times over the years. How do you not know that?”

Twilight gave Chrysalis a look. “I try not to focus on the livelihoods of the changelings. I thought YOU knew that I hate being in this damned hive just as much as I hate changelings. Other than you, of course.

“Oh. How wonderful that I escaped the hate list. Whatever will I do to thank you?” she replied sarcastically.

Twilight smiled cheerily. “Oh, nothing at all, dear. I only need my tools, weapons, clothing, and a guide to Canterlot via tunnel.”

The changeling queen only shook her head. “Your impatience will be the death of you yet. You of all people should know to be patient. I taught you to be just that.

“Times change, and speaking of which, I'm running out of time. I'll be fine, Chrysalis. I've had worse injuries.”

“It's not the severity of your injuries I'm worried about. It'd the weakness that comes with them. If you truly think you are ready, then come with me.”

Twilight followed Chrysalis out of the small cave and into a massive room. It was shaped like a bee hive from the inside. It was hundreds of feet tall and just as wide. At first glance, you would think that the walls were alive, but at a closer look, you would see that the walls were covered in changelings. They watched as the lavender mare followed their queen. Some prepped themselves to launch at the newcomer before Twilight's head turned to the side revealing a twisted grin on her face. Those who knew who she was cowered against the rock they sat upon, while the others watched in confusion as their brothers cowered in fear.

They walked on for a few minutes through multiple corridors, hallways, and rooms before arriving in a small tunnel. The walls were lined with honeycomb shaped holes. Chrysalis walked up and down the wall before stopping in front of one.

“The expansion spell on your pack made the storage that much easier,” Chrysalis stated as she pulled out Twilight's pack and coats. She laid everything out before meeting the unicorn’s eyes. “Everything is here. Are you sure you’re going to leave so soon?”

Twilight pulled her luggage out from the pack. “I'll be fine, Chrysalis. I'm not going to run straight to the palace and announce my arrival. I'll be careful.”

The pair sat in silence as Twilight unpacked. “You know,” Twilight called breaking the silence. “You don't even show this much favoritism to your children. Why do you treat me so well? I'm part of the species you hate the most.”

Twilight waited patiently for the answer. Minutes passed by before the response came in the form of a whisper.

“I don't know.”

Chrysalis stood staring at the ground. She stared off, trailing into her own thought. She was interrupted by a sharp intake of breath.

She turned to see Twilight staring into her pack. Her eyes were wide and her mouth agape.

“T-Twilight?”

Twilight practically dove into her bag, searching for something. She emerged, her breath shaky and ragged. Her eyes still focused on the bag, she called out.

“Chrysalis, nothing was taken from this bag, correct?”

The changeling queen cocked her head to the side. “I was present when we collected you. Nothing was missing.”

“I want those who were present. NOW.”

“You already met them. One is healing, and the other is hiding from you, in fear you’re going to murder him.”

Twilight shivered. She whispered something to herself.

“What is it?”

Twilight stared at Chrysalis with a look of horror.

“My journal. It's gone.

Hate

Moon's day 15, Aprillis 1265

It's everywhere now. It's following me. At school. At home. At the doctors. In the market place. It just won't go away. I still have the dream. It feels like something is just outside my sight all the time. I'm panicking. I can't sleep. I'm seeing things I know aren't there.

I was talking to Shining, then all of a sudden, he was lying on the floor. He was covered in blood. The light in his eyes was gone. I could tell he was truly dead. I didn't even have time to cry though. I blinked and he was standing, looking at me confusedly. He was back on his feet, perfectly fine. I still can't tell anyone. It's still stopping me. I just wish I knew what IT was.

Luna was reading the journal again. She had spent the rest of the previous night with Sweetie and would resume her progress on understanding Twilight the next day, her thirst for knowledge on the lost unicorn driving her.

Odin's day 17, Aprillis 1265

I...I don't know what to do anymore. I can't... I want it to stop. I want to sleep again. I want them to stop calling me names. I want them to leave me alone. I want the voices to stop. I want the pain to go away. I want to be happy. I want Shiny to be happy. I want Mommy and Daddy to be happy. Everyone is sad. Everyone's looking at me sadly. I don't want them to look at me like that. I just want to be normal.

I only want to be normal.

Thor’s day 18, Aprillis 1265

The voice finally stopped. I answered the voice, and it stopped. It called out to me, and I asked “Who's there?” and it stopped. I...I finally got to sleep. The hallucinations stopped. At least, that's what I think they were. Maybe I'm not crazy. Maybe I'll be okay.

=

The pair stared at each other in silence. One wore a look of horror on her face while the other stood, confused, her head cocked to the side. The silence that lingered was almost earsplitting.

“Journal? What journal?” Chrysalis asked, breaking the deafening silence. “There was no journal when you came here”

Twilight gritted her teeth and eventually found her voice.

“I'll repeat myself one last time, Chrysalis. You are one of extremely few I consider to be a friend. If you are lying-”

“I AM NOT!” she shouted in response. “Don't you dare say that! I would not lie to you. I was present when you were found, and there was no journal in your bag. Or even anywhere close.”

=

Freya's day 19, Aprillis 1265

The voice still hasn't called me again. I feel much better since I decided to call back. I wonder if it will call again. I hope it does. I hope it leaves me alone.

=

“Are you absolutely sure?”

“Yes. Like I said, I was there. Why is it so important?”

Twilight huffed. “You'd be surprised what somepony can do once they get a look into your mind.”

=

Sun's day 21, Aprillis 1265

“Last night it called me again. I answered back again as well. It came out of the fog and talked to me. It wasn't a pony though. It was a lion. He was really big and super nice. He said he could help me with my magic. I asked him how since even the princesses hadn't been able to help yet. He said not to worry and that he had a gift for me, but it wasn't ready yet. Hopefully soon.

=

Twilight thought back, trying to find when she could have lost her journal. Chrysalis watched as Twilight racked her thoughts trying to find a foothold in her memories. Twilight's face was a mask of confusion as she sped through her memories, trying to uncover when it happened.

The realization hit her like a brick.

=

Thor's day 25, Aprillis 1265

He talked to me again. He said his gift is ready, and he finally gave it to me, but I didn't see it. He said he gave it to me, but he never showed it to me. I asked about it, and he said I would see it soon. But I want to see it now.

=

Chrysalis covered her ears to block out the shrill sound. Moments later, Twilight's screams stopped. Chrysalis watched the unicorn as she gasped for air.

“The pegasus...” Twilight whispered to herself.

“The what? What is it, Twilight?”

Twilight's horror turned to anger. “The pegasus,” she said through clenched teeth. Once again, she dove into her pack before withdrawing the scrap of paper.

She stared at it before mumbling to herself, “An eye for an eye.”

=

Moon's day 29, Aprillis 1265

I still haven't seen his gift yet, but something is happening. I keep losing pieces of my memory for a second at a time. I was talking to my brother outside of my room, then I was in my room with my doll Smarty Pants. I asked Shining how I got there and he got confused and said I finished talking to him and went there by myself. I asked HIM, and he said the gift is just getting used to me. WHAT GIFT????? I haven't seen it yet and it's driving me crazy. That’s good. Let it grow.

=

“Damn it damn it damn it DAMN IT TO TARTARUS!” Twilight shouted as she stomped her hooves over and over again. It hurt, but pain was just a distraction. A few moments later, she calmed down.

“Chrysalis,” she called out, breathing heavily. “Can you do a magic transfusion?”

=

Thor's day 1, Maius 1265

He said it would help me. He said it would help me use my magic. He said it would make me better. He said he would teach me.

=

“Quickly. We don't have much time. How far are we from Canterlot?”

“About 70 miles. Why?”

Determined, Twilight asked, “Can you do a magic transfusion, and can you get me outside the hive?”

Chrysalis sighed heavily. “Yes, and follow me. We're near the surface anyways.”

Chrysalis sprinted through the caves and tunnels to the surface, Twilight closely following.

=

Sun's day 4, Maius 1265

It won't stop. I'm blacking out. I'm losing time. Seconds... minutes... even hours. It happened yesterday. I lost 2 hours of time and didn't even notice. Neither did Mommy or Daddy or Shiny. I still can't tell them though.

=

Minutes later, Twilight and Chrysalis burst through an opening of the hive and into the snowy wasteland.

Twilight's head snapped side to side. “Which way is Canterlot?”

“There, just south,” Chrysalis beckoned with one hoof.

Twilight rummaged through her bag quickly before pulling out a hexagonal rune. She threw it to the ground and shot a beam of magic at it. It glowed a soft violet color.

She quickly turned to Chrysalis. “Pour our magic into this when I say. Be careful not to transfer ownership.”

She quickly walked in front of Chrysalis and motioned at her to lean down. Chrysalis complied, and Twilight tapped her horn against the queen's.

“Stand behind it, opposite to me.”

Chrysalis obeyed, not worrying to question Twilight's motives. She had learned from experience that it wouldn't matter.

Twilight kept her eyes on the rune as she instructed Chrysalis.

“Our magic frequencies have to be the same. ”

Chrysalis nodded quickly, her horn glowing brighter as Twilight's did the same.

“Ready...NOW!”

=

Odin's day 7, Maius 1265

He told me that I'll see my gift soon. Very soon. I can't wait. I really want to see this gift. It'll help me a me control it. Even the princesses couldn't do it. I really want to see this...

=

As she yelled, Twilight released her magic, and Chrysalis followed suit. The beams struck in the air as the casters closed their eyes in concentration. As the magic collided, two dissonant high-pitched tones rang. The magic, instead of dissipating, formed a pool above the rune and grew larger by the second.

“Twilight, you need to focus. Let it flow,” Chrysalis instructed. The beams changed shape and contrast as the casters attuned their magic.

The sounds changed and grew closer to one another in volume and pitch.

”Almost there...Almost...”

As the frequencies matched, Twilight shouted, “RELEASE!” The pool of magic launched into the rune, which hovered and glowed with violet and emerald energy. Twilight quickly snatched it from the air.

“Step two...”

She closed her eyes again, holding the rune in her hooves. Her horn glowed even brighter than before, her head tilting toward the sky.

=

Freya's day 9, Maius 1265

She looks just like me. Her coat is the same. Her mane and tail are the same. Her voice is the same. She's just as tall as me. She is exactly like me except for two things. Her smile. It's wide. So wide it looks like it hurts. It scares me. The other thing is her eyes. They're pitch black. Not like the color black, but it's as if they absorbs all of the colors and light. They are cold and dark. She said she is me, at least a part of me. She scares me. How could somepony like her help me?

=

“Twilight, what are you doing?”

Twilight ignored the changeling queen's calls and focused on her task. This was the delicate part. The rune floated out of Twilight's hooves and began spinning faster and faster as it became a tunnel of colorful energy.

Twilight's horn charged for a moment before firing a blast at the rune, sending it flying off to the distance.

“Twilight?” Chrysalis called again. “Was that what I think it was?”

Her suspicions were confirmed when she saw Twilight's eyes. They were no longer their normal solid lavender color; instead, they shifted.

She was guiding the spell.

=

Saturn's Day 10, Maius 1265

He told me she was the reason I keep losing time. He says she's just getting used to my body and my mind and not to worry.

=

Twilight focused on the light in her eyes. To any common eye, her eyes were just glowing, but it would be wrong. She was guiding the magical missile she had sent, and her target was in Canterlot. With a small part of her focus she activated a tiny rune inside the journal. Consequently, a small purple haze appeared far off in the distance. Twilight grinned evilly. The haze was over the palace.

“Two birds with one stone.”

=

Luna's head perked up. She could feel it. Very strong magic, approaching quickly. Something was coming. She ran to the her window to see a brightly colored magic stream coming towards her room.

'I wonder who that could be?' she thought to herself sarcastically.

She flew out the window, her horn blazing with power. She was moments away from meeting the magic head on when it split. The beam split in half, moving around her before rejoining behind her.

'Oh no you don't!'

She quickly flew back around to meet the beam, this time striking it. Her horn fired off massive amounts of energy, but much to her surprise, the magic didn't dissipate. Instead, it held its ground and began pushing her back.

She clenched her teeth and pushed harder, expelling even more magic into the missile.

“What's wrong, princess? Feeling weak?” a voice shouted from within. Luna focused inside the twisting energy and saw a pair of floating orbs... No, eyes. The missile was being guided.

As Luna stared into those eyes, she felt a slight chill crawl up her spine. Eyes are the windows to the soul, and these eyes were screaming volumes.

“Cease this fight. You cannot win,” Luna yelled to the floating eyes.

“No. You cannot hope to beat your own sister's sun.”

“What!?” Luna gasped as she was pushed back even more. She braced herself and pushed as hard as she could, her wings flapping in the wind.

“Solar multiplier, which means you lose.”

Luna held her magic for a few more seconds before she was thrown away. The beam traveled through her window, creating an explosion within her room.

Luna watched helplessly as the one piece of information they had on Twilight was destroyed in front of her. Soon, a white blur flew next to her.

“Luna, what happened? Are you okay?” Celestia called. She received no response from her sister, who simply stared at the remnants of her tower, her face showing her defeat.

“Luna?”

Luna grimly stared at the remnants of her tower. Celestia barely heard her next line.

“Damn you, Twilight Sparkle.”

=

Chrysalis watched as the golden light faded from Twilight's eyes. As it did, Twilight's body began swooning and Chrysalis quickly placed a hoof on Twilight's back to steady her.

Twilight's body shuddered. She tried to step forward, buy only succeeded in collapsing into the snow.

“Twilight.”

Chrysalis's voice took on a soothing tone. “Slow down. Don't hurt yourself.”

Twilight shook her head in protest. “Have to... get inside,” she choked out in between heaving breaths.

Seeing she was too weak to walk, Chrysalis levitated Twilight onto her back and carried her into the hive.

They descended into the hive, neither making a sound, until Chrysalis finally broke the silence.

“So what now? If they weren't ready for you, you're damn sure they will be now. How are you going to get in? Do you think they are aware of your goal?”

“No. I never put what the mission is or why in the journal. There was no critical information inside. I'm safe. Partially, at least.”

“Yes, but what is your next step?”

Twilight was silent for a moment as she considered the question. “I won't be leaving tonight. Our little magic trick took it out of me, and I already weak as it is. I'll be staying the night, if you would allow it.”

“You needn’t ask. You're always welcome in my room.”

“Thank you. Tomorrow, I will depart. You said you invaded Canterlot. How?”

“It's very little known, but there is a large crystal cavern directly underneath the palace, and even we don't know how far it goes. You might not want to use that, though. After our failed attempt, you can bet that they have greatly boosted security.”

Twilight was silent again. “I'm not worried. I'm good at distractions. After that, I have a... contact... in Canterlot. I'll lay low and prepare while I get my energy up.”

Chrysalis stopped in front of a slime covered wall. Her horn glowed, and the wall dissolved, allowing entry. Chrysalis placed Twilight down on a large slab of stone, where she sat up slowly and faced her friend.

“Is there anything else you need?” Chrysalis inquired.

Twilight gave a thankful smile to the changeling queen. “No, but thank you. I have my own supplies, and yours are limited. All I need is privacy.”

Twilight turned and opened her pack, pulling out a paper scroll. “And I have a letter to send.”

After the fact

All the way to the hospital, Celestia could tell that Luna was very distraught. Luna was very discreet in what she did, but Celestia always knew what bothered her. As the night princess frowned and stared at the ground on the trip there, Celestia could see the gears turning in her head. She knew it was a problem when Luna initially suggested they walk. She wanted more time to think.

Celestia knew Luna was upset about losing. She was a master chess player and an amazing strategist. Losing, to Luna, was like having a piece of her taken away. The loss was small, but the shame was great. The fact that she was taken by surprise left her scarred. Celestia tried, but she knew she wouldn't be able to cheer her sister up. Thousands of years together had taught Celestia when to leave her sister to her thoughts.

Eventually they arrived at the tall white building, already housing Rainbow Dash, Shining Armor, and Cadence. As they entered the room, the three occupants turned towards them, their eyes lit up in the excitement of learning about the journal.

As the two alicorns approached, however, the others quickly saw that something was amiss. They saw the night princess's head hang as she walked towards them.

“Princess? Is there a problem?”

Luna lifted her head and finally met the eyes of the others.

“The journal is lost.”

The group was silent. Rainbow Dash was out of bed and pacing, a scowl across her face. Luna's head dropped down again, and the royal couple remained silent.

The silence remained until Rainbow bucked a cart full of medical supplies. It clattered and broke everyone out of their stump. The all turned to the pegasus, who now stood, her expression calm.

“Come on! Are we sit around and mope, or are we going to solve the problem?”

The room nodded in answer, and Rainbow sat on the floor, ignoring the pain in her flank.

“Now, then, what happened? I heard there was an explosion at the castle, and minutes later, we received messages telling to meet back here? So would you kindly explain what in the hell is going on?”

Luna was silent for a moment. She finally took a deep breath and spoke, “Twilight Sparkle found out the journal was missing. I just don't know how she found out where it was though. Maybe it was luck, but I'm not sure. I didn't detect any wards, runes, or spells on or in the book. She could have hidden one, but I should have been able to detect it. I don't understand how she is doing all that she does.”

“Well, I've been with you for years, so tell me.” Rainbow leaned forward. “How much of the journal did you read?”

Luna sighed deeply again. “I may have a lead. Her journal entries mentioned a cryptic figure later on. Some pony who was teaching her. She said that it was helping her. She mentioned it gave her a gift. When she described it, it literally sounded as if it gave her insanity.”

The four ponies around her looked at her confusedly.

“The gift,” she continued, “describes, very well, the... creature I saw in her mind. She said its eyes were pitch-black, and it had a smile, a smile that made her afraid. Around this time, she was having blackouts. Shining Armor, do you remember her saying anything about that?”

Shining Armor sighed as he thought back to when he still had Twilight.

“I...Maybe. I'm... not sure. I think she... YES. She would talk to me, and end a conversation abruptly and walk away. She would come back a minute or two later all confused, asking when we stopped talking. She hadn't been getting sleep, so I thought she was just sort of... sleepwalking.”

“Hmm. The point is that there is a chance she isn't completely in control. Hopefully we could get through to her.”

“So what about the explosion? Care to explain that?” Cadence asked.

“As I said, she found out the journal was missing, but what was interesting was that the rune used very little of her energy. There were two more energy sources. The first I have an idea about. The other…”

Luna turned to her sister.

“…was solar.”

Luna looked back to the others. “What hit the tower was a rare rune that draws from an energy source once it's started up. Starting it up requires either multiple sources or one extremely powerful magic source. Clearly she is weak from your battle,” she said, pointing one hoof to her student, “as she had help. Another magic source to activate the rune. The power source was the sun.”

“Yes, Luna, but unlike earlier, I didn't feel her take control of the sun. If she is as weak as you say she was, and she would seek help, then she couldn't have anyway. Unless she-”

“-Took excess energy and converted it. That is exactly what she did*.”

Shining Armor spoke up. “She was smart. Brilliant even, as a filly. The way you describe her is borderline genius.”

“Not borderline, Captain. She is a genius. Though the situation would bid the title 'evil mastermind,' but as we stated she might not be in total control. And that may be our, and her, saving grace. She was guiding the rune, and I met her head on before it destroyed the tower. She wasn't just aggravated. She was panicked, frightened, even desperate. There was something in that journal she didn't want us to find, or she didn't want us to find anything out about her. We now know that when put in a dangerous scenario, she may act recklessly. That is her weakness, and using that, we might be able to draw her out.”

“But that could be dangerous, couldn't it?” Shining asked, concerned. “Aggravating her to the point where she will make desperate moves could be dangerous. What if she doesn't? What if she's smarter than that? She could have made this move knowing you wouldn't be able to find her… yet.”

The room was silent yet again. “That,” Luna started, “is also a possibility. But she is currently leaving bodies and a wake of destruction everywhere she goes. We need to find her, and we need to stop her, maybe even try to help her.”

“But what if she doesn't want help?” Rainbow asked, earning a sneer from Shining Armor.

“We'll just have to try.”

The room was silent again. It persisted for what seemed like hours. “Well on that note, we have to go,” Shining Armor spoke up, motioning to his wife. “We promised we would visit my parents, and we had better go to make our appointment.”

“Well then, It's time we prepare, don't you think? How long do we have?” Rainbow inquired after the couple had left.

“I would wager only a day or two. I have the feeling she is getting close.”

“Understood. Well, I'm not staying here another night. I'm going to do something,” Rainbow said, moving towards a shelf with some things Scootaloo had brought.

Luna sighed deeply. “Very well, but at least go and see your family. They are still worried. Seeing you come home will make them feel better.”

“I was planning on it.”

=

Dear Octavia:

‘This seems wrong. She normally calls me by her pet name. I always hated it when others called me “Tavi,” but when she did it, I liked it. It always sounded so much cuter coming from her…’ Octavia thought as she remembered Twilight’s second letter.

I'm afraid I have some bad news.

Due to some unforeseen circumstances, I won’t be there for a few more days. I know you're looking forward to seeing me, as I am too. It will only be a day or two. No more than that, I promise.

‘I would wait a hundred years. A thousand, if I knew I would see you again.’

It has been so long and I can't wait to see you again. I will see you soon.

With all my love, T.S.

‘Only a few more days. I can deal with a few more days. I have been patient and I can st-‘

“Octavia?”

The musician snapped her head to the side as she was pushed to the side, just missing a small food cart. She looked to where she was pushed, an apologetic smile creeping up on her face.

The light blue mare next to her stared with a confused look on her face. Her mane was white and light purple striped, the same color as her 3 star cutie mark. Her ice blue eyes stared into Octavia's in concern.

“Are you okay, Octavia? You were just staring off and almost ran into that stallion's cart.”

She looked behind her, waving an apologetic hoof to the glaring stallion. As she did, she took a quick glance around the market square to see if anypony had seen her. “I'm sorry Velvet. I was just staring off. What were you saying?”

Velvet smiled. “I was saying, I was wondering if you wanted to come over tonight. I have an announcement to make tonight, and I wanted to see if you were available. It will mostly be family, but I wanted some of my closer friends as well.”

Octavia considered it for a moment. “I don't know. I have a show tonight at Canterlot Theater. If I get out early enough, I can come over, but I don't know. I also have a... guest coming soon and I have to get ready for her.”

“I see. Well, if you are available, come on over. You’re always welcome.”

Octavia gave her a warm smile. “Thank you, Velvet. You've always been wonderful.” She watched a head before turning back to Velvet. “Speaking of which, isn't that your son and daughter-in-law?”

Velvet looked where her friend pointed. “Ah. So it is.”

The two mares watched as the couple approached them. “Hello, Mother,” Shining started, his face drooping from what seemed was exhaustion.

“Well, it was lovely seeing you, Velvet,” Octavia quickly called, seeing this was most likely a personal matter, “but I'll leave you to your family. Until next time!” Octavia called as she walked away.

As she did, she felt a pang of guilt in her chest.

'The poor thing. If only she knew.'

Goodbye's

“Please. Just five minutes. I won’t cause to much trouble. Just five minutes.”

“If you think that will work, then you're the dumbest thing in Equestria. Do you think I'm a Diamond Dog? I'm not an idiot. Five minutes, my flank.”

“Just one murder. I'll kill just one changeling, then I'll be quiet. Just one.”

“Nothing you tell me will convince me to let you out. You have never stopped at one. Never have. Never will.”

“There's a first time for everything though, right?”

“Do you enjoy when I put a spike through your head? Because I think you're starting to enjoy it.”

“Enjoy WHAT?” a hissing, two toned voice called behind her. Twilight turned to see Chrysalis standing behind her. She turned back to her open pack without saying a word, her hooves and horn working to sort her pack.

“Sleepless night?”

Twilight still didn't respond.

Chrysalis moved over and bumped Twilight's shoulder. “Twilight… Are you okay?”

Still, silence.

Chrysalis's face was determined. “Is she still trying?”

“She never stopped.”

Twilight paused and turned her head towards her friend, her face grim and tired. “And she never will. Not until death.”

“Is it getting more difficult?”

“It won't be for long.”

Chrysalis was silent for a moment as she considered the statement. “What do you mean?”

“I have a plan. I always have a plan.”

A small smirk appeared on Twilight's face. Her tired eyes gleamed. “I have a friend in Canterlot who is the solution to this little problem,” she said, tapping her head. “When I get there, I'll be putting this little trouble-maker so far into my mind she'll never get out.”

Her gaze fell to the ground. “And I'll be one step closer to knowing peace,” she quickly mumbled.

She shook her head and looked back at Chrysalis. “Speaking of Canterlot… Do I have a guide, or am I trekking alone?”

Chrysalis let loose a heavy sigh before barking out, “Ersatz! Come.”

A moment later, a small changeling came running out from behind her. As he did, he quickly bowed to his queen.

“You called me, my queen?” His voice was smoother than the normal hissing changeling voice and was also quieter. More child-like. Twilight looked at him with interest. The poor changeling could see this and slowly inched away from the unicorn, much to her interest.

“He may be young, but don't worry. Ersatz is one of our best scouts. He will lead you through the tunnels,” Chrysalis said, giving her child a nudge towards the unicorn.

He craned his neck back as she pushed him closer. “I've heard stories about you,” he stated in a shaky voice, clearly afraid of his task.

“Oh, really?” Twilight replied, her body lowering to the ground as she stalked towards the terrified changeling. She whispered, her voice heavy, “And what have they told you, small one?”

Shaking, he finally spoke, his voice small and frail. “They say you murder for the fun of it. That you bath in the blood of those you kill and gain power that way.”

Twilight was only inches away from his now. Suddenly she burst in laughter. “Truly? They really told you that?” she replied between laughs. “Old tales that travel, huh? First off, I never kill for sport. If I kill, it's for a reason. And I rarely strike first. If I do, it's because somepony royally pissed me off. Second, I don't bath in the blood of my enemies. Do you know how difficult it is to remove changeling blood from hair, let alone cloth? But one part is true. I do take energy from others. The same way you do. I'm quite a fan of draining magic. Does that answer your questions?”

The changeling was still unsure. Twilight gave him a smirk. “Don't worry. I have no reason to kill, and I wouldn't want to have to deal with your ‘mother’s’ reaction,” she affirmed, emphasizing the word mother.

Chrysalis's jaw tightened at her unofficial title, but it only made Twilight's smile grow wider.

“Now, then,” Chrysalis called, snapping Twilight out of her laughing fit. “Are you sure you want to leave so soon? I understand I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but you're still injured and are now going up against the alicorn sisters, the entire royal army, and yourself. It may be too much.”

Twilight simply smiled. “You know me. I'm not easy to catch, and I can blend in better than most of the changelings in this damned hive. The last thing I am is noticeable. I'll be fine. I promise.”

Chrysalis smiled softly. “Very well, then. I bid you a safe trip, and remember, be careful.”

When she finished speaking, she turned away, trotting down a hall and out of sight, leaving Twilight and Ersatz alone.

“So!” Twilight turned to Ersatz. “I like to move fast, and I'm on a schedule, so we need to leave as soon as possible.”

Without saying a word, Ersatz moved over to a section of wall, tapped it with his horn, and watched it fall away revealing an opening underneath. He turned back to the unicorn behind him, her eye cocked in mild interest. “We can leave now if you'd like. I don't pack much,” he said, a small smile playing at his lips.

Twilight began walking towards the opening.

“Then let’s go.”

=

It was bad enough she was breaking into a house.

It was worse that she was doing it in broad daylight.

The worst was that it was her own home.

Rainbow Dash was crawling along the roof, being sure to make no noise. She crawled to the edge, quickly sticking her head though an open window and pulling it out a second later. Seeing that it was empty, she slyly crawled through, making sure nopony saw her.

She quickly looked around the room, making sure none of the animals were around. The room was quiet and unlit, except for the open window. The room was void of life except for Rainbow.

She breathed a sigh of relief as she walked towards the door. As she opened it, she thought to herself, 'Well, this will be easier than I thought. At least Fluttershy isn't ho-'

*BONG*

Rainbow collapsed to the ground, holding a hoof to her forehead. Through the tears, she saw a shape standing on two hooves in the door way. Its remaining two hooves held a small pan, which were slapped back and forth between its hooves.

“Good... morning?” Rainbow said between gritted teeth.

“What do you think?”

“I'm gonna say no?”

“Correct.”

Rainbow huffed. “Look I'm sor-”

She was cut off as Fluttershy dove on top of her, nuzzling her snout into Rainbow's shoulder. Rainbow could feel gentle sobs rock her body.

“Why... why are you so STUPID?”

They were silent for a few moments. “One. Just one goodbye. Is that too much to ask for? Just. One. Goodbye.”

Rainbow placed one hoof behind Fluttershy's head, gently holding her. “I know, and I'm sorry,” she whispered. “Believe me, I am. Scoot and I had this conversation. Yes, it was stupid of me. And yes, I should have told you. I'm sorry.”

“You can say that, but when will you practice it? How many times have you come home after we haven't seen you for two, three, or even four days? This time, you got back into the hospital, so we’ve waited even longer.”

“Speaking of which, you're crushing my bandages.”

“Oh, no!”

Fluttershy climbed off of Rainbow and helped her up. She looked up at the taller pegasus and met her eyes, noticing sorrow and anger. Not at her or anyone else, but at herself.

Fluttershy wrapped her hooves around Rainbow's torso. “Promise me it won’t happen again. Never leave without saying goodbye again.”

Rainbow closed her eyes and returned the hug.

“I promise.”

Fluttershy felt like a thousand weights were lifted off of her shoulders.

“Thank you.” She squeezed Rainbow one last time. “Oh, thank you.”

=

“Luna?”

Celestia walked through the door to her sister room. Her head snapped back and forth, searching for her the younger sibling.

“Luna? Where are-”

“Sister? Yes? I'm glad you're here.” Luna appeared in the room, seeming to come from the ceiling.

“You said you needed me.”

“Yes. I'm leaving.”

The room was silent as Celestia cocked her head in confusion. “You're...leaving? That was sudden. Are you going to look for... Twilight?”

Luna smiled. “No, but something very close to that. I figured out the second magic source, and I'm going to pursue it. I need to leave as quickly as possible while there's still time. Maybe Twilight will still be there, but I won’t expect that. She's smarter than that.”

Celestia was quiet for a moment. She moved forward and nuzzled her sister’s head. “Be careful, sister. Take no risks.”

Luna returned the embrace. “I will. I promise. The last thing I am is reckless.”

Luna turned to leave but was stopped by Celestia.

“Wait. You haven't even told me where you’re going.”

Luna turned to her sister, a scowl clouding her features.

“The hives.”

Tunnels

As they walked through miles of tunnel, the only light coming from their horns, Twilight and Ersatz remained mostly quiet. Just as Chrysalis had said, Ersatz was excellent at his task.

He never stopped to think or worry about which way they traveled. He always knew where they needed to go and even their cardinal direction. How he knew that underground, Twilight didn't know.

As they walked, Twilight noticed his light blue eyes occasionally flitting her way and back again. She watched him with interest. Every time she turned away or wasn't looking, she could sense his discreet stare. She smiled. She admired his curiosity. He had been at it for hours.

“So,” Twilight started, finally breaking the silence, her voice echoing through the cavern. “You seem to know these caves well. Perfectly, in fact.”

Ersatz simply shrugged. “How do you know how to breathe? It's just natural. I've spent my entire life in these tunnels searching, charting, and memorizing paths, doors, and secret paths. And yet these tunnels still seem to go on forever. I don't think I'll ever discover it all.”

“Hmm. Just how far do they go?”

“After three months of walking, I found an exit that came just outside of Manehatten. That's how we travel. We’re creatures of the ground. There's no place in Equestria we haven't been able to get to, so far. Anywhere, anytime.”

Satisfied with the answer, Twilight went quiet again. The only noise in the cavern was the gentle clopping of hooves and drips from the cave ceiling. As she walked, she once again noticed his eyes shimmer as they moved away from her direction.

She smiled softly. “So are you going to ask, or are you just going to stay silent this entire time?”

“What?” The changeling turned to her, startled. “W-What do you mean?”

Twilight gave him a deadpan look. “I'm not an idiot. I can tell just by looking at you. You've been wanting to ask something since we left, but every time you're about to ask, you get nervous. What is it?”

Ersatz opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again. He was silent for a few moments before he finally spoke.

“Our queen... is hard sometimes. Or, at least, she acts like it. She is hard on us at birth. Teaching us how to fight, blend in, and survive. She has to be. Creatures like us need to learn to survive the moment we are born. To live of the tiny amount of love we can find.

“Though she puts on the hard act, she is just like other ponies. She is sad, angry, and lonely, despite all of us. She hates that we are what we are, having to forcefully take love instead of showing it and earning it. That's the changeling curse, you know. We can't feed off of each other’s love. Only that of regular ponies.”

Ersatz glared at the ground as he walked. “It's unfair. She does so much, giving as much love as she can to the rest of us, only allowing her to partake of enough for her to survive until the next feed. She hides it well. Her pain. Her suffering. She would never admit it. How she hates what she is and she has to do to survive. She instead puts on a brave face and fights for our survival. Not just hers. But you are what interests me,” he said, turning and pointing one hoof at Twilight.

“The way she looks at you is different from all the rest. Her tone of voice when she speaks to you is unlike any I have ever heard. It's gentle. It's kind. It's warm. It's loving. She doesn't show us affection because if she does she would show favoritism. She would do things for one child that she wouldn't for another, and she couldn't let that happen. But she does to you. She shows you that favoritism. The changeling queen who hates all pony kind for not accepting her and her children showed favoritism to not just a changeling, but a unicorn?”

“Twilight?” He turned to her, silently begging for answers. “What is special about you?”

Twilight walked in silence, just as Ersatz had done, considering his question.

“When I...left home, the master guided me here. I was a lonely filly of only eight years. Scared, weak, hungry, tired. I couldn't fight, and I couldn't survive. When I arrived here, the master placed Chrysalis in charge of teaching me. Teaching me how to fight, how to survive, and how to use my newfound magic and my abilities. She taught me the way of changeling magic, draining magic and how to hide and surprise my enemy. I was resistant at first, but eventually gave in and learned to survive. I spent almost 2 years here before I left. I was just ten and I was more dangerous than almost all adult pegasi, unicorns, or earth ponies. And it was all thanks to your - and my - queen. After spending so long with her, I looked to her the same way you do. I saw her not as a monster or a cowardly creature, but a mother, a leader, and a queen.

“During my time in the hive I learned about everything you just described to me. I could see the pain and the suffering Chrysalis fought through. And after seeing what she did all for her children, I established a bond with her. I loved her for what she did and wondered how somepony so seemingly dark could be so giving, kind, generous, and selfless. That was something she had never experienced before.” Twilight found a happy smile creep upon her face as she talked.

“She had never been loved. She had always lived her life stealing the love, taking it by force. The fact that she was voluntarily receiving the love was a shock to her. She was stunned. Something she had only dreamed of for her entire life. Something she had never imagined she would receive was pure, willing love. That is why she loves me so much.”

She turned to Ersatz, her eyes moist and shining. “I gave her something she never imagined she would receive. That is why she loves me so. Not in affection, but in gratitude.”

Ersatz stared at the ground, his jaws gaping. He had never considered this. It was like Twilight said. It was a shock to the system.

“But...Of all...A unicorn. Twilight, this doesn't make any sense. Even though you've explained it, I still can't understand her favoring a pony.”

Twilight stopped, gripping the smaller changeling by the shoulders. “Look at me, Ersatz. You may not understand now, but think. What if you had something? Something you could never imagine getting, but you did and from somepony who you would never expect? Your worst enemy or a mythical creature? How surprised would you be? Wouldn't you feel grateful? How could you reward somepony who would do something like that for you? Do the same.”

Twilight backed away from Ersatz, her smile growing wider. “I gave her something she had never received, and she gave me back something she rarely gave. In doing so, she got something else. Something even more impossible than love. She got a friend. I became her friend, Ersatz. All because of-”

Twilight stopped abruptly. Her smile disappeared and was replaced with squinted eyes as Twilight quickly snapped her head side to side, searching the cave.

“Twilig- mmgh?” Ersatz started, but was silenced by Twilight's hoof.

“Be quiet.”

Her eyes swept the room once again, searching the connecting tunnels.

“We’re not alone.”

=

Luna liked the dark. She always did. Always will. Why shouldn't she? The princess of the night should love the realm she represented.

It wasn't just that, though. The darkness left her to herself. The one time she truly felt solitary and alone. That was how she worked best, anyway.

She crept along the tunnels, keeping a wary eye out for any changeling guards or scouts. She'd hate to have to fight.

‘Get in, Interrogate, and get out. Hopefully avoid any deaths in the process.’

Luna smiled to herself. 'Let’s just hope it stays that simple.'

As she stalked through the dark caves, she stopped suddenly. She heard voices ahead.

Casting an invisibility spell, she continued creeping along the walls, listening carefully as she picked up on the conversation.

“-reward somepony who would do something like that for you? Do the same.”

'That voice.' Luna thought to herself ' It sounds familiar'.

“I gave her something she had never received, and she gave me back something she rarely gave. In doing so, she got something else. Something even more impossible than love.”

Luna was shocked. 'It IS her!' She craned her neck around a corner to try to get a look at the fugitive unicorn. 'It can't be this easy. It must be a trick.'

However, there she was, Twilight Sparkle, with a huge smile on her face as she spoke with a changeling walking next to her.

“She got a friend,” Twilight continued. “I became her friend, Ersatz. All because of-.”

As she spoke, Luna's hoof slipped against the slime covered wall. A moment later, Twilight was silent. “Twilig-mmgh?” The changeling’s voice hissed quietly before being silenced.

Luna grimaced and mentally cursed herself. ‘Pathetic.’

“Be quiet,” Twilight whispered, barely loud enough for Luna to hear. “We’re not alone.”

“Quickly. Move,” Twilight ordered, guiding the small changeling. She looked back to see if she was being followed and saw a shimmer of in the air.

“Someone’s invisible there… Faster, Ersatz!” Twilight pushed.

“STOP,” Luna's voice commanded from behind her. Twilight body went rigid. 'Please, don't let it be her. Anything but her.'

Twilight slowly turned to face the blue alicorn, now fully revealed. Her body deflating. “Come on. Can't I ever get a break?”

Luna ignored the unicorn. “Twilight Sparkle.” Luna boomed once again. “You will surrender and be escorted back to Canterlot for questioning and trial. Don't. Fight. Back. I'm not Commander Dash.”

Twilight sighed deeply, despair clearly written on her face. “Of all the ponies I have to run from,” she mumbled before grabbing Ersatz in her magic and sprinting into the tunnels.

'Wrong choice, Twilight!' Luna took flight, her horn glowing.

As she ran, Twilight fired spells back at the pursuing alicorn. Luna dodged them ease, firing her own shots at Twilight.

“Twilight, let me go. You defend. I have an idea,” Ersatz shouted over the sound of stone being blasted to pieces. “These tunnels all have weak spots. It makes them easy to demolish, and will buy us time.”

The magical field around him dissipated and his wings sprung to life. “Whatever you're going to do, hurry,” Twilight said through gritted teeth. “My magic is still way too low.”

Twilight turned, throwing up a shield, her face perspiring with the effort. Luna fired a barrage of magic missiles and dart. The force field began flashing, threatening to go down.

As Twilight held the shield, Ersatz scrambled back and forth, firing small magic bursts at the walls and ceiling of the tunnel. As he finished, he yelled, “Twilight, come now!”

Twilight turned and ran just as her shield flickered out. She ran next to Ersatz where he fired one last shot, collapsing a ten foot long section of the ceiling, cutting Luna off from them.

Twilight was sweating and breathing heavily, a drop of blood leaking from one nostril from the effort of holding against the alicorn.

“Twilight, come on,” Ersatz beckoned with one hoof. “It won’t last long for her.”

As if on cue, a magic blast shook the cave, causing the pile to shake. Taking a huge gasp of breath, Twilight turned and sprinted after the changeling.

Only thirty seconds later, the pile was blasted to pieces. Luna flew out of the dirt cloud, her horn charged for the next spell. Up ahead was Twilight forming another shield, as Ersatz was working once again on the tunnel walls, his magic striking even larger sections than the first.

Luna gave a pitying look to the exhausted unicorn. ‘The poor thing is going to kill herself if she keeps this up,' Luna thought to herself. 'It won’t last much longer.'

Luna fired another spell, shattering the shield and sending Twilight flying back. Ersatz screamed, “TWILIGHT!”

The beaten unicorn called one last command.

“Go.”

Ersatz fired one final spell at the ceiling, collapsing it even larger than before, covering almost 50 feet of the tunnel.

The unicorn laid in the dirt, taking in huge gasps of the stale, tunnel air.

Only a moment later, Luna stood over her, a pitying look on her face.

“I'm sorry, Twilight,” Luna began, “for the madness that has taken over your mind. Fear not, though. We will help you.”

“I don't want your help.”

“We'll see soon,” Luna said as she touched her horn to the unicorn’s body. Twilight went rigid, her muscles locking in place.

“There. We can't have you running off, now.” She grabbed Twilight in her magic grip and heaved her onto her back.

She began walking back the way she came, every few moments looking back to make sure the unicorn was still pacified. After walking for a few minutes, Twilight began chuckling.

Luna simply rolled her eyes, passing it off as the madness attempting to fight of her magic.

The chuckling turned to laughter moments later, and Luna turned back to the stiffly smiling unicorn.

“And just what is so funny?”

The unicorn's chuckling ceased. “You thought you won. I thought an alicorn would be smarter than that.”

As she spoke, her fur turned to black skin. Her skin melted into a stiff shape and insect wings broke free. A curved horn and holed legs appeared moments later.

“Twilight is long gone now.” Her voice changed to a male’s as her eyes turned to a bright green.

“She's gone and you can't follow her. She doesn't have enough magic for you to trace her.”

He began laughing once again. “And not only that, but my queen now knows you're here. Admit it, Princess Luna. You lost this round.”

Luna's furiously grabbed the changeling in her magical grasp, bringing him face to face with her. His smile quickly disappeared and morphed into terror.

“Well then,” Luna said softly, her voice deep with barely controlled anger. “Let’s go have a chat with your queen.”

=

Twilight ran. She ran until she couldn't run any more, until her chest burned and her legs couldn't move anymore. Only then did she finally stop.

She collapsed to the ground thinking back to moments before Ersatz sacrificed himself for her.

=

“Twilight,” Ersatz called, as magic blasts shook the cavern. He was busy firing blasts at the walls yet again. “Switch! Switch with me!”

“What?” she called between her heavy breaths.

Ersatz continued striking the tunnel walls and ceiling. “Switch with me. It’s you she wants. Once she breaks through, fire a blast here.” He pointed with one hoof to a section of ceiling. “That will collapse the tunnel, giving you time to run. I'll let her capture me, and you can get away.”

Twilight considered it for a moment and ran to Ersatz. A moment later, she flashed brightly and was the spitting image of the changeling before her. He then transformed into her.

“Here, it’s not safe to go alone here without knowing your location. Take this.”

His horn lit for a moment before a scroll appeared out of thin air. “Maps aren't as reliable, but it will guide you in the general direction.” The mound blocking Luna from them shattered.

“GO!” He threw the scroll at her, not waiting to see if she had caught it before turning and throwing up a shield.

Twilight saw him go down as he told her to run, a sly smile appearing for just a moment, right as the ceiling came down.

=

'Please, Ersatz. Please, be safe,' Twilight silently pleaded. She had finally begun to get her breathing under control. She slowly grabbed the orb out of her pack. As it appeared in front of her, her horn sparked. She touched it quickly to the orb, and a moment later appeared inside the room, laying on the throw pillows.'

'Just a few minutes. I can spare a few minutes'

Home

The sounds of explosions rocked the changeling hive. Changeling hisses and screams chorused through the rest of the hive like some sort of chaotic opera.

Chrysalis, her insect wings buzzing, flew through the hive. Ersatz had alerted her of the Lunar Princess, thanks to the hive mind. She quickly sent out a call for all changelings to find her and slow her down.

Only one task had been accomplished.

The other? Unlikely.

Luna attacked as she walked, not stopping for any changeling who got in her way. Seeing the army of changelings before her, Luna had previously dropped off Ersatz in the tunnels before attacking. Changelings surged forward, only to be knocked back injured or unconscious by the barrage of spells from the alicorn princess. Flames licked at the wings of those who attacked from above. Magic missiles and darts combined with rocks and even other changelings struck those who attacked from the ground.

Horns charged as the changelings prepared for a magical assault but failed as they were struck down by their own magic since it simply bounced off of Luna's shields.

Luna fought through the changeling wave and burst through one of the tunnels right into the center of the hive. She looked in mild wonder around at the tens of thousands of changeling that lined the ceilings walls and floor of the room.

Their horns charged. Wings buzzed, ready to dive. Some let loose fangs, ready to strike. Others, all three. Luna smirked at the sight before her. It was enough to make any sane pony run in fear and want to never leave their home.

But she wasn't anypony.

She took off from the stone floor, horn similarly at the ready, and her eyes daring any changeling to attack first. Despite their show of bravery to draw their weapons, the changelings now chittered nervously, not wanting to engage an impossible enemy.

“STOP.”

A voice boomed throughout the hive. Luna gently landed. The grounded changelings parted way as their queen marched through, eyes locked with the lunar princess.

As she approached her, Luna finally spoke, “Ah, Chrysalis. Just the changeling I wanted to see. I have something I need to talk to you about.”

“Shut it,” The queen hissed. “We'll speak in private.” Her horn lit to its emerald color, and a moment later both she and the lunar princess disappeared in a flash.

A moment later they were in a large, empty room. At the far end sat a throne, carved from the green and black stone of the hive. The room was void of all life, save for the two rulers.

Luna was silent for a while as she looked over the changeling queen. “My, my,” she tutted softly. “I knew you were injured after your little invasion, but this is ridiculous.”

Chrysalis hissed. “Silence. If you have come simply to mock me for a loss, then I won’t be staying.” She turned to walk out when Luna's voice called from behind her.

“Alright, then, I'll cut to the chase. Where is Twilight Sparkle?”

“I don't know who you're talking about,” she said, without turning back to the night princess.

In a flash, Luna appeared in front of the queen. She locked eyes with her and walked towards the taller creature.

“I'm not in the mood to play games now, changeling,” she forced, making sure to emphasize on the word changeling, her teasing look fading into a glare. “I want to know where she is. You helped her, and you know where she is going. I want to know why.”

Chrysalis lowered her head, touching her horn to Luna's as she returned the glare. “First of all, even if I did know who you were talking about, why should I tell you? If I recall, you and your precious sister Celestia banished me from Equestria, which means that I'm not your subject and I don't have to tell you anything.”

“Well, that doesn't seem to matter to you, since you seem so keen on invading our cities every hundred years or so. Now if you don't tell me, I will get very unpleasant, Chrysalis. Do you want me to have to start really trying for answers?”

“What? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?” Chrysalis shouted. “I'm already injured. We're already starving. We have no supplies. All we have is this piece of dirt, shit, and stone which we call home. These injuries will take me hundreds of years to heal. What? Are you gonna make them worse? What could you do to harm us more? Banish us AGAIN?”

Chrysalis glared at Luna, who couldn’t help but feel slight pity for the queen. She continued, “Oh. And if you think that this is bad, you should have seen me after the little force field trick. Remember when I was more powerful than Celestia? When I woke up I was missing two legs, had no wings, and almost lost an eye. And let’s not even talk about internal damages. All of that power was devoted to fixing me up until I could function and then helping my children. No power. No food. No place in life. No kindness. I thought that’s what your ponies want? Harmony. Where is mine? Where is my happiness? Where are my children's?

“When we, the changelings, are finally accepted, I will help you. When you 'ponies' are ready to truly show kindness, I will consider helping you.”

Luna was silent as Chrysalis turned away once again and walked away. She took a few steps before stopping and sighing.

“I don't know,” Chrysalis mumbled.

“What?”

Her head hanging low, Chrysalis sighed again. “I don't know why. Twilight always kept to herself. She has never told a secret, and if it's important, she wouldn't tell that either. She has her own agenda and doesn't let anyone stop her.”

She turned back to the Lunar Princess. “Something is going to happen, princess. And it is going to be big. I doubt it's an attack. Twilight hates to hurt the innocent, but whatever it is, it's best for you to stay out of the way. Make no mistake, though. If somepony tries to get in her way, she will not rest until they have paid dearly.”

“Do you have anything else that can help me, other than a vague warning?” Luna asked, her voice taking on a gentler tone.

Chrysalis began walking away once again.

“Find your loved ones. Hide them. Protect them. And stay the hell out of her way.”

“But why would you help her? You hate ponies.”

She cast a pitying glance at the blue alicorn. “She's not evil, Princess. Troubled. Hurt. Scared, sometimes. But not evil. Don't expect her to go to you for help. She will never admit when she can't help herself. When she does, it's the day she lies down, ready to die.”

=

“Anther dead end,” Twilight muttered as she stared at the map in her hooves. She had just woken up after almost nine hours and was making her way along the path with the map Ersatz had sent her. He was correct in saying maps weren't as reliable as a scout. Twilight had made many a wrong turn into dead ends and empty corridors. Since the green, wet walls had changed into the amethyst caverns of under-Canterlot, Twilight had found herself traveling through dead end after dead end.

She had arrived previously at a crossroad. Each exit extended about four miles long, and now it was clear she had chosen the wrong one.

She shook her head, casting one more glance around the large tunnel before turning back. As she turned, something caught her eye. She turned back quickly, but it was gone. She squinted her eyes and looked once more.

There. A crack in the ceiling. Some light shone through. Maybe her luck wasn't so bad after all.

Taking a deep breath and preparing for the headache, Twilight's horn glowed softly and created a small platform. She stepped on, and slowly it rose towards the ceiling.

Soon, she was standing below the crack. Standing on her hind legs, she put her eye to the small circle hoping to have a small view, but could only see the ceiling of the building she was underneath. She pulled away and, using one hoof, began tapping at the hole, trying to increase her view. Suddenly a hoof stepped over the hole.

Twilight flattened herself against the platform she stood on.

“-Doesn't she know I busy?” A familiar voice called. The hoof moved away as the colt above continued walking. As he did, Twilight pressed her ear to the hole. “I've got enough to worry about now. It doesn't help that Luna is constantly calling me.”

Twilight recognized that voice. Shining Armor.

She listened intently as another voice spoke back, but they had moved too far away for her to hear. She waited a few moments to ensure they were gone before resuming work on the hole. She experimentally pushed on it, and much to her surprise, the whole section of the floor/ceiling came free. She quickly placed the piece next to the hole and pulled herself out. Hastily replacing the piece of tile, she finally got a look at her surroundings.

Her jaw dropped as she took in the marble walls, the long hallways adorned with beautiful paintings and windows, the long fancy rugs that ran down the lengths of the halls, and the beautiful painted ceiling that stretched the entire length of the massive building.

She was in the palace.

Twilight could only hear her breathing as she stared in horror at her surroundings. This was bad. Very bad.

Her head snapped side to side, searching for somewhere to hide. She sprinted through the hall and into a door. She slammed it closed, falling onto her haunches.

She needed a way out, and fast. If any guards or even the princesses found her, she was doomed.

She quickly rifled through her bag, searching for anything to get out of this horror story of a situation. She perked up her head, an idea appearing in her mind.

'It will have to be fast and maybe a little lucky for this to work…’

She searched through her bag once more, before pulling out hexagonal clay. Another amulet.

The door slowly opened, her head peering around the corner.

'Now we just need to find the right one.'

She slowly crept from the doorway, the rune in her teeth. She walked carefully along the walls checking every corner. Every-

“Excuse me? What are you doing?” a gruff voice called behind her. She turned slowly to see a tall, unicorn guard eying her.

She stared wide eyed at the tall stallion, hoping he didn't know who she was.

“Oh...Um… I was... I was here for an audience. An audience with the princess. I, uh, kinda got lost,” Twilight stumbled, a sheepish smile creeping on her face.

“We made an announcement hours ago. The audiences are canceled for this morning and most likely will be the rest of the day. You need to vacate the premises immediately.

Twilight began walking to the guard, chuckling softly. “I'm sorry. Do you know who I am?” she asked in a demanding voice.

The guard looked down at her, unimpressed. “I can say for certain I do not, and I don't think I care.”

Twilight heaved a sigh of relief. “Okay, good. I was just making sure.”

The guard raised his eyebrow. “What do you me-?”

He didn't get the chance to finish as Twilight's hoof struck him in the temple so hard it caved in the metal helmet, knocking out the guard in one blow.

Twilight quickly grabbed him by the straps of his armor and dragged him down the hall and into the closet.

Inside, she slowly removed his armor, putting it on her instead. After a few minutes she was clad in the gold armor. Next, she took the rune and placed it against the guard’s forehead. The rune glowed softly with a soft purple light. After a few moments, she pressed it to her horn, giving it a spark of magic.

A moment later the closet door swung open as the tall white guard strode out, leaving behind 'his' unconscious take-down.

Twilight spent the next few minutes wandering the halls of the palace, searching for the exit. As she walked, she longingly gazed at her surroundings. On any other day, she would have loved to stay, but she hadn't the time.

She eventually found the exit which led into the open air of Canterlot. As she stood there, clad in stolen armor and skin, she smiled a large smile which shone with joy and victory.

She was finally home.

A Visitor

Luna was pissed.

She had been fooled by a simple changeling, obtained little usable information from the changeling queen, and then got lost in the caverns for hours on her return to the palace.

But worst of all, Twilight had gotten away.

She had remained optimistic, though. She had hoped she would reach the castle before Twilight did. But as soon as she had gathered her sister, niece, and nephew to warn them of Twilight's extreme proximity, a guard came storming in, speaking of another guard found unconscious and his armor missing.

She stormed down the halls, following the closely. Behind were her family members. They could clearly sense her fury and knew it would be better to leave her alone. As Luna walked she gave little consideration to Ms. Sparkle herself, mostly focusing on the fact she had let her get away.

She had made a stupid mistake. She hadn't even bothered to check 'Twilight' before taking her away. A simple spell could have told Luna whether ‘Twilight’ was the changeling or not. How did she not even consider the chance that Twilight and the changeling switched places? That cost her dearly.

She looked forward to see several guards gathered around another blocked from her view. As she walked closer the guards turned her way. As they saw the rage badly disguised on her features, they began to back away as she approached. Two medics were bandaging a large pegasus guard. He had a large wound on his forehead. Dried blood caked his fur all along his face and neck. Despite his injuries, the stallion slowly got to his hooves and saluted weakly before collapsing again. He was caught by Luna's magic before he hit the ground.

As she stood over him, his deep voice rumbled, “I'm sorry, my princess. I was careless.”

Luna stared blankly at him. “Have no worries. You weren't the only one.” She slowly lowered herself to the ground. “Tell me about who attacked you.”

The guard swallowed slowly. “I was making my normal patrolling rounds around the castle. I entered this hall and saw a young mare wandering around. She looked lost and I approached her. When I asked what she was doing she said she was lost, but something seemed off about her. I didn't think anything about it though. She took advantage of that and slammed me in the head. She was small, but she packed a real punch. Destroyed the metal on the helmet. They’re going to have to scrap it completely.”

“The mare. What did she look like?” Luna pressed.

“Like I said, she was small. A unicorn. Magenta coat. Purple mane with a violet and pink stripe. She had a six-pointed star for a cutie mark.”

Rage and horror were plastered across Luna's face. “Do you know where she might have come from? Any basic direction will help.”

The stallion lifted a hoof, pointing down the hall behind the princess. “I came from that way and she was facing … that way.” He flipped his hoof pointing farther down the hall behind them. “She might have come from there.”

Luna slowly stood and walked away from the stallion, tracing where he had pointed to. Her horn glowed its classic dark blue, sending out a magic field that traveled the floors and walls of the halls. The other guards stopped, watching with interest. Some stood and followed her, watching intently.

The magic continued spreading across the hall, traveling farther and farther down. Suddenly it stopped.

The magic moved away from the walls, collecting in an area on the floor. Luna approached, stomping her hooves on the spot. The magic returned to her horn as the tile shattered, revealing the caves below.

The guards stood as Luna stared disapprovingly at the hole. One finally snapped to attention, calling to the others. “What are you waiting for? Let’s get some stallions down there!”

“No,” Luna's voice rang softly. The guard turned back to her, his tone uneasy.

“Um, princess...No?”

Luna breathed deeply. “There is no point. She is long gone.” Luna turned away from the hole back to the injured stallion. “Let’s take you to the infirmary. You'll be placed on medical leave for a few days. Maybe a week. We'll see.”

She turned back to her sister when the stallion grunted from behind her. She turned back to him as he slowly made the effort to stand. His stance was wobbly and he swayed under his own weight, but his voice and tone were strong. “That won’t be necessary princess. I'll be fine. It's just a-”

“NO!” Luna yelled, causing the guard to stumble in surprise. “You will do as I say without question.”

She turned to another guard of higher rank. “Make sure he gets home and stays home.” The guard saluted, while the other stood in shock.

Luna turned walking out, quickly followed by Celestia, Cadence, and Shining Armor. “That was a little uncalled for, don't you think, Luna?” Celestia's voice called from behind her.

“Twilight is making a habit of breaking our soldiers. There is no reason for them to injure themselves further,” Luna stated flatly.

Luna was silent for a few more minutes before she broke the silence, her tone serious. “Congratulations, Captain.”

Shining cocked his head in confusion, galloping to catch up to her. “Princess? Congrats?”

“Yes, Captain.” She stared forward grimly, not meeting his gaze. “Your sister is finally home.”

=

Twilight slowly walked through the crowded marketplace. She used to hate it and thought it was scary as a filly. There were so many other ponies - she was afraid she would get lost or lose her parents. Now as she walked, she took it all in. The smells, the shops, the other ponies. Some had set up small areas for preforming magic or acrobatics. The ponies walked with friends and family, their smiles showing on the beautiful winter day.

Twilight had ditched the golden armor, hiding it in an alleyway and simply wearing her brown cloak again. No alarm had been sounded; no guards were rushing down the street, no alicorns hovering above the city. Most likely to avoid panic. Twilight was happy, as it meant she could have some peace before the storm hits.

She continued walking, a smile on her face as she explored the city she once knew as home. 'And it finally is once again.' she thought to herself, a small smile playing on her face. She emerged from the large street and into a large circular area. Roads and streets extended out and through the circular area, leading to different parts of Canterlot.

Twilight looked around, uncertainty scribbled across her features. She stopped a passing stallion. “Excuse me, sir? Can you tell me how to get Canterlot Theater?”

The stallion nodded, pointing a hoof towards a street. “Just go down that road for a few blocks, then turn right and you'll be there.”

“Thank you!” Twilight called as she and the stallion turned away from each other. She began walking in the direction he pointed, still looking around the market.

A few minutes later she arrived in front of a tall building. Marble columns stood strong in front of the grad theater. The building was also of marble, with drawings and artist renderings from classic theater plays and concerts. Calling the building grand wouldn't be a fitting enough title for it. Prestigious would be more accurate.

Twilight approached a large window with several mares and stallions behind it. “Excuse me? I would like some information on a certain performer.”

=

Octavia bowed deeply at the applause as the large red curtain fell across the stage. She remained there for just a moment, before falling back onto four hooves. She began collecting her things as a stallion came up from behind her.

“Octavia. Wonderful show tonight.”

Octavia sighed as he approached her. She turned to face him, taking in his smarmy smile and the look in his eyes that showed his reluctance to give up. “Thank you, Earth Light. What do you want now?”

He brought a hoof to his face in mock surprise. “Now, why would you think I want anything from you?” His eyes narrowed. “But since you’re asking, I was wondering if you had changed your mind.”

“To which of your offers exactly are you referring to?” she replied too blandly, clearly expressing her disinterest.

He smiled brightly. “Well, I wouldn't mind your agreeing to the first, but I'm here to see about the other.”

Octavia shot him a glare. “Listen to me, Earth Light.”

She began slowly stalking towards him. “I don't know how many times I have to tell you before it sinks into that tiny little head of yours-,” she said, tapping her hoof to his forehead, causing him to step back. “-but I will not leave. Why would I want to tour? I have a home in Canterlot. I have friends here, and I don't want to leave. And if for some god awful reason, it would never be with you as my boss.”

“You make it sound terrible.”

“That's because it is. Goodbye.” And with that, she grabbed her cello and stormed away but she heard his voice call to her one last time. “I'll get you one day, and you will be mine!”

“Yeah, right,” she mumbled under her breath. She traveled down a hall behind the stage. She carefully placed her precious instrument inside. As she knelt beside her instrument, she heard hoof steps behind her. She whirled around, expecting to see Earth Light again, but found a blond-furred mare standing there.

Her eyes were wide at Octavia's glare, which quickly disappeared, replaced by a sheepish grin.

“Oh, I'm sorry. Am I disturbing you?” the mare asked.

“No, no,” Octavia insisted. “I thought you were somepony else. Can I help you, Ms...?”

The mare smiled. “Dawn.” She replied curtly. “I came to congratulate you for a wonderful performance, was wondering if I could have a private word.”

Octavia looked over her visitor. Her coat was a beautiful blond color which matched her light red mane. She looked as if she were a walking sunset. But Octavia ignored that. Instead, she was focused on the mare’s cutie mark. Three violet ribbons intertwined with each other.

“Ms...Dawn, you said?” The mare smiled, nodding in reply. “I think that would be wonderful,” Octavia finished. “Did you have a place in mind?”

The mare smiled again. “Anywhere quiet will do.”

“Excellent. Give me just a moment to prepare my things.”

“I will be waiting by the exit.”

The mare turned and left as Octavia began hastily packing her instrument. She tied a cloak around her before lifting the heavy instrument case onto her back. She walked to the entrance to find the mare standing there, a cloak around her as well.

“Shall we?” Dawn beckoned with one hoof. Octavia nodded, and the two entered the winter night air.

Snowflakes fell softly as they traveled through the cold, quiet streets of Canterlot. After almost twenty minutes of walking, they arrived outside of Octavia's home. Octavia hastily opened the door, inviting Dawn in.

As the door clicked shut, Dawn whirled Octavia around, planting a kiss on her lips. They stayed there for nearly a minute, not wanting to let go.

As they released, Octavia whispered in her ear, “I have missed you.”

She watched as the mare's coat changed from its bright blond to a soft purple. Her mane turned to its lavender color and her cutie mark turned to its 6 pointed star. She also noticed bandages wrapping around Twilight's torso, as well as scratches along her face. She opened her mouth to ask if she was okay, but was silenced by Twilight's lips connecting with hers.

“Don't worry. I'm fine. Tonight, I'm here for you.”

Tavi smiled softly. She could ask tomorrow.

Choices

Earlier: Day of arrival.

Scootaloo squealed with laughter as she darted across the spacious room. Following closely behind was Rainbow Dash, a wide grin spread across her face. Scootaloo escaped from her with a combination of running and fluttering, causing her to glide across the room.

Fluttershy watched on from another room as the two tore across the living room in chase. She smiled softly. They always loved playing together. The room in which they played wasn't huge by pegasus standards, but it was spacious enough for the family of pegasi to play without colliding with each other or the walls.

Rainbow flew behind Scootaloo, frequently trying to make a grab for the gliding filly. She extended her hooves out to catch Scootaloo, but she flew too slowly and was surprised when Scoot's wings stopped causing her to fall behind Rainbow, just out of her reach.

Rainbow Dash grinned at the little trick. “Nice one, Scoots, but I'm not done!”

She turned abruptly, flipping and flying upside down back towards the giggling filly. Scootaloo turned and ran screaming back in the other direction, only to be grabbed by Rainbow.

Rainbow righted herself, carefully wrapped Scootaloo in her own wings, and threw her. The filly quickly unfurled her small wings and glided across the room, swiftly breaking into another sprint upon landing.

As they resumed their chasing game, there came a knock at the door. Rainbow and Scootaloo remained oblivious, so Fluttershy tore herself away from the sisterly spectacle to see who it was.

She opened the door, which revealed two large white stallions decked out in golden armor. They all stared at each other motionlessly before she sighed deeply.

“Hold on a moment, please,” she muttered softly as she moved away from the door.

She walked into the den where Rainbow and Scootaloo were still chasing each other. Fluttershy cleared her throat loudly as to get their attention. They quickly fell to the floor, still laughing. As Rainbow met Fluttershy's eyes, she quickly understood why she had been called.

She sighed and turned to Scootaloo.

“Hey, kid.” Scootaloo turned to her big sister, knowing what was happening. “Keep flying. I have to go for a little while.”

Seeing her sad look, Rainbow nudged Scoot's chin. “Don't worry. I'm only off for a few hours. I'll be back soon.”

She turned and walked towards the door and spoke to the stallions, “What’s the problem?”

“The princesses have asked for you to be brought to them. They say it's urgent,” one said gruffly.

The realization hit her like a brick.

=

Rainbow flew through the palace and into the throne room. There stood the three alicorns and Shining. She hit the ground sliding and a moment later was next to her mentor. She looked up to her with wide eyes. “Please tell me...”

Luna looked down at the rainbow pegasus sadly.

“She's here. She's in Canterlot.”

The magnitude of horror displayed on Rainbow's face was one she had never felt before. Her jaw sagged and her eye went as wide as dinner plates.

“She can't be. You said she wouldn't be here for at least three more days. I thought you were going after her!” Rainbow stuttered out, slowly backing away.

“I did, but she escaped. That's why I called you here. She has allied herself with the changelings.”

The other four in the room stared at her open-mouthed. Cadence, especially.

“The...changelings?”

Luna nodded. “I personally spoke with Chrysalis, and she made quite a defense for Miss Sparkle. She was rather distraught at our attempts to capture her.”

Rainbow waived her hooves in front of her. “Wait, wait, wait. Chrysalis welcomed Twilight? I thought she hated all ponies. Like... all of them.”

“I did, as well, but she seems to have an attachment to Twilight. She made an interesting plea for her. She told me that she was troubled and still hurt.”

“Good,” Rainbow mumbled under her breath, but not softly enough to escape earning a glare from Shining Armor.

“She claimed,” Luna continued, ignoring the other two, “that something is going to happen, and it will be big. She didn't know for sure what would happen, though. She did, however, make one request.

“She asked me. Begged me… to stay out of Twilight's way and call off the search.”

The room fell silent once again. Shock and confusion floated through the mix of feelings.

“She. She is insane,” Rainbow mumbled. “There is no way that will happen. I'll find her and drag her in kicking and screaming if I have to.”

Shining glared at her yet again.

“Excuse me, captain,” Rainbow growled. “I think your eye is broken. It keeps doing that thing over and over again.”

“Maybe it would be fixed if you stopped talking like that,” Shining insisted.

“Why? Are you defending her?”

Shining gave her a furious look. “Do you know who this pony is?”

“Yep. A cold hearted bitch who enjoys murdering for the fun of it. She's also your sister right? Or are you just focusing on one thing about h–OOF!” Rainbow went flying back as a magic blast struck her square in the chest.

She slid for a few feet before standing up, staring down the furious Shining Armor.

“CAPTAIN!” Celestia screamed at him, but he ignored her.

“What did you call her?” He asked. His voice on the edge.

Rainbow stood brushing herself off. She chewed her lip a moment before answering, “A cold hearted. Murdering. Bitch.”

She thrown back again by another blast, recovering midair and flying towards the captain. He braced his hooves as she charged. Before she met him, he was knocked off his feet just as she was knocked out of the air. They both looked at Celestia, whose horn was glowing.

“ENOUGH OF THIS!” she screamed. The two stared at her wide-eyed, waiting for another blast. However, the glow faded, much to the surprise of the two laying in fear before her.

She glared as she stared them down. “Both of you. Enough. You!” she pointed to Rainbow Dash. “Have some control of your actions and your mouth.

“And you!” Pointing to Shining, she continued, “Control yourself as well. Fighting amongst ourselves isn't going to solve the problem. If you can't work together you won’t be working AT ALL.”

The room went silent as they all stared at Celestia in shock. She had remained quiet lately, and seeing her break her normal calm stature had left them dumbfounded. She looked at the shocked audience, one eyebrow raised.

“Yes?”

“NOTHING!” The room yelled, a little too quickly.

Celestia settled down. “Now, then. Do we have a plan?”

“Not yet, sister. That's why we're here - to make one. No, Rainbow, we will not break down every door to search for her,” Luna quickly spoke, seeing her student’s open mouth. Rainbow quickly shut it, her shoulders slumping.

“We need a plan that will solve the problem, not one that will make it a bigger problem,” Shining started. “Princess, you said we may be able to draw her out, right?”

“Yes, but we need a real tool to do just that. Saying her name and sending the public to find her won't work. The ponies of Canterlot are still recovering from the changeling invasion, and it wouldn't end well if we told them a highly powerful and dangerous mare was hiding amongst them.” Luna was silent for a moment. “I can almost guarantee that she has a contact here in Canterlot. Rainbow Dash?”

“The stallion in the outpost up north said that she sent a letter before Render and the others showed up. Do you think it came here?”

“I don't know for sure, but I bet it did. Unfortunately we have no way of confirming it.” Luna's eyes narrowed. “I won’t be able to track Ms. Sparkle. Her magic is far too weak to be located. Even if it was... she's too smart for that.”

“What about my soldiers? Should they be aware?” Shining inquired.

“I don't know. The guards are now aware that somepony is here, so they may become interested in what’s happening. The ponies both in the guard and the public are still recovering from the changelings. The guards should be aware that there is a fugitive in the city.”

“Should we put them on high alert?”

Luna considered it for a moment. “Yes. Tell the public that it's a precaution from the holiday. Hearth’s Warming is two and a half weeks out, and I want her captured before then.”

“And what will I do?”

Luna winced at Rainbow's question. She stood silent before turning to her student. “Nothing.”

Rainbow's jaw dropped and her eyes went wide. “Nothing? What do you mean by nothing?” she demanded.

Luna sighed, gritting her teeth. “I mean you're not going to be looking for her.” She said sternly. “She knows who you are, and she knows you're in Canterlot. From what I can gather, she will search for anypony who gets in her way. You got in her way, Rainbow Dash. You hurt her. Stole her journal. Drained her magic. She will be out for revenge now.”

“But come on!” she begged. “It's like you said. She has no magic. How can she defend herself from me? She could barely do with a full tank of magic. She's weak and injured, and has no way to defend herself. Please let me.”

Luna's jaw tightened. “I have made my decision. You and she have something in common. You both hate to lose and are looking to settle the score. I will not allow you to pursue her.” Luna's expression softened. “Go home and enjoy the holiday with your family. If you're needed, we'll send for you.”

Rainbow Dash shook her head, slowly backing away. In an instant she jumped into the air and flew out leaving behind a rainbow trail, which dissipated only a moment later.

“Do you think she'll listen, sister?”

Luna shook her head. “Probably not. When does she ever listen when I tell her to not do something?” Luna turned back to the others. “Regardless. We should continu-” Luna began looking left to right.

“Cadenza?” She called still turning. “Where did Cadenza go?”

=

Cadence slowly climbed the spiraling stair leading to a high tower. During the conversation, an idea had come to her. She quietly slipped out, making her way to her old room.

As she approached the door, her horn glowed its soft pink color. The door swung open, revealing an empty room. Some curtains hung by the windows by some book shelves, and an old bed sat by itself in the corner. The room was spacious but empty. Cadence had no reason to keep much here anyway. She pushed that from her mind, however. She entered, the only sound being the gentle clopping of her hooves on the polished marble floor.

“Mirror. Switch. Chip. Come out. It's me.” The room remained silent. The only movement was a slight breeze forming ripples in the curtains. Cadence smiled softly. Her horn glowed again and suddenly three changelings appeared before her.

“Princess!” one of them called, running forward and nuzzling her side. Another ran up pushing him out of the way.

“Hey.” This one's voice was much higher, clearly feminine. “You're hogging her!” The two continued bumping and shoving each other before Cadence placed her front hooves on their heads.

“Now, now, you two, calm down.” Her smile was bright and sweet as she patted the small changelings. “Where is Switch?”

“Coming!” a voice male called from under the bed. A moment later, two legs wormed their way out as another changeling pulled himself out.

“Jeez,” he mumbled. “It's a tight fit. Takes me a minute to get out.”

“You’re just getting fat,” the female teased.

“Shut up, Mirror.”

“Now, now, all of you. You can argue later. I have something to ask you.”

The three changelings sorted themselves out in front of her, waiting to hear what she needed.

“Tell me,” she began. “You can see each other when in disguise correct?”

“Of course!” was the response.

“Hmm. If somepony else was disguised, would you see them as well?”

The three went silent. Finally, Switch spoke up. “It's hard to tell. It depends entirely on the spell, I guess.” The changeling thought carefully for a few moments.

“If it was a changeling spell, then yes. We can detect some others, but not as well or as quickly. Why do you need to know? Think there are more of us still hiding?”

Cadence was silent for a moment. “Not quite. Have any of you heard of Twilight Sparkle?”

As soon as the name was mentioned, the three changelings leapt into the air hissing.

“HER?” Mirror shrieked. “Why do you want to know about HER?”

“So, you do know her,” Cadence said, astonished.

“Of course we do!” This time it was Chip. “She was the only pony our queen ever took into the hive. Of course we know her.” The changeling narrowed his eyes. “How do you know her?”

Cadence sighed. “I knew her as a filly, and she has returned to Canterlot. I need to find her before the others do. I might be able to talk some sense into her and get her to surrender.”

The three looked to each other, staring into each other’s eye for what seemed like minutes before bursting into laughter. Cadence looked on, wide-eyed at the sudden outburst.

“Um… Why are you laughing?”

“Because,” Switch said, regaining his breath, “if you think you can talk sense into her, you’re the insane one. She can't be reasoned with or convinced to stop what she does. I once saw our queen try to convince her to not travel to the north. She tried for two weeks and Twilight didn't falter for a moment. Besides.” His tone grew serious. “You can't reason with an insane pony.”

“The point is,” Cadence began, her tone serious, “she's back here and I don't want the others to find her first. If I can find her, maybe I can get her to surrender. My magic is good for more than just love. I want to know if you would be willing to help me find her.”

The changelings were silent as they exchanged looks of nervousness.

“I will not force you. It is your decision.”

They were silent for another few moments before Mirror grabbed the others. “Excuse us a moment,” she said quickly, pulling them to the other side of the room.

“What should we do?” Switch asked.

“I don't know. She's helped us. Shouldn't we help her?” said Mirror.

“But it's Twilight she wants us to find. She's supposed to be more powerful than our queen. How do we get her?”

“We don't,” Chip said flatly, his friends looking at him confusedly. “We don't get her. We just have to find her. Simple as that. Cadence helped us. Kept us secret. Fed us. Sheltered us. We can do this for her. She's not asking us to fight for her, just give her somewhere to start.”

Mirror and Switch looked at each other and nodded.

“Princess,” Mirror started, brightly smiling. “We made a decision.”

Cadence smiled warmly. “I knew you wouldn't let me down.”

Meeting place

“And why should I listen to you, let alone bring you into my home?”

Rainbow Dash hovered in the doorway of her home, her front hooves crossed in front of her. From there she glared at the visitor. Meeting her gaze was Princess Luna, her expression one of mild frustration.

“Because I am your teacher and friend and because I said so,” she said matter-of-factually.

Rainbow's expression didn't change. Behind her, she knew Fluttershy and Scootaloo watched them silently. She felt no reason to invite her longtime friend in her home. Why should she? Luna took Rainbow off the trail of her biggest challenge yet. As if putting a steak in front of Diamond Dog, she tore Rainbow away from her chase.

“I'm still not hearing a good reason,” Rainbow retorted flippantly. She heard Fluttershy give a small gasp from the other room at her remark, but neither her demeanor nor her attitude faltered. Her glare persisted.

Luna, rapidly becoming tired of her student, returned Rainbow's glare. It was almost enough to make Rainbow back down, but Rainbow held her stance in the mental showdown.

Luna sighed, shaking her head. “I came to ask to speak to you, but now I going to talk to you whether you want me to or not.” Rainbows glare turned into a scowl.

“Well?” Luna asked impatiently. “Are you going to invite me in?”

Rainbow stared for a few more moments before moving aside, sweeping her hooves in an exaggerating manner. She stepped inside quickly, looking around the home and giving a quick nod hello to Fluttershy and Scootaloo.

Without stopping Luna began climbing the small staircase, Rainbow following closely. As they entered the room upstairs, Luna closed the door with her magic. She stared out of the open window and into the city, one hoof outstretched towards the bed where Rainbow promptly but grudgingly sat.

Still gazing towards the city, Luna let out a sigh, shaking her head softly. “Never in my life have I met a more difficult pony than you,” she mused. Rainbow Dash scoffed, glaring at the floor boards. Luna finally turned to her furious student.

“I'm serious, Rainbow Dash. You are one of the most loyal, strongest, and kindest ponies I have ever met. But you are also childish, rash, and above all, single-minded.”

“Hold on just one damn moment,” Rainbow almost yelled in reply. “You took me off the hunt for my biggest challenge yet, treat me like a child, and then criticize me?”

Luna growled. “You see, that’s what I mean. She isn't your prey. She isn't some trophy to be won, and yet you treat her that way. Why do you think like that?”

“Because it's who I am,” Rainbow retorted, throwing the words in Luna's face. “It’s how I was brought up. Besides, you never had a problem with me being competitive. You taught me, for Celestia's sake.”

“That may be, but you can't just treat a pony like a wild animal. Have a sense of decency, at least. Not everything has to be a challenge.”

Rainbow threw her hooves in the air. “Why the hell are you DEFENDING HER? She is a monster and savage. She attacked me without a thought, almost killed an innocent stallion, and nearly caved in the skull of one of the guards. Let’s not forget the fact that we found out about her because she sliced almost a dozen stallions to pieces and injured over a dozen others. I know they weren't exactly angels, but come on! If I was going to treat anypony like an animal, it would be her. You weren't there. You didn't see the look in her eyes. It was a look of hunger. It was a look of savagery. It was the look of a wild animal.”

Luna was silent.

“WELL? Say something!” Rainbow demanded.

Luna took a slow, deep breath. “Do you know why I took you off this mission?”

“Well apparently, you just listed a few reasons, so if those aren't the reasons, then by all means, tell me.”

Luna sat on her haunches. “Listen to me, Rainbow Dash.” She placed one hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder. “I stopped you because you don't want to find her simply for the greater good. You don't want to do it because it would keep ponies safe. You don't want to do it because it would give Shining Armor, Celestia, and I peace of mind.” Rainbow met her eyes.

“You’re chasing her because she beat you. She hurt you. And most of all, she got away. You want revenge, Rainbow Dash. That's why I can't have you after her. If you saw her and attacked, you wouldn't stop until she was either in your capture or dead. Or if you were. The most dangerous thing in Equestria is someone with a grudge, and let’s not forget about her.”

Luna stood, still staring into Rainbow's eyes. “She lost that battle as well. Neither one of you emerged victorious. You both lost. You both survived, yes. But without the life or capture of the other, there was no victory. She holds just as much of a grudge against you, Rainbow Dash. And I'm worried about what would happen if you find each other.”

Two navy hooves nudged Rainbow's head closer to Luna’s. “I don't want to lose you over something as stupid as wounded pride.”

Luna moved away. Rainbow looked away, still silent. “I want to make you to make me a promise, Rainbow Dash. I want you to promise you won’t do anything stupid. I want you to promise me you will be safe.” Luna walked towards the door. She took a step through when Rainbow turned, finally speaking. “Well, what do you want me to do? What can I do?”

Luna paused. “Spend time with your family. Go to a movie. Black Veil Bridles is in town. Go do anything to take your mind off of Twilight Sparkle.” And with that, she left, leaving Rainbow sitting in silence.

=

Twilight felt like she was floating through a peaceful sleep, one she hadn't experienced in years. It went on for what seemed like hours, until she opened her eyes and she realized she was floating.

She looked around at her surroundings before sighing in mild annoyance at the misty garden.

“The first peaceful sleep I have had in nearly six years, and you have to call me now. The world had better be bucking ending.”

Dark laughter came from all directions. “My, my, aren't we in a fitful mood.” The laughter abruptly stopped, replaced with a deep growl that seemed to travel through Twilight whole body. “It's best you keep your tongue in check before I get angry.”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Please. It's not like I'm replaceable. Now explain why I am here before I have to wake up. I was thoroughly enjoying myself.” As she spoke, she turned in mid-air and landed gently on her hooves.

The deep voice growled once again. “You have a deadline to meet. You're on the clock, Devin, and I expect you to deliver. You don't seem to be in the best spot right now.”

“It's fine,” Twilight said, a little too quickly, a bead of sweat rolling down her neck. “It's just a minor setback. I'll be fine soon.”

“Completely running out of magic isn't minor. You'll need almost all of it when the time comes. I granted you extra to help with the rejuvenation process and you wasted it.”

“I understand that. I just need to push back the final day. Just a few weeks.”

“YOU WILL DELIVER ON TIME!” the voice shouted. “Your magic won’t be a problem. I've set a rendezvous with another child. You will meet him there. He has something that will help.”

“And which child would this be?” Twilight asked, a slight amount of fear creeping into her tone.

The voice cackled. “An old friend of yours.”

Twilight's eyes widened. “Do not tell me it's-”

“Yes. Yes it is. And I expect no trouble from either of you before, during, or after the exchange.”

Twilight gritted her teeth. “I'm fine! It's him who is the problem. Him and that damn silver tongue.”

“I don't care if he tries to rip your throat out. There are many other pieces on this chess board. Do I make myself clear?”

Twilight glared at the stone floor. “Fine,” she spat. “Where and when are we meeting?”

“The Church of the Heavens. Today. At noon. I would make sure to be on time.”

“Oh, and Devin?” Twilight lifted her head. “You have twenty days. If everything goes according to plan, you will be rewarded well. But if you are late...” The threat hung in the air as the world disappeared and Twilight fell back into the darkness.

The church

20 days remaining

The Church of the Heavens. A towering structure in the far west edge of Canterlot.

While Canterlot was being constructed, a group frequently approached Celestia and Luna about constructing a monastery. The group insisted that it was to worship the sisters as gods despite Celestia’s and Luna's protests that they were not. Their protests, however, were to no avail as the group grew and earned rapid support. Not being able to deflect the attention, the sisters granted them permission to build the monastery in a remote area, so it would not be a focus of attention.

As time went on, the number of followers dwindled until the grand building wasn't much more than a tourist attraction and a Canterlot monument. Every once in a while though, a follower would come in and pray or sit in comforting silence.

Twilight stood outside, staring up at the building. Nearly a thousand years old, the Monastery was in surprisingly good shape, but that was not why she watched. She was steeling herself for what awaited inside. She'd been outside for a few minutes and decided that the less she had to be inside, the better off she would be.

After what seemed like hours, Twilight closed her eyes, breathing deeply. She slowly began walking inside.

The inside was just as luxurious as the outside was. She slowly walked across the polished marble floor. Beautiful art, even rivaling those inside the castle, hung from the wall. Drapes, curtains, and carpets made of fine, multicolored silk lined the floors and walls.

She briskly walked through the entrance and into the chapel, anxious to get what she came for and leave as soon as possible.

Rows of pews extended across the massive room. At the end, a large wall of stone rose up. Engraved on it was a beautiful carving of the sun and moon. Surrounding them were the alicorn sisters. Twilight scanned each row as she walked through the chapel.

Finally she found the one she had been looking for. She slowly walked through the aisle, taking a seat behind a lone stallion. He was sitting up, staring at the stone wall only a few rows in front of him, a small smile on his face. It wasn't a smile of happiness but a pitying smile - one given to foals who are so convinced they are right that they won’t listen to the truth.

He was only comparable to a shadow. His fur and mane were a mix of black, dark indigo, and deep purple. His horn was a matching swirl of the three colors.

“Don't you think it's sad?” he asked openly. Twilight ignored him, sitting in silence. He continued on however, not waiting for her response.

“These fools truly think that their rulers are gods. So blind. They are no more than figure heads who claimed the land as their own. They have no right to rule,” he said, chuckling.

Though it was a statement, he was disappointed to receive no response. He turned in his seat, staring at Twilight with eyes so black and empty they seemed to absorb light. “Well? What do you think?” he demanded.

Still not looking at him, Twilight growled, “I think you should give me what I came here for and not play your games with me. I'm not in the mood.”

The stallion gave a wide grin. “My, my. Testy, aren't we? Why don't you relax a bit? Just take a deep breath. Calm down.”

“Stop it.” Twilight shook her head, but his grin still continued.

“Stop what? I'm just trying to make conversation. Besides, you're too tense. Just close your eyes and-”

“SHUT UP!” Twilight stood as she roared. She scowled down at the still smiling stallion. “Don't try to charm me, Penumbra. I came here for something, and I want it NOW. I don't have time to listen to you, and I'm not in the mood.”

Still, he only laughed. “Oh well. Maybe next time. Come now though, have a seat. Calm down.”

“Don't tell me to calm down. The last thing I need to be is calm around you.”

His humoring smile persisted. “You're far too uptight. You could get some of that anger out if just let her off the leash.”

“Oh, believe me, Penumbra, I'm in a good mood right now. If I had an ounce of magic, I would choke the damn package out of you. Now, will you give it to me, or should I let Master know that you stood me up?”

Finally the smile faltered. Penumbra's eyes widened and he put up his front hooves defensively. “Whoa, whoa, calm down. I have the package, but it's not that time yet. It's not yet noon.”

“And what does noon have to do with it?”

“That's when the safe opens up. Just wait a few more minutes.” Penumbra turned around in his seat, staring at the stone carving once more. Twilight followed his gaze.

Minutes later, a colorful spark, seemingly from nowhere, appeared in midair. Soon, another followed, then two more, then four. This repeated over and over again until the air in front of the stone was ablaze with multicolored sparks.

Penumbra rose from his seat and made his way towards the magical light show, Twilight following behind. Still the lights persisted even when Penumbra and Twilight reached them. Penumbra's horn lit, surrounded in dark magic.

He raised one hoof, and the dark magic collected around it. Slowly, he reached into the wall of sparks and lights. Instead of pushing through the lights, the air around his hoof rippled like water. Slowly, his hoof disappeared. He moved his hoof through the “portal” as if searching for something. A moment later, he withdrew his hoof. Balanced on top was a crystal orb, not unlike the one Twilight kept.

With another hoof he beckoned her over, motioning for her to follow him. She had been watching the whole scene from a few feet, and though she wasn't happy about it, she made her way over to the dark stallion.

He pressed his horn to one side of the orb, and Twilight mimicked him. In a moment, they were gone from the Monastery and were now in what seemed to be the inside of a glacier. Ice formed all around them in a large dome. In the center resting on a pedestal of ice sat a large vine covered in small round fruits the size of large grapes.

“Is that manafruit?” Twilight asked in surprise.

Penumbra nodded. “Took us a few weeks to dig up. Found it underneath a few thousand tons of ice.”

“Weight, yield, fruit?”

“About three and a half pounds. 127 fruits. About 8500-9500 ohm per fruit.”

Twilight stared at Penumbra in shock. He only laughed. “Believe me, you're not the only one in shock about this. I had to put a few spells on it to make sure nopony would steal it. This fruit would be enough to buy half of Canterlot. And now…” He grabbed the fruit with magic and floated it over to Twilight. “I would recommend ten to fifteen each day. A maximum of no more than 25 per day if you're really desperate.”

The ice began rumbling, and Penumbra looked at the floating crystal. “We should go. If not, then we'll be trapped here for another few days before the safe opens again. Twilight placed the fruit into her pack before turning back towards the crystal.

A moment later they appeared inside the church again. The sparks began recollecting until they disappeared for good.

“Well, it's been fun, but unfortunately, it's time for me to depart.”

“Oh no,” Twilight said in a deadpan voice. “How terrible. How will I go on without you?”

Penumbra simply laughed. “It's alright. You'll live.”

“Yeah, sure. Do me a favor, Penumbra.”

The shadowy stallion bowed, a playful smile covering his face. “Of course, my dear. Whatever do you need?”

Twilight turned towards him, her face serious. “Stay out of Canterlot, because if I find you here again, I'll rip your throat out.

Bitter drink

20 Day's remaining. Octavia's home

Twilight sat at the small table in Octavia's dining room. In front of her was multiple glasses holding individual berries from the manafruit. Back and forth she worked with a small scalpel, grabbing one berry, cutting it into a small glass. Inside the delicate skin was a gray juice, which glowed slightly as it met with the open air.

By the time she had cut the 20th berry open the glass before her was nearly full. Inside, the glowing gray liquid seemed to pulsate and more as if it were alive.

Twilight stared at the glass with a disgusted frown, her front hooves folded in front of her. Behind her a soft voice spoke up. “Well. That looks... pleasant.” Octavia stood just a few feet from the table.

“Trust me Tavi.” Twilight began, her voice full of disgust. “It looks terrible. It tastes a thousand times worse.”

Octavia now stood over Twilight's shoulder, looking down curiously at the strange substance. “And what exactly is it?”

Twilight took a deep breath. “It's a manafruit.”

“A what?” Octavia gasped loudly. “I thought they didn't exist.”

“Well technically they still don't. There hasn't been official discovery, so it's still legend in the eye and minds of almost everypony in Equestria. Seeing as how no-pony goes to the windigo territory, no-pony ever finds them except for a rare few.”

“Is it worth asking where or who you got this from?”

Twilight sighed again. “I'd rather not talk about it.” She slowly stood and embraced Octavia. After a brief few moments they separated. Twilight walked out of the dining room only to return moments later, this time carrying her saddle bags.

Returning to the table she began rummaging through her bags as Octavia spoke, staring at the bright fruit. “So... How exactly does this work? It's not at all what I imagined it would be.”

Twilight still moved through the bottomless bag. “Yes. Ponies have a way of making everything more glamorous than it really is. The fruit itself looks delicious, but anypony who has tasted it will disagree quickly.”

“You know.” Octavia continued. “In the Canterlot museum they have a supposed seed and art work of what it looks like. They described it as a golden fruit that tastes so divine, nothing else can match it.”

“Well their not to far off there. Twilight pulled herself from the bags open mouth, holding in her hooves her crystal ball. “Nothing else can match the flavor alright. It's the most bitter, vile... thing, in all of Equestria. I don't even want to justify it as a fruit. Fruit is sweet even if you don't like the flavor.

She gently set the crystal down on the table. “The way it works is pretty basic. Inside each berry is highly compressed liquid magic. What makes it interesting is that the magic within is neither volatile nor toxic to touch, unlike normal liquid magic, which has the tendency to melt through fur and skin. Anyway, once ingested it's released into the unicorns body and after a short process, it gathers into the horn and voila. Instant magic.”

Octavia still stared at the tables contents. “Twilight.” She called softly. “Do you think...” Twilight looked up at her, her face hardening at Octavia's stare. It was almost... hungry.

Twilight rose, standing in front of Octavia, breaking her stare. Twilight met her eyes. “I wouldn't.” She warned.

"The fruit is enchanted. If you let it draw your eye, it wont end well. Throughout years, armies have fought for a mystical manafruit. Supposedly at least. I wouldn't stare to long. Also, Since your an earth pony I doubt it would have any effect, even with your... talent.”

Octavia stared at the floor downcast. This time more cautious to look at the fruit. “So. Are you drinking it now?”

Twilight scrunched her face. “Yeah. No point in putting it off. I wont be doing it in the house though.” She moved the crystal off the table. Instead of dropping to the floor, it hung in the air. “The process can be rather violent. Not something you would want to see.”

She quickly touched her horn to the ball, the glass balanced on one hoof. “I'll be back.” A moment later she appeared inside the small room.

She made her way to the center of the room, the glass still on her hoof.

She stood there staring at the glass. She swallowed hard and fast. “This is going to hurt.” She said quickly before tipping the glass back.

In only a moment, the glowing gray liquid was gone. Twilight sat on her haunches, the glass clenched between her two hooves fell free. Shattering at her hooves.

Her body shuddered lightly before she suddenly heaved foreword. Her body jolted as if all her muscles clenched at once.

She gritted her teeth, trying not to scream. Her two front hooves held her from the carpet. She slowly tried making her way to her hooves before she uncontrollably lunged foreword again. Horrible retches erupted from her throat. She rolled on he back, flailing her hooves at the immense pain.

Still she forced her teeth shut, trying to keep the bitter liquid down. Her muscles burned and her body jolted. As she lay there trying to stay calm, her body began glowing with bright blue magic. It shined through her fur and skin. Through every hole in her body the magic emerged, gathering around her like a storm.

As it did, it began slowly changing from light blue to a light purple color. Twilight's body went stiff, her head rearing back. Her teeth finally unclenched, her jaw open in a silent scream that couldn't express the pain the rocked her body. Fat tears from the pain rolled down her cheeks in rivers, her eyes a brilliant red.

The seconds dragged on for hours and the minutes dragged on for days, until finally the swirling magic condensed on her horn. The light from her body collecting at her horn soon dwindled until it only a few absent sparks floated lazily around the unicorn.

She lie on her back, her hooves spread eagle around her. Her eyes half open as she drew heavy, ragged breaths. Her whole body ached and her head pounded as if it were being hit with a hammer. Her dilated eyes were colored with bloodshot veins and an absent magical glow.

She moved her hooves to sit up but her muscles tensed ubruptly, locking her in place momentarily. Slowly she worked through the pain and soreness, until she could move with only a small and sore limp.

She surveyed the room and the area around her. Where she had laid, the ground was turned to black and the stone was cracked. The carpet burned away. A small silhouette of her body burned into the floor. Pillows that lined the floor were burned or simply torn open. Stuffing and feathers from said pillows were scattered around the entire room. The smell of burning fabrics dominated the room.

She rubbed her eyes, swaying on her hooves. She frowned at the room through half closed eyes. She could deal with this later. On shaking hooves she made her way over to and touched her horn to the crystal, which was still resting on the table despite the recent event.

In a moment she was back in Octavia's dining room. As soon as she appeared, her legs collapsed underneath her.

“Twilight.” Octavia called, concerned. Twilight waved her off with a hoof. “I'm fine I'm fine.” She said quickly. “I'm... I'm just tired.” She made her way back to the bed, Octavia following closely behind. Once she arrived she lowered herself down breathing a sigh of relief.

Octavia sat at the edge of the bed smiling down on her. The pair was silent for minutes before Octavia broke the silence. “Never a dull moment. Is it darling?”

Twilight smiled and chuckled softly. “The universe doesn't seem keen on letting me take it easy much. Whatever god looks down on me, must have fun watching me struggle. The only good thing I've ever been given is you. Other then that the 'excitement' never seems to end.”

“Maybe it's not some higher power. Maybe you just like the excitement a little to much.”

Twilight smiled softly. “Possibly.” She turned her gaze to the window. Snow was fell gently from the calm, gray sky. It fit the tired mood Twilight felt perfectly. “One day. One day I'll stop and I'll never start again. One day.” She mused softly.

Octavia turned her head slightly. “Stop what.”

Twilight pursed her lips. “That's the real question. Isn't it Tavi? Stop what? Maybe my adventuring. Maybe it will be the day I stop running. The day I come home and stay home. The day I no longer question myself. The day I never want to return to a land filled with evil or the day it has been cleansed of it.”

Twilight's gaze went to the ceiling. “Or maybe it will be they that I finally know peace. The day that I never HAVE to keep running. Or I HAVE to keep myself in check. When I have to follow another order or risk my life again.”

Twilight's eyes seemed to glaze over. “The day when I am truly at peace.” She whispered. The pair were silent until Twilight shook her head. “But.” She croaked. “That day is not here yet and I suspect it wont be for quiet a while.”

Octavia stood slowly from her seat. “I see.” She said softly. “Will you be falling sleeping again?”

Twilight shook her head softly. “Unfortunately no. I have a deadline to meet and I need to keep preparing. But-”

Her hooves wrapped around one of Tavi's, pulling her on top of Twilight.

The lavender unicorn smiled mischievously. “I have some time to spare.”

Sleepless nights

18 days remaining

Rainbow Dash streaked through the night sky of Canterlot, her features intense as they scanned the dark streets below her. A slight movement shuddered in a shadow of one of the many buildings and cottages. Her vision zeroed in as she stared intently at the spot.

Rainbow formed a scowl before rocketing towards the ground. She moved in zigzags as if dodging invisible fire. She gripped the handle of a small blade, pulling out of a sheath on her shoulder. A moment later, she disappeared into the shadow.

Clink! Clang!

Rainbow shot out of the shadow and back into the air above the buildings, a grimace replacing her scowl. She had a small red cut along her cheek. A small lavender unicorn stepped out of the shadows. They locked eyes, staring each other down.

In a flash of magic, Twilight reappeared above Rainbow, her knife held high between two hooves. Rainbow instinctively flew backwards, just barely avoiding the steel blade.

Just before she hit the ground, Twilight vanished, resurfacing on the roof of one of the many homes. She broke into a sprint across the rooftop, jumping across the gaps, firing small magic missiles from her horn.

Rainbow flew side to side, trying to avoid the shots and streaking downwards toward Twilight. Before she could strike, Twilight disappeared with a flash.

Rainbow came to a stop in mid-air, searching the night for the rogue unicorn. She whipped back and forth, guarding herself while scanning for a sudden attack.

Far behind her came the sound of metal on metal. She whirled around to see a sight that sent a chill up her spine.

Twilight was only a few rooftops away. She stood on her hind legs while her mane blew softly in an invisible wind, her front legs cryptically hanging as if she was scarecrow. Her head hung and her blades floated around her in the shape of a laurel.

He neck bent, slightly at first, then more and more until her head was almost completely side-ways. Suddenly, she disappeared once again. This time though, instead of a flash of magic, she melted into the shadows of night, quickly departing from sight.

Rainbow stared at the spot where the unicorn had stood only a moment ago. The quiet of the night was broken by a quiet whisper coming from every direction. It was an inch from her ear and over a mile away. It was as quiet as an avalanche and as loud as the flap of a butterfly’s wing.

She couldn't tell what the words said. The words were distorted and twisted, sounding more like the threatening growl of an animal rather than the words of a pony. Though she didn't understand them, the words left her with a hollow feeling. The sad feeling you have on a happy day. The happy feeling you have on a sad day. The feeling that makes you question yourself, your judgment, and your feelings.

Rainbow felt hot breath on her shoulder. She whipped around and brought her blade, sharp and clean, to the place where she swore somepony had been only a moment ago. She was now aware of her heavy breath and fast heartbeat cutting through the cryptic whispers surrounding her.

In the back of her mind, she was aware of something staring at her. Her head slowly turned to find Twilight in the same cryptic pose. Only a second later, she disappeared. She sensed the feeling again, turning to see Twilight once again in the pose before she melted into the black.

Suddenly she was everywhere, only appearing for moments before disappearing again.

She was everywhere and yet nowhere. The whispering still continued, rising now to a deafening level. Rainbow could only stare ahead. Suddenly she felt two pin-pricks on both sides of her neck. The cold from the blades crept up into her head.

Your sanity.

Rainbow shot up in her bed. Heavy gasps racked her sweat covered body. Her whole body rose and fell with each ragged breath. She lay there, otherwise not moving.

After minutes of the heavy breaths, her throat felt raw and dry. Slowly, she calmed herself and began to shift from her hunched position in her bed. One shaky hoof rolled out of the covers and slowly found the wooden floor. Another followed, then two more until Rainbow stood up with shaky legs.

She made her way to the window, staring out at Luna's moon. Only a moment later she took off, flying into the cool night above Canterlot. Flying always helped her when she was stressed. The wind in her wings, the cool night air billowing through her mane as she flew through the clouds.

But tonight it didn't work. She could still feel the chill from the dream. The doubt was still in her mind. Despite the frigid temperatures, she could feel sweat dripping down her neck. She shook her head side to side, trying to erase the empty, tired feeling.

Staring ahead, she flew across the city skyline, not caring where she went in particular. Flying. No thought, no emotion. Just flying.

Seconds ticked away. Minutes dragged on. Hours flew by. She didn't know how she long had been out. She didn't care. All that mattered was to chase the thoughts away, to have a peaceful mind before she went back to sleep.

But it didn't come. The feeling of dread still lingered. Never ceasing, never resting, never giving her the peace of mind she so desperately craved.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw something. Her wings tucked to her side as she dove towards a rooftop. A few seconds later, she quickly fanned her wings out, slowing her almost instantly as she landed lightly on the roof. She sprinted to the edge, looking down and into the dark street.

There, in the shadows, somepony stood. Though she couldn't see who it was, the pony returned her gaze, locking eyes with her. They stared at each other for a few moments, Dash scrutinizing the pony before her.

The mystery pony stuck his head out of the shadows. It was a royal guard.

“Commander Dash? Is that you, ma'am? Is everything alright?” he called, loud enough for her to hear.

She stared blankly at the soldier, her jaw sagging slightly. “Yes,” she returned. “I thought you were somepony else. Never mind.”

Without waiting for his response, she flew into the cool night air once again.

=

Bright light surged from Twilight's horn. Slowly she walked the crystal tunnels, now luminously lit from her horn. Her magic left a trail in the ground that extended back into the tunnel from where she had come. She continued on through the tunnel, only stopping to watch her progress. Soon she arrived at an intersection where the tunnel split off into multiple smaller ones.

click

Twilight absently shook her head, the light no longer emitting from her horn. From her saddlebags, she pulled a scroll. The map was given to her by Ersatz. She looked over the tunnels carefully before finally rolling up the map and replacing it.

Click.

She turned back to the path she had been carving into the stone. Her horn glowed brightly, but she stopped.

One ear twitched passively. Calmly she turned, examining the cavern with keen eyes. But she saw nothing. Though she saw or heard nothing, she couldn't help but feel... uneasy. As if something wasn't right.

Click.

Her head snapped to one side. Something was here. She remained silent as her eyes slowly closed. Her horn glowed for a moment. When she reopened her eyes, they glowed white. Slowly she turned in a circle, examining the entire cave. When she saw nothing, she turned her gaze down the tunnels. One after another, she looked into each one.

She closed her eyes once again. The glowing stopped. She rubbed her eyes with one hoof. It would be dawn soon, and she needed sleep. She carefully made her way out, still not being able to shake the feeling.

Click.

The shadows that linger

The spot next to her was cold. Vacant of the strong, smooth body which had expected to find. Instead was only bed sheet and blanket. Twilight sighed longingly to herself. She didn't even know why she expected Octavia there. It must have been late into the afternoon by now seeing as how she hadn't gotten back home until near dawn.

She wondered if she should even bother to wake up. A disgusted face took over her features as she realized the only thing for her to do during the daylight hours was another serving of the manafruit. She rolled over and yawning loudly. She could do it later.

The house was quiet. 'I must be alone'. She thought briefly as she nudged her pillow softly, a small smile playing across her face. The day started when she got out of bed. It could wait a little longer.

Silence played across the room in a beautiful tune.

click

Twilight shuddered lightly. One ear flattened itself against her head for a moment.

Click

Her shoulders rolled back. A look of annoyance replacing the delicate smile that had been present only a moment ago.

Click

Something moved in front of her. A shadow across her eyelids. A flicker. A chill spread across her back.

Slowly her eyes fluttered open. Hoping to find Octavia or maybe even it was Vinyl. Slowly her eye adjusted to the brightness to only find a small drawer facing her. Twilight let loose a huge sigh of relief. It was only nothing.

She chuckled to herself. Only paranoid. She rolled onto her back, shaking her head. She survived the worst conditions any pony could face, and she got scared of a little shadow.

Her head laid back, turning towards the ceiling. She absently rubbed her eyes. She must not be getting enough sleep.

Click

Her smile faltered once more. Slowly she moved her hooves away, Her eyes slowly cracked open, slowly at first before snapping open. On the ceiling, was her. Floating on the ceiling. Her gaze was met by to solid black orbs and a painfully wide smile. Her hooves laid spread eagle and her neck craned down towards Twilight, head cocking to the side.

Her eyes sprang open, a shrill shriek erupting from her mouth. She flailed her hooves, falling off the bed and momentarily breaking her gaze. When she looked to the ceiling again, it was gone.

Twilight sat on the floor. Eyes wide. Mouth agape. Body shaking. Starring at the spot on the ceiling, her demon had been only moments ago. The only sound she heard was her own hollow breathing. Her throat grew tighter and she covered her mouth with one hoof.

Twilight could only stare at the ceiling. She tried to move away. To avert her gaze. To even BLINK. But she couldn't. She couldn't even bring herself to do so, in fear IT would return. She wasn't aware of anything else in the room. Only what she had seen. She didn't even hear the calming, warm voice calling her name. She didn't notice when the owner moved away from her moving something large to the other side of the room.

Moments later the room was filled with sweet music.

Rainbow Dash sat at the edge of her bed. Head held in her hooves. Bloodshot eyes staring at the wood floor. She sighed loudly, absently rubbing her eyes. A knock came on her door. “R-Rainbow Dash? Are you okay?” Fluttershy's timid voice called.

“Uhh... Yeah. Just give me a few minutes.” She croaked. Fluttershy called back. “Are you sure? You sound sick. Would you like anything to eat? Something to drink?”

Rainbow Dash was silent for a few moments. “Yeah... Can you grab me some coffee?” Fluttershy gave a quiet “Okay.” Before her steps receded down the stairs.

Rainbow Dash shakily rose from her sitting position and worked her way towards the bathroom door at the far end of the room. Eventually she made her way inside and almost fell down once she saw her reflection in the mirror.

Her eyes were sunk into her head. Her eyelids sagged. Her mane was tangled and ruffled, even more so than usual. Her eyes almost glowed red from being bloodshot. She had never been one to care for her appearance, but what she saw was horrible. She had seen some bad days, but none like this. This was an entirely new level.

Carefully she removed the bandages from her legs and sides and made her way into her shower. She turned the faucet on and nearly collapsed once the warm water hit her. For what felt like hours she stood under the water, trying to cleanse herself of the sick, disgusting, and tired feelings which still lingered from the previous night.

Eventually she made her way out feeling and looking much better than before, but was still exhausted and still felt terrible. After grooming herself and replying bandages she left her room, and made her way downstairs.

As soon as she entered the kitchen she was aware of Fluttershy's concerned stare. Brushing past her, she grabbed hold of a mug and the pot of coffee. Rainbow was vaguely aware of Fluttershy hovering around her. The quiet flap of her wings the only sound in the house. “R-Rainbow?”

“Hmm?” She mumbled back. “Are...Are you okay?” Rainbow Dash was silent. Tipping her mug back, she thought of how to respond. She let loose a large sigh as she set down her coffee mug. “Honestly Flutters. I don't think so.”

Fluttershy gave her a concerned look. “Do you want to talk about it?” Rainbow stared out of a small window, frowning to herself. “Yes and no I think, Flutters. I do want to talk to somepony, but.” She turned to her oldest friend. “It's not you I want to talk with.”

Fluttershy looked downcast. “Oh... I see.” She whispered before turning away. Rainbow realized her mistake and reached out grabbing one of her friends legs. “Hey hey, that's not what I meant. It just some work stuff. I promise.” Fluttershy turned back, pointing one hoof to Rainbow's bandages. “Just like how those are “work stuff?'”

Rainbow's jaw sagged slightly. She took a long, deep breath. “No. Not like these.” She motioned to her bandages and injuries beneath. “Just some nightmares and sleep troubles.” Fluttershy's mood seemed to improve, but her concern still remained. “Why don't you just talk to Luna? She could help, can't she?” A cloud came across Rainbow's features and Fluttershy regretted asking the question. Clearly she brought something up that she shouldn't have.

Rainbow grabbed her mug again, bringing it up and draining it of it's contents. She brought it back down, wiping one hoof across her mouth. “I'm going to the palace. Maybe I'll talk to Cadenza or somepony. I don't know yet. I just need to clear my mind.”

She began moving towards the door, grabbing a small cloak from coat hanger. She opened the door, preparing to fly off before Fluttershy called out. “Rainbow Dash.” The Pegasus turned and looked to her friend.

The buttercup pegasus called out. “Please be careful.” Rainbow flashed her friend a quick salute and a reassuring smile beforetaking off into the winter air.

Comfort through tears

15 Days remaining

Twilight stared at the tabletop blankly. Her front hooves hung at her sides while she sat. The look in her eyes could be described best as defeated. Her mind still rattled from the events from earlier. A heavy weight sitting on her shoulders caused her to sag in her seat.

Behind her Octavia poured water from a kettle into a mug. A tea bag floated through the brown, murky water. A moment later she brought the glass over, setting it in-front of Twilight. Shakily she gripped the porcelain between two hooves, tipping it back.

Octavia seated herself. Her front hooves folded in front of her, she watched Twilight drink. The pair silent. Twilight drank until there was nothing left in the mug. She set it down on the table, staring at her hooves. The silence persisted. Twilight staring blankly forward. Octavia studied Twilight with an unreadable expression, unbenounced to Twilight.

Finally Twilight sat back, leaning in her chair. She rubbed her hooves across her eyes. Then through her mane. Across her muzzle. Through her mane again. Something to touch or to keep her hooves busy.

“What exactly happened?” Octavia broke the silence. Her tone gentle and open. Twilight rubbed her eyes, gently shaking her head. “I was... careless.” She finally croaked. “I didn't pay attention. I should have noticed the signs.” Twilight breathing grew faster and louder. Her eyes widened in near panic. “I was ignorant. I was stupid. I didn't think. I didn't take precautions. I didn't-”

Octavia moved one hoof in front of Twilight muzzle, silencing her. “Calm.” She corrected the near frantic unicorn. “Deep breaths. Stay calm.” Twilight gripped her partners hoof between hers, holding it close to her like a filly clutching a teddy bear. Her large, gasping breaths slowing. She closed her eyes, drawing several shaky breaths.

“I was careless. And I didn't pay attention.” She repeated. Octavia scooted closer. “Don't say that.” She tried, gently. But it was to no avail. “No. It's true.” Twilight sat up. She let out a heavy breath. “I shouldn't have been so careless. As if she would go that easily. And without a fight...” She put her head into her hooves once more.

Octavia wrapped one hoof around Twilight's shoulder. “Twilight, look at me.” She said gently. Slowly the violet unicorn raised her heavy head. She met her partners eyes and felt her sadness slowly slip away. Octavia gave her a small, hopeful smile.

“You need to get out. You've been on your own for years. Sitting inside this house, and going Celestia knows where at night.” Twilight gave a small wince at Octavia's choice of words, but Octavia didn't continued. “It's time you got out. You should come with me to the market tomorrow.”

Twilight's expression turned to one of unsureness, but Octavia silenced her with a raised hoof. “No arguing. You been alone with yourself to long. Even if you don't talk to anypony you need to be with others, not just me or yourself. Just walk and take it all in. Don't worry about Her.” She said, tapping her hoof against Twilight's forehead. “Or your 'mission.' It's time you took a break from everything.”

Twilight stared at her opposite still wanting to argue. Instead an agreeing smile took place. “Your right.” She chuckled taking a deep breath. “I'll go.” Octavia gave her a wide smile. “Good. Tomorrow afternoon then?”

Twilight smiled, giving as curt nod. “To Tomorrow afternoon will be fine.”

“Now then.” Octavia began. “I have another show Tomorrow. I think it would be wise if you came along. I'm not sure if you should be alone at night. Not for long anyway” Twilight nodded in agreement.

“Also. I have a meeting at book club tonight, which I know you won't want to go to since...” Twilight stood. Slowly she made her way to one of the kitchen windows and stared out into the street. “I'm not sure if I can. She finally spoke after a long silence. "As badly as I want to, I can't risk it. It's better if I don't even see her. It will just complicate things.” Her mouth curled into a frown. Octavia stood from her seat, making her way towards Twilight.

“Your a master of disguise, Twilight. You could come with me and just watch us. You wouldn't even have to join in.” Twilight shook her head gently. “So badly I want to. You can't imagine how badly I want to just see her, but... I just can't do it, Octavia. I can't bear to see her sadness.”

Octavia hung one leg over Twilight's neck. “You have nothing to worry about. There is rarely a time when she isn't smiling. Velvet is one of the most loving, caring ponies I know.” Twilight lent against Octavia. “I know. And you're right, but...The ponies I met in my travels. The things I've seen. The things I've done.”

A tear leaked from under on eye. “I've learned to see through the masks, ponies wear. Sadness like that never goes away. Burdens are never truly lifted off a ponies shoulders. Not like that. I don't want to have to deal the seeing that. Sadness and despair leave scars that never heal. That can never be erased. I've seen that look on so many before. Ponies I had never met. Their faces ingrained into my memories forever. I can't bear to have that image when I think of my mother.” Twilight threw her legs around Octavia, locking the pair in a tight embrace.

“I can't, Octavia.” She cried. Tear flowing down her cheeks. “I just can't.”

Octavia stood there as the strongest pony she knew broke down in front of her, like a filly waking up from a bad dream. She returned Twilight's strong grip. Tears at the edge of her eyes, now threatening to fall. “I understand.”

Rainbow rocketed through the sky, towards the palace. Her mind was on autopilot. She didn't think, or even try to at that... Just flying. The feeling of the wind in her mane, her feathers brushing against her fur, the cool air trying to strip away her feelings of stress, anger, and exhaustion. The emotions still raking her body, causing her to sag and slouch even as she flew.

By the time she had reached the steps to Canterlot Castle she felt 50 pounds heavier. A flight that normally took her 10 minutes on a slow day had taken nearly 30. Wearily she began to climb the stairs, opting to begin the slow assent and not fly so that she could gather herself to look presentable in front of the other guards and the princess.

Once she had reached the top, she had mostly accomplished the task, but there was a gap that still hadn't been filled. The guards that manned the great door even noticed it, subtle as it was. Her fierce, hawkish stare was toned down, her well known commanding swagger was slightly off, and her normally piercing gaze was much more gentle and tired.

The posted guards, who were much more known for their strength and booming voices and not their brains, knew enough to not ask questions and simply let the good commander in. Slowly she made her way through the halls until she was outside Cadence's room, which was flanked by two guards. She stood in front of the two, expecting them to let her in. When they didn't she spoke, “Well?” She demanded. “What are you waiting for.”

“Princess Cadence is currently out.” The guard to the left gruffly responded. “She has taken leave for the next few days, along with Captain Shining Armor.” Rainbow breathed a sigh of annoyance. “What? That's it? They just, up and left?” She demanded. “I apologize Commander, but that's all that we were told.” The other guard finished, somewhat apologetic.
“Very well then.” She gave an exasperated sigh before turning and walking away, her head hung in frustration. Slowly she made her way back through the long halls of the castle, cursing her bad luck. As she walked, just like when the had been flying, she hadn't paid much attention to her destination. She had expected to walk out of the castle, but much to her surprise they had picked a different destination for her.

When she looked up she was shocked to not the Canterlot skyline and cityscape, but the doors leading into Luna's private room. The guards that were normally outside her room were gone. Rainbow Dash stood alone outside of her mentor's room. Her eyes never leaving the door.

Just a few steps away was help. She could reach out and go inside. She could apologize, she knew Luna would forgive her. She knew Luna could help her. But...

'But why?' The voice in her mind called. 'Why should you apologize? You weren't in the wrong. You were simply trying to finish you mission. Bring a murderer. A Psychopath. She made you angry. Humiliated you in front of the other princesses and Shining Armor. If anything, she should be apologizing to you.'

Rainbow Dash stared at the door, in silent shock and wonderment. 'That's right.' She thought darkly. 'It's not my fault. I'm being punished for following orders. Simple as that.'

With a look of disgust and loathing, she tore herself away from the large door, standing up straighter than she had been earlier. Maybe some training would suit her better.

A quiet clop, clop, clop accompanied her hooves as they struck the smooth floor.

'Isn't it?'

Later that night

Octavia slowly rose from her seat at the Canterlot library. Around her other mares, young and old mingled together, chatting and smiling. She was the only who had been sitting in the circle of chairs around her. The other standing around her, chattering away. She smiled and still sat quietly as her friends stood around her talked about stories and books.

“Octavia?” An excited voice called from behind her. She turned to see two identical mares standing behind her. “Flora, Fauna.” She addressed both of the turquoise and light green earth ponies, wide smiles dominating their features. “How are you?”

The one on the left, Flora, responded. “Absolutely wonderful since the news. Aren't you excited? Isn't it just wonderful?” She almost yelled, earning her a stiff glare from a nearby librarian. She gave an apologetic sheepish smile to the offended worker.

Octavia, for her part, was lost. “Flora, what are you talking about.” A curious smile taking place.

This time Fauna spoke. “What do you mean? We just heard from Velvet. She was looking for you earlier, but couldn't find you. She told us we could tell if we made sure it was just you.”

Octavia cocked her head slightly, still in wonderment. “Flora? Fauna? What in the wide world of Equestria are you talking about.”

Twilight sat at the table, staring down at her hooves, her eyes wide. The only light piercing the darkness of the cold winter night was a small lamp, sitting a few feet away.

She didn't want to sleep, not alone anyway, for fear her demon would return and she wouldn't have anypony to save her.

It would be just her.

All alone.

Poor. Weak. Twilight Sparkle.

Scared and Alone

Helpless in her power

So weak and defensless

Tired and helpless

Ripe and ready to be picked off

click

Twilight stood suddenly tipping her chair as she spun around. The front door and the heavy wind blew in a flustered Octavia, wrapped up in her winter cloak. Barely before she had crossed the threshold to her home did she jump as Twilight's chair clattered to the floor.

She quickly looked to the fallen chair then to Twilight. The pair locked eyes or a moment before a gust of wind blew a small torrent of snow into the already cool house. Octavia swiftly turned and slammed the door shut, ending the blast of wind and severing their locked gaze. Twilight turned back towards the table with a huge sigh.

A moment later Octavia stood next to her. “Twilight.” Octavia said breathlessly. Twilight turned towards her meekly, but upon seeing Octavia's expression she became confused. Octavia stood with an expression that screamed shock, happiness, and surprise.

“O-Octavia?” Twilight asked, concerned.

“Twilight?” She asked in the same breathless voice. “How would you feel about being a big sister?”

Street dreams

13 days remaining...

The wonderful smell of assorted fruits and vegetables fill the cool, crisp air. Both were punctuated by the happy chatter of dozens of ponies filling the market, smiles adorning their faces as conversed and milled around the and communed whilst they went along their way. The weather teams had woken up extra early to clear the winter skies so the sun could shine down, providing the ponies with a warmer day and brightening the gloomy, grey clouds. Nothing to worry about on a beautiful Sun's Day. And why should it be any different, Canterlot life was easy after all.

But there was one pony amongst all the others who felt quite differently.

Two ponies accompanied each other. One, a deep grey whose mood was as bright and cheerful as the sun that shown down on her. The other with a mesmerizing coat of gold and bright yellow colors, but her mood was barely affected by the warmth of the sun and the joy of the crowd. Beneath her vibrant colored coat, her mind was clouded just as the sky had been the previous day.

Accompanied by Octavia, Twilight roamed the market. Octavia had been right when she said it would help Twilight feel less claustrophobic and stir-crazy, but she still was concerned about what Octavia had told her the previous night. Even with all the events of the other day and the news she had received, she had fallen asleep almost immediately that night, much to her and Octavia's surprise.

But the moment she had awoken her mind raced back to her mother. The pair had gone about their morning tasks to get ready for the day. Twilight for the most part had been attentive throughout the day, while in some small part of her mind she was away, lost in thought. Once they had left, she made sure to change her colors just to be on the safe side. She didn't want to take the risk of being noticed.

Though she was distracted she tried not to focus entirely on her own thoughts. After all, Octavia wanted to be with her. It was her idea to come to the market place, and she knew it Twilight’s favorite place in Canterlot. She didn't want to spoil the day her friend and lover had worked hard to get her to.

'I am a bit stubborn after all' She mentally noted. She turned toward Octavia, meeting her eye and giving a small smile as they walked together. 'It's a beautiful day. Best to not ruin it.'

The morning after she had left the palace she headed to the army barracks and spent the whole day training. It always helped clear her mind, even on the worst days. She worked and fought until her sweat started to freeze around her from the cold. She fought until her bandages bled through. She trained until tears squeezed through her eyes. And once all that had happened, she kept going.

Once she had stopped, the bandages dominating her body were an ugly, dry red and brown. She flew home as fast as she could, not even bothering to use her front door and went through her window instead. She stripped herself of the bandaging and practically threw herself into her shower, all the while ignoring Fluttershy's knocking and pleading at her door.

She changed her bandaging and fell onto her bed, not even remembering that she hadn't had anything to eat the entire day. But she didn't care.

And yet, after the whole day she had gone through, sleep evaded her. She only stared forward at the ceiling above her, memorizing every scratch, divet, and knot in the wood.

And still sleep did not come.

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to think to find a distraction. She, Fluttershy, and Scootaloo living out in the countryside, Luna comforting her with a wing over her back, Twilight Sparkle defeated before her, ANYTHING.

She felt a hot, dry wind filled with dust trike her in the face like a slap. Her eye shot open revealing the picture before her. Pain, agony, misery, death, chaos, torture, horror, sadness, grief, and carnage dominated the land she once called home.

Streets engulfed in flames, fields turned to graves, homes turned to prisons, and rivers turned to red. The Canterlot castle was in ruins, collapsing in on it self. The streets were lined with mangled corpses and bodies still bleeding. Homes and buildings were collapsed, caved in, burning, or just destroyed. The stars were blacked out as the black night was choked with smoke. The heads of Celestia and Luna hung on stakes.

Rainbow could only stare in horror and when she had finally found the power to move, she found her body stuck. Something pinned her down. A shape moved in front of her, two black orbs only inches from her face. Her eyes adjusted to see Twilight Sparkle's eyes locked with hers. The unicorn cocked her head before backing away from the now terrified pegasus.

From behind the monster that is Twilight Sparkle, a silver knife appeared. Grasped in her magic, it moved toward Rainbow, who fought against whatever pinned her down, keeping her from moving.

“Stop moving Rainbow dear.” A chilling voice spoke from behind her. A voice all to familiar. She turned her head to see a buttercup pegasus holding her down with impossible strength. Her eyes solid black and a twisted smile domination her features. “This is your fate. Except it and it will come all that much quicker.” Rainbow felt cold steel push against the bottom of her neck.

“AIIIIIIII!” She screamed, launching herself from her bed. She tumbled across the floor for a moment before flipping onto her back, staring at her bed. She dragged herself into the corner and held herself as she took in slow shaky breaths as she stared out of the window. Canterlot was fine. The sun was up and the sky was clear of clouds. It had all been a dream.

Only now, however, did she hear the thumping of hooves coming towards her door.

“RAINBOW? WHATS GOING ON?”

“BIG SIS? ARE YOU OKAY?”

The panicked voices of her friends shouted, followed shortly by a tapping on her locked door. The door handle rattled, but to no avail.

“Rainbow?” The normally meek voice of Fluttershy called. “Are you alright? We heard a scream.”

“Yeah. Are you hurt.” Scootaloo seconded. There was a long silence as Rainbow's head dropped down as she stared at the floor. Her mouth hanging open, trying to speak words which she couldn't find. She wanted to say she fine, but at the same time say exact the opposite.

After a long silence Fluttershy spoke again. “Rainbow,” She said, her voice hard. “I'm coming in. Scootaloo, stand back.” A moment of silence went by before the door shuddered by a resounding thump. Another kick caused the door to splinter and crack. After the third kick the door swung open.

The two pegasus rushed in and found their cyan friend huddled in the corner. Scootaloo started to run to her big sister, but was stopped by Fluttershy's hoof. She looked to the buttercup pegasus. She shook her head wordlessly before moving to Rainbow.

Kneeling down on her to front hooves she tried to meet her friends eyes. Rainbow's head still hung towards the floor. “Rainbow.” Fluttershy began. “Look at me.” She said to her as you would a small, scared child.

Rainbow didn't move from her position, except to draw her hooves in even tighter. Seeing this Fluttershy got even closer, her face growing serious. “RAINbow.” She commanded, causing Rainbow to flinch. She never flinched. “Look. At. Me.”

Slowly Rainbow's head lifted, meeting Fluttershy's eyes. The pair stared intently at each other before Fluttershy abruptly stood. Rainbow resumed her previous position as the other turned away.

“Scootaloo? Could come out here for a moment?” Fluttershy said motioning to the door as she herself approached it. Her voice calm and not willing to take no for an answer. The orange pegasus followed her out.

As soon as Fluttershy closed the door behind them she turned to Scootaloo speaking in a hushed tone.
It did not, however, escape the ears of the soldier on the other side of the door “Scootaloo, something is wrong with Rainbow Dash.” The smaller pegasus started to speak but was silenced by Fluttershy's hoof. “I'm going to get the princess. I need you to stay here and watch her. If she does anything. Anything strange or odd, run. Run away, no matter what. Do you understand?”

Scootaloo was scared now. “But whats going on, Fluttershy? Whats wrong with Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy began moving towards the stairs. “I'll explain once I get back. Stay here Scootaloo.” And with that she rushed down the stairs and out the door.

Scootaloo turned back, entering the room. She turned towards her friend who was staring her in the eye from the corner. Scootaloo froze unable to tear her gaze away from Rainbow Dash. The cyan mare's head was cocked to one size, staring down the smaller pegasus. But there was something else which petrafied her.

Rainbow's eyes were solid black.

Panic in the market

Rainbow Dash stared out of her window looking out over Canterlot. At the same time she listened intently to the hushed words spoken outside of her room by Fluttershy and Scootaloo. “Scootaloo.” Fluttershy began quietly, though not quiet enough to escape the trained ears of Rainbow Dash. “Something is wrong with Rainbow Dash.” The cyan pegasus was stunned.

'Nothing is wrong with me. I had a bad dream and have trouble sleeping. There's nothing wrong.' Her attention was brought back to the pair outside by their hushed tones.

“I’m going to get Princess Luna. I need you to stay here and watch her. If she does anything; tries to leave, gets too close to your, or acts odd in any way, I want you to run. Do you understand?”

Rainbow slumped against the wall. 'Run? Why should Scoots run? I wouldn't hurt or scare her. Ever. Do they think I'm some sort of monster? I protect them. Not hurt them.'

“But whats going on? What's wrong with Rainbow Dash?” Scootaloo asked, her voice quivering slightly.

Fluttershy spoke, but her voice sounded distant. “I'll explain once I get back with the princess. Just try your best to keep her here, Scootaloo.”

Something was different with Fluttershy. She was serious and... a little scared. But why? Rainbow was fine. Just a bad dream. And why was she getting the princess? If it was bad, surely they didn't need Luna?

“That’s right.” A voice whispered. She looked around the room, but there was nopony there. “You haven't done anything wrong. They're not worried about you. They're not concerned or scared. They want to control you. They think you're dangerous and rash. Like a child throwing a temper tantrum.” The voice said, dripping with malevolence.

It was chilling, and yet... it filled her with confidence. It sounded so familiar. “Wh-who are you?” She asked breathlessly. The voice chuckled.

“I am you, Rainbow. I'm a part of your mind. I help you see through the lies.” The words the voice spoke worming their way into her mind. Something came into view in front of her. A pony stood there. It took a moment to register who was in front of her. It was herself, an exact copy of Rainbow Dash.

The same rainbow mane and cyan coat. The same daredevil smirk and confident military stance. She even wore the same bandages wrapped around her side, covering her burns. But there was one feature which separated the pair. Instead of her normal dark pink, the pony's eyes were milky black.

Rainbow was stunned. Seeing her surprise, her copy's smile grew wider. “Are you scared? Don't be. I am nothing to be scared of. I'm trying to help you.” Something was off about this pony, Rainbow could tell. But her words sank into Rainbow. They felt wrong , but she ignored her feelings, only wanting to listen more. “That's right. Listen to me. Your nightmares aren't nightmares. What you see in your sleep is what is to come if she wins.”

“But, that would mean...” Rainbow trailed off.

The copy sensed her thoughts. “The world is a dark place, full of hurt and torment. But you can prevent it. You can save them from dying, from being corrupted and tormented. You can save everypony. You can stop Twilight. You can do it all by yourself. Prove to them you are the strongest. Prove to the-”

“Rainbow?” A timid voice spoke. Suddenly the copy vanished. In its place was none other than Scootaloo. The small filly stared at Rainbow Dash with a terrified expression. Her mouth hung open and her eyes were full of fear.

Suddenly the voice was forgotten. “Scootaloo?” Rainbow sat up. “Scoots, whats wrong?”

Scootaloo's fear didn't go away. Her breathing picked up. “Rainbow?” She asked, slowly stepping backwards. “What's wrong with your eyes?”

There was a silence between the pair. Rainbow and Scootaloo stared at each other for an agonizing amount of time. Suddenly Rainbow shot up from her position and ran to the small bathroom. She stared at the mirror for what seemed like an eternity at her milky black eyes. “What have you done to me?” She asked to herself. Suddenly her reflection came to life, smirking at her.

“I have shown you what is to come, told you how to save them and bring a criminal to justice. This is what we can be together. We can rise up and defeat her. We can be faster than anypony for the rest of eternity. I can even teach you to live forever. All you must do is let me in. Let me join with your mind, and let us become one. Think of what we could do together.”

The thought was attractive. Eternal life, growing stronger, growing faster. She could see it. She would be remembered for all of eternity. The Hero of Canterlot. The thoughts were delicious.

“Rainbow?” Scootaloo stood outside the door, her look of fear now one of concern. Rainbow stared at the one she had grown to call sister. The way Scoots looked at her. She knew the answer to the choice.

“No.”

Her reflection froze for a moment, staring at her, shocked. “You would reject my generous offer? Why? Think of-”

“I have thought about it.” She interrupted. “You tried to turn me against my family. Do you think I would fear them or they would fear me?”

“Rainbow? Who are you talking to?” Scootaloo asked. But her words went unheard.

“You can't make me believe that. Not for a minute. I know those eyes and that smile.” As she spoke, her words gave her confidence. She knew and believed that they were true. “You're not a part of my mind, demon. I won't fall for your poisonous words. She PUT you in my mind, and tried to turn it against me. So I say, NO.” She yelled at the mirror.

The room went silent as Rainbow and her reflection glared at one another. The Rainbow inside the mirror gave her a menacing sneer before her black eyes melted away into their regular pink hue, signaling the departure of the demon. Rainbow stared at her reflection, not believing she had actually gone. After about a minute, she pried her gaze away from the mirror and met the eyes of the orange pegasus staring at her in confusion.

Suddenly Rainbow's legs shook weakly beneath her. Without warning, they gave out underneath her. She tried to grab onto the edge of the sink, but to no avail as she collapsed against the side of the tub. Scootaloo quickly ran to her side, throwing her hooves around Rainbow's neck.

“Big sis?” She asked breathlessly. “What just happened? Why were you talking to yourself? Are you okay? What's goin-” She was silenced by a warm and tired smile from Rainbow, followed by a hoof wrapping around the smaller pegasus in a hug.

“Don't worry. I'm fine.” The two stayed together for a few moments which seemed to last forever. Rainbow's eyes felt heavy. Her struggle with her copy didn't take much, but her night without sleep seemed to be taking its toll. Slowly and happily she felt herself being lulled to sleep.

Suddenly the smile was gone. Her hooves dropped to her sides as she sat straight up, almost knocking Scootaloo out of her lap. Her mind raced back to her fight with Twilight. What happened after she went unconscious...

“Scootaloo.” Rainbow called, her voice cracking.

The young pegasus looked up at her sister. “Y-yeah?” She said, unsure at Rainbow's almost instantaneous mood change.

Rainbow was silent for a moment. “Could you go downstairs and grab me a glass of water, please?” Scootaloo still looked unsure. Rainbow met her eyes again.

They say that the eyes are the window to the soul. That you can tell everything about a pony through their eyes. Their joys, their fears, their fortunes, their misfortunes. The eyes tell all, and they told Scootaloo far to much.

Slowly the filly shrunk away from Rainbow. The cyan pegasus gave her a small smile of reassurance as she slowly exited the room. As soon as the orange filly had ducked out of the room, the smile vanished off of Rainbow's face. It was instead replaced by one of fury as she mumbled to herself, “Nice try.”

The room was silent this time. Instead the voice was inside of her head, this she was sure of. “You think that was it? Prepare yourself, Commander.” A piercing pain went through Rainbow's head, causing her to shudder and convulse. Against her will, her wings gave a mighty flap, sending her flying out of the small bathroom and into the adjacent wall of her bedroom.

She fought against her sporadic wings, hugging them against her stomach with her hooves to keep them down. But it was to no avail, as her limbs also kicked and flailed against her will. The pain in her head only grew as the dark voice laughed on. “It's adorable watching you struggle. You boast of being so powerful, and yet you can't even control your own mind. She is stronger than you, Commander Dash. You aren't even close to matching her in strength, will, or power. Admit your defeat.”

The pain was so intense, Rainbow couldn't contain a scream from escaping her lips. She could hear Scootaloo calling to her followed by the pounding of hooves. Through the pain and tears which leaked from her eyes she desperately scanned the room. Her eyes settled on the open window.

It only took a moment for her to decide what to do. With great effort, she uncurled her wings from around her chest, kicked off of the floor, and launched herself out of the window and into the sky.

The sound of furious flapping was heard as Fluttershy raced towards the palace. Her speed was nowhere near a match for Rainbow Dash's, but today she flew faster than she ever had, desperate to get her friend help. She was almost a yellow blur as she dove through the palace doors, all the while screaming like a madmare: “PRINCESS LUNA? WHERE IS PRINCESS LUNA.”

At the sight of the panicked mare whom many of the guards were familiar with, as she was close friends of one of their military leaders, a few of them rushed forward trying to calm her whilst others sprinted through the castle searching for the princesses. A few minutes passed before Celestia and Luna came sprinting into the room, flanked by multiple guards. Once they arrived, Fluttershy immediately sprinted and tackled Luna into a strong hug, almost knocking the dark alicorn over.

The startled alicorn was silent as the buttercup pegasus descended into sobbing and tears in front of her. “Miss Fluttershy?” Celestia asked, equally surprised and bewildered at the panicked pegasus. “What in the name of Equestria is going on?”

Through tears and sobs came scattered words from the hysteric pony. “Rainbow... sick...eyes...help.” She said through her sobs.

The two alicorns shared a quick glance as Fluttershy released Luna from her grip and fell to the floor in tears. Though they didn't understand what was happening they both knew something was wrong. Celestia bent down to comfort her subject. She held her for a few moments, stroking her and whispering soothing words to comfort her.

Luna turned to the guard nearest to her. “What's going on?” She demanded.

The armored pony snapped to attention. “She came in here screaming like a banshee. We couldn't get much out of her. She kept saying something about Commander Dash and eyes.”

“Tell me more.” Luna commanded.

“We couldn't make much out, but it sounded bad. She said the commander needed help. That's all.” Luna turned to her sister, who was still holding Fluttershy. Before she could speak, however, Celestia spoke up. “Just go, sister. I'll take care of Fluttershy.” As soon as the words had left Celestia's mouth, a surge of light bathed the room for a moment and when the light died, Luna was gone.

Shining Armor couldn't help but smile. Though he wasn't the alicorn of emotions and love, he could still feel the happiness from the crowd. The mood was infectious, and he gratefully accepted it. The last few days had been hard on him and he was glad to have some time to just him and Cadence.

They had spent most of their time together, and today wasn't an exception. While not as much of a shopper as his spouse, he enjoyed spending time in the sun and fresh air. Cadence was in one of small shops around the marketplace while Shining Armor spent time with others outside.

As he stood overlooking the crowd, something caught his eye in the sky. A speck in the distance flew erratically. Left, right, up, down, the speck flew in all directions as if it was fighting something.

Shining began walking towards a clearing in the crowds, still trying to get a better view of the seemingly disturbed pegasus. As the speck approached he began to make out who it was. Slowly he made out the pegasus's cyan coat and unmistakable rainbow mane.

“Rainbow Dash?” He said to himself. Something was wrong with the pegasus. Shining Armor watched as she seemed to be fighting against herself. She would pull, weave, dive, and even seemed to be trying to fly in two directions at once. He could just make out a pained expression on her face as she kicked and shakily flew through the air.

Shining Armor's horn glowed a bright white, visible even in the sun. He was unsure at first if she had seen the signal to land, but slowly she began making her way towards his location. Suddenly she shot towards him like a rocket, barely slowing down enough to avoid crashing.

Once she hit the ground she stumbled for few a moments before shakily coming to a rest. Shining Armor ran over to the cyan pegasus. Seeing him she turned towards the large stallion. “Dash.” He called, quietly enough for her to hear him, but not bring attention to the pair. “What's going on? You looked like you couldn't control your own wings. Are you okay?”

Only once he had gotten face-to-face with her was his question answered. A quick look told him that she was exhausted. Her features were contorted, most likely from pain, and her eyes were so bloodshot they seemed to glow. Heavy breaths racked her body, causing her to slump forward with each breath. Upon closer inspection her eyes seemed to have... black dots inside. “Shining,” she gasped, “where... where is Cadence?”

He moved closer, wrapping one hoof over her side to help stabilize her. “Dash, what's wrong? I've never seen you like this, and you've had some bad days.” Rainbow only glared at the unicorn. After taking another few moments to catch her breath, she spoke.

“I'm serious Shining. Where is Cadence? I need some help and I need it right now. I don't have time to fool around.”

Shining looked down at the commander. He wanted to crack some joke about how it was funny for her to go to him for help after what she had said to him only a few days ago, or even comment on the fact that she was asking for help at all. But after another look at the pegasus, it was clear that she needed and wanted help.

Shining was speechless for a moment. He looked into Rainbow Dash's eyes. They were crying for help, and he couldn't refuse a fellow soldier. But there was something else. Something was in her eyes. Something dark.

“Stay here, Dash. I'll go find her. Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone.” Rainbow didn't think to retort as the tall unicorn disappeared into the crowds, leaving the cyan pegasus alone. She gripped her head between her front hooves, the aching still present. The twitching and pulling on her legs and wings had suddenly disappeared, but she doubted that the demon had left. It was probably waiting to strike once again. She lifted her head, trying to keep her mind busy by watching the crowds. She watched the ponies who passed by, trying to identify them or study them or define them. Anything to keep her mind busy and keep the creature inside of her from creeping up yet again.

She watched scholars from the local schools pass by. Other members of the guard who stood fulfilling their duties or were in their off time. Sales ponies sold their wares or talked with passing ponies. Groups of school-fillies and colts laughed and played as they ran through the crowds.

Her body tried to relax, almost like it was forcing itself to rest, but still she fought. It would have been bad in her home, but now she was around citizens. The only reason she stayed was because of the possibility of help from Cadence. Years of pushing herself and training in the Royal Guard aided her now, as she fought down her drowsiness and exhaustion.

The ponies in the crowd helped her focus. She listened to the sounds of chatter from the ponies, the hollers from the sales ponies, the ringing of magic, the flapping of wings, and the stomping of hooves. In her present state of mind it was practically a sensory overload, but it helped her stay awake and focused.

As she gazed amongst the crowd a certain pony caught her eye. A shimmer brought her attention to a vibrant gold and yellow unicorn mare, who was far into the crowd, moving away from Rainbow. While others in the crowd were their own variant of colors, shapes, and sizes, Rainbow couldn't help but think the pony looked familiar. She had never seen this pony before. Her mind was practically photographic, and she would have remembered her by her beautiful coat and mane.

No. It was something else. Something was... drawing her to that pony. She couldn't even bring herself to look away. She slowly moved from her sitting position and began walking towards the unicorn. It was like she was being pulled to her.

The unicorn was silent as she walked. She wore a small, pleasant smile as she moved with the crowd and enjoyed the pleasant day. As she walked, Rainbow couldn't help but sense a familiarity in the unicorn. Her small body, her facial features, even her mane and tail were familiar.

And yet she couldn't remember who the unicorn was.

Still not satisfied, Rainbow tried to move in even closer. She wanted to get an up-close view of her mystery mare and didn't want to leave until she did. She began ducking and weaving through the crowd, completely forgetting her order from Shining Armor to stay put.

As she got closer, a large stallion who hadn't been paying attention knocked into her. The pair stumbled back, each staring surprised at the other. “Hey,” Rainbow jeered, “watch where you're going.” The stallion simply nodded his head in apology before sauntering off . Rainbow turned back, scanning the crowd for her mystery mare again.

It only took her a moment to find the vibrantly colored mare again, but this time something was different. The mare's posture had changed and her small smile was gone. She moved oddly through the crowd. She seemed to be looking around Rainbow, or trying to not look at her at all. 'Does she recognize me as well?' Rainbow thought to herself. She dismissed the thought, however. If the mare had done so, she would have at least met her eyes, or directly looked at her.

But this mare seemed to be trying to watch her without watching her. This only piqued Rainbow's curiosity even more. She moved towards the mare again, still trying to get close to her. Maybe she could even speak with her. After another few moments, Rainbow was only yards behind the mare.

She was about to speak up and call to the pony, when she was struck by another passerby, this time being shoved onto the ground. She quickly jumped back to her hooves, eyes flashing angrily. The pony that had rammed her kept running, but a quick glance told Rainbow exactly who she was. She was a small, purple unicorn with a pink stripe running down her mane and eyes of solid black. She flashed Rainbow a devious smile before turning back and running into the crowd.

Rainbow snarled before charging after Twilight. She ducked and weaved through the crowd in chase of her prey, but after only a moment she had lost her target amongst the other ponies. Her head snapped from side to side. At first she found nothing, but after a few moments of searching the purple pony sprinted by, nearly knocking her to the ground once again.

Before Rainbow could give chase, however, another Twilight ran to her right. Rainbow whirled around only to have another appear behind her. Everywhere she turned there was another Twilight. Each one was identical in every way. As Rainbow spun in circles, she noticed that none of the other ponies around her had noticed the dozens of Twilight Sparkles running about the market.

“That's because they are under my control, silly little pegasus.” A familiar voice taunted. “They have been watching this whole time, and you never even knew it. How pathetic.”

Rainbow gritted her teeth. The pounding, which she hadn't noticed had gone away, suddenly returned. “No.” She whispered softly through clenched teeth.

“You doubt my power, pegasus? Let me show just what I mean.'” For a few moments the world went silent for Rainbow, the sound of her breathing the only audible thing. The cyan pegasus, cradling her head, scanned the crowd. Nothing had changed. Nothing was wrong.

Suddenly, the market froze. Everypony stood still, as if they too awaited something.

Suddenly they all turned to the pegasus. Devious grins dominated their faces as they stared her down with solid black eyes.

Rainbow drew a sharp breath before going silent. The dozens of ponies stared her down as she sat helplessly between them all. At first there was nothing. Only air escaped her. But slowly it fought it's way from her mind to her body and her piercing scream emerged.

Shining Armor finished searching through yet another store. His wife was still nowhere to be found. “Thank you.” He said to the clerk before running out of the door. It had been several minutes since he was with Rainbow, and he was getting worried. He didn't know what was wrong, but it was serious if she was scared of it.

He ran into the adjacent building, his luck the same as it was with the last. He ran back and forth between the buildings from store to store. He was beginning to worry about Cadence now. Though there were no more threats from the changelings as of the siege on Canterlot, the possibility was still alive and well that some force would wish her harm, especially with events as they currently were.

As he approached the far end of the street, his thoughts were put to ease when he nearly trampled his wife as she exited a small building. The two collided, and Cadence's bags, held in her magic, dropped to the ground, causing the contents to spill into the street. “Shining, watch where you're going.” She said angrily while picking herself up. She looked at the spilled contents of her bags. “You made me drop my things.” But before she could retrieve the items, Shining grabbed her by the hoof. “We don't have time, Cadence. We need to go. Now.”

Cadence glared as her husband dragged her through the street. “Shining, what's going on? And I can walk, by the way.”

Shining didn't let go, however. “I don't have time to explain, but there is something wrong with Rainbow Dash and she needs your help.”

Cadence wanted to laugh. Rainbow, ask for help? Ha. She was nice, but she was also one of the most stubborn ponies Cadence had ever met.“Are you joking? Why would Rainbow ask for help? And really, Shining, may I have my hoof back?”

Shining released her, but didn't stop moving. “We don't have time, Cadence. Just trust me. It's not a laughing matter right now and I really think she needs help.”

Cadence ran to catch up with her husband, who was far more fit than she was, as he turned a corner. “Shining Armor, what could be so serious that Rainbow would 'need' my help? Don't you think that you're being a little paranoid or something?”

Suddenly a piercing scream came from behind them. The couple shared a look before sprinting towards the scream. After a moment it was silenced, only causing them to run faster. It was less than a minute before they arrived, to see Rainbow passed out in the street. The ponies crowding the street rushed back and forth, unsure of where the scream had come from. The two fought through the wave of frantic ponies to get to their friend.

As Shining pushed through he turned to say something to Cadence, but found nopony there. “Cadence?” He called out. He found her a ways behind him, standing still. Her horn glowed and a look of shock dominated her features. “CADENCE?” He yelled again, but she still didn't respond. He looked back and forth between the two before running through the crowd to Rainbow Dash. He gripped her body in his magical grasp and effortlessly slung her across his back.

After making sure she was safe, he pushed through the ponies back to his wife. She still stood in the same spot, but now her eyes were closed in concentration. “Cadence? What's wrong? Why didn't you answer me?”

“Shining.” Her horn glowed brighter. “Shining, it's her. She's here, in the market. Twilight is here.” Shining stared at his wife, jaw hanging open in shock. He turned back, scanning the ponies still running. He noticed however that one pony wasn’t running with the others. A golden unicorn glared at the pair. Shining could almost feel the hate emanating off of the pony.

His voice caught in his throat. It couldn't be. “Twilight.” He whispered.

A scream caused his attention to snap back to his wife. “SHINING,” Cadence screeched, “MY HORN. IT BURNS.” She screamed as she fell to the ground, clutching her horn between her hooves.

“CADENCE!” Shining lunged forward to catch her but before he could, a dark alicorn dove out of the sky, striking the ground the ground so hard she left cracks in the stone.

Wordlessly she picked up her niece resting her on her back. “Princess, thank goodness you're here. Princess, she was-” Shining Armor was cut off by a flash of light. After a moment the light faded and Luna, Shining, Cadence, and Rainbow were gone.

Author's Note

Two chapters in a row. Looks like I'm finally breaking my streak. Thanks to The Pink Mugsy for editing this chapter

Urgent matters

Being teleported without warning is not a fun experience.

Even for unicorns, whose bodies are naturally set for, and have their own counters to, magic, sudden teleportation can be a violent experience. And the farther the teleportation, the more of an impact it leaves on the body. Even for a unicorn of Shining Armor's power and strength, this was no exception.

Being teleported straight from the market to the castle; specifically to Celestia's chambers, which had been empty save for a few still lit candles and open books resting on her desk, was enough to rip the air from Shining Armor's lungs, leaving him rolling on the floor, gasping. Cadence and Rainbow, being unconscious, were spared the pain of their sudden arrival.

Luna, however, did not focus on the captain. Instead she hurried over to the unconscious Rainbow Dash. Gently she levitated her students body off of the floor and over to her bed, leaving her suspended just a few inches above the mattress. She swept her horn up and down Rainbow's body, all the while shaking her head with a sick expression.

Shining Armor watched with concern. Whatever Luna was finding in Rainbow Dash, it wasn't good. In fact, it looked a whole lot worse than just “bad.” The glow enveloping Luna's horn died after a moment. With two hooves, she opened one of Rainbow's eyes, staring intently with the same disgusted expression.

After a few moments, she finally broke the long silence. “Captain,” she called. Instantly he jumped to his hooves, snapping to attention. Luna, however, barely noticed. “Bring Cadenza to me.” She ordered.

Shining hesitated, giving a nervous glance to Luna then to his wife. He had never heard Luna speak like this. Her normal cheery and playful tone was gone. He had heard her give military instructions before, but when she gave them, her tone wasn't cold and distant. Her words were never spoken just below a whisper, trying to control the fury behind them.

Her words were never this sad.

Luna turned to him suddenly. “CAPTAIN.” She yelled again. Similar to how she had done, Shining levitated the pink alicorn in front of Luna.

Luna repeated the same process with Cadance that she had done with Rainbow Dash. Shining watched on with a worried expression. “P-princess? Is she okay?” Luna remained silent as she checked Cadance's eyes. After a few tense moments, she gave a sigh of relief.

“She's fine, Shining Armor.” Luna breathed. “She just needs to rest.” With her magic she drew the curtains. The bed sheets wrapped themselves around the sleeping mares and the candles extinguished, shrouding the room in darkness.

She began walking towards the large doors. As she opened them Shining spoke up. “Um, princess?”

Luna froze for a moment. “Yes, Shining Armor?” She replied, tiredly.

The unicorn stood awkwardly. “Where are you going, exactly?” He bit his tongue after he spoke. He didn't mean to sound so demanding.

Luna didn't pay any mind to it. “I need to retrieve my sister. I will be back soon.” There was a silence between to the two. “Is there anything else, Captain?”

Shining took a moment to respond. “I...I just wanted to know...can I?” He motioned to his sleeping wife. “I just wanted to know if it was safe to...”

Luna nodded her head as he went silent. “Yes, she is safe.” She said as the doors closed behind her.

As soon as Luna had gone, Shining Armor practically threw himself at his sleeping wife, drawing her body into a tight hug, breathing a sigh of relief to himself. “Thank goodness you're okay.” He whispered to her.

He nuzzled her neck softly as she breathed gentle puffs of air. He always found it adorable the way she slept. He loved listening to her soft breathing as they lay curled up together. Unconsciously she squirmed, moving her body around the familiar shape of his. Shining smiled as he rested his head next to hers.

He laid with her on the edge of the bed, holding her and listening to the sound of her breathing until Luna returned, only a few minutes later. This time, Celestia and Fluttershy were with her. Almost as soon as they appeared, Fluttershy launched herself on top Rainbow Dash, embracing the cyan pegasus similar to how Shining Armor held Cadance.

“Shining Armor,” Celestia called. While her tone was firm, her words were soft. “Luna and I need to speak with you and Ms. Fluttershy for a few moments. We'll be waiting outside when you're ready.” She said with a warm smile before she and Luna turned and left the room.

Shining looked over to Fluttershy, who still held her friend. After a moment she looked up to meet his gaze, and the two locked eyes for a brief moment before returning their attention to their loved ones. Shining gave Cadance a quick peck on her head and Fluttershy mumbled a quiet goodbye to Rainbow Dash.

A moment later, the two accompanied each other out of the dark and quiet room. Closing the door behind them, they saw the two alicorn sisters speaking together in hushed tones. Their words were quick and their tones serious as they whispered back and forth, both trying not to talk over the other.

Fluttershy and Shining Armor watched the two for a moment, seeing that they had yet to be recognized. “Um, Princesses?” Fluttershy whispered bashfully. The alicorns continued, still unaware of their guests.

“AHEM.” Shining called.

The sisters turned towards the unicorn and pegasus. They shared a quick look before Celestia spoke. “My little ponies,” Celestia began. Her tone was serious. “It appears we have much to speak on.”

The sun shone through the curtains in Octavia's home. The house was mostly silent except for a constant tapping of hooves against the cold floor. The beautiful sun, which earlier that day had brought hope and joy and happiness and warm feelings, now felt all to hot. The light felt revealing. It made Twilight feel as if she was under a watchful eye, which never averted it gaze.

Almost as soon as she and Octavia had returned, she threw the curtains over the windows, trying to block out every trace of the burning light. And still it seemed to taunt her from the other side of the window, as if saying, “You think you can stay hidden, but I already know where you are.”

Since returning,she had locked herself in the bedroom she and her lover shared. The only sound escaping from the cracks in the door was a constant tap tap tap of her hooves. Each step left a ringing in Twilight’s ears, like the crashing of glass on stone or the ringing of cymbals, as if even her hoof steps would give her away.

Periodically Octavia had knocked on the door, asking if she was okay, and for over an hour her concerns were met with only the tapping of hooves on the cold wooden floor. Despite the guilt she felt in the incident, she knew that when Twilight panicked she wouldn't always listen to reason.

After some time, Octavia quietly walked towards the door. She knocked three times with one hoof but was met with silence. “Twilight? Are you there?” Still nothing.

Suddenly scared, she stood on her hind legs and retrieved a small key from above her door. Quickly, she fit it into the keyhole, the door swung open, and she walked into the room.

There lay Twilight curled up on the bed. Her eyes were closed as she breathed gently through her open mouth. Octavia watched the sleeping unicorn for a moment before sighing in relief. She was safe, only sleeping. Octavia slowly made her way next to her partner, snuggling up against the purple unicorn.

It was almost six o-clock. The winter sun had already set and a calm darkness had fallen over Canterlot. It had been a long and stressful day, and seeing her lover fast asleep made her realize how tired she was. She nuzzled Twilight's neck. The feelings surrounding her felt... magical.

The two cuddled together and soon Octavia was fast asleep, lost in the presence of her companion. Silence fell across the room for a few moments, save for the soft breathing of the two mares. Suddenly, one went silent.

Twilight's eyes snapped open. Slowly she turned towards her sleeping mare-friend. She pulled her neck away, catching Octavia's head in her magic. Twilight slid a pillow underneath her head, not wanting to disturb her.

Grabbing her bags and coat,she crept silently out of the room, shutting the door behind her. A moment later she was out the front door, walking the Canterlot streets. Normally she would be going to the tunnels to continue working, but not tonight.

Tonight she needed to pay somepony a visit.

Shining Armor stood in the castle hall, his jaw hanging open. “What do you mean, possessed?” Luna and Celestia looked down at Shining and Fluttershy. The buttercup pegasus was silent as she stared at the floor.

“I found traces of dark magic in Rainbow's system.” Luna began, downcast. “And it was not only present in her mind. Whatever it was, it practically ran through her veins.”

Fluttershy was on the verge of tears. “C-can you h-help her?” she choked with a small voice.

Luna and Celestia looked to each other for a moment, before the alabaster alicorn spoke. “We may not have to. From what Luna told me, it seems like the dark magic inside of Rainbow Dash is... gone.”

“Gone?” Fluttershy asked, her voice hopeful.

“Yeah, how can it be gone?” Shining seconded. “I don't mean to scare Fluttershy, but that magic was so deep-seated inside of her, she was going through physical attacks. That kind of black magic should be almost impossible to get out. Shouldn't she be in the emergency ward going through white magic transfusions?”

“Believe me, Captain, I don't understand it myself.” Luna replied. “I went to their home after Fluttershy came to the palace and I spoke to Scootaloo. She told me what she saw and heard, and I'm glad I found you in the market before any damage could be done. But regardless, when I examined Rainbow, there were only traces of magic. Dark spots still lingering in her mind and body. Neither Celestia nor I can explain it. It is simply gone.”

“But how it is gone is the question.” Celestia shook her head lightly. “Something of this nature does not simply leave. Magic like this manifests on fear and hatred and other negative emotions. You said that she had been having nightmares, correct, Ms. Fluttershy?” The small pegasus nodded her head. “If the magic had gone as far as to be present in her eyes, it would mean almost full possession. It could have taken over her body on a whim, and seems to have done just that.”

“Great.” Shining mumbled. From bad to worse. “But what about Cadance? Why did she collapse. There was no transfer between them. They didn't even touch. Could it have be-?” Shining went silent. He stared forward, eyes growing large.

“Shining?” Luna called. “What were you going to say?”

The tall unicorn covered his mouth with one hoof, letting out a long breath. “She was there.” He breathed. “She was there when Rainbow screamed and when Cadance collapsed. I saw her. She was disguised, but I know it was her.”

The room seemed to get colder for Shining and the alicorn sisters. Fluttershy, however, looked between the group as they all stood still. “Who was there?” Fear creeped back into her voice.

“Someone with a grudge against Rainbow Dash, it would seem.” Luna said under her breath.

Celestia took the time to speak. “If this is true, then we may have a serious problem on our hooves. Even bigger than before. We will be keeping Rainbow under guard until we deem she is ready to be released. If Rainbow's enemy is coming after her, then we can't be too careful. I think it best to leave some guards outside of your house, Fluttershy. You and Scootaloo could be a target.” Fluttershy nodded silently as Celestia continued. “We do not, however, need to keep Cadenza. I don't believe her to be the target for this 'attack' but we can keep her over night for observation, if you would like.” She said this to Shining Armor.

“It'll be fine. If there's nothing wrong, I think it would be best to take her home with me.” He turned away from the others, walking back to Celestia's room.

Celestia nodded. “As you wish, Captain.”

“If only it was.” He mumbled to himself.

Cadance lay silently on the large bed she shared with Shining Armor. Quietly he drew the curtains tight, cutting off the setting sunlight. Moving to where she lay, he gave her a peck on the forehead before turning and leaving the room, shutting the door behind him.

He walked to the Great Room which, despite the name, was rather small considering the positions the couple held. It held a couch, some comfort chairs, and a bookshelf, but nothing else. Shining plopped down on the couch with his head in his hooves.

He drew a shaky breath as he sat. A cold feeling settled on him. The past few days' events had left him shaken, and tonight he felt even worse.

He felt vulnerable. He was by far one of the strongest unicorns alive, and yet compared to what he had heard of his sister, his power compared to hers was like a regular unicorn compared to an alicorn. Single-handedly she had taken on Render and his men in a five-on-one and defeated them with no injuries. He may not have had much respect for the greedy unicorn, but Render was strong. He was strong enough to be pretty high ranked in the guard.

And yet he was defeated by a unicorn half his size. Something still bothered him about their battle though. Until Twilight had battled Rainbow Dash, nopony knew the limits of her strength. She could even channel power from the sun! If she really wanted to, she could have blasted Render and his men off of Equestria. But she didn't. She fought him like it was personal.

Shining sat up. It was personal. He recalled a memory from after the accident of the morning when Twilight disappeared. Render was in the 'accident.' But after learning what his sister was capable of, he wasn't so sure it was just that.

Shining stood quickly. He had just noticed something else. It was unnaturally cold in the sitting room. The chill he had felt earlier was gone. Something else had replaced it, something darker. The cold which wrapped around him was... unnatural. You could even say it was...

“Magical.” He whispered.

His breath turned cold as he made a final realization.

He wasn't alone.

He turned to see two eyes staring back at him. A cold voice spoke, cutting through the darkness like a knife. “Hello, brother.”

Heart to Heart

There was a long silence between the two unicorns. Their eyes locked, neither of them wanting to lose the other. On one side stood Twilight Sparkle, only her eyes visible through the thick, magical darkness filling the house. Across from her stood Shining Armor. His mouth hung open trying to find words to speak as his lost sister stared at him room across the room.

His first reaction should have been to run and protect Cadence, maybe even call for help. He knew what she was capable of doing, and if she came here in person, it couldn't have been good. He wanted to scream at her. He wanted to know just what the hay happened at the market and what the buck she was thinking. On the other hand, he wanted to run forward, embrace her, and never let go. He wanted to hold his baby sister again and feel her mane running over his hooves.

He wanted her to tell him what had happened to Cadence, or what she did to Rainbow Dash. Why she had come back now, and why she'd left a trail of bodies wherever she went.

She had murdered a bar full of stallions, criminal ones mind you, but she did it with absolutely no provocation. She had attacked Render and his men, which had admittedly brought the corrupt stallions to justice without any death. She then proceeded to attack Rainbow Dash, even after the pegasus stated her business with no malice.

Luna herself went after the rogue mare when Rainbow Dash returned half dead, beaten, burned, and sliced to pieces, and Twilight was found collaborating with changelings, who were at one time the biggest threat to Equestria there had been in thousands of years. After that she had broken into the palace, assaulted a guard and nearly caved in his skull, stolen his armor, and fled into the city where she had caused even more trouble and panic.

Her loyalty was to some unknown 'master' whom she cryptically referred to in her old journal. Some of her actions could be considered just, but barely. Her others, however, were bordering on pure evil. Not to mention she possibly suffered from multiple personality disorder, and one of those personalities happened to be blood thirsty, murderous, unbelievably powerful, and intent on causing as much trouble as possible.

So as the same pony stared back at Shining Armor, the stallion found himself torn between love for his sister, and his duty to protect his ponies.

“I must say I'm impressed, Captain.” Twilight finally spoke, her eyes drifting closer to Shining Armor. The stallion stood frozen as she approached him. “I always knew you were dutiful, but to think you would become Captain of the Royal Guard surprises me.” Her eyes scanned him up and down. “Especially as young as you are. Somepony of your power could live for three hundred years. Minimum.”

Slowly she came into view in front of Shining Armor. It was the same coat and mane he had seen when she was still a filly. The stars decorating her flank were the only thing which stood out on the smaller unicorn. She followed his gaze onto her flank and gave him a toothy smile. “You like it? So do I. Who would have though my cutie mark would have been in magic? Certainly not me.”

'Magic'. Shining though back to when she was a filly. The troubles she had. She had struggled to make the smallest of magical sparks appear, and it would leave her exhausted for hours sometimes. Then of course there were the times when she would lose all control. He remembered when it really took a turn for the worst, when she had blasted a small crater in her school room.

“But let's not focus on me.” Shining's attention was brought back by his sister's cryptic speech. “You've done much more than become Captain of the Guard. Perhaps the most surprising thing you've done. Something beyond even my comprehension.” She was only a few steps away now. Shining's breath caught in his throat as his sister grinned at him from the darkness. Though there was no dark magic like there had been with Rainbow, his sister's grin terrified him like nothing had before.

“How did you get a Princess to marry you?”

Suddenly, Shining Armor's fear turned to confusion. His mouth hung open for a moment, trying to find the words to respond. “What?” He finally spoke, utterly confused.

Twilight's smile grew larger. “Come come now, Shiny.” She teased. “I remember you as a young stallion. You couldn't even look mares in the eye when you spoke to them. Every time Cadence came to our house to watch me, your face lit up like a Hearth's Warming Eve candle. Besides,” she chuckled, “for all the times you oggled at the Royal Guards, I thought you were more of a colt-cuddler.”

Shining felt like he'd been kicked in the face. This couldn't be the same sister he had been hearing about for the past few weeks. He stared at her, his jaw on the floor. “WHAT?” He almost screamed.

The two stared at each other in silence for a few moments before Twilight broke down in laughter. A rich, hearty laughter which Shining would have found funny, was he not utterly floored at his sister and her demeanor.

After a few moments, Twilight's laughing ceased. She collected herself, looking to Shining Armor with a warm smile. The magical darkness around them slowly began melting away, bringing light back to the Great Room. “Honestly, big brother, you're much easier to fool than I remember.” She sighed softly. “Though I can understand your fear. I haven't exactly made the best name for myself. But regardless,” She stepped forward, wrapping her hooves around his neck before he could react.

“Hello Shining Armor.”

The tall stallion stood with his mouth hanging open as his sister's mane brushed against his face. He couldn't decide whether to return the loving embrace or push his sister away and tell her to leave.

Before he could make a decision or react, Twilight withdrew from the hug. She smiled at Shining Armor, not with a smirk or an insane grin, but with a warm smile which spoke volumes about what she felt right now. This wasn't a trap or some trick, meant to bring about even more mischief or pain.

In front of Shining Armor was a mare reunited with a family member after so many years.

Twilight sat down on one of the recliners. “Twilight.” Shining Armor breathed, his voice nervous. The purple mare beckoned with one hoof to the couch adjacent to the chair, inviting him to sit next to her.

Shining shook his head silently. Twilight raised an eyebrow before shrugging to herself. “I can't blame you. I certainly haven't earned your trust, and you have no reason to even be standing in front of me. I'm actually surprised you haven't attacked me or run for help. Although, technically you would be defending Cadence and yourself, since I did break into your home. I'm still s-”

“Why are you here?” Shining Armor interrupted. Twilight stared at him open-mouthed. There was tension between the two as the silence went on.

After a few seconds, Twilight sighed. “I suppose that's the obvious question. I was hoping to wait, but...” She sat up in the large chair. “I suppose there is no point in putting it off, hmm? Straight to business.”

Though she was sure of herself, Shining couldn't help but notice sadness in her tone. As if she truly wanted to have an honest chat. “After all,” Twilight spoke again, “it's like I said. You have NO reason to trust me. And why should you? Let me guess. The first you had heard of me was after the bar incident, wasn't it?” Shining's silence answered her question.

Twilight leaned back. “I'm sorry it had to be that way.” She frowned towards the ground. “But if it-”

“Why are you here Twilight?” Shining interrupted again. “No more wandering, rambling answers. Why? Are? You? Here? You've been gone for almost 16 years. The last time I saw you, you were eight years old. What happened to you? Where did you go? What the hay happened that day? Why did you even come back?” Shining Armor's voice cracked as he snapped at his sister. A small tear gathered in the corner of his eye where the mare could not see.

Shining Armor rubbed his eye with one leg. “Why are you doing all of this, Twilight? Since you entered my home, however you did THAT, you've spoken cryptically, reminiscing about the past. You've been dodging questions the entire time you've been here, so either you answer this question or I begin defending myself.” Shining moved towards his sister, standing over her, anger and hurt in his eyes.

“Why are you here?”

Twilight took a deep breath after he spoke. “Back 16 years ago, on that day, someone saved me. My powers went out of control, and I almost put a crater into Canterlot so big that the entire city could have fallen off the mountain. They helped me get my power under control. Once I could see clearly again, I saw what I had done. All those fillies and colts who had chased me. Dead, broken, unconscious, and injured.” Twilight stared forward, her expression grim.

“I didn't even think about it. I just ran. I ran until my little legs couldn't carry me any farther. The one who saved me guided me towards shelter. He sent me towards somepony who could take care of me, make me strong and teach me how to use my magic.” Shining Armor's legs felt weak. Shakily, he sat down on the floor as his sister continued.

“Since then I've been training, learning, and growing stronger. He guided me the entire way. And now he needs me. Once I'm finished in Canterlot, I can put everything behind me.” Twilight looked up, her tone hopeful. “Once I'm finished, I can finally rest. I can finally be at peace.” Shining Armor felt like a weight had been placed on his shoulders.

“But,” Twilight slowly rose from her seat. “right now, I can't do that. I still have to work, but I need your help, Shining Armor.”

The stallion perked up. “What? My help? Twilight, I CAN'T help you. Didn't you hear me? Right now, one of us should be either dead, or in chains. I can't help you.”

“Shining Armor, listen to me.” She ordered, silencing her brother. “You can help. Shining Armor, I don't want ponies to get hurt. I've hurt far too many already. If you and the princesses keep searching for me, more ponies are going to get hurt. I can do this without anypony dying, but if you keep coming after me, I can't promise anypony will be safe. Yourself included.”

Shining was frozen yet again. Was she really saying this? It was as if she had completely flipped. She was practically threatening him in his own home. Shining Armor turned towards his closed bedroom door, where his wife still slept peacefully. No pony could be injured, that was what she had said.

“If I do this, Shining Armor, you won't have to worry about me. I will be gone before the sun even rises. It will be done, my mission will be accomplished, and peace will be restored. No injuries. No casualties. But if I go it alone, I can't promise the same results.” Twilight shook her head, staring Shining Armor in the eyes. The stallion drew shaky breaths, still meeting his sister's gaze.

“I... Twilight I... I don't...” He trailed off. Twilight approached him. As her horn glowed, a satchel Shining hadn't even seen levitated from one corner of the room. She looked inside, rifling through the contents for a moment before drawing out a small stone. On it was a hexagon with a rune carved into it.

“Take this. Once you've decided, let me know.” Shining stared at the stone. “Brother,” Twilight called, bringing his attention back to her. Her expression was serious. “I will not hold anything over you if you say no, but I am begging you to help me. We can keep so many safe if you help me.” She leaned forwards, giving him a quick peck on the forehead. “I will speak to you again. I love you. Also, tell mom congratulations for me.”

Shining Armor felt magic in the air again as the room went dark, Twilight's shape barely visible. The mare turned and ran into the eternally stretching darkness. Once the magic lifted she was gone, leaving Shining Armor holding the small stone, a lone tear rolling down his cheek.

Reminiscences

12 Days remaining

Silence ran through the hospital wing, as the evening sun set into the sky, spreading it's last light and warmth across Equestria before the cool of night dominated the country. Though it was never busy, as times of distress were rare, all of the beds in the massive room remained empty save for one. It was occupied by a cyan pegasus that everypony in the castle knew as Rainbow Dash.

As she lay on her back, her chest rose and fell with gentle breaths as she slept. Doctors, magic experts, and the Princesses had spent most of the night looking over the pegasus, examining her and studying her mind and body.

Resting on a small counter beside her bed was a basket of flowers. Fluttershy and Scootaloo had brought them earlier for when Rainbow finally woke up and so that they could see their loved one again. Only after Celestia and Luna had repeatedly assured them of Rainbow's safety, did the pegasi return home with promises to return the next day.

The rays from the setting sun shone on Rainbow's face. After she had collapsed in the market, her body had nearly shut down completely. Her heart and mind were running only enough to maintain the most basic of bodily functions, while the rest of her body lay comatose in the bed.

Despite this, the evening rays of sunshine slowly caused the soldier's body to stir and as the light played upon her face, she woke up. A soft smile spread across her features. She nestled herself deeper into her blankets, wrapping the sheets tighter around herself. The warm feeling enveloping her body made her feel tired despite only just awaking moments ago.

Normally it was a feeling she would push off to start her day, but today she accepted this feeling. Despite what she may have said to others, she'd had a stressful few days and wanted to relax.

Suddenly, her smile disappeared. The feeling of warmth seemed to drain from her, as her blood ran cold. The warmth from the sun no longer cast its glow upon her. Suddenly, she was called back to the events of the previous day. Her room, Fluttershy, the market.

And, of course, Scootaloo. Everything the poor filly had seen. Rainbow bolted upright in her bed, throwing off her sheets. Instantly, she recognized the room she laid in as the castle's medical wing. Adrenaline, prompted by the memory of the previous day, coursed through her veins. A heart monitor beside her bed began beeping erratically, following the pegasus's rapid heartbeat.

She grabbed her head on instinct, as if preparing for the thought-shattering headaches from earlier. She was shocked to find that they didn't come. Over the past few days, the pain had seemed to have a routine. As if it had ingrained itself into her memory.

Her attention was snapped to a pair of doors only a few hoof steps from her bed, as they were flung open. Almost as soon as they had opened Princess Luna rushed into the room, her eyes immediately locking onto Rainbow Dash.

Behind her, trailed a light brown stallion in a doctor's coat and a pale white mare wearing a nurse's cap. The three rushed to the bed side, much to Rainbow's surprise. The cyan mare opened her mouth to speak, but didn't get the opportunity as Luna enveloped her in a hug.

It was convenient that she was already in the hospital, as Luna squeezed the breath out of Rainbow's still-tired body. “Celestia almighty, Princess. Maybe you should loosen up on the grip, she's turning an even deeper shade of blue.” The doctor scorned the alicorn as Rainbow gasped for breath.

The dark blue alicorn blushed as she released her student, the cyan mare shooting her a hard look for the hug. The doctor and nurse inspected the mare, pushing the princess out of their way. Meanwhile, Rainbow's brow furrowed at the display before her. “Princess?” She yelled. “What in the wide world of Equestria is going on?”

None of the ponies spoke, however, as the doctor and nurse inspected her and her heart monitor. The nurse tugged at a plastic wire, and Rainbow realized that she had an I.V. drawing blood in her left foreleg, along with other needles and what seemed to be a white magic transfusion I.V. connected to her right foreleg.

A pure white substance, presumably the magic, ran through the tube and into her body. White magic transfusions where mainly used to clean impurities from a pony's body, ridding bacteria, viruses, or any other unclean substances from the body. It could even be used to clean alcohol from the blood stream, but for Rainbow it was much more serious. This magic was being used to flush the dark magic from her body, unbeknownst to the pegasus.

Rainbow realized where the warmth that had spread throughout her body had come from. “Princess?” She began, slower this time. “What in the hell is going on, and just what am I wearing?”

Before Luna could speak, however, the nurse cut in. “Oh, do be quiet, Ms. Dash. Give us a moment will you?” Normally it wouldn't have bothered her, but in her confusion and annoyance with the situation she glared at the nurse. She opened her mouth to give the flippant nurse a piece of her mind, but was cut off by Luna this time.

“Rainbow Dash.” The Alicorn of the Night called sternly, silencing any words from the cyan pegasus. “Please wait a moment.” Her tone was warmer in the second statement, but the stare she gave Rainbow was one which stated that she wasn't in the mood to argue. Rainbow had no choice but to lay back in silence as the medical staff examined her.

After a few minutes of silence, the doctor spoke again. “Well Princess, everything checks out. She seems healthy. Her body is suffering from some exhaustion, but other than that, she's fine.” The stallion disconnected the tube feeding the pure magic into her body as well as others while the nurse pulled the blood I.V. from Rainbow's other leg.

She moved to cover the needle hole with a cloth, but Rainbow grabbed it away from the mare, applying the cloth herself. After a glare towards the cyan mare, both the nurse and doctor exited the room, leaving the teacher and student alone together.

The door closed behind the pair of medics with a resounding BANG. The remaining pair regarded each other with concern. “So now that we have some peace and quiet, would you mind telling me what happened?” Rainbow asked, her tone coming across more inconvenienced than angry. “At least tell me if anypony was hurt. Shining Armor, Cadence, Fluttershy? What about-”

“She's fine.” Luna spoke up. “So are the others. Fluttershy and Scootaloo are suffering more from wounded hearts then anything. Shining Armor took Cadence home yesterday. The events from the other day caused quite a stir around Canterlot.”

Rainbow stared down at her sheets. The light, now rapidly falling, reminded her of the one responsible for this whole ordeal. The one who was in the market when she had collapsed. The one who had planted the... whatever it was, in her head.

Twilight Sparkle had it out for her ever since they had met in the snowy wasteland only a little over a week ago, and now her actions could have gotten Rainbow's family hurt, or even worse. Rainbow glared at the sheets, her hooves trembling. Nopony could hurt her family and get away with it.

“Rainbow Dash.” Angrily, Rainbow turned towards her mentor. The alicorn had sadness and compassion in her eyes. “I know that look, and it never leads to anything good. I know what you're thinking, and I want to set it straight before you do anything rash.” The cyan pegasus sighed, her body sagging. She knew what Luna would say.

“I know, I know. I can't go after her, because now it's “personal” and I would be blinded by my anger and desire for revenge. That's why you're still going to keep me on leave.”

The alicorn laid a gentle hoof on Rainbow's shoulder. “Yes, and I'm sorry, Rainbow.” She said, her tone matching her feelings. “I don't mean to make you angry, and you know that I only want what's best for you.” The alicorn huffed. “You know, it's strange. When I was younger, Celestia used to say that to me so much it was almost a daily occurrence.”

Rainbow looked up to the musing alicorn, a small smile on Luna's lips as she stared off. “I always fought her, and yet I followed her anyway. Looking back, I realize how much of naive little filly I was. So full of gusto and pride.” She looked down at Rainbow Dash. “That's why I took you in. I saw so much of me in you. Your generosity and loyalty are overwhelming, and it shows by how much you care for Fluttershy and little Scootaloo.”

“But be warned, Rainbow Dash. Don't ever, EVER, let your anger get the best of you. I let mine get the best of me, and I nearly paid dearly for it. And our entire kingdom almost paid for my mistake, as well.” Luna wrapped her hooves around Rainbow. The cyan pegasus was shocked, but after a moment she returned the hug. “Please, Rainbow Dash.” Luna whispered into the mare's ear. “You are so strong and can do so many great things.”

She pulled away, looking into Rainbow's eyes. “Don't let your anger get the best of you. It will cost you so dearly. I couldn't stand to see you like that. It would destroy me.” A tear leaked out from Rainbow's eyes. Luna pulled away, still gripping the mare's shoulders. Her eyes watered as well, tears threatening to spill over.

“Please, Rainbow Dash. Please.”

The crackling of fresh logs encompassed in flames came from the fireplace as shadows danced across the living room, bringing a dim light and warmth to the dark and cool house. In one corner of the room a record spun on its player, old hearth's warming carols drifted from the device and into Twilight Velvet's ears.

The white and purple striped mare laid back on a large recliner, her eyes closed and a large smile on her face as she enjoyed the peace and serenity. Night Light had left her company some time ago to 'hit the hay' early that evening, leaving the older mare alone to her thoughts. A book was spread open on her chest. She had put it down expecting to pick it up again, but found the darkness beneath her eyelids even more attractive.

The serenity was interrupted by three rapid knocks on her door. Her ears perked up at the sudden interruption. She sighed to herself before rolling out of the chair. Slowly, she made her way to the door after pulling the needle away from the still-spinning record. Stifling a yawn, she opened the door to see Shining Armor.

Through bleary eyes she made out her son's distressed expression as he met her eyes. “H-hey mom.” He started. “Are you busy right now?” The mare studied him for a moment before shaking her head. “No, I was just reading.” She said, this time failing to suppress a yawn.

“Oh, I'm sorry. Did I wake you?” He apologized quickly. “You know what, never mind. I can come back later. I shouldn't have bothered you, you've probably been busy. I'll just g— ”

“Shining.” Velvet interrupted her son. It didn't take a mother's intuition to understand that he was rather upset about something.

Shining's eyes were blood shot and his mane was a rats nest. It looked as if he had laid on it all day and didn't bother to straighten it out. He also looked like he hadn't gotten much sleep.

The fact that Cadence wasn't with him made Velvet even more curious. He never came alone unless he needed to talk about something serious. “It's fine. Please, come in.” She continued, ushering in the panicked stallion. With his head held low, he entered his parent's home, taking in the atmosphere Velvet had enjoyed only moments ago.

He took a seat on a parallel recliner as Velvet walked into the kitchen attached to the living room. “Would like a cup of tea, Shining? Coffee maybe?” The large stallion nodded in the affirmative. “I'll have coffee, thanks.” A few minutes later, Velvet returned with two steaming mugs, a tea bag still nesting in one.

Shining gratefully accepted the other. He held it between his hooves, not drinking while Velvet stirred hers. There was a long silence between the pair, mother and son. The only sound was the clinking of Velvet’s glass and the snaps and cracks of the fireplace.

During this time, Velvet studied her son with great interest. The large stallion shifted in his seat uncomfortably. He constantly moved his hooves and glanced around the room. His gaze often flickering to the mantle piece above the fireplace. On it sat a collection of family photos. In the center was a stand holding multiple pictures of Twilight Sparkle. Two lit candles stood on each side of the piece.

Velvet smiled sadly to herself. It made sense now that she saw him. Even after all this time she still had nightmares about the day she lost her daughter. The day those guards showed up at her door, she knew something was wrong.

“There has been an incident.” The said to her, their deep voices cracking and full of sadness. “I'm afraid you need to come with us.” She and Night Light had followed them to the park where it had happened. She knew the park well. They had often gone there as a family. Cadence had often taken Twilight there herself. Celestia and Luna were there themselves, their expressions stone cold.

The hill side had been charred and burned badly, leaving ugly scars across the park. One area which had previously been a sand pit for younger foals had been turned to glass. Broken and cracked shards were scattered across the entire hillside, but that wasn't even the worst part.

Medics were scattered around, some of them leaning over fillies and colts. Some of these were crying, some were hurt, and others were... Velvet hated thinking about it. Their broken bodies, so frail, being carted away by soldiers. Velvet even recognized some of them. She had seen them bully and shun Twilight before. She had met with their parents before telling them to leave her daughter alone.

She had been so angry, but never would she wish something like this upon them. Some of them just laid there on the scarred hillside. Medics surrounded them, trying to ease their pain, while they could only lie there in agony. That was something no child should have to go through.

Two guards covered one filly with a black tarp. Thinking it to be Twilight, Velvet rushed forewards. knocking them aside, tears in her eyes. She through the tarp aside to reveal, not Twilight, but another. The unicorn filly had almost been as small as Twilight. A red and grey filly she had seen Twilight with before. She was an outcast just like Twilight was, and was often picked on by her brother who also targeted Twilight.

Short Sight was her name, and she was nearly unrecognizable. Horrible burns covered an entire side of her body. Her mane, coat, and tail were charred and burned, revealing pink flesh which had been mostly cooked. Her eyes were wide open, forever stuck in her last horrifying gaze.

Velvet brought a hoof up to cover her mouth. She threw herself away from the broken filly's body, a scream of horror escaping her. She threw her hooves around Night Light. Horrible, broken sobs, full of hurt, unleashed themselves as she cried. She looked to the princesses. They looked down, refusing to meet anypony's eyes. Velvet's vision went red when she saw them. She launched herself away from her also-crying husband. She screamed and screamed at them. She screamed until her husband and son wrapped their hooves around her, pulling her away from the alicorns. She fought and kicked at them, still wanting to scream. “You promised. You said you would help her. You said she would get better. You lied. You lied to me.” She screamed and screamed at them.

They couldn't even find her body after “the incident” and they doubted they would. “She was most likely destroyed in the explosion,” is what they told her later. “Her magic exploded outwards and she was right at the center of it. I'm sorry to say that we have still found no trace of her.”

Velvet was crushed. It had been harder on her then anypony else. Nothing can compare to the pain a mother feels when she loses a child.

“It's about your sister, isn't it?” Velvet began. Shining tensed up, still not meeting his mother's eyes, confirming Velvet's suspicion. “You've been thinking about her lately?” Shining took a deep breath, his throat feeling tense. “You could say that.” He whispered.

Velvet smiled sadly at the stallion sitting across from her. “A bit more than just thinking, then.” Shining nodded in the affirmative. Velvet took a drink from her still-steaming mug. The tea soothed her and helped with the sadness which had crept up on her.

“I know how you feel, Shining.”

The stallion snorted. 'I doubt that' He thought to himself, while his mother continued.

“Some days it's still hard to cope. Still hard to sleep at night.” She mused. “No pony could ever replace Twilight.” Velvet turned her attention back to Shining. “Is there anything you want to talk about, or did you just come for the company?”

Shining stared off into the space next to her. “Truthfully, I haven't decided yet.” He breathed, finally meeting his mother's eyes.

Velvet sat up in her chair. “Well, since you're here I think I should spill. Night Light, could you come out?” She called to her sleeping husband, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

Shining's brow furrowed. “Mom?”

The smile broke free, dominating the older mare's features. “We were hoping to wait until you and Cadence were here together, but you have been busy so I figure this would be a good time.” Night Light rounded the corner and entered the room, looking down at his family members.

“Ah, is it that time already Velvet?” The stallion chortled. His wife nodded in response. A small smile tugged at Shining's lips as well. “What on earth are you two going on about? What's going on?”

Night light placed a hoof on Velvet's shoulder. “Son, we know that we didn't have much time to spend with your sister before her death. But we are proud to say-” The pair looked to each other before Velvet said: “I'm pregnant.”

The smile which was beginning to grow on Shining Armor's face disappeared in a flash. He brought a hoof to his jaw, which hung slack. “What?” He called, shaking.

Velvet still smiled. “You're going to be a big brother again, Shining Armor.”

But her words reached deaf ears, because Shining hadn't been speaking to them a moment ago. Last night, when Twilight had come to his home, she had said something to him as she left. 'Tell mom congratulations for me.' That was what she had said. Somehow, someway, Twilight had known about Velvet. An idea popped into his mind.

“Mom?”

Velvet smiled at the stunned unicorn. “Yes, darling?”

Shining swallowed heavily. “Who else have you told?”

Lingering shadows

10 Days remaining

Like many of its great landmarks and structures, the Canterlot library was renowned across Equestria for its size, structure and contents. Rising hundreds of feet in the air, the glorious building was inset in various places with mosaics of the finest stones, containing designs from across all of Equestria. Beautifully stained and polished glass windows presided over the halls, patterned so that they reflected light from the sun, moon and stars in many ways depending on the time of year and placement of celestial bodies in the sky. Tapestries spun from fine silk and gold threads adorned the walls, displaying scenes from across history. And this was to speak nothing of the vast collection of books present inside, written on nearly every subject imaginable.

Originally, the library was once a part of the Canterlot palace. It was primarily intended for the personal use of the Princesses and upper class of the Capital, including foreign ambassadors. However, after some time the building was divorced from the palace, sectioned off, and made available to the public of Canterlot.

But it did not just hold regular books. It was also the center of information on the ponies who lived in Canterlot. Occupation, tax, family, home, and other records of everypony who dwelled in Canterlot were held in a private section of the library, which could only be accessed by authorized personnel.

Shining Armor, one such authorized pony, sat at a small table within the building. Laid out in front of him were multiple folders, some lay open while others were pushed off to the side, having already been read or waiting to be opened.

Shining Armor's keen eyes scanned the pages left to right, front and back, and sometimes started over again. The sun had gone down some time ago, signaling the closing time of the public portion of the library. However, stallions and mares still wandered the halls of the private section filing reports, collecting information, and managing simple tasks such as reorganizing, among other things.

While these ponies moved around, going about their business, others like Shining Armor sat at desks rifling through stacks of papers. A list of names sat off to one side. Records and files of the ponies on the list were what he was currently going through. Twilight had told him to congratulate Velvet, and it had turned out that she was pregnant. This was no coincidence. Someone must have told her that Velvet was pregnant, Shining Armor was sure of it.

Of course he hadn't ruled out the possibility of her spying, but the odds of that were much slimmer. Twilight had taken over a decade and a half before coming back to Canterlot, and she had seemingly disappeared without any record left in any Canterlot inn. The odds that she didn't have a contact were slim, or at least somepony she had put a spell on to keep her safe until whatever business she had cryptically referred to during their meeting had been finished.

“Fleet Foot,” Shining called to a pegasus a few tables away, “I need books on two sisters, Flora and Fauna, and another on one Pearl Necklace.” The pegasus jumped into the air, skimming across the towering shelves reaching over fifty feet tall.

While the pegasus went off, Shining turned his attention back to the set of pages in front of him. The earth pony mare he was looking at right now lived a rather simple life. She had emigrated to Canterlot two years after Twilight had disappeared, from the southern lands, somewhere between Ponyville and the Badlands. She would most likely have no connection to Twilight, but he put the pages off to one side anyway. He couldn't risk being careless. Not now.

Another set of pages levitated in front of him. Shining gave a large sigh. He had been at this for most of his day on top of his regular job, and was beginning to feel worn out. Luckily the list was just below a dozen mares. Some of their folders were 50-60 pages thick, detailing every event in their life as far as was recorded. It was enough to cause the disciplined unicorn's eyes to begin to feel heavy as he read.

A few minutes later, he tossed the file he had been reading off to one side. Nothing noteworthy there. He picked up another, blurry eyes slowly settling on the pages. This book was smaller than the others, and seemed unusually thin. He fully expected its contents to be the same as what he had read previously. But when he saw the profile's picture...

Shining Armor sat up in his chair. This mare was familiar. He had seen her with Velvet before. As he read through the file, he couldn't help but feel suspicious about the mare. There was something about her which was familiar. He thought back to years ago.

It was four or five years beforehand when she had showed up in Canterlot. It was like she had blown in on the wind, like she had suddenly appeared. He had seen her talking with Velvet often. The pair had become quick friends and spent most of their time together for a few months. Many a day they were seen sharing a cup of tea or discussing run-of-the-mill matters in their lives. When he thought about it, she had become a very close companion and confidant of Velvet.

Something seemed wrong, though. The file on her was too small. Something was missing here.

“Fleet Foot.” Shining called once again to the passing pegasus, causing the guard to sag with his already-full hooves. Shining Armor took no notice of the soldier, his eyes glued to the sheet in front of him. “Drop what you've got. I want to see every file on one Octavia Van Cleff, pronto.”

Switch enjoyed the darkness. Changelings were born into it, and spent most of their lives dwelling in the shadows. They didn't understand the silence or cold like regular ponies did. To them, it was like a warm, enveloping blanket. It provided them with a sanctuary, a place to hide from the world that had shunned them.

Th changeling sighed to himself. He couldn't let his comfort distract him. He had a mission to finish, and a promise to keep to Cadence. Though their species was never very generous, Switch, Mirror, and Chip owed Cadence for saving them and nurturing them back to health. They were eager to repay the favor and continue earning the trust which she had given them. Nothing is better to a changeling than a pony who offers them all of the love they can imagine.

It was the perfect system. They were given food and shelter and in return they assisted her with anything she needed help with, while avoiding putting them in any danger of being discovered by guards, Shining Armor, or either of her aunts.

Her aunts. No doubt they would not react well to her keeping changelings hidden in the castle. No doubt they would argue that these changelings could still be spying on her and reporting back to Chrysalis, or still trying to discover ways back into Canterlot. No doubt they would make any excuse to have them put in prison or thrown back into the wild. Cadence would most likely fight for the changelings and try to make them listen, but Switch doubted they would.

It was dangerous, but he was content with the life he lived. At least he wasn't starving like the rest of the hive.

The young changeling felt a pang of guilt in his chest at the thought of his brothers, sisters, and most of all his queen starving in the hive. The feeling only lasted for a moment though. He had followed them in the attack on Canterlot, but would never go back to that life. Kidnapping wandering ponies and sucking the love out of them before throwing them back into the world above was not what he did anymore. Now he and the others made an honest living, something he did with pride.

Love as a food source was a commodity to the changelings. Their species was cursed with never being able to feed each other with their own love, they could only take love from the ponies of Equestria. Their hideous forms made it that much more difficult for them to survive. They had been cast out by the ponies, left to wander the wilderness, slowly starving to death.

The pain was something he had felt off and on, mostly. On one side, he felt sorry for every changeling in the hive that was still hungry and hurt and lost, but on the other side, he couldn't help but feel anger towards the rest of his hive and Chrysalis. He had followed Chrysalis since he had been hatched, hinged on her every word and followed every command he was given. He had lived his life at one with the hive, taking any love they could steal from anypony they could get it from.

But since the invasion had failed and Cadence had found him and the others hiding in the castle, she had shown them another way. She had shown them how to earn love instead of taking it. She had even shown them how to love back as well.

Cadence hoped to take the three changelings to Celestia and Luna and show her aunts what the changelings were capable of. The four knew that it would be risky, and that they would have to wait for some time until things had settled down in the aftermath of the invasion. Ponies in Canterlot were still checking over their shoulders every night, for fear that the love-stealing lifeforms were following them.

They were at no risk from invasion, but he didn't blame them. The fear that the ponies had come to know was earned and would take years to undo.

Switch absently rubbed at his watering eyes. He had gotten caught up in good and bad memories, and lost focus on his task. He looked up to the moon. It was almost midnight, and he would be trading off with Mirror soon. Not that he wouldn't stay out here. He, his brother, and his sister always enjoyed these missions, since they mostly stayed in Cadence's room in the castle if she had nothing for them to do. She was, however, gracious enough to bring them regular food and books, as well as coming over every once in a while to check up on them.

Switch gazed over the streets of Canterlot from behind his cloud. Everything seemed peaceful, until something called his attention to the shadow of a house. He poked his head through the soft cloud, only enough to see through the bottom with one eye.

He peered into the darkness, but was met with nothing. The shadow was empty of any pony. Maybe it was the reflection of light. He ruled out another pony as he would have spotted them by now.

There weren't even any birds out that he could see. He gently shook his head before perking up. He peered behind him, his horn coming to life. His green eyes glowed brighter, revealing Mirror flying in his general direction While he had been staring at the ground, he had sunk into the cloud and out of sight. He pushed one hoof out and waved to alert his sister to his spot.

She landed gently so as to not disturb the soft cloud. “Hey there.” She whispered as she concealed herself in the cloud similar to how Switch had done. “What's going on here?” She asked, staring down to where he looked.

“I'm not sure, exactly. I thought I saw something. It could be nothing, but I don't want to take the risk.” He returned.

“Go invisible." He whispered. "Use a low-frequency shield and get closer. Try and get a good angle on that alley.” With one hoof he pointed to where he had seen, or thought he had seen, movement. “Once you get it, stay on for the rest of the night. Try not to use any magic. If you need help, call Cadence first, then either me or Chip. Got it?”

The female changeling nodded once before she disappeared and sank through the cloud and into the open air. Switch waited until he was sure that she was safe and heading to her location before he himself turned invisible. He launched into the air and flew towards the castle, but not before looking back once more at the alleyway as the moon reached its highest point in the sky, bathing the world below in beautiful light. Normally he would have felt better now. Whatever was there, if anything, was no longer hidden in the shadows.

But instead of calming down, secure in the knowledge that nothing could hide there until the moon passed, he was filled with dread. Because if he admitted to himself what he believed deep down, that he had really seen something in that alleyway, if only for just a moment...

Then where was it now?

The deathly tune

10 Days Remaining

Paperwork covered the small tabletop. A half-empty mug of coffee sat out next to the papers. Sunlight shone through the blinds before reaching the bleary-eyed unicorn who stared at the files. Though there were multiple names on the files, one name stood out in Shining Armor's mind. A certain grey mare was the focus of his thoughts.

Her story just didn't check out. Shining had spent all night with a list of four ponies that seemed the most suspicious, and Octavia had been at the top of his list the entire time. According to the records, she was born in Manehatten, but after studying living, tax, and income records, nothing seemed to match. There were gaps in her life.

She had been an orphan filly since she was a baby, and there were no records of parents or even loose family members. However, the orphanage that claimed to have raised her was shady at best and seemed to also have gaps in its records. The mistakes were few at first, but once Shining focused on them, they began to appear throughout the rest of her files like blemishes on what could have been a clean slate.

Something was strange about this mare and her story, but Shining couldn't figure out what it was. Delving further into her files, the unicorn had practically forgotten about his other suspects. Instead, Octavia's name was the only that he could think of. It occupied his every thought like a parasite that had taken over his mind.

Throughout the entire night, Shining had read through all of her files repeatedly. Occasionally he forced himself away from the musician to justify having the others present on his list. But after reading through their records, he quickly dismissed them and returned to hers. Nothing in their files was as interesting as what was in Octavia's.

Shining couldn't help but feel confused at his lust for finding out more about the mare. It was as if he was drawn to her. He didn't desire her in a romantic manner, but he was frantic to find out more about her. He had never felt so strongly about a suspect before.

He lifted up the mug of coffee which had been absently placed on another file. He took a sip before making a face at the cold liquid and placing the cup back down on an empty spot on the table. With a sigh, he turned back towards the cluttered and messy table.

His hooves pressed against his forehead, massaging his aching temples. His eyes begged for rest as his head screamed for a pillow to lay on. His attention was called away, however, as the door to his bedroom gently swung open, signaling the waking of his wife.

The pink alicorn strode through the doorway, quickly meeting Shining's bleary eyes. “Good morning.” He called to her with a tired smile.

Cadence raised an eyebrow at her husband. “It could have been better with you.” She replied with a smile, now at her husband's side. “Why didn't you come to bed last night?”

Her question was answered once she looked at the files scattered around their table. Her eyes scanned the pages for a moment before Shining gripped the pages in his magic. “Nothing, really.” He lied. “Just brought a bit of work home with me last night. Guess I got a bit carried away, huh?” He chuckled. The last part wasn't really a lie. He truly hadn't expected to be up all night with his 'research'.

Cadence continued to try and read the pages, but only saw them for another moment before Shining gathered them together in a neat stack and placed them face-down on the other side of the table. “Don't worry about those. Just some personnel files. Nothing too serious.” Cadence cast a doubtful look at the unicorn, as he wearily smiled at her.

“Well then. If they're nothing too serious, then there shouldn't be any harm in me seeing them.” Before Shining could protest, the stack of files and papers were enveloped in a pinkish glow as they levitated towards the alicorn.

“Come on Cadence, give them back. They're nothing serious.” Shining reached out with his magic, but found her own repelling it. It was the magical version of a slap on the hoof.

“They must be serious if you brought them home AND spent all night looking at them.” Cadence hummed to herself as she flipped through the pages. Cadence noticed one name in particular often repeated itself throughout the large stack. Shining was silent as Cadence worked her way through the pages, skimming over key details about each pony.

“It seems that you've acquired quite a list.” Her head popped out from behind the pages, a teasing smile on her face. “A suspect list perhaps?” Shining made a physical grab for the papers, but Cadence flew out of reach with a single flap of her wings. “I thought that we were on a short 'stay-cation.' One that, might I add, was prompted by my aunts.”

Cadence whirled around dramatically, one hoof touched to her mouth. “Now what could my ever-busy husband be doing with a list of random ponies, all of whom are immigrants to Canterlot, while on a mandatory vacation from the Princesses?” She waked around the room with large, exaggerated steps while staring towards him with similarly exaggerated expressions.

“So,” she began again, “Shining Armor, a list of possible suspects, all of whom only recently moved to Canterlot, and a recent event where Twilight Sparkle, said husband, Rainbow Dash, and myself were all involved. Seems a teensy bit convenient, doesn't it, Captain?” She quirked one eyebrow at the exasperated unicorn staring back at her. “You, Captain Shining Armor, are looking at possible suspects who could be keeping Twilight as a guest or hiding her here in Canterlot, right under our very noses.”

The couple looked at each other for a few silent moments. Shining Armor stared, utterly defeated, at his wife, while she returned his stare with a triumphant and cocky smile. “Admit it, darling. I win.” Cadence called as she turned back towards their bedroom, waving the files in a teasing manner at her husband.

Shining dropped back into his chair with a sigh. He rubbed his hooves against his temples yet again. “Alright, alright.” He called to the pink alicorn. “You win. I'll tell you, but only if you promise not to tell ANYPONY. Including Celestia and Luna.”

In a blur of feathers Cadence was in front of Shining, kneeling at his hooves like a filly waiting for their grandfather to tell them a story. “I promise!” She said excitedly. Shining would have laughed at the adorable display had he not been so tired and stressed.

The white unicorn took a deep breath. He so desperately wanted to keep Cadence out of the entire affair, but since she knew what he was doing, she would never leave him alone until he told her what he suspected.

“A few nights ago, after the events at the market place, Twilight came here.”

Cadence's smile disappeared in a moment, replaced by a look of shock. She covered her mouth with one hoof. “What do you mean she came here? She was in our house? Why didn't you wake me up? Don't you think I would have wanted to see her?” Shining held up one hoof, silencing the pink alicorn.

“I still don't understand how, but suddenly she just showed up in the house. She wasn't here for long, a few minutes at best, but it's what she said that is the problem.” Shining took a deep breath before continuing. “She said that she was here on a mission. Something she had to do. She told me that she wants my help. Just my help.” He stated, seeing his wife's hopeful expression.

“She didn't tell me what she was doing or why she was here. Just that she had something to do. She gave me a choice. Help her, and keep other ponies from being hurt, or don't help and risk others being hurt or possibly killed. Myself included.”

Cadence looked, downcast, toward the floor. This was a serious matter, if Twilight would make such a blatant up-or-down statement. “Then...then we should help her, right? If she doesn't want anypony hurt, then she can't be that evil. She just wants to accomplish her mission. Then she can come back, right? She can stay this time. Velvet can hold her daughter again. Celestia and Luna can find out how she learned to use her magic. Maybe she could help that other filly, Sweetie Belle. Twilight can help her use her magic too, right?”

Cadence rose from the floor. Her vision was lost in a thousand-yard stare as she began to pace. “Why are we even debating this, Shiny? We can get Twilight back. She can finally come back to us. She asked you for help, right? You must know how to find her, right? We can help her. She can have a family again. She can be safe again. I don't know why she did what she did in the northern town, but we can find out. She must have had a reason, right?”

Shining winced at her mentioning the northern town. He had regretted telling her about that. It had to be as hard on her as it was on him to find out about Twilight the same way he had. “Cadence.” He said gently, calling the attention of his wife. She turned to him with a pain-stricken expression. “I don't know what to do either, Cadence. Twily didn't tell me a single thing about what she was doing. I don't know whether I should help her or not, but please, I am begging you not to worry about it. She said I still have time to decide. Besides...”

The stallion stood, moving over towards Cadence. He put a protective hoof over her shoulder. “I could arrange for her to meet with the Princesses. We could talk it over with them. Maybe agree to a truce. She could agree to go into protective custody and tell us why she's come back.”

The words seemed to go over Cadence's head. Slowly she lifted her head and nuzzled her husband. “You're right. She spoke to you. I won't force you to make a decision.” She planted her lips on his, holding the kiss for a few seconds before pulling away. A smile made its way onto her features. “Well then, you need to go to bed mister, it's been a late night.” She guided her husband to their bedroom.

They laid down together for a few moments before Cadence made her way to the door. “I'm going to make breakfast. Do you want anything?” Shining shook his head lightly in response as he rolled over, pulling sheets over his body. Cadence pulled the door shut as she left the room, her giddy smile growing as the door knob clicked behind her.

As soon as it had, Cadence's wings sprung to life. The alicorn propelled herself off of an open balcony and into the night air, not even waiting to get a cloak or coat for the cold morning. Though she had promised Shining Armor that she would not tell any pony, she never said anything about changelings.

Later that evening

Luna sat in her room, her front hooves folded as she stared at a small chess board, laying open on her desk. Her room was still mostly ruined from the explosion caused by Twilight, but the builders worked quickly and had repaired it so that it was liveable. The ceiling and wall were fixed with fresh wooden boards and bricks, providing the room with the darkness that Luna so loved. As princess of the night, it was where she best focused. Focus was what she needed as she considered the open board in front of her. Though her competitor would never move a physical piece, she had made her first move long ago.

It was rare that a worthy competitor rose to challenge the alicorn Princesses, especially one like Twilight Sparkle. No matter how rare, the challenges would still arise and Luna almost always made a habit of devoting the majority of her time to solving them.

Both their positions and celestial pieces meant something to them. Celestia's sun would look down on the ponies of Equestria, providing them with warmth in the cold and light to see and grow their crops, among other things. Luna, on the other hoof, watched over them during the night and provided the ponies with peaceful dreams, protecting them while they slept.

Celestia was more of a social protector, while Luna handled most of the military affairs and business. Luna's strategic mind worked in her favor, which made her the better fighter, strategist, and military leader. The bat ponies who composed her night guard, as well as the occasional regular pony such as Rainbow Dash, were experts in stealth and covert operations, and mostly avoided basic guarding and patrolling. The sisters were not only vital to the ponies of Equestria, but to each other. While both sisters could function in both jobs, they were each more fit for their own task and gladly accepted their positions.

Luna considered many possibilities as to why Twilight had returned, but couldn't decide what the mare once thought dead could be up too. The navy mare had also ruled out political assassination, as Equestria was simply too strong for that to be a viable option for one single pony.

She had also ruled out invasion, as Canterlot was more defended now than it had been in hundreds of years, due to the changeling invasion. Though it was close to two years since the event, ponies were still frightened and paranoid about deception and invaders. Guards had found changelings hiding in Canterlot as many as six months after the invasion failed, leaving the ponies of Equestria scared, looking over their shoulders and watching from the corners of their eyes. Changelings would not be able to come into Equestria for a long while.

It was possible, of course, that Twilight could be allied with the gryphons, dragons, or any number of creatures vying for power and expansion of their lands. The gryphons and dragons were the most likely to invade, as they were the strongest, smartest, and had the most to gain from the takeover of other creature's kingdoms. However, there were no political rumblings to indicate anything remiss between Equestria and their kingdoms. It was also possible that the Diamond Dogs could be making a grab for power, but they were extremely disorganized and the majority were slobbering fools. The brainless creatures only craved for their precious gems and hadn't staged a full-fledged invasion for thousands of years. In addition, Equestria's military was now at constant alert, and an invasion would be murderous for whoever dared to try. Finally, while the neighboring lands were plentiful in population, and strong, Equestria was without a doubt on top when it came to resources, land, and treasures.

No, Luna thought to herself. This was something else. Something bigger. The only other species she knew of with the magic to speak to somepony telepathically or through dreams were the Elks from the far east and the Zebras who dwelled far into the Badlands, both of whom were extremely peaceful unless disturbed. They were notoriously powerful, but acted only in defense and had never staged an invasion or ever been successfully invaded.

Twilight Sparkle served a master, and for that Luna had pity for the mare. She had been 'taken' at such a young age that her mind could have been warped and twisted in many ways. The filly had unbelievable power that had lain dormant, and somepony had found out when neither Luna nor Celestia even knew. Some pony of incredible power had found Twilight and done something to her, bending the mare to their will. Luna still hoped that something could be done for her. There might be some way to save her and bring the old Twilight Sparkle back. She might even be reunited with her family.

And yet, as she stared at the board trying to predict the next move, she doubted her thoughts. Something seemed off about the mare. She had been shown to have her own vigilantist agenda and sense of justice and judgment. She even had multiple personalities dictating her thoughts to her. It was unknown to the sisters how much of her thoughts were hers and not her 'Master's' or those of her her split personalities.

As Luna stared at the chess pieces, a hoof knocked against the large doors to her room. “Luna?” Celestia called out to her younger sister. “It's growing late. Are you okay?”

Luna perked up. She had completely forgotten about the moon. “Yes, Celestia. I got carried away. Please, come in.”

A moment later the door opened. Celestia squinted her eyes, trying to locate the Princess of the Night in the darkness. Luna pulled open the curtains on her balcony, letting light back into the near pitch-black room. The sun was setting, and golden light cascaded beautifully across the mountains and the Everfree Forest. Though Luna loved her night-sky tapestries more, she still had great respect for her sister's sun, just as Celestia held respect for her moon and stars.

They stood together on the balcony, their horns glowing as the sun and moon rose and set respectively into the skyline. For a moment, the pair shone in tandem, the light from both spilling across the land. If not for the looming threat at hoof, they would have considered the twilight beautiful. But now it only caused them more worry, as if the celestial bodies they controlled mocked them.

Celestia turned back, walking into the room. She regarded the still-open chess board with great concern. “We have to find her, sister.” The elder alicorn mused. “Something is going to happen, and it's going to be big. Right now, with Shining Armor and Rainbow Dash out of the game, we are at a disadvantage.”

Celestia picked up two of the pieces and held them in her magic at eye level. The pieces were a rook and knight. Luna pulled the polished wooden tokens away from her sister. She regarded them with a frown.

“Believe me, Celestia. I know.” Luna glared at the board. If there was one thing she hated, it was losing. It was her greatest weakness, one she had learned from many times. She could never let her pride get the best of her. Hubris was even deadlier than the sharpest dagger or the heaviest sword. This inability to accept defeat was one of many ways in which she related to Rainbow Dash.

“I fear something greater is approaching. Something even worse than Twilight Sparkle. I feel she is simply the first pawn in this game.” One black pawn was gripped in Luna's magic and rose from the board before stopping and floating evenly in between the two sisters. “The first move in any game is the greatest. It begins the battle. It's the first step in any strategy and can mean the difference between life...” She place the piece back onto the board, moving it one space ahead.

“And death.” Celestia finished, staring at the pawn as if it were the greatest weapon she had ever known.

Night time

It was darker than it had been the past few nights. There had been a decent cloud cover previously, although it was still light enough to allow for moonbeams to shine down on Canterlot. Tonight, however, was different. Clouds had moved in as soon as the sun set and now dominated the sky, extinguishing the light from the moon and causing shadows to cascade down the mountainside and run through the streets.

It was unsettling to watch as the light slowly disappeared. Within an hour of the sun setting, the shadows had devoured the light and enveloped the now-sleeping city. Even for Chip it was a scary thought.

He, Mirror, and Switch had been sent out by Cadence a few hours ago. When Cadence had come to the three changelings that morning, she had been so giddy that she looked like she was about to shoot through the ceiling. Though they were surprised by her strange mood, they were quick to listen, just as they always did.

For the past few weeks they had been scouting from clouds, rooftops, and alleyways. This time, Cadence had sent them off with specific destinations in mind. Apparently she thought that somepony was hiding Twilight Sparkle away in Canterlot. Though he had never interacted with her personally when they were in the hive, Chip knew that the mare could survive on her own. He thought it quite interesting that there was the possibility of her staying with another pony. Chip did not personally believe that she would do such a thing. She was extremely solitary, and he had never seen her speak with anypony in the hive other than Chrysalis. It would be unlikely for her to rely on another pony.

But then again, she had shown herself to be rather spiteful towards the changelings in the past. Chip thought that she was just angry at the world in particular. Growing up with changelings could leave quite an impact on a pony, but the young changeling didn't blame her for not liking it. Food was scarce, sympathy was unwanted, and love was a commodity. Though changelings used it as a food source, love was something precious to ponykind as well. Without love, a pony could change into something else, something darker. It was possible for a simple unicorn to be love-starved just like a changeling. The impact it left could be devastating to both mind and soul. That was why the changelings were afraid. They were born into that lifestyle. It practically flowed through their veins. But a regular pony would be different. It had molded Twilight, shaped her, changed her. Made her into something new. Something different.

Chip heard a ringing in his head. His horn glowed dimly for a moment before Mirror spoke in his mind. 'Hey Chip, you there?' Despite neither of them speaking aloud, Mirror's words were hushed and her tone was low.

'Yeah, Mirror. What's going on?' Chip returned to his sister. She sounded worried, but calm.

'I don't know. Switch thinks that he saw something near Rue De Harmony. It could be nothing, but go and check it out.' Suddenly the ringing returned to silence, and Chip knew that she had severed the link. The changeling couldn't help but sigh to himself as he flew from roof to roof. Ponies always had such dumb and simple names to give to things. Roads, cities, streets, and even other ponies. If only they new how UN-harmonious their world was. Even their country was self-indulgent. Equestria. Chip would bet his horn and wings that there were fewer ponies in this country than a quarter of the other species that resided here as well.

But it didn't matter. They were a rather thick-headed species and Chip doubted that would change any time soon.

It took less than a minute for Chip to reach the street. He crouched down on one of the rooftops, scanning the street with keen eyes. Nothing seemed out of place or wrong. A large stallion coated in golden armour walked down the street, a lantern held in his outstretched wing. The stallion swept the lantern about, causing Chip to duck down to avoid detection.

As the stallion passed, Chip gave a quick glance to the passing pony. His horn and eyes glowed slightly, searching the guard with subtle magic, but soon dimmed again. The stallion was just a regular pony, nothing worth investigating. Chip made his way to a small side street, then traveled between a row of houses. His horn glowed again, and his body shimmered as his eyes turned a deeper shade of blue, giving him vision in the dark.

The changeling slowly crept through the ally, staying inside the shadows despite the invisible shroud surrounding him. If he could see Twilight, then there was the possibility that she would also be able to see him.

As he walked, there came the small creak of a door just a few yards down the side-street. Chip ducked behind a large dumpster out of habit. He hadn't seen anypony in his peripheral vision as he was moving, and he was sure that if it was a pony, they hadn't noticed his presence. Slowly, he leaned out from behind the dumpster enough to look with one eye. There was nothing visible in front of him that could have made the noise, but he wasn't sure yet.

He took a deep breath before his eyes glowed brighter for a moment. At the end of the tunnel was a pony. Despite his magical vision, the pony was still dark. They almost seemed to be a walking shadow. Chip had only seen them for a moment before they turned the corner, but he would bet anything that it was Twilight. Canterlot was practically crime-free, making it very safe to move around freely throughout the city, and the magic surrounding the strange pony was stronger thn a normal invisibility spell. That was a changeling spell surrounding the pony. Chip could tell just by looking at it. He hadn't even felt the aura or signature of the magic, but it was obvious to him where she had learned it.

Twilight Sparkle had been right in front of him. He had to be quick now. 'Guys. I think I found her. I'm leaving a signal that you and Cadence can find in this alley. Do not respond.' As soon as he had finished, he severed the link and ran deeper into the passageway. His horn glowed and a spark of magic jumped from it to the alley wall. The young changeling reached the end of the corridor, following Twilight's path while trying to remain as stealthy as possible. As he turned the corner, his eyes flashed again for just a brief moment. This time he saw her fully, and stealthily moved to the side to observe her completely.

The purple mare crept through the alley, saddlebags strapped to her sides while her long mane hung loose. Her eyes, while wide open to scout the streets, were dark and tired. Her face sagged as she stared ahead. Though he couldn't help but feel a shred of sympathy for the tired looking mare, he knew who she was and to never underestimate her.

After only a moment, she shot across the street in front of her. She quickly ducked back into the shadows of another alley across the narrow way. Instead of following behind, the changeling jumped onto the roof of the building next to him. He ran across the top and another buzz of his wings sent him to the roof across the street, directly above where Twilight had gone.

His eyes flashed, assuring him that Twilight was still below him. At this point she could be aware of his presence, and a sudden disappearance by the powerful mare could mean death for the young changeling. Instead of constantly watching her, which would cause the seeing spell to give off a more powerful signature, he would watch her in snippets instead. Similar to taking photographs every few seconds.

Dangerous? Yes. But still safer than constantly watching her and giving away his position immediately. As Chip followed Twilight, he couldn't help but feel that something seemed off about the mare as she walked through the alleyway. Her body seemed to sway as she walked, as if performing some peculiar dance to music that only she could hear. It was strange to watch and sent shivers down Chip's spine. With each step, her strange movements grew larger and more exaggerated.

He had never seen anything like it before. Twilight's head lulled from side to side and her steps seemed perfectly timed with each sway of her head. A strange tune escaped from her lips. The low hum was so silent that Chip strained to hear the notes. Her entire body seemed to ripple as she moved to the tune she sung.

As she rounded another corner, Chip had to sprint quickly over the space between the rooftops to catch up with her. Soon the changeling was again on the same path, but when he looked to see if she was still there he found only empty air. The changeling's breath caught in his throat as he stared at the empty alley . Though he couldn't find Twilight, he could still hear the music which had come from the mare.

The tune grew louder and louder as Chip’s head snapped back and forth, desperately searching for Twilight. To the changeling's utter horror, every few moments in between notes of the strange hum, he heard laughter. Not regular laughter. It was... filly-like at first. But soon grew deeper. In only a few moments, the voice had transformed. It was not a laugh of happiness or joy, but the laugh of a murderer about to make their kill.

In a flash, the changeling spun around and launched himself into the air. Now he was sure that he had been found. Twilight was simply toying with him. Despite his attempts to flee, he knew that he wouldn't be able to escape.

In a moment of panic, he sent out a message to anypony who could hear it. Not just Cadence or his siblings, but anypony who could have heard it. The changeling called out, both with his voice and mind, 'Help me!' Then a flash of light hit him from behind, paralyzing his wings mid-flight and causing the changeling to drop out of the sky.

The impact was a hard one, instantly knocking the wind out of the changeling. As he landed, he heard the snapping of bones and immediately pain flooded his every thought. His vision went red as blood spilled from his forehead into his left eye. The changeling gave a groan of pain. He tried to move his hooves, wanting to run, or even crawl away from his soon-to-be killer. But he found himself unable to do so. His hooves didn't respond and the pain that he felt was so intense that he could barely think straight.

Slowly, his body was encased in a purple light. With no will or ability to fight, his body was shifted around so that he saw Twilight standing over him. Her eyes were a solid black color that seemed to pierce his very soul. She no longer sung the strange tune as she faced the changeling. She looked at Chip with a pitying smile, as if she was assuring him that he would be okay, even though he doubted he would survive the next few minutes.

She simultaneously walked towards Chip while also pulling the changeling towards herself. His eyelids felt heavy as blood loss and pain took their toll on the his body. Now death seemed to be a comforting sleep instead of a horrifying idea. A sleep that would encompass him, taking away his pain and suffering.

Before the changeling's world went dark he heard gentle words, as if she was trying not to wake a sleeping filly. Words that made him want to fall asleep even faster. “Now what should we do with you?”

Pillow dreams

9 days remaining: 10:00 a.m.

“You want me to do WHAT?” Rainbow Dash sat across from Shining Armor and stared at him, utter confusion etched into her features. Shining had come to her that morning with a request. She had listened to him as he explained the events that had occurred the previous day, and she was shocked. It had been a full day, and nopony had told her a thing. They probably didn't want her getting excited about it and following up, or doing anything 'rash'.

The cyan pegasus absently rubbed at her eyes before speaking again. “You know, if you want to play games with me, fine. But could you at least wake me up later before you play a joke? I'm TRYING to catch up on all my sleep.” She said, stifling a yawn.

“Do you think that I would joke about something like this?” Shining retorted. He stared back at Rainbow with annoyance. His eyes were bloodshot from a night of little sleep, and small bags hung under his eyes. “I found where it was. I'm absolutely positive I know where she's hiding.” Shining levitated a small file out of a bag lying in-between two beds, and tossed it onto Rainbow's bed.

“Turns out, the info from the other changelings was good. I checked out the houses near where it happened. It took some searching, but I finally found the right one.” He lifted a small photograph from out of the bag and showed it Rainbow. It was of a flower marked onto the side of a house. “I know it's right, because it's the same flower that Cadence loves. I even bought one as a comparison.”

Rainbow flipped through the file. It was for a very familiar musician who played at the Canterlot Theater. That was by no means a small task, but Rainbow wasn't a fan of the classical style and never paid much mind to those who were a part of it. Still though, even she had heard of this mare. Octavia had been the talk of Canterlot when she first showed up. She was practically a household name to some ponies in the city.

“Where are Celestia, Luna, and your wife in all of this?”

“Cadence is still with her changeling friend. Apparently he still hasn't woken up yet. Luna took a look inside his mind yesterday and said that he had gone through a memory wipe, but she isn't sure how much was erased. One night, a week, a month, maybe even a year of the changeling's life might be missing, just like that.”

Rainbow Dash's eyes widened. Due to how delicate a mind is, manipulating one with magic was at best considered an extremely difficult undertaking, filled with danger. Just basic thought redirection was a challenge, as too much pressure could easily break any being's mind, sending their thoughts into chaotic spirals. Erasing memory was an even greater task. The slightest slip-up could completely unravel a mind, or cause a personality to fracture. That was the primary reason why mind manipulation had long been banned altogether.

“Celestia is with Sweetie Belle.” Shining Armor continued. “Apparently she doesn't want her around in case it hits the fan. I think she's dropping hints for her sister Rarity to take Sweetie out of Canterlot for a few days. Luna's called a full military briefing. I guess she finally decided that this should no longer stay between the five of us. Technically, I'm supposed to be there right now.”

Rainbow stared forward, taking in everything that Shining was telling her. After a moment she rubbed at her eyes, letting out a long groan. “Look Shining, could you at least give me a cigarette before you tell me something like this?”

“Rainbow, you don't smoke.”

“Yeah, well, this makes me want to start. I mean, Celestia almighty! Even with the evidence you have, this is still a leap. Besides, how do we know this mare isn't under a mind control spell or something? If anything happens to her, Twilight could wipe her memory just like that.” She gestured, clapping her hooves together. “Who's to say that Twilight is even there now? She could be smart, and might've already moved locations.”

Shining tried to speak up, but found he couldn't. While he didn't want to admit it, she was right. There was no guarantee that Twilight would still be there. She could have just taken her things and moved to another location. Maybe she had already put a spell on another poor mare or stallion, and was hiding in THEIR home.

No. He knew he had to try and find her.

“I guess I don't.” He stared Rainbow in the eye, as the cyan pegasus cocked an eyebrow at the stallion. “But damn it, this is the best lead we've had this entire time. There is no way in Tartarus that I am going to let this opportunity fall right out of my hooves.” He sat up straighter, rolling his shoulders back as he challenged her with his eyes. “Now the question is: Will you help or not?”

Rainbow broke his stare, flipping through the pages in the folder once again. She gently shook her head as she read. “Theoretically, say I agreed to your plan. When would this happen exactly?”

Shining took a moment to think. “I want to act fast. If you're in, then we can go tonight. A few hours after sundown.”

“Hmm.” Rainbow thought. “And you're telling me that not only do the Princesses not know about this idea of yours, but they do not know about the marker placed on the house, and you will definitely not be telling them about this?”

Shining took a deep breath before responding. “As much as it pains me, no, I will not be telling them. I also instructed the changelings not to mention the marker at all, even if asked directly. If this goes badly, I will take full responsibility.”

“I see.” Rainbow hummed to herself. A small smile crept onto her face. “A crazy idea, a shitty plan, no responsibility, and the Princesses have no idea.” The smile slowly grew into her customary daredevil grin as she looked Shining dead in the eye. “Captain Shining Armor, you have come to the right mare.”

9 days remaining: 9:55 p.m.

For Twilight Sparkle, the darkness was both a comfort zone and a nightmare.

Being raised by Chrysalis and her changelings, Twilight had grown accustomed to darkness, just as she had grown used to the snowy wastelands of the north. She always felt better about not being seen, as being hidden was to her advantage. She usually had the element of surprise, and that was the way she liked it. It kept her confident. It kept her alive. It made her nigh unbeatable, the equal of almost every pony alive.

But the darkness was not completely her ally. Like all things, it carried a price for its power; it held above her head a constant threat, ready to lash out at a moment's notice. While few ponies could even hope to defeat her, there was one whom she knew for a fact could do so.

Everypony's worst enemy is themselves. While some may be prideful, slothful, or greedy, Twilight waged a constant battle in her own mind. It was the only thing that she truly feared, but she could never escape it. She could never hope to be free from the dark depths of her own consciousness.

As Twilight looked out of the small bedroom window in Octavia's home, she couldn't help but dwell on these thoughts. It was a terrifying thing, to not expect a conflict of any scale, but to also know that at any minute your vision, hearing, thinking, and even your dreams could be attacked. It affected a pony in many ways, none of them good. Paranoia, schizophrenia, nightmares, hallucinations. Fear of the dark, the same environment that she had grown to know so well. These were only SOME of the effects of her 'friend', the one that lurked in the corners of her eyes. Slowly, the purple mare turned to a clock hanging on the opposite wall.

9:58 p.m. Two minutes before she had to leave. Twilight sighed gently. She turned towards the empty bed now in front of her. The sheets were pulled tightly across the top as the bed simply sat there, waiting for somepony to come along and lose themselves in the world of dreams.

She frowned at the empty sheets. Octavia was at a performance, playing her beautiful music for thousands of ponies to hear. Oh, how Twilight envied her. She would soon be departing for her own performance in the night, but hers would be less... magnificent. Instead of applause from a crowd, she would only hear the sounds of her own hoofsteps in the caverns below Canterlot.

The purple mare sighed gently. It wouldn't last forever, though. She knew that she would come home later that night and feel Octavia's soft mane brushing against her face, feel the mare's strong grip surrounding her body. Octavia's beautiful violet eyes would stare back into hers as they lay together, and she would feel Octavia's kisses caress her lips ever so softly as they left the world outside, if only for a few hours.

Truly it would be bliss. And Twilight had savored every minute of it, for every night as long as they had been together.

The small clock chimed softly as it struck 10:00. In an instant, Twilight was pulled away from her fantasies and back to reality. She sighed to herself as she turned towards the door of the bedroom, quietly closing it behind herself before leaving the house as well.

For now, for just a few hours, Octavia's kisses would have to wait.

9 days remaining: 10:49 p.m.

Getting inside was a simple task, most likely the easiest of the night. The house was by no means grand, and lacked many of the strong, magic-resistant locks that he was accustomed to seeing. Shining actually found that he held some respect for the mare, knowing that despite her position, fame, and wealth she was secure enough to eschew having ten sets of locks on every door and window.

Just a quick burst of magic into the keyhole, and they were in. Shining breathed a sigh of relief after a moment, when he didn't feel any magical alarms go off. Some houses were so laced with defenses that their owners were occasionally caught in their own security; he would never understand the logic of those particular ponies. Crime was minimal, and he doubted that the “riffraff” would come knocking at their doors with pitchforks and torches anytime soon.

As he and Rainbow had entered the house, neither of them could help but be surprised at how small it was. It was decently sized, cozy even, but Shining noted that it was barely larger than his parent's home, which was only a few blocks away. For someone like Octavia, this was even more surprising. Musicians tended to be a high-strung bunch, and generally gave themselves plenty of space to roam and move. It seemed that the cellist didn't mind the small amount of living space. According to her home records, it was the home she had first moved into when she arrived in Canterlot; perhaps she had just grown used to it.

Shining didn't know, and it was the farthest thing from his mind at that moment as he moved to conceal himself. Soon he was only focused on watching and waiting, while Rainbow stayed in another dark corner of the house, both soldiers shrouded in magic to blend in with the shadows. They had individually scouted out the home as soon as they were inside, checking every nook and cranny for anypony, but were unsuccessful in finding anything.

They stayed inside the house for over an hour, neither of them moving or talking to the other. They kept perfect silence as they dutifully watched the doors. Their bodies tensed with each light that flickered outside, every shadow that passed the window.

Both of them had been on surveillance missions before, but never for something like this. Whoever came through that door was vital in capturing Twilight. Whether it be the dark unicorn herself or not, both were prepared to do whatever they had to do to capture the pony.

A clock in the corner of the room ticked on as the pair kept their vigil. The minute hand rolled past 12 as the old device chimed its tone. It marched onwards, slowly progressing towards the halfway mark of the new hour.

Suddenly, a large shadow passed by the window. However, instead of continuing on, this shadow moved closer and closer to the small door. Shining and Rainbow stood up straighter, believing their prey to be close.

The shadow grew larger and more misshapen as its owner drew closer to the door. The pony seemed incredibly bulky and large, and its shadow seemed oddly shaped. Shining briefly wondered if this had been a good idea, before the door gently swung open and the pony casting the shadow stepped inside.

Octavia strode through the doorway, her cello bouncing with every step as she walked across the floor. She quietly shut the door behind her and stepped deeper into her home, unaware of the two sets of eyes that watched from the shadows. She removed the large cloak she wore, placing it on top of a small coat rack beside the door.

'Shining?' Rainbow’s voice spoke in his mind. 'Should we go?'

The stallion was silent for a moment before he closed his eyes and responded with his own thoughts. 'Not yet. Be patient.' Unbeknownst to the soldiers, a chill went up Octavia's spine. Her muscles tensed as she turned towards the far end of her home, where her room and bed awaited her.

Something was wrong. There was something in the air of the house. Her slight hesitation went unnoticed by the pair who hid in the darkness as the earth pony made her way towards her bedroom.
She glanced around the living room and kitchen uneasily.

Twilight wasn't home and Vinyl was out doing Celestia knew what at some night club, most likely drinking and partying. But Octavia felt as if she was not alone. Her eyes suddenly felt heavy, and her steps faltered as she walked. Almost as if... there was a spell being cast onto the room. Her head moved up gently. Something was wrong.

She turned towards a small bookshelf resting a few feet away from her fireplace. Gently she placed her prized instrument next to it, slipping a thin piece of metal from under one of the shelves into her hooves. She had seen something, as she turned; in the corner, the shadows had seemed darker.

In a flash she whirled around, hurling the dagger towards the corner of the room before sprinting to her front door. A mare yelled in pain as the sharp blade found a home inside flesh. Shining let loose a bolt of magic from his horn, striking Octavia in the side. The spell should have knocked her unconscious instantly, but instead it only caused her to stumble.

As she careened towards the door, Shining Armor gave up all hopes of keeping things quiet and slammed into her side. The pair rolled across the floor, kicking and punching at each other. As one hoof caught him in he jaw, Shining couldn't help but notice how strong the mare was. While she was small, she was still an earth pony, and gifted with exceptional strength. This could turn out badly for him.

With another well-aimed kick at Shining's temple, she managed to get the dazed unicorn off of her, and scrambled for the door again. But before she could reach it, she was once again brought to the ground, this time by an injured and very angry pegasus.

Octavia opened her mouth to scream, but was silenced by Rainbow's hoof. Slowly the cyan pegasus began dragging the desperate mare away from the door. Despite her reflexes, Rainbow nearly released her captive when Octavia's head whipped backwards, striking her in the nose.

In another moment Shining piled onto the earth pony with Rainbow. Octavia tried to strike the unicorn again, but found her hooves trapped by Rainbow Dash's grip. The pair struggled until Shining Armor touched his horn to the earth pony's head, and released a steady flow of magic directly into Octavia's mind.

Somehow, the mare continued to struggle for a few moments, before her movements grew sluggish and her eyelids grew heavy once again. Finally, her limbs went still as the magic shut down her mind, knocking the mare unconscious. Shining and Rainbow released their tight grip on the pony and collapsed in a heap on the floor. She had been surprisingly strong for her size, and had put up far more of a fight than either had thought possible. Despite their exhaustion, the pair quickly got back on their hooves. Shining picked up the still mare, placing her on his back.

Rainbow hobbled past Shining Armor and back to the corner where she had waited. Blood drenched her right shoulder and wing, but she ignored it as she produced a large cloth and quickly went to work mopping up the puddle of blood that lay in the small corner. Small droplets and smears adorned the wooden floor where they had scuffled, and she dutifully went to work cleaning them as well.

Within a few moments she had cleared away as much visible blood as possible. She collected the small dagger and returned to Shining Armor's side.

Wordlessly, the stallion's horn glowed for a brief moment before the pair blinked out of existence, and the house went silent again.

The trump card

8 Days remaining: 7:32 a.m.

Thin white lights shone down onto the pale white floor and walls. Nothing of significance or interest stood out to the lone mare inside of the room; it was one consistent color, punctuated by her grey mane and coat. One of the only items inside of the room was a small steel table, similar to its surroundings in blandness and color, a basic rectangle with four legs.

In front of her was a small curved metal bar, a chain running underneath it. Each end of the cold metal links merged into cuffs attached to her front hooves, holding her in place. When she had first awoken she had panicked, but after some time had managed to regained her composure. While she had no idea where she was, it was better to not give whomever had brought her here the pleasure of watching her squirm and panic. It would only feed their desire for her fear and obedience.

Despite her initial shock and terror, she had not yet spoken a word out loud, and simply sat waiting for her captors to arrive. No doubt they would interrogate her, and while she may not have known where she was, she knew perfectly well how she had gotten there and had a pretty good idea as to why.

These ponies were after Twilight, and they thought that she had some connection to the mare. 'One of these days, Twilight will stop making enemies.' A small smile covered her lips as she shook her head at her own inner monologue.

Knowing Twilight's life style, the ponies holding her were just a few of the unicorn's enemies. For a mare of her power and strength, it was surprising that anypony who was courageous enough to hold a grudge against Twilight wasn't buried six feet under.

Octavia, though she did not speak of it often, knew firsthoof just what Twilight could do to somepony who angered her. It would take quite the pony to hold their own against the wandering mare, and even then they would need courage beyond measure and power unrivaled.

Twilight had spent years of her life helping others, while measuring out her wrath on those who deserved it. She was, for the most part, a mare of fairness and quality who showed kindness to anypony that deserved or earned it, while on the other hoof, she showed no mercy to those who followed the path of evil.

She was so often mistaken, Twilight Sparkle. A mare so full of fear and anger, she had barely found room in her heart to let Octavia in. When they first met, Twilight had been very different. Her eyes had been permanently locked in a thousand yard stare, she didn't show any emotion, and she never spoke to anypony. She only wandered from place to place, trying to help anypony who was willing to let her. She had been so lonely...

As Octavia stared at the table, sadly reminiscing on the past, a piece of the wall opposite to where she sat swung open. Two ponies shuffled through the small doorway, one after the other. First was a tall unicorn with a blue mane, who she recognized as none other than Duke Shining Armor, Captain of the Royal Guard. Behind him marched a cyan pegasus with a brilliant rainbow mane. Obviously Rainbow Dash, commander of the Night Guard and Princess Luna's personal student, as well as right-hoof mare.

As soon as they entered, both ponies locked eyes with the grey earth pony. They stared at her wordlessly, with disappointed and angry frowns. Their furious expressions and angered movements were met with utter passivity by Octavia as she watched them with a blank expression, keeping silent as she looked on. She did notice Rainbow giving her an even sharper glare than the one coming from Shining Armor, most likely due to the white bandaging around her left shoulder.

Quickly they walked to her, pulling a metal chair out from under the cold table. They sat, and for a minute, the two just stared at Octavia. Shining Armor laid his hooves out on the table, tapping the hard metal surface every few moments, while Rainbow folded her hooves in front of her. Neither ponies took their eyes away from Octavia as they gazed at her in cold, hard silence.

The air felt tense as Octavia returned the silent stare, each side daring the other to speak, and break their contest. Neither wanted to appear weak, and make the first move. Neither wanted to show their hand.

Finally, Shining sighed and leaned back in his chair. “Rainbow Dash?” He asked conversationally, looking towards the ceiling. “How many ponies have ever been brought into this building, for questioning of course, that have been proven innocent or carried no guilt?”

The cyan pegasus lifted her chin, looking down on Octavia. “None.”

Shining smiled contentedly towards the white ceiling. “None. That's correct. The building that we are currently in is only used when a pony is considered to be absolutely guilty. We like to call it 'The Tomb', because it's the place where the worst crimes and most dangerous criminals are brought to an end.” Shining leaned forward, locking eyes with Octavia.

“You see,” Shining began again, “when a serious crime is committed, such as serial murder, treason, terrorism, or anything like those, it is considered a threat to the Palace. Basically, that means that it is personally brought to the attention of all three Princesses, and the leaders of the alicorn sister's military forces, such as Commander Dash and I.” He motioned to Rainbow, who still glared at Octavia.

“What that means is Canterlot is brought to a state of emergency, even more so when the crimes are committed, or suspected of being committed, inside of Canterlot. When such a scenario takes place, the normal rules and regulations by which the police and our military forces must abide by are considered non-existent if the arresting officers are absolutely sure of guilt or have overwhelming evidence to support their claim. ” Shining leaned in further to Octavia, their faces now only a few inches apart.

“That means that I am given power to arrest you as long as I have complete evidence and/or complete assurance of your guilt, which both Commander Dash and I both have assumed.” Once again he motioned to Rainbow. “Consider it a form of martial law, if you will.” He leaned back now, the smile still holding it's place.

“You see, and of course I'm sure you were already aware of this, a dangerous criminal is in Canterlot at the moment. She has committed multiple acts of violence, murder, mind control, she's used illegal forms of magic, and has even made direct threats against the Crown. We believe, and have strong evidence to support our belief, that you are hiding her inside of your home, with full knowledge of her crimes as well as failure to report her to the authorities. That means that you are an accomplice to said counts of violence, murder, illegal magics, and threats to the Princesses. That is enough to put you away, assuming you aren't put to death of course, for somewhere around 1,755 years in prison. With parole, of course, but only after 982 years. With good behavior.”

“Of course,” Rainbow finally spoke, “all of that is after your crimes are announced for the entire kingdom to hear. How awful will it be for not just Canterlot, but all of Equestria to know of the treasonous acts committed by Octavia Van Clef? How would it feel to have all of your hard work destroyed by this terrible event? Your name would be so hated, ponies would erase it from every nook and cranny that it was written in. Never to be spoken aloud again.” She finished, staring at Octavia with a simple smile on her lips.

“However,” Shining Armor resumed, his horn glowing, “you can be spared from all of this.” A piece of paper appeared in the air, and gently floated for a moment before settling down in front of Shining Armor. He slid the paper over to Octavia. “If you just sign this piece of paper, all of the crimes that your name is attached to will disappear. Once signed, you will be taken into protective custody, and you will tell us everything you know about Twilight Sparkle, where you met her, where she goes in Canterlot, how to find her, et cetera, and you will never have to worry about anything happening to you. Provided you give us your full cooperation.” Another flash of pink magic, and a quill in a pot of ink appeared next to the paper.

“Keep this in mind, though. You're friends with my mother, Velvet, and could also be charged with spying as well.” Shining armor shook his head, quietly clicking his tongue. “How heartbroken do you think my mother would be, not only to find out that one of her closest friends was a spy and a traitor, but also knew of her daughter's safety and survival?”

“Not to mention,” Shining fixed the earth pony with a stern look. He leaned in towards her again, his voice barely a whisper, “you would be sparing a brother who has to deal with the guilt of knowing that his sister has been possessed by dark magic, has survived for over 15 years,” Shining swallowed a lump in his throat, “and who can't even tell his own mother.”

His frown of anger turned to sadness. His eyes softened as he looked on Octavia. “I am asking you to help me get my sister back. All this time you've known, and you never told us. I don't know what she made you promise her, but it's time to stop with the lies. Please, help us, so we can help her.”

Octavia was silent as Shining returned to a normal position in his chair, looking down with a small huff. The stallion was now clearly holding back tears, and she knew it. Her eyes flicked to Rainbow Dash. The mares only locked eyes for a moment before Rainbow glanced downwards, avoiding her gaze. Even she felt sorry for the Captain.

The silence lingered for a few moments. Octavia's chest rose and fell with each breath. She knew the meaning of her next words, and they pained her as much as any ever could.

“I'm sorry Captain.” Octavia stared directly into Shining's eyes as he looked up, sadness etched into her features. “I do not know Twilight Sparkle, I have never seen her in the flesh, and I do not know of her whereabouts. I wish I did, though. From what your mother told me, she seemed like she was an amazing mare.” She kept her gaze locked with Shining's, pity in her eyes. “Again, I truly am sorry, but I cannot help you.”

Shining leaned back in his chair, the room once again falling silent. “I see.” He whispered. At first, he seemed to have simply shut down. But soon, his frown contorted into an expression of pure, controlled rage. He slid his chair backwards, the metal scraping harshly against the hard floor. He rose from the table and turned away from Octavia, with Rainbow Dash following suit.

As he approached the door he turned back around. “I know you know where she is, Octavia. And I will not rest until we...I, find her. I can play this waiting game, and if you wont help me then fine. But when I do find her...” His threat went unfinished. There was no need for it to be said. The door slammed behind the unicorn and pegasus with a loud 'boom'.

As silence fell across the room once again, Octavia whispered quietly to herself. “Oh Twilight, please forgive them. They don't know what they've done.”

The outside was just as pale and bland as the small room Octavia was still sitting in. Bleak white walls stretched into long hallways with similar white tiles. Bright lights shone from the ceiling, providing the white halls with light that only seemed to enhance their glare. Their hooves clip-clopped across the tiled floor as Shining and Rainbow walked through the empty corridor. The tall unicorn walked ahead of his counterpart with barely controlled fury flowing through his veins.

Octavia was guilty. He knew it, Rainbow knew it, and she refused to admit it. He had to give her credit. He had performed dozens of interrogations, maybe even hundreds, and he could tell a truthful pony from a lying one in no time flat. One did not get to be Captain of the Royal Guard by simple pomp and pleasure, after all. He had learned that even the most battle hardened and wary of soldiers had nervous ticks. A tap of their hoof, hyperventilation, shifting eyes, restlessness were only a few examples of small tell-tale signs he had seen in ponies.

And yet, the mare had kept a perfect poker face on for the entire time. She had given no tell, made no sort of reaction to anything she was told, and took everything he had said in stride. He had never met a pony who looked so calm and relaxed. Normally a prim and proper noble pony such as herself would throw a fit at what had happened to her. Shining had expected her to be demanding a lawyer from the moment he walked in. He was fully prepared to have to yell and scream at his prisoner, to get through to her. But instead, he had been met with perfect calm and silence.

Something even more interesting to Shining was her attentiveness. Every time he had caught a glimpse of the mare, she was looking directly at him. When he looked directly at her, she never stopped staring into his eyes. It was interesting, the look that had been in the mare's eyes. Her gaze was never one of attraction, lust, hate, or anger. Instead, it had been maintained as one of sadness, as if she wanted to forgive him.

He couldn't stop thinking about it. He hadn't seen a pony look at him like that in such a way before. Even when Twilight “died” he was never looked at that way. Various pony's glances had been filled with pity and mourning, but never sorrow like Octavia.

He wanted so terribly to be angry at the mare, but something about her took away his anger at the same time. While he had threatened her over and over again, smiling the whole way through, she only seemed to resonate calm. When she had finally spoken he had been ready to yell and scream at her, but found that his anger was restrained.

He had decided to leave the room, but now that he had done so he couldn't fathom why. He should have stayed and kept questioning her. He had heard ponies give the “I'm sorry, but I don't know X” speech dozens of times over. So what was so different about her? It wasn’t fear that had caused him to leave, he knew that much. He had just felt...non-combative, and tired.

He shook his head as he walked. He just didn't understand what had happened. Maybe he would try again once he had calmed down. Maybe he would just send Rainbow in alone. Shining looked back at the cyan mare as she glared daggers first at the floor, then at him as her head perked up.

It would probably be best for Rainbow to not go in alone, unless there was a serious shield in between them, for Octavia's sake. Shining didn't know exactly what the pegasus would do to Octavia, but he was certain that the earth pony would be facing Rainbow's wrath. He wasn't ready to consider torture as a possibility yet, and certainly wouldn't send Rainbow in first if he did. A pony had never been subjected to “physical persuasion” under his orders and he didn't plan to start. Not today.

He doubted it would change anything, anyways. He was already taking a huge risk by capturing Octavia; violence would only make things worse. If she was connected to Twilight, then no good would come of her being beaten and tortured.

He glanced forwards to a pair of glass doors. They were almost out of The Tomb. Suddenly, Shining craved the sunlight, as his conflicted feelings weighed heavily on his heart. He wanted so badly to hate this mare for keeping Twilight a secret, but he also wanted her to speak the forgiveness that her eyes preached. He wanted to hear her say that his troubles would soon be over and no more pain would come, as he fell asleep in the comfort of her hooves.

It was much later in the morning when Twilight arrived home, far later than she had originally expected. By the time she stepped into Octavia's home, the sun had already begun its gradual ascent into the sky. Normally she would return home a few hours before the moon had set, but as her deadline drew closer and closer her work pace had to be quickened so that she could be finished on time.

By the time she had dragged herself through the back door, she was half asleep from working all night in the tunnels. Her bags hung at her sides, seeming unusually heavy in her exhaustion. She shuffled slowly into the house, desperately craving a hot shower before she joined Octavia in their bedroom. As she made her way through the small hallway she noted how peaceful the house seemed. Granted, the occupants were all night owls, but she had expected to see at least one pony awake. Maybe even a sign of such a pony.

Not thinking much of it, Twilight slowly pushed aside the door to her shared bedroom. It creaked open gently, but as she looked upon the bedroom she had expected to see occupied, she found only unmoved bed covers and still-open curtains.

She stared, confused, at the display before her. Octavia loved to sleep in during the mornings and, seeing how it was not even eight o'clock, should have still been in bed. Through bleary eyes, Twilight moved towards the queen-sized bed, one hoof dragging across the top of the blanket. As her hoof passed over a small lump beneath said blanket, her suspicions were confirmed.

She pulled back the covers to find a small white flower lying on the mattress. Twilight had left it there for her, to be found when Octavia returned. It was a winter flower, her favorite. There was no way she would have just left it there. The flower's petals were curled up into a small bulb as it lay on the sheets, still awaiting the darkness that it craved so that it could bloom.

It was called the Midnight Juniper, a rare flower that only bloomed in the darkness and cold. Once opened, it revealed its alluring smell and colors, and was considered a delicacy in many places throughout Equestria. Twilight had purposely put it there so that Octavia would find it when it was the most beautiful. Octavia would never leave something like this just sitting there on the bed.

'Unless she was never able to recover it.' The voice in her head reasoned. Twilight stared at the floor for another moment, then shook her head as she slowly turned to leave the room, not bothering to shut the door behind her.

Walking quickly, Twilight stepped into the living room. Her head turned side to side as she approached the front. A normal pony would think that she was being paranoid, but Twilight knew of the danger both she and her loved ones faced by simply being together.

The rest of the house seemed just as undisturbed as the bed, with everything in its normal place. But still, she had to be absolutely sure. Twilight narrowed her eyes. The thing that a pony was looking for was always hidden in plain sight. The rugs were in their normal positions, no scuff marks were on the floor, and no item was out of place

She approached the front door, the straps of her bags encased in violet magic as they opened. Her horn flashed for a moment before the door opened, providing her with a shield so that she would not be disturbed or have to worry with a disguise. Anypony that passed in the next few minutes would never focus on the doorway, and would pass by without any sort of interest.

The door swung open gently as Twilight crouched down in front of it, several items withdrawing from her pack. One item was a crystal magnifying glass, refracting the purple light as it was encased in her magical grip. Another was a small item similar to the glass in size and shape but lacking a middle, essentially an empty ring. The final item was a simple crystal bowl and a small, corked glass vial. Its contents glowed in a multicolor array as the liquid sloshed back and forth inside the glass.

Twilight gently set the small magnifying glass down on the floor. Grabbing the small vial out of the air, Twilight bit down on the cork, pulling it out of the bottle. Normally she would have pulled it off with magic, but concentrated liquid magic was unpredictable when it came into contact with outside magic sources, even if they were both from the same unicorn.

Gently, she poured a tiny amount of liquid into the small bowl. She poured until the bottom of the bowl was just barely covered by a small puddle, before re-corking the bottle and returning it to her bag. Gently, she dipped the empty ring into the liquid just enough to cover it entirely. The crystal frame glowed gently, a film stretching from the circumference of the circle and meeting in the center, similar to the bubble wands commonly played with by small foals.

Carefully, she moved the wand in front of the door knob, turning her ear towards the opposite end of the circle. At first there was nothing, but after a moment a clear ringing came through the film. No, two rings. Like crystal bells reverberating off of on another.

Frowning at the polished brass knob, she gently placed the ring back onto the ground, not wanting to break the film in the center. She picked up the magnifying crystal by the handle with her magic and the small bowl with her teeth, dripping just a tiny drop of the prismatic liquid into the center of the crystal. The glass glowed even brighter than before, shimmering with a rainbow of assorted internal colors.

She held the vibrant glass over the brass knob, staring intently into the center. Two shimmers of color appeared on the knob, each one trailing into the air similar to a fire trailing smoke. The first one was a light blue color. The entire doorknob was encased in the substance, indicating that a pony had used it to turn the doorknob when they entered the house.

The other color was much smaller, however. A small pink sliver lay underneath the blue. The line was curved slightly, making a shallow U shape on the handle. Twilight frowned at the shimmering color, setting the glass down down next to the ring.

Gently she bent down, touching her horn to the brass knob. She connected it to the area where the pink magic touched, her eyes closed in concentration. Her horn lit up, but instead of magic flowing out and onto the spot, her horn seemed to draw it inwards, pulling the residue into her horn.

Once she opened her eyes, her irises glowed briefly, the magic flowing through her mind. A barrage of words cascaded through her consciousness as she studied the spell, as it literally ran through her veins. Her eyes glowed a light pink before suddenly ceasing their activity as pink light emanated from her horn. Her eyes regained their natural color once again, the proper words finding their way to her lips.

“Leave-No-Print Spell.”

That was it. A near-perfect spell designed to leave no hoof print, fur, or evidence that a pony had ever been there. It was an enchantment that sent subtle magic throughout the pony's every fiber of being, so that there was nothing left of them after they departed, or until the enchantment wore off. It would literally destroy any evidence of a pony. Twilight ground her teeth in anger. This was a high-level spell, and risky to use as well. If the pony didn't cast it right or keep the spell under control, they could burn up their entire body in the process.

But that wasn't the only reason for Twilight's anger. She recognized the magic's color. She had only met one stallion with pink magic that was powerful enough to cast such a spell.

She spun, slammed the door shut, and gathered her tools. She then launched herself into the living room, rushing to the small bookshelf by the fireplace.

She checked every nook and cranny of the shelf, but could not find the small knife she had once given to Octavia. She had hoped the mare would never need to use it, but had given it to her in case of an emergency. The fact that it was gone worried Twilight deeply.

Her crystal devices in hoof, it only took a few moments to find evidence of magic elsewhere in the small house. She found a few spots, but the evidence was piling up nicely. And then, after scouring the floors and walls, she found the small droplet.

It was barely visible against the kitchen floor, she had to narrow her eyes at the tiny smear. It was a hideous maroon and brown color, long since dried on the floor. From her bags, she drew one of her daggers, and gently chiseled a piece of the stain off of the floor, bringing the cold steel with the chip closer to her eyes. She nodded her head, there was no doubt about it.

The stain was blood.

Twilight's knife fell to the ground, her eyes wide with fear and anger. It all came together. The magic, the missing knife, the blood stain. Twilight slumped down and held her head in her hooves. They had come for her. They had taken Octavia from her.

Twilight drew a heavy, labored breath as she sat on her flank, tears streaming down her cheek. She was filled with anguish unspeakable, they had taken away the mare that meant everything...

Suddenly, her head raised up, and her eyes glowed with fury and anger. How dare they do this. Octavia had done nothing wrong. She only hoped that for their sake, this blood was not Octavia's.

“No.” She whispered to herself. A small smile found its way onto her lips. As she stared at the chip of blood on her knife, the smile turned into a grin. Slowly, it spread across her face, a twisted and evil grin full of malice, hate, and anger.

She withdrew a small slip of paper from her bag, staring at it with rage-filled eyes. This was perfect. They thought that they could win by doing this? How pathetic. Now she held the trump card, and she would make them pay for what they had done.

Oh, they would pay.

Author's Note

In the last chapter I received a lot of feedback in the comments about Shining and Rainbow Dash's actions. While I can not comment much on the reasoning for their actions, I will say that it will make sense in the future why they did what they did, as well as some very minor logic on their side which was display in this chapter.

In other news, the reason this chapter came out late is because I am unsure how long next weeks chapter will take before I finish it. It will be a contender for the longest chapter in this story and at the rate it's going, and it could possibly take another week to finish but I will try my best to have it out by next Monday.

Insanity from isolation

7 Days remaining

Fluttershy hummed sweetly to herself as she strolled through her home, a small water pot held between her teeth as she moved back and forth between the small plants strewn about her large home. Occasionally an insect or bird would fly through the open windows, searching through the plants or giving their hellos to Fluttershy before going on their way once again.

There were only three things that the buttercup mare's life revolved around: her family, her home, and, of course, her animal friends. Due to Rainbow Dash's prestigious position, Fluttershy was able to stay and tend to their home, and Scootaloo as well. There was no need for her to work, and she rarely had to make trips to the market or otherwise. Though she didn't have room to keep an entire forest full, she still managed to tend to most all of her animal friends in Ponyville, as well as making excursions to the forest and hills below Canterlot.

Occasionally they would take trips to Cloudsdale or to Ponyville to see friends, which she gladly went on, but otherwise she felt most comfortable at home. In Fluttershy's mind, it was where her work was. While her talent was often thought to be communicating with animals, her true talent was helping others, and ponies were no exception. When they had all moved into the house, she had practically declared herself as the homemaker, and did her work with a spring in her step. Her ability to communicate with all creatures was what made her so good at helping every thing she could.

Rainbow Dash was out, probably working despite what Luna and Fluttershy had asked her to do. For such a caring mare, Rainbow Dash was more stubborn than any other Fluttershy had met. She always put Fluttershy and Scootaloo before herself, and seemed to shrug off anything that stopped her, injuries included. The buttercup pegasus chuckled to herself. Rainbow Dash had never heard of relaxation or a peaceful day. She seemed to always find an excuse to stay on her hooves; whether it be for her family or her work, she always found it in her to keep going, and never spent time for herself.

At least when she did come home, she never brought her work with her. While home she spent all of her time playing and talking with Scootaloo, or helping Fluttershy around the house.

Wile the ever-working pegasus went about her business, Scootaloo was away at school. They had tried multiple places for the small pegasus, but she had constantly suffered from problems related to her extremely short attention span. While each of the three tribes had their strengths and weaknesses, Pegasi were noted for the highest count of ADHD- and ADD-positive foals and adults. There was a reason the winged ponies were often called airheads, or told to get their mind out of the clouds, as unfair a stereotype as that was.

Scootaloo, after multiple attempts at multiple schools, had finally settled in an “experimental” school. There foals enjoyed a total freedom to learn what they wanted, provided they at least try each class offered. There were no formal teachers in the sense of classrooms, instead the teachers were called guides, and were the heads of multiple different subjects. Each guide was specially trained to notice learning patterns in young ponies, and was versed in basic foal psychology. They were there to assist and guide the foals instead of teach them, so as to help them stay on track with their learning and growth.

At first it had sounded strange, but after some thought they had decided to give it a shot, and the results were marvelous. Scootaloo, as expected, had a few troubling days when she had first started in the school, but quickly found her “rhythm” as they called it and was progressing wonderfully. She suffered from attention issues as well as a serious lack of confidence, which led to her often zipping around from idea to idea, especially when it came to her cutie mark. Since she started at the school, though, she had finally gained a sense of confidence, and had stopped with her often-ridiculous schemes, now focusing on one “project” at a time and working through her troubles.

Of course she still had lingering troubles and issues, but she was quickly maturing and becoming independent, despite being only 12 years old. Also despite her growth, she and Rainbow still had an excellent relationship, and Fluttershy doubted that it would change anytime soon. Rainbow had a total understanding of Scootaloo, and always helped her when she needed help and pushed her when she needed a push.

As Fluttershy returned to the kitchen, her watering pot still in her mouth, she heard a knock at her door. “Coming.” She called to the pony outside, resting her pot on the kitchen counter.

A moment later she opened the door to reveal the pony waiting outside. It was an earth pony mare. Her coat was a mix of grey and white which reminded Fluttershy of fresh ash in a fire place. She wore a vibrant purple and red vest and a pair of purple slanted glasses. Behind the clear lenses was a pair of piercing green eyes.

The strange mare held an air of confidence that radiated throughout her entire body. Her stance, her expression, her entire body was rigid and straight as she stared down at the smaller pegasus, causing Fluttershy to slink back in fear. Seeing this the mare corrected herself, replacing her frown with a gentle smile.

“Miss Fluttershy,” she said in a clear and confident voice, full of strength and authority, “my name is Pencil Pusher. I have been employed by the Princesses as part of a psychological examination for Commander Rainbow Dash.” The mare lifted a purple and red bag off of the ground and reached inside. Fluttershy hadn't realized the bag's presence until Pencil Pusher had leaned down to get it.

From the bag, the earth pony pulled out an official-looking letter and handed the sheet of paper to the pegasus. Fluttershy unfolded it to see the Royal Guard letterhead and an official stamp at the bottom of the page.

As she read the letter, Pencil Pusher spoke again. “Due to recent events involving Commander Dash, I have been asked to speak with you. Because of her reaction to dark magic, we have reason to believe that she could have, or may receive in the future, damage to her mind.”

Fluttershy stared open-mouthed at the letter, looked up at Pencil, then back down to the letter again. The ashen mare gave her a sympathetic look. “If you would be willing to allow me into your home, I would be able to explain in greater detail.”

Instantly Fluttershy snapped back to reality. “Yes yes, of course. Please, come in.” Pencil stepped into the large home, looking around at the plants adorning each wall. It was quite the uncommon sight, seeing a house turned into a small forest such as the one close to Fluttershy's home.

After a few minutes, both mares were reclined in chairs across from each other. Pencil leaned back in her chair, her forehooves laying in her lap. “Now that we are more properly situated, I can give you a better explanation, as I assume you would like.”

Fluttershy snapped to attention and nodded to the ashen mare. “Yes, please.” Fluttershy called, louder than she had expected to. Pencil nodded to the slightly-panicked mare. In her lap rested a pad of paper with a pencil laying on top of the white sheet. She regarded the buttercup pegasus with a soft expression as she took a breath.

“Recently, Commander Dash has been exposed to a... dark, form of magic, as I assume you are aware. As I have been told, you have been a personal witness to this as well as,” she lifted the pad, flipping through the pages until her eyes rested on one line, “Miss Scootaloo?” She met Fluttershy's eyes again, and the pegasus nodded in affirmation.

“Cases like this are rare.” She continued. “In Equestria's time of peace and harmony, dark magic like this is extremely uncommon, and is almost never seen anymore. Something dangerous and potent as this magic has not been seen by the public since the Discordant Era.” Fluttershy began to sink back into her chair, her wide eyes scared. “Since she was taken back to the castle by Princess Luna, Rainbow Dash has been put through numerous healing processes, some small and others great.”

“Under normal circumstances, Miss Rainbow Dash would be processed, put into a medical ward for a few days, maybe weeks, and released. But this is no normal circumstance. We have reason to believe that not only has she been exposed to potent dark magic, but she has been exposed repeatedly.”

“The Princesses and workers in the medical section of the Palace are quite keen and knowledgeable on the subject, but the problem with dark magic is its ability to lay in waiting. Dark magic has a mind of its own. It takes a pony's mind and not only corrupts it, but sometimes splits it. Fractures it. From what I was informed of the incident, a similar event took place in this very home only a few days ago. This gives us a better look at the severity of the infection, as you could call it.”

Seeing Fluttershy's now-horrified expression, her voice took on a more sympathetic tone. “You have nothing to fear. While the case for Miss Dash may be severe, we have many ways to combat this sort of thing, and I am part of one of the first steps.

“Due to dark magic's 'tricky' nature, it has many ways to disguise itself and stay hidden. Magic like this can recede into a pony's mind, make itself appear as if it has been destroyed or been completely transferred out of a pony. But over time it grows back, and it grows back stronger, similar to a virus or malignant disease. The magic will attach itself to a pony, worm its way through the cracks in a their mind and find a way to grow again. From there, it will latch onto the victim's weakness. Bad memories, bad habits, frustrations, and even everyday situations can help to trigger the black magic. It can grow and grow and grow inside of a pony, festering and building upon anger and other emotions as well as adding to them by twisting and leveraging a pony from their own mind, until it literally breaks. For the subject involved, it would be a gradual and intense process, sometimes running the course of years before the sickness itself is noticeable by outside sources or the pony themselves. Repeated exposure can be a surefire cause for this type of activity, and that is what we are currently preparing for.”

“I don't mean to scare you, Miss Fluttershy, but I can see that my words are currently working their way into your fears.” Pencil motioned to the pegasus. “Allow me to put those fears to rest. As I said, dark magic practically has a mind of its own, but we have spent years studying it and we've found ways to combat it. In the case of Rainbow Dash, we employ a certain system to keep a constant check on the pony so that we can look for signs of increased aggression, frustration, anger, sadness, desperation, extreme depression, and any other symptoms that could act as a catalyst. Part of this is a mandatory psychological examination of a pony's past as well as constant watch by a psychologist, psychiatrist, or any number of other professionals.”

“Each and every pony will personally report to the Princesses any and all changes that are noted in the subject, Commander Dash in this scenario. This process could go on for weeks, months, or even years, but is to absolutely ensure that all traces of dark magic are eradicated from a pony.”

“I am here to begin the first step in this process. Under normal circumstances, one of the Princesses, most likely Princess Luna or leading members of the guard, would personally conduct the evaluation, but due to the close relationship that Commander Dash holds to all three Princesses and Captain Shining Armor, I have been hired to conduct this interview. The close relationship which has been formed by the Royal Family to Rainbow could cause favoritism to come into play, swaying thinking and the thought process of a pony.”

“I need you to, with your consent of course, give a me a detailed history of Miss Dash which we will take into account during her medical and psychological examinations, and will use a base for our findings and reports. The information you give use can greatly impact what we find and do in her case.”

“While the process may be difficult at the beginning, make no mistake that we are doing this to ensure Commander Dash's, Scootaloo's, and your own safety. We can offer any amount of funds to make this process more comfortable for your family, and we will attempt to ensure that we do not interrupt your family life in any way.”

“Now,” Pencil adjusted her position, sitting up even taller and wearing a determined expression, “if you are ready we can begin at any time, but I can wait if you are not yet sure about speaking. If you would like, I can give you a moment to think about my request, but it would be best if we began immediately. I know that this an extraordinary amount of information to receive at one time, and I understand any caution or fear you may feel, but what we learn from this interview will be critical for helping all ponies involved.”

Fluttershy took a long, deep, shaky breath. Pencil Pusher wasn't kidding when she said that this was a lot to be given. Fluttershy wanted to collapse to the floor and cry, but knew that this was no time to do such a thing. Rainbow Dash had always helped them in any way she could. Fluttershy knew that it was time to return the favor by helping her in any way that she could.

“W-where do you want me to start?” Her timid voice faltered at first. Pencil Pusher smiled at her slight stutter, not to make fun but as a sign of understanding. She lifted the pad and pencil which had been laying dormant in her hooves. “From the very beginning, if you will.”

The door swung open gently, revealing a bleak pony standing in the doorway. Shining Armor slowly walked into the pale room, allowing the white steel to slam shut behind him. In front sat a silent Octavia, regarding him with her deep, caring eyes.

Shining froze for a moment. Just like last time, her eyes had immediately found his once he had entered the room. He stood in the middle of the room, their eyes meeting in a long stare. There was a long silence between the two. Slowly, Shining's hooves began to move, shuffling closer to the metal table where Octavia sat, still in her handcuffs.

It had taken him some time, but once his anger had left him, his head felt clearer and he felt much better about speaking. Once again he pulled out the metal chair and sat down, the other vacant at his side.

The silence persisted for a moment, before it was interrupted by a sharp intake of air. “I feel that we got off on the wrong hoof.” Shining said, quickly. As if he wanted to beat her to speaking first. He chuckled to himself. “It seems I'm still not doing a very good job. Guess my emotions are still a little mixed up, huh?” He smiled wearily to Octavia, who gave him a polite smile in return.

“Before we begin, would you like anything? Water? Tea? Hot chocolate?”

Octavia's smile disappeared, replaced with a frown. “I'll take nothing.” She returned, her voice cold and calm. “I have the sinking feeling that once the glass touches my lips your partner will walk into the room and knock it out of my hooves.”

Shining Armor chuckled lightly, shaking his head. “No, no, it's just me this time. I won't be playing the good colt/bad colt routine. It was never my flavor of cake anyway. Colt Scout's honor?”

Octavia gave him a doubting smile. “Were you ever really in the Colt Scouts?” She asked, the smile growing more playful.

Shining's smile grew. “No, but that doesn't mean that honesty isn't the best policy. Besides, this is an interrogation. What's that point of lying if I want somepony to tell the truth? It doesn't exactly set the best example.”

Octavia looked to him with a warm smile. “Well, I suppose you are right. But I am telling the truth, Captain. I don't know about Twilight. I know you doubt me and I don't want to cause you pain, I mean it, but I truly don't know where she is and if I did, she could just move on to another pony. If she is as dangerous as you truly think her to be, then shouldn't you have guards patrolling up and down Canterlot's streets looking for her? I don't mean to offend you, but it doesn't make much sense for you two to be spending all of your time on me.”

Shining regarded her with a kind smile. “While I partially agree with you, what else is the point of a prime suspect than a focus point for us? Unfortunately, you are our prime suspect. Like I said not long ago, I brought you here because I have reason to believe that you're involved. I didn't like it, believe me. I find it hard to believe that someone of your stature would be caught up in all of this, but I found significant evidence against you, as well as a marker on your home which links it to an assault which took place only a few nights ago.”

As if a light switch had been thrown, Octavia's posture changed. Her body went stiff and her hardened eyes locked in on Shining Armor's. The earth pony's jaw hung slack for a moment before readjusting. There was a tension in the air so thick it made Shining feel sluggish.

“What?” Octavia said after a few moments. Shock was clear in both her words and her tone as she stared at Shining Armor with wide eyes. The large stallion grimly nodded at her, confirming her fear with a simple motion. For the first time Octavia looked away from Shining Armor, her gaze downcast at the table as she slowly shook her head.

“We have been aware of Twilight's... presence, for almost a month. Even before she got to Canterlot. Just a few nights ago, we had some... soldiers running recon. Not on your house specifically. You only recently became a serious suspect.” Octavia nodded to Shining, beckoning for him to continue. “The following morning, Princess Luna herself came to my door and practically broke it off of its hinges. She brought me and Princess Cadence back to the castle where I discovered that earlier that morning a message had been sent to us by an unknown pony.”

“The message was brought to a royal reader because it was addressed to nopony. You can understand that this is a rare occurrence, and with recent tensions we took it very seriously. We opened the letter to find a cryptic message and a rune which was used to store the body of our reconnaissance member. Luckily, Princess Cadence was able to save him due to the close friendship she had with him, and he is currently comatose in extreme care in the Palace hospital. We are told that he should wake up in the next few days, but we're still not entirely sure.”

“Before he was discovered, he sent a message to his comrades who were out with him. The message was brief, just him saying that he saw somepony who looked suspicious lurking in the alley behind a house, and he was going to follow them. Unsure if it was Twilight, he left a magical marker behind the house. After the incident the next day, I went looking for it, and lo and behold it was your home that had been tagged. All in all, it's why you're here now.”

Octavia shook her head gently, still staring down at the hard metal table. “Captain...” She began to speak but her voice trailed off. The pair sat in silence for another moment. “Captain Armor,” she started again, finally meeting his eyes, “I must say that I truly don't know how to respond. This is... this is quite the thing be told all of sudden.” She shook her head again. “I just can't even comprehend this sort of thing happening. This is not what I expected from a city like Canterlot. You're absolutely sure that it was my home?”

Shining quirked an eyebrow at the mare. “Positive.” His horn glowed, and in a flash of pink magic a file appeared on the table. “But you just reminded me of me of the main reason I came back in.” He flipped through the pages before turning the file and sliding it in front of her.

“While I doubt you will, it's customary to say that there is no point in destroying documentation. We have multiple copies and it would just serve to ensure your guilt AND make you look like a fool.” He said, rolling his eyes as if he was used to saying it.

Octavia scanned the page he had placed in front of her. It was her birth record for when she had grown up in Manehattan. “I don't understand. What does this have to do with anything?”

“Those are your birth records, or at least the ones that we know about. I find it rather interesting, that you were born with no parents and abandoned on the steps of this orphanage which has repeatedly gone under investigation for drug trafficking, smuggling, murder, and falsifying living records.”

Octavia shrugged. “There is a reason I left Manehattan. It's an aggressive, ruthless, and crime-filled city. Easily the highest crime rate in Equestria.” She said, matter-of-factually, as if she said it was going to rain later that day.

“Hmm. That still doesn't explain why the orphanage doesn't have an official birth certificate, which an orphanage can easily get if a foal is abandoned. Not to mention,” he pulled the file back, flipping a few pages before returning it to Octavia, “your school where you apparently, 'Discovered your skill and passion' for playing your prized cello doesn't have any solid history of your existence.”

Octavia regarded him with a simple frown. “Not all of us get to grow up in wonderful places, Captain Armor. Some have to struggle to achieve greatness.” Shining and Octavia stared each other down, their eyes locked. Shining opened his mouth before a voice called their attention.

“Shining, I need you out here right now.” Rainbow Dash's voice called through the intercom. Shining turned to one wall of the room, staring at it as if there was a pony looking at him. It was most likely a window disguised with magic. Shining threw up his front hooves in exasperation. Not a moment later did Rainbow's voice call him again. This time a sense of panic in her voice.

“SHINING GET YOUR FLANK OUT HERE RIGHT NOW.” Rainbow demanded, making it clear that she wasn't looking for an argument.

Shining looked at the window, back to Octavia, and back to the window. Standing up from his chair he pointed a hoof at Octavia. “We're not done yet.” He said as he jumped out of his chair, launching himself toward the door. The section of wall glowed in his magic before flinging itself open as he sprinted out. Almost as quickly as it had opened did the door slam shut, plunging the room into silence once again.

“Rainbow Dash and I grew up together on Cloudsdale. Most ponies think of Cloudsdale as the magnificent cloud kingdom, the pegasus paradise, the home of the Rainbow Falls. While these are true, Cloudsdale is indeed a magnificent place, it is not a wondrous place for all. For some, it can be a living hell. And I don't say such a thing lightly.”

“Pegasi take their jobs very seriously on Cloudsdale, more so than any other ponies I've seen elsewhere. Many pegasi live to work in Cloudsdale. Working in the weather patrols, managing the rainbows, assisting with flight school, and weather planning are the biggest and most sought-after jobs in Cloudsdale. The cream of the crop, if you will.”

“But there is a fatal flaw in Cloudsdale. The pegasi there are the strongest. The fastest. The bravest. The smartest. The most cunning. The most daring. Cloudsdale is where legendary pegasi are born, where they are raised, where they master their trade. It's a dream for a pegasus to be remembered in Cloudsdale. But for some, Cloudsdale can be a nightmare.”

“Everypony expects you to fall into a line, find a clique, or find work. For a city of free-fliers, many ponies seem to reject freedom. This was Rainbow's case. She was a free spirit. A roaming soul. A dreamer. A schemer. A loner. She didn't ever seem to fit in or find other ponies like her. She had a pompous attitude, always bragging about her speed and strength. It came as no surprise when I discovered the pain hidden behind her mask.”

“The first time I met Rainbow was when she had saved me from a group of thuggish young colts. While Rainbow was disliked by a few ponies because of her rebellious attitude, I was often targeted for my shyness. A flightless pegasus in Cloudsdale is a sad sight indeed. Often I was greeted with looks of pity, or mockery, or shame. I was a loner, like Rainbow Dash. No friends. My parents rejected me because of my lack of flying skills. My mother was a strong flier, the commander of her own weather patrol. She was a daredevil with a keen eye and a thrill for danger. My father was the same way, minus the glorious position. I'm sure it came to them as a great surprise when their daughter, from whom so much was expected, was nothing more than a shy, grounded pegasus.”

“They rarely paid attention to me, never comforted me in times of distress, never showed any interest my schooling or my life. It could have been worse, though. I had a place to live, food to eat, and a bed to sleep in, but I had little else. I guess that was what made my friendship with Rainbow so strong.”

“Commander Dash did not have a good home life, I'm assuming?” Pencil Pusher inquired. Fluttershy stared silently at the ceiling for a few moments before answering.

“To say that she had a bad home life would be an understatement, I think. Truthfully, I never knew what happened to her behind those doors. It's her closest secret, and it's one I have no intention of attempting to discover, but I'll get to that later.” Pencil nodded, urging on the buttercup mare.

“Anyway, these three colts had been chasing me for some time, throwing insults and hurtful words as I tried to run away. But as usual, their wings were faster than my hooves. They hovered above me after I had fallen to the ground, trying to cover my ears so that I couldn't hear them. A moment later I heard a yell and the sounds of a fight.”

“I mustered up the courage to peek out from behind my mane, and I saw her. Rainbow was zipping through the air fighting the colts, and she was winning. I watched for a few moments until the colts finally flew off nursing bumps and bruises, as well as wounds to their ego. Rainbow turned to me with a smile on her face and said those words that I will never forget.

“Hey, there. Are you okay?” The young cyan pegasus called, ignoring the throbbing in her nose as she faced the small pony who laid in a ball on the clouds. The buttercup mare was tiny, unbelievably thin, and the poor thing refused to even meet Rainbow's eyes.

Rainbow knelt down, causing the mare to curl up even tighter behind her large pink mane. “Hey, it's okay.” She said in a gentle and kind voice, reaching out with one hoof to Fluttershy. Slowly the filly peeked out, regarding the cyan hoof with a nervous glance.

Rainbow's smile only grew wider as she watched Fluttershy. “It's okay. I don't bite, I swear. Besides, I couldn't just let those colts beat up on you, now could I?” Slowly, Fluttershy reached out and took Rainbow's hoof. The said mare gently lifted the silent Fluttershy off of the clouds. The pair regarded each other silently for a few moments, the smile never leaving Rainbow's face.

“So... do you have a name?” Rainbow finally said, trying to break through the awkward silence.

Fluttershy shifted her hooves nervously for a moment, avoiding eye contact with the cyan mare standing parallel to her.

“Um...my name .. is...Fluttershy.”

Rainbow gave her an uneasy smile. “I'm sorry, but I didn't quite catch that.”

“My, um, name... is Fluttershy.”

“Fluttershy?” Rainbow asked, earning a small, quick nod from the skinny pegasus. “Nice name. Are you sure you're okay? You seem a bit... timid.”

Fluttershy sniffled softly. “I know. I'm sorry.” Fluttershy started to tear up.

“Well hey,” Rainbow started, “you don' have to feel bad. So what if you're feeling a bit shy, gets the best of all of us. Even somepony a cool as I am.” Rainbow puffed out her chest, with a large smirk. “But hey, I've seen you around before. You don't have any friends, do you?”

Fluttershy responded with a shake of her head, still staring dejectedly at the ground.

“Well now, don't feel bad about it. If it makes you feel any better, I don't have any friends either.” Rainbow said jovially, tipping her chin up with one hoof. Fluttershy finally locked eyes with Rainbow. The mare was brilliant. Her mane and tail were a bit ragged, but she had an impressive pair of wings on her and her body was lean, if a little lacking in muscle.

Her vibrant mane glinted in the sunlight as she gave Fluttershy a warm smile. “I'll tell you what. I don't like it when other ponies get bullied, and while I did scare them off for a while, eventually those colts will come back, and then you'll have to fight them yourself. And I don't think that you would do very well in a fight.” She gestured to Fluttershy's skinny frame. “And since I've never seen you with anypony, would you like to be my friend?” The cyan mare concluded.

Fluttershy stared at her, shocked. First, she had flown in unannounced and fought off three colts, and now she was asking Fluttershy to be her friend. The buttercup pegasus couldn't fight the small smile on her lips. “A friend? Oh that would be wonderful!” She exclaimed, enveloping Rainbow in a tight hug.

For a mare of her size, she was a lot stronger than she seemed, and Rainbow couldn't help but return the loving gesture. As the pair walked together, both Rainbow and Fluttershy could tell that this would be the start of a wonderful friendship.

“From then on, Rainbow and I spent every day together. We were inseparable. We walked together, talked together, and ate together. We were each other's best, and only, friends at the time. But we didn't care about that. We were all that we needed. She was there to protect me from bullies, and told me not to listen to their hurtful words, and I helped to support her in her training and activities.”

“I mentioned earlier about her family or, to be fair, her lack of family. In the seventeen years I've been Rainbow Dash's friend, I've learned almost nothing about her home life, and the little I have seen and heard is enough. From them, I can only imagine. Princess Luna is likely the only pony to whom Rainbow has told her story. I've never pressured either of them to find out more, it's not my place to do so and I consider the matter to go far beyond personal.”

“When we were younger and a few years before Rainbow joined the guard, I decided to personally ask about her family, if she had any that is. Over the next two years, though, I never found the courage to ask. She never talked about her home or her family. She never even told me where she lived, though now that I have an idea of what her home life was like, I doubt she spent much time there. Finally, after two years of working up the strength, I asked.”

“The moment that I did, her entire body changed. We had been reclining on a small cloud, talking and laughing with each other. The moment the question was asked, the laughter stopped. Her smile disappeared and her body went rigid, like a cat that had been startled. She made up an excuse that she had to go and before I could say another word, she flew off, leaving me on the cloud. She will probably still deny it to this day, but as she turned away I promise I saw tears in her eyes.”

“After that, I didn't see her for a few days. When I finally did, to say that she looked terrible would have been an understatement. Her mane was tangled far beyond the way it usually is. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy, as if she had been crying non-stop for almost a week. As soon as we saw each other, she came to me and threw her hooves around me.”

“As she hugged me, I could feel tears coming down her face onto my shoulders. Her whole body moved with her sobs. I returned the hug, I couldn't do anything else. It was strange for me. For over two years she had been my protector and guardian, and yet, at that moment, I was the one holding her and telling her that it was okay.”

“I never asked her about it after that. There was no need to. I knew more than I ever wanted to know. It's strange when I think about it. Before the incident, I had never seen Rainbow cry or act like that. Sure, I had seen her sad or angry, but this was something different. But after... after that, it was like Rainbow wasn't afraid to hide her emotions from me. She was never afraid to go to ME for help, or to show me her tears.”

“However, her sadness didn't stop there. It was about five years after that. Rainbow Dash had just turned sixteen, and suddenly got it into her head to join the Royal Guard. One day she came to me saying that she wanted to join, but she didn't want to have to leave me for the twelve weeks of required training. She said that once she was accepted and she became an officer, she could get a small home for us both. Finally we could be free from our families and start our own lives. We talked, and I told her that if it was her dream and she really wanted it, then she should go as soon as possible.”

“The very next day I was helping her fill out the military forms. It took us three to four days before we finally finished them, but in the end we both knew that it was worth it. I went with her when she turned in the paperwork to the recruitment office. Rainbow was so proud, and I was proud of her. She said that it would take a few days before we would find out if she was accepted.”

“It wasn't take long before she was called in for a physical examination and test. Two days later, she found me and told me that she was accepted, and had even broken a few academy records. Not even a week later was she taken away to a camp for basic training.”

“Every day while she was away, I wrote letters to her talking about my day and telling her that I was okay. She would send letters when she could, but I never got more than one a week. Then, one week I didn't get one. Naturally, I assumed that she was busy with her training and understood if she couldn't get a letter to me. That is, until I got the letter.”

“One day it just showed up in the mail. It was a letter with an official stamp from the Cloudsdale Guard, and it was addressed to me. I opened it to find a condolence. It said that Rainbow had been seriously injured during lights-out, and they had yet to catch whoever had attacked her. They said that Rainbow was the youngest pony in training at the time and was top of her class. Apparently, others did not take kindly to not only being outdone by a sixteen year old, but a sixteen year old filly.”

“There were several stallions and one mare who were suspects in the attack, but the guards had gotten little information from Rainbow Dash, as they had her under heavy sedation. As soon as I finished reading the letter, I ran out of my house and all the way to the hospital where the letter said she was being held.”

“Once I arrived, several ponies tried to keep me out of her room, but I demanded that they let me through, and I even showed them the letter which had invited me to the hospital. I had never done anything like that before, but Rainbow was my friend, and I refused to take no for an answer. Once I finally convinced them to let me in, I found Rainbow in her room covered from head to hoof in bruises, cuts, bumps, and gashes.”

“The doctors said that amongst her more obvious injuries, she also had two broken ribs, a fractured hoof, severe tearing of muscles in her wings, concussions, and they had even put her in an induced coma. Right then, there was nothing they could do about the attackers until Rainbow was well enough to speak again. I found out, from one of the guards that had been there when she was found, that somepony had also been spreading rumors about her, and tried to get her kicked out multiple times.”

“To this day, I don't know how they found out, but at least one of her attackers had known about Rainbow Dash's issues at home. The pony had such a grudge against her that they spread the awful rumors and, when that wasn't enough to make her quit, almost killed her. While she was in the hospital, two guards were stationed outside her room to protect her, in case her attackers returned. They were wonderful stallions who were extremely compassionate and disgusted by what had happened. Thanks to them, I learned that there was a full investigation going on concerning Rainbow Dash, and the story was running in most of Cloudsdale's newspapers. They said that it was, 'A disgrace to the Royal Guard, and a blemish on the names of all who serve.' ”

“What happened next was the most shocking out of all of the events. After two days of laying comatose, Rainbow was finally awoken. We were told that a very important pony was coming to personally examine Rainbow Dash, as well as conduct the interview. When I asked the guards who it was, they said that we would see tomorrow.”

Fluttershy met Pencil Pusher's eyes, a large smile plastered on her face. “Imagine our surprise when the very next day, Princess Luna walked through the door.”

“The Princess personally came to interview Rainbow Dash?” The ashen mare asked, one eyebrow cocked. Fluttershy nodded happily.

“The guards and the nurses had known ahead of time, but decided to let it be a surprise for Rainbow and I. Neither she nor I had ever seen a Princess in real life, only in pictures. When she walked into the room, both of us froze. She seemed to glide across the floor towards us, it was like nothing we'd ever seen before.”

Luna couldn't suppress a smile at the fillies gawking at her. Neither of them moved as she stood in the doorway. She let out a gentle laugh which reminded the fillies of tinkling bells as her eyes focused on the bed-ridden pegasus.

“Well, I think it would be a silly question to ask which of you is Rainbow Dash.” She said to the silent room, snapping the fillies from their stupor. Fluttershy dove to the ground in a bow so quickly that Luna was concerned that she had hit her head on the hard floor. Rainbow pointed one hoof at the night princess, her jaw still hanging open.

“Y...you...you're... Princess...here!?” She stuttered slowly only causing Luna's smile to widen. She slowly approached the two fillies, bending down to greet the kowtowing buttercup pegasus. When Fluttershy looked up to Luna again, she was met with that same warm, motherly smile.

“There is no need for that, my little pony. Today you are in the company of a friend, not a Princess.
Worry not with formalities.” Luna stood back again, turning towards Rainbow Dash. “So, you are the young mare I have been hearing so much about. I've heard you have quite a story to tell.”

Rainbow, still in shock, slowly nodded towards the Lunar Princess, unable to find her words. Luna, seeing this in the filly, turned to Fluttershy. “Ms. Fluttershy, could you give me and Rainbow Dash a few moments of privacy? I must speak with her on some... personal matters. Would you wait outside for a few minutes? I promise that I will care for her well.”

Fluttershy jumped to attention. “Oh, um, yes Princess. Of course.” She said hurriedly, causing Luna to laugh her soft laugh once again, bringing an unexplainable happiness to Fluttershy and Rainbow. It was strange, but she seemed to bring light to the gloom that had settled in the room.

“Remember, young Fluttershy, there is no need for formalities.” She placed one hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder. “I am here as a concerned mare helping an unfortunate filly, not a Princess blessing her subjects with a visit. All I ask in return is for you to treat me as such.” Her beaming smile only calmed Fluttershy even more.

Slowly, she nodded her head towards the dark blue alicorn. “Yes, ma’am. Thank you, Princess Luna.” She bowed once more before turning and leaving the room. As the door closed behind her, she heard Luna speak again. This time, the happy tone was gone, replaced with one of sadness, anger, and pity.

“We have much to speak about, it seems. Where would you like to begin?”

Fluttershy stared straight ahead, her eyes glazed over as she remember that moment. It was one she would never forget. That was the day their lives changed for the better.

“They were in there for hours.” She began again, her voice tinged with emotion. “I don't know everything they spoke about in that room, but whatever it was, it must have been important. Princess Luna had arrived sometime in the early afternoon, and when the door finally opened again, the sun had already begun to set.”

“As soon as she left the room, I knew something was different. Throughout their entire conversation, not a single word came through the doors or walls. The blinds had been pulled so that nopony could look into the room. When I first saw her, Luna was all smiles, and showed control in her every action.”

“But once she left... once she left, I knew that she had changed as well. She seemed tired. Exhausted, even. Luna wasn't the same as she had been when she entered Rainbow Dash's room. She walked out of the room with a glare so sharp it could have cut through moon steel. She told me and the guards that Rainbow had fallen asleep, and that she had business to attend to.”

“There was no need for me to question her at the moment. I could tell by the way she spoke, the way she walked, and the way she looked, that she had found out everything she needed to know. It was strange, but Luna was so furious that I prayed whoever she was after didn't run or fight her. She, at that time, was not a mare to trifled with. She seemed like a raging storm just barely contained behind the clouds.”

“And yet, there was a touch of sadness to Luna's eyes. It was very subtle, but I've always been good at reading ponies. Her anger seemed to be fueled by her sadness. As if she had taken what happened to Rainbow Dash personally. When we met her, she was just as she wanted to be. A friend coming to the aid of an unfortunate pony. But she left that room an alicorn who looked as if her own child had been attacked.”

“The next day, I came into the hospital and was greeted by the same pair of guards who always stood watch during the day. They met me with smiles and said that Rainbow hadn't woken up yet. I walked in to find quite the surprise waiting for me.”

“That was the first time Rainbow escaped a hospital without anypony knowing.” Fluttershy said, rolling her eyes. “While she is loyal, she is also stubborn beyond belief, and refuses to be held down. The guards outside reported her missing, and soon a full-fledged search was under way. It took less than an hour before they found her waiting for bunk inspection back at her training camp. I must say it was embarrassing how many soldiers they needed before they could drag her, kicking and screaming, back to the hospital.”

“Not only were most of her visible injuries reopened, but she even had more tears in her wings, and fractured two more ribs.” Despite the grim telling, Fluttershy chuckled to herself whilst shaking her head. “Honestly, I don't know how she does it. She never did let herself rest.”

“And what happened with her attackers? Judging from your interaction with Princess Luna, I assume that they were discovered?” Pencil asked, breaking her long silence. Fluttershy nodded quickly.

“Oh yes. Princess Luna had them arrested the same day she visited Rainbow Dash. They were three stallions, and they were all taken away by the Princess herself. After Rainbow was officially released from the hospital, she testified at the trial where the stallions were, of course, found guilty, and banished from Equestria for the rest of their lives.”

“Such a punishment had not been given out for some time, as we were later told. Princess Celestia and Luna both acted as judges during the trial and came up with the sentence, instead of relying on a jury. This in itself was rare, but under the circumstances was considered acceptable.”

“Luna and Rainbow spent much of their time together, both before and after the trial. I can't describe it, but they seemed to connect with each other, even more so than Rainbow and I did. I took care of Rainbow as best I could, but the Princess still tried to visit every other day, whenever she had time to spare.”

“Within days, both Rainbow and the Princess had an extraordinary bond which surpassed friend-to-friend. If I had to to describe their relationship, I would call it a mother-daughter one. I have no doubt in my mind that Luna knows the whole story of Rainbow's childhood, and personally stepped in. I believe that she took responsibility and tried to correct what happened to Rainbow as a foal.”

“Not long after the trial, maybe two weeks after, Luna came to visit as she usually does, but with a happiness which neither Rainbow nor I had ever seen in her eyes. That was the day Luna invited Rainbow to become her personal student in Canterlot.”

“Rainbow accepted on one condition: that I be allowed to come with her to Canterlot. Being there myself, I was shocked. Rainbow was a wonderful friend who was full of care and loyalty, but even I would understand if she had accepted the Princess's invitation and left me. For her to say that showed just how much she cared for me.”

“Luna said I was allowed to come if my parents were okay with it, to which both Rainbow and I said it would be. Luna seemed wary at first, but it wasn't a week later before the three of us were together in a carriage to Canterlot.”

“Finally, Rainbow Dash and I could have a life of our own. We were headed to a new world, full of possibilities and wonder. Rainbow had escaped her past once and for all and finally found a true parent, while I now had a place where I could care for animals and not have to worry about being judged for my flying.”

“For five years we lived our own lives. Rainbow quickly rose through the ranks in Luna's Night Guard, while I stayed home with my critter friends and managed our home. It was sometime around then when we made the final addition to our family.”

“In 1278, there was massive storm in Cloudsdale. A rather large one was required due to a drought they had been experiencing. Unfortunately, the storm got out of hoof and went on a rampage across the city. There were a few injuries and deaths, but luckily not that many, and most of the military forces of the city were scrambled to assist in rebuilding certain areas.”

“Rainbow, of course, offered to go and spend a few weeks in Cloudsdale helping out with the rescue efforts and rebuilding. She sent me a few letters while she was away, and more than one mentioned a small filly she met there. Apparently the poor thing had been trapped with a few others inside the remains of a house, the layer of clouds too thick for any of them to break through.”

“That was the day that Rainbow had met Scootaloo. Rainbow was there when she was pulled out, and spent much time with the filly while doctors examined her. She was an orphan who had been spending time at a friend's adoptive parent's home when the storm hit and trapped them all together.”

“Scootaloo asked Rainbow to stay with her, since she was too afraid to sleep alone in the tents, and she agreed. The whole time Rainbow was in Cloudsdale, she and Scootaloo spent all of their free time together. She helped the filly adjust to what had happened, and pretty soon Scootaloo was looking to Rainbow for guidance and companionship.”

“A few days before she was supposed to come home, Rainbow asked the ultimate question. The one that truly showed how much she cared for the filly. She asked if she could bring Scootaloo to live with us in Canterlot, essentially adopting her.”

“At first I wasn't sure, but I believed that if Rainbow was willing to go this far, then it wouldn't be for nothing. Less than a week later, Scootaloo was sitting down with Rainbow, Luna, and I for our first family dinner. After one evening together, I knew that Rainbow was right in her decision to bring Scootaloo home.”

“That just about ends the story, up to the present of course. Rainbow is cocky, hot-headed, and hates to lose, but she is also loyal, loving, caring, and selfless to her core. She's a student, a daughter, a sister, and a mother. I don't know much about what she's been doing, but they must be bad if they've managed to hurt Rainbow Dash this badly. I couldn't think of another pony more undeserving of such a thing. For all that she had to go through, I can't imagine why anypony would do all of these things to her. All I can hope for is that the pony will admit their mistakes and come forward.” At this, Pencil furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.”

“What exactly do you mean, Ms Fluttershy?”

The buttercup mare smiled at the earth pony. “I mean that it's never too late for anypony to apologize.” She said simply, as if she was saying they were expecting rain later that day. “If somepony really means it, they can ask for forgiveness, but the longer they take, the harder it can be for them to be forgiven. I'm always ready to forgive ponies for their mistakes, even my own parents.” She smiled at the mare across from her, as Pencil stared down with a slightly sullen expression.

After a moment, Pencil lifted her writing pad off of her lap and placed onto the chair arm next to her. She leaned forward in her seat, her expression serious. “Well, I do believe that adjourns our meeting. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me, and you have my most sincere apologies for your loss.”

Fluttershy laughed lightly. “Oh, don't worry about it. Rainbow is strong and I know that she'll fight through this. Soon, we'll have our old Rainbow back.” She glanced back to Pencil, looking down at the small couch. Something caught her eye. She turned her gaze towards Pencil Pusher's writing pad. It was blank.

She looked back to the ashen mare, about to ask why she hadn't taken notes on their conversation, when she saw the piercing gaze from the earth pony. Pencil let out a dark chuckle as she fixated her gaze on Fluttershy.

“You misunderstand me, Ms. Fluttershy. I wasn't speaking about Rainbow Dash.” As she spoke, with one smooth movement, she removed her glasses. In an instant her eyes changed from bright and clear to solid black, as she fixed Fluttershy with a maniacal smile. The small pegasus was frozen as the mare's body rippled, as if it was distorted by a change of the light.

In a moment, the earth pony in front of her disappeared and was replaced by a lavender unicorn, an insane smile plastered across her face. Her head snapped to one side, sending out and audible crack, as if it had been broken. The sharp sound pulled Fluttershy out of her trance, as she stumbled from her chair and away from the dark unicorn. The movement only causing Twilight to laugh again.

“Silly little pegasus,” she said in a raspy voice, her smile growing painfully wide, “just where do you think you're going?” Her voice was layered with tones and subtle undercurrents, causing Fluttershy to instantly feel dizzy and sick. Fluttershy was no expert in magic, but even she could feel the power flowing from the unicorn's body.

She found now that not only could she no longer move, but her body was being levitated a few inches off of the ground. She watched helplessly as Twilight slowly walked forwards, standing on her hind legs as she almost casually moved towards the frozen pegasus. Her saddlebags hovered towards her, as she now stood next to Fluttershy.

Once again, Fluttershy's body moved against her will, this time leaning backwards as if she were laying on a floating mattress. Twilight stood over the small mare as a wicked blade and a crude-looking pair of clippers floated out of her bag. The giant scissors looked similar to the tools gardeners would use to trim bushes, but Fluttershy was fairly sure that fauna was the farthest thing from the mad unicorn's mind.

“Don't do this,” Fluttershy screamed, desperate, “don't do this, please! I beg you...” She began crying now, desperate tears leaking from the corners of her eyes. “You don't have to do this. You're not well. We can help you. Nopony else has to be hurt. Please.” She sobbed, trying desperately to move from her invisible shackles.

Twilight's smile lowered, now more sympathetic. She patted the pegasus with one hoof while wiping away her tears with another. “I truly am sorry, Ms. Fluttershy. But Rainbow took somepony I loved. I am just returning the favor. I cast a quick sound-proofing spell before I came in, so nopony will bother us. If it makes you feel better, the pain won't last long.”

Fluttershy's lip trembled as Twilight took hold of the crude clippers, opening them over one of Fluttershy's wings as the pegasus let lose another torrent of sobs.

“Now then.” She said, her twisted smile returning in full force. “Let's begin.”

Rainbow shook at the four guards standing before her. Her hooves trembled as she stared at them with an open mouth and tear-filled eyes. They had entered the room quickly, shutting the door behind them. From the moment they came in she knew that something was wrong, their grim expressions giving it all away.

Once they had told her the news she fell silent. Both Princesses had sent them to deliver the horrible words. She stood silent for what seemed like an eternity, what she had heard so terrible that she didn't even know how to react.

She flailed one hoof to the side, striking a large button laying dormant on the console next to her. “Shining, I need you out here right now.” She croaked, her breath catching in her throat. Suddenly, she found it hard to breath. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Shining gesture with his legs in obvious confusion.

She hit the button again. ”SHINING GET YOUR FLANK OUT HERE NOW.” She screamed into the microphone, voice shrill and full of panic. She pulled off of the button and collapsed to the floor, unable to contain her sobs and screams.

As Shining emerged from the room, his eyes locked onto the other guards standing with grim expressions. They then switched to Rainbow, laying on the ground crying loudly. “Just what in the name of Tartarus is going on right now? What are you doing here?” He asked worriedly.

The one in front, a pegasus Shining Armor recognized, spoke. “Captain,” he said, his voice uneasy, “we regret to inform you that less than an hour ago, Twilight Sparkle gained access to Commander Dash's home and brutally attacked Ms. Fluttershy.” Shining's jaw fell open at the words he heard.

“But, that is not all.” Another guard spoke. He pulled a slip of paper from a pouch on his armor and handed it to Shining Armor. “We recovered this at the scene of the crime. It was on the floor next to Ms. Fluttershy's body. She is currently at the Palace medical ward, getting emergency blood transplants. Next to her body was also a message written in blood, most likely Ms. Fluttershy's."

The soldier gulped as he handed the picture to Shining Armor. As soon as the Captain laid eyes on it, his face paled. “It said, This is the last straw. No more warnings. Give her back.” The soldier spoke again. “That was it. The Princesses have been searching for you both for over an hour, and have been terrified that you were missing.”

With a look of horror, Shining looked up from the picture. “What about Scootaloo?” He asked, panicked.

The guard nodded. “Once we found out, we scrambled several guards to her school to escort her back to the Palace. I haven't heard anything since then.”

Shining was silent as the picture slipped out of his hooves and fell to the ground. The sounds of Rainbow's sobs rang in his ears. The picture was from her graduation. A crude, bloody X was pasted over Fluttershy's face. A bloody circle was around Scootaloo's face, seemingly indicating that she was next.

Shining stared forward in silence, understanding what the message was. He had taken Twilight's friend. Now, she had done the same.

Author's Note

I hope it was worth the wait.

Eye for an eye

Catastrophe was the only word that came to mind. Pure, raw, unadulterated catastrophe, and it had only just begun. Luna stood stunned as medics swarmed the body of the young buttercup pegasus. Despite all of the ponies around her, including her sister, Luna hadn't felt so cold and alone like this since the last great war. Death was one thing, but this... this was an act of animality and monstrosity that was incomparable.

The blood was by far the worst. Poor Fluttershy's body was coated in it, spots of brown and maroon all over her body. Pools of it were scattered around the floor. There were spots on the wall, small splatters that laid there like crude paintings. Even the yellow feathers that danced and played across the floor in the gentle breeze were covered in the hideous substance. On a normal day it would have been strange to see the loose feathers of a pegasus, but today it was a horrifying reminder of what had taken place only hours ago.

How the poor mare was still alive was an all too simple answer; her life was most likely the greatest torture she had suffered. Luna was sure that the poor mare would gave given anything to have the pain taken away from her, and to have been conscious through most of what happened and still be alive...

They could say she was lucky or that it was a miracle, but to suffer so greatly is no miracle. She was purposely allowed to live. Survival wouldn't be the correct term. Fluttershy was strong, stronger than many ponies Luna had known before, but she was not that strong. Her strength came from her love and care for others. From her loyalty and kindness and selflessness. One look at her face told Luna that she had given up fighting.

She may have not been the best flier, some would call her a grounded pegasus, but for her wings to be damaged so was a fate worse than death. A pegasus's wings define who they are at the most basic level; as a result, every pegasus was highly sensitive about his or her wings, and oftentimes protective to a point. The doctors had told Luna that most of the damage had been done to her feathers, and not the wing appendage itself. While there was severe tearing and scarring to the muscle, with proper healing and care, she would one day be able to fly again.

It didn't matter. The damage had been done. The physical scars would heal, but the mental ones would not. At that very moment she was hanging in the balance between life and death, and should she survive this day, the memory of what happened would haunt her for the rest of her life. It was the cruelest of fates, and Luna cursed the unicorn who had caused it silently.

“Sister?” Celestia's voice snapped her younger sister out of her thoughts as she waited outside. With a glare not completely intended for the other alicorn, she turned her head. Celestia's sad gaze met Luna's as the elder motioned with her head behind them.

Luna turned to see a group of guards standing at attention. As soon as she locked eyes with the pony in front, her heart sank. Rainbow Dash was coming, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. Her lips trembled and her body shook with each step as she moved closer and closer to her home. At first, Luna thought her student was walking towards her, but then she recognized the look in her gaze.

The pegasus's eyes were glazed over, unfocused and still. It was like she was watching Rainbow walk in a dream. Her hooves glided across the stone road as they brought her closer to her home where her friend lay, half dead.

Finally, once she had moved past Luna, the night alicorn frozen in place, her glazed eyes found their target. In an instant she sprung to life, sprinting into the house to find her mutilated sister.

The sobs came only a moment later. Luna didn't dare turn around. She couldn’t bear to watch as her student broke down like a foal. Just the sound alone brought tears to Luna's eyes as she hung her head.

“Silver Star. What news do you bring?” She called to the leader of the small group of guards who still stood at attention in front of her. The pony in the lead straightened.

“We have heard no news from Angel or Trail Blazer, but Captain Shining Armor has been made aware of the situation. He is currently inside The Tomb, outside one of the interrogation rooms. As far as we know, he is still there.” The soldier reported. Luna raised one eyebrow. Angel and Blue Mane had been sent to escort Scootaloo home from school and had only left a few minutes ago, but what interested her was Shining Armor's work at The Tomb.

“What business does he have in the questioning rooms?” She called back to the group. Silver Star simply shrugged. “I'm afraid it was not my place to ask, but when we arrived, Commander Dash seemed very keen on us not knowing. She almost threw us out of there when we first arrived.”

Luna narrowed her eyes. 'Interesting', She thought to herself. “Send somepony to fetch Shining Armor. I want to know just where the hell he has been. Tell him to meet us here, and do it quickly.” She commanded the group before turning away.

She walked back inside the large house, standing next to her sister. The medic ponies were lifting Fluttershy's limp body onto a small gurney while Rainbow Dash stood off to the side with tears still in her eyes. For once, Luna's words failed her. There was nothing she could say in this situation. Nothing could comfort Rainbow. Nothing could lift the heavy hearts of the ponies still in the room.

As the pegasus's limp body was carried away, there was a flash of magic outside followed by the clopping of hooves against the cold ground. In a moment an exhausted-looking Shining Armor entered the house. Immediately, Luna fixed him with a glare. “So glad you could join us, Captain,” she called, sternly.

Shining dodged her gaze as best he could. “I...I apologize, Princess.” He mumbled quietly, his voice full of sadness and shame. Luna showed no sympathy to the ashamed stallion. Instead, she seemed ready to kill the stallion with her eyes.

“And pray tell, Captain,” Luna started once again, clearly not satisfied with his answer, “would you explain your absence to the rest of us? We have all been here for the better part of an hour, and yet you did not follow Rainbow when she had left. Just what were you two doing inside interrogation rooms, without notifying us?”

Shining Armor was silent, his words caught up in his throat. After a long moment, Rainbow shouted out. “Just spill it, Shining,” she spat, sounding on the verge of tears once again. “There's no point in hiding it anymore.” Luna kept her gaze focused on Shining, one eye cocked as she waited for an answer.

Seeing no way out of the situation, Shining explained everything that had happened in the past day. With each word, Princess Luna and Celestia grew angrier and angrier, their bodies practically glowing with fury.

“So you are saying,” Celestia began, her body shining with golden light as if she was about to explode, “that you decided it would be best to kidnap a pony who is possibly connected to Twilight Sparkle, and that you expected nothing to happen. What were you thinking? That she would just forget about this mare, and move one? Your love for your sister has left you blind, Shining Armor. You should consider yourself lucky, that I am not stripping you of your rank right here and now.”

“Do you have anything to say for yourself?” Luna asked, turning towards Rainbow Dash. The cyan mare hung her head in shame as she sulked in the corner. “What about you, hmm, faithful student? Has your lust for revenge blinded you so much that you committed to this foolish plan? Did I not teach you any better? Is this what you have learned from me? If so, then I have failed you greatly.”

There was silence from both the mare and stallion. “What were you two thinking?” Luna asked again. “Nothing, that's what. You weren't thinking. Plain and simple.” The room was silent for a few seconds. Luna didn't understand what had prompted such a foolish decision, but right now she wanted to blame somepony. She even blamed herself. She should have expected something like this. There should have been guards outside of Fluttershy's home.

A few minutes passed by, before a pair of guards finally entered. Luna recognized them once they entered. It was Angel and Trail Blazer. Luna was at first relieved to see them, but once she saw their faces, her heart dropped. “Please. Don't tell me.”

Wordlessly, Angel approached the Night Princess. Held in her magical grasp was a small stone, slightly larger than a coin. She placed it on the ground in front of Luna before backing away. “The caretaker at the school said a guard had already come to pick her up an hour ago.”

The other ponies looked to the two with shock and surprise. Rainbow brought one hoof to her mouth. “The mare at the school gave this to us, then once it left her hooves she forgot the entire thing. She must have been under a mind control spell; she had no memory of the guard, the stone, or why she was even talking to us. We tried searching for them, but there was absolutely no trace of her. We're sorry, Princess. We failed.”

The two guards hung their heads in shame, not wanting to look their Princess in the eye. Luna quietly mumbled. “No. It's not your fault. It would seem that Twilight Sparkle was faster than all of us. You are dismissed.” The guards turned and walked away, closing the door behind them.

A long silence fell on the room. In one hoof, Luna held up the rune so that the others could see. “Do we dare?” Luna mused, already knowing the answer.

“What other choice do we have?” Celestia rebuked. “I doubt it would be a bomb. It's not exactly her style.”

“I would rather it be a bomb than a body. Scootaloo's disappearance and the giving of this can't bode well.” Shining piped up.

Next Rainbow spoke, her voice full of fear and worry. “It couldn't, though, right? It took her a whole night before we got the changeling. It's only been an hour. Besides...” Rainbow trailed off. Her stomach began to cramp, and fresh tears filled her eyes. “It's... it's not like she would do that to a filly, right? She couldn't. Right?”

The heavy silence returned as the ponies glanced at each other. They wanted to agree with her and comfort her, but from what they had seen, nopony was sure what Twilight was above doing. Luna, the rune held in her magic, moved forward into the middle of the room. “There is only one way to find out.”

She placed the stone in the center of the floor, as everypony moved to the edges of the room. All of the blinds had been shut when the guards arrived, so there was no need to adjust their surroundings further. With a small spark of magic from Luna's horn, the stone sprang to life. It bounced an inch into the air, before coming down onto the floor once again. Then it bounced again, glowing with its creator's signature magic color. It kept bouncing, glowing brighter and brighter, throwing sparks and multicolored light across the room.

Rainbow Dash averted her eyes, not because of the brightness but for worry of what would appear. She had almost lost one family member tonight, and couldn't bear to lose another. Especially a filly like Scootaloo.

After what seemed to be an eternity, the light began to fade. Once it was gone, Rainbow's stomach dropped as she heard a gasp from the other three ponies. She turned one eye to Shining Armor. The stallion's entire body radiated fear as he stared at whatever had appeared. She couldn’t help herself. She just had to know. As if tearing off a bandage, she shuffled her hooves and forced herself to look.

Where the small pebble had lain, there was now a large black mark in the shape of a six-pointed star, imprinted on the floor. On top of the crude black mark stood a pony. Rainbow immediately recognized the purple unicorn whose unfocused eyes stared forward, between Celestia and Shining Armor. The room was silent for a painful amount of time. Nopony spoke as the rogue unicorn in front of them stood silent and still.

Without thinking, Rainbow hurled herself forward. She no longer cared about her sadness. Now all she wanted was revenge. Before anypony could stop her, Rainbow tried to tackle Twilight. “SPARKLE!” She howled, ready to beat the pulp out of the evil mare.

Instead, she flew straight through Twilight's body, rolling across the floor. The unicorn was only an image. Instead of a pony, an illusion stood in front of them. Rainbow recovered from her fall, her eyes seeing red. Luna and Celestia, ignoring Rainbow's fall, moved in front of the mare. Twilight's cold, tired eyes stared blankly forward.

“Hello Princesses.” The illusion spoke, its voice low. Its stone-still face was like a mask, betraying no emotion and making almost no movement as it spoke. “I will skip the pleasantries. You know why I am here, and you know what I want.”

Luna nodded. “Ms. Octavia, I presume.” Twilight's copy carried on, giving no hint that it could hear them.

“Have I not made my position clear in the past?” The copy growled. “Have I not been generous enough in my warnings? Have I not already shown you what I am capable of?” Nopony spoke. Rainbow clenched her teeth, while Shining stared down at the ground. The copy nodded to itself. “I gave three warnings in the past few weeks. The first was Rainbow Dash. The second was the changeling you so rudely sent to follow me. The third, well... I'm sure you know which one I am referring too.”

A disturbing feeling went through the ponies still occupying the room. They did know. “It would seem that my mercy was overlooked.” Twilight continued. “But no longer. I am done with the warnings. I am done with the mercy. I am DONE with playing around. I never hit first, Princesses. But you had better be DAMN sure that I hit back a thousand times harder. Ms. Fluttershy is evidence of that.”

“So there. You have no options left. I have one demand, and I promise you that if it is not met, I will show you just how cruel I can be.” She was silent for a moment, letting her words sink in. Even the alicorn sisters drew shaky breaths.

“Now then. My orders are simple. Bring Octavia to the front steps of the Castle tomorrow at midnight. And don't bother trying to replace her. I will know if she is the real one or not. And I swear, if I see even a scratch on her, or if a single hair is out of place,” Twilight turned her head towards Shining Armor, her eyes full of fury. Shining was frozen as she stared him down. “If she is harmed even the slightest bit, then I will not hesitate to do the same to my own prisoners.”

The copy turned her head again, looking straight into Luna's eyes. This was no ordinary illusion. The body of the mare in the room may have been fake, but they weren't talking to an image. Somehow, through the mirror image, Twilight Sparkle was watching them.

“You can see us.” Luna whispered. Both she and Celestia could feel their souls dropping.

The mare nodded. “I can do much more than that, Princess. Have I now made myself clear, or would you like me to show you another example of my full power?”

“NO.” All four of the room's occupants cried. Each of them stood silently, waiting to see what the evil mare was going to say next. In so doing, they all came to a terrifying realization. Twilight had them all under her hoof.

“Twilight,” Shining Armor spoke, one hoof held out as if he was worried she would strike him. “How do we know? How do we know she is safe?” His eyes were full of fear, as Twilight turned to face him.

Without warning, Twilight's body faded and two other images took her place. Resting on the floor were two fillies. One, an orange pegasus with a purple mane and tail. The other, a white unicorn with a purple and pink curly mane and tail. The fillies rested with each other, nuzzled together as if keeping each other warm. They looked to be unharmed, and were sleeping peacefully.

Luna's and Celestia's jaws dropped. Both of them wore a look of horror. “Sweetie Belle!?” They cried, not believing what they saw. Shining Armor shared a similar reaction, while Rainbow found her gaze glued to Scootaloo. “Scoots...” She called out softly. She knew the poor filly couldn't hear her, but she didn't care.

In an instant, Twilight reappeared, her gaze unfocused one again, just as it had been when she first appeared. “I have shown you proof that they are safe and unharmed. For their sake, I would hope that Octavia is in the same condition. I will see you tomorrow, Princesses. Don't disappoint me.” And with that, her body disappeared, leaving behind the cryptic black star burned into the ground.

A sickly silence ran through the ponies. Despite the anger they had held before, they now looked to each other for guidance. Luna and Celestia looked each into the other's eyes. They knew what they had to do, lest they face the wrath of the unicorn.

Luna faced her student and Shining, anger and frustration in her gaze. “I want to speak with her. Now.”

Darkening skies

Fear. It is was amazing subject indeed, full of ideas and theories, twists and turns. For some it was a motivator, fueling passion and excitement to accomplish new things. Of course, for others it was the exact opposite.

Twilight had always hated fear. For her, it only lead to reckless haste. She was the kind of pony to take her time, to make sure everything was perfect and perfectly executed. Working quickly always left her open to more faults and mistakes.

But there were times when haste was required of her, times when it was unavoidable, times when sacrifices and risky moves had to be made. This was her moment to shine. She had everything. The vile mana fruit had restored her to near-maximum magical capacity, nopony knew what her next move would be, and to top it all off, she had two hostages to prevent any more counters from being made.

Yet as she worked, she couldn't suppress a chill from crawling up her spine. Down in the caverns below Canterlot, she could not stop the dark sensation that clouded her mind and dominated her thoughts while she continued carving into the stone. Even though she had tried to be as careful as possible, she had now surpassed the point of planning and thinking. This was a critical time, and everything she did affected her plans. If the damned beast decided to take control now, it would all be for nothing. Now she was driven by pure desperation and could nothing more than act, praying that luck would be on her side.

It was doubtful, however, since luck had often failed her when she needed it most. The cruel world she grew up in taught her that if she did not succeed the first time, then she was bound to fail. It taught her that she had to win the first time. If she lost, then either she was dead, or another pony was.

Twilight cursed herself, shaking her head. These thoughts would do nothing more than cause her to panic and become even more desperate. She needed to get control of herself before the situation went completely downhill.

Only one other time had she felt like this, and it had ended with more pain and loss than she had ever felt before. If she let her emotions or her... other, get the best of her then it would not end well for anypony. Hell, who knew what might happen to Canterlot itself? She considered herself lucky that she had fought Rainbow Dash in an empty tundra, as she imagined her power going off in Canterlot. The loss of life would have been unimaginable. Not to mention, it would have thrown all of Equestria into disarray. No, if she was to complete her final mission, then she would need to control her demon once and for all.

Now she had made the ultimate decision. There was no turning back now. No surrendering. No mistakes. Everything had to be perfect from this point on. She couldn't let her guard down any longer. The bitch had broken her, caused her to lose control. She had her revenge, but at what cost?

Now was the time to finish this once and for all.

If she did not, the monster inside her mind would be the death of her yet.

Trouble comes in many shapes and sizes. For some, it comes in thoughts and feeling. For others, it can take the form be a beautiful mare or an enticing drink. But everypony must give in to that fact that, no matter how big or small, we all find trouble sometime in our lives. And while she had experienced trouble for much of her life, Octavia would rather be anywhere but the empty white room. Even the pits of Tartarus were preferable to what she faced.

For Octavia, trouble took the form of two very angry alicorns. Each of them seemed to perfectly resemble their celestial object. From the one on the right, Octavia could physically feel heat emanating. Her eyes smoldered and burned, two small infernos that gave no mercy. Her fiery mane curled and lashed out, striking at nothing but appearing fearsome even so.

The other was almost the opposite. While she may not have been as physically intense as the other, she gave off a frightening aura even so, cold and almost deadly with its presence. A chill ran up Octavia's spine as Luna's piercing gaze seemed to stare straight into her very soul. It was not a feeling the young earth pony enjoyed, and she greatly wished for the Moon Princess to remove her vicious gaze.

But it was a wish that she doubted would come true. When Shining Armor had left the room the last time, Octavia knew that something was seriously wrong. Trapped inside her little prison, she could only pray that Twilight was not involved. The voice... the voice that had called for the Captain, had scared Octavia. Rainbow's voice had been full of panic. It was raw, pure, and mixed with something... else. It was not a common emotion. It was one of extreme pain.

But all she could do was sit. No matter what, she maintained her composure, fearful of those who she could not see still watching her. And lo and behold, just a little over an hour later, her suspicions were confirmed by the entrance of the Alicorn Sisters. She didn't know what exactly they were capable of, but unlike Shining Armor, the Sisters knew that she was guilty.

She knew the position she was in, and she could no longer lie or confuse her way out of it. She couldn't possibly hope to fool Celestia and Luna.

There was a time when she could have lied her way out, in the beginning perhaps, but that time was long since past. In the platonic game of chess, Octavia was very clearly in checkmate. She had no moves. Nothing up her sleeve. She could think of only one pony who could save her from this situation, and that pony was also the reason she was where she was.

“We will ask only once, and we expect only the truth.” Luna started. There had been something about her that had scared Octavia even more than her sister did, and now that something was far more apparent. The Moon Princesses' voice was full of it. It was not anger that was blunt and obvious. Instead, hers was calm and cool but teetering on the edge of madness. It was the type of anger that made you feel for your loved ones and not yourself.

Still, Octavia could feel a sense of control from both mares. They were desperately trying to rein themselves in, to keep themselves in check. Some might have thought it a relief, but somehow Octavia found herself even more terrified.

And yet, as always, her expression gave no hint to her terror. She nodded sullenly. Though it was not posed as a question, Octavia knew what Luna wanted from her.

Luna kept Octavia fixed with a brutal glare. “Twilight Sparkle. Do you know her?” The answer was obvious.

“Yes.” Octavia said, flatly. No emotion. No feelings. Just a simple answer.

The sisters nodded, pleased with her cooperation. “Do you know where she is?” Celestia spoke this time, her voice considerably steadier than her body. Octavia's answer came just like the last.

“No.”

“Do you know what she will do next?” Luna spoke again, her tone much more hopeful this time. Clearly she wanted answers, and though they were simple, Octavia's answers were at least satisfactory. At the question, Octavia sat back for a moment. She took a long breath before she responded.

“Specifically? No. Ultimately? Yes.”

“What do you mean?” Celestia pressed. Though her anger seemed to be ebbing, she too seemed desperate for answers. Looking to the younger alicorn, Octavia could see Luna shared her sister's feelings. Fear and worry were etched into her features. Octavia cringed inwardly. She hated her next answer, but she knew that no matter what, it was the only thing she could say.

“It is not my place.” She replied grimly. Immediately, the angry stares returned. However, there was something different about them this time. There was anger, yes, but it was not aimed at her. Simply, it was for the lack of an answer. Octavia knew that they wanted to know what was truly going on. They clearly hated fighting blindly, but who wouldn't? It was a dangerous scenario they faced, and she was the key to it all.

“What do you mean, it isn't your place?” The Sun Princess looked down on her with a mixed expression of partial anger and also curiosity.

The grey earth pony took a deep breath. This was only going to get harder as they followed her down the metaphorical rabbit hole.

“I mean it just how I say.” At their growing scowls, Octavia hurriedly corrected herself. “Forgive me Princesses, I mean no disrespect. I am truly sorry for what is going on, whatever is going on, but there are some questions that I cannot and will not answer. It is neither the time, nor my place to do so.”

“What are you so scared of? You are safe here, if that's what you are looking for.” Luna returned, her desperation for answers now showing. Octavia simply shook her head. Her gaze was aimed squarely at Luna as she spoke in a somber tone.

“It is not what I am afraid of, Princess. It is the promise I made many years ago. There are some things that are not for me to tell, and there are other things that I physically cannot tell you. It is not against my will, either. I promised the mare who told me her secrets that I would never repeat them, and in return she took away my ability to do so. It was not forced, I accepted the conditions which I was given.”

“We assume this mare to be-”

“Yes, Princess Celestia. Yes it is. The same mare.” Octavia stared down at he table, a small smile taking its place upon her features. “The mare that you call your enemy, at this very moment, is the mare I call my closest friend, greatest confidant, and, dare I say it, love of my life.”

She was unsurprised by the shocked expressions worn by the alicorn sisters. It was the reaction she deemed to be the most obvious to occur. It was not every day you heard of Canterlot elite mingling with dead ponies.

“You say that you can't help us, but not necessarily that you don't want to help us,” Luna started, “but then you say that you are very... close, to Twilight Sparkle. Whose side are you on, Ms. Octavia?”

The room was silent for a moment. Octavia stared off, seemingly lost in a happy thought with a smile on her face. “That is a funny question. You see... it is not you who I truly want to help. It's Twilight who needs it most. I may not be able to tell you what they are, but Twilight has gone through terrible trials, seen terrible things, and had to do many many more of these. Like I said, it is not you who needs help.”

Celestia, not missing a beat, spoke up. “But then why are you suddenly so eager to speak with us? Before we came in here, Shining Armor told us that you denied everything perfectly. Why the sudden change?”

There it was again. That sympathetic smile. The one that showed sorrow for the pony, and said that they couldn't possibly understand her. It was the look an adult gave a child, and the alicorns hated it. “The reason I tell you... is not because I have had a change of heart, but because I know how this ends, and I have come to accept it.”

“You know how what ends? How long have you known? Why won't you do anything to stop it?” Luna almost screamed. She stood up so fast her chair fell backwards with a loud CLANG as it struck the floor. There was another long silence as Octavia studied her, searching her face closely.

“I understand your anger, Princess. I know that I am not making this easy for you, and I’m sorry, but there is one simple fact that is the cause of all of this.” Octavia stared Luna dead in the eye, her smile now gone.

“Twilight Sparkle is dying.”

Silence once more befell the cold, bland room. The Princesses didn't even bother with shocked expressions. Instead they mutely stared downwards, trying to fully grasp her words. Octavia, despite the massive load she had just placed on the Princesses, looked unaffected by her own words. She had told them that she was far more than a friend to Twilight, and yet she seemed unfazed.

The worst part was how she had said it. To Luna, it was horrifying news. Suddenly, the crimes from earlier were forgotten, and memories of old were brought fresh to her mind. The filly she had once known was dying. And with such filth polluting her body. Though they knew very little, they did know for certain that a nefarious pitch polluted her body from the inside out.

Could Luna live with herself if she did not at least save her from that? Could the mare at least die with a smile?

“How...How can she be dying?” Celestia finally spoke, her younger sister still at a loss for words. Octavia simply regarded them with a comforting smile, one that finally succeeded in setting Luna off.

“TELL US, MARE.” Luna screamed, her control gone.

Though most ponies would cower in fear at the Royal Canterlot Voice, and with a furious princess on the other end no less, Octavia remained stoic and calm. “I'm afraid I cannot say. You have to ask the right question, if you want answers.”

She wanted to lash out again, to scream at the mare and demand her answers. And yet, as Luna stared into those deep, forgiving eyes, she found herself calming. She shook her head, the feeling that now washed over her felt unnatural. Raw. It was like nothing she had ever felt.

She glanced at her sister and, when she saw the look on Celestia's face, she knew that she could feel it as well. Interested, the Sisters turned back towards the young mare. “How are you doing that?” Celestia whispered, seemingly in awe.

Octavia shot them a confused look, cocking her head to side. “I beg your pardon, Princess?”

Before the silence could overtake them once again, Luna spoke. “How are you doing... that? We can feel the power radiating off of you. Octavia, how are you using magic?” Luna was in wonder, her eyes wide.

Octavia took on a shocked expression as well, staring back at the Princesses with wide eyes.

“But... how did you know? I thought I was being subtle?”

The Princesses shook their heads in unison. “There is nothing subtle about what we are feeling, Octavia.” Celestia spoke. “I am not even trying, and I can feel it in the air. I cannot, however, explain how an earth pony is using magic.”

Octavia, for her part, was considerably surprised. She looked confused and... possibly offended. She blinked a few times while staring at the alicorns waiting quietly. Seeing no way out of the situation, Octavia felt forced to speak under the curious eyes of the Princesses.

“I assume the both of you are familiar with Earth Pony magic?” The alicorns nodded, urging her on. “Since I was born I, as well as all others around me, knew that there was something different about me. I was always... calmer, than other. It's a strange thing to describe, I know, but there is no real other way I can think to describe myself.

“Ponies always said I was infectious. No pony around me could stay angry, or frustrated, or panicked, or upset. My very presence could help ponies. I met Twilight when I was 17 years old, Twilight herself a year my junior. Before I had met her, nopony really understood my abilities, but she helped unlock my true potential.”

At the mention of greater power, both princesses stiffened. They eyed her carefully, doubting that the refined and proper mare would do anything, but not wanting to take any risks all the same. For all they knew, she could have the same dark magic that possessed Twilight inside of herself as well. Though she saw their reactions, Octavia continued without pause.

“Well, according to what Twilight has told me, my magic is unique from all others. Instead of the earth, mine reacts with ponies. I can read emotions, and alter them. Think of Princess Cadence's powers, but instead of love, I can calm creatures and even put them to sleep if I really try. I am truly unique.”

“For a few months she stayed with me, helped me hone my skills, and watched over me while I grew and learned. In return, I helped her in a way that nopony else could. I helped to give her peace of mind. You see, Princesses, it's like I said, Twilight is dying. Not a regular death, one with physical pain or crippling, oh no. Instead, her mind is dying. She is quickly losing the fight to the monster inside of her.”

“You must understand, this filth is so much a part of her that she has given it a name. It's not an infection, it's integrated into her, and it will be for the rest of her life. It can't be destroyed, only suppressed. I have seen first-hoof how it twists her, how it forced its will upon her and breaks through her shields.”

“She is truly a prodigy. Twilight is the kindest, most loyal, and generous pony I have ever met. But if she lets her guard down for even a moment, then the damned creature takes hold of her and does what it does best. Kill. Torture. Maim. Destroy. Feed. The only thing “Dementis” lives for, is to end life.”

“Maybe if it was found when she was younger she would have had a chance, but now she is far beyond help. The most I can do is make her final days comfortable. She only has one last mission to complete, and then it will be finished. She can finally rest. She can finally know peace.”

The silence rang once more as the Princesses stared at Octavia, the earth pony sitting with a small, sad smile. Her grace and pose never failed throughout her entire speech, as if she had been prepared to give it for so long. It was clear that the mare had been preparing herself for whatever was to happen next, and had truly come to terms with it.

If nothing else, it was heartbreaking.

“But what can we do, Octavia?” Celestia barely whispered, her voice teetering. “We cannot just sit by and do nothing. She has been wreaking havoc in the past few hours, and has gone past the stage of forgiveness.”

“The way I see it, Princess, is that you have two options.” Octavia held her left hoof up, exposing the underside as if she was holding something. “You can either let Twilight finish her mission, and let her find her own peace, or...” She held up the other hoof, her expression rapidly darkening. “You can kill her.” The two sides continued to stare at one another. Octavia's eyes were cold, and had lost all trace of kindness and concern. “I'm afraid there is no alternative. There will be death before this is over, and I will not blame you if you choose either one, but I ask you, on my life Princess, please do not capture her. Do not force her to live with her demon. If you do, you are helping nopony, you are only subjecting one to more torture and pain.”

Octavia stared into Celestia's eyes, the calming sense gone. Now there was only hurt and anger in the grey mares eyes.

“For the love of Faust, Princess. Make the right decision. I am begging you, make the right decision.”

Author's Note

Time is soon drawing short for our pony friends in Canterlot. What will happen next?

Big thanks to Pink Mugsy for the edits. This chapter became even better with your help.

A moonlit chat

6 days remaining

Twilight stood, staring out across the huge city. The wind whipped at her mane as she stood at the edge of a crenelated tower, unaffected by the weight that rested on her back. It was an engineering masterpiece, Canterlot. Built into the side of a mountain, it was a city unlike anything anypony had seen before, even a place like Cloudsdale. Before her lay the valley underneath the great hanging metropolis. The river that normally flowed between the hills and part of the mountain below the hanging city lay still, frozen over. The entire valley was coated in glistening snow, providing Equestria's capital with a view unlike any other.

Nothing, not even the looming threat that hung over the head of the purple mage could take away Twilight's awe and wonder. It made sense, the magnificent place. Home to both Princesses of the day and night, it was only logical that the city reflect both sister's beautiful works.

In the day, the sunlight cascaded down upon the city, not just the Palace. The Princesses were far beyond that kind of selfishness. Despite their positions, they were still ponies just like their subjects; why should they have all of this beauty to themselves? Instead, they chose to spread the beauty amongst the entire city. The beautiful structures would gleam and shine in their ultimate glory. Stained windows would have their beautiful artwork glorified by the celestial body that is the sun. The gardens flourished in the light, taking on the sun's rays to become bigger, stronger, and even more beautiful every day. The streets shimmered and shone under hoof as countless ponies traversed the gorgeous city, the day bringing sunshine and happiness to their lives.

But at night, the city once again changed. Gone away was the shimmering sunlight and glimmering streets. Instead, the were replaced by yet another beauty. Pale moonbeams descended into the shadows, illuminating the night and shining through the darkness. Ponies had always feared what they could not understand or see. Luna's moon and stars naturally filled this gap for the citizens of Equestria. The celestial objects of the night sky would reveal what was hidden in the shadows for those who were awake, while Luna would chase nightmares and unpleasant dreams away from those ponies who were sleeping.

Of course, not everything had to have a practical use. Most ponies forgot about the real reason for the moon and stars, as the years went by. Instead, they revered their Princess of the Night and her stars for the beauty they brought to the dark sky. Luna was a true artist, and her ponies eagerly scanned the veil above them night after night to see what new creations she would bring.

But even night and day alone weren’t always enough. Summer and Winter each had their own designated time, the Summer and Winter Solstices, so that each Princess's time would be extended. In the summer, Celestia's day was extended for the season, and likewise in the winter for Luna. Now it was Luna's time, and even Twilight could not deny the breathtaking beauty of the scene below her

The snow and ice glowed in the pale moonlight, which shined so brightly. The white crystals glistened like the stars above them, transforming the world into a winter wonderland. Twilight could have watched it all night without tire.

If only she had the time.

She turned her head up towards the sky. The moon was nearing the top of its arc. Soon it would be midnight, and the Princesses would be arriving with Octavia in tow. She turned back, looking at the small form laying curled up on her back. The small white filly was wrapped warmly in some blankets, while Twilight had only her simple brown cloak to protect her from the bitter cold. It didn't bother her though. She was used to far worse from the north; Canterlot was like a chilly breeze compared to a blizzard. The tundra of endless white was surely her greatest danger while growing up, other than herself of course. If she could survive through that, then she could do just fine in far better circumstances such as these.

Not that her current position was much better. In fact, the two seemed quite similar in thought. So many events whipped around her, trying to bring her down and destroy her. If she made just one false step, one wrong move, then she would be smothered and destroyed. And then what? Dementis would take control, and Twilight would have no chance to stop her.

This meeting had to go perfectly. Twilight always had a plan, but there were only so many ways out. Only so many events a pony could be prepared for. And if the pieces did not fall perfectly into line, then the entire operation would be brought crashing down. For every way the plan could go according to plan, there were a dozen ways it could fail. And then what? Brute force? That would only get her so far. Force had its potential, but after some time it loses its use as a fear factor and simply becomes an object to cause rage and anger. Should it over-stay it's welcome, then it could cause other ponies to become reckless. Recklessness was the hardest thing to account for. It was nearly impossible to account for how a pony would react, thus making it nearly impossible to plan against. Nothing is more dangerous than a loose cannon. You could try to plan against them, but just like everything else in this game, if things didn’t go perfectly according to plan, then they would only cause the downfall of the schemer.

Twilight sighed to herself. There they were once again. The grim thoughts. What a lovely mind to have, the one that literally possessed a separate version of itself whose only purpose was to demoralize its owner. Whose sole goal was to find any way to bring her down, and smother her beneath it's unrelenting storm.

'Just like the blizzard.' Twilight thought to herself, glaring down at the stone. Funny how things seemed to come back around. She turned her head back up to the sky. Only two minutes till midnight. Her gaze leveled back at the snowy and ice covered valley. It still glowed and shimmered beneath the moon and stars, shining with it's beauty.

Why dwell on the bad, when she could distract herself with the beauty right in front of her? Good and bad were a part of life, constantly surrounding everypony. Why not spare a moment to partake in the beautiful night? It wouldn't be there forever, and neither would Twilight.

30 minutes later
“Are you absolutely sure? You can still help her. Please, there is still time.” It had been a day since Luna and Celestia confronted Octavia, and still the night alicorn begged for Octavia's help. After their meeting, Octavia had been made aware of what had taken place the previous day. Afterwards, she had asked to be left alone until the next day.

Luna had hoped that the revelation would sway Octavia to their side, but upon visiting her the next day, it seemed that Octavia had become even more stoic against assisting them. Nothing could sway the magical mare, she seemed totally against the idea of Twilight being saved. She treated the idea like a fairy tail, one just out of reach.

Luna always noticed her expression, though. Every time they asked, if for just a moment, there was a spark of hope in Octavia's eyes, like she was considering the idea. Yet every time her answer would come back in the negative. This did not stop Luna from trying repeatedly, however.

Despite the multitude of armored guards surrounding the pair, Octavia felt as if it was just the two of them. “Please, we can do it!” Luna quailed desperately, still believing she could sway Octavia. “We truly can. Even forbidden magic. Spells that we ourselves have banned. One of them must be able to help her. You can keep her calm while we try to understand it. There has to be something we can do! Anything!”

Octavia shook her head, only causing the deep blue alicorn's face to fall. She rested one hoof on the Princess’s shoulder. “I admire your persistence, I really do. If the circumstances were different I might believe you, but I already believe it is far too late now. I know what you feel, I myself once felt the same way, but I have learned. Only you and Twilight can decide what will happen, and I already know what Twilight will do.”

“You know that we must stop her though. You know very well that we cannot just let her go. Possessed or not, she has committed serious crimes. Murder. Kidnapping. Assault. Torture. These are inexcusable offenses. What would you have us do?” Luna rebutted, her tone both looking for an excuse and an idea. Octavia simply shrugged.

“I can't say. The decision is yours to make. I am simply saying what I think. I cannot force my decision upon you anymore than she can. Will.” She finished, cautiously. The words were bitter in the earth pony's mouth. She was normally kind and understanding, but she felt like a teacher lecturing a school filly. Princess Luna simply put away the idea of letting Twilight choose her own path.

Of course, she did understand what Twilight had done, and she couldn't blame Luna for her decision. Still, she hated having to repeat herself. She knew that she would have to, but the words grew ever so tiresome. Constantly having to reject the Princess was bearing down on her. She knew they wanted to help, but she also knew that she herself could not do so. A promise was a promise. She knew that no matter what, she could never break her promise. The only way she could fully explain everything was if Twilight was there. A set of scars behind her mane enforced that.

Octavia stared out of a large window overlooking Canterlot, hoping the breathtaking view would take her mind away from whatever would happen next. Her tone, though she hated it, told Luna that she would not listen any further. She had tried to be gentle, but now she had abandoned the thought. It was clear that her words left their impact on the night princess.

“Very well.” Came the response. Octavia shut her eyes, shaking her head with a sigh. After that, there was only silence save for the occasional clank of armor from one of the guards. The silence lasted for minutes until Shining Armor entered the room.

“Princess Luna.” He addressed the alicorn, using her full title while he came to attention. “You have two minutes.” The Night Alicorn nodded sullenly before Shining left as quickly as he came. Luna turned back towards the ponies surrounding her, her tired look suddenly replaced with a fierce one. “Come now. It's time to go.”

Luna turned, Octavia quickly falling into place behind her. What else could she do? She was simply a captured pawn trapped between two queens. What happened next was their decision. All of a sudden, Luna turned on her. She held one hoof up in the air towards Octavia's chest. “Not you, you are staying put until you're called.” The guards continued moving while Octavia sat stunned.

What was Luna planning? Octavia was supposed to be there so that Twilight would know that she was safe. Just what kind of crazy thing was Luna thinking? 'Whatever it is,' Octavia thought to herself, 'I just hope that she knows what she's doing'.

Twilight's body jerked suddenly. She turned away from the picturesque view, gazing behind her with wide eyes. It didn't take a mage to detect the presence of an alicorn. She could feel the energy coming off of the Princess even though she could not yet see her. She knew that they were strong, she had tasted some of that power back in the tunnels, but here, when her opponent had had time to prepare, Twilight could almost feel the ground tremble.

The unicorn's horn glowed brightly, her magic rippling outwards towards the source of energy. The buildings fell into the background, while Twilight could still clearly see the bodies of the alicorns outlined behind the towering structures. She was, of course, unsurprised to find both of the rulers together. The power she could feel was far too great to belong to just one of them. Twilight smirked to herself. Clearly they weren't taking any chances with any regular negotiator. The best of the best was coming to the show, but then again Twilight would not have expected anything less.

She stepped off of the roof of the tower and onto the level ground next to it, her magic enveloping the white filly who still lay curled up on her back. She gently set her down on the ground. The filly's head rested against Twilight's leg as she puffed and snored gently, unaware of what was taking place in the conscious world. Twilight pitied the filly. She led such a simple life, blissfully unaware of the horror of the real world. Most Equestrians did. But then again, after all that Twilight had experienced, maybe it was for the best. The outside world was nothing to joke of.

It only took a few moments before the alicorns finally showed themselves, standing tall at the height of the stairs leading to the Palace. They descended the long steps, not slowing for a single moment. Both of them locked eyes with Twilight immediately, as Twilight did the same to them. It was like three predators meeting for battle, each side wary and scanning their opponent for weakness or hesitation.

As they moved closer and closer to the one who had caused them such pain and trouble, they saw Sweetie Belle propped up against Twilight. “There's no need to worry.” Twilight called over the strong wind, watching them as they studied the young mare. Luna's expression was one of fury, and she quickened her pace ahead of her sister until she was practically sprinting down the stairs. Twilight, however, wasn't bothered by Luna's sudden rush, and instead continued speaking.

“She is completely uninjured. She has been fed and given water, untouched by magic other than a sleeping and memory spell. She will wake up tomorrow with no recollection of what happened, and-” Her words were silenced as Luna, now propelled by her wings, struck Twilight in the jaw, sending the mare tumbling head over heels into the side of the platform she had just left. If it were not for one of the large teeth topping the tower she was tossed onto, she would have tumbled straight off and fallen quite a few stories to her demise.

Needless to say, her sudden impact with said stone was not a pleasant one. The back of her head struck the hard rock, setting off spots that danced in her eyes. Her lower jaw hung slack, and she felt for all the world as if she had just been struck with a burning iron. She was lucky it wasn't broken, though it sure felt like it was. Blood dripped from one side of her mouth, staining her teeth and falling onto her coat and mane.

She gasped, trying to reclaim the breath that had been ripped from her lungs. Only a moment later, she began to rise shakily from her seat. In an attempt to shield herself, a few sparks of magic spouted from her. She had only a moment to glance at Celestia cradling Sweetie Belle, before her throat was gripped in magic and she was brought eye-to-eye with Princess Luna. A hoof strike to her horn canceled out the spell she had attempted to use, and sent pain shooting into her skull. Such an act was very dangerous to a unicorn, since the magic that had been gathered at the tip of their horn suddenly has no way of getting out and rebounds inside of the unicorn's body, causing pain and sometimes even nerve damage.

The splitting pain told Twilight that she had been spared any serious damage, but it did little to help her.

Luna's eyes blazed with fury, a cold light that cut through Twilight and imbued her with a frozen and empty feeling. She couldn't do more than stare back with wide eyes as she was hurled through the air once again, colliding with the ground even harder than before.

“Tell me how it feels, Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight's body was limply dragged to Luna once again. The alicorn's tone betrayed her eyes, calm and controlled. Twilight found herself being slammed against a wall, unable to defend herself. “How does it feel to be unable to defend yourself as another pony relentlessly beats you?” Twilight was thrown to the ground yet again, blood pouring from her nose. Multiple cuts and bruises covered her body now, and one of her hooves made a sickening crack as it landed harshly.

“I know another pony that does know that pain. It only happened the other day, and I'm sure you know who it is as well. Don't you?” Twilight found herself staring straight into Luna's eyes for the third time. The unicorns body hung limply as she met Luna's hard stare. She couldn’t find the strength to speak, instead she hung silently.

Without responding, Luna sent the mare crashing into the stone wall. Twilight was nearly knocked unconscious with the collision, blood dripping down her flank from the gash on the back of her head. The voice still reached her ears as she lay crumpled on the ground. “I don't give a damn about what you felt before. I am focused on what you feel now, and I hope that it's mind-splitting, agonizing pain. Because that's what Fluttershy felt when you MUTILATED her.”

Twilight waited for the next blow to come, but found that it did not. Instead, she was gently picked up and sat up-right against the wall. Luna now knelt down in front of her, staring at her with her mouth set into a hard, sad line. “I could kill you right now. Technically I should. No need to risk your little demon getting out.” She tapped one hoof against Twilight's forehead, sending pain shooting through her skull again. “But you see, we still think we can save you. I know for a fact that the little Twilight Sparkle I once knew is still in there. I saw it with my own two eyes only a few weeks ago. So I will show you mercy this time, but mark my words.”

Luna tilted Twilight's head upwards so that she could see Luna's smile. The moon princess whiped one hoof across Twilight's muzzle, clearing away some of the blood and grime so that she could still breath. “If you fight me again, then I will have no choice but to put you down for good. Test me, Twilight Sparkle, I dare you.”

There was a pop and flash of magic, and a small ring appeared between the two. The alicorn plucked it out the air, sliding it onto Twilight's horn. “That should keep you from fighting back. Don't worry, you're in safe hooves now. Just go to sleep and it will all be better when you wake up.”

“Wait.” Twilight wheezed, the pain nearly causing her to pass out. Luna stared at her with an upturned eyebrow. “Octavia... is she... okay? Is she-”

She was silenced by Luna, holding one hoof up. “Octavia has been unharmed and is in safe hooves as well. But you should not worry about her. Just go to sleep, Twilight. We will make it better soon.”

She stared into Twilight's eyes, and saw a small spark of resistance still in the unicorn's gaze. Luna shook her head, tutting quietly. “Now now, Twilight. I said go to sleep.” Magic wafted down from Luna's horn, surrounding Twilight in its haze. It only took a moment before her eyelids grew heavier and heavier and sleep finally took her, as she slumped against the wall.

Luna looked down on her, with an expression of both pity and surprise. She had expected threats or violent words, but instead when she was beaten and hurt, Twilight asked about the safety of her friend. It could have been a bluff, but the look in her eyes...

The look she gave Luna was one of total disregard of her own life. The way she asked it, was as if she would rather die then have her precious Octavia injured in the slightest. It was disconcerting to say the least. She seemed to have no problem with mutilating an innocent pegasus and kidnapping two young fillies, and yet she was worried about her lover. It was pure hypocrisy, if anything else. Luna turned away from the sleeping mare with a disgusted expression.

Celestia watched her patiently, still cradling Sweetie Belle in her magic as Luna approached. Celestia, without turning her head, announced to the empty courtyard, “It is safe. Come foreward.” From behind pillars, on top of balconies, and within shadows, guards ponies emerged, cautiously approaching the area.

Some stared in awe at Luna, slightly unhinged at what they just seen, while others focused on the unconscious mare whom they had only heard stories about. Just two days ago, they had been suddenly made aware that a unicorn whoes power rivaled that of a minor alicorn was leaving a trail of bodies all the way to Canterlot. Needless to say, they were being extremely cautious.

As a few guards approached her, Luna growled at them. “Get her out of my sight.” As she walked, she cradled one hoof gently. Maybe she had overdone it on the swings. She met her sister's eyes, still moving towards the taller alicorn. Before she could speak, Celestia laid the bundled filly onto Luna's back. “I know what you're thinking, sister. Don't worry about it. I will take over from here.”

Luna opened her mouth to argue, but was shot down by her older sister's glare. “No arguing. You need to calm down before you do any permanent damage to the poor thing.”

“Celestia, Sister, I'm fine. I can handle myself. Trust me, my anger is out.” Luna retorted, feeling like a filly arguing with her mother.

“It is quite obvious of the opposite, in fact. Remember Luna, we want her beaten, not broken. We want to help her, not destroy her. Take some time to calm down and ensure your head is on straight before you put yourself in a room with her.”

Celestia placed a friendly hoof on her younger sister's shoulder. “Don't worry. Take Sweetie back to her room. I can handle things for an hour. You seem to forget that we both had militaristic days. At the same time, in fact.”

Luna chuckled quietly. “Fine,” she relented with a smile “but if there are any problems, then make sure I— ” She was cut off by a loud yell from a guard behind them. A rush of wind and power exploded from the rear. If not for Celestia, then a wave of magic would have sent Luna and Sweetie Belle flying.

A giant bolt of magic impacted the shield that Celestia had thrown up behind her younger sister. Luna turned swiftly, falling into a protective stance despite Celestia being the one who had save her.

Neither of them could see through a thick cloud of dust which had appeared where Twilight had been. But they were sure of what had caused it. Luna sent of blast of wind towards the cloud, revealing Twilight standing over the crumpled bodies of three guards.

She stood on her hind legs, her front legs and head hanging limply in front of her. The inhibitor ring attached to her horn sputtered and crackled as it desperately tried to contain her magic. Everypony in the courtyard froze as she lifted her head, staring them down with pitch black eyes and a painfully wide smile that reeked of insanity.

Even Celestia and Luna were stunned at what they saw. While Twilight had been asleep, Luna had forgotten to take into account the other one. The plague that inhabited Twilight Sparkle's small body. The creature that the same mare called Dementis.

The mare took a stumbling step foreward, but did not fall despite her unnatural stance. An eerie tune came from the mare. A simple tune that terrified everypony to their core, hearing it from the monster that they faced.

Her body straightened and she pointed one hoof at Luna, the already painfully wide smile growing even larger. The hoof was the one she had broken during Luna’s assault and was badly bent out of shape, which only added to the terror she emanated.

Despite the lead ring, her horn crackled with black energy which gathered at the tip of her horn. Her mouth opened, allowing for two chilling words to emit. “My turn.” She growled, the energy growing more and more. She pointed her horn towards the Princesses, but just as the spell was released, a cyan blur tackled her to the ground.

Rainbow grabbed her head, pointing Twilight's horn towards the sky as the energy released. The black ball of energy flew into the sky, dissolving into nothingness as it sailed farther and farther away. Without pause, Rainbow rolled on top of the already bleeding mare, delivering a brutal strike to her temple.

Twilight was unconscious for the second time before her head even hit the stone. Rainbow dismounted the evil mare with a disgusted expression. She turned towards the alicorn Princesses, who stood frozen with stunned expressions.

“There.” She spat towards them. “I cleaned up my mess.” And with that, she flew into the air, disappearing into the night sky without a sound.

After another moment of silence, guards surged forward to hold down the mare in case she awoke for a third time. Luna turned away from the scene, moving past her sister. “We are far from cleaning up this mess.” She said, shaking her head as she walked.

Author's Note

It's been sometime since I have done this, but once again I want to give a big ft thank you to everyone reading this story. As of the posting of this chapter, Homecoming has hit 88 favorites and nearly 700 likes. I won't beat the dead horse and ramble on about why that is amazing, so I will, once again, say thank you to everyone.

You guys make it worth it.

House call

For Noteworthy, being Canterlot's lead medical expert was usually a boring job. It mostly consisted of signing off on military psychological reports, ensuring that the Canterlot elite were not going through their ridiculous 'schizophrenic periods, and keeping up-to-date with his payments on the extravagantly large office space and home that he owned. The latter was, of course, paid for by said Canterlot Elite, most of whom were constantly paranoid that they were under some form of mind control by their political opponents, losing sleep, or even being poisoned. That dimwit Blueblood was Noteworthy's most common visitor, and he was constantly concerned that “The attention of all of those peasants” was causing his 'illustrious' mane to lose some of its dazzle, or that “The other nobles and princesses” were plotting against him, as well as other equally ridiculous ideas of the sort.

Some would think it to be an honor; after all, the nobles only ever told their secrets to those who they thought could help with their various issues, and what he heard was always kept in the highest of confidence. Truly, however, this was not a gift, but rather, the price for being the best in his field. No matter how ridiculous the problem or trivial the matter, his job was to nod yes to all of their questions and sign off on their medication sheets. The Canterot elite would stop coming once their doctors stopped agreeing with everything they said. All he had to do was nod and collect the checks, then he could go back to being a productive member of society.

The pay was wonderful, the benefits were excellent, his house was large, and his wife was gorgeous. Things that any stallion could ask for. And yet, he was constantly bored with his life. You didn't get to be the head doctor in Equestria by being a simpleton.

No, instead, Noteworthy constantly found himself looking into the most trivial and ridiculous matters just to find something interesting. His intellect could only handle so much complaining about underpaid staff not cleaning the microscopic spot of dirt from underneath a multi-thousand-bit, gold-lined rug. He was an academic at heart, and he could never resist a challenge.

Perhaps that was why, despite his strict sleeping and dietary schedule, he decided to answer the knock that came to his door in the odd hours of the morning. Only in special circumstances would he deviate from his schedule. Like many great geniuses, of which he liked to consider himself one, he was constantly worried about any action that could take away from his intellect, not so unlike the very bigots he so excelled in assisting through their daily troubles.

Unlike the other morons, however, he was still a pony of the public, and when duty called, he knew that it should be answered. As he cracked the door open, he blearily stared out sideways through his glasses at two night guards. Bat-winged ponies, in a dark armor that blended a little too well with the shadows for Noteworthy's comfort. The one on the left spoke first, with a gruff voice. “Sir, a message from the Princesses.”

'They're not much for personal introductions, are they?' Noteworthy thought to himself, as the other bat-pony pulled out a formal-looking letter. On the front were two wax crests, one blue and the other gold. Seeing these markings, Noteworthy hastily accepted the letter, tearing into the flimsy paper and opening it fully..

Mr. Noteworthy,

I am sorry to say that this is not a simple social letter.' Noteworthy mumbled. “It never seems to be,” he scoffed to himself, turning his attention back to the letter.

Recently we have come into possession of a rare bird, and require your assistance with study over the specimen. It is a peculiar little creature, her feathers are the darkest of black, unlike which neither my sister nor I have ever seen. We hope that you will assist us in this matter, and we hope to speak with you soon.

As always, Celestia

The stallion stared wide-eyed at the message before rushing back into his home, leaving the two guards standing outside. Only a minute later, he emerged from his large home, his slim frame covered by a white lab coat and a bag brimming full of tools hovering in his magical grasp next to him. The two guards wordlessly turned away from him, the scientist falling into step behind them.

It was going to be a long night.

Celestia watched through the one-sided window at the ponies swarming over Twilight Sparkle. Such a sad sight it was. Nine assorted doctors, assistants, and guards lingered around the pony. The guards kept a silent gaze on her, while also keeping a solid grip on the weapons strapped to their sides. Each of them was armed with a lead rod and chain, enchanted to inhibit any outside magic that the items came into contact with.

After her short awakening outside, she had been fitted with three inhibitor rings. Lead was excellent for stopping magic, as it weakened the caster's grip on whatever spell they attempted, even levitation, the most basic of spells. The chains were enchanted to sap physical strength as well so that, in an emergency, she could theoretically be completely subdued. That is to say, if she overrode the three rings and magical braces strapped onto each of her legs.

After what they had all witnessed, however, they weren't taking any chances with the insane mare. Sometime after being brought to the Tombstone, much to the shock and horror of the three physicians healing her wounds, she had awoken without a sound. Since then, she had not spoken or attempted to escape, but they had decided not to risk anything happening, thus the extra guards.

As Celestia watched the unicorn, she couldn't get rid of the feeling that the strange mare could see her through the mirror window. She had originally pushed the thought from her mind, but after moving away from her position, she could have sworn that Twilight's pupil-less, black eyes were following her.

It went without saying that each pony involved was on edge. One of the doctors had traded out his assistant earlier after she had dropped a tin cup and screamed to high heavens. The poor mare had turned around to find Twilight staring at her, with her impossibly wide smile and pitch-black eyes. Needless to say, the poor thing would probably need to speak with Noteworthy once he arrived.

'Luna is currently en-route, and Noteworthy is supposedly on his way here as well.' Celestia should have felt relieved that they had Twilight in custody, but there was still one pony missing in all of this. They had hoped that she would bring them both, but Twilight had only brought Sweetie Belle with her, leaving Scootaloo still missing. Celestia's nerves wouldn't be calmed until they found the filly.

It was a terrible thing sometimes, having to make the decisions. With Octavia's warning that more death was to come, how could they not take Twilight? You could not risk a whole kingdom for one filly, and yet, what would they tell Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy? It would be murder to just let the filly die, but what else could they do? Let Twilight roam free? What was the more irresponsible action?

They faced a no-win situation, and Celestia felt she would not be able to bear the guilt if they failed. How could she and Luna call themselves rulers, the protectors of Equestria and its citizens, if they could not even save two ponies? Their subjects thought of them as gods, but they were far from that. They had weaknesses. They had struggles. They had their own demons to face. But worst of all these facts was the knowledge that even they couldn't save everypony.

Choices would have to be made, should the time come. But what, and how? If they could save Twilight, could she help Sweetie Belle? Did they suffer from the same affliction? But what about Octavia? She had said herself, that to keep Twilight alive would be a worse crime than to kill her. Was she right?

And though it may have been a painful one, Twilight had lived a life. Scootaloo was just a filly. She had a future ahead of her. Could it really just be taken away from her? If they could help Twilight, there was no guarantee that there would be enough time to still save the young pegasus. The choice was hard, yet Celestia didn't understand why she still debated it amongst herself. Should the choice be made, it would have to be Scootaloo who would survive. She was the innocent in all of this. She still had a family. Twilight was already dead. Would it truly be so terrible of a crime to... to ki-

“Celestia?” A curt voice called out. Celestia knew it well, not even bothering to turn towards her sister. Luna approached her elder sibling, concern etched into her features. “Sister, you're crying.” Luna stated, concern in her tone. She looked as if she was about to ask why, but then her face indicated that she knew the answer. They both did. Celestia could only nod sullenly.

The Night Alicorn turned towards the mirror, locking eyes with the black-eyed mare on the other side. Her expression was unreadable, as she allowed just a shake of her head before turning back towards her sister, forcing herself to avoid those deep black eyes.

“Has anything changed?” Luna mumbled, barely loud enough for her sister hear. She stared downcast towards the floor, not wanting to look at anypony. Celestia only shook her head. She wanted to wrap a hoof around her sister and comfort her, just like when they were fillies. Or maybe, she wanted Luna to do that to her. Celestia couldn't decide which.

And so, they sat in silence. It wasn't such a bad thing, sometimes it was the preferable option. There was no point in distracting themselves with useless chatter, trying to avoid the subject directly in front of them.

After some time had passed, there came the sounds of multiple sets of hooves clopping down the hallway. Soon, Noteworthy and the two bat-ponies escorting him rounded the corner. The middle-aged stallion's mane was unruly and unkempt, and his eyes had bags under them. But he walked with a purpose, a spark of excitement in his gaze as he stared at the two of them.

“Ah, Princesses.” He called out to the sisters, almost as soon as they had locked eyes with each other. “Wonderful that we found you. These ridiculous oafs absolutely refuse to speak a word to me about the specifics of your sudden house call.” Celestia couldn't help but chuckle at the stallion. He always found something to complain about. He craved knowledge and information, and starving him of these pleasures generally sent the scientist into one of his tantrums.

“You have nothing to worry about.” Celestia said with a smile, her sister shooing way the two guards. “We asked them to spare the details until we could meet you personally.”

“Well then, out with it. Spare no details.” He urged Celestia, gesturing with his hooves.

Celestia turned her head slightly, looking through the glass window just outside of Noteworthy's range of vision. “Doctor?” She called, beckoning him closer.

A sudden sense of caution came over the doctor. He knew that what he had been called for was on the other side of the window, and yet he felt a sudden fear come over him. The fear was not strong enough, however, to completely deter him from his mission.

Slowly he came closer, peering farther and farther around the edge of the window. He finally came eye to eye with the beast on the other side, as her smile grew even wider, as if she could sense his fear through the thick glass. “Do you remember Twilight Sparkle?” Celestia asked, her voice full, deep and low.

The stallion stared into those black eyes, gulping down the lump that had formed in his throat. It was indeed going to be a long night.

Author's Note

Okey dokey. A bit of a short chapter, and I am sorry for the long wait but you will be pleased to know that for the first time in months I am actually a head by a week. The next chapter is already finished and will be out next Monday as it is scheduled, so a bit of good news. Better get writing while I am still ahead, right?Anyway though, I am ahead which s great for Finals Season, so at least you guys have a chapter to look forward to.

Ok as usual, voice all, (And there are quite a few) questions, complaints, arguments, hate mail, love letters, "Why This character should die a horrible death" remarks, confessions, etc, in the comments below, and I will talk to you all soon.

An Apple a Day

6 hours for the bleeding to finally stop. 19 hours until the bandages would be changed. 49 hours until they estimated she would wake up. 12 days until she would be allowed to leave the hospital. 9 weeks until her wings have healed and pinion feathers will begin to grow. 2-3 years until she will be able to fly again.

But during those 2-3 years will be myriad of medicines, solutions, herbs, counseling, training, and pressure. There was no doubt that Fluttershy was going to survive the ordeal she had been forced to endure, but who knows what she will be like when she awakens. Just the shock of what has happened to her could very well break her mind. And what then? What good is a healthy body if it's mind is shattered?

Rainbow sighed, her breath long and labored as she looked down on the young buttercup pegasus. She couldn't help the tears that flowed down her cheeks. The sadness and agony racked her body, causing her to nearly fall out of her chair. She sat bent over, gripping her aching stomach in an effort to stop the pain. The vile sickness. The guilt.

Fluttershy had been there for Rainbow for her entire life. Her real life. The one that truly mattered. Fluttershy had comforted her. Given her friendship and companionship. And now, when it truly mattered, Rainbow had failed her. Dooming her to the most viscous pain a pegasus could feel. Having their wings taken away from them.

And what of the filly that looked up to her, not just as a sister, but practically a mother. A teacher. A confidant. A friend. And now, who knows what horrifying punishment she has had to experience. She could even still be going through whatever awful trial that that bitch Twilight is putting her through. Scoots must be terrified. Trapped alone somewhere. The filly was terrified of being alone in the dark.

The crime was unforgivable. Twilight for taking them, and Rainbow for failing to do the one thing she had promised. To protect. To shield. To sacrifice her life for her family. She would have gladly taken the punishment if it meant that Fluttershy would have been unharmed. She would have her precious wings taken from her a thousand times if Scootaloo would be safe in her bed tonight.

She was supposed to be her families protector. Such a simple task, one that her own blood had failed to do so. She had sworn to never let something like that to happen to another pony, and look now. How miserable. How pathetic. How useless could Rainbow have been?

Rainbow wiped at her wet cheeks. Her eyes were red and puffy due to her constant crying. She had watched over in-case Twilight attacked while she met with Celestia and Luna. Low and behold, her caution had proven fruitful when the devious creature turned on her teacher once she had turned her back. It hadn't taken much to subdue the mare once again.

After that, she left to be by Fluttershy's side. She couldn't bear to leave the young pegasus alone. And yet, despite her efforts to convince herself otherwise, she was racked with guilt. She knew that her actions had put Fluttershy where she was.

She was so stupid. How could she agree to such a thing. Luna had taught her better than this. She had been raised to look at problems with tact and patience. Instead, she blatantly ignored Luna's teaching, charging head forest into the action without thinking. I doing so, she received a knife to the shoulder, Fluttershy's wings were plucked, and Scootaloo was gone. What an idiot.

'But it wasn't your fault.' She conscience reasoned. 'It was Shining Armor. It was his plan. You weren't well. He took advantage of your weakness and used it in his favor. To feed his selfish plan. He doesn't want justice. The idiot bastard wants his sister back. He is weak. He can't see that she is a lost cause. She is pure evil, no way she can be cured.

Her tears stopped. Now, instead of sadness and grief, she felt it. That mighty rage that shook her whole body. She whipped away her tears, a sudden sense of calm coming over her. A laugh escaped her lips before she could even think to do so.

They are so blind. Luna, Celestia, Shining Armor. They can't see how far from gone the mare is. They only see the innocent filly that Twilight used to be, not the monster that she has become. They refused to act before ponies really got hurt, and because of their negligence Fluttershy was nearly killed and Scootaloo was taken.

The laugh came again, stronger this time. She realized how much she enjoyed the action. It pleased her the more and more it came, filling her with anger and causing her smile to grow large. 'Yes. You see now. You are the only one who sees clearly.' The voice was pounding in her head now, laughing along with her. A laugh full of madness and hate.

'Only you can see clearly now. Not that imbecile Shining Armor, or those nags of princesses that you have sworn your life to. You can save them now. You can save them all. Go. Do it. Find her and punish her for what she has done.'

'you know what you must do to end it.'

Rainbow stood, her body stiff and rigged. Her eye were wide as a sickening smile spread across her face. It was a smile full of madness and anger and hate. It was hideous and terrifying, but to Rainbow is was something different. It was power and it was truth.

After all, the voice inside of her could never lie.

The metal door creaked open with a loud groan, awakening the rooms occupants from their sleep, stupor, or thoughts. After a moment, Noteworthy entered the boundary. Almost as soon as had crossed the threshold, he stumbled to the ground.

The occupants, Celestia, Luna, and a small army of royal guards, all looked to the stallion as he fell. Several more medically trained guards ran to Noteworthy's side, while Luna and her sister followed behind. The stallion looked as if he had run the Running of the Leaves. Sweat coated his mane and his eyes drooped in exhaustion. He dabbed his forehead with a small rag that had rested in his coat jacket.

“Doctor? All you alright?” Celestia called softly. The stallion raised his head to meet her eyes. While his body may have been exhausted, his eyes were alive with energy and excitement.

“Princesses.” He gasped, seemingly out of breath. “Twilight Sparkle. She... She's amazing.” The party in front of the stallion gave him odd looks. It was common rumor that the doctor was a little out of it sometimes, but this...

“Doctor?” Luna echoed her sister. “What did you find?” Her voice had a measure of calm, as she herself was excited by the doctor's reaction. He most have found something worth knowing if he had been this excited.

He had every reason to be. 16 years ago, he was the last pony that Twilight Sparkle had been sent to before the Princesses had taken her under their wings. As he did with every challenge, he had slaved away to find a way to help the young filly before she could bring anymore harm to herself or the ponies around her.

Needless to say, he was destroyed when Twilight had been “killed” in the explosion all those years ago. He had failed the challenge that he had so gleefully accepted. It had crushed him that he had failed his task, even driving him to the point of personally apologizing to Twilight's parents for is failure. He took his work and made it a part of himself, and failure was never an option for him.

Now that Twilight was standing in front of him, he felt a drive like he had never experienced before. A drive to make-up for his past failure, and do what he can to help her.

He had entered he room hours ago, accompanied by two assistants and had since gone silent. None of the ponies who had entered left the room until Noteworthy himself finally left. The two assistants, a doctor and nurse, both also exited the room in a similar fashion to him.

The moment they had each entered the room, Twilight's black eyes were upon them. This was by no means the same filly that Noteworthy had known. Those eyes followed him everywhere he went, his assistants included. If he even turned to look at her, she would always be there looking back with her black eyes and painfully wide smile. Of course, it didn't help that she ominously clicked her teeth at them every time they looked away. As if to remind them that she was still there.

Never the less, it was still a creepy feeling to constantly feel those eyes upon them and that terrible clicking that sounded as if it was just an inch from their ears.

For hours they worked, trying to avoid the cryptic gaze that followed them, but they could never escape it. It wore them down, always made them feel uneasy and they could never rest under Twilight's dark gaze. The constant scrutiny always set them on edge, causing the room to feel as if it closing in on them. None of the ponies complained once they had finally left the room, finally escaping the twisted gaze of the mare.

“I can't explain her... condition, with any other word than impossible.” Noteworthy gasped. A wild smile across his face. “Everything about Twilight Sparkle is impossible. Her body, her mind, her magic EVERYTHING.” He shouted, with a maniacal laugh. The sisters were taken aback. They had never seen him so excited.

A golden hoof rested on his shoulder. “Slow down, Noteworthy. Your going to have an attack if you go on like this.” Celestia said, gently. The stallion was practically bouncing off the walls. He shrugged off the hoof, shooing away a guard who was looking him over.

“No no. No time. I just need a cup of coffee. Please, you have to let me explain.” He practically begged the princess. This time Luna approached him. “No. You need to sit and rest. Take a few deep breaths Doctor.” Luna motioned outside the waiting room with one hoof, her voice demanding.

Though he was an energetic stallion and would normally argue the point, he realized that there would be no arguing with the Princess. Gratefully, he accepted the hoof offered by a guard and slowly made his way to his hooves.

It was some time later when the alicorns sat with the older unicorn. A cup of coffee and a glass of later lay in front of him, both having been barely touched. He seemed more relieved that he was sitting peacefully then anything else.

“Princesses.” He addressed the sister after a long silence. “Pardon me earlier irreverence. My excitement to learn seemed to have overcome my mannerisms.” Celestia simply waved her hoof in response.

“However.” Noteworthy continued, nodding his head in thanks to the Sun Princess. “I cannot in any other way describe that young mare, but with the term impossible. Nothing about her seems to make sense. Her physical, mental, and magical abilities are far beyond that of anypony I have seen, save for you alicorns yourself.”

Moments ago they were interested, but now the princesses were infatuated with what the stallion had to say. Could he be implying that she was as powerful as an alicorn? Surely it would be impossible. Wouldn't it?

“Go on Noteworthy. What is it?” Luna chided him, pressuring the doctor to continue.

The middle aged stallion took a deep breath. “During the last few hours, we examined almost every square inch of Twilight Sparkle, obviously while keeping away from areas respectively. In doing so we have discovered several things that contradict everything about the young mare.”

The door to the small room opened, followed by a mare carrying several documents and papers. Noteworthy took them, giving his thanks and turned back to the alicorns as the mare left. He lifted the top document, opening it to the first page.

“After you explained to me what she had done and what she was capable of, I decided to look into the physical as well her mental and magical physique. In doing so, we discovered several discrepancies that completely defies all logic with a unicorn.” He turned the document, showing the sisters a basic sketch of a unicorn body, both inside and out.

He pointed with his hoof, running it along several muscles and ligaments in the diagram. “Here is a base average of a unicorns body type. Smaller muscles and ligaments, as well as generally smaller body types. Our organs relies more on our magic, as well as our basic bodily functions. Basically, magic fuels a unicorns body, while Pegasi and Earth Ponies use their own physical strength.”

“What makes this interesting, is that Twilight however, has no magic fueling her system. I ran several tests and found no magical residue in her veins or organs. This means either two things: Either all the magic that her body borrows is used up completely, something I have never witnessed might I add, or her bodily functions are running completely independently and relies on pure muscle energy in it's entirety.”

Luna and Celestia stared intently at the doctor, surprised but waiting for him to go on.

“Seeing this, I thought, “Maybe she just doesn't have enough magic to run her system. Or possibly her magic is just to weak.” But after further investigation, I once again found myself to be incorrect.”

“It took me and my assistants several tries, but we finally got an idea for her magical abilities.” He begins to dig through the papers, searching for one folder in particular. Pulling it from the stack he opens it, squinting at the information within.

“As you know, the average magical strength of a unicorn is 35,000 ohm, while more experienced and gifted unicorn average out at around 125,000. After our first successful scan of Twilight's horn we estimated that her magical capacity is somewhere between 950,000- 1.3 million ohm. An off the charts record.”

“The reason we took so long to get an accurate reading is because her magic was too powerful for normal scanning materials. We had to use specialized rods which were made for testing mages abilities before we even got the barest hint of a number. After that, it took sometime before we got an idea of her power range. We still don't know an exact number, and there is the possibility that it could be even higher than that.”

“But that's not all.” He returned the folder to the pile, pulling out yet another in it's place. “Going back to Twilight's physique, we discovered something rather grim.” He slid the file across the table towards Luna. It contained graphical displays of injuries all across Twilight's body. “As a pony is wounded, scar tissue takes the place of skin, usually just below skin level, which a new thinner layer of kin grows over. A normal pony has somewhere between 8-12% of their surface skin in scar tissue by the end of their life.”

“After careful inspection, we found that Twilight's body surface, we estimate that her body surface is made of 37% scar tissue along with her skin. Over 3 times the average amount seen in normal ponies.”

“Twilight is anything but normal.” Luna mumbled, her expression grim and tight. “She has definitely seen battle throughout her life. You don't get these kinds of wounds from tripping in the kitchen.”

“However, there is something that concerns me. A certain set of scars to be exact. One of my assistants, Ms Dusk, noticed some shading behind her mane. It took some time, as we didn't wish to shave her mane, but we got a rough sketch of what scarring.” He nodded for Luna to turn the page on the file.

On the next sheet was a much large drawing detailing a section of scars behind her mane, on the lower part of her neck. It was a crude carving, obviously intentional and done with expert craftsmare-ship. It was no quick job nor a battle wound. In fact, the distancing made it so that Twilight could have easily done the job herself.

It was no random set of cuts either. They were cut to form a rune shape, but Luna could not put her hoof on what kind it was. Celestia however, after taking a glance, knew precisely what the painful scars were.

“Those. I know what those are. Luna don't you remember, the library in the Crystal Kingdom all those years ago?”

Suddenly, the night Princess picked her head up. “Yes, now that you say it, I do. It's true name was lost, but it had a different one. The Scarlet Promise.”

“Yes. A Blood Oath.” Celestia continued. “That kind of marking can only be made with two ponies. They each must agree to form the bond, and then must carve the signal into each other. The ponies them make an agreement before mixing their blood together and sealing it with a sign of promise. The most common was a kiss.”

“Yes, each pony then had 1 hour each. They could tell the other any secret they could think of. After that hour was up, neither of them could speak the words they heard to another pony unless given permission. It was a way for two ponies to reveal themselves t one another fully, without worrying about the other telling their secrets. But magic like that hasn't been seen in centuries. She couldn't have just found that in a common library book.”

Celestia spoke once more. “We would be wasting out time trying to find where she found such a spell. I wager you, however, that we know the other pony with a set of matching scars. She is sitting in the room just down the hall.”

Luna knew the pony well. Octavia seemed very adamant that she couldn't tell them certain things. Now they knew exactly why.

“Well, our journey into the horrors of Twilight are not yet finished. Among the outer injuries, she has suffered dozens of inner lacerations, broken bones, fractured bones, and organ ruptures. Upon further investigation, we found that several of her organs, her stomach and digestive tracks, were severally reduced in size.”

“This only happens in two cases, either from a certain disease which she does not have or from prolonged starvation or periods without food or water. She shows signs of increased food and water intake as early as three weeks earlier, but the damage has permanently shrunk lower bowls. It may not kill her, but extended periods of movement must cause serious pain and discomfort.”

“There is one final point to all of this, however. While in it's entirety the injuries and sufferings I just listed are enough to kill dozens of ponies, there is one thing that had gone un-checked. Her body itself.”

“Twilight falls three inches short of the average height for mares in Equestria. This, coupled with her magical abilities and her sever injuries means that she should not have survived alone for 16 years. Hell, even with help it would have been nearly impossible to live. It's no wonder she was blowing holes in schools as a filly, her body is too small to handle the magic she holds. Every time she used a large amount of magic, her body would HAVE to shut down and rest or else she could have a heart attack or her organs could just shut down on the spot.”

“The points I have given all go to show that, in essence, it is almost nearly impossible for Twilight to be standing in front of us today, and yet there she is. The possibilities lie in the thousandths-of-a-percent, but she overcame them. I don't know how, but that mare has had a will to survive so strong that she literally fought off death.”

The room lapsed into silence. No pony spoke as Noteworthy collapsed back into his chair. They all sat stunned as they each took in the news, Noteworthy included. It had deems impossible when he read it, but now that he said it out loud, the gravity of the situation hit him like an angry minotaur.

Luna massaged her temples with both hooves. This was so much to take in. Twilight had walked into Tartarus and crawled back out stronger then ever. She was easily the strongest mortal pony ever born. And yet, she sat in a room a few doors down with that sick smile on her face

Luna rose from her chair. She didn't like it, but she knew what she was going to do next. Celestia knew it as-well. Everypony should get to tell their story before they die. And Luna wanted to hear what the sick mare would tell them, either before she died herself or The Sisters had to act.

Sometimes, you have to put the sick dog down.

Author's Note

Okay, while it's not really a contest, I would like to poll the audiance.

I have only ever used the term twice, but I don't like using Ohm as a measurement for Magical Output. It just doesn't fit, both in the story and on the real world. I am looking for some alternatives for the term and would love to hear what you guys think.

The only thing I ask for, is that no-one suggests "Power levels" or anything like this. This isn't Dragonball, and I won't use the suggestion.

Well, good luck and I hope to see you guys next Monday.

A pleasant chat

There was an air of caution outside of the demon's door. Luna's hesitation was well earned, as she had nearly been injured a few hours ago. If it were not for Celestia's quick action, she could have been seriously incapacitated by Twilight's blast.

The fear, she knew, was not one of irrationality. Twilight was powerful indeed, her abilities far beyond the grasp of any mortal pony alive. But despite this, she still she paled in comparison to either of the Sisters. Despite her greatness, it was like comparing a thunderstorm to a typhoon.

But it was not her power that Luna was afraid of. No, it was the unicorn's knack for deceit and stealth. She always seemed to have a trick hidden up her sleeve, she had thwarted every attempt to locate her thus far, and had responded violently every time.

She had even stolen Sweetie Belle from her bed in the castle. No easy feat, as she had managed to get around every spell that Luna and Celestia had placed in the filly's room. The young unicorn had been guarded by a bit more than some invisible iron bars and an alarm spell. She was a target, both politically and physically, because of her condition. Even if it WAS a lower-class unicorn filly receiving free treatment from the Princesses of Equestria, it was amazing the kind of things that the political powers of Equestria would complain about. Tensions had flared up when ponies accused the Princesses of favoring unicorns over the other races, and the dukes and lesser royalty had tried to push the Sisters to teach their children as well.

Such selfish things. Whomever had said that racism between the pony families was dead had been cruelly mistaken..

Luna, bringing her thoughts back to the present, took a deep breath. A moment later, the cold door swung open noiselessly. There she was, in all of her glory. Twilight Sparkle. The purple mare stood tall and menacing, her eyes locked with Luna's. A faint sound seemed to come from Twilight, something that Luna couldn't quite hear.

As if on cue, Twilight's painfully wide grin seemed to grow even larger. An evil spark appeared in the eye of the mad unicorn, met by the steely gaze of Luna. The two held their ground as Luna moved closer and closer. As she drew nearer, she saw that Twilight's teeth were grinding together, over and over again in a circle, making a faint click sound as they rotated back and forth. The mental battle went on for nearly a minute, with Luna simply standing in front of the shackled mare.

Twilight leaned her head closer to the Princess. Their eyes were only inches apart, but Luna was still far enough away that Twilight couldn't strike with her head or horn. Yet she still fixed Luna with a viscous and hungry stare while gnashing her teeth.

“Princess Luna,” Twilight hissed, with a voice that sent a shiver up the alicorn's spine. She had heard Twilight's voice many times in the last month, but this time something was different. In their previous “meetings” there had been a sense of emotion. Anger, hatred, fear. But this time her words were empty, devoid of all life. They were cold and dark. What she heard was the voice of a mare that was completely unpredictable, a despicable growl that rattled through Luna's bones.

“Do you not fear me, little Princess? Are you truly as brave as the face you show me now?” Luna still held her stare. She couldn't let the little thing get under her skin. Her anger would just encourage Twilight. “You should not even try that with me, Princess. I can see through your mask.” The mare cackled. “How pathetic, the great Alicorn of the Night quaking in her shoes at the sight of an evil little unicorn. How sad. If only your subjects could see you now.”

Princess Luna smirked at the mare. “I wouldn't be so quick to speak, young one. As I recall, you showed me quite a bit of fear yourself. Don't you remember, back in the changeling tunnel? You looked at me like I was the Reaper coming for your soul. Don't be so quick to jest at other's fear when you cannot contain your own.”

Luna rose to her full height, looking down her nose that the mare standing before her. A fierce scowl was aimed in Twilight's direction. “After the things that you have done, I think you should hold your tongue. You stand on shaky ground, and right now I am showing you mercy, when I should have you hanging by the neck. So I suggest you choose your words carefully, Twilight Sparkle.”

The mad smile suddenly grew to be more genuine, as if she had an actual reason for joy. Her teeth began grinding together again, as if she was waiting to take a bite out of Luna's skin. “Surely you jest, Princess.” She spat the words, her tone mocking. “Do you truly believe the one you speak with is Twilight Sparkle?”

Luna's eyes narrowed. What did she mean? Could it be-

“Could it be that I tricked you again?” Twilight spoke in that low hiss. “I can assure you that the body you see before you is that of Twilight Sparkle.” She giggled, a cruel and evil sound that seemed to force its way through her lips. Her voice was the guttural growl of a hungry beast, not a pony. “But the one you speak with is not Twilight Sparkle. No, Twilight realized some time ago that she could no longer keep me contained. It took her long enough to realize that she should just lay down and DIE.”

“But that's not even the best part.” She seemed like she could barely keep in her laughter and excitement. “Right up until the end, she kept fighting. Oh how she fought, and she did it with such courage and strength that she could have sent Discord whimpering off to Tartarus.”

“And yet...” She laughed, a despicable sound that reeked of madness and evil. The noise a murderer gives before they take the life of their prey. “You should have seen her. When she finally gave in, she tried to bargain and plea, tried to make it seem like she could still restrain me.”

She stared into Luna's eyes, her body trembling and twitching. Her head snapped back and forth, up and down. She laughed at the alicorn once again. “When she finally gave in, I could see the fear in her eyes. It only required a little push before I finally took over. After sixteen years, I had finally won. Oooohh, it was glorious. She begged, and cried, and screamed.” Dementis moaned as if she was experiencing the greatest pleasure a pony could feel.

Luna felt sick. This was not a pony standing before. This was a monster worthy of Tartarus. Deep inside, Luna hoped that Twilight truly was dead. That she had given in to the creature, Dementis. Hopefully Twilight would be spared the agony of having to witness the travesties her own body might yet commit with her own hooves.

“Tell me, Princess...” Dementis called in a sing-song voice. “Would you like to see it?”

Luna's brow furrowed for a moment. 'See what?' She wondered.

Dementis leaned further towards Luna, stretching her restraints to their maximum. “Would you like to see what she looked like? Would you like to see what she looked like when I took her mind for my own?”

Luna stood taller, fury in her eyes. She opened her mouth to roar at the creature with a voice that would have sent her flying back, but she was stopped. Something changed in the unicorn standing before her. Her body froze for a moment, and her eyes seemed to glaze over.

Suddenly, Twilight's head dropped, and hung limp between her legs. There was utter silence for a few, harrowing moments. Luna didn't know what was coming next. Just what was she to expect from the unicorn? The thing looked as if she had fallen aslee—

“AAGGHHHHHH!”

Luna's thought were brought to a halt as Twilight's head snapped up toward the ceiling. A piercing scream emitted from her mouth, the shock causing Luna to stumble back. It was not the sound of fear or pain. No. It was something else. It was the sound of pure agony and torment.

Twilight's eyes were squeezed shut, not quite tight enough to stop tears from flowing down her cheeks. Her legs shook as if they were about to give out. The screams continued, barely stopping long enough for her to take in another breath.

Her front legs gave out, causing her to fall forward. Her screaming persisted, never ceasing, like a terrible, flowing river. Luna couldn't help but stare, appearing shocked at the sight before her. No. It was not shock or surprise that gripped her. Pure fear flowed through her, as she bore witness to the pure, unadulterated suffering in front of her.

Luna had seen death. She had fought wars. She had witnessed ponies as they clung to dead family members, friends, and lovers, begging for them to come back, pleading with whatever god or spirit they believed in to allow them to live. She had even seen some willing to give themselves up as a sacrifice. Not even those moments compared to what came from Twilight Sparkle.

It was unlike anything Luna had witnessed. For a moment the screaming stopped, barely enough time for Twilight to catch a breath as she opened one eye. Her's and Luna's visions met for the briefest of moment, barely enough time for it to register in Luna's mind.

But what the Alicorn of the Night saw in the sliver of moment pierced her very soul. Her eyes were beyond bloodshot, beyond mere pain. They held such agony, they hit Luna so deeply, that she wanted to run forward and embrace the young unicorn. But that wasn't the worst part. In that brief moment, Twilight saw Luna as well. Through her screams she called out to Luna. “HELP ME.”

Luna took another step back. Twilight's voice was so broken, so cracked and full of terror and pain, that her words seemed like animalistic noises. Her jaw pulled tightly, so much that it looked as if she would pull the very tendons in her throat. Luna knew that there was still a pony in there. Twilight was in there, and she was suffering greatly. Only a moment later, the call came again.

“HELP ME”

Faster this time. She screamed it at Luna again and again and again.

“HELP ME. HELP ME. HELP ME.”

Finally, Luna could bear it no longer. A flash of blue light emitted from her horn. The blast struck Twilight in the forehead. Just as soon as it had begun, Twilight's screaming ceased. That nightmarish noise was finally purged from the room, allowing silence to take hold once more. Immediately, the unicorn's eyes rolled up into her head and her legs gave out completely. Her body fell to floor with a sickening thud.

Luna fell down onto her haunches, the silence that surrounded her like glorious music after the agonizing cacophony that had played like a twisted symphony.

Only a moment later, the doors burst open. In rushed several medics and guard ponies, followed closely behind by Cadence and Celestia. For a moment, nopony moved. They simply looked down at the mare that had, only moments earlier, been so full of pain and fear that they had frozen outside of the door. Even Celestia and Cadence had been utterly taken aback by what they heard. Those strangled cries for help...

Luna, despite her earlier shock, wasted no time in moving. She surged forward, followed by two other medic ponies. “Quickly, come help me.” She cradled Twilight's head, holding it in her hooves gently. The other two ponies began checking over Twilight's limp body.

Luna pointed to a medical gurney that stood on the other side of the room. “You,” she pointed to one of the medics, “get that table. Help me lift her up.” Two more ponies came forward, lifting her off the floor and onto the small padded platform.

The medics swarmed the purple unicorn. “We have a pulse. She's breathing.” One of the ponies called out.

“Heart rate evening out at 87.” Another hollered.

“Prepare a white magic injection.” Luna called out to nopony in particular. A moment later, a unicorn was at her side with a glowing white bag, an IV needle and tube sticking out of the bottom. Just another moment later, and the white substance was flowing out of the bag and into Twilight's leg.

“Cadance, come here.” Luna called to her niece. Instantly, Cadenza was at Luna's side, her expression intense.

“Quickly now,” Luna instructed, her voice calm. “Remember, just like I explained to you.”

Cadence nodded, her mind wandering back to just minutes ago.

“Now you must be prepared.” Luna had instructed, as she, Celestia, and Cadence walked down the white hallways. Cadence had been sent for once Noteworthy had finished his work, and had arrived not long after. Luna had been explaining things to her sister and niece while they moved to Twilight's room.

“I don't know what will happen once I go into that room, but I need you to keep a clear head no matter what you see. If things go like I think they will, then I need you to be prepared. Don't be afraid to put every drop of your magic into this.”

Cadence stared at the floor. She was worried, not just for her aunt, but for Twilight as well. She wanted to help the mare she once knew just as much as Celestia and Luna did, but she was still worried. So far, she had never seen Twilight while she was... possessed. Even to this moment she had never seen Twilight while the other took her over. Or at least, that's how it was explained to her. She had only heard from the Sisters and the other guards about what she might see. She still wasn't sure if she was fully prepared to see Twilight in such a manner.

“Trust me, Cadence.” Luna turned towards her niece, giving the other alicorn an apologetic look, almost as if she had read the younger mare's mind. “You will see a pony unlike anything you have ever seen before. Twilight is in no state to have a simple chat. She may say things and do things that will make you want to be afraid, especially if she can see your reaction. You must not give in to her. It will only cause her to become excited. She may continue unless we sedate her.”

“That is where you come in, darling.” Celestia continued her sister's words. “Should we need to sedate her or calm her, we will need you to use your magic to make absolutely sure that she is dormant.” The Sun Princess spoke in a calm, measured tone, but she still could not completely hide her nervousness either. “I will be preparing Luna, so it will be up to you to make absolutely sure that she is as pacified as you can make her.”

“We understand that this is no easy task.” Luna continued. “We don't want to force you into this. You don't have to do this if you don't think you can. We will not blame you if you don't. This is a last-resort plan, and I had hoped that it wouldn't come to this.”

Cadence stared at the ground. Her aunt was right. This was a lot to take in. But it obvious what her answer was. She rarely got the chance to help out, and she would not disappoint her aunts when they needed her most.

“Cadence.” Luna rested one hoof on the alicorn's shoulder. “Remember, nice and steady stream. Not too much, not too little.” Cadence nodded quickly, closing her eyes in concentration. She aimed her horn down, touching it to Twilight's forehead. The next moment, teal magic flowed through her horn and into the unicorn.

“Excellent Cadance. Excellent.” Luna complimented the mare. She turned towards her sister. “Ready, Celestia?” The elder alicorn nodded, closing her eyes in concentration.

A beam of yellow magic shot from her horn, connecting with Luna's horn. When the beam died down, there was a burning yellow halo wrapped around Luna's horn. “Thank you sister, this will do me well.” Luna closed her eyes in concentration just as her sister had done. Her own horn blazed with light, and soon there was a blue halo mirroring Celestia's also wrapped around Luna's horn.

Since Dementis had attacked her when she first visited Twilight's mind, she had learned from her mistake. Some wards from both her and Celestia should help prevent any more attempted magical draining from the malevolent spirit inhabiting Twilight's mind.

Luna turned back towards Twilight Sparkle. She looked down at the sleeping mare with caution and distrust. If Twilight had been true to her word, then Dementis would be waiting for Luna this time, unlike the last when she had simply popped in.

Taking a deep breath, she bent down and touched her horn to Twilight's, and her world went black.

Author's Note

Hello

Sweet dreams

Travel through the Dream Scape is normally complicated and full of twists and turns. If any normal pony had the ability to enter the Dream Scape, they faced serious dangers. Losing themselves in the subconscious world, or trapping themselves in another ponies dream or minds were only some of the hazards that Luna faced when she did her nightly duty.

Perhaps it was for the best that only she could enter the Dream Scape. She always had to be sure that she stayed focused or else she herself could become lost amongst the millions of her subjects. However, thanks to over a thousand years of practice, Luna rarely found her self being surprised while traversing the world of thoughts and dreams.

Unfortunately, “rarely” didn't account for 100% of the time.

The inky black world around her, which normally felt as if she was falling through a thick pool, suddenly turned into a straight down drop. Of course, it was not literally a straight drop, but Luna could not rid her mind of the irony of falling from nothing while traversing her own realm.

Instinctively, she fanned her wings out to counter the sudden plunge, only to find that they didn't work in the mysterious realm she now found herself rocketing through. She mentally cursed herself, of course they didn't work. The world of dreams rarely accounted for the real worlds laws of physics. She could, of course, force herself out of the nightmare but in doing so could set herself back further from her destination.

It was best t simply allow the dreamworld to take you in it's flow and let it take you were you needed to go. Much like a river, it was far easier to go with the flow, instead of fighting the current. It was only a few moments later before white stone appeared beneath her hooves. In a second, she collided with the shining stone with a resounding, CRASH.”

Without sparing a moment she looked about her surroundings. Despite her preparations, Twilight's mind was not her own and the twisted creature governing her thoughts could be waiting for Luna.

'Of course, the express ride into dream land was probably a big hint.' She mentally scolded herself. Almost immediately, she she covered her mouth. Her thoughts had been projected outwards around her, as if she had cast a sound amplification spell. Even the rules of the dream world took er by surprise when she didn't expect them, but still. She must stop thinking out loud.

If she didn't prepare herself for any form of attack, then she was just leaving herself wide open. The sudden drop, however, was quite the surprise. Dementis probably knew that she would go into Twilight's subconsciousness, and seemed to want to speed the trip up.

Not the best sign, but Luna couldn't back out now. Not without trying to help Twilight. The fiery orange and glowing silver rings circling her horn gave off a garish light against the white stone beneath her hooves. She looked ahead to see that the path continued for some time, before ending at a set of pearly white doors.

'This seems a bit... easy.' Luna thought suspiciously, her thoughts inside he own head this time. She took a few cautionary steps forewords. Nothing happened around her that she noticed. No falling through a false step. No evil laughter followed by the floor evaporating into blood. Not even any zombies stopping her from moving forewords.

Slowly she continued to move across the white stone. After nearly 5 minutes of walking, she found that she had made no progress towards arriving inside Twilight's mind. The towering door still lie barely within her vision.

Luna smirked to herself. 'Come now, spirit. Do you really think that simple trick would stop me?' That trick was one of the first she ever learned. Sure, it would keep a normal pony occupied. Normal ponies didn't usually have complete lucidity over their dreams. The “never moving” dream trick was quite easy to defeat.

Luna closed her eyes. 'All you have to do,' She reached in front of her with one hoof, her smirk widening when she felt it wrap around cold steel. 'Is reach out to what has been in front of you the whole time.' She opened her eyes to see the towering door standing above her, her hoof wrapped around a large steel ring.

'Easy as 1,2,3.' She thought examining the giant door. I was different from the last time. The tower door, more a keen to the size of a drawbridge, was made of a crude combination of silver and iron. Instead of the two doors, each facing an opposite direction, now there was only one. A cryptic possibility, or another trick? Woven into the metal structure was gross works of violence and suffering. Ponies being murdered. Mares being raped. All kinds of torture, sickness, pain, and suffering imaginable. Even a few that were hideous works of the imagination not even Luna had seen. The sight was so horrible, Luna found herself questioning the plausibility of it all.

No. It wasn’t a trick.

The entrance to a ponies dormant mind could not be altered by a pony. Not even Luna had the power to do such a thing, and this was her realm. Her world. How could the rules that she created be broken. Though a ponies dreams tended to have their own rules and laws, she was still outside of Twilight's mind. The door to a ponies mind resembled their state of mind.

The fact that the two door has adjoined into one only one thing. Twilight's mind has finally joined together once more, but what lie on the other side was the true question. She doubted she would find a filly playing tea time with her stuffed animals.

Luna gritted her teeth. There was only one way to find out. With a strong pull, the heavy door swung open silently. Behind it lay a wall of thick, inky blackness. The kind that absorbed light, swallowing it and spreading cold and evil.

Luna scowled. She had faith in her sister and her niece. They were protecting while in this vile domain. If they couldn't help her...

Luna stomped one hoof. 'FOCUS' She roared in her own mind. Ever since she entered Twilight's realm, she was barraged by the mare's magic. Even being close to the cursed beast could leave her open to it's influence. Not even her sister's sun could protect her if she didn't focus.

Magic surged through her horn as she ran foreword, plunging her glowing horn into the darkness. Her eyes glowed a brilliant silver as she flooded the doorway with magic. A moment later there was a ripple in the darkness. As if a slid wall had turned to liquid.

Luna withdrew her horn, giving one final, long look to the black wall she faced. There was no going back from here. She closed her eyes once more, The silver and orange halos burning even brighter around her horn.

Silently, she broke into a sprint and descended into the darkness.

“You don't understand. I need in there right now.”

Stormshadow huffed in exasperation. Just what part about, “No pony allowed until the princesses say so” did this mare not understand. He had been telling her the same thing for the 10 minutes.

Rainbow Dash stood in front of the stallion, her eyes wild. Everything about Rainbow seemed wild. Her eyes were bloodshot, her mane was ragged, her stance was a mess, and she looked like a foal trying to walk for the first time. Her wings ruffled nervously at her sides, occasional fanning outwards and flapping at nothing.

“You don't understand, I need to talk to her. Please, you have to let me go.” Rainbow tried again, her voice straining as if she was in pain.

While her distress was odd and sudden, Luna had told the guards that no-pony was allowed into the interrogation rooms without their express permission. Rainbow Dash included. He had known Rainbow for many years now, and he had never seen her in such a state. She was a wreck and was acting like a child, not the prim and proper leader she is suppose to be. If she was going to act like a filly, then she would be treated like one.

Granted, he had to greatly restrain himself in use of both his words and tone. She may have been Luna's student, but it didn't matter. Rules were rules weather or not Rainbow would listen. However, ever since the mare barged into the Tombstone with wild eyes and panic in her voice, she had tried to convince Stromshadow to let her in.

Though he had originally been accompanied by his partner, Moonbeam, now he was assisted by four other guards. Of course, it wouldn't matter. If Rainbow Dash really wanted to get into those rooms, then all the soldiers in the Royal Guard couldn't stop her.

Much to their surprise, however, she never made any attempt thus far to force her way in. Despite her incessant begging and complaining, she had not once made a violent or aggressive move during the whole affair.

Of course, that only accounted for the present. The future would always be undetermined. Stromshadow, along with the others, could only hope that she remain docile. More so, at least. If not, then they would feel the wrath of the furious pegasus.

Luckily, they were spared from the conflict.

“And just what,” Came a voice, gentle and authoritative. “Is going in here?” The guards turned and dropped into a bow for Celestia. She strode through the long hallway, her golden shoes clanking against the floor. The soldiers stood once more, turning towards Rainbow Dash.

“Well you see Princess.” Stormshadow began, his voice low and quiet so that Rainbow would not hear. “Commander Dash has been attempting to enter despite direct orders from you and Princess Luna. We have been trying to tell her to wait, but she refuses to listen.” Storm pursed his lips, beckoning Celestia to come closer. Her spared a glance towards the rainbow maned pegasus.

Rainbow was sat on her haunches, staring at Stormshadow with wide open eyes. Her expression was blank, but the stallion couldn’t help but inwardly cringe at Rainbow's blank stare. It was creepy to say the least.

“At first I thought she wanted to see Princess Luna.” He whispered to the Sun Alicorn. “But now, I think she is trying to get into the interrogation room. Now, I am aware of the current situation an I understand hat has happened to Dash's family, but something seems malicious about this. Rainbow doesn' seem to be herself. She seems... reckless.” He turned once more to Rainbow. Her wide eyes met his, her head cocking to one side as if she was a dog. “She seems like she isn't all there.”

Celestia looked to Rainbow, worry and concerning her eyes. Those purple eyes studied the cyan mare. Everything about Rainbow's body language was wrong. She was sloppy. Rainbow always stood straight, strong, and attentive. Now, she was hunched over, her eyes wild, her mane a wreck, her stance loose and her wings hanging at her sides, occasionally flapping at nothing.

Stormshadow was correct in his statement. She did not look well at all. She seemed almost... hungry. Like she wanted something, but she herself didn't know what it was she wanted. It was rather disturbing for Celestia to see. Granted, she had seen Rainbow when she was sad, or angry, or upset. But this was something else. This was something else entirely.

'It was as if Rainbow had been replaced'. A thought that sent a chill up Celestia's spine.

The darkness seemed to stretch on for miles as Luna shot through the blackness. If there had been a wind, it would have sent her ethereal mane whipping through the air or used her to clench her eyes shut.

But, the strange realm of dreams still tended to play odd tricks on those from the land of reality. The abstract vs the concrete. In Luna's realm, the abstract held the reins and even the Lunar Princess would find herself subjugated to the ever changing “laws” and “rules” of the dream world.

She found those “rules” taking affect as she was whisked off of her hooves not long after entering. She floated lazily through the blackness as she was pulled into Twilight's mind. Her legs dangled below her as if she had been resting on a small cloud.

There was no real way for her to arrive at her destination of her own accord. Instead she would simply have to wait and see where the realm would take her before she would arrive. If she happened to pass through a few nightmares or childhood memories, then so be it.

The darkness surrounding her began to ripple around her, like a great beast disturbing dark waters. Luna braced herself, she was about to arrive somewhere and she had no idea where she may be taken.

Suddenly, through the darkness came great white crescents. The darkness stretching on around her was soon dominated by the suddenly arriving moons. Moments later, there was scarcely a spot of darkness that didn't share a space with the strange moons.

Luna quirked one eyebrow at the sight around. 'Crescent moons? What is this perversion of my moon doing here?' The crescent moon was a rather grim trick played by Discord long ago. During the war between Order and Chaos, long long ago, Discord chaos reached far and wide to strike fear and terror in his enemies. Thus, during the night, he blotted out the moon to demoralize Luna's soldiers.

Of course, it was an illusion that held no real negative effects, but it served it's purposes for the Mad God. For Luna to see such travesties in Twilight's mind was deeply insulting to her. Luna treasured her moon and stars just as she treasured her sister. To see such a mockery made of her glorious moon was a perversion unlike any other for the Night Princess.

Suddenly the scene around her changed. The Darkness and the moons remained, but the shining crescents changed. They grew wider and more misshapen. Lines ran down each crescent, separating them into rectangles. The Crescents split open an shut as laughter filled the blackness around her.

Luna glowered at the grins that filled the sky. 'So the trickster reveals herself.' Luna cursed in her mind. Dementis's laughter still flowed through the darkness that surrounded Luna. The giant grins that filled the sky opened and shut like an audience laughing at a fool. The evil cackling that surrounded Luna only enraged her further. 'The she-demon mocks me further.'

Despite her anger, Luna knew she couldn't let it show. Dementis only wanted to anger her. In doing so, Luna wold lose focus and become more susceptible to Dementis's influence.

Suddenly the laughter stopped and Luna slammed to halt. The screen around her changed. She found herself outside yet another door. She was in a glowing white hallway with no real distinct features, but the door in front of her is what caught her attention. And yet, she found herself confused.

'Another door? This makes no sense.' Luna thought to herself. She wore a confused frown as she stared at the door in front of her. 'How could there be a door within another.' It was as if she was being given a warning to flee. As if Twilight's mind truly was warning her from entering. However, despite her confusion, the “door” that stood in front of her fully captured her attention.

The door was two fused together, like someone had cut each door down the middle and jammed them together. Luna had no trouble recognizing the doors. When she had last visited Twilight's mind, there had been to separate doors. One that led to Twilight's pure and innocent mind. The other that led to where her fragmented mind rested. There Dawn, Dementis, and the other fragments dwelled.

But there was one difference. Now, both sides of the door were enveloped in pitch black vines. The blackness pulsed like ugly veins and seemed to slowly crawl foreword. The horrible things seemed to grow outwards from underneath the wood of each door and moved farther outwards from the splintered and aged wood. There were once separate. The Ugly and Filthy. The Pure and Innocent.

But now, it would seem, that they had finally joined together. Twilight's mind was whole once again. What lay on the other side would be horrible. It would be Dementis's playground most likely, and Luna would have no control over what she would see. It would be terrifying and evil and would be used to scare and infuriate her. It would be enough to make her flee Twilight's mind once and for all, and what she saw there would be with her for the rest of her life.

And with a deep breath, Luna opened the doors.

Author's Note

Well, despite my promises, this chapter almost didn't get to come out tonight. It is currently storm season here in Orlando Florida and for the second night in a row we lost power. Luckily, it came on not long ago and I was able to submit this. (ARE YOU HAPPY NOW SHADOWACURUAS!?)

Anyway, next chapter is already finished and I am hoping for it to be out next Sunday, but due to my editors current work situation, his connection is a bit rough at times so it might be delayed a day or two (or even a week again) but I will try my best to help out with the process.

See you next week.

Black Lights

The first thing that caught Luna's attention was the rot.

When she'd last seen it, the great domed room had been a brilliant white, and seemed to be filled with light from nowhere. No sun or moon, stars or physical illumination. The room was just filled with light which came from nothing.

But this time, the same could not be said. The massive curving walls were an ugly and faded yellow color. The light in the room had gone from a brilliant shine to a dim glow. They were covered in the pulsing black plague she'd seen outside, and seemed to further drain the room of its light.

Cracks filled the wide ceiling floor, serving as gateways to even more of the black substance that looked to have formed itself into putrid tentacles. As Luna began to tentatively move across the once-polished stone, the tentacles that surrounded her began to move as well, as if they could sense her presence. One of them brushed against her leg as she moved forward. As soon as it came into contact with her hoof, the halos burning around her horn flashed brightly, and the vile thing burst into flames.

In an instant it seemed to lunge away from her, the flames dying down as soon as it was no longer in contact with the Princess. It seemed like it even rolled further away from her than was necessary, ever so slightly. Apparently, Dementis knew better than to toy with her enchantments. Luna just hoped she wouldn't have to see how powerful the demon was inside of Twilight's mind.

“I see you have learned from your past. That is good. At least you won't fall for her tricks again.” A voice called out to Luna. The alicorn turned to find what had called out to her. She could only see piles of muck, and the hideous tentacles surrounding her.

“Over here, Princess.” The voice called out again.

“Benevolentia...” Luna whispered to herself. From nowhere came a gentle giggle.

“I'm glad to see that you still remember me. I was hoping you hadn't forgotten.” She replied, but Luna could still not find the source of her voice. The alicorn turned in circles, trying to find where Benevolentia could be.

“I'm right here Princess.” The sweet voice called out, this time from behind Luna. The Princess whirled around to find a pony who had appeared seemingly out of thin air. The mare's entire body was radiant. Her mane, tail, coat, and irises were a beautiful shade of gold. Her whole body shimmered and shone, providing a brilliant light to the grim, dark room that Luna wandered.

Benevolentia sat down on a patch of solid white flooring, as if the infection hadn't reached her spot yet. Or maybe she was just keeping it away. Though mildly interesting, Luna's curiosity was taken away once she saw who was with Benevolentia.

Twilight Sparkle herself lay with her head on Benevolentias lap. Her hooves were wrapped around Benevolentia's waist and her face was buried in the golden mare's legs. It reminded Luna of a trip she had taken with Twilight and her family to a small hillside. The filly had practically passed out from running around and playing with her brother. She thought it a happy sight to see, a pleasant remembrance in a tortured mind, but as Luna got closer she realized it was far from a happy memory.

Twilight's expression was contorted and clearly showing pain. She was semi-curled into a tight ball, as if her mid-section ached. Her body shook with labored breaths as she subtly rocked back and forth. As she moved, a small whimper escaped from her lips. Benevolentia slowly stroked her mane, shushing and cooing the mare back to sleep.

“Benevolentia.” Luna nodded to the shimmering mare, still not taking her eyes off of Twilight. The other mare smiled in return, a warm, motherly action that should have filled Luna with happiness and joy. But she could not ignore the sadness and filth that surrounded her. The mare seemed to sense Luna's discomfort, and showed off her smile even more.

It was rather interesting to see. Both Dawn and Dementis came from Twilight's mind, and yet they were polar opposites. Dawn's smile was full of warmth and joy and happiness, while Dementis spread hate and pain and suffering. How could these two fruits have possibly come from the same tree?

“Dawn, Princess.” She corrected with a small bow of her head. “This is hardly the time for you to waste breath on formalities. Especially on the likes of me.”

It seemed to Luna that Dawn knew all too well where she came from.

“Besides,” The beautiful mare continued, as if she was speaking to nopony in particular. “I prefer Dawn. Benevolentia sounds so... royal. High class. Why bother separating myself from others? We're all ponies, no matter what.”

She laughed outwardly, a sweet ringing sound that drifted into Luna's ears. “Funnily enough, I'm not even a pony myself. Just a piece of one, still trying to save the rest of me.” She looked down at Twilight, stroking the unicorn's mane softly. “It's all I can do, really.” She whispered, her smile still shining.

Luna felt a pang of guilt in her chest. Somehow, she felt that this was all her fault. She looked around at the filth that surrounded her. She and Celestia were supposed to have helped this mare, and instead they had done this. Twilight had been brought to her knees, and now an even more powerful force had taken her. If the great Alicorn Sisters couldn't even help one filly, how could they be expected to to rule?

“I warn you, Princess.” Dawn said softly, shaking Luna out of her grim thoughts. The golden mare nodded towards Luna's glowing wards which encircled her horn. “Your magic keeps Dementis from directly entering you, but the influence of this realm is still ready to have its way with you.”

Luna nodded. To lose focus would be dangerous, especially inside of Twilight's mind. She was already risking much by entering this place. She couldn't stay long, for fear that she might succumb to the twisted thing that dwelled here.

“Dawn, why must you spoil all the fun?” Another voice called from behind Luna. The alicorn turned to see... Twilight, standing behind her.

Well, not quite the same mare, it seemed. She bore a similar resemblance to Twilight, however there were several differences, one of which was the unicorn's normally short-cut mane was long and curled. She was also taller, and had a much more feminine look to her. Most noticeably, instead of possessing Twilight's heavy, steely gaze, hers was enticing. Seductive. Inviting. Luna knew this mare.

“What are you doing here, Dementis? You are not welcome here.” Dawn glowered.

“Ooh, snappy.” The mare giggled. She only showed half of her face to Luna and Dawn. The other half was obscured by her long, wispy mane. “Besides, I am still Vindicta. You act like I'm not even here, Dawn. So much for representing Kindness. I think I only hear spite and jealousy.” She teased the other mare, eyeing Luna dangerously.

Dawn scoffed. “Jealousy? I have no intent on becoming Her slave. I see, however, that you have already fallen to her ways.” Her words grew increasingly fierce, as she looked down at Twilight. “Leave us, Vindicta. We have no need for your poisonous words. Luna is a guest here, and she will NOT be disturbed.” The golden mare finished with an angry snap..

Unfortunately, her tone grew too loud, and caused Twilight to stir in her lap. The young mare let out a small moan and squirmed, her pained expression growing more desperate. Dawn leaned forward, stroking Twilight's mane and humming softly to her.

Vindicta laughed, a cruel, evil laugh. “That's right, Benevolentia.” She teased. “Go back to babysitting. We will take care of little miss Princess here.” She parted her mane, revealing one solid black eye. “It shouldn't be too difficult. Even with those pesky wards.”

“I agree,” another voice joined the fray. Suddenly, Luna felt as if the room was beginning to grow crowded. “Her situation does not excuse her crimes, now does it?” The alicorn didn't even have to turn towards Judicium to know how she was perceived by the newcomer.

“I also agree!” A loud voice yelled. Luna knew the both of them. “The Princess hasn't exactly been all goody-goody this whole time, now has she?” Saevio shouted, her fiery mane whipping at the air in Luna's peripheral vision.

Luna turned to find the others waiting behind her. Similar to Vindicta, each of them had one eye that was solid black, but the differences didn't stop there. Saevio's white coat was stained with black stripes that ran up her side and back. The glower that Luna had expected her to be wearing was replaced by an evil grin, and her body was low and stiff, as if she was preparing to jump at Luna.

Judicium, however, seemed to be almost the opposite. Her body language showed no aggression, but she wore a deep frown with her solid black eye. Luna could feel malicious intent radiating off of the mare, as if she was the most dangerous pony in the room.

“Why are you here, halflings?” Luna shouted, putting as much emphasis into the name as she could. Though it was not aimed at her, Dawn winced at the remark, unbeknownst to Luna. “I thought my sister and niece were supposed to be keeping you out of this place.”

“Ah, quite the contrary.” A final voice hissed. Luna turned swiftly, trying to find the pony from whom the voice originated. A deep chill crawled up her spine. It appeared that the ringleader had finally decided to join the circus she had made.

“You see,” the voice hissed again, “their magic only keeps us from penetrating your own defenses.” The black tentacles surrounding the great domed room began to rise up into the air. They floated closer and closer to the direct center of the room, some of them joining into one another. “While you may be protected for now, this is still our realm. We have free passage over this place. No amount of filthy alicorn magic can rid us of that.”

The vines coalesced in mid-air, fusing together into a pool of black ink. The pool began to take shape and form, creating legs and a body. The disembodied voice continued to speak. “But we are patient creatures, Princess.” It called in a mocking tone. “You are only allowed to leave when we say so. Until then, you belong to us. We will simply wait until your wards fall, and we will take your magic for our own.”

The blackness finally took full form. Floating above Luna was a solid black pony, devoid of any features or color. The alicorn took a step back, preparing for the worst from Dementis.

Suddenly, a loud cracking came from the dark body. With a sound like that of glass shattering, a spiderweb of cracks raced along the blackness. Her body began to move frantically, her legs and neck flailing out like a wounded beast.

Suddenly, the body fell silent. All eyes gazed upon the broken shell that hung above them, waiting with bated breath to see what would emerge.

'I don't believe it will be a pretty butterfly.' Luna thought to herself.

As if on cue, a blistering scream emerged from the body. The black skin shattered completely and flew from it, revealing Dementis in all of her corrupted glory.

She leered down at Luna, her trademark grin finding its place on her face. “So tell me, little princess, what do you have to say for yourself?” She laughed at Luna, spittle flying from her mouth. As the alicorn laid eyes on the reveling Dementis, she felt a mighty rage take hold of her. Her horn glowed brightly, the wards growing bright as well.

But before she could respond, a blast of golden light exploded in the air between her and Dementis. Luna averted her eyes from the blinding light, trying to blink back tears from the sudden blast.

When the light finally faded, Dementis and her minions were gone. The air where they had stood was full of tiny black particles, each no larger than a grain of sand.

“Honestly, I thought she would never stop talking.” Came Dawn's voice from beside Luna. The Princess turned to see the golden mare standing beside her, a smug smile slowly taking the place of a determined expression. “She always had a flare for the dramatic, but that was just ridiculous.”

She turned to face Luna, her small smirk still showing. “I could have sent them away earlier, but Dementis would have just regenerated sooner. I apologize for the wait. It was rather painful to listen to, wasn't it?” Dawn said, her tone sincere.

Luna stood surprised, still staring at the spot where Dementis had been only a moment ago. “That seemed rather easy, don't you think?” She spoke out of the side of her mouth, not quite believing that Dementis had been defeated so easily.

Dawn chuckled lightly. “Like I said, Princess, she always had a flair for drama. She tends to get a little carried away. But then again, we all seem to to have our own weaknesses.” Dawn turned back to Twilight, who still lay curled up on the floor. With a flash of her horn and a wave of her hoof, she produced a small blanket out of thin air and spread it over Twilight's body, before planting a small kiss on the mare's forehead.

Turning back to Luna, Dawn's smirk disappeared. “I am afraid it will not take long for them to return, however. I would wager we only have a few minutes.” She smiled softly at the ground. “It's a shame. We wouldn't have enough time for tea.”

Luna averted her gaze from Dawn, choosing to stare down at the ground as well. She wanted to laugh at the mare's joke, but it just felt far too inappropriate. All humor escaped Luna's grasp, though she appreciated the mare's effort.

“If that is true, then it would seem my time to depart is rapidly approaching.” Luna said to her. She swallowed the lump that was forming in her throat. “I came here, still trying to help Twilight. I don't want her to die. Neither do my sister, niece, or her brother, but if we have no choice, then will do what we must. For her sake, and for the sake of those around her.”

She looked to Dawn, determination in her voice. “If there is anything I can do, anything you think could save her, I will try it. Anything before...” Luna choked. She didn't want to say what she thought. It was simply too horrible of an idea.

Dawn slowly approached the Princess, resting her front legs on Luna's shoulders. “Do you really and truly want to help Twilight, Princess?” She met Luna's eyes, her gaze now ferocious. Luna's response was obvious.

“Of course I do. I would do almost anything to save her, to give her another chance at life. A REAL life. If anything, I owe her that much.”

Dawn looked the Princess up and down, as if she was evaluating the Princess.

“Then Princess,” she said, her eyes alive, “you must make me a promise.”

Like glass

3 days remaining

Twilight panted heavily, her hooves colliding against the stone below her. She tore through a thin alleyway, hurriedly rounding a corner onto a street and nearly ramming into the brick walls that surrounded her. The blood running into her eye didn't help much, considering it was near pitch-black out. The thick liquid flowed from a cut in her forehead, a gift from her pursuer only moments earlier.

Then again, the laceration on her back right thigh also didn't help. The concussion was frosting over the cake, and the fractures in her front left hoof were the candles on top. Granted, there were more, but the menagerie of cuts and bruises that covered the rest of her body were the least of her worries compared to...

“Twilight Sparkle!” Ah yes, HER. Twilight didn't dare stop or slow, for fear that SHE would catch up. Such an act would mean certain death for the young mare. If she fought or stood her ground, Twilight's already dwindling life force would be cut even shorter at the hooves of her nemesis. Her only hope was to escape.

“How long can you run for?” A loud BOOM came from behind her. Dust and shattered pieces of brick rained down on Twilight, covering her body in white and red dust. That one had been a bit too close. Twilight turned another corner, not bothering to look behind her. Looking back would just cause her to slow or crash. It's exactly what SHE would want. As soon as SHE caught up with Twilight, the young sorceress would fall to the ground. Only this time, she would never rise again.

The shattered bones of her hoof certainly didn't help. Had she been well and able, the fight would have been rather different, but instead she had to push herself all that much more. The pain was agonizing, and she saw spots in her eyes every time she moved, but she had to press on. She couldn't risk stopping. The brick wall behind her was just the beginning. That had most likely been intended for her skull.

Twilight had run out of options. It was a last-ditch effort, and it would mean that her odds of survival would greatly reduce, but it was her only option. She had nothing. No tricks up her sleeve. SHE had been inside of Twilight's mind, and knew what the mare was going to do next.

Twilight's pursuer would do anything to prevent what would happen next, and Twilight would have to fight for her life. In a sense, the fight had already begun. And judging from the last few minutes of events, the fight was deeply in the opposition's favor.

Twilight looked out across the darkness of Canterlot. There, just down the street. She could see the building in the distance, looming in the darkness. It should have been easier to spot, but the normally full sky was completely devoid of light, making the building barely visible against the pitch-black overhead.

Even the stars were absent, leaving the dark sky completely void and empty. It was... mystifying and terrifying, to say the least. To find the sky so empty.

Well... not entirely empty. The moon was still there, but it was not the moon that guided Twilight when she was lost in the tundra, or gave her hope when she needed it. No. The moon looked down on her, perfectly illuminating her as if it were the sun. She couldn't escape the moon's light. Not outside. If she was to survive, she would need a roof between her and the cruel rock.

Twilight's energy renewed as she tore down the street. It was so close, but she couldn't lose focus. Close or not, if she wasn't there, then Twilight would die a rather horrible death at the hoof of her foe. Inside was her salvation, while outside was her undoing.

As she ran, she began to pass by several well-lit street lamps. Inwardly, she sent a prayer of thanks to nopony in particular. The light would protect her from her foe, whose shadows were quiet nefarious.

Unfortunately for her, that very same foe seemed to sense Twilight's hope. The street lamps that flanked her began to extinguish, one by one. While Twilight had seen this trick used only minutes ago, it still terrified her knowing what it meant. She had been hoping for a few moments of protection, but it was to no avail.

Once the entire street was covered in darkness, the shadows in front of Twilight roared to life, like a great black tidal wave. From the darkness, SHE emerged.

SHE was tall, rivaling Princess Celestia's impressive height. The darkness shrouded HER entire body in a thick wrap as SHE stared down at Twilight with piercing eyes. There was no compassion or glee in those eyes. Only pure hatred.

“Twilight Sparkle.” SHE roared once more, with such force that Twilight's mane blew back, whipping in the wind. HER horn glowed black, charging with a mass of dark energy.“This is the end for you.”

Earlier...

“Celestia!” Luna screamed. Her body shot up from the padded table she lay on, launching her from her resting spot on the gurney beside Twilight Sparkle's still-dormant body. On her other side sat a once-calm Cadence. Due to her aunt's sudden awakening, all semblance of peace disappeared from the other alicorn's face.

“Aunt Luna!?” Cadence shouted in return, startled. “Are you okay?” The blue alicorn gave no response as she rolled off of the padded table, her hooves colliding with the cold floor with a loud THUD.

Cadence turned towards Twilight, making sure her aunt's loud arrival had not awoken the sleeping mare. While she was safely subdued, there was no point in awakening that demon. Let the sleeping dog lie, at least that way she wouldn't cause the conscious ponies any trouble.

That was the idea, at least. Of course, that plan would have no effect if certain alicorns went about demolishing the floors.

The wide-eyed Luna, however, gave no notice to her niece. She wasted no time rushing towards the door. She grabbed one of the handles, pulling so hard that Cadence thought she would tear the door off of its hinges.

Surprisingly, the door held. It took a few moments of exasperated pulling before Luna realized that the door had been sealed. Immediately, she turned her gaze towards the mirrored panel on the other side of the room.

“CELESTIA!” Luna roared, startling Cadence even further. “OPEN THE DOOR!” There was a long, pregnant silence before Celestia's voice filled the room.

“Luna.” Celestia's voice was calm and quite. Clearly, she was trying to stay calm despite her sister's sudden outburst. “What is the matter, sister? Are you safe?” Celestia's words eased their way into Cadence's ears, instantly calming the younger alicorn.

Though they affected Cadence, they seemed to have no effect on the distressed Luna. The alicorn still looked as if she was about to have a heart attack, and she was panting heavily.

“Celestia!” She yelled again, this time attempting to calm herself. “I need you to open this door. We have little time to waste.”

“Luna.” Celestia repeated, her tone stony and calm. She betrayed no fear or emotion in her tone. It was a sound which intrigued and scared Cadence at the same time. The Love Alicorn began to step slowly towards her aunt. Her horn began to light in an attempt to calm the older alicorn.

“I need to know if you are safe, Luna. How do I know that you are well?”

Luna took no notice of the magic that slowly surrounded her, instead she continued yelling at her sister. “Sister, please.” Luna practically begged. “I don't have time to waste. Didn't you see? Our charms never fell. Cadenza never felt any dark forces, did you, Cadenza?”

Luna turned her head to her niece. Cadence had expected to see Luna with bloodshot eyes and a wild gaze, with her jaw hung slack. While her eyes were wide, there were full of intelligence, though coupled with desperation. She wore a furious and annoyed look, but otherwise she seemed perfectly healthy, except for her sudden outburst and desperation.

Cadence was stunned silent for a moment before she sputtered her response. “Uh... well.. no. I didn't feel any unnatural or malevolent presence. I... I think Princess Luna is safe.” Her caution was evident. She didn't want to be incorrect. To have the demon inhabit Luna would be catastrophic.

Celestia, however, didn't seem convinced. “Luna, I will need something else. Something you could tell me that I would know.” There was a short silence before Celestia spoke again. “Luna, what were-”

“Honesty, Loyalty, Generosity. Now please, Celestia, in the name of Mother and Father open the door.” Luna practically begged. Several seconds of silence lapsed across the room. The quiet was almost deafening to Luna and Cadence.

“Celestia?” Luna called out, her voice softer this time. “Are you there?” Another long silence went by before the door's locks rattled. It swung open to reveal Celestia standing there. She was in her normal regal pose, but she still looked to Luna uncertainly.

The Night Alicorn ignored her sister, rushing out of the room and brushing by the taller alicorn. Luna moved down the hall quickly, her rapid steps aided by quick flaps of her wings which propelled her further down the long white corridor. Celestia had to sprint to catch up with her sister. The door behind her slammed shut with a muffled THUMP, leaving a very confused Cadence behind.

“Luna,” Celestia breathed. Irritation was evident in her tone, but she doubted her sister even noticed. The younger mare seemed to be far too preoccupied with her thoughts. “I don't know what's going on, but — ”

“Where are her things?” Luna interrupted, still not looking at Celestia. Instead, she stared forward, her eyes wide and focused on nothing.

Celestia looked to her sister with concern and annoyance in her eyes. “Luna, we have more pressing matters than Twilight Sparkle's luggage.”

“Truthfully, nothing else could be more important than Twilight's items.” Luna responded. Celestia didn't know if Luna intended to come across so flippant, but she found her patience for her sister beginning to wane. “I feel they may contain the clue I need to understand what Twilight is attempting to accomplish.” Luna continued. “I simply have no time for anything else right now, and I am in need of your help as well.”

Celestia stopped dead in her tracks. “Even if it was about Rainbow Dash?”

Luna froze, turning her gaze to Celestia. “What has she done?” Luna asked, her voice carrying a slight tremor. For the first time since she awoke, Luna finally gave Celestia her full attention.

“Your student arrived some time after you fell asleep.” Celestia began, her jaw pulled tight. “I found her trying to convince several guards to let her into Twilight's room. The mare is a mess, sister. Luckily, she retrained herself to begging instead of attempting to force her way in.”

Luna heaved a massive sigh. Her head hung low as she stared at the floor. “I can only imagine where she intended to go.” She mumbled, barely loud enough for Celestia to hear.

The elder alicorn snorted in response. “I don't believe it would be all that difficult. I was there to intervene before she truly got desperate. It took me some time, but I managed to convince her to stay in one of the more comfortable rooms. I left several sentries outside her door, and haven't heard anything since.”

Luna was silent as she stared down at the cold floor. Her ethereal mane flowed around her. As if it had a mind of its own, it snapped and whipped outwardly, seemingly as active and conflicted as her thoughts. Both hers and Celestia's had the tendency to do so.

“How long has has been there?” Luna finally groaned, rubbing at her eyes.

“Close to three hours.”

“Celestia, I have work to attend to, and I need you. What would you have me do?”

Celestia frowned down at her younger sister. “I would tell you to go to your student. Your friend. She needs your help, and she needs it now. She looked like a wild animal, Luna. Something is not right in all of this, and she needs you now more than ever.”

Luna was silent once more. Her sister made a compelling argument indeed. Luna wanted badly to turn her back on her sister, leaving her to care for Rainbow. But what was more important, a hunch, or another living pony?

“What room is she in?”

The room was filled by the sound of a constant, clop, clop, clop. Rainbow had been pacing for so long, you'd have thought she would have worn down the flooring by now. At first she had been thankful to Celestia for her room. While it was still the drab white color that dominated the rest of the Tombstone, the room was equipped with a small couch, some bookshelves, and even a record player so that she wouldn't be bored.

Normally, Rainbow would have been seated comfortably with a book on military history or something else on the subject, and would be waiting patently for her teacher. But much to her dismay, this was far from a normal day.

She had tried for some time to distract herself from the voice, but it was hopeless. Every time she picked up a book, the words would be replaced by the ones that she heard inside her head. She had tried to listen to some of the records that were left out for her, but the voice dominated the music.

Even sleep evaded her. After ignoring the sound for so long she fell into a short sleep, only to be plagued by constant nightmares. Since awakening, she had begun rapidly pacing the length of the room over and over and over again.

She walked until she memorized every tile on the floor and ceiling. Every crack or scratch that hid in even the smallest corners of the room was known to her after a while. She walked until she knew intimately the sound of her hooves beating against the floor with each step.

And then, she kept walking.

Nothing would silence it. Not when the music played. Not when she focused on her hooves tapping against the hard floor. Not when she screamed and yelled, pleading and begging for peace. Nothing would silence the malevolent creature.

'But why would you want that?' The voice whispered. 'I am here to help you. That's all I want to do. Help, Rainbow Dash. You have no reason to fear me. I would never bring harm to you.

'In fact, you should be grateful I am here.' Rainbow moaned loudly. How could she be grateful for this? Nopony is ever happy to be afflicted with a plague such as she was.

'A plague?' The voice called, seemingly offended. 'You're not a good listener, are you, child? I am no plague. If you truly want me gone you could just wish me away, but you don't. You just try to convince yourself you want me gone, but deep down you know the truth.'

'I am here to help.' It repeated. As it spoke, Rainbow's fear melted away slowly.

'Maybe she's right.' Rainbow thought to herself, finally ceasing her pacing. 'Maybe I don't want her gone.'

'No. What is wrong with me?! I can't listen. I won't. She just wants to hurt me like she's already done.'

'But she says he can help. We can find Scootaloo... We can kill Twilight.'

'Yes. Go now. Go while she is trapped. Feel her bones turn to dust between your hooves. Feel the blood spill from her body. Feel her life drift away, and let her soul rot in Tartarus. Go now, brave warrior. KILL HER!'

“Rainbow Dash?”

The cyan mare turned to face the door to her room. There, in the entrance, was Luna. She hadn't even heard her teacher come in. Was she distracted by something? Rainbow could have sworn she was thinking about something, but... she couldn't quite remember.

Well, it couldn't have been all that important if she just forgot it like that.

“Oh... hey, Princess.” Rainbow said plainly. As if she was seeing Luna on a normal day. Luna looked to the mare uncertainly. This was not how she had expected to see Rainbow. From what her sister had said, Luna was prepared for a desperate pony. Rainbow Dash looked perfectly normal.

The cyan mare carried herself in a strong and confident manner, as she always did. She didn't slouch or sag. In fact, she looked well-rested and clean. The bandages that wrapped around her waist were slightly crumpled, but the burns on her hind legs were mostly healed.

“Um, Princess?” Rainbow asked with an inquisitive stare. Her hooves shuffled nervously as she looked at her friend and mentor.

“Yes, Rainbow?” Luna answered, still not taking her eyes off of the smaller mare.

Rainbow seemed to shy away from Luna, as if she was trying to escape the alicorn's teal eyes. Every time she tried to meet Luna's eyes, she felt they were staring into her. A rather uncomfortable feeling indeed. “Princess, are you okay? You're looking at me like you were expecting somepony different.”

Luna was silent. 'That's because I was.' She thought to herself, still wary of the mare in front of her.

The silence persisted, covering the room like a thick layer of fog. Anypony else in the room could have cut through the tension with a knife. Though the Princess was too preoccupied to notice it, Rainbow Dash could definitely sense the stiffness. She tried to approach Luna, but felt as if the alicorn had restricted her with her mind.

Finally, she couldn't take it any longer. “PRINCESS LUNA!'” Rainbow shouted at the top of her lungs, effectively snapping the alicorn out of her stare and causing her to stumble back a few steps.

“What!?” Luna yelled back. “What is it?” Rainbow stared at her for a moment, her eyes beginning to water. Luna's eyebrows crossed. “Rainbow Dash? Are you okay?”

The cyan mare raised a hoof to cover her mouth for a moment, staring back at her teacher. Finally, she couldn't take the pressure any more. Falling backwards, she let out a torrent of giggles. She clutched her stomach as she rolled back and forth, laughing so hard that she thought her bandages might burst.

This only furthered Luna's confusion, yet she herself could not resist cracking a smile at the ridiculous scene before her. Soon she was chuckling along with the pegasus. “Rainbow Dash,” she said, shaking her head, “just what in Equestria is so funny?”

It took several moments before Rainbow's laughter finally subsided. Eventually the mare found her way to her hooves, still chuckling to herself. Luna still stared at her, but the tension was long gone from the room. Instead of a cautious grimace, a warm smile dominated Luna's features.

“I'm sorry, Princess.” Rainbow finally spoke in-between gasps for air. Clearly the laughing fit had taken its toll, as Rainbow cradled her aching stomach with one hoof. It did not, however, detract from the humor of the situation. “It's just... You should have seen yourself. I've never seen you look so surprised. When I shouted at you...”

Rainbow trailed off, losing herself in her laughter once more. She had such a sweet laugh. You wouldn't think it from her coltish demeanor and tomboy attitude. It was the one time that her true side showed. The innocent, carefree, and happy side that she only showed around her family. Luna considered herself lucky to be included in the mare's family. Much like a parent, it pleased her to no end when she saw Rainbow happy and aloof.

“Well, I was having a bit of a rough day. Do you think it showed?” Luna teased back at her student, a small smirk taking its place on her features. Rainbow Dash ate it right up.

“A little bit?” She snorted. “Princess, you looked like you were going to a funeral and I was the one in the basket. Hell, you looked at me like I had just sat up in my coffin. And you didn't even say hello?” Rainbow turned her head up and away, similar to how the nobles of the castle did. Her sense of playfulness was not lost on Luna, however.

Luna approached the pegasus, wrapping one wing around Rainbow's midsection and giving her an affectionate nuzzle. “Well, according to my sister, you did almost get into a fight with several guards who were standing out front. I wasn't sure how you were doing.”

She looked into Rainbow's eyes as the cyan mare stared back. Luna's heart shone with a motherly love as she met her student's gaze. “I was so caught up with what I was doing that I had nearly forgotten about you. It was rather selfish of me to not even bother checking up on you. Once again, I have my sister to thank.”

Rainbow nervously rubbed the back of her head. “Yeah, I guess I did kinda lose it out there for a few. The funny part is, I really don't know what happened. One second I was fine and the next... Well, you know.”

“Well,” Luna began, drawing her friend even close to her, “I wouldn't say you were 'just fine.' In fact, none of us have been very clear-headed as of late. We all make mistakes, it seems. Not even the 'Legendary Alicorn Sisters' are cured of misfortune and perfect emotional control.” She swept her hoof out in front of her, as if she were reading off of an invisible sign.

“I guess I have you to thank, Commander Dash.” She untangled herself from her student, standing to attention. She raised one hoof to her brow, her eyes close and her head raised dramatically. “You have done me a great service this day by curing me of my sadness. I am in your debt this day, soldier.”

Playing along, Rainbow straightened her pose, mirroring her Princess and flashing her a quick salute as Luna lowered her own. It felt as if they hadn't shared a moment like this in years.

Bu as all else in life, the good times had to end.

“Well, I had been with Fluttershy since she was taken in and since... Well, your meeting with Ms. Sparkle. I was wondering if you found anything out about Scootaloo and Sweetie?” Luna looked down at her student. She was surprised to see that Rainbow showed no signs of anger or fear. Simply, a quiet solemness for the situation. She had even referred to Twilight as Miss, something which surprised Luna.

The alicorn sighed loudly. “I'm afraid that the situation deteriorated rather quickly once I entered the room. We still do not know where either of them are. I entered Twilight's mind, but its splintering has made it difficult to see into her thoughts and dreams. Instead, I must speak with those damned fragments, and I'm afraid that turned up nothing concerning the fillies.”

Rainbow nodded sullenly. It was the answer she had both expected and dreaded. She was silent for a moment. Luna could swear she saw the gears in Rainbow's head turn. She knew exactly what the mare's next question was going to be.

“Luna... I think we both know what I am about to ask, but please. I beg of you from the bottom of my heart, please let me go in there.”

Luna's face was a stone wall. Silent, unmoving, and unreadable. She betrayed no emotion as she looked down on her student, though inwardly she cringed. 'And we had been having such a wonderful time.'

“Rainbow... You know what I have to say.” She said coldly. She didn't intend for her words to sound so harsh, but her voice betrayed her. Rainbow seemed to understand, however. She slumped forward as she sighed, and looked as disappointed as a foal who was told that they couldn't have a toy.

“But... you could go with me. You could put a field between the two of us. Hell, you could let me talk to her over the intercom.” Rainbow pleaded, her voice remarkably calm despite her begging.

Still Luna stood adamant. “Rainbow Dash. Look at me.” At first Rainbow refused, knowing that she wouldn't like her answer. With one hoof Luna tipped Rainbow's head up, forcing the mare to meet the alicorn's eyes.

“Rainbow, I know you want in there. You have every right to do so. But my little pony, I cannot allow you in there.” Rainbow tried to turn away from Luna. She didn't want her teacher to see the tears that were brimming in her eyes.

“You may think me cruel for denying you, but there is a reason I must forbid you so. When I entered that room, Twilight set her words upon me. She... she showed me something I didn't want to see. Something that would only serve to cause me harm. If you enter that room, she will only do the same to you.”

“It is not for her safety that I don't allow you to see her. It is for your own.” Luna brushed one hoof against Rainbow's cheeks and whipped away her tears. “I can't bear to see you harmed more than you already have been. If it was Twilight in that room, maybe. Just maybe I would allow you to enter. But that is not Twilight Sparkle. It appears that her demon has finally set itself upon her mind. Who knows how much longer she has left, before we can no longer help her?”

Luna hugged Rainbow tightly against her chest, stroking the young mare's mane. “Many think us to be invincible. Undying. All-powerful. And yet here we are, unable to help a single lost filly. Who are we to rule a country when we could not save just ONE of our citizens?”

“That, my dear, is the cost of immortality. Having to be reminded of your mistakes over and over and over again. It is my greatest pain, and it will only grow in time.” She pulled away from Rainbow. “That is why I cannot allow you entry. I cannot bear to lose another whom I hold so dearly. If I did, I would not be able to live with myself.”

Luna released the pegasus, turning towards the door. The white barrier swung open, but Luna paused before she left. “Would you like to come with me? There is still something I am interested in learning. My last resort, you could say. I wouldn't mind your company.”

Rainbow refused to look to her teacher. “No thank you, Princess. I just need to be alone for a little while.”

Luna nodded gently before allowing the door to close behind her. Silence filled the room once more as Rainbow stared bitterly at the floor. She sighed to herself, a quiet, sad sound that did nothing more than bring her down even more. Maybe she should have gone with Luna. It wouldn't do her any good to just sit here on her own.

'But you're not alone, little bird. I am still here.' The voice spoke in her mind once more. There was something different about it this time. Instead of panic, Rainbow felt even more calm. The voice washed over her like a soothing wave. It was there for her, even when she felt nopony else was.

'Of course I am. Where would we be without each other? I cannot exist without you, nor can you without I. It is as simple as that. Now tell me, little bird. Why are you so sad?'

“What? Don't you know? Luna is worried about me. She says it would be dangerous to go in there. She thinks that Twilight will just use me. Bend me. Break me. Who am I to argue with Luna?”

'No, that is not the question you should be asking. The correct one is, 'Who is Luna to question me?' Can you not handle yourself against a mare in chains? Does she think you to be so helpless?'

“What? No. Of course not.” Rainbow responded, scoffing at the question. “She herself has said that I am the strongest mare she has ever known. She wouldn't think I was weak. Would she?”

The voice chuckled darkly. 'Are you so blind, that you do not see through her lies? She is controlling you. You could fight through an army of Twilight Sparkles. What is one mare in chains to you, hmm? Go. Prove to Luna how strong you are. Show her that you can tame a wild beast.'

Rainbow felt as if she was being raised up. At first her hooves resisted, but with each step it became easier and easier to move forward. Soon, she had swung the door open and was peering down the long hall. The voice was right. What is one mare in chains to the strongest warrior in all of Canterlot?

Author's Note

Happy Tuesday, everypony.

*Edit: I almost forgot to mention, one of my avid readers Norden whom I love to death wrote an amazing in-between chapter for Homecoming. You can find it below and you should know that it is rated Mature, but contains no actual sexual content. It's a bit difficult to explain, but see for yourself and decide if you are interested or not but I would absolutely recommend reading up on it.

Thank you once again Norden for your great job. http://www.fimfiction.net/story/198895/erotributes

A small issue

Author's Note

Well, this took an inexcusably long amount of time, but I am glad it is finally here for your enjoyment. As a side note, you may have noticed this note is at the top of the page which I don't do very often. The reason being, I feel this chapter is a bit edgier, so you should be warned it is a bit more... cringy than usual. At least, I think so. Anyway, hope you enjoy and let me know if I'm just being overly-sensitive or not.

Edit: Well, as of 1 hour, and 3 minutes ago Homecoming hit 1000 favs. I won't go on again about how thankful I am, since you guys probably have heard enough about that from me, but please take the time to check out the blog post I made. It about sums up my current feeling. http://www.fimfiction.net/blog/366151/1000

A small issue

The warm room was normally quiet. Cushions and pillows would have littered the floor, surrounded by scented candles or incense. Depending on the mood, sometimes there would be music coming from a record player in one corner of the room. Richly-colored carpets and curtains would be dotted about undisturbed, bringing a new life to the magical little cove. In the center of the room, surrounded by the cushions and candles, still there after all that had happened, was a glowing crystal ball.

On the far side of the room was a lone doorway, flanked by several bookshelves that covered the remaining wall space. Once you passed in-between the wooden sentries, you would be greeted by a massive expanse of books large enough to rival any library you might have ever visited. You could spend months inside the great expanse, and still not read every book you found.

However, peace and serenity were no longer a part of the magical room's atmosphere. That could be credited to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.

The main room looked like it had been host to a series of hurricanes. Rugs and cushions were thrown about, books had been violently tossed upon every surface in sight, and the record player lay almost tragically in the corner of the room, broken into pieces. The candles and incense had been extinguished and covered hastily, leaving a musty smell floating through the air.

“Nothing in this one,” Luna called out, adding the book she had been scouring to the large pile in front of her. None of the contents of any of the leather bound scraps, journals, scrolls, or memories contained any meaningful or useful information. Granted, Luna doubted she and her sister had been searching for much more than an hour. But that just meant that the size and magnitude of the library in which Luna and her sister currently resided only served as a reminder of their hopeless situation.

While this did not fail to escape her, the overwhelming sense of a shortage of time was an even greater burden in both of their minds. Speed was key, but there was absolutely no room for error. Luckily, magic could be used to speed-read and had been quite a handy tool, but still Luna knew that it would take them more than a few hours to find what they needed.

Luna occupied a large spot in the middle of one of the long rows of books. The pieces of parchment that she scoured lay either on the floor or held up in the air with her magic. She would fly through the books, trying to absorb as much information as she could before moving on to the next one.

As they moved from shelf to shelf, book to book, Luna couldn't help but notice the lack of dust or dirt on the shelves and books themselves. The library was so massive that the alicorn sisters doubted they would finish looking through everything by that night, and yet it was perfectly clean.

Luna couldn't detect any active cleaning spells or living broomsticks, which left her stumped. With the amount of books in the massive room, there should have been clumps of dust and cobwebs around every turn. The place was almost as big as the Canterlot Archives, which was staffed by dozens of ponies who took special care of the old repository.

How could one mare constantly use, organize, or clean the books so much that there wouldn't be a speck of dust or dirt in the entire room? It just didn't seem conceivable.

But then again, it was Twilight Sparkle they were dealing with. Either she had a hunger for knowledge that Luna had never seen outside of her and her sister, or Twilight Sparkle was a complete neat-freak. The alicorn wasn't sure which one was the determining factor, but she had a strange feeling that it was both.

Once she got over the initial shock of size and cleanliness, a sense of disbelief and anger began to course through her as she began reading in earnest. At first, the books seemed like normal spell tomes and magical history books, but soon the scripts became something else.

Forbidden spells, curses, long lost combat techniques used to cripple and maim, memories of dark unicorns, runes to summon horrible creatures, ways to torture and humiliate, sigils used to inflict pain and suffering, were all laced inside of this library.

The list only grew longer and deadlier as Luna read through. As she scanned each page, she felt her anger grow more and more fierce. Many of the books contained spells that were made illegal, or considered too dangerous for normal ponies to use. Or any ponies, for that matter. She even found spells that didn't – or at least weren't supposed to – exist on any script or text. Ones that she and Celestia had created, and quickly learned to never use.

Blood magic, necromancy, mind control, spells to twist and destroy, guides on how to mutilate without killing. Diagrams of different parts of a pony's body, and how to target each race according to where they are weakest. Tincture, poisons, potions, agents, chemicals, and medicines. Life draining spells and spells that would match one pony's identity to another's, right down to the smallest difference.

Luna was doubly shocked and horrified to see all manner of cures and remedies, capable of removing all manner of sickness and disease, listed right alongside this executioner's log of agonizing and excruciating methods. The damage you could to a pony's body without killing them was terrifically powerful, leaving Luna with a bitter taste in her mouth. She pitied any enemy of this mare. If Twilight ever held a serious vendetta against anypony, there would be no stopping her from exacting whatever terrible revenge she desired.

A most horrifying thought came to Luna. After what she had done to Fluttershy, it was no wonder she had all these books. She knew the ins and outs of all three branches of ponykind, mentally as well as physically. She had dozens of books on anatomy, biology, and psychology. She had clearly wanted to know what made them tick, and all of the ways she could destroy them from the inside-out.

With ever turn of a page, Luna felt that she was no longer reading into a book. Instead it felt as if she was peering into the fractured psyche of a lunatic. No safe or healthy pony would have content like this just sitting around. It just wasn't natural. Luna was sure that, given the opportunity, Noteworthy would have had a field day exploring the room she and her sister occupied.

The young alicorn shuddered to think about the atrocities that had been committed to simply gain the knowledge, much less replicate or repeat it. It was simply monstrous, there was no excuse for owning this type of content. Some things were simply too horrible to do to another pony, good or evil.

And yet, Luna couldn't help but think back to the first few times she and Celestia had heard of Twilight. When she had single-hoofedly killed and injured a bar full of criminals, and when she had unseated Render and his men in that northern outpost town. Each and every one of them was a criminal, fugitive, or outlaw, and Twilight had fought each and every one of them, even to the point of killing or seriously injuring some of them.

But it was her manner that fascinated Luna the most. In both fights she had fought the other ponies with hoof-to-hoof combat, or with physical weapons and minor aid from magic. If she had truly wanted to kill or harm, then she could have simply used one of the hundreds of spells or tortures that she had kept hidden away in these books.

But instead, she had stooped to a lower level. Why? Why would she have taken her time to personally punish each and every one of them?

'That's it.' Luna realized, sitting up in her chair. 'She wasn't just hurting them. She was punishing them.'

It did make some sense. Twilight had been tormented for most of her early life. Not just by other colts and fillies, but even by adult ponies. Those who thought THEIR foals were far more important than she was. What a bunch of dullards. Luna and Celestia had done their best to quiet the voices that rose up, but it had been to little avail.

Selfishness was simply more powerful than reason.

After all, Velvet and Nightlight were some of Luna's Star Watchers, A coalition of advisers and moderators who watched over public intentions, complications, positives, negatives, and overall mood. There was even a name for the section of the Castle they worked in. The Observatory.

Clearly, if higher-ranking ponies had been receiving special attention from the Princesses, it was a show of favoritism. If they got to send their daughter to the Princess for help, why shouldn't the other ponies? Her problem couldn't have been that bad. After all, other foal's problems were probably worse in the long run. It's not every day a pony comes down with a “mystery illness” or anything else of the sort.

It was simply nonsense, and Twilight had been the focus of all of it.

But dwelling on such nonsense would get neither Celestia nor Luna anywhere. Instead, they had to put their heads down and focus on the task at hand, no matter how long it would take. Besides, it was early into the new day, and it would be a long while before it came time for Celestia to raise the sun. They needed to put the puzzle pieces together before Twilight won, but first they would have to find each piece.

She could already tell they wouldn't be getting much sleep tonight, but that didn't matter to either of them. Luna was still lost as to Twilight's logic in all of this. If she truly wanted to punish each and every pony that she deemed evil, why not use the methods that she had clearly gone out of her way to obtain? Surely, these routes would have been enough to satisfy even the most monstrous of blood lusts.

Unless she was saving them for somepony else. All of these spells, tinctures, tortures. What if she was saving them for somepony important? Somepony she truly wanted to hurt.

And a much more troubling thought... what if she was saving them for two alicorns whom she believed had failed to help her?

If Twilight wanted to leave them dazed, confused, and running around in circles, then she was succeeding quite effectively. Luna rubbed her eyes, setting down the aged text on the table in front of her. The book didn't reveal anything interesting, just a few methods of castration that sounded rather unpleasant and agonizing. Not that the act on its own wasn't...

“Luna?” Celestia called, distracting the smaller alicorn from her rambling thoughts. She groaned quietly before responding.

“Over here, sister!” She yelled, her voice hoarse from exhaustion.

“Luna, I think I found somethings of interest. A bit better than dusty old tomes.”

Rainbow Dash walked as if she was in a trance. A dream. Each step in front of her was purposeful and intentional, and yet she felt slow and rigid. Like she wasn't controlling herself. She thought nothing of her own, uncontrolled movements, and was only concerned with what she herself was going to do next.

And yet, she knew exactly where she was going. She was going to meet the devil in her own cage, and she wasn't leaving before blood had been spilled. It was going be...

What was it going to be? She was abut to say glorious. Oh how she longed to see blood spill from that demented, grinning bitch. She wanted to see Twilight's teeth shatter, and hear her bones crunch beneath her hooves. Rainbow would break off the mare's horn, use it as a toothpick, and then shove it up the unicorn's ass just to make things a bit more fun.

Maybe she would get Octavia. She could just imagine the look on Twilight's face as she beat the earth pony right in front of her. Give her a taste of her own medicine. Let her suffer as her friend was beaten to death in front of her, while she was unable to save her. It would truly be glorious, to watch Twilight suffer so.

But maybe it wouldn't be. What if she walked in there and simply collapsed? What if she just melted beneath that monster's gaze? What if she became the one who needs help, the one who cries out as she is destroyed? She had so much left to do. So many she still needed to protect, and yet she was scared of a mare in chains.

How could she be so weak?

No. She wasn't weak. The voice told her so. The voice told her she was strong. She may not have known it, but she was. She was Rainbow Dash, The Fastest Flier in Equestria, The Greatest Fighter Alive, The Most Loyal Pony to Ever Live.

She could not be defeated when she was stronger than a thousand moonstone shields. She could not be beaten when she was quicker than one million arrows, or more deadly than a hundred thousand Celestial Steel swords. She was Rainbow Dash, a sister, a student, and a mentor. Not some unicorn who wandered in the snow for 16 years.

She looked up for the first time, finally noticing why her legs had stopped moving. In front of her was a white padded door. There were no distinctive marks on it except for small letters in the middle of the frame.
Twilight Sparkle, Unicorn, 24

Extremely Dangerous, threat level Black

Entry forbidden unless expressly accompanied
by or approved by the Alicorn Princesses

Rainbow saw past all of that. She didn't see a tall blank door barring her passage. Instead, all she saw was something in her way. She had business on the other side of that door, and nothing would stop her from entering.

Which was unfortunate for the two stallions who stood not three feet in front of her. She was so focused on the door, she hadn't even noticed the statue-still ponies whose eyes were zeroed in on her. She walked towards them, right until she could touch one of the stallions with her nose, before she finally saw them.

Rainbow crossed her eyes, looking down her nose at the earth pony guard who stood in front of her and mimicked her actions so that he could meet her eye. His partner, a pegasus, stood right next to him, watching the commander of Luna's Night Guard with a worried gaze.

“Commander Dash?” The earth pony asked, unsure of Rainbow. She gazed up at him with a blank stare. It was as if she was sleepwalking.

“Yes, Strongheart?” She replied slowly. Hearing his name come from her, the earth pony couldn't help but stand up just a little bit taller. “Um, ma'am, y-y-you can't be here. Princess' orders. You'll have to turn around.” He eventually stuttered out, looking down at the Commander's wide, empty eyes.

Neither he nor his partner would ever know if their words actually reached Rainbow, or whether or not they fell on deaf ears. In what seemed to them as barely an eye-blink, Strongheart would wake up several hours later with a severe headache and his partner lying on the floor next to him, neither of them remembering what had happened.

In an instant, Rainbow had thrown out her wings, launching herself forward. She'd grabbed the two stallion's heads and smashed them together so hard that the spell-reinforced steel dented under her strength. The two stallions then collapsed to the ground on top of each other, both of them out of the fight before there was even the threat of one. Needless to say, this was not a simple task, and the result was one that would leave both of them with rather painful concussions for some time.

But her concern was not for the two soldiers she had just left crumpled in a pile. She stepped over their limp bodies as she reached out for the door handle, practically floating off the ground with pent-up energy as she pulled it open with a soft thump.

Rainbow felt as if she had been given a gift from a god. The room was bare except for a metal table and three small chairs. Twilight Sparkle lay in a small white bed on the other side of the room. She lay curled up with her head tucked between her two front legs. Her limbs were chained side by side, severely limiting her movement, and it would doubtless have been very discomforting for her if she tried to test them. They were specially made to cause extreme, non-fatal distress if a pony tried to break them.

Though, Rainbow doubted that these chains would hurt as much as her hooves connecting with that bitch's skull. Maybe she would let Twilight struggle a bit, just to get that extra amount of hurt in there. After all, she planned on staying for as long as she could. Might as well get as much out of it as possible.

She stepped carefully through the doorway, trying not to make too much noise. Once she started on Twilight, the other guards would be on the room in no time. It helped that the doors were magic-proofed, but jamming the door with a chair could only last so long. She estimated that she would have just three minutes to get as much out of the unicorn as she could, before she would have to fight off a few of her comrades.

She crept forward, gently picking up a chair and moving back towards the entryway. The door swung shut effortlessly as she took one long look at Twilight. 'The clock starts NOW'

She jammed the metal chair underneath the silver handle hard, the sound of scratching and protesting metal instantly awakening Twilight from her slumber. Her head shot up, solid black eyes meeting Rainbow’s furious pink ones. Before Twilight could utter a word or even split her face into that psychotic smile, Rainbow had cleared the distance between them.

Twilight sailed across the room, her body colliding roughly with the polished steel table. The wind was knocked out of her lungs during her violent stop. Before she could even raise her head, a hoof wrapped around her throat and she was slammed back into the metal surface. With a sickening BANG, BANG, BANG, her head struck the reflective surface by Rainbow's ruthless hooves.

She was lifted up for a moment before being thrown backwards into one of the, thankfully, padded walls. Had it not been, she most likely would have broken her neck or fractured the back of her skull as it slammed into the surface.

Blood freely flowed from her nose and mouth, as well as from a cut above her eye. Rainbow wouldn't have been surprised if she could have reached inside of the mare's mouth and pulled out a tooth or four. The demon raised Twilight's head to see her attacker standing above on hind legs, rage in her eyes and hooves clenched at her sides. The anger, instead of causing terror, brought about that smile. That broken, bloody, cracked smile. The one she wore when she nearly killed Dash, the one she wore as she mocked the Princesses. The one she wore when she ripped Fluttershy's wings to pieces.

Rainbow, barely controlling herself as it was, couldn't find it in herself to stop the relentless assault. Not when she had to look at that smile.

She jammed one hoof under Twilight's throat, lifting the mare higher against the wall. Already, she could hear guards on the other slice of the door, pounding with their hooves. It wouldn't be long until the were here, and they might even have Celestia or Luna in tow.

She pressed her hoof deeper into Twilight's throat, close to crushing in the mare's windpipes. Twilight's smile began to waver as the air caught in her chest, unable to escape. Seeing her discomfort brought a gleam to Rainbow's eyes. A small squeak escaped from Twilight, followed by a rasp.

“I'm sorry, Ms. Sparkle, does something hurt?” Rainbow taunted her calmly, while Twilight began to claw at Rainbow's hoof. Oddly enough, Rainbow felt calm now. She was in control, and there was nothing Twilight could do to fight back. Not like this. Rainbow pulled her hoof back long enough for Twilight to take a small breath before she reapplied the pressure once more.

“I have an idea. Why don't I bring in your little marefriend, the pretty grey earth pony who plays the cello?” She stared into Twilight's eyes, a triumphant smile on her face. “I could just have a little fun with her. Treat her the same way you saw fit to treat Fluttershy. But, she doesn't hake any wings. Hmm. I wonder what I could take from her that would make us equal. Maybe if I broke her front legs, would that make us equal? What do you think, Twilight? After all, an earth pony's legs are just as important to them as a pegasus' wings are.” Twilight's smile still didn't waver as she stared back at Rainbow. She was dead silent, betraying no mood.

Rainbow clasped Twilight around her neck, heaving backwards and throwing her once again. She sailed headfirst, colliding roughly with the flooring and tumbling head over hooves for several seconds. Finally, she smashed into the opposite wall, crumbling into a ball as her momentum ceased.

“But then again,”Rainbow continued, “it wouldn't be fair to stop there. After all, you did take Scootaloo.” Rainbow stalked towards Twilight, a fire lit in her eyes that she didn't expect to extinguish anytime soon.

“So maybe I won't stop at her legs.” Rainbow gripped the fallen mare by her shoulders, calmly sitting her up against the wall. “Maybe I'll go higher. We could start with the legs, but then where do we go after that? Maybe I'll move on to the ribs.” She jabbed Twilight in the chest, hard, causing the mare to groan in pain. “Or I could go for her pelvis. After all, a little paralysis never killed anypony, right?” Once again she roughly prodded the mare's body, inflicting even more pain onto the already injured being.

'Yes. Yes.' The voice coaxed her, its quiet voice urging her to continue Twilight's torture. 'More. Make her suffer. Make her feel the pain she has inflicted on others.'

“But this can all stop.” Rainbow whispered, her voice so calm and steady it looked to have surprised even Twilight and, more importantly, the voice.

“What?”

'What!?'

Rainbow nodded slowly. “I don't need to kill you, I just want my friend back. IF you tell me where she is, I will leave this room without another word. No more pain. No more suffering. It's that simple. Just tell me where Scootaloo is.”

There was a pregnant silence in the room, while the voice in Rainbow’s head urged her to continue, almost maniacally begged her to push onward, dumbfounded at her decision.

'What are you doing, you stupid mare? Kill her! Make her suffer! You cannot afford to grant her mercy. Why would you do this to the mare who stole your friend's wings, the one who shamed you in battle, the one who stole your little sister? HOW CAN YOU SHOW HER MERCY!?'

'It's rather simple, really.' Rainbow thought to herself, as the voice fell silent. 'I don't need revenge. She has been captured, and I think I roughed her up well enough. Besides, this isn't me. This is not who I am, kicking a pony while they're down, no matter what they have done. How can I expect to call myself a pony fighting for good, when I act so horribly? That would just make me turn into her, and I will never allow that. That's not Rainbow Dash, and it never will be. Justice will come her way, I guarantee, but it won't be served adequately by my hooves spilling her blood. Everypony has their time, and hers is not far off.

'Besides' Rainbow glanced back at the door. It was rocking as guards pounded and kicked at it, trying to gain entrance to the room. 'I don't have time to waste on waiting for her to squeal. That's what she would want, and I won't give it to her. I don't need you, and I never did. You've caused me nothing but trouble with your sweet words, and I won't have anymore of it.'

Rainbow waited for several moments as silence responded to her words. She smiled triumphantly, even as those black eyes locked with hers and the lips of the mare in front of her again cracked into an insane grin. It never wavered, even as the unicorn let out a wave of mad laughter with such gusto that the guards outside the room stopped their assault on the door.

Rainbow looked down at Twilight with a smirk as the mare guffawed loudly. She looked at the unicorn like she would a child throwing a tantrum, waiting for her to finish before she could scold her some more.

“Tell me, Commander,” Twilight began, her laughing fit finally coming to a close. She met Rainbow's eyes with her wide smile still spread across her face. “Where did this sudden change of heart come from? Do you always show this much compassion to your enemies? You must not be a very good soldier.”

Rainbow still looked down on her silently, unmoving from her place.

“Hmm, you've become the strong, silent type now? Seems like a con. I can imagine that on the inside, you're shaking like a filly. Should we test that theory?” Twilight began to rise up, only to be pinned to the wall by Rainbow's hoof. She jabbed the unicorn in the shoulder and caused the limb to go numb, nearly causing Twilight to collapse once more.

“This is your last warning before you go back to sleep the hard way.” Rainbow pushed even harder into Twilight, threatening to break the mare's leg.

Suddenly, her smile disappeared. Her body went rigid and she stopped struggling underneath Rainbow's crushing force. Though her eyes were still black, and her stare still hard and cold, she seemed suddenly different. Off.

“Very well, Commander. I see no point in breaking this body. After all, I won't be finding another one as capable as hers.” She said with a sigh.

Rainbow's smile grew larger. “Glad you could see it my way. Now then,” she jammed Twilight's shoulder again, “where is she?”

Twilight hissed from the pain, still trying to pry away the pegasus' hoof. “A few blocks down the main road, underneath an old factory. An old facility for trading and manufacturing. There is a small slaughterhouse that was used for trading animals to griffons. You'll find her there. Now please, release me.” Despite her earlier statements, this last one came out as a beggar's request.

Rainbow couldn't contain her surprise. Slaughterhouses were most uncommon in Equestria. They were only ever used for when foreign dignitaries, mainly the Griffons, visited Canterlot. To have hidden Scootaloo there was an insult.

But, Rainbow had made a promise.

She pulled her hoof away, allowing Twilight to fall to the floor. Wordlessly, she turned right as the guards kicked in the door and stormed into the room. Before any of them could speak, Rainbow's wings had sprung to life, and she charged through the group. Several guards were knocked to the side, as she sped down the hallway.

Finally, she had answers, and now nothing could stop her from rescuing her sister. Not even the pitch of Tartarus itself.

On the hunt

Rainbow's mane whipped through the wind as she tore through the open air over Canterlot. The streets below her were quiet and devoid of life, except for the small creatures that scurried beneath the shadows. The lamps flanking the streets were dimly lit, just bright enough to guide anypony caught in the darkness to their own homes and to illuminate what the moon above couldn't.

The air was cool and thin that night. There was a calm breeze, and the sky was lit by Luna's moon and stars. There was an almost visible appearance of peace and calm floating in the clouds, as if they were calling to Rainbow to curl up on one of them. But it was a bad night for her. The feeling of calm escaped her, and the gentle breeze did nothing to speed her journey.

In fact, the light air seemed to be a hindrance. She flapped her wings like she was a fighting a monsoon, and the soft breeze felt like it was singing a lullaby to her, calling her to sleep. A sleep full of dreams and peace, where she would be with her family, happy and free of the world Twilight had subjected her to.

But sleep wouldn't come. Rainbow would not allow it. She couldn't let Scootaloo down, she couldn’t let the poor filly fall victim to the same fate Fluttershy had been forced to endure. Timid and shy as she was, Fluttershy was still a full-grown mare. She could withstand far more than Scootaloo, a growth-stunted pegasus who still couldn't even fly. While she would be dreaming of happiness, her family could still be suffering in the real world.

What awful torture could Twilight have subjected her to? Would she enter the building only to find bones and a few tattered pieces of skin scattered around the floor? Maybe it would be worse; Twilight had shown just how cruel she could be. She would probably make it so Rainbow would have to watch. She would be forced to see Scootaloo's agony, unable to save her.

Or maybe it would be the opposite; maybe she would have to bear the pain in front of Scootaloo's eyes. She would do it without a second thought, take the lashings for Scootaloo or Fluttershy, but what if Scootaloo would have to see it? See the pain and agony that Twilight would force upon her.

Their family had nearly been torn apart by Twilight Sparkle, would whatever awaited Rainbow Dash at the slaughterhouse finally be the last straw that shattered them completely? Would it be the moment that tore them apart from each other once and for all? It couldn't be. They were so strong together, but at the same time, their experiences made the bond all the more fragile. Rainbow and Fluttershy, with everything they had endured when they were only fillies. And Scootaloo, having to lie in the ruined shelter of her home, her mother and father having been killed by that storm. Could this be what finally tore them apart?

No. No matter what she did, Rainbow would find a way. She would endure all the pain in the world to make sure that never happened. She would give her life without a second thought if it meant keeping Fluttershy and Scoots safe. Nothing would ever stop her, especially not some mad unicorn. Not even the likes of Twilight would keep Rainbow from saving her family.

Justice was coming to Twilight Sparkle, there was no doubt in Rainbow's mind, but would it be her or the unicorn who would have the last laugh? Who would ultimately win this twisted game of cat and mouse?

It wouldn't be fate that made that decision.

'No.' Rainbow thought to herself as her target appeared under the bright moon. 'She will never be allowed to win, we will make sure of that.' She narrowed her eyes, looking dead ahead. There, not to far in front of her, was a building looming in the darkness. I stood about four stories tall, and was only a short ways to the east of Canterlot Castle.

It was the place where all foreign affairs were dealt with. Meetings, proposals, requests, and treaties were mostly organized or agreed upon in that very hall. The Equestrian Diplomacy Center. There foreigners such as Griffons, Minotaurs, Elks, Donkeys, Wolves, and other creatures, even the dragons met with the Princesses to discuss terms or collaborations.

Of course, other creatures were not always prepared for the Equestrian lifestyle, so in order to appease Equestria's neighbors, there were certain measures in place so that the outsiders would be cared for and comfortable. One of those comforts that ponies did not require was meat. Flesh, not being a part of pony diets, was generally looked down upon by the citizens of Equestria. As herbivores, they preferred to not slaughter animals in their care, many of which were sentient.

However, other species occasionally did not care for the “lower” creature's well-being and simply took what they desired, flesh being the most common among the carnivorous species. In order to satisfy this request, the E.D.C. had built a slaughterhouse on its very bottom floor. While the Equestrians only served meat that was from the less intelligent population of creatures, such as fish or pork, it had not been uncommon for dignitaries and their parties to occasionally bring their own meat with them. While this was something that occasionally caused a great disturbance in the minds of the Equestrian dignitaries, sometimes one had to smile and turn the other cheek, lest one offend or insult the subjects one was trying to woo. Several of the carnivorous species tended to have troubling pasts with the Equestrians, and the Alicorn Sisters had it in their and their citizen's best interests to keep foreigners such as gryphons and dragons happy, in case they were filled with a sudden bloodlust.

Eventually, after several decades of complaints about the lack of strong and delicious meat such as beef and the like, and the subsequent self-supply of meat carried by all carnivorous dignitaries, the slaughterhouse had simply died on the bottom floor of the diplomacy center. The small storehouse was still intact after all these years, as no decision as to what should happen to the abandoned space had yet been made.

But regardless of what it was or would become, the fact that Twilight had specifically referred to it as “slaughterhouse” left a bad taste in Rainbow's mouth. It was an insult not just to pegasi, but to Equestrian in general. It was deeply disrespectful, and even horrifying, that Twilight thought to leave her there of all places.

With her speed, it didn't take Rainbow long to get to the Diplomacy Center even without breaking the sound barrier. She could see that the lights were turned out save for a few rooms, no doubt occupied by janitors or several bored guard ponies.

But Rainbow gave no mind to them, instead she had to focus. To think about every possible trap or snare Twilight could have set for her. She was done rushing headlong into a situation. Twilight's darkness had had its fun rampaging in her mind, but her rationality had once again taken over. This time, she would be the victor, and she would have the last laugh, not Twilight Sparkle.

Rainbow landed outside, hitting the ground in a full sprint and slowing down as she got closer and closer to the doors. By the time she reached the tall glass barriers, she had slowed down to a simple trot and made her way inside.

The door swung open, giving no resistance. The janitors usually made sure to lock the doors in case any teenage colts or mares wanted to sneak in and goof around on their own. While it was a simple action, Rainbow couldn't help but feel like her every action so far had followed some other pony's plan. As far as she knew she had been, of course, but it was still an unsettling feeling knowing that Twilight had prepared this building for her, and whatever surprises it held.

Leaving the door unlocked was like rolling out the red carpet. She had been expected; invited, even. There was no secret entrance or element of surprise. Where she was going was a place totally under Twilight's control. There wasn't a doubt in Rainbow's mind that she wouldn't be in control of the situation she was stepping into, but to save Scootaloo, that was a risk she was willing to take.

Unlike the last few days, however, she felt more full of confidence and strength inside herself then she had felt since before she fought Twilight. Gone was the voice whispering in her ear, trying to corrupt her mind. Rainbow was in control this time, and she would be damned if she was going to give it up again.

It didn't take her long to find where she was going. She had been a part of diplomacy meetings before, and had worked to detail security and manage the bustling ponies as they made preparations for the meetings and the after-events. A few hallways later, she found the worker's stairwell that led to the basement.

A short glide down the stairs, and she stood in front a large iron door. The hulking piece of metal was old and stained, mildew and mold slowly crawling across the once clean and shining door. Rainbow, barely glancing at the old and decrepit piece of metal, gave it a push with her hoof, and it swung open silently.

Luna walked out of the library. Once she had turned from that place, she didn't look back as she strolled away from the burning wreckage. In fact, the destruction she had caused put a small spring in her step as she made her way towards her sister. She was still horrified by what she had read, and what she and Celestia had learned was groundbreaking and terrifying.

The contents of those books were among the darkest, most nightmarishly brutal things Luna had ever heard of. And yet, right alongside them were spells that worked like miracles, potions that could cure nearly anything, glyphs and seals that could be use for incredible or nefarious purposes.

One spell, a high-level magical missile, started out as a fireball, but once it came into contact with an object it would explode and render the item or individual completely frozen. A smoldering husk trapped in a block of ice. Another one found key points on the body, which could be marked with needles, leaches, or even tattoos that allowed for magic to flow more easily. Once key pathways were opened in the body, magic could flow through a pony's veins and increase healing, remove poisons, or strengthen weak limbs. According to one example, it even succeeded in growing a pegasus' wings back. However, such a miracle feat was apparently never recreated, or had never been accomplished after that.

One spell could extend out from a pony's own shadow, and if it connected with another, it would give the user complete control over them so long as the shadow wasn't broken. A powerful spell, as long as the sun stayed behind the clouds or darkness stayed intact, but it was useless with total darkness or too much light.

But there was more. Luna had spied a diagram of a glyph, one that had seemed familiar to her, but she couldn't place where she had seen it. Finally, after some time, she had realized that it was the spell Twilight had used to destroy the journal, along with Luna's room. It was an intricately made glyph that, after being pumped with an extremely high amount of magic, could then absorb certain characteristics from whatever source it was allowed.

In the case of Twilight's, it was from Celestia's own sun that that particular glyph had stolen its destructive power. And yet, that was only one. If one was thrown into the water, it could absorb and expel hundreds of gallons if need be. Place it over a fire, or even a volcano if it was strong enough, and you would have enough heat to burn down half of the Everfree. Other types of magic in the surrounding world were also viable sources. Pump it full of passive magic, and it could be used for healing spells, communication, transportation, or other varieties of 'gentle' magic. However, on the battle field a glyph like this could obliterate forces if the right destructive magic were channeled.

All in all, Luna couldn't shake the feeling that even the best and most mild of those books came at he greatest price. How could a pony learn some of the things in those books with out having to... experiment, first? Some things weren’t natural, and many of the most unnatural things in those tomes were part of Twilight's darkest personal collection.

Former collection, to be precise. Most of the papers had been turned to ash, and Luna doubted she wouldn't return to finish what was left once they had settled this whole thing. Maybe they could salvage some spells worth saving, but Luna didn't truly know just how much would remain intact once they went back.

But she pushed that thought aside for the moment. Instead, she looked ahead of herself, focusing on the two guards who stood in front of Celestia.

The first guard, one Luna wasn't familiar with, was talking to Celestia in a hushed tone. He seemed to have an air of nervousness about him, while Celestia had a growing glare taking its place on her features. Her eyes narrowed as she would occasionally say something back to him, the guard hurriedly trying to explain what had happened.

The second guard stood silent while he glanced back and forth around the room. It was the one that had interrupted Luna during her... episode. He was the first to notice her as she approached the three; he seemed to have calmed down, but was still nervously eyeing the alicorn.

He mumbled something, cutting off his partner as Luna approached them. As she got closer and closer, she realized the state the two guards were in.

The first one, an earth pony, was wide-eyed but far from bushy-tailed. His bloodshot eyes were wide open, and his breathing was quick and shallow. He stood still, but Luna could tell it was forced. The stallion was itching to go, and seemed to be trying to control the adrenaline that he had no use for.

The other guard, the one still nervously glancing at Luna, was a bit more green-around-the-gills. As a pegasus, he wasn't normally exposed to as much magic as unicorns or earth ponies, and it looked like being teleported inside the crystal ball had taken its toll on him. He looked sick and weary as he swayed, clearly trying to stay on his hooves.

Luna giving him that scare earlier hadn't helped him much, that was obvious. She didn't blame him though; she had been told she was a scary sight when she was angry.

However, as she approached, the guard stood a bit taller, and made the effort to show her some respect. This, in turn, only made Luna feel guilty for scaring the poor stallion. She rarely ever got that angry, and to have been on the receiving end of her Canterlot Voice while she was in full fury mode couldn't have been fun for anypony.

As she got closer to the three ponies, she picked up on the conversation that was still being held in hushed tones.

“...Managed to keep everything under control...escaped before...went after her...still haven’t found...doubt they could catch her quickly...pretty roughed up.”

A sense of dread filled Luna's chest as her eyes widened. The pegasus tapped the other guard's shoulder and pointed to Luna, calling his and Celestia's attention to the younger alicorn, who had halted her pace and stood there with wide eyes. There was a moment of silence between the parties.

“Please tell me that I didn't hear what I think I heard.”

Celestia sighed, walking over to Luna with the other guards following behind her. “No, sister, Twilight is not free.”

Luna relaxed at hearing that. At least it wasn't a complete disaster. “Well? What did happen?” Luna asked, still unsure about the situation.

Celestia let out an annoyed sigh, giving Luna a weary expression. It didn't take Luna long to deduce what had happened. She stared at the ground, anger building in her chest once more. Just how many times would that filly have to mess up before she got herself killed? Rainbow Dash was her best and brightest. Her personal student. She had served under Luna, been her friend, been her student, and yet it seemed all of that had been torn away by one mare.

A pony who had once been a brilliant strategist, amazing fighter, and one of the most loving and loyal ponies Luna had ever known, was now reduced to a blind, angry, and hate-filled vigilante? Is this the legacy she would leave behind? After everything she had been through, suffered through, how could she have been tortured so much so that she was driven to such idiocy?

“What came of... the event?” Luna said, rubbing her eyes with one hoof. The stallions were silent for a moment, not because they were afraid of the anger on her tone, but because of the sadness and exhaustion in her words. Finally, one of them spoke.

“A few minutes ago, Rainbow knocked out the guards stationed outside of Twilight's room.” Luna sighed again, causing the guard to wince. He continued again after a moment, “Once inside, she assaulted Twilight, before saying that she wasn't going to be controlled anymore. She said something about not becoming a monster, and that she wanted to know where her friend, Scootaloo I presume, was. After a few moments, Twilight told her where the filly was, and Rainbow ran out of the room.”

Luna was silent for a moment. “Where did she go? Was there anypony after her?” The earth-pony nodded. “When she ran off, several pegasi peeled off after her. If I'm correct, Twilight said she had hidden the filly at the... at the slaughterhouse.”

Neither Celestia nor Luna could suppress a gasp. It was a horrifying idea to hide a hostage at a place where animals were slaughtered. In fact, the thought was downright barbaric. To even suggest such a thing...

“Have they reported back yet?”

The pegasus shook his head. “No ma'am, we have yet to hear back. Rainbow is far faster than any other pegasus, and I doubt they will be able to get to her in a timely manner.” There was a pregnant silence as all four ponies thought on the meaning of his words.

Realizing what he had said, the pegasus hastily tried to apologize, only to be cut off a by a hoof from Luna. “Don't worry, I am not angry. Rainbow has made her own choice, and by diving in head-first in only she will be able to help herself. However, what has happened with Twilight Sparkle? Is she still restrained?”

The guards nodded. “Believe me when I say this, Princess,” the pegasus said with confidence, “the guards threw themselves upon her to make sure she stayed restrained. We took no risks, and made sure she was still locked up tight.” Luna nodded approvingly.

“Excellent. I believe I need to speak with the mare myself, my sister and I have a few more questions we need answered.” Luna looked to Celestia with serious expression. The taller alicorn returned the expression evenly. It was about time they had a talk about the Draconequus.

Luna approached the crystal ball, still resting on its pedestal. Before she picked it up, she turned to the pegasus. “Before we go, I must apologize for my behavior earlier. It was wrong of me to turn my anger on you in such a manor. I hope you can forgive me.” She bowed her head, humility in her voice.

The guards exchanged an unsure glance. The Princess was bowing to them, and they had no idea what to say. It took them several seconds to figure out how to respond. “Princess,” the pegasus paused.,“I... Thank you.” Luna lifted her head, giving him a quick smile before turning back to the crystal.

Behind her, Celestia beamed at her sister. Luna truly was a wonderful leader, if one managed to cut past her shell. She was so quick to find humility, and never afraid to show it. She was a shining inspiration to those who followed her, if they followed her with loyalty. Truly an example to those who wished to be made of sterner stuff.

Luna picked up the crystal, her horn flowing with magic. As the two met, there was a small flash, and the ponies were back inside one of the rooms inside the Tombstone.

However, the moment Luna's eyes opened, she realized something was wrong. The normally white walls were painted red from the flashing alarm lights sounding off from the wall. A shrill siren rang out through the halls, screaming like a banshee. Both sisters felt like they had just swallowed stones. Something was seriously wrong.

“Sir?” Luna called to the pegasus behind her, her voice poised on a fearful edge. Her eyes were wide, staring out into the hallway where a broken and dented helmet lay. “You did say Twilight was contained, didn't you?”

Author's Note

Man, I really have to update more than once a month. Who here remembers when it used to update weekly?

Anyway, after a few long car trips this past week I managed to bang out a big chunk of the next one, so if I just manage to avoid my laziness then it should be out in a timely manor.

For now, arrivederci.

The chessboard for a pawn

Cold steel doors swung open with a screeching sound. Rust and mold decorated the once clean and polished steel that had fallen into decay and now lay abandoned. Rainbow entered the aged building, gazing about the tired and worn-down surfaces with a cold stare. She shook her head as she surveyed the broken and empty space. This place was disgusting, both in spirit and in actuality. The sooner she found Scootaloo and left this miserable place, the better.

The slaughterhouse was a large open area, about the size of a large field, divided into four sections: the pens, slaughtering rooms, kitchens, and disposal tanks. Though the building's namesake took up the smallest space in the complex, the idea of the room was enough for it to leave a bad taste in pony's mouths.

The first section, the pens, took up the largest majority of the house, dominating nearly one-third of the large subterranean complex. Pig styes, cow stables, and chicken cages dominated the room in long rows. On the far back wall, fish tanks sat empty. Those had been for the Prides, or Gryphon kingdoms should they fancy something other than red meat.

The third room, the kitchens, need little introduction. After the animals were slaughtered, their bodies would be taken away behind the towering steel doors to this room, where a large team of creatures would cut, cook, and serve each meal. The cooks were mostly ponies, but occasionally guest chefs from other kingdoms would visit if a special dish was requested or required.

The final room was the disposal vats. Once the animals had finished their purposes, it was long debated what would happen to the leftovers. After some discussion, the Princesses came up with a conclusion to the arguments. After the meals and meetings were finished, diplomats would be encouraged to take whatever scraps remained. Anything left, whether they be bones or gizzards, would be offered to the Zebra tribes, as they respected the organs and bones of dead creatures and often used them in their mixtures. Any remaining items refused by the zebras would then either betaken to the Everfree, where some wandering beast would devour them, or donated to any ponies who desired them. Bonemeal, since it was often more difficult to come by, was a high-demand item for the local greenhouses and flora shops. Even mages jumped at the opportunity to snag some of the leftovers; who knew if it could be a key ingredient in some new spell or medicine? As much as they hated the slaughter, ponies would take every effort to make the most out of these sacrifices.

As she walked through the dingy remnants of the slaughter house, Rainbow couldn't help but look at what this place had become. Cold countertops lay covered in dust. Spiders crawled across the surfaces and floors, spinning their webs and nabbing at flies. Wooden doors were warped and splintered, with some fallen over or barely hanging from their hinges. Broken glass was scattered around the floors.

The house had been, for the most part, a very clean and conscious place. Despite what they entailed, the stalls, kitchens, and pens were kept remarkably clean in order to maintain some sense of respectability. While a dirty job was done there, the ponies had made sure they didn't work or wallow in filth. It was a good solution; everything used, nothing wasted. Pure and simple. The ponies had been (although few would ever admit it) happy with the new and uncommon resources they could get, and the neighboring diplomats could still get their red meat. At the end of the day, everypony had been happy.

However, as time went on the outsiders had soon grown tired of the same meals over and over again. Soon, they began to make more 'requests' for a larger variety of meat, or larger servings. But neither the Princesses nor their subjects would change stance on the matter. The outsiders, seeing that nopony would bend to their will, they began supplying themselves with their own meat.

Soon after, they forgot entirely about the Equestrian's meager supply of flesh and took care of themselves. The Equestrians hadn't been too upset. It wasn't exactly a sorrowful farewell that was said as those cold, steel had doors closed behind the last working ponies here, as they walked out. More than a few of them had maintained skip in their step on the way out.

And so the building had sat, empty and silent. The giant space, once the home of many great chefs and cooks, now housed mice, spiders, and dustbunnies. 'And Scootaloo.' Rainbow thought to herself. There was another occupant in the building, and Rainbow had to find her.

She stood in one of the transportation hallways outside the rooms, unsure of which one she should check first. The disposal tanks and the pens made the most sense, since they took up the most space, but the slaughterhouse had far more opportunities for traps, and thus would logically have been the first place Twilight would have gone. It might have even appealed to her sadistic nature.

Then again, maybe she just didn't want to enter any of those rooms to find a brutalized filly. Suppose she went to the kitchens, what would she encounter? Would she open an oven to find a small head, a look of terror still on her face, immortalized the throes of a violent death? Or maybe she would enter the slaughter house and find a limp body hanging from a meat hook? But then again were the other rooms better? What about a disposal vat with a tiny skeleton inside of it, or a water tank with a shriveled form trapped inside?

'NO!'

'This is no time to think like that!' Rainbow screamed in her own mind. She closed her eyes, staring down at the floor, flexing her shoulders.

She took a long, deep breath. In through her mouth, out through her nose. A standard calming exercise they taught everypony in the guard. Rainbow had done away with the exercise several years ago. At one point, it had been a daily exercise; she'd been much more temperamental when she was first taken on as Luna's student, but over time she had gained much more self control, and could stay mild tempered and focused almost unceasingly.

That is, until a certain unicorn had come into her life. If it wasn't for that she-wolf and her little mind plague, Rainbow wouldn't have to go through this process. But hey, sometimes life throws you curve balls.

And sometime those curve balls come in the form a psychotic unicorns whose aim is to destroy every facet of your life, murder everything in sight, turn pony's minds in on themselves, and harm and humiliate innocent ponies in as many ways as possible.

But, that's just life.

With a sigh, she turned towards the pens. Might as well start from left to right, and the large room had the most places where the filly could be stuffed away. She approached the door slowly, an aged and splintered piece of wood that barely held onto its hinges any more. She placed a tentative hoof on the surface, sparing a last glance at the disposal and slaughtering rooms, before turning back to the dead door.

Without a sound, she pushed the door open. A neat curtain of dust fell from the doorway and lightly dusted her coat as she stepped into the wide, yet oppressive room. Rainbow observed the rows of cages and pens that stretched across the space. Over 600 feet of wire, wood, and glass, the first two rows were all wire cages built for chickens. They sat, rusting, still collecting dust and insects. Many of the cages were covered by tarps or blankets

The next rows consisted of wooden styes and several pits that once held mud for pigs to relax in. Empty slop buckets sat forgotten, some catching leaks or others filling with bugs and dust. The final row behind that was nothing more than an empty wall and some glass on the floor. It had previously been a large collection of fish tanks, but now there was only a few lonely and forgotten shards of glass.

Before Rainbow could decide how to start, there was a jingling of armor and steel behind her. She turned, reaching to her sides but grasping at nothing. She had forgotten to bring any weapons with her. Not that it made that much of a difference; she was more than capable of fighting hoof-to-hoof.

A moment later, down the stairs came four pegasi, flapping their wings to barely hover above the ground. Each of them looked to her, panting as they flew towards her with their front hooves held in surrender. To pick a fight with the commander of the Lunar Guard would be a death wish, and nopony was sure of her current mental state.

The small flock of guards stopped in front of Rainbow, who still had her hooves held up defensively. The pony in front, a dark green pegasus with a bright orange mane, spoke quickly as he snapped to a salute.

“Ma'am, we were sent to follow you after you left the Tombstone. We wanted to make sure you were...”

The stallion trailed off. What was he supposed to say? Sane? Competent? Rainbow wasn't a temperamental mare, not often anyway, but who knew what her mind was up to? Fortunately for the group before her, Rainbow answered for him.

She dropped her hooves to her sides, rolling her shoulders back and taking up a militaristic pose. She stared at them with a hawk's eye.“If you are questioning my competence at the moment, you will be relieved to know that I am functioning just fine, thank you.” She snapped.

The other guards, already nervous about approaching the cyan pegasus, jumped at the tone in her voice, each snapping to attention with a salute.

“Were sorry, ma'am.”

“Our apologies.”

“Thank you for not killing us.”

“NOW THEN!” She yelled, silencing the colts in front of her. “If you little fillies are done blabbering, I happen to be trying to find a hostage. Now go back to the Tombstone, and tell the Princesses that I'm just fine.”

The green pegasus from earlier stepped forward. “Well actually, ma'am, we were hoping to assist you.” Rainbow stared at him for a moment with a doubting look. He continued, “We heard what Twilight said, and we would like to aid you in your search for your... family member.”

The ponies behind him nodded their heads, each standing at attention. Rainbow looked the group up and down. They all looked competent, a bit out of breath, but at the least they seemed sincere. She narrowed her eyes at the group, but they didn't flinch or cower in her presence. She glanced back and forth at the assembled pegasi. They had gotten to her in good time, and certainly radiated honesty.

And after all, she could use the help.

“Very well.” She said to them. They each smiled briefly before snapping back to attention. “If you are truly interested in helping, then you should know that we could be walking into a trap. You must know that there are unknown factors here, and considering our enemy, we have no idea what nasty things could be waiting for us here.”

When nopony moved or argued, she gave them the grace of a small smile. “Alright then, Sergeant Lucky.” She called to the green pegasus, who saluted smartly. “Take Ironworks and check out the slaughter room.” She nodded towards the large grey pegasus standing beside Lucky.

Turning, she addressed the other two pegasi. “Puzzle and Hayseed, you two will investigate the kitchen.” The two saluted in kind. Rainbow addressed them all once more.

“Now, remember what I told you. Twilight Sparkle is an extraordinarily powerful adversary, and we have no idea what is waiting for us here. Magic could very well be around tonight. I want you to use the leash system when looking around. The kitchen and slaughterhouse are relatively small, so it shouldn't take you too long to finish. The moment you find something of even minor note, I want you to report it to me.

“I will not tolerate any wannabe-heroes tonight. I care about your lives just as much as I do mine. If you have even the slightest feeling that something isn't right, you raise the alarm and let everypony know. We will check it out together, cautiously, and safely. If you finish checking out your assigned areas without problem, check on the other group's progress, and then report back to me if I have not finished searching this room.

“I won't hold it against you if you call us over and it turns out to be nothing. We should be on edge for good reason. Stay safe, be smart, and exercise caution. Do this, and everything should go off without a hitch and we can recover Scootaloo safely, yes?” The ponies saluted together, sounding off with a sharp, 'Yes ma'am.'

And with that, they took off into their assigned rooms.

Rainbow turned back to the cages behind her and, with a deep breath, she set off down the line of cages, checking under covers and keeping her eyes and ears sharp. Keen senses could find magic before it was set off, and might very well keep her alive. As she worked, she also made sure to listen out for the two parties.

Already she could hear Lucky and Ironworks enter the slaughterhouse as they forced open the doors using a standard sweeping tactic. Both ponies would stand on either side of a doorway, and one would kick open the door while the other would stand crouched behind the frame, prepared to strike. If there was no outstanding threat, they would then sweep the room using a special method called the Leash System.

Using this system, one pony would act like a dog on a leash, while the other would act as the leash holder. After investigating anything in particular, the 'leashed' guard would fall back and act as the 'leash master' while the former took the place of the 'leashed' pony. This was so, if a threat jumped out, both ponies would not be taken surprise. Generally this was done with unicorns, who had more ready access to ranged attacks, but if the pegasi stayed close, then their wings could get them in and out of sticky situations rapidly enough for them to take care of whatever was wrong.

Besides, if anything was to go wrong, they would need only give the signal and the others would quickly come to their aid. And with Rainbow at their head, they doubted anything could seriously hold up in close combat. The cyan mare was an undefeated champion in the guard's friendly sparring competitions.

As Rainbow searched up and down the long row of cages, she paused. She hadn't heard Puzzle or Hayseed enter their room yet. She sat silent, waiting for the sound of their entry. After several moments, it still hadn't come.

She opened her mouth to call to them when she heard the sound of wood splintering. At the sound, her eyebrows crossed in displeasure. The kitchen doors were made of stainless steel, just like everything else inside the room. The fools must have broken down the disposal room's door. “Puzzle. Hayseed.” She yelled out, annoyance clear in her tone. With a flap of her wings, she took to the air and shortly stood outside the freshly broken-down door. The door that belonged to the disposal tanks room.

Standing on either side of the door were two confused ponies. “What the hell do you think you're doing?” She yelled, angrily. “I told you two to check out the kitchens. Does that look like the entrance to the kitchens?”

Puzzle looked, for the most part, puzzled. He tilted his head at his partner, motioning to the shattered wooden frame laying beneath them. Hayseed also looked confused, as he scratched his head.

Rainbow gave them a stare that could have wilted a flower. She cradled her head in a front hoof, barely containing her anger as she spoke. “I thought,” she said through gritted teeth. “that you imbeciles wanted to be helpful.” Lucky and Ironworks peeked their heads out of the slaughterhouse, seeing what all the commotion was about.

“You know what, I don't even want to hear an excuse.” Rainbow said, cutting off the two ponies who opened their mouths to argue. “Just do what you are told, and I will deal with you later.” Her tone was annoyed and, not wanting to face her wrath, the stallions didn't argue, and took their places on either side of the kitchen's steel door.

However, instead of kicking the rusted and mold-covered slab of steel, they suddenly stepped away with a confused look on their faces. They both looked at each other like they had forgotten what they were doing. Rainbow as well as the other two guards looked at them with unbelieving expressions.

Rainbow stepped foreword, rapping her hoof on both of their helmets. They turned to her startled as they snapped to attention. The cyan mare shook her head with an annoyed expression as he pair gave her a blank stare and their comrades suppressed smiles.

“You two, get out of way.” Rainbow chided them, as if they were disobedient children. She grabbed the sides of their helmets, shoving them behind her. She marched up to the rusty door with an annoyed expression.

However, as she approached the door her eyes misted over and her steps slowed. The anger disappeared and was replaced with confusion. What the hell was she doing here? She had just been angry about something, but she couldn't remember what it was. Shaking her head, she turned back to see the other four staring at her with flabbergasted expressions.

“What?” She asked, her expression blank. There was a long silence between the party before Rainbow approached Puzzle, her eyebrows creased as she stared down the pegasus.

“Soldier, what are you staring at?” She addressed him, meeting his eye. He was silent for a moment, before he pointed at the steel doors behind Rainbow. “Ma'am, I don't mean to be rude, but weren't you going to the kitchen?”

Rainbow turned, her eyes widening. That's right, she was. What had happened though? She had just forgotten about her... destination.

Suddenly Rainbow stood up straighter, shoulders tense.. She had just realized something. “Lucky. Ironworks. Come here, quickly.” She called to the pair of onlookers, not even looking at them. Before they even stood in front of her, she pointed to the doors without breaking eye contact with the rusty surface.

“Go open that door.” She commanded.

The pair approached the door the same way Puzzle and his companion had done, but they procured the same results as the previous ponies. They simply forgot what they were doing. Rainbow beckoned them over with a wave of her hoof.

The whole time she had been watching, she never turned her gaze away from the door. Something was amiss here and she knew it. “Guards, step back for a moment.” She addressed the room. There was no longer any anger or confusion. Instead, there seemed to be curiosity mixed with a little bit of excitement in her tone.

She knew something was going on, and yet she seemed to be gleefully accepting the challenge. She began walking back and forth, up and down the room past all four doors, but never taking her eyes off of the kitchen's door. She did this several times, the whole room silent except for the clopping of her hooves against the floor.

Suddenly, she stopped in front of the slaughterhouse's shattered remains of a door, her gaze still locked in the kitchen. She turned to Lucky with a blank expression, contemplating the stallion for a moment. He returned the glance, giving her the same courtesy.

That is, until she flashed him a quick smirk. It would seem the wily commander had figured out what was wrong. In a flash, she spun around and began flying towards the door with one hoof outstretched, eyes squeezed shut.

Without hesitation, she struck the spot on the door where the handle had once been. The door cracked and creaked as it swung open violently. Rainbow slowly rose from her crouching position, meeting the eyes of the other four. Her daredevil grin took its place on her features.

It seemed that there had been a distraction spell placed over the door, and a powerful one at that. Rainbow and the others had all gone through training to detect and locate certain magical detractors, distraction being the most powerful. However, the one place over the doorway had fooled all of them. It was so strong they had failed to understand what was going on from the outside looking in.

Very powerful, very subtle. But, Rainbow had greater training, and better skills.

She clapped her hooves together, removing any dust or rusted metal pieces. However, the other guard's grins at Rainbow's accomplishment dropped suddenly. They were no longer staring at her, and now looked past her with wide eyes.

Seeing this, Rainbow turned swiftly, bringing her hooves up and crouching low in defensive position. She didn't see anything standing behind her, but as she looked down she saw what the other had been looking at.

Curled up in a ball, resting on top of a blanket, was a small orange pegasus with a purple mane. Rainbow's eyes widened.

Scootaloo...

The small party advanced carefully down the red hallways. Light and sounds flashed and screamed at them as the passed beneath, their gazes sharp and tensions high. The two guards marched in front, despite Celestia and Luna's insistence that they did not need protecting. The pegasus and earth pony, whom Luna learned to know as Quick Wit and Hardset, wouldn't hear any of it. They claimed that they joined to the guard to serve as protectors, and Tartarus damn it they were going to do their jobs.

Hardset marched in front of Celestia, armed with only a short sword, while his companion held a small dagger on the front of his breastplate and short extending wing-blades on the end of his wings. Though they had yet to encounter any kind of enemy, the path of destruction they came upon gave them little reason to move unprepared.

The dented and broken helmet that Luna had found was only the beginning. As they moved through the hallways, they came upon broken armor, shattered weapons, and even bloodstains. It was unsettling to say the least but nopony cowered or slowed, either for fear of being discovered by the pony who had done this, or running into them.

It was several minutes until they found the first guard. The group had turned a corner near where Twilight had been before her escape, and there, at the far end of the hallway, they saw the still body of a guard.

Carefully, they approached the pony's still body. Luna and Celestia flared shields around the group, not knowing whether they were approaching a trap or not. Nopony could be sure. For all they knew, it was a poor guard who had been assaulted and knocked out, or even killed, or it could be something - or somepony - worse.

Quick Wit moved ahead stealthily once the group had gotten close. He rolled over the body, the pony's shattered armor rattling noisily as he did so. The steel breastplate had claw marks all along the sides. One side looked to have been split open with an axe. The metal section that once covered the underside of the chest had been completely torn away.

It was a unicorn mare, her jaw slack and her whole body still. She had some blood dripping from her nose, and her helmet was missing, but other than that she had no serious injuries that the pegasus could see. Quick Wit rested one hoof on the dagger still slotted in his breastplate, the other roaming the mare's neck trying to find a pulse. After several long moments, he finally found what he was searching for.

“She's alive,” he whispered, gently shaking the mare in an attempt to awaken her. In a moment, Celestia was at his side, her horn glowing as she swept it up and down the mare's body.
The mare, after several second of still silence, groaned so weakly that Quick Wit thought he was hearing things.

He backed away, letting Celestia get closer to the poor thing. She moved down and whispered something to the pony, the mare responding with a gentle nod of her head. Celestia once again spoke to the pony, this time eliciting a shake of her head. Celestia have her a quick nod of thanks before touching her horn to the mare's head. The guard relaxed with a small smile, as her head lulled to one side.

Celestia stood back up and approached the group, who had been looking on nervously. Luna and Hard Set had been poised on the ends of their hooves, waiting for any attack the mare might have made.

“The poor thing doesn't remember what happened.” Celestia whispered, shaking her head slightly. “All she said she saw was a great wave of black. She seems to be injured quite badly, though she couldn't say where. I couldn't find any real damage or injuries. I gave her a spell for the pain, but we need to get her somewhere safe where she can be cared for.”

“If I may ask, Princess,” Hard Set began, his voice low and calm, “how can we get her out? We don't know how many else are injured. And what happens if we bring others in? They might suffer the same fate as she did.”

Celestia regarded him with a gentle look. “I thought you might ask that. I noticed something peculiar with Seargant Lily.” She gesture to the soundly sleeping mare. “I couldn't detect any injuries, yet she seemed to be in extreme pain. Other than a slight concussion, I don't believe her to be actually injured, she just think she is.”

“So you think that her pain is all imagined?” Luna inquired. “A psychosis, possibly?”

Celestia thought for a moment, the siren still screaming around them. “I'm not sure. I don't recall seeing anything about a spell like that in Twilight's library, but I'm sure magic is at work here.”

Luna nodded, looking over her shoulder for any other pony. “For now, it's our best guess. If you say that she will be fine, then you should go. She will be asleep for some time, and we can send for medics once we have ensured it is safe.”

The other's ears perked up at hearing this. “And just where do you think you're going, Luna?” Celestia questioned, raising one eyebrow. Her tone was indignant as she stared down her sister. Luna only cocked her head to one side.

“You know exactly where I'm going, Celestia.” She replied flatly, her tone heavy. “We know where she is going. I need to stop her, and fast, before she does just what she aims to do. Before she raises Discord from his prison.”

Quick Wit and Hard Set stared in shock, their jaws hanging wide open. That mare was going to do WHAT?

“Celestia, we don't have time to argue.” Luna said, her horn glowing blue. “I am going after that mare. You are better at healing than I am, and if something goes wrong, you will have to activate the Safeguard.” Celestia took a large breath, holding it for some time. “I'm sorry, sister, but I can't tell exactly how carefully I can subdue her. I think it best if we took the extra precaution.”

Celestia was silent for a moment. After some time, she nodded her head quickly. Luna smiled at her.

Celestia turned to the other two. “Go. I will be right behind you. We need medics, and Captain Armor needs to be alerted.” The pair looked at each other, then back to the alicorns. Together they nodded firmly, before turning and running deeper into the Tombstone.

Celestia turned towards an upset Luna. “Don't worry sister, they will be fine.” Luna hadn't even noticed the concerned expression clouding her features.

The tall alicorn turned away, her horn glowing. Luna's was still lit, glowing brighter and brighter as she built up power inside. “Are you going to do what I think you are, sister?” Celestia called, her back to the other alicorn.

Luna nodded. “I'm afraid so. I can't risk her completing her task. I'm just sorry I won't be able to keep the promise I made.” She almost whispered this last part. “Go Celestia, I would prefer if nopony saw this. If I should fail, activate the Safeguard as soon as you can.” Her tone was grave, her head lowered.

Celestia nodded grimly. With a flash of bright light, she was gone, and Luna was alone. Only the red light and screeching sounds accompanied her. She raised her head, her horn now glowing darker and darker, as dark as the night sky. Her eyes narrowed, growing more cat-like and animalistic in nature. The eyes of a predator.

This night, no more mercy would be shown. With a blast of magic, Luna's body was engulfed in the dark cloud that emanated from her horn, and the night sky became pitch black, save for the lone pale moon that glowed brighter than before.

This night, blood would be spilled.

The night was far too still, as Twilight Sparkle ran down the street. She panted heavily, almost stumbling over her hooves several time. A tear ran down her cheek from exertion, and she felt that her nose would start bleeding soon. She had nearly been at full power, but that trick with the magic ring had nearly taken every ounce of her power. It was by no means easy to break an inhibitor ring, but after several hours she had finally achieved her goal.

As she ran down the street, an odd feeling crept up her spine. A sense of fear that had not been there. Exhaustion, yes. Mental instability, yes. But fear... She hadn't been afraid a moment ago. Perhaps a tad nervous, bu not afraid. She had too much adrenaline running through her system for that.

No, there was something else here. Twilight could hear a shrill sound, similar to that of a crystal glass. It was quiet at first, loud enough for an experienced magic user like Twilight to hear it. But as time went on it got louder and louder, slowly growing from a barely audible hum, to a sound that surrounded Twilight and forced its way into her mind. There was no escaping that sound, and it felt like it was following her.

Twilight suddenly stopped her rapid pace. She dove into an alleyway, unable to stand the sound any longer. She fell against a stone wall, clutching her hooves to her ears. She gritted her teeth as she tried to raise her mental barriers, trying to cut out the piercing noise. There was powerful magic at work here, and Twilight doubted even she could stop this.

Suddenly, as if bending to her will, there was once again silence. Only the sound of rapid breathing in the alleyway. Twilight still held her hooves to her ears, unsure whether or not the sound would continue. She managed to stop her heavy breaths, letting silence play across the wind as she listened for anypony that was after her. A minute went by, and then another, and still nopony had shown their face.

Nearly three minutes passed before she relaxed, allowing herself to fall back against the wall and gently slide to the ground. She lifted her head up to the sky, eyes closed, as she allowed herself to rest for just a moment. A cold breeze went by, cooling her as she tried to regain her energy. She could feel the moon's light shining down on her, giving her a gentle light in the darkness.

As she opened her eyes, however, she was greeted with something far worse than the sound from before. The moon was bigger. Much bigger. It was huge, in fact, seemingly twice its normal size as it dominated the sky. But that wasn't all. There was something on it. A great shadow covered the moon. A face leered down at Equestria. The head of a giant unicorn, created from shadows.

And there was yet more. The moon was alone. The stars had disappeared, replaced with a pitch-black nothingness. The night sky, once a place of beauty and elegance, was replaced with emptiness and void. The gentle breeze had come to a standstill, and the temperature had dropped all too suddenly. But Twilight didn't even notice.

As she stared longer, a crippling sense of fear took over Twilight's mind, as a horrifying realization came to her. The face, it wasn't just staring at anything. It was staring at her. It was no mere shadow, in fact it was the greatest magic Twilight had ever born witness too.

And it was directed all at her. Luna's moon was laughing tonight, and she knew who it was meant for.

In an instant, though every bone and muscle in her body protested her, Twilight shot up from the ground, tearing through the alleyway. She didn't look behind her. The energy would be wasted. All she cared about was escaping the light of the moon.

As she ran through the alleys, she gazed across the cityscape and forest below her. What she saw disturbed her greatly, causing her head to spin. Though the moon was bright and full, there was seemingly no light emitted onto the surface of the planet below.

Instead, the entire world seemed to be swallowed by a great shadow, thick and inky. It consumed every creature and thing as far as Twilight could see. Slowly, the building in Canterlots grew darker and darker as the shadow consumed them. Her breath caught in her throat. If she was caught in that shadow, there was no telling what grizzly fate she would be met with inside.

Only Luna was capable of magic on this kind of scale, and Twilight was sure she didn't want to be at the mercy of a furious alicorn. The beating she had received the other day had been like the prick of a pin compared to what Luna would do to her if she was caught. She wouldn't be subdued or arrested again. Only death awaited her in the choking cloud, and if she wanted to survive, then she would have to make a great sacrifice.

As she ran, only the sound of her hooves striking the stone beneath them rang out, echoing off of the stone walls surrounding her. She could cast a sneaking spell, but it would do little good. Luna didn't need sound to find Twilight, not while she was beneath that cursed moon.

But as she ran, and the world around her sank further into darkness, she saw that there was a perfect circle of light surrounding her. It was as if a spotlight was following perfectly. No matter where she ran or dodged, it would follow her.

It seemed the situation was worsening. She may as well have had a giant sign floating above her saying, “Please Kill.” The entire city was being blocked out except for her, and there was a very angry alicorn on her trail. However, she looked out and saw that the street lamps which flanked the long roads of Canterlot still stayed lit.

Twilight allowed herself a small grin. If she could stay in the light, she could at least keep slightly ahead of what chased her.

As Twilight ran, she couldn't help but feel a sudden jolt up her spine. Suddenly the silence grew impossibly deafening, as if the air itself held its breath. her eyes widened as she dove to her left, tumbling across the ground before rolling back onto her hooves. As she picked up her sprint, she looked back to see something that terrified her.

Behind her was a cloud of true and absolute darkness, even greater than the shadow which was cast over Canterlot. It moved, and pulsed, wisps of the shadow struck out as if they had minds of their own. However, inside of the shadow was the lone form of a pony. It was barely visible, as if the shadow itself was reluctant to block out the creature's form, so much so that Twilight had to use magic to see it. She regretted that decision quickly.

Peering into the darkness, she was met with two deep, black eyes. They stared at her, unmoving and empty. As she ran, terror shot through her, not because of the foe chasing her, but because of those eyes. They reminded her of her own.

It seemed that staying in the light was definitely the best choice at the moment.

This was confirmed when the spot that she had been standing on only moments ago became home to a crater with scorch marks surrounding it. Similar craters appeared nearby, some of them well above Twilight’s size. Seeing her enemy, Twilight doubted that she would be caught off guard again. At least now she had an idea of where her opponent was.

Wishing she she could take the thought back, she watched as the twisting shadows fell back and consumed themselves, taking the black eyed alicorn fully with them. Twilight gave a grunt of frustration before turning and sprinting as fast as she could. She couldn't let herself think discouragingly. She was locked in combat with what equated to a god, and she couldn’t lose her own thoughts.

However, if her books had taught her anything, it was that even a God can be beaten by a mortal. Tales had been told for centuries of mortal ponies who had bested, outwitted, or even kidnapped gods and goddesses of past. It wasn't the best reassurance, but for Twilight, it was a goal to strive for. And right here was where it absolutely mattered.

'Let's try some trickery first.' Twilight's horn glared brightly. Her body began to glow and shimmer. Suddenly she disappeared, gone in a flash. But just as soon as she disappeared, she reappeared with a copy of her running next to her.

The pair disappeared again, this time reappearing with four. Four then made eight, and eight made sixteen. The copies split off, running through side streets, alleyways, even over rooftops as they tried to pull Luna's attention.

It only lasted for few moments however. The pale moonbeam which followed Twilight split apart as well, tracking each clone that numbered well in the forties. From the shadows flashes of magic, metal, and what even looked like claws and teeth ravaged the copies, causing them to disappear into the flashes of light that created them.

A giant hoof emerged from the shadows, leaving a massive slice along one clone's stomach before it ceased to exist. Another clone disappeared completely, as what looked like a hulking maw snapped it up before retreating back into the shadows.

They were not exactly top-level magical clones, more like solid mirages, and their numbers quickly dwindled as Luna struck from the shadows. In an effort to slow them, some of the copies began slinging spells or moving evasively, trying desperately to slow her constant rampage.

Twilight looked to one clone who had been running across a neighboring rooftop, awestruck as she finally bore witness to the creature that hunted her. A giant shadow lashed out, striking the clone and causing to flash out of existence. She could see Princess Luna, but she also saw more than just that. Surrounding her body was a twisting shadow, much like a dark fog, covering her and acting like an avatar. The being was twice her size, dark armor covering its body and massive, extending scimitar blades strapped to her front legs. Inside of her shell, Luna's eyes glowed bright white, but on the outside they shone pure black, failing to reflect off the little moonlight that surrounded Twilight.

And even that monster was not alone. Flanking her were two great beasts, with massive, open maws and silver teeth. Their bodies twisted with the same shadow that avatar did, and seemed to resemble wolverines. They were giant hulking dogs with no eyes, yet they seemed to be able to see just as well as their master.

However, Twilight's gaze lingered too long, and the avatar met her eyes before it sank back into the shadows. Twilight cursed herself, looking ahead of her as she ran. The copies all disappeared, their bodies turning into a small river of magic and returning to her. There was no point in keeping up the spell if Luna knew who she was. She would just be wasting the magic.

In a flash Twilight disappeared, reappearing in a much more brightly lit street. The small road she had ran down had no lanterns or light posts out. If she wanted to live, then the light was her friend. As she ran, her horn sparked and glowed. She was low on magic, but she needed to escape. Teleportation could get her to where she needed to be in maybe four jumps, since she was being conservative, but would it leave her with enough energy to fight back?

If her plan worked, she would need to harness quite a bit of magic to subdue the raging alicorn, but there was still no guarantee it would work long enough for her to catch her breath, let alone finish her mission. If Luna truly was as powerful as she was showing this very moment, then there may be no hope left at all.

As her hooves clattered across the stone floor, Twilight shook her head. She needed to focus on the task at present. But it was difficult, now that she was once again running from the shadowy nightmare that she could not yet see. SHE was the nightmare that haunted Twilight now, and everything else was an insect compared to the insurmountable challenge that Luna now presented.

As she ran down the street, something lashed out from the darkness. For a brief moment, Luna herself jumped from the shadows. She sent rapid blasts of magic outwards, snarling down at Twilight as she dove from the sky.

As the lights extinguished, various shadows leapt out, striking Luna and reforming into the towering and vicious avatar that Twilight had seen earlier. The smaller alicorn raised her hoof, and the avatar did the same, its hoof ending in a long scimitar blade.

The alicorn struck where Twilight had been standing. Stone and gravel and sparks flew through the air as the cold steel raked across the street. Had it not been for the light that illuminated Luna for that split moment, Twilight would have been skewered on the spot. However, that extra second to react had saved her, as she rolled away while sending a blast of magic towards Luna.

The bright bolt struck the avatar in the chest. Had it been a normal pony, or even the naked alicorn, it would have sent them flying back and left serious injury. However, the shadow absorbed the bolt and only caused Luna to bare her teeth, the avatar doing the same to reveal needle-sharp fangs.

Twilight, crouching low, stood her ground against Luna. She instinctively reached behind her with her magic, reaching for the ten blades she didn't have. This, coupled with the fact she had no other weapons, no talismans, and barely any magic, only served to cause the unicorn more distress, as she searched for a solution to this situation.

However, she wouldn't let it show. She had to give the impression that she was fully capable of fighting back. As the alicorn facing her growled, stomping and scraping the stone floor like a bull about to charge, the avatar followed suite, carving into the stone beneath her. The giant blades on the end of her hooves sent sparks across the surface, as black steam escaped from its nostrils.

She stared back, determined. She would not be defeated by Luna. She couldn't let it happen. She had too much to lose. And even now, as she stood, her broken and sore hooves burning and screaming silently to be rested and cared for, she could feel that voice in the back of her mind prying at her. Whispering to her. Begging her to let it take control.

It was an uncommon thing to experience. Only one time had she felt Dementis's presence so desperately trying to break through her barriers. The little demon didn't care about a killing spree or causing mayhem. Even she could recognize that danger that the alicorn presented. She was trying to fight to save the both of them. Twilight was no good to her dead, and she wouldn't be able to fight the alicorn alone.

But Twilight refused to budge. She knew that if Dementis took control, then she would have no magic left, and there was no guarantee that either of them would survive the night. Dementis was far too forceful for their own good. She lacked the tact and careful planning that Twilight so greatly cared for. She looked at the world like a chess-board, and always tried to stay a step ahead; Dementis preferred to avoid the game altogether, and simply destroy the chessboard along with the opponent.

However, if the player cannot make the move, then how can they win the board? To win a game, it is not that you must have just the correct strategy, it is that you must be able to complete the strategy. You cannot force the check if you yourself are put into checkmate.

Twilight dodged to her left, just as one of the shadow creatures struck where she'd stood. Its wispy maw tore into the stone road, sending shards of rock flying in all directions. Twilight had seen that they were no longer flanking their mistress, and had suspected they were hiding somewhere nearby. As Twilight recovered from that close hit, the other hound snapped at her.

Though the teeth missed, Twilight was struck by the brunt force of the beast, and was knocked a few meters away. She quickly tried to stand, but found that her already-injured leg had been bent even further out of shape, and now hung at an odd angle. She stumbled back as Luna flew straight towards her. The evil looking blades on the avatar's forelegs were aimed straight for her, and uncannily seemed to thirst for her blood just as much as Luna did.

Lucky for Twilight, the stumble saved her, and instead of trying to recover from the fall, she allowed her momentum to take her, and dropped under the gleaming blades. As Luna passed over her, Twilight rolled to her right in order to escape the open jaws of Luna's shadow beast. And as the being devoured the stone where Twilight had once been, Luna jumped on top of the mare with a roar.

A flash of light followed by an audible pop not a moment too soon left blank stone where Twilight had once been. She reappeared several meters away, slinging spell after spell from her horn. A combination of light and projectiles flew towards Luna and her pets. The alicorn stood firm as her magic flared and a glowing shield appeared in front of her. Her pets, though, were not as lucky.

As they were struck by a myriad of spells, holes began to form in their shadowy coats. One was struck by several stone flying at high velocity through its face, making it look as though it had eyes for a brief moment, before these 'wounds' began to close.

As a blast of light shot from Twilight's horn, one of the hounds shuddered and collapsed. The light tore a hole straight through it, but the creature did not heal as it did before. Its limp form began to whip away, like fog dissipating suddenly. Twilight's spirits raised for a moment; maybe she had finally found a way to beat these damn things.

However, before she could scarcely finish her thought, a blast of dark magic struck the hound. As if time had reversed, the shadows coalesced back into the wolf-like form. The creature stood as tall as its other and snarled at Twilight. Though she had found a weakness in the shadows, it seemed Luna could just as easily counter her.

However, that didn't mean it wouldn't buy her some time.

Twilight dashed to the side as she fired several blasts of light towards the three shadow beings. Several of them struck Luna's shields, and others were dodged by the hellhound that had been struck earlier. The other hound was the unlucky one, this time. Just like its brother, it fell to the ground and began to dissipate. Twilight sprinted down the road as Luna and the first canine chased after her. She didn't look back to see if the other had been healed, she knew it would be anyway. All she cared about was buying some more time.

Twilight threw balls of light from her horn as she ran, leaving floating, glowing orbs hanging lazily in the air, flanking the streets. Luna had destroyed the lamps on this path, so she would need to make her own light to survive.

She turned her head to the side a little to find that Luna had sunk back into the shadows that surrounded her and seemed to be following, only held back by her simple light spells. They were rather weak spells, and only lasted a few seconds before they dissipated. As she ran down the street, red filled one of her eyes. Her hoof brushed across her eyebrow to remove the offending liquid, but she found it was replaced almost immediately. She quickly touched one hoof to her forehead more carefully, and found she had been cut just a few centimeters above her left eye.

She must have earned that in the scuffle with Luna and her pets; while it wasn't a major injury, it would serve to blind Twilight greatly, and would be a mighty hindrance in battle. Having blood flowing into your eye while in combat was dangerous, and she felt like it was only another shovel of dirt being thrown into her grave.

She turned down a corner, her horn glowing, prepared to launch a collection of spells at anypony – or anything - waiting for her. Thankfully, there was nopony there. She was seemingly alone as she ran as fast as she could down the street. She looked far ahead and saw that she was headed towards a courtyard in the shopping district. The wide space was empty, save for a large fountain in the middle.

The unicorn grinned happily; the place was well lit. Lamps lined the outer edges of the empty circle, and the still flowing fountain in the middle held several lanterns as well. Twilight could at least fight back for a short time. The bright lights would hold back Luna's Shadow Hounds, and greatly weaken her avatar.

That was, as long as Twilight could ensure the lamps stayed lit.

Nearing the fountain, she slowed her pace. She jogged around the fountain once, looking for any vantage point or blind spot where Luna could attack her from. Finally, seeing no weakness in her position, she slowed for a few moments. Twilight stood facing where she had just come from, her hooves still moving up and down in place so she did not stiffen up.

There was only the sound of her own breathing as she checked over her shoulder for any sign of attack. She brushed the blood out of her eye once more, quickly, and found that the flow was already beginning to thin out. The cut was shallow, then, and would stop soon. However, soon was still not now, and she was already fighting bare-hoofed.

The night seemed to be following a theme. Luna had the metaphorical high-ground in spades. Twilight checked behind her, not wanting to risk the alicorn showing up in her uncomfortably large number of blind spots. If the alicorn had noticed Twilight's wound, she would most likely try to stay in the vision of Twilight's injured eye, in order to throw the unicorn off.

Almost impatient from the adrenaline and anticipation pumping through her system, Twilight circled the fountain again, her eyes keen and sharp as she looked back and forth. That fact that Luna hadn’t attacked yet worried her, but it also gave her the time she needed to rest. Every second that Luna was not engaging the unicorn, was another moment Twilight could focusing on tending her wounds and gather her magic.

However, she doubted Luna hadn't also thought of this. It was doubtless that the Night Alicorn was pacing the edges of the circle of light, searching for the best point of attack. While she was thankful for the moment to rest, she was being surrounded by sharks, and her best defense was a few lamps.

To her credit, she still had close to one-third of a 'tank' of magic, but how long was that supposed to last her? She had nearly been full less than an hour ago, but letting Dementis ravage the Tombstone had cost her a great deal. Using that magic so quickly hadn't left her feeling well, either. Her stomach burned as she had moved, and she could still feel it aching as she tried to rejuvenate herself.

She doubted the aching would stop anytime soon, and the feeling was confirmed as she saw a glint of light at the edge of the courtyard. Her hooves slid across the stone as she assumed a fighting stance. She quickly whipped away some blood that had gathered at her brow. What ever was about to happen, it would happen in an instant.

The glint of silver grew larger, careening towards her, closing the gap between them in less than a second. Twilight dove to one side, tucking into a roll to avoid the object, narrowly missing a collision with her skull. She wasn't fast enough, though. Before she had even finished her roll, she felt the metal pierce her side. A long carve formed down her left flank, running across her cutie mark.

With a grunt Twilight kicked off of the ground, pirouetting through the air before landing roughly. She nearly fell as her hooves slid across the stone, her teeth gritted in pain as she felt the cut along her flank flare in protest. Instantly she folded back, barely dodging the tip of the blade aimed right between her eyes, seeing the gleam and detail as it passed over her.

She kicked back with her hind legs, striking Luna and jumping in a back-spring. The alicorn, now even more enraged, dove for Twilight. The lone blade on the edge of her leg was a mirror of the one she had seen on the avatar, however this time it gleamed silver instead of black. Luna raised the blade upwards, clearly aiming to split Twilight's chest down the middle, and she would have done so had the mare not struck Luna's wrist.

Luna moved with her deflected blow, spinning her body around and striking Twilight's chin with her back hoof. This sent the unicorn sprawling across he stone with a shriek of pain. She hit the pavement, rolling several times while gasping for air in between near-sobs of pain.

With a burst of magic aimed at herself, Twilight twisted her jaw with a sickening crack, the spell quickly going to work on repairing the broken bones. It would have taken several minutes, under calm circumstances with very little pain, but in combat it would take much longer, and she knew that pain would be very present.

As she stumbled back, Twilight fired several blasts from her horn in rapid succession. Most rushed by their target, but three struck Luna; two in the chest, and one on her side. The alicorn fell to her knees but with a mighty kick from her backlegs and a flap of her wings, she was sent flying towards Twilight. The pair crashed into one another, and a flurry of kicks, punches, and jabs were thrown between them as they rolled across the stone. With a violent BANG, they smashed into the fountain, cracking the marble structure.

Needless to say, the resulting crash left both parties shell-shocked. The pair fell apart; Luna had struck the side of her head directly against the fountain, which left her vision blurry and her ears ringing, while Twilight had bent her hoof badly. Her jaw had also been struck during the struggle, but she could feel no more real damage had been done to it, as her magic still struggled to weave the shattered bone back together.

Her hoof, however, would take much more than a quick spell. It was broken in at least three places, possibly more, but any others were not as severe. A small lumpe had formed under her fur, as a piece of bone threatened to force its way outside of her skin. Blood dripped from her open mouth as she spat out a molar, cradling her injured hoof.

Both ponies painfully tried to rise, only to quickly fall back down. As Twilight pushed off of the ground, she was thrown back onto her back by a shot of magic from Luna. As she flew, she spied Luna trying to rise as well, and returned the shot. After her third attempt, Twilight managed to seat her back against the fountain, while Luna seemed to still be blinking stars out of her eyes. Twilight spied a small stream of blood running from Luna's ear, as the alicorn rolled along the ground.

She had the perfect opportunity to run, but as she pushed off of the marble structure supporting her, she nearly fell face-first into the hard floor. Her front hoof was totally inoperable, and her hind-leg still ached from where Luna's blade had found its mark.

With a groan, Twilight stood. Her blacklegs were the best off, since her front left hoof was completely useless. Between Rainbow Dash's “talk” and the scramble moments earlier, she would be lucky if magic could heal it in a short enough time for her to get back on the move.

'Twilight'

The purple unicorn picked up her head, her eyes wide. Sluggishly, she looked side to side, yet she couldn't find the source of the voice. It was no wonder; the light from the lamps surrounding her had somehow blurred into one. Her head ached almost as much as her jaw had. A numbing spell was finally taking hold in her hoof, and she was seeing spots in her vision. The pain had been so intense, she had nearly passed out.

'Come with me Twilight.'

There it was again. Twilight shook her head, despite the disorientation that came with it. Her vision cleared slightly, allowing her a better look at the world. However, something turned her head towards a particular lamp across the open area. She couldn't put her hoof on it, but it felt strange. It felt... familiar. A magic that she hadn't felt for years.

Finally, her vision cleared, and she saw what was waiting for her under the light. A pony stood there by the lamp. It took several moments, but Twilight's eyes widened when she saw his black, blue, and grey coat. Atop his head was a broken, twisted horn that looked more like petrified wood than anything else. His eyes met hers, pitch black orbs locked with purple irises. The lights that circled the open area reflected off of his eyes, giving the illusion of depth to the stallion.

He regarded her shocked expression with a simple smile, like he was a friend who had stumbled upon her unexpectedly. He swung his head as he turned away from Twilight, and beckoned her to follow him. She stood slowly, the pain that racked her body now forgotten. Her hooves glided across the stone as she walked towards Penumbra. Rage dominated her features, while she looked to where the stallion had stood a few moments ago.

She felt a rabid indignation over come her as she followed in the footsteps left by the shadowy unicorn. 'How dare he come here.' She cursed to herself. Penumbra was the last pony she had expected to be here, and last that she wanted helping her.

The very idea of her having to receive help from him, of all ponies... She would rather take her chances against Luna. However, she followed behind the stallion into the shadows. She had to, as she had lost all control of her body. The cursed thing seemed to move of its own accord, bent under Penumbra's magical hold.

It made her feel sick; she felt as if there were a dozen hooves grabbing her and forcing her legs to move. She hadn't felt so violated in...

No, it was best to forget that time. She would kill him later... If later came, of course. For now, she could only focus on wherever her own traitorous hooves led her. She had disappeared into the shadows of the shop at the far side of the courtyard, and as if she had gone through a door, she appeared somewhere else.

She glanced around as her hooves came to a sudden halt. Immediately, she nearly collapsed to the ground again. The magic that had numbed her pain was suddenly stripped away, causing all of the agony to return. Sparing a glance around her, she could tell by the buildings that she was still in Canterlot. Luna's moon still hovered above the city, but the magical spotlight was gone. Now, the pale orb seemed empty and devoid of life. The intense fear it had radiated earlier was gone, and now it just seemed like a simple ball of grey in the sky.

“Twilight.” The voice called again. She looked ahead to find a pair of black eyes staring at hers. Penumbra gave her a toothy grin, one part happy and the other seemingly antagonistic. He dropped his gaze, his eyes flickering to a spot in front of Twilight, before moving back to her.

The purple unicorn glanced down to find a pile of... her bags. Her saddlebags, that had been taken upon her capture, sat in front of her. Laying in a circle around them were her ten daggers, and their sheath. It was everything. She even had her library orb glowing softly atop her bags.

She leaned down, grasping one of the knives in her hoof. It was hers, everything was hers. “How in Tartarus did you-” She stopped as she looked back at Penumbra. The stallion was gone, disappeared like a shadow into the night.

“Damn it!” Twilight cursed, striking the ground with her uninjured hoof. However, an ache still passed through her body, which almost caused her to fall. As she righted herself, she saw a slip of paper sitting atop her things. Taking it in her magic, she squinted to read it in the dark.

Dear Twilight

So happy to see you again, dove. Master told me to stay near in case you needed some help. I took the liberty of picking up your things, as I assumed you would need them. I imagine your face would be a lovely shade of red if you weren't able to complete the mission due to your forgetfulness.

Besides, you looked like you could use a helping hoof. Tussling with the Alicorn of the Night, tsk tsk darling, not your best choice.

As Twilight read the note, she clenched her hoof tighter and tighter, grinding her teeth and glaring at the parchment.

I wouldn't be surprised if you were wishing death upon me as you read this. You seem to spend much of your time doing so. And yes, I saw some of those books in your library. I imagine you don't keep those for Five-o-clock tea reading.

Speaking of which, it seems one of your alicorn friends decided to burn most of it to a crisp. I managed to save a good number of your collection, but at least 40% of your books were too damaged to save. Magic can only do so much. I did save the pieces and the diagrams. They should work properly, but I think you are a better judge. After all, it's your spell.

Other than that, everything else should be in place. Hope you have a wonderful hour, goodness knows you won't have many more.

PS: I left you the rest of the fruit.

Twilight was silent as she threw the scrap into the air, and set the pages ablaze. She imagined Penumbra sitting and watching from the shadows, that smug grin adorning his face. That pompous bastard was probably in love with himself. The end was slowly approaching for her, and yet he was still cracking jokes. She should have neutered him when she'd had the chance. Maybe he wouldn't be smiling with a few bits missing.

However, there wasn't time to be angry for very long. She grabbed her saddlebags, her magic taking hold of her blades and sheathing them. It felt good to have them back; the two rows of blades nestled against her sides made her feel safer. As she threw her cloak around her body, she heard a mighty roar from a few streets over.

“TWILIGHT SPARKLE!”

Suddenly, the moon light around her shifted and warped. The light encircled her once again, in a terrifying spotlight from the heavens. However, as Twilight broke into a sprint she couldn't help but feel her strength return. Now she would't be fighting on such uneven ground with the alicorn of the night. However, the other was still far stronger. A few lucky shots had only delayed death; she was not yet out of the fire just yet.

Blood still dripped down her eye as she ran. She would have liked to grab a bandage from her sack, but she didn't have the time. The laceration on her back right thigh was worse, but of course the fracture in her front left hoof and her concussion were equally bad as well. In essence, neither was worse than the other. All that mattered was that she had them.

“TWILIGHT SPARKLE!” Came Luna's voice once more. It was distorted and warped, aided by the shadow magic that had enveloped her. Twilight still didn't see the alicorn, but as she rounded a corner an explosion of brick and mortar told her that Luna was indeed very close. The shower pelted at her fur and skin, but luckily her cloak absorbed most of the stinging rain.

“HOW LONG CAN YOU RUN FOR?” Another boom rang from behind her, sending another shower of particles. That one had been a bit too close. As she rounded another corner, she ducked low in case another magic shot was aimed for her head.

Still, Twilight looked forward. Her destination was close at hand, and she wouldn't let herself get caught out again. Luna had been in her mind. In her diary. In her library. If she had not yet figured out just what Twilight was going to accomplish, then she would truly be blind. There was no denying that she was out to kill, and she had a reason for doing so.

You can tell by the way a pony fights, whether or not they have reason to do so. They have a certain rhythm, a certain emotion, a specific look in their eye. Luna had possessed all of these, when she'd gone at Twilight personally in the courtyard. She was clearly wasting no time, and by employing those shadow beasts, she clearly wanted to make sure Twilight would be torn to pieces. There would be nothing more left of the unicorn, other than a tattered cloak and a streak of blood, if those things got ahold of her.

Which is why it was of utmost importance she reach that building. Her saving grace was in there, and it would rid her of her tormentor indefinitely. However, it seemed she would have to fight to arrive at her destination, as she streetlights flanking her began to be snuffed out. The light that guarded her began to die as shadowy tendrils creeped out, choking the flames until there was only more darkness.

She ran faster, forcing her injured hoof further into use as she sped down the street. It hurt like hell, but she was managing to keep pace with lights. However, as she stared down the road, she saw the shadow roaring towards her head-on, like a pitch black tidal wave. It was too late to turn around/ There was nowhere to go but forward.

Gritting her teeth, her horn glowing in preparation to release a spell, she ducked her head low and charged the coming wave. Scowling, she peeked out to see Luna also charging her, right at the forefront, bringing the wave of black behind her.

“Twilight Sparkle!” She roared with such force it caused Twilight's mane to whip behind her. Twilight, though, was unfazed by the alicorn, instead running as fast as she could towards Luna. The pair charged towards at greater speeds, covering the long distance in seconds. Luna raised her armed hoof, leaping into the air. With a flap of her wings she tripled her speed, skyrocketing blade-first towards the purple unicorn. “THIS IS THE END FOR YOU!”

Just before Luna struck Twilight, there was a flash of silver, and the pair came to a halt. There was a grinding of metal as Luna's shadow blade collided with ten silver daggers, sending sparks flying across the pavement below their hooves. The blades came together, forming a round shield with Luna's blade stuck the center. Luna's eyes widened as she looked to the blades in Twilight's grasp. “WHAT!?” She screamed, her voice full of disbelief. “How did you get those?”

Twilight grunted in response. With a push of her magic, she forced Luna back, allowing an opening in her circle of blades for a blast of magic. The shot struck Luna's blade, bouncing off and blowing a hole in a home to Twilight's right. But she didn't let off there, her horn shot dozens of smaller magical sparks that twirled through the air, striking Luna from all sides.

The sparks stung like wasps as they swarmed her from all sides. She reared back, finally throwing a shield around her to catch the pests. However, these few seconds were enough for Twilight to disappear in a flash of light, reappearing farther down the street just outside of the factory. As Luna turned, she saw the unicorn charge through the doors of the shadowy building, disappearing once inside.

'No you don't.' She glowered at the building, her body melting into the shadows that surrounded her. Soon Luna was inside the building, traveling through the walls without making a sound. Once inside, though, she was greeted by an empty warehouse. Not a single other pony to be found.

'Where are you, Twilight Sparkle?' She thought as she drifted through the shadows of the large area. It as like swimming through the walls, the way Luna moved. The shadows were like pools that covered the whole area. There was zero light in the entire building, but she could still see through the pitch black as easily as anypony could see in the day.

And yet, she couldn't find that upstart little unicorn. Twilight Sparkle seemed to have vanished into thin air. The silence that filled the room was deafening. It was unnatural. When she was immersed in the shadows in this way, her senses were supposed to be magnified a hundred-fold. She should have been able to hear, smell, taste, and see everything in the building.

And yet, there was nothing. No mice running through cracks in the wall. No water splashing against the floor. No creak of the walls. Nothing. All of the normal sounds that one would hear in a building were gone. Silently, Luna melted from the walls, moving invisibly across the floor of the building.

She was missing something, she had to be. Her hooves glided across the polished stone floor, while her eyes searched every crack and crevice she could find. Before long she was in the center of the room, and yet she had found nothing. The old building was totally empty. It was one giant room, no items, no object, no second stories, no nothing. A giant, grey room, and yet Twilight Sparkle was gone.

However, as Luna took another step forward she felt powerful magic fill the air. Light began to glow from the floor, and she looked down to see incantations and markings begin to appear out of the stone beneath her. Thousands of words, marks, and symbols flourished like blooming flowers, covering every surface in the building.

The floors, walls, and even the ceiling were covered in the blue, glowing symbols. Luna stepped back, moving away from the center of the room. A circle began to form in the center of the room, only a few steps in front. The another began inside of that one. Then another.

After a few moments, there were no less than a dozen circles emblazoned into the stone in front of Luna. As her eyes traced the markings before her, she began to take larger and larger steps. Finally, the formation finished. A final marking appeared in the center of the circles. And as she realized what it was, she could only think one thing.

RUN

She spun in an instant, her wings propelling her forward in her attempt to escape the building. A blinding ray of light encapsulated her body, stunning her in an instant. She fell to the floor, trying to avert her eyes from the light. The light seemed to be trying to tear her mind apart, as if it sought to crush her sanity by its very presence. Then, the light disappeared. Blinking back spots from her eyes, she saw a familiar unicorn charging. 'So that's how it is, then!'

Luna, stumbling as she rose from her knees, readied her shadow blade again, willing her armor to form once more. However, as she stepped foreword to charge again, the symbols surrounding the room flared bright once again, bringing Luna to her knees and dispelling the shadows.

The light lowered just as Twilight struck, and this time it was Luna who was defending. Now, she was the one left defenseless against a whirl of silver steel. She was able to conjure magic for a short time, but as soon as she did, the glyphs surrounding her burst to life and destroyed any spell she tried to create.

It was hopeless. Twilight charged forward, spinning and slicing through the air as Luna was forced to move farther and farther back. She tried to teleport away, but the glyphs blocked her like a wall. She was a rat in a cage, and Twilight had led her right into the heart of it.

And now the mare charged forward, her ten blades spinning back and forth, like a deadly maestro and her baton. Only instead of a choir, she would await the sound of Luna's screams of agony. And Luna was defenseless, only able to dodge and prolong her inevitable defeat.

But what would the twisted mare do with her? Maybe keep her alive, torture her a bit. Alicorns were hard to kill, and could survive far more than the average pony, but if seeing Twilight's library had told her anything, it was that Twilight could try any number of those tortures, and have plenty of time for more.

'No.' Luna growled, gritting her teeth. She wouldn't die here. Not like this. Celestia would arrive soon, she had to. The shield should have been triggered long ago, but the elder alicorn had yet to arrive. Until she did, Luna would just have to buy her own time. Leaping back, as Twilight brought two of her blades down where Luna's head had been just a moment ago, she hopped back several times. Crouching down on her back legs, she prepared as Twilight sprinted forward, her ten daggers encircling her body as she went in for the kill.

As she approached, Luna sprang forward as well,her horn glowing. As expected, a blast of light flew from the walls and struck her body. However, her body disappeared and reappeared behind Twilight, only to be struck by the light again. Then again on the other side of the room. Then again. Then twice more. Luna flashed across the room in mere seconds, flashing in and out of existence in numerous places around the room.

The light just missed her every time, her body blinking out milliseconds before being struck. Back and forth, never stopping. She still couldn't escape, but she could try to get a few good hits. She reappeared behind Twilight suddenly, delivering a solid kick to Twilight's hind leg. The mare fell back, screaming in pain.

Before she could react Luna flashed in front of her, this time with her hoof connecting to Twilights broken one. A scream of pure agony came from the unicorn as Luna flashed away once more, barely avoiding the light.

“You think you can win, puny mare?” Luna's voice came from all around, pausing as she bucked twilight in the side, driving the air from her lungs and throwing her to the ground. Her blades were unable to catch and strikes, as they shuddered under the control of their struggling master. Luna was just too fast. “This is goodbye, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna called out, this time her voice solemn.

She flashed above Twilight, her front hoof aimed to strike down at the mares head, killing her instantly. However, Twilight blinked away just as Luna had, and a blast of light shot up from the floor. Luna, having expected to end it at that moment, was left totally undefended from the shot, collided with the ground while being sent sprawling from the blast, nearly breaking her hoof and striking her head against the floor.

She tried to rise, but was struck in the side by another blast of magic.

“No, Princess, I win.” Twilight reappeared in front of Luna, charging too fast for the blinded Luna to see her. Her horn spat a dozen blasts of magic, sending the alicorn flying across the room, somehow landing perfectly into the circles that still glowed in the center. As Luna came to rest, the symbols across the room glowed bright, filling everything with light as bright as Celestia's sun could ever be, before the all fell cold and black in an instant.

And with that, the darkness returned, as silence fell over the room.

Author's Note

So, I wasn't planning to say anything here, but I just can't avoid it now. After two years of work, Homecoming finally got featured on the front page. Thank you so much to everyone who has read, commented, and shown me support all this time. This means so much to me.

The Moon's Plea

There was only darkness at first.

Luna's head pounded with the force of a hammer, feeling as if she were being trampled by a herd of Earth Ponies, as she lay on the cold stone floor. Her ears rang with a shrill sound, the world seemed to spin beneath her. Even the slightest movement causing her to feel nauseous as she awoke. Slowly, the thrumming in her head began to subside allowing her to clear the fog that captivated her mind and body.

Lifting her head or moving her hooves was no easy feat either. The powerful combat spell she cast came at a price, but being struck down by whatever spell Twilight had used only magnified that exhaustion 10-fold. The pain would subside soon, that much she knew. She was an exceptionally fast healer, but not soon enough to bring any sweet relief.

Slowly, she cracked open her eyes, instantly reeling back from the bright lights which surrounded her. It seemed as if she was brought face to face with her sister's Sun, the intense light causing spots to flash in her vision and sent another wave of nausea and pain through her body. The headache returned with greater force, eliciting a pain-laced groan as she squeezed her eyes shut tightly. The cursed light seemed to eat at her body as she felt a warm heat surround her.

Sparing a few moments to allow the pain to subside once more, Luna opened on eye more carefully. The light was still blinding in her concussed and aching state, but after a few minutes and blinking through tears she began to survey the room she was in once more.

The massive, empty space of the warehouse was brightly lit and humming vibrantly with magic. Luna realized the ringing had not just been in her head when she awoke, but surrounded her entirely. Glyphs and runes covered the walls and floors of the massive room, and magical sparks danced through the air, streaks of magenta and cerulean swirling around her.

She was surrounded by glowing lines and circles, most notable were the five that encircled her. Like ethereal gears which moved clockwise and counterclockwise around her, they thrummed with magic, sending soft vibrations through Luna's body. They glowed with a crude mixture of the multicolored sparks which danced through the air above her head. She wasn't sure if she was just seeing things, but it looked to be her magic that was partly fueling her glowing prison.

Slowly she regained enough strength to stand. Shakily she rose to her hooves, when suddenly the brilliant lights flared and she was forced down to her knees with a cry of shock. A small but steady stream of magic flowed through her body, out of her hooves, and into the floor. The circles surrounding her grew brighter and Luna's fears were confirmed before her eyes, but she had little time to consider the gravity of the situation before a quiet voice called out behind her.

"It's beautiful, isn't it Princess?"

Its was soft, the voice she heard. So soft, she barely heard it through her still ringing ears. Of course the hum of magic which surrounded didn't help the situation, but Luna knew the voice well. Moving faster than she should have been able in her weakened state, Luna whirled around instantly, jumping into a defensive stance. Her horn blazed with magic as she faced Twilight Sparkle.

A dome of light flared in front of Luna to counter any assault she may attempt. She stood a safe distance away from Luna, her own horn enveloped in magic. In front of her, a glowing glyph hung in the air. It seemed only half complete, but with a few quick movements, Twilight carved the emblem into the air with her horn. It hung in the air for another moment before flashing brightly and dissipating into sparks.

Twilight turned to face Luna, regarding her with a curious expression.

"I am impressed Princess, you recover much faster than I had expected." Twilight spoke to her as if she was speaking to a friend, no harshness in her voice. Her head cocked slightly to one side, one eyebrow raised as she studied the Princess. "Especially after all that we just went through."

Luna fixed her with hard gaze, but not without some confusion. As she took in the Mare's form, she couldn't help but question Twilight's own ability to move.

The unicorn seemed to stand with little pain, however her outward appearance mirrored Luna's internal. Bruises which ran along her side could be seen through her fur, courtesy of Princess Luna during their earlier brawl. A sizable bruise covered once side of her jaw where she had been struck, but slowly it was fading from healing magic. The cut above her eye had also healed, leaving a thin white scar where blood had once flowed, but the gash which ran along her side was scabbed over and streaks of blood stained Twilight's coat. The unicorn's front left hoof was held close to her chest. Luna could see pieces of bone, muscle, and ligaments moving slowly beneath skin. The process must have been painful, but Twilight stared at her with a mostly vacant expression.

Luna regarded her disdainfully, snorting at Twilight's comment. "For a mare so brilliant as yourself, surely your powers of observation are not as... misguided, as that." She glanced around the room, gesturing to the ocean of magic with ebbed and flowed above them.

Luna's horn still glowed brightly, shimmering with magic, but she stood impassively as she glared down at Twilight. "So tell me Twilight, do you intend to mock me, whilst I am momentarily ensnared in your little vice, or will you attempt to kill me tonight?" Luna spat, ensuring she adequately stressed 'attempt'. "What is your game, mare?"

Twilight continued to study Princess Luna with an unreadable expression. The Alicorn had to admit the unicorn's skill at hiding her emotions, especially from Luna. She turned away from the Princess, her horn blazing once more with magic as glyphs and sigils burned into the air once more, the flurry of magical sparks surrounding them growing in number and intensity.

"With all due respect Princess, neither. I simply do not have the time, nor do I care to either humiliate or attempt to kill you." She paused for a moment, a thoughtful and partially quizzical expression flashing across her features. "To be honest, I never even considered what the latter would take. I think I always assumed it was outside of even my range of power."

"You would be quite correct in your assessment, however it does not change our current standing and situation. I will shall repeat myself Twilight Sparkle, what is your game?" Luna gestured grandly with one hoof, turning as she did. "What is the point of all this?"

Twilight turned back towards Luna. Chewing softly on her now healed lip, she regarded Luna once again with a thoughtful expression. "What would an explanation matter at this point Princess, other than to delay me and stall for time." She responded with melancholy. "My spell is almost complete, and... I wont be here much longer." She said, her voice wavering as she finished.

Luna gave her a doubting look. "I thought you weren't supposed to be here at all? When I last spoke to... the other one, she showed me quite the horrifying sight. Shouldn't you either be convulsing on the ground, or grinning at me right now?"

Twilight winced at her words, squeezing her eyes tightly. "Please Princess, don't remind me." She shook her head with a grim expression. "You simply cannot begin to understand what it's like when she takes over. It's so cold, so dark. What you saw was very much me, beneath all of her power. I would prefer not to discuss it. As I said, I won't be here much longer and my time is running short."

"That's hardly an answer." Luna frowned. "If your spell is not yet complete, than what harm would an explanation do for now? After all, you return to Canterlot after 16 years, murder, or try to murder, every living thing that even remotely approaches you, including my personal student. You threatened your Brother, the Captain of the Royal Guard, assaulted Princess Cadance, attacked an innocent Pegasus who had nothing to do with all that has gone on..."

Twilight averted her gaze at the mention of Fluttershy, suddenly looking somber. Luna ignored her, "You kidnapped 2 fillys, unleashed your demon on the Royal Guard, and imprisoned me, here. As I am sure you are aware, your prison cannot hold me forever. The odds of you surviving the night are slim to none Twilight. If there was ever a time to explain, now would be the time."

There was a long silence between the two mare. For a few moments, only the hum of magic emanated throughout the warehouse. Finally, Twilight spoke.

"The Pegasus, Ms. Fluttershy. Did she survive?" Her voice soft, yet level. betraying no emotion.

Luna narrowed her eyes at Twilight. "Yes, No thanks to you. Your cruelty knows no depths, Twilight Sparkle. I know, you have quite the library in your storage crystal. A little more than evening-tea reading."

Twilight stare became cold and impassive, not meeting Luna's eyes. "You shouldn't have seen those, Princess. They are meant for only my eyes to see."

"That seems rather selfish." Luna replied, sarcastically. "After all, why should you be the only one to know of the most gruesome ways to bring death upon another pony, or any creature at that? Do you consider yourself to be some sort of vigilantly? Bringing death and punishment to those whom you deem worthy of it?"

"The content of those books mean nothing, now." Twilight stomped her hoof sharply, the echo reverberating around the room. "Only one pony in all of Equestria deserves to feel those things. Trust me, Princess, when I say that it would be justice served, but once again it doesn't matter anymore."

"Is that what happened to Render? Just another personal affair, serving justice? Just like the bar?"

"They were murderers, vandals and thugs, and I did not cast the first stone!" Twilight snapped quickly. "Besides, it was better them then some innocent foal, or a family. You have no idea what it's like to have to live with my demon. A little bit of blood from time to time is all I can do to keep her in check.

"And you know that I would not have interfered if Render hadn't held that town in his vice. He was a guard and was YOUR responsibility, not mine. I was simply serving justice where it was deserved. What he did to me as a child is inconsequential now. I couldn't have cared less for a colt who used to be a bully. Truthfully, I pitied him. He and the others may have been awful to me, but what happened to them was far more than they deserved."

Twilight shook her head sullenly, a vacant expression clouding her features. "I still remember his little sister, Short Sight. She was the first thing I saw when the dust cleared that day. A sweet filly, only 6 years old. She was treated the same as me, made a mockery because she was weaker than the rest. That day, she followed her brother and the others. Probably in an attempt to put a stop to her own mistreatment. She was mislead, but none of them deserved that."

Luna glared in response. "You say that, and yet what you did to Fluttershy was far worse. Unless you're here to tell me otherwise, we always believed that day, 16 years ago, was a tragic accident. One that we feared completely destroyed you, and took the lives of several others." Luna raised a pointed hoof sternly at Twilight, baring her teeth. "But what you did to Fluttershy was an act of barbarous cruelty and you know it. She had nothing to do you. Nothing!

"And yet all you have to say, is to ask if she lived?" Luna scoffed with disgusted laughter. "She may never fly again, her psyche may never recover. She was always so gentle, so fragile. She was always afraid of others, but so kind and caring. Years of her life she lived being trod under the hoofs of other. She always jumped at the shadows, and we tried to show her she had nothing to fear. But you."

Luna gave her a look of disgust and pointed accusingly with her hoof, "YOU, are the monster that she always feared lurked in the darkness."

Twilight was frozen for a moment, her eyes hidden in shadows as she look down at the ground. The temperature in the room seemed to drop a few degrees. It was several moments before Twilight spoke, her voice teetering on a dangerous edge.

"I'm the monster." She whispered. She drew a ragged breath, her head twitching to one side. Suddenly, her breathes turned into a soft chuckle. Not a laugh of humor or happiness, but a cold and empty sound which echoed throughout the warehouse. The hum of magic seemed to disappear, vanishing into a deafening silence.

"You think she is the only one to have learned that the hard way? Do you believe she is the only one who bears scars which will never fade?"

Slowly, she set her left hoof down, it having finally healed enough to walk on. She gingerly took a step forward. Then another. Magical sparks began to swirl around her body, the soft purple sparks turning dark. Her hooves clicked as she stepped sullenly towards the night Princess.

"Do you know what it feels like to be torn away from everything you love in an instant, and knowing you could never return to what you had? Do you know what its like, Princess, to awake standing over corpses you never met? Have you ever had to fight your own mind, never being able to fail, because you know that if you do, the darkness will destroy everything you love and will use your own hooves to do it? To wander for years, knowing you have to be alone, or you will tear apart everyone near you."

Step by step she approached the ley lines of Luna's prison, standing only a few feet from Princess Luna. Heavy breaths shook her small body as she still refused to meet Luna's eyes with her own.

"Fluttershy" Twilight's voice strained, barely controlling her emotions which threatened to erupt. "is just another in a long, long list of ponies who have had to see the monster inside of me unleashed. But for 16 years, Princess..."

She raised her head, finally meeting Luna's gaze.

Tears streamed down the right side of Twilight's face, pain etched into every facet of her features. Every muscle in her body was tensed, straining at her own words. Her heck craned high towards her prisoner. Though Luna was far taller than Twilight, the unicorns muzzle was mere inches from her own. The most frightening part of Twilight, was her left eye. Her normally violet eye was replaced with inky blackness.

"For 16 years, I have had to watch myself become the monster that I feared."

Luna stared deeply into the eyes of Twilight Sparkle. The little unicorns body shook with raw emotion, and shuddered with each breath she took. There was a long silence between the two, as magic swirled around Twilight's body, and the lights of Luna's prison glowed. As Luna gazed into Twilight's eyes, studying the young mare, she felt and saw something familiar.

Pain, fear, misery, sadness, anger, betrayal, shame, despair, loneliness. Twilight Sparkle's soul was laid open before her, but to Luna it seemed like a reflection of herself she hadn't felt in nearly a millennium.

As she stared into Twilight's eyes, the words of Dementis herself came flooding back to Luna. Those weeks ago when she had first entered Twilight's mind.

"You, my Princess... you have experienced... the NIGHTMARE!”

The words Dementis has spoken to her, suddenly struck her greater force than before. As Luna looked into Twilight's eyes, her expression softened. With a sadness written across her features, she shook her head gently.

"You are wrong Twilight." Luna leaned down, her head separated from Twilight's only by the invisible barrier as she stared eye to eye with the unicorn. The two separated only by the thin force field which held Luna. "I am perhaps the only pony in all of Equestria who could understand, because I know what it means to have everything you love taken from you by Discord."

Twilight's intense glare faltered for a moment as she stepped back, flinching at the name which passed from Luna's lips. She grit her teeth, averting her gaze from the Alicorn as another tear fell from her eyes. "You cannot possibly know what I've suffered." She turned away in disgust as her horn flared to life, carving more glowing signs into the air. This time, she struck quickly as if she were goring and rending the air.

"You are wrong again, Twilight. Surely you remember the stories Celestia and I told you when you were but a filly. How for centuries we were locked in combat with Discord and his chaos as he rampaged across Equestria. The many battles, his mischief, and how we sealed him away with the Elements of Harmony. What we never told you was the cost of every battle, and the toll that war took on all of Equestria."

Luna turned away, staring into the swirling ocean of magic as she reflected on the past. "What we never told you was how he destroyed our entire lives, how he nearly destroyed Equestria and plunged this entire world into chaos. He slaughtered entire races, if they were lucky. Those who were unlucky often had to survive whatever he did to them. For a time, I thought my Sister and I were those ponies. Left to pick up the pieces of a nearly shattered world once the dust had cleared."

Luna's heart felt heavy in her chest as she remember the horrors of her youth, while Twilight pretended not to listen to her words.

"We were so young, when he murdered our parents. Forced into the dreary world that had once seemed so sweet. Cold, alone, scared. We had to learn to survive, to fight, to control the sun and moon with no-pony to guide us. Everywhere we went, He would follow us. After a millennium of fighting we sealed him away but not before he left us with a parting gift."

She whirled around to face Twilight. The unicorn tried to hide her face behind her mane, but Luna's could still see the bitterness written upon Twilight's face.

"You see, for so many years we were constantly at a stalemate. He could wound us, but we always managed to escape before he could kill us, destroying our very essence. But, we could never contain him nor keep him down. The reason we survived was because we had each other, Celestia and I. So he realized, if he couldn't destroy us together, he would let us destroy each other. He bastardized my moon, morphing it with his magic to frighten our armies and followers. The monsters he created would always strike from the shadows. He defiled the very night, which once brought peace and serenity to the ponies of Equestria, and turned it into a field of torment. He twisted the sweet dreams I brought and created nightmares. Soon, the ponies of Equestria held to the light of Celestia's sun, and feared the embrace of darkness.

"Just before our final battle he appeared before me in the Dreamscape. He could not harm me physically there, but he planted the seeds to thoughts that nearly destroyed me. He mocked and taunted me, he laughed at how the ponies had come to shun the night, and how they loved my Sister for her suns radiance and warmth, for her beauty and ability to lead our young nation."

Luna's wings fluttered at her side, her jaw firmly set as she continued. "It was easy to dismiss during that war. It was a simple tactic and an obvious attempt. But he knew better. When the war did end, peace-times did not agree with me. I lived for combat, and felt lost without it. Empty. Alone. That's when his strategy began to take affect.

"I became bitter when I saw that ponies still feared my night. As time went on, my bitterness turned to anger. The ponies not only feared the night, but they feared me. Turned away from me. In my eyes, they only loved my sister. I was just a killer and general, and what good was I without a war? I wasn't needed anymore. I was just a shadow. A wanderer who had didn't belong."

"Oh how foolish I was, Twilight." Luna's voice cracked with emotion as tears filled her eyes. "I detested my Sister after only a few years of peace. I hated her because I thought she had stolen the love of our ponies. A voice whispered in my ears every night, fueling my anger and hatred. It was my voice, telling me that my Sister had forgotten me too. I agreed, she didn't even seem to notice me. That voice became such a part of me, it even had a name. Nightmare Moon."

"Stop." Twilight groaned suddenly, her tone low and distant. "Just stop. I don't want to hear anymore."

Luna ignored her, fixing her eyes upon the unicorn. "But my Sister was not as blind as I had thought. She saw through Discord's devices, she realized what he had done. What he was still doing. While I being torn apart inside, she was building our kingdom and never forgot, nor did she allow the ponies of Equestria to forget, my part of our great conflict. As a gift to remind me I wasn't alone, she gave me the first star. Soon my night skies became works of art and wonder, the ponies of Equestria found solace in my night once more. I was finally able to relinquish my Nightmare and be free from Discord's final snare.

"Twilight, Discord couldn't destroy us himself, so he tried to force me to do it and very nearly succeeded. He caused me heartache and pain that is immeasurable, and he is doing the same to you! HE put Dementis into your head, HE tore your life apart, and he has done all of this..." Luna gestured wildly around the room with her hoof. "So that you will free him, and he can bring the rest of the world to it's knees as well. Twilight, you must put a stop to this madness now, before it is too late!"

Twilight Sparkle was silent as she carved one final glyph into the air. However, this one did not dissipate as the others had. It hung in the air, glowing brightly. The magic which churned the air suddenly went still. Even the flow of magic which was being drained from Luna slowed as an uneasy calm settled over the room. Through the sudden silence, a calm voice spoke.

"Princess Luna, you think I intend for this world to be destroyed?"

Luna could only furrow her brow in confusion as Twilight slowly turned to face her with a somber expression. The wound in her side having finally healed, leaving a long, jagged white scar from her shoulder to her cuties mark. Even the bruise across her jaw and the other covering her body had finally faded, allowing her stand tall as she spoke. "Putting a stop to this madness is exactly what I intend to do tonight, Princess. I cannot allow myself to be a threat to the ponies of Equestria, and I won't allow another filly to suffer what I have had to endure all these years. I'm sorry it has to be this way Princess Luna, I just hope you can forgive me."

In a flash of light Twilight's saddle bags, sheaths, and cloak appeared and covered her body. From her bags, came a large leather-bound spell-book. Her cutie mark emblazoned upon the front. As the pages fluttered open, Luna's voice echoed throughout the room.

There was a pause before Luna spoke again. "...Twilight? What are you saying?" The Princesses voice rang, her tone measured and uncertain. When Twilight didn't answer, she spoke once more, louder this time. "Twilight Sparkle answer me! What are you going to do!?"

Twilight stared sullenly back at Luna with a strange glint in her eye. At first, Luna thought it was anger, or annoyance. But it was far more than that, far more dangerous.

It was something worse than confidence. A look of absolute surety, no doubt that her next move would succeed.

She lifted her head, looking high above to the ceiling. "My final hour is at hand, and my greatest work is to begin. I have spent so long preparing this spell, and it was only to be my last resort. I'm sorry to say that time to use it has come." Levitating in front of her, the large spell-book began glowing as she chanted the inscriptions on it's pages.

"Ninkilim, Vastaba, Katemu, Uru. Teccas, Lazuli, Zaggaro, Djergu..."

Luna reared onto her hind legs, slamming the force field which trapped her. "Twilight STOP!" She bellowed with rage, launching blasts of magic from her horn against the barrier. It was useless, the glowing wall only absorbed her magic, leaving the Alicorn no choice but to kick and slam the barrier. Strikes that would have shattered the bones of any creature unfortunate enough to feel them, did nothing against her resilient prison.

The glyphs and runes which adorned the room began to flicker as the magical sparks swirled over Luna, collecting into a liquid pool. The whole warehouse glowed brighter and brighter, the ground beginning to shake as Twilight continued her chant.

"Kilcoth, Khuftu, Shushu, Geshtyn..."

The five rings of Luna's prison grew blazingly intense. She could feel her magic draining faster now, slowly being ripped from her very horn. Still, she relentlessly pounded on the walls, screaming at the mage before her. "YOU STUPID FOAL! YOU CANNOT DO THIS!"

Twilight continued, unperturbed by the Alicorn. With each word she spoke, the shrill ring of magic grew louder, the swirling sparks coalesced with greater speed, and magical power expanded throughout the room, as gravity seemed to grow even stronger. The walls of the warehouse began to flex and groan, straining under the magical pressure within. Princess Luna began to groan, her legs beginning to weaken and shake with ever passing second. Twilight's eyes glowed white as she uttered the final words to her spell.

"...Bathin Sallos, Marax Ipos. Bathin Sallos, Marax Ipos. Bathin Sallos, Marax Ipos!"

The pool of magic floating in the air surged towards the ground, enveloping Luna as she screamed one last time before being slammed into the ground. The walls of the Warehouse exploded, shredding the metal and stone which comprised it, and light spilled from every crack and flooded across all of Canterlot.

As the ring of magic filled the air, the caverns of Canterlot began to shine with magic which spilled out of every crack in the ground. For weeks Twilight had worked and carved into the caverns the ley lines for her ultimate spell, a rune which surrounded the entirety of Canterlot from beneath. As light burst forth from the ground, enveloping every pony caught in it's glare, it seemed as if the very air screamed as it was brought to heel before the unicorn Twilight Sparkle.

Author's Note

Mares and Gentlecolts, at long, long last and after 3 long years, Homecoming has finally returned! I am sorry it took me a bit longer than I anticipated to get this next chapter out, but I am quite pleased to tell you that there will be more on the way soon, and I should be putting the next chapter out by next Monday. After today, I will be deleting the authors note, just in case anypony hasn't read it yet.

Once again, thank you all for all of your continued dedication and love for Homecoming through all of this time. Please continue to leave your comments below, I do so love constructive criticism, and thank you again for the suggestions and wonderful support you have showed me in these last few years, and last few months especially. In the meantime I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and I will see you all again soon!

The Night's Mourning

It felt like hours had passed since they found her. Just laying there, taunting them. All 5 pegasi had been completely frozen in fear when the door had opened to reveal Scootaloo awaiting them inside what used to be the kitchens of the Slaughterhouse. At the time, no pony had moved a muscle for several moments. They spoke in hushed tones, moving slowly, wincing at every click of their hooves across the stone floor. Afraid that anything could set off a trap or trigger some sort of shadowy spell and bring about their, and Scootaloo's, doom.

Now, it seemed like the exact opposite. Rainbow Dash paced back forth through the main room, having been left with no choice but to oversee the guards who were with her and ensure that Scootaloo never left her line of vision. She simply couldn't risk it, she couldn't allow her self to leave Scootaloo for fear she would never see her again. She had lost track of time long ago. How long had they been here? 20, maybe 30 minutes? Longer?

The other 4 guards were not by any means sitting on their hooves, doing their best to stay alert and occupied. Lucky Strike stood on the other side of the room, a crystal ball held between his hooves. A magical device used to communicate at long range. Another pegasus, Hayseed, was crouched down on the very edge of the door frame of the kitchens. He had the better eyes of those present, and Rainbow had charged him with observing Scootaloo and looking out for any wards, runes, or evidence of spells.

The two others, Ironworks and Puzzle Piece, were searching the remaining rooms for anything that may have been left behind by Twilight Sparkle. Any notes, items, anything. So far, their search hadn't turned up anything of use, but they were persistent and wouldn't stop until they found something of worth, or had turned over every loose stone.

"STALLION! Status report!" Came Rainbow bark of command. Her voice had grown gravely, beginning to be worn down from stress and shouting. Though it caused her some mild discomfort, it was not enough to keep from loudly relaying her orders to the soldiers around her. Her mane was tangled and unkempt. Partially from her flight to the Slaughterhouse, and in part also to the stress of trying to save Scootaloo. Sleep had evaded her the last few nights, and it was beginning now to take a toll.

The had resigned themselves to the outer area where Rainbow Dash had previously instructed the other guards when they arrived. It had been deemed safe, and they had been milling about trying to make contact with headquarters and search for possible traps that Twilight Sparkle had set for them.

Lucky Strike's responded with a shake of his head "Sorry ma'am, still no word back from the Tombstone. Our communication Crystals are still dealing with some kind of interference." The green pegasus was developing dark circles under his eyes rapidly as the night went on. Still, he smartly stood at attention in the presence of his commander.

Rainbow Dash's frustration must have been apparent as Lucky cringed silently as he faced her. "But, we won't give up until we do make contact. Even if we have to fly there ourselves!" He tried to smile confidently, but it came out looking more like a grimace. They had tried to send flyers our earlier, but what had awaited them outside was less than welcoming.

"No." Rainbow almost shouted, her hooves held in front of her as if it physically stop the stallion. She shook her head solemnly, her eyes wide. For a moment her expression of frustration and exhaustion morphed into another. To Lucky Strike, it wasn't fear. The glint in her eyes was different, almost like when a pony remembers something they had tried to forget about and were trying to push away.

They had only been assembled together in the Tombstone for a few minutes when the spell had shrouded Canterlot. One minute the cold, crisp winter air had been peaceful and calm as any winter night. The next, pure blackness and twisted living shadows consumed the very. The sounds of unearthly screams sounded in the distant. The faint sound of metal ringing through the air told Rainbow all that she needed to know.

To the quintet of Pegasi, it was as if they had been teleported to another dimension. A strange hell, removed from their Equestria. To Rainbow Dash, it was a matter of an entirely different sort. Her teacher had personally engaged battle with Twilight Sparkle.

For the briefest of moments, Rainbow Dash felt sorry for the unicorn. Her fate was rightly sealed.

Rainbow gave Lucky Strike a confident smirk, but it quickly fell away into an absent stare. "Let's just stay put for the time being. It's... It's not safe for us outside." She said, breathlessly. "Just keep trying to reach the others for now." The stallion only watched as she turned and made her way towards Hayseed. She hadn't given them any explanation as to what was going on outside, but whatever she knew, she was loathe to tell them.

Hayseed turned to Rainbow Dash, hearing her hoof steps approaching. Laying on the floor in front of him was a scrap of paper, some small diagrams drawn with the pencil he held between his teeth. Rainbow narrowed her eyes at the markings when Hayseed spoke up.

"You have good timing Commander, I was about to call you." He motioned with his hoof towards Scootaloo's sleeping form. "I think I found something."

Rainbow leaned in following his hoof. He pointed towards her blanket, a small but comfortable looking beige sheet. It had a soft, grainy pattern, but was by all means bland in decor. However, as Rainbow focused her gaze on a small spot where hayseed pointed, she noticed what appeared to be a small button on the blanket near Scootaloo's neck.

A small clasp, the same soft and sandy brown as the blanket, held the wrap snugly around the orange pegasus' body. Unlike the blanket, however, it was not unmarked. A series of lines and circled scrawled across the small surface, forming a web of markings.

Rainbow Dash audibly groaned as her head fell into her hooves. "Don't tell me that's..."

"A rune tablet." Hayseed finished, confirming her fears. "I swear, this unicorn is a tricky one." He gestured down to the paper at his hooves. "The hard part, is I can't figure out what kind of rune it is. I'm not as well versed as you Commander, take a look. You probably know better than I do."

Rainbow looked down at the crude scratches across the paper. Hayseed had drawn a rough outline of the rune, one that seemed accurate as Rainbow Compared it to the pin fitted across the filly's body. However, the rune that was inscribed on the small pin was unlike any Rainbow Dash had seen before.

A rune was a simple type of magic. The spells cast with runes are weaker than the natural magic from a Unicorn's horn, but have greater utility. Once infused with magic, anypony could activate it, whether for good or for bad. They could manually activate for a desired purpose, or it could be used for a trap or as an alarms. They can last longer, serve as wards, and preform some magic feats that normal spells cannot. Much like the null-magic rune Rainbow Dash had used to counter Twilight when they first met in combat.

Even the material they were etched into made a difference in how the magic would flow. Stone retained the magic longer, while metals allowed for better flow and storage, but it depended on the metal. The pin seemed to be made of brass, a more basic material, but it was capable of holding more magic than most metals were.

Since they are simpler in nature, they symbols are relatively basic. Most often they are used in regard to elemental or summoning magic, but teleportation and security were also common uses. However, the more powerful or complex the spell, the more intricate it's design. A large wall could contain a massive runic-spell, leaving plenty of room to carve and infuse the magical symbol, but the small pin wouldn't allow for that level of casting to be preformed.

Of course, one had to take into account that it's creator was Twilight Sparkle, a mare who seemed to quite frequently defy the norms of magic and ingenuity.

Rainbow Dash's head spun as she observed the cluster of markings that seemed to pile on top of one another. Line wrapped around on another, spreading across the tiny surface, leaving almost no room for any addition to be made. In fact, the brass pin was more covered in ink, than metal at this point. For a rune to work, the lines had to be intricately and exactly drawn, carved, or inscribed. For an object so small, precision was key. The rune would need to be created with great care.

"This... I don't even know where to begin..." Rainbow managed after a few moments. She shook her head, trying to piece together the symbol before her. I haven't ever seen a rune like this, this is unbelievable complex."

Rainbow Dash grit her teeth, frustration building inside her again. Every time they got one step closer, it felt they had to hurdle over a mountain to get closer to beating Twilight Sparkle. Not even, they were playing from well behind trying to rescue Scootaloo. She still had the advantage. One thing after another just seemed to pile up.

Rainbow jerked her head back suddenly. "Piling on..."

"Commander?" Hayseed replied, quite confused?

Rainbow stretched out one hoof, beckoning for Hayseed's pencil. Quickly the pegasus gave it to her, as she rapidly began tracing over the complex pattern. The sound of rapid scratching filled the otherwise silent room. Hayseed watched as Rainbow Dash began re-drawing the symbol, taking it apart, separating the different patterns and geometry. As he watched however, he began to realize what is was she had seen.

"It's not one rune is it?" He observed, a curious expression clouding his features. Rainbow only nodded, not stopping to waste words. Slowly, she redrew the pattern, separating several parts. It was a combination of 3 different runes, all weaved into one another. Once again, a delicate balance of power and artistry that only a high level mage would be able to accomplish. It would take the mages in the Canterlot archives weeks to formulate something like this, with great amounts of trial and error. Twilight herself probably had to put some effort into this craft for it work, this was no 10 minute job.

As she finished, Rainbow Dash expression quickly turned from focused to confused. She shook her head again as she gazed at the pattern in front of her.

"Something's wrong" She murmured, glancing between her drawings, the original sketch Hayseed had completed, and the brass pin Scootaloo wore. "This doesn't seem right. I know what these are, but why she created them I don't understand." She glanced at Hayseed with a bewildered expression, turning her paper so he could see.

She pointed to the first rune, a complex 8 pointed star with 4 arrows pointing in the cardinal directions. Multiple smaller lines intersected between the many others that created the structure of the rune itself, and 3 dots were in the center. "This rune is for protection, a basic but powerful shield. It protects against any attack until the magic runs out. Physical, or magical."

She pointed to the second set. It was 4 tall lines, the tops hooked like the number 7. Smaller lines crossed through the center, and the tall lines rounded at their bases. "This one is a sleep rune, it keeps whoever is wearing it or affected by in a rest, but not a full sleep. Usually it's placed under a pillow or something, but attaching it is just as effective. So we know that the rune is protecting her and keeping her in a half-sleep, but it's the third one that's the problem."

She motioned to the final rune. Very small, and very simple in contrast to the two others. I had the appearance of a stylized letter 'A' and was very plain compared to the two previous, complex patterns. "This one." Rainbow tapped the page, but her eyes were fixed squarely on Scootaloo. "This has several names, but it basically means the same thing. That's what worries me."

Rainbow Dash gingerly took a step into the room. They knew from when she broke the door down, that they could got least 7 feet into the room without setting off any traps, but they dared go no further. Glancing between the paper she held and the small marking on the tablet, she growled softly.

"Just what I thought. It's got different names, but it sometimes called the Beckoning Rune. Also the Rune of Enticing, Temptation, or Friendship, but that depends on its purpose." Rainbow sat for a moment, her eyes scanning over the filly and running through every possible outcome she could think of. After a moment, she looked up to see Hayseed now stood at her side with an inquisitive but patient expression.

With a steely glare, she nodded toward Scootaloo. "Here's the thing. Rune's provide a very specific type of magic, and this one is purely defensive. It should just create a barrier around her, but that 3rd rune is different. It's a special type of protection, the reason it's called the rune of friendship sometime, is because we can't enter it if we have ill will towards whatever or whoever is inside."

Rainbow began circling around Scootaloo in a wide berth. "For example, treasure could be put into it's area of affect to keep out anypony motivated by greed. Or, it can protect some-pony from anyone who wants to harm them, but a friend could also enter its protection as well. But, there would be side effects. Whatever other spell is weaved into the mix will take effect."

"We would be effected too." Hayseed reasoned, mirroring his commanders strides around the room. "If we try to get to Scootaloo then we'll get put to sleep by the other rune, wont we?" Rainbow Dash nodded, but eyed the rune tablet hawkishly.

"So this is my theory." Rainbow began to pace back and forth, her eyes never leaving Scootaloo. "I don't think there are any other traps in here, because the rune IS the trap. It is simultaneously protecting and keeping Scootaloo asleep, but it would let us in because we aren't trying to hurt her. But, if we get into it's sphere of influence, we go to sleep as well. Simple as that."

She turned and motioned for him to follow her out of the room. "Here's the part that I haven't figured out, though." Their hooves echoing in the dim room. Just before crossing the threshold of the room, Rainbow turned and looked back at Hayseed. "If Twilight created this spell and had Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell with her the entire time, why the 3rd charm? It doesn't allow anypony in if they mean ill will, but she made it. It wouldn't stop her or that damned demon inside her head, so why bother?"

Hayseed turned to look back at Scootaloo, then to Rainbow Dash. "Commander, who else would she be protection your friend from?" He asked. He didn't intend to sound doubting, but maybe his commander was reading into things just a bit too much. Granted, he didn't have a better explanation.

Rainbow glared at the stone floor, shaking her head as she re-entered the main room. Something was wrong, but she couldn't even begin to understand what. Ever since Twilight Sparkle entered the fray, everything seemed to turn upside down. Ever since their battle, Rainbow felt like she hadn't been herself. It didn't help that the unicorns black magic had infected her, but it seemed bigger than that.

"Something isn't right about this whole thing." She murmured. "I just can't help but feel like we getting used as pawns in a game that we're too small to understand."

Silence rang through the room as the two ponies, the soldier and his commander, locked eyes and pondered on the latter's words.

"Commander!" Lucky Strike suddenly yelled, causing Rainbow Dash and Hayseed's heads to whip around in response. Before either of them could answer, they heard other voices, muffled and hard to hear from a distance. Lucky strike yelled out once more. "I made contact with the rest of the guard. I think you need to hear this."

"You're where!?" Shining Armor shouted into the crystal ball held in his magic. After quite some time trying, they had finally made contact with the unit which followed Rainbow Dash. Princess Celestia and Princess Cadence stood by Shining Armor, the 3 of them surrounded nearly 200 other guards.

"I just told you, Armor. The old slaughterhouse in the south east part of Canterlot. We found Scootaloo, but we need assistance." Came Rainbow Dash's surprisingly level response, though the tension in her voice was heard by all present.

"Well, that's easier said than done right now. I don't know if you're aware, but the situation has escalated." He grit his teeth, meeting Princess Celestia's eyes for a moment. "Twilight got free and... Princess Luna gave chase. We are expecting her to return soon."

The hopeless sound in Shining's voice didn't pass by Rainbow's ears, or anypony present.

For Shining Armor, this was one of the worst nights of his life and career as a Royal Guard. He had been stationed with a large part of the Guard at the Castle, far away from his sister and the interrogation rooms. At first he had been upset, but he knew his presence would offer no aid to the situation. In fact, he recognized that being in HER presence might only do him greater harm. Everything had seemed calm. Cadence came to him bringing news of their progress and discoveries after helping Luna enter Twilight's mind. Having her by his side had been a great help, but the peaceful night was soon shattered by Celestia's appearance. She appeared with several dozen guards in tow, but none were standing.

Everypony was incapacitated, save for Celestia and 2 guards, and yet none of those downed bore any significant injuries. The damage done to their armor should have meant that many of the ponies should have been torn apart, yet some had no physical injuries as far as the medics could see. All, however, seemed trapped by some magic. Unable to move from the pain of unseen injuries. Their minds seemed to be in a state of agony, while their bodies were left nearly untouched save for bruises and some broken limbs. The news Princess Celestia bore, while not unexpected considering the scene before Captain Armor, did nothing more than break his heart yet again.

Twilight had broken free, and Princess Luna had gone after her.

The Sun Princess had arrived just in time, surrounding the Guard in a dome of light as the shadows twisted and malformed by the power of Princess Luna. Even staring through the barrier which separated them from Luna's spell, Shining could feel his mind unravel the longer he stared into those shadows. The noises which emerged from the inky darkness sent chills through the bodies of everypony present.

'That's just dark magic for you.' Shining thought to himself as he reflected on the scene. Even it's aftermath, dark magic had the cryptic power to leave you feeling helpless and defenseless. Like it seeped into the fiber of your very being.

Shining Armor wasn't sure whether or not he had been lucky or unlucky to have not been inside the Tombstone. Though he had been spared the fury of his sister as she nearly brought down the Tombstone in her escape, he had been powerless to do anything, having been sent to maintain the guard. Octavia and the guards with her were nowhere to be found. They had completely vanished amidst the chaos, leaving more unanswered questions lingering in their minds.

The Royal Guard was huddled together in the castle, weapons drawn, lanterns lit, and eyes sharp in the cold winter night. Flanking the walls, balconies, and standing firm on the steps of the Castle, they silently watched. Save for soft breaths and mutters which softly pierced the uneasy calm that fell upon them, they searched the shadows for any sign of attack. Even the presence of Celestia and Cadence did not completely subdue their tension, though the latter pony's magic was a great source of comfort.

But the most difficult part, the knowledge that clawed at Shining Armor's heart and mind more than anything else, was that when Princess Luna returned, she would not return empty hoofed. Luna would come back with the no doubt broken body of his sister. Or even worse, maybe there wouldn't be a body to bring back.

Things were not easy by any stretch of the imagination, nor would they become any more so.

Though he tried to hide it, Shining Armor's pain must had been evident. "Rainbow Dash." Celestia's soothing voiced broke through the icy tension in the air, as she softly pulled crystal from Shining armor's grasp with her own magic. He had to admit, her calm and motherly voice was of some benefit at the moment, and he had been at a loss for words in what to tell Rainbow Dash. "We will be there to help soon. I will personally lead a small unit to help you once Princess Luna has returned, you have my word. Until then, please remain where you are. We are doing all we can to maintain order."

There was some indistinguishable chatter on Rainbow's side, before a stiff but compliant, "Yes, Princess" could be heard by all present. Another pony's voice rang from the crystal, Lucky Strike, Celestia recalled. "It's like we said Princess, Scootaloo is under a runic spell, but everything seems fine for now. We'll await your orders in the meantime."

"Thank you my little pony." Celestia smiled softly as she returned the ball to an awaiting earth pony who saluted before returning to the formation of guards. Her smile faded as she stared off into the distance of Canterlot, pondering on the night's events. Luna's moon brightly glowed in the night sky, the pale moonlight spilling across the land.

'Luna should have returned by now. It's been almost half-an-hour since her spell ended.' Celestia scanned the city below her, her eyes searching the streets and plazas below in an effort to find her sister. But it was to no avail, Luna simply had not yet returned.

'And yet' Celestia closed her eyes in concentration, her eyebrows narrowing in concern. The air hummed softly, and off in the distance she could feel the familiar source of her sister's magic. She appeared to be near the very bottom of Canterlot, in one of the lowest districts. 'I can feel her presence even now, but something is... off.'

"Princess?" Shining Armor tilted his head, Cadence resting her head on his shoulder. "Is everything alright?"

Celestia quietly contemplated the tranquil city below her once more before turning to her niece and nephew. Wordlessly, she leaned her head down and softly touched her horn to Cadenza's. The smaller Alicorn winced slightly as a spark of magic trailed from Celestia's horn and into her's, before sighing in relief from the magic her aunt shared with her.

"How are you feeling, my dear?" Celestia's cooed softly. Cadence had possibly suffered the most out of everyone in the last hour. Her magic had helped to keep the guard focused and attentive, however their feelings of panic and fear, combined with the powerful magic which had held the night sky in it's grasp, had taken much of her strength. Still, the spark of magic from Celestia had brought her some ease. She lifted her head from her husband's shoulder, curtly nodding to Celestia.

"Tired, but I am doing ok." She smiled softly, doing her best to sound helpful. "What do you need me to do auntie?"

"I need you to find Princess Luna." Celestia's tone seemed withdrawn in some way. "I can feel her magic, but... something seems off. It feels like there is something separating us. I haven't experienced something like this in centuries, but perhaps you can reach her."

Cadence gave her aunt an inquisitive look, but nodded slowly before closing her eyes in concentration. Shining Armor watched with much interest, his eyes flicking back and forth between his wife and his princess. Princess Celestia's request was certainly unusual. She and Princess Luna shared a mind link and, as far as he knew, it could only shut off if one of the two was closed of the mental link. He had never known it too happen, especially at a time like this.

"I feel her, auntie. In the warehouse district." Cadence's slow reply came. Her brow furrowed as she concentrated more. "She feels distant though. Give me just..." her words trailed off as she reached for her Aunt's mind. Celestia and Shining Armor both breathed soft sighs of relief. Princess Luna wasn't far, just less than a mile away. Shining armor hoped that this meant they could mobilize soon to collect Scootaloo, this night had gone for far to long

His thought's were interrupted by a sudden gasp from his wife. Cadence stepped back quickly, retreating as if she had been physically struck. Multiple guards nearby flinched as they raised their weapons, ready to protect their Princess. What none of them expected was for tears to begin running down Cadence's face.

"She... She's crying." Cadence choked slightly, mirroring the emotions which surged through her mind. "I... I've never felt so much sadness before. Sadness, and anger..." She gripped her head in her hooves, a pounding headache coming on quickly.

Celestia knelt on the stone, leaning in and touching her forehead to Cadence's. Cadence's abilities to read and alter emotions also gave her the ability to, somewhat, read others minds. Emotions could tell a lot about a pony. Though it wasn't perfect, it was easy for her to get an idea of what a pony was thinking. "Why is Luna crying Cadence?" Celestia murmured gently, trying to help Cadence keep control of her own emotions. One side effect of reading a ponies emotions is that, if they were strong enough, they could influence you as well. For Cadence to have such a strong reaction would mean that Luna was in a great deal of despair.

"No, it's... gasp, not Princess Luna." Cadence replied in between sobs, trying to wipe away her tears. Shining Armor was suddenly at her side, eyes wide with disbelief. "Twilight?" His voice was full of disbelief, even as the words escaped his lips.

Cadence shakily nodded, her teeth chattering. "I feel them both. She... she's hurting. She's in agony. Aunt Luna, she's crying too." The night went silent as more than 200 pairs of ears listened intently to Princess Cadence's words. "Their both talking... No, arguing! Princess Luna, she's trying to get Twilight to stop but... She won't. Why won't she just stop..." Cadence moaned, her legs shaking.

It was Shining armor this time who held his wife's head in his hooves, his horn touching hers gently. "It's ok Cadence, it's ok." He tried to reassure her, focusing on his love for her as his magic intertwined with hers, strengthening her even more. "She...Twilight is... GASP!" Cadence suddenly threw her head back as if she had been struck, her eyes wide open as she gasped for air.

"She's coming." Cadence barely whispered, staring into the starry night sky.

"Who's coming?" Celestia stood tall, her horn lighting with magic. A predatory look coming into Celestia's eyes as she stared into Cadence's wide eyes. It wasn't the look one would imagine. Not like a snake waiting to strike, a Minotaur preparing to charge, or a Griffon circling its prey. Far worse. It was the look of a mother who's children lives were at stake."Cadence." Her voice was low, keen and all to calm. "Who is coming?"

The Alicorn of Emotion shuddered as she swallowed a lump in her throat. Her response came in a whisper, yet it pierced Shining and Celestia to their souls.

"Twilight. Twilight is coming."

In an instant, cold wind struck them like a wall. Celestia wheeled around, her horn glowing brightly in preparation for attack. "Captain!" She shouted. Shining Armor needed no instruction. Holding his wife one hoof, he formed a massive barrier of magic which surrounded the entire castle. The Royal Guard dropped into combat stances. Hoisting swords, spears, bows and arrows. Wings drew close to their side, preparing to launch at the enemy, others horn's glowed brightly in preparation to unleash a barrage of magic on their foe.

Celestia unleashed a stream of pure flame which flew through Shining's barrier before exploding in the air, a small burning sun floated high above their heads, casting light across the wide courtyard before them. She readied her magic once again as rings of fire surrounded her horn. Her regalia glowed like iron in a forge, hissing and steaming in the cold winter air. No chances could be taken, if Luna had been unable to defeat Twilight Sparkle, then Celestia would use any means necessary to finish the task.

For a moment, no pony moved as the searched the city below them, now brightly lit by Celestia's light. The wind whistled around them, battling against the roar of flame above their heads.

In an instant, a shock wave rushed across city, striking against Shining Armor's barrier as light erupted from the warehouse district. The very ground... no. The very city shook. A rumble passing through the mountain to which it clung. The air grew dense as the grass and stone beneath their feet grew warm and light began to shine through.

Celestia gazed down in wonder and alarm. 'It's coming from the caverns!' As soon as the she realized what was happening, every pony save Celestia were dragged to their knees. The unicorns gripped their horns in pain as magic was pulled from their bodies, pegasus's wings fell to the ground as if magnetized, and earth pony's legs completely gave out. As they convulsed on the ground, energy flowed from their bodies and sank into the grass. Even Shining Armor was not spared as he collapsed, yelling in pain. Cadence and Celestia entire bodies exploded in pain, as magic was leeched from every pore of their bodies, feeding into the caverns below Canterlot. Even her minor sun began to leak magic, a stream funneling straight down into the mountain.

Only Celestia, out of the hundreds that were in the courtyard, remained standing. She grit her teeth in pain, standing as tall as she could. 'No! Not my ponies!' She screamed defiantly in her mind. She whirled around in a instant, her eyes blazing with brilliant white light. With a mighty flap of her wings, she soared into the air and unleashed a wave of magic upon the entire guard.

The last thing Shining Armor saw was Princess Celestia's entire body shine with radiant light, and for a moment, the night became bright as daylight, before he became lost in darkness.

Author's Note

Hey again yall, it's your boy back with another chapter of Homecoming for you, you beautiful, faithful readers you! Sorry for the extra two weeks delay, sadly I woke up one morning to find I had accidentally deleted half of my chapter (Still trying to figure out how I did that) but I got it now. You can, however, certainly look forward to another chapter within the next week. In the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving and I hope you all have wonderful weeks. Like always, I look forward to your comments, critiques, spell-checks, hate mail, and love confessions in the comments below!

The Stars' Cry

The life of an adventurer, soldier, and adrenaline seeker was sure to be a strained and wearying one for most ponies. Long days, sleepless night, old battles, and new challenges are tools for building and refining, but just as easily can break down and distress its target. For the Pegasus called Rainbow Dash, both rang true frequently.

She had seen hard, trying times. A horrid upbringing, being attacked as a filly whilst in the guard, being taught how to fight by the Princess of the Night (A truly terrifying endeavor, no matter how gifted the warrior), helping to fend off a changeling invasion of Canterlot, and the many dangerous missions that required her.

None could compare, however, to what she had to endure in the last several weeks.

Rainbow lost track of time after their communication with the Princess ended. She sent Ironworks to wait outside and be ready to receive backup once they arrived. Puzzle Piece and Hayseed flanked the doors to the entrance of the large entry way, and Lucky Strike covered the Kitchen doorway. As Rainbow looked over the group, she breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Help would be on the way soon, finally things were coming to a close.

As she stared off listelessly for a moment, exhaustion catching up with her, as she reflected on the nightmare that had been the last few weeks. She could sleep for a whole week straight, and still not get enough rest to recover from all that had gone before.

Shink...

Rainbow, eyes growing bleary, rubbed her face with one hoof. She sat against one wall of the room, right of the entrance. With Twilight finally taken down, she could allow herself a few moments of rest. She had learned ears ago the ability to sleep without going fully un-conscious, and decided to make use of it while she could. No doubt the night was far from over, and she would be needed to help clean up the rest of this mess.

Shink...

She was in for a reprimanding, no doubt about that. Her actions were certainly crass, despite having found Scootaloo. And, at least that damned voice was gone. Possibly some dark magic trick from Twilight, she would need the Princess to scan her mind just in case. But, at least things were quieter now.

Shink... Shink... Shink...

Rainbow's ears twitched. Her head snapped up, looking towards Lucky. Likewise, Hayseed and Puzzle Piece were staring curiously at the lone stallion, while he glanced at the 3 of them. "...Is one of you playing with a knife?" He queried, incredulous.

Shink...

The noise came again, this time clearly from behind Lucky Strike. Rainbow stood up, tired eyes becoming alert. The other three instantly became alert to the strange noise. It sounded like steel being drawn from a scabbard. It echoed slightly through the cold room, but was now unmistakable.

"What the hell is that?" Hayseed spoke softly. All eyes were on Lucky as the stallion slowly turned, placing one hoof on the door to the kitchen where Scootaloo resided. The other two stallions quietly drew their swords from the scabbards, handles gripped between their teeth, as they slowly moved to cover Lucky's rear. Rainbow, unarmored and unequipped, cautiously moved along side Puzzle Piece.

Shink, shink, shink

Carefully placing one hoof on the rusted and dented door, Hayseed slowly pushed it open to reveal a frightening sight.

A dome of light, dark pink, had encased Scootaloo's still peaceful body. The small pin clasp which had been attached near her neck had come undone, and the rune tablet now hung several feet above the filly. Bright light shone through the talisman, slowly growing brighter every moment.

Shink

The object spun in the air every few seconds, causing shadows to dance across the walls of the dingy room. Like talons on a chalkboard, that grating sound echoed through the room. A collective shiver ran up the spine of all 4 ponies as they watched from the doorway. With every spin, the field around the sleeping filly grew more and more opaque. The light growing into a solid orb of magic.

"What, the hell, is that?" Whispered Puzzle Piece. Before anypony could answer, a tremor suddenly passed through the 4 ponies, nearly knocking Hayseed and Rainbow to the ground as they collided with one another.

Lucky Strike grimaced, bracing himself against the doorway. "An earthquake!?" He yelled, his short sword falling from his mouth. He had stumbled and nearly cut Hayseed by accident.

"No." Rainbow Dash spoke breathlessly. "This is different, the air is getting thicker." She was right. Every ponies legs suddenly felt heavier, their legs giving out beneath them. As if the gravity was being turn up more and more every second, with every spin of the rune. Rainbow looked quickly from Scootaloo, to the door, then back again. She could feel something was about to happen, and the other 3 pegasi, loaded down with their armor wouldn't be fast enough to escape with her.

Puzzle Piece and Lucky Strike's front legs both gave out, as the were forced to their knees while Hayseed strained against the force in order to stay standing. A magic wind was picking up in the room, the air growing hot. "What do we do!?" Lucky almost screamed through a trained voice. It felt like his strength was being sapped from his body every second.

Though her view inside the force field was almost gone, Rainbow could still barely see the peacefully resting form of Scootaloo, as light began to glow through the floor of the enter building they occupied. Her eyes widened, as she suddenly thrust herself foreword against the invisible force. There was only one way to save her soldiers.

Instantly, she launched foreword, catching the straps of Lucky Strike's and Puzzle Piece's armor in her hooves, and throwing them with all the strength she could muster into the force field. Before they could even yell out in shock, their bodies struck the circle of magic and instantly their eyes rolled up into their head as heir bodies went slack, and they collapsed on top of each other, forced asleep by the rune.

Hayseed, through grit teeth, and with eye bulging from the strain of remaining on his voice had time enough only to shout, "Commander, what-" Before unceremoniously being rabbit-kicked by Rainbow's back legs, and sent flying in the same manner as his brothers in arms.

Rainbow Dash instantly spun around, not even waiting to see Hayseed enter the protection of the run sphere, before she let loose a mighty flap of her wings and was sent careening through the entrance door and up the flight of stairs. The effort it required was so great, she couldn't hold back a howl of pain, as she forced her rapidly weakening wings to once again propel her through the building.

As she topped the stairs, the hum of magic became so loud she couldn't tell if it was whatever spell was occurring, or if her ears were ringing. Her stomach churned as she tasted bile in her throat, but she needed to get out of the building first. Black spots danced through her eyes, threatening to plunge her into unconsciousness. 'No! I need to get out of the city!' She desperately though. With all of her remaining strength, she squeezed her eyes shut and gave one last flap of her wings, hoping the momentum would carry her through the door and across the courtyard to the edge of the mountain-city. 'Ironworks, please tell me you got away in time' She thought to herself, just before hitting the exit.

In an explosion of glass she emerged into the open night, not even glancing down as she felt several shards rake across her skin. As she forced her eyelids open, she only had enough time to see a grey blur and the whites of a ponies eyes, before she struck something hard and metallic. Every ounce of breath se had was knocked from lungs in an instant, as both and whatever she hit letting out grunts of pain and shock. Over and over they tumbled one with one another, rolling roughly across the courtyard, before unceremoniously flopping over the edge of the city.

The two ponies separated in the air, somewhat dazed from their collision. As they locked eyes, Rainbow Dash called out to him. "Ion...werks?" She mumbled, not quite believing it was him. Her head had struck his metal plating hard enough to nearly knock her unconscious.

"Commander, hold still!" The stallion called over the rushing wind. His armor had absorbed most of the impact, but still he had been shaken. With a few flaps of his wings, he began to regain control while Rainbow Dash attempted the same. Her wings flapped limply, slowing her decent slightly. Ironworks suddenly appeared at her side, wrapping one hoof and one wing across her body so he could pull her close. Both of their adjacent wings beat together, although Rainbow's lagged behind, slowing them down as the landed on forest floor far below Canterlot.

As soon as their hooves toughed the ground, they collapsed on top of each other. Neither moved for several moments, their toll on their bodies leaving them unable to recover in any short amount of time. Rainbow Dash suddenly rolled to one side and emptied the meager contents of her stomach onto the forest floor. She flopped onto her back, head lulled against the ground, vision blurry, and wings burning from the stress of fighting through whatever forced had sought to constrain her. Small drops of blood ran down her front legs and chest, marred by the slivers of glass from earlier. They were shallow and wouldn't cause serious issue, but were quite painful nonetheless.

As she gazed up towards the city, high above them in the night, she couldn't tell if she was seeing spots or if the dancing colors and sparks were coming from Canterlot itself.

"Ironworks..." Came Rainbow's croaked and mumbled voice. "What in the name of Equestria happened?"

The stallion lay with one hoof over his eyes, trying to block out the lights above in hopes the nausea he felt would subside. Deep heaving breaths rattled his entire frame as he slowly shook his head. "I... I don't know. One moment everything was fine, skies were clear, everything peaceful." He dropped his hoof, hazy eyes staring up at the glowing city above. "All of a sudden, my legs felt heavy as steel, and the whole damn complex lit up like a lightning bug. All I could think about was trying to stay standing, and that was when you hit me."

Though the pounding in her head protested, Rainbow Dash slowly propped herself up on one hoof. A small trail of blood trickled from one ear and her misty eyes clouded her view of the glowing city high above, but still she stared up in bewilderment. Even through the thick canopy of the treeline, a brilliant and ghostly glow shone through the foliage to the ground below. She could feel a wave of power pushing against her as she lay on the grass meadow floor.

The stallion was standing, albeit shakily. One wing comfortable wrapped around his left side, the side which Rainbow Dash rammed him at full speed. "Commander, are you able to stand?" He asked, reaching out to her with one leg. Slowly, she took the appendage in her own and rose to her hooves. Her stance was rocky at best, but the pain was subsiding.

"I don't know what the hell is going on, but we need to get a better look if possible." Rainbow grimaced through grit teeth as she stretched her wings, allowing the cold winter air to flow between each feather and relieve the pain from her aching muscles. A few experimental, and somewhat strained, flaps proved the muscles and tendons were tight, but the knots would soon work themselves out. She wouldn't be pulling off any sonic rain-booms, but she would be able to go airborne despite the pain.

"Before we fell, did you see anything else. Did you see Sparkle?"

Ironworks shook his head. "I didn't see her, but just before the light came, I did see one of Princess Celestia's spells activate. She and the rest of the guard are most likely at the castle, unless they escaped in time." Rainbow nodded, resting her chin on one hoof. "We'll need to rendezvous with the Princess, if possible."

Ironwork's suddenly gasped. "Commander, what happened to the others? Where's Lucky, and Hayseed? What about Puz-"

"They're fine, soldier." Rainbow quickly cut him off. She didn't need her only aid to panic now. "Long story short, I had to push them into the force field which was protecting Scootaloo. When whatever-the-hell it was happened, a defensive barrier formed from that rune. They should be just as safe as Scootaloo is."

Rainbow saddled up along side the taller stallion, bumping him with one soldier. "Don't worry, we'll get them back soon. We may not know what happened yet, but we aren't gonna find out unless we get up there." Rainbow began a slow trot that built into a jog, ignoring the twinges of pain from her cuts and soreness. "Evidently, she had left a trap behind for us. On the bright side, maybe that spurred our reinforcements to move a bit quicker. Come on soldier, it can't be the end of the world." And with that, Rainbow wings shot out as she began galloping forward, catching the air, and lifting her into the cold night sky. Iron works soon followed behind, dragging back somewhat.

She kicked off the ground, legs and wings already burning with effort, but began ascending higher and higher. She guided her small body towards a thick tree branch, nimbly landing before turning back and shouting, "Use the trees to assist, we might not make it all the way up if we try to do it ourselves." The stallion only grunted in response, as he less-gracefully landed on an adjacent branch. Rainbow could see from his grit teeth that the much heavier and armor-encumbered stallion was going to have a tougher time than she.

"Come on Ironworks, eyes on me. Follow close, I have an idea!" She pushed off another branch, flying just ahead of her partner. As she landed on another branch, she spun suddenly and grabbed the stallion suddenly by one hoof. "Hold on tight!" She called, before using her momentum to spin and launch him forward. For a moment the stallion wobbled in the air before righting himself, and continuing to ascend through the brush and towards open air.

Even in rough condition, it didn't take long before they emerged from the treeline, climbing along side the mountain to the city's edge. The sheer stone cliff raced by as they climbed further an faster with each beat of their wings, drawing closer and closer to their destination.

Just as the two pegasi flew over the cities edge, a wave of energy struck their bodies with enough force to stun them for the briefest of moments. Rainbow spun through the air, the movement only strengthening the pressure in her head and the nausea she felt. Ironworks dipped in his altitude, falling almost 20 feet before painfully turning and ascending to float alongside his commanding officer.

"Commander!" The Stallion gasped, sweat pouring down his face. "What in the name of Tartarus wa-"

"Celestia almighty..." Rainbow spoke breathlessly, cutting Ironworks. She stared passed him, eyes fixated on the great city in abject shock. Ironwork's quickly spun around, maneuvering in front of Rainbow Dash to absorb any attack that may have been approaching. As soon as his eyes fell upon the mountain capitol, his jaw fell open in shock.

Canterlot, the capitol of Equestria carved into the mountainside, glowed in spectral colors of purple and pink. Magic sparks twirled through the air, as the crystalline ring and hum of magic seemed to emanate from the stones themselves. Rainbow could feel pulse of magic coming off of the mountain in waves, causing her headache to persist from the pressure of the immense magical display. A golden band of light, etched with runic script, encircled the entire mountain and city, punctuating the night further by its majestic glow. It was so bright, no doubt it could be seen from far beyond Ponyville or even Appaloosa.

Glyphs and runes ran through the streets, across the walls, along side every building. It seemed as if the very structures in Canterlot were bound in ethereal chains and subjected to the will of Twilight Sparkle. Dotted through the streets, Rainbow Dash could see her fellow ponies sprawled upon the ground. None moving, all having been unable to escape it time. There were but few who had no doubt wandered outside, the small number of ponies who remained awake through Princess Luna's spell, but now Rainbow watched as their life force itself seemed to be drained from them.

The catastrophic scene was only made worse by a bubble of magic surrounding the entire city. A canopy of living sparks of magic flowed iridescently like a snow globe, moving and colliding, fusing and growing. She had seen the shields Shining Armor was capable of creating with his magic, surely there was no unicorn alive who could compare in their defensive capabilities. But this... this was something completely different. This was no simple spell, this was a force of magic not seen in centuries.

Anypony looking onward from the distance might wonder in awe at the magical display, but having just escaped whatever enchantment had befallen the great city, Rainbow and Ironworks couldn't keep from trembling in dread and trepidation. Rainbow felt dizzy, and not just from exhaustion. Her head spun and the whole world seemed to turn upside down as the watched helplessly from the sky as Canterlot was wrapped in magic.

If this meant what Rainbow thought it meant, and with what lay before her she knew she had no reason to doubt, then Princess Luna had been defeated by Twilight Sparkle. The Mad Mare had seemingly brought the great nation's capitol to heel. The city was spellbound in the night, and it was done at the cost of her teacher's, her greatest friend's, blood.

'It wasn't just the Diplomacy Center. It's the whole city.' Rainbow's heart felt as if it were in the fiendish grasp of a claw. Her chest felt tight, legs unable to move, and wings too heavy to fly. Never had such despair flooded every facet of her being, as it did in this moment. She felt like she was being crushed between two stones, the sickening, horrifying feeling that filled her. If Princess Luna, the Arbiter of Darkness, the Master of Dreams, Weaver of the stars, and Princess of the night could not stop this unicorn, than who in all of Equestria could?

So enraptured by what she saw, was Rainbow Dash, that it took several seconds for her to register Ironworks was yelling for her attention.

"Commander!" The stallion shouted over the powerful hum of magic, pounding their eardrums like the heartbeat of a giant. Rainbow Dash's wide eyes met Ironworks', her jaw slack as she hopelessly gazed across the city. "Commander Dash, what are you orders, ma'am? What should we do!?

Her mind, sluggish as it was from her strain and exhaustion, searched her memories for every protocol, plan, back-up, and last option she knew. Every tricky spot she had been in, every ambush, every fail-safe, last ditch effort, and gutsy moves she ever knew flashed through her mind. After a long pause, she finally spoke the words she'd never thought in her entire life she would have to utter.

"I... I don't know." She whispered, unable to even hear her own voice over the magical cataclysm before her. A small tear formed in one eye, trailing slowly down her cheek. She was too stunned to notice it was there, let alone wipe it away.

"I don't know what to do."

Magic is a strange and fickle thing. It came in many forms; the physical, the ethereal, mental, natural, elemental, dark, light. Harnessed in so many ways, yet never truly bound. It existed in it's own right, barely understood by the simple creations of Equestria and it's neighbors. Though it was the lifeblood of all creation, flowing through every living thing in ever sphere of life, it could be taken for granted like anything, even the air. It exists, but it becomes a part of us. To most, it had to be studied in depth, constant focus, time, attention to detail, and above all patience was required to master it's use.

To others, it was like running. It required strength and balance, but once it was learned it was rarely forgotten. As ponies pushed themselves further and further, at the expense of their physical energy and sometimes their personal safety, they grew stronger and more able bodied. The raw energy coursing through their veins, and growing stronger with every step they took.

To a select few, it came to them as naturally as the breeze. One simply needed to exist to feel the power of creation and destruction beckoning to them. As easily as a filly or colt might stretch forth their hoof would the mighty sorceries, both known and unknown, be bent according to their will.

For Twilight, she found a combination of all was the most effective.

Years of planning and preparation had led to this moment. Everything she had learned, studied, and sought to understand was displayed before her and all of Canterlot. The spell she cast was no minor one. Quite the opposite, in fact. It would be remembered as one of the most incredible magical feats in the last seven centuries, the spell which bound the most powerful city in all of Equestria. Such magic hadn't been worked since the great sorcerers like Star Swirl the Bearded or Clover the Clever had overseen the lands.

For weeks in the tunnels and caves stretching below Canterlot, she had slaved away carving the ley lines of her great spell beneath the very hooves of the ponies who dwelt there. Liquid magic had been placed at key points, acting as the critical joints which would support the glyph and guide the magic through the massive expansion so that it would flow correctly.

Every unicorn, pegasus, and earth pony alike within its sphere of effect would find themselves bound, their magic stripped from their bodies as it bled deep below and fused with Twilight's great spell. Magic would flood the caverns below, creating a sea raw magical energy, the likes of which had never been seen by any mortal pony. Only three ponies in Canterlot were unaffected by it's power.

However, a spell that large and powerful would need a massive catalyst. Twilight, with her unusually large reserve of magic, had been prepared to power it herself. The effort would have nearly drained her magic in it's entirety, but the end result would have been worth it. However, some ingenuity, quick thinking, and, undoubtedly, luck, had provided Twilight with an even greater tool than she had expected. The very magic of an Alicorn, Princess Luna.

Without siphoning the magic of the Night Princess, it would have taken Twilight nearly an entire day to start the intense magical process. Now, it had taken only a few minutes.

As she sprinted through the night, the city washed in magical light, she could not help but reflect on her youth when magic seemed to be the farthest thing possible for her to have. Even as a filly of 8, it was clear that she held a genius intellect. Her desire to learn and innate ability to absorb knowledge painted a clear picture of one who was destined for greatness, a true scholar among mages in the making. Were it not for her crippling lack of control of her magical powers, she would have been a powerful mare even as a filly.

16 years ago, she couldn't have even lifted a measly pebble with her magic. 'And yet, I have all power tonight.' She thought to herself. Had it been any other pony, they might have let out a laugh of joy, drunk with power. Some might expect mad cackling, or the euphoria of being filled with god-like power, but it was neither the time nor the place. Power surged through her like never before, but she was going to need every last drop of magic to fulfill her goals. 'And to think, not a single innocent pony would suffer lasting harm in the process.'

Every pony caught within the ley lines, would be swiftly pulled into the realm of unconsciousness as they became living batteries to her spell. Sever magic drain could prove dire to some ponies health, especially those not as well trained in their magical capacities, and thus the spell would cut off it's draining effect once a pony had been reduced to approximately 15% of their magic, but would still be held unconscious to prevent any unwanted attention or injury.

Everypony, Unicorn's, Pegasi, and Earth Ponies alike had magic to offer. The Pegasi with their abilities to control the weather, Earth Ponies with their bond to nature, and the Unicorns ability to harness raw magic as it existed in the world. All of these would prove critical in breaking Discord's seal, but with Princess Luna acting as the catalyst for Twilight's spell, it would all the easier. However, it was a delicate balance to maintain, and with the strength of an Alicorn coursing through her every faculty, Twilight knew she needed to act quickly.

Still she allowed herself to relish for a moment in the cold night air as is flowed through her mane. Though her time was limited, for the first time in weeks she knew there wasn't anypony immediately trying to kill her. Her injuries had been fully healed, and her body was coursing with an imagined level of magic the likes of which she had never imagine. Luna's magic, combined with hers, ran through her veins, while even more magic gathered beneath her hooves.

'Still, there is one final bridge to cross.' She gazed high above her head, hundreds of feet above her in the air. Her eyes fixated high above Canterlot Castle, where a giant globe of fire had been only moments ago. It's intense light had brightened the city even more than her spell already had, but just moments after she emerged from the hangar it disappeared. 'I may have subdued one sister, but Celestia is no pushover. She's saving her magic, and expecting a fight.'

Thought she had been subjected to the terrible and fear-inspiring visage of the enraged Night Princess, in terms of raw power, none could appose Celestia. Getting past her would be no easy feat and attacking head on was nothing short of suicide. Not to mention, Celestia would surely find a way to break Twilight's spell. At the very least, to free herself from it's effects.

She came to a halt in the market place, her eyes focused on Canterlot castle in the distance. She could see no guards or furious Alicorns for the time being, but that was sure to quickly change. If there was even one pony left to stand against Twilight, it was be Celestia. Time was of the essence, and Twilight had very little to waste. There was much to do, and very little time to do it. Thankfully, Twilight could be in more than one place at the same time.

Ducking into an alleyway, safely out of sight, her horn began to crackle and spark with raw energy. She ignited her horn, magic bursting forth from her head with so much power she couldn't hide her surprise at the feeling of raw power coursing through her. Her eyes were wide as two-toned magic poured from her horn, a beam of intertwined magenta and cerulean. She had never expected the feeling to be so... potent. So incredibly awesome, in the truest sense of the word.

Shaking herself from her stupor, the magical flow twisted through the air and collided with the ground. Slowly, the magic took from, coalescing into a body. Legs began to sprout, then a neck, and head. In only a few more moments, an identical clone stood before her. Bearing every scar and bump, even adorned a rough cloak, the clone stared eye to eye with it's creator.

Standing straight, it saluted with a soft "Ma'am." Twilight nodded at the clone in satisfaction. She even sounded exactly like her. She had thought they would need minor adjustments, but the spell was foolproof. It's a shame she couldn't always have Alicorn magic, it was certainly addicting. But the clone was by no means just a body. It's horn crackled with magical sparks, possessing a large part of Twilight's normal magical power.

Quickly, she withdrew a small knapsack from her bags. In it was a small potters clay, and a wood box. The clone wordlessly took it from her with her magic. Twilight looked to her with steely gaze. "You know what to do with this. Search Canterlot General, then the Castle Infirmary. After, find Octavia. Protect her until you're destroyed. If you encounter any resistance, you have my permission to use any force other than lethal to fulfill these orders. GO!"

Without even a moments delay to nod, the clone turned and galloped away, quickly lost among the many buildings. Twilight exited the alley way, giving a terse glare towards the still burning mini-sun hanging high above the Castle. "It's a shame I won't be able to say goodbye in person." She muttered under her breath.

Throwing her hood over head, she once again sprinted off into city. To face Celestia would be suicide, but perhaps she wouldn't have too. Trickery was often the most effective way to fight, but it is hard to fight in the shadows when it's mid-day. But, there was one option.

She turned towards a large regal building looming in the distance. 'Why not fight fire, with fire?' She thought, as she sprinted to Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns.

Author's Note

Sorry for the extremely long wait, a lot has been going on, but I won't make excuses. The battle begins next chapter!

Si Vis Pacem

All at once the world changed around us. The bright light smothering the city in it’s glow, the pressure that surrounded us on every side, that ring that pierced our ears and brought us to our knees. Screams and shouts of fear and pain filled the air around me like a twisted orchestra. I tried to fight it, but I couldn’t bring myself to move.

The tugging at my mind was strong, so strong. It hurt to fight, but it bid me to sleep. To close my eyes, and let the darkness wash over my mind, to take the pain away. The longer I fought, the harder it became, until I could feel the muscles in body in such distress I thought they may tear from my bones.

Then, in that instant, it seemed as if I was thrown into a pool of lava and ice simultaneously. Everything burned, my hooves, my mane, my eyes, my blood, my mind. And yet, something flowed through me. Just as suddenly as I felt submerged into the burning cold, I was dragged from it's depths and met the winter air. It felt strangely warm, as my senses returned to me, yet my whole soul ached. That's when I hear her.

I remember her voice calling out to me as her hooves grasped my shoulders. ‘Just hold on, it will be over soon!’ I couldn’t even find the strength to hold my head up, everything hurt so badly. I had never felt so afraid in my life, pain like hot screws jammed into my horn as I blinked through tears to see her face.

My head dropped to one side, as I nearly slipped into the realm of dreams before being shaken suddenly from the stupor. Large, warm hooves grasped my cheeks as pale magenta eyes looked into mine. The soft color gave me something to focus and helped rouse my mind, and suddenly I could hear her voice speaking to me.

‘I don’t have much time, I have to go. She will destroy everything if I don’t.’ She pulled me to my hooves quickly, and I found I could stand again somehow. ‘I managed to stop the worst of it, but I need you to protect the others until I return. Be strong Cadenza. Whatever happens tonight, know that I love you. I know you can do it!’ She cried, and I reached out to her as tears filled my eyes. ‘Please, don’t go’ I cried. My throat felt so dry and my vocal cords taut, I don’t know if the sound even escaped my lips.

Still, she saw the fear in my eyes and gave the one last hopeful smile before her body disappeared in a flash light. As she vanished, a sob escaped my throat, and for just a moment my entire world went dark.

"We need some help over here!"

"Don't make any sudden movements, just lay still for a moment."

Eyes up over the ridge, keep focused downtown!"

"Unicorns, we need more magelights!"

"Shining Armor, please wake up."

Pandemonium, barely contained like a dam threatening to burst, beset the courtyard of Canterlot Castle. As the city glowed with unnatural, ethereal light, and sparks danced through the air, the ponies of the Royal Guard raced across the small area and zipped through the air.

All throughout the courtyard, voices echoed in the night. Some ponies were huddled together, earth ponies with massive tower shields forming a defensive phalanx in front and on both sides of the company. Pegasi and Thestrals circled high in the air, clung onto buildings, or crouched from the castle's parapets as they scouted the large city with keen eyes. A small force of unicorns nervously glanced about, horns aglow in preparation to let loose a torrent of spells upon their enemy, while the remaining magic users aided their fallen brothers and sisters.

Dozens of ponies, mares and stallions of all types, lay prostrate upon the ground. Some wearily lay flat upon the ground, seemingly oblivious to the world. Other clutched at their heads, and moaned in pain. The hum of magic seemed deafening to some, though no attempt to cover their ears or block it out seemed sufficient. It felt, to these, to be an assault from the outside and within their own minds. Others twitched and mumbled, unconscious but trapped between the realms of sleep and the waking world.

It seemed that no-pony had been more adversely affected than Shining Armor. Princess Cadenza shook her husband in her hooves, desperately trying to rouse him from unconsciousness. Beside her knelt two other ponies, unicorn medical specialists, slowly waving their glowing horns across his body. "Come on Shining Armor, please wake up. We need you here." Cadence softly whispered, her glowing horn touched to his. Their love created powerful magic when combined, but in his feverish state it seemed to have no effect on Shining. The Royal Captain was murmuring softly in his unconsciousness. He drew short, sharp breaths, body twitching as his wife gently whispered in his ear, and the unicorns released magic into his system to speed up his awakening.

Several other ponies circled Cadence, varying military leaders. Though the distance was respectful, Cadence felt claustrophobic in their presence.

"We are keeping our defenses as alert and able as possible." One spoke, a unicorn named Heavenly Shield. He was tall like Shining Armor, but leaner, with a coat like singed barely and a deep maroon mane. "We are still waiting to receive an estimate on how many ponies are down, but needless to say it is a large part of our available force." He grimly stated.

Cadence was silent for a moment she glanced across the horizon, eyes scanning for the unicorn that filled them all with dread. "Keep the Thestral's at the forefront of surveillance." She raised her voice above the chatter of guards and the hum and ring of magic. "Their strength comes from the night, and they seem to have been the least affected by... whatever is going on." She stared up at Luna's pale moon. With Princess Luna missing, it brought little comfort and more dread than she would appreciate. "Princess Celestia will return soon, we just need to hold our defenses until she does."

"Aye, once the safeguard is activated, we should be in a more defensible position." A golden-eyed Thestral remarked. First Sergeant Dire Wing, one of a set of twins who were Luna's chief leaders serving directly below Rainbow Dash. His admiral-blue coat meshed with an ash colored mane. He wore an dis-content expression, as he scanned the city beneath him. He was well known for his often nonchalant attitude no matter the circumstances. His mannerisms were atypical for Thestrals, he being far more relaxed and casual in his manners than the otherwise cold, imposing, and to-the-point members of his species. Despite his detached personality, it was never forgotten by those who learned the hard way, that Dire Wing's combat abilities were just as viscous as his tongue could be. "Until then, we're like shite n' a pan, an' the fire is closing in around us.

"Let's just be thankful that Princess Celestia saved us, for the meantime." A grey coated pegasus with a two-toned green mane, Sergeant Ivy Aurora of the Royal Guard, countered the abrasive stallion. "If it wasn't for her, our bodies would be the red carpet for Twilight Sparkle to make her way into the castle." She turned her gaze to the city below. Several Canterlot citizens had been outside when Twilight's curse struck. They managed to recover almost two dozen who were in sight, but every pony in the city was having their magic drained from them. "That blast of magic was the only thing that kept us from ending up like the rest of the city. She did that so we could hold the fort until she returns, and dwelling on negatives won't get us anywhere."

The Thestral bared his teeth in frustration, exposing pointed fangs. "In the bloody meantime, we have injured guards AND civilians in the middle of what could soon be a battlefield. We need to get the downed and injured clear, but we can't risk moving them lest an attack comes while our defenses are lowered. We're right bucked if Sparkle's mounts an assault while we are deploying half of our forces to moving the injured, but we can't just leave them be."

Cadence winced inwardly at the stallions course language, nevertheless she nodded in agreement. "In the meantime, pull all injured to the rear, and set apart 5 defenders to keep watch over them. Place only as many medics as is necessary to tend to them, we need as many ponies as we can muster in the event Twilight comes. And make sure we have blankets to keep them warm until we can get more help." She was by no means a military leader, but even she knew that injuring the enemy was more effective than killing them. If you kill a pony in battle, than the enemy force is reduced by one. But, if you injure or main, then you reduce the fighting force by two or three. One for the downed pony, and another few to remove them from battle.

They needed to create as defensible a position as they could in the already wide-open courtyard. It was hardly the prime conditions for a siege defense, with little protection save for the large fountain, small grassy, shrub patched areas, and large tower shields erected by the large Earth Pony Defenders. "Until Princess Celestia activates the safeguard, we will have to make do."

The Safeguard, a cryptically referred to fail-safe, not often mentioned by any, was a last resort enchantment the Alicorn-sisters devised long ago. It was a spell which could only be activated by them, and was protected by some of the most powerful defensive magic possible. In the case of emergency, where the entire destruction of the city was a threat, or dire circumstances surrounded the ponies of Canterlot, a spell-craft mechanism within the castle would trigger and unleash a tide of magic across the city.

No-pony had ever seen it in action, and only the Elder Princesses knew what it did. The power required to activate it was tremendous, Cadence knew that much. So much so, that only Princess Celestia or Luna could activate it. Cadence touched her horn to Shining's once again, allowing her magic to pass through to him.

Dire Wing sucked his teeth as he surveyed the area coolly. "I'll pass word on. Being totally honest, I never thought I would see the day we would need the Safeguard, but I'm certainly not complaining. Nevertheless, it's a shame it's come to this." The Thestral quickly made his way to relay his order. Cadence said nothing in response, gently stroking her husbands face, however Ivy scowled in his direction. "I swear, that tongue of his is going to cause more distress than anything."

Shining twitched in Cadence's lap, as if reacting to the negative energy. Cadence lifted her eyes to meet Ivy's. "I know things seem bad, but we will be ok. Don't let it get to you, we are all trying to hold together." Her horn glowed as she gently transmitted a feeling of calm and compassion to the smaller mare. The pegasus sighed softly. "Forgive me Princess. I shouldn't have been so harsh. Even still, as much as his sister puts me off, I do wish he would follow her example and keep quiet."

"Princess Cadenza!" A sharp voice cut above the noise, followed by sound of leathery wings flapping in the night.

'Speak of the Thestra and she shall appear.' Cadence raised her head to see a near pitch-black form land just beside her. Immediately the night-guard stood at sharp attention, still as a statue as she awaited her commands. With a deep sigh, Cadence gently lifted her husbands head out of her lap. Placing a small folded piece of cloth beneath him, she turned towards the two medics. "Please, alert me the moment his condition changes." Before moving to stand along-side the awaiting Thestra. "Command Sergeant-Major Wicked Wing, what is your report?" Cadence mutely asked as the pair walked towards the main body of ponies.

Wicked Wing stood in stark contrast to her twin brother Dire Wing. Her coat was darker than any other Thestral Cadence had ever seen, the color of deep obsidian, while her mane was close to navy, but it was hard to tell exactly. Her armor looked less like steel, and more like wrought-iron, which absorbed even the bright lights which enraptured Canterlot. Exact in her form, she stood upright, her stance firm. Looking at her, one might think she was a black-hole in the air. Darkness seemed to cling to her where she stood. Her golden eyes, as cold as they were unreadable, were the only feature that stood out in her shadowy form save for the glint of her sharp canines when she spoke.

She was well regarded for the exactness in which she carried out her orders, and her precision, speed, and lethality as the head of Princess Luna's stealth squad. Normally her authoritative and hard demeanor would have given Cadence chills. She never understand Thestral's overly rigid tendencies. That and their mostly lack of emotion, save for Dire Wing, always felt alien to her. Nevertheless, there was no time to get caught up in discomfort.

She gave a curt nod, and her surprisingly clear voice, a smoky contralto, came to life." Ma'am, we have taken full account of the company. Out of our current strength of 79 unicorns, 20 Pegasi, 29 Thestrals, and 70 Earth Ponies, we currently have 76 out of commission, ma'am! Of that number, 42 remain unconscious and attempts to revive them are proving insufficient. The remaining 34 shows signs of extreme exhaustion, and symptoms similar to heavy-concussions. The majority of both the unconscious and weary are unicorns, cutting our magical and medical forces in half. Some are recovering quicker than others, but their strength is negligible at best in their current standing.

Cadence grit her teeth, swallowing hard. 'What remains of our total forces at this time?" She asked, barely maintaining a level tone as her wings ruffled nervously. Almost 70 guards had been taken down inside of the Tombstone, and almost 80 were down in the middle of what could become a battlefield at any moment. The Captain of the Royal Guard was unconscious in her lap, the Commander of the Lunar Guard was detained on the other side of the city and most likely under the effect of the spell that they themselves had nearly succumbed to, Princess Luna was M.I.A., and, worst of all, Twilight could be coming at any moment.

Despite her stony expression and rigid posture, evident in the voice of Wicked Wing was her acknowledgment of the severe situation. "Currently, we have 41 unicorns, 35 pegasi and Thestrals, and 48 Earth Ponies making up our defenses. A total of 124, not including you and Princess Celestia, once she returns. There is something else you should see, my Lady."

She pointed high in the air, north to the mountain in the direction of Cloudsdale. Cadence had to squint against the bright lights surrounding the city to see into the dark sky high above the mountain. As she followed the mare's line of sight, she slowly began to make out inky dots zipping through the air. They flew back and forth, diving and rising. Cadence watched as a few approached closer to the city and the dome of magical sparks, only for tendrils of magic like vines to shoot out and attempt to ensnare them, forcing them to evade and fly a safe distance back. "Are those... Pegasi?" Cadence asked, seeing the inky blobs more clearly.

With a nod, Wicked Wing confirmed her answer. "The Cloudsdale Lunar Guard, they made contact with the dome just a few minutes ago. We have been unable to communicate through the barrier at this time. Any attempt to pass through, will result in the ponies life-force being drained by the magic in the air. We have tried physical letters fired from arrows but they were burned to ash by the sparks, and all communication spells have failed. Any attempts to weaken or destroy the barrier via magic has proved... inconsequential. Observe!"

She motioned high above, just shy of the barrier wall. A unicorn mage, held aloft by two pegasi, fired of several blasts of magic at the sea of sparks. However, the spell dissolved, breaking down into it's raw magical components, and feeding into the already immense plethora of magical energy. A fireball shot from the unicorn's horn, only to become a spiral of flame and feed directly into the wave of magic. "We can only assume, from what we have observed..." The Thestral continued. "that any magical force we attempt to use is converted into this spell-craft which has cut us off from the outside world. Nearly 300 regulars are waiting just outside the city, but will be unable to enter until this force-field is destroyed."

"In other words, we're completely cut off." Cadence surmised. Wicked Wing's said nothing, standing almost perfectly still as she awaited Cadence's orders. The young Alicorn swiveled to look on the remaining guards. It wasn't much, but they had enough to sustain a solid defense long enough for Princess Celestia to return.

"Sergeant-Major Wing" Instantly the Thestral appeared at her side, awaiting orders. Cadence closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, her eyes were filled with calm resolve. "Call back all Pegasi and Thestrals. We need them to focus fully on scouting around the castle. Until that barrier goes down, or something in it changes, we need all flyers working to defend inside."

Military strategy was by no means her strong suit, but she had learned enough to understand the basics of fortification. Looking below at the assembled guard, she tried to remember all the lessons Celestia and Shining Armor had taught her.

'It's like a game of Chess, Mi Amore.' Celestia's voice rang in her mind, some wisdom she had passed on to Cadence years ago. 'Protect your most important pieces, but always remember that the individual pawns can sway the tide of battle.'

Surveying the guard once more, she realized what she should do. Gesturing with one hoof to the parapets lining the walls to the castle. "We need our mages up above. When Twilight comes, they can stay a safe distance away and use their magic to slow her and assist our ground forces. The castle walls are magically reinforced and should provide them with enough cover. Meanwhile, air support can attack from all sides..." She paused, thinking on the Earth Ponies assembled together as well. Out of the forty-eight remaining, twenty of them were equipped with massive tower shields, but the others had only armor, basic weapons, and magic siphoning chains. With little cover to protect them, she couldn't just leave them in the open to absorb damage.

"If I may make a suggestion, Princess?" Wicked Wing spoke up, sensing the lapse in Cadence's thought process. The Alicorn nodding for her to continue. "Assemble our defenders in teams of 5, using formation C-6, and spread them out through the courtyard. If we keep 10 unicorns here on the ground, two mages per formation, they can help to support the ground forces and provide cover, should Ms. Sparkle turn her attention on the air forces or the unicorns on the wall. As well, we can stack our forces behind and work to cover the distance more safely.

Cadence thought for a moment, recalling the formation Wicked Wing spoke of. It was a series of small phalanxes, best used as a siege tactic or defensive rushing. Teams of 3 Earth Pony defenders would for a defensive blockade with tower shields, two in front, and one covering above. Their massive shields were easily 7 feet all and 3 feet wide, each made of reinforced iron, which could absorb almost any projectile and large amounts of magic without breaking. They weighed hundreds of pounds, but their wielders seemed to effortlessly use them. They could then rush the target, assisted with unicorns protected within the confines of the shield walls, or with spear wielding fighters.

Cadence nodded approvingly. "Please pass the word on to the other Commanders, and hurry. Time is of the essence." Before she could finish, Wicked Wing sprinted towards the main body of the company, her voice filling the night as she passed on their orders.

Instantly, the courtyard was filled with the clatter of armor as the orders were relayed. While she had been speaking with Wicked Wing, the downed had been moved into the entrance hall of the Castle. All at once, the ponies of the Royal Guard sprang into action and moved into position. In less than a minute, speed that astounded Cadence as she watched, the entire formation had moved almost perfectly into line.

Unicorn upon the castle walls lay crouched against the stone, prepared to protect their brothers and sisters from any incoming threat. Pegasi and Thestrals seemed to melt into the sparse few shadows and alcoves, as heir keen eyes scanned for their coming foe. Earth Ponies below, armed with massive shields, pikes, axes, and swords stood calm and patient in position.

Cadence could not suppress a small smile as she observed the ponies who would give their lives to protect one another and the people of Canterlot. A feeling of love swelled in her heart. 'We can do this. We can hold the line.'

As quickly as the thought occurred, the air shifted suddenly.

In an instant, the deep hum and crystalline ring of magic seemed to quiet, although not entirely disappearing. The millions of sparks which danced through the air slowed, pulsing in the winter sky. The already freezing temperature seemed to drop another 10 degrees, as the glowing light which rose from beneath the city all at once went dark. The city was plunged into near darkness, save for the glowing sparks which all but completely blocked out the moon.

"FORM UP!" Came a below from Dire Wing and Wicked Wing simultaneously. The sudden sound of rattling metal echoed through the courtyard as phalanxes tightened up, shields were raised, and weapons were drawn. The airborne Pegasi and Thestrals spread out and dropped their altitude, some covered by round bucklers, others ready to shield themselves with wing-blades.

Cadence quickly ran to her still incapacitated husband’s side, standing over him protectively. Her horn glowed brightly as she prepared for any threat to come her way. The two unicorn medics positioned themselves in front of the Princess.

For several seconds all was quiet, no sound but the shifting of armor and sharp breaths.

Without warning an electric feeling filled the air, and cadence felt her fur stand up on end as static swirled around her. Before anypony could react, from the center of Canterlot erupted a mighty pillar of light. Shooting hundreds of feet into the sky, the darkened city blazed with light once again, the tower of energy too bright to look at for any pony save for Cadence. Following the light was a wave of force which rippled across the face of the city. When the shockwave reached the courtyard, the force struck Cadence like a punch to the stomach. Her breath was nearly from her, though she remained on her hooves. The same could not be said for some of the guard, grunts of pain and surprise echoed hers as the standing guards were shaken from their formations, quickly rushing to their hooves and resuming their positions.

The noise from the magical blast had been nearly deafening, and still the roar of power filled the air as Cadence and many others looked on in awe and horror. Twilight was coming, and she was coming now.

So captivated was Cadence by the scene before her, she hadn’t noticed the stirring in the air around her until a hoof wrapped around one of her legs. With a shriek, she jumped back and loosed a bolt of magic at the ground where she had been grabbed. The two unicorns accompanying her likewise spun instantly, horn charged and ready to unleash tartarus upon anypony trying to harm their Lady. The grip was quickly relinquished as a large white unicorn barely rolled out of the way of the concussive blast. “Cadence, ‘s me!” Came the somewhat slurred response of her intended target.

“Shining Armor!” Cadence gasped, throwing herself on top of her husband. “Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry! You nearly scared me half to death.” He gave no response at first, his chest rising and falling below his golden and magenta armor as he drew deep breaths. Cadence hugged him tightly only to pull away just as quickly, voice tight with urgency. “Shining Armor, I need you to stand up right now. Please you have to hurry, she’s coming.”

Shining gripped his head tightly, lines drawn on his face as he grimaced in pain. “What in the hay happened? What’s going on?” He opened his eyes, trying to make sense of the suddenly bright night. Cadence grabbed him by one hoof, reaching underneath his chest with another to pull him up. “Something happened, something started draining the magic out of everypony in the city. Princess Celestia cast some sort of counter, but it was only enough to protect the immediate guards in the area. She went to activate the safeguard, but we don’t have much time. We need to get you out of the courtyard with the others.”

Suddenly, she became acutely aware of the sound of gasps erupting from behind her. Several voices began to shout through the sudden darkness.

"What in Equestria? Just lie still!"

"Please... my head..."

"We need a medic over here! This one's awake!"

"Another over here... No, two more!"

Not even waiting for her eyes to adjusted to the sudden change in light, Cadence took flight and landed behind her forces. The few medics that were set to watch over the unconscious were suddenly milling about, surrounded by several new voices. Turning to the nearest unicorn, she placed one hoof on his shoulder. "What's going on?" She asked, hurriedly.

The unicorn gestured wildly with his hooves in an obviously confused and surprised manor. "Whatever just hit us woke up more than half of our downed." He quickly turned away and began to tend to the nearest pony. Cadence stepped back slowly, her breast suddenly feeling tight. ‘No no no, this can’t be happening.’

“Hold fast, don’t you dare drop your weapons!” Wicked Wing’s voice could be heard echoing through the courtyard. “Medics, get them to quiet down. Flyers, what do you see?”

“Nothing yet ma’am!” One shouted. Others quickly echoed her call.

Cadence turned and ran quickly to Shining Armor, the unicorn now standing. His stance was shaky, but he seemed able to remain upright on his own. He clutched his head with one hoof, holding his helmet in the other. One of the unicorn healers was speaking to him, telling him to stay still and allow his senses to come back. The healer looked to Cadence and gave her a quick nod, before he and his companion ran off to assist with the others.

Cadence looked to her husband uneasily, watching him sway slightly as he stood. Uneasy turned into fright as he placed his helmet over his sweating brow, and a short-sword drew from scabbard at his side. She rushed to his side, placing a gentle hoof on his shoulder. “Shining, what are you doing? You need to rest, you can’t fight in this condition. Your hurt, you can barely stand, what if something happens to-”

“Cadence.” His soft voice penetrated the night, and her tumbling words abruptly ended. He could see the terror in her eyes, the agitation she felt. He knew it well, he could feel it inside himself. “I know you’re scared, but Twilight is coming, isn’t she?” Cadence said nothing, only stifling a small sob in her throat.

“Please Cadence, I have to. She is my sister, and I have to stop her. I have to protect you. If it wasn’t for me, we wouldn’t be in this mess. This,” He gestured to the pillar of energy still burning bright, “happened because of me. I have to do my duty until Celestia arrives.”

Gently, he took her hoof in his and gently kissed her. “Please Cadence, help my right this wrong.”

Before she could respond, a Thestral high in the air shouted, “ENEMY SPOTTED!”

Shining and Cadence turned to see that magical spire suddenly reversed it-self as the magic surged towards the ground, twisting into an unnatural black just before reaching the ground. The air picked up once again, slow at first, but rapidly gaining in speed.

Another voice cried out, “Shopping district! I see something.”

“I do as well, incoming target!” Another replied, both ponies unseen to either Cadence or Shining. Cadence hugged her body to Shining’s as she narrowed her eyes and searched for what the other had seen. There, nearly at the center of the city, a lone figure seemed to slowly walk. Their form was shadowy, barely able to be seen through the darkness, but the magic filling the air brought some illumination.

The shadow walked slowly at first, but soon began moving at a trot. A moment later, the trot turned into a swift jog, and with every step the pony seemed to gather shadow behind them, thick and unnatural darkness following behind it. The air rent like a maelstrom now, gathering the millions of sparks surrounding the city in it's pull. Shadows were flung across the city-scape as they tried to keep vision of their target.

Soon the pony was sprinting, and in an instant magenta and cerulean magic surged from the pony’s body. Bathing the night in shades of red, blue and shadowy black, the pony ran far faster than any mortal pony should have, covering blocks of the city in seconds.

Shining Armor shouted, “Shields brace for impact.” Instantly, he summoned a dome of magic around the courtyard just as the figure struck the tall golden gate. Glowing red magic collided with pink, as inky blackness began to surround the
courtyard. Shining grit his teeth as he concentrated, pouring more magic into withstanding the collision. For several, seconds no-pony was sure which would be victorious. Several unicorn mages lent their magic to strengthening their captain’s wall, as the frequencies of magic rang in counter to one another.

Then just as suddenly as the clash began, did Shining’s barrier shatter against the superior magic of Twilight Sparkle.

The shield dispelled as the cloaked mare penetrated the defensive walls, and struck the stone ground with enough power to sending cracks winding across the stone. For a brief moment, all was silent as the cloaked figure crouched low over the ground. Something seemed unnatural about their body. She seemed taller than they had remembered Twilight appearing. Her form seemed to shimmer as they looked down, like a mirage in the desert. It was as if she was just a pace to one side from where she appeared to be. Her body still glowed with unnatural light, as tendrils of shadows creeped across the stone behind her, as if she beckoned the twisted darkness onward.

Shining fell to one knew for a moment, breathing heavily from the strain of his shield being broken, before standing tall again and shouting, “Fire!” Instantly, the courtyard came to life as spell after spell was flung at the crouching pony. Fire and lighting surged from the parapets of the castle, while magical missiles, concussive blasts, beams of energy, arrows, and stones rained down on the figure.

As the spells approached the figure, she stood suddenly. Horn aglow as she countered, an opaque screen of magic in front of her. Upon contact, some spells winked out of existence, others moved out of the way like magnet rejecting the polarity of another. The remaining struck a small barrier surrounding her, seeming as effective as the falling leaves trying to break apart a mountain.

For nearly a minute the magical barrage continued, shredding the stone of the courtyard but having little effect against the cloaked unicorn in their presence. Without warning, Twilight stood on her hind legs, throwing her legs out in a wild gesture and cried in a booming voice, “STOP!”

Everypony came to stand still as the remaining spells and flying objects were rejected from their target, flying upwards in every direction into the night sky. The courtyard when eerily silent, as everypony held their breath and watched the shrouded mare. The shadowy tendrils curled around her hooves and coalesced beneath her body, as she returned to standing on all four hooves.

Her head was held down, still shrouded by her hood, leaving only the tip of her snout exposed. “Ponies of Canterlot.” Her voice echoed in the ears of everypony. It was not loud, nor a shout, but a frighteningly calm voice. She had magically amplified herself, so that everypony no matter how far from her, heard her speak as if she were immediately before them. “I have come to this city with one task in mind, to revive the Lord of Chaos, Discord.”

A chill ran through all who were gathered together at the name of the Draconequus of legend. Cadence and Shining Armored watched Twilight from a distance, waiting to see what she would do next.

“Dear ponies, I do not want to fight you. I have spent much of my time avoiding a conflict such as this, but the actions of some,” Her hooded head tilted ever so slightly in the direction of Shining Armor, only he and his wife noticing the movement. “have led us to this moment.”

“Mares and Gentlecolts, this does not need to go on.” She slowly strode foreword, creeping closer to the gathered ponies. “Tonight I have surrounded Canterlot in my spell, I have closed you off from the outside world, and I have stolen the magic of the Alicorn of the night.” At this, a murmur spread among the guards.

“You’re lying!” one of them shouted. “That can’t be true, its a trick.” And, the guards unconsciously edged away from the approaching unicorn. She stopped, remaining still for a moment.

“Hmm, you don’t believe me. I understand, I wouldn’t either. However, I will show you.” She went still for a moment, the wind flowed around her and magical sparks began to circle her body, when all at once she threw her head back as twin-colored magic flowed in great waves from her horn, and hundreds of magical sparks shot high in the air along it. Higher and higher into the sky it went, vanishing into the night towards Luna’s moon.

The wind picked up once again, whipping mightily in the night. As they watched, the sparks surrounding the city parted for a brief and allowed for an un-adulterated view of the nigh. Darkness link ink flowed across the sky and began to blot out the very moon. In only a few moments, all that was left was a shining crescent in the sky, like the grin of a mad mare smiling down at them. Shouts of fear came from the collected guard, and a sense of dread filled each of them as they looked down at the pony before them.

Her hood had fallen from her head and revealed a terrifying sight. Dark shadows ran across her face, circling her eyes, and falling down her neck and shoulders, as she herself was the source of the shadows trailing her. Her mane whisped and floated chillingly through the air like she was under water. Last of all, her eyes had changed. Her scelera’s were solid black, but this time highlighted by bone-white glowing iris’s. Her gaze pierced the ponies who met her gaze.

“Do you believe me now?” She said simply. No voice spoke in opposition to her, even Shining Armor’s throat closed in fear.

“I promise you, here and now, that if you stand down and allow to do what I was called to do, what I was born to do, that no harm shall come to any of you this night. Throw down your weapons, and you will wake up tomorrow as if this was all a nightmare, and would soon be lost in time. I will depart from you in peace, and bloodshed will be avoided.”

She stepped foreword, standing as tall as she could. “I beg of you, don’t throw away your lives for nothing. I will succeed tonight, whether you allow me to or not. What is your choice?”

The night went silent once more. Guards looked to one another, doubt filling their mind. Mutterings and whispers filled the area. "That’s not a pony, that’s a demon." One muttered, others around her shrinking back as if in agreement.

Cadence felt and unnatural fear strike her heart. Never had she felt despair and terror like this, but she had seen it too. Twilight blocked out the very moon, and Princess Luna still hadn’t returned. Could she have really stolen her magic?

She looked to her husband, only to find him staring wide-eyed at his sister. “We can’t win.” He whispered. “We couldn’t possibly stop her.” Cadence wanted to shush him, to silence his fears, but she couldn’t bring herself to do so.

There was a clang of metal below, and Cadence looked down to see a pegasus had dropped her sword. The sharp “clang” of metal against stone rang through courtyard. The mare dove to pick up her fallen weapon, but the noise seemed to demoralize the others even more.

“No, no, no.” Cadence pleaded. “Don’t listen to her!” She shouted before going still. She hadn’t seen, but sensed Twilight’s eyes glaring at her with ire. Saying nothing, she stared up at the alicorn as if imposing her will on her. Suddenly, Cadence felt doubt filling her mind, forcing her to look away. A cold filling entered her body, chilling her down to her bones. ‘Those eyes, what’s wrong with her eyes?’ Falling to her knees, she stared down at her long shadow in the night.

Wait

Cadence looked down again at her shadow, it stretched long into the night, to the very edge of the upper courtyard, growing darker and thicker as it stretched farther into the darkness. As she followed it with her eyes, she couldn’t help but feel an unnatural pull at the edge of her vision. ‘This isn’t right. This isn’t natural.’ She around her, and surrounding the entire castle was a wall of flowing shadow. The shadows had blended into her own, infecting her mind with doubts.

‘I love you. I know you can do it. Keep them safe.’ Celestia’s words echoed in her mind again. Cadence’s horn glowed gently, magic filling her mind, and felt a weight that she hadn’t realized was present lift from her mind. Her eyes became clearer, and she saw the shadow’s retreat from her, like tentacles that were severed in an instant. She looked round about and saw the blackness bleeding into the guards’ shadows. Even Shining Armor was being tainted by whatever magic was surrounding them.

Cadence looked down at Twilight once more, the unicorn didn’t seem nearly as imposing. Her eyes, while still frightening, didn’t seem to radiate cold hardness, but instead Cadance saw surprise and… nervousness? The two locked eyes for a moment, Cadence’s horn glowing brighter as she was filled more and more with courage. Twilight stepped forward, as if trying once more to send her shadow’s into Cadence’s mind. But the Alicorn stood strong, her mental barriers had slipped and allowed Twilight to place doubt there, but no more.

‘Keep them safe’

Light exploded from Cadence’s horn in a blinding flash. The eyes of every-pony were drawn to her, Twilight included, as she began to rise slowly in the air. Mental magic poured from Cadence, casting out the dark magic from the minds of her ponies, warmth and courage taking root in the guards of Canterlot.

Floating in pink and purple wings, high in the air, Cadence called out, “Guards, don’t listen to her. It was a trick to make you afraid. Look!” She pointed with on hoof, high above towards the moon. The light had returned. Though the swirling sparks seemed to try and shield their view, the full moon could be seen in it's place once again.

The guards were still for a moment, trying to make sense of what had just happened, but the answer was clearly before them. It had only been a trick. They lifted their shields and weapons once again, a greater determination filling their eyes. True, Twilight Sparkle was powerful, but they were protected by one of the Alicorns. They would endure the night, and defend their homes and lives.

While the guards stood taller than before, the mental fog clearing, Twilight shrouded her eyes with one hoof from the light. The shadows running across her face and from her body vanished in an instant, although her striking eyes remained.

“Twilight, your tricks will not work here.” Cadence called, her gaze hard as she looked down on the now defensive unicorn. As she spoke, Shining Armor’s immense shield came to life again, this time surrounding all of them within it’s hold. In a flash of light, he appeared at the front lines of the gathered soldiers. Blade held in his magic and adorned in the armor of his office, he silently stared down at his sister while Cadence spoke. “We won’t allow you to summon Discord, we cannot let you go one step further. Surrender before we are forced to hurt you!” Cadence pleaded.

Blinking spots out of her vision, Twilight righted herself. Surveying her foes with a frown, she sighed and muttered under her breath. “Damn you Cadence.” She clenched one hoof tightly, visibly pained in anger. "I didn't want it to come to this, this was the last thing that I wanted tonight."

Standing straight, she threw her cloak off of her shoulders and exposed her array of blades and saddlebags lining her body. In a flash of light and ring of steel on leather, all ten of her blades withdrew from their sheaths. Her horn blazed with defiant power, two-tone flame shooting into the air.

“I will warn you one final time!” Twilight yelled, blades spinning around her smaller form. “If you fall to the ground, stay there.” Her hooves shifted in place, prepared to charge. “I can’t afford to waste any more time.” And with those words, Twilight charged foreword and the sounds of battle rang through the night.

Incipit Bellum

Pain surged through every fiber of her being as she tried to remain upright, and stand against the torrent that struck her from every side, angle, and direction. A scream suddenly sounded, ripping through the air. She didn't have much time to consider the chaos surrounding her, it seemed like her willpower alone was all that kept her upright at the moment. Still she had to wonder, was the scream her own, or just some mind-numbing side effect of the magical cyclone of misery she had become subject too?

The sensation was one she had never experienced before. It felt as if her blood was turned to ice, roaring flame, and crystalline shards, and extracted from her body through every pore, only for a crashing wave of magic to force its way into her again. Some was her own, but much of the magical energy was alien to her. It didn't belong to her, yet she was being forced, second by second, to endure a constant torrent of power surging through her in order to fuel another pony's wicked device. Colors flashed in her vision that otherwise may have been an exquisite vision unlike anything one would normally dream of. Such colors are rather dulled when one feels as if their cells are simultaneously about to collapse in on themselves, or tear apart at the same time.

Surprisingly, it wasn't early as painful as one would think. While it was doubtless any onlooker would watch in horror at what appeared to be an excruciating experience, Luna had to admit it was not as physically painful as she would have thought. While tremendously, it was not unbearable.

Violent and grueling came to mind, but not unbearable. She knew the difference well.

Still, to have your magic ripped out, dragged through your every pore until it feels like blood is running down every hair of your body, while a surge of magic stolen from unicorns, earth ponies, and pegasi alike is forced INTO your body, perfecting the vicious cycle of being turned into living magical battery, was a unique experience she could certainly say she had never before experienced.

It was a test to endure, that was for certain. A numbness surged through her body along side the magics that likewise dominated her functions. Only blinking through the spotlights that clouded her vision was she able to ensure she had remained standing, as her tendons and muscles felt like taffy. A thick, viscous substance filled her mouth as she gasped for air. She couldn't tell whether it was spittle, blood, bile, or some combination of the three. Fighting the urge to swallow the thick substance, her body was rocked and air driven from her lungs as another surge of magic struck her. Spots danced in her vision and her legs quivered, threatening to give out, as another burst of sound filled Luna's ears.

"Twilight Sparkle!"

Ah, yes, that one definitely was her. It wasn't the volume or her own voice that confirmed it in Luna's mind, but more so the rage that radiated through her body along with the magic at the thought of the purple unicorn.

For the first time in several minutes, she felt strength take hold against her bonds, lifting her up slightly in her wide and shaky stance. She may not have been able to move, but Luna would be damned if she would be found kneeling down in this prison of hers. She didn't take kindly to bowing before any creature, let alone upstart unicorns who thought they could play God.

Licking her lips, she braced herself as another surge struck her tired and sweat-soaked form. She would not fall today, she had to suffer to the end, endure this hardship. She felt pain she hadn't experienced in hundreds of years, and yet it wouldn't slow her. The moment this suffering ended, she would be off towards the castle, to the Canterlot Gardens. That was Twilight's destination, where Discord's stone prison rested.

Raising her head, Luna saw the last sigil Twilight carved into the air, still burning as it hung in the air. The edges were deteriorating slowly, and Luna knew the spell could only last for so long. Such is the cost of hastily done work, but Luna couldn't blame her considering the circumstances Twilight had been under. The mare was resourceful, to say the least.

Luna only hoped Celestia and the others could slow the unicorn until Luna was free of her prison. Judging by how quickly the glowing sigil was dissolving, Luna estimated she had between twelve to seventeen minutes until the spell concluded. Of course, it had already been at least two minutes and thirteen seconds since she was subjected to this torment.

Or... had it been three minutes and twelve seconds instead? It was hard to tell, after all. Her mind felt like it was being scrambled, and being fueled entirely by rage and willpower did have a tendency to disturb one's clarity.

A shudder passed through Luna's body, but the mare was unsure whether it was a sob of pain, or possibly a giggle of slight madness due to her mind struggling to keep up with her wishes. It didn't matter, all that mattered was she got there in time. She couldn't be bothered to selfishly focus on her safety and well being or sanity at the moment, not while a far more selfish and insane mare thought she could break the very laws of reality. It couldn't be risked, allowing Discord free again, no matter her intentions.

Luna flexed her muscles once again, allowing another roar of pain and anger to give her strength and gain better foothold against the wave of force that sought to crush her to the ground. Luna had already told Twilight earlier that night that she wasn't strong enough to kill her.

Hopefully a third reminder would not be necessary.

'Fools. Everyone one of them.'

Light flashed from Twilight's horn, as brilliant blue, magenta, and white arcs of energy surged through the air. Traveling too fast to follow, the lightning struck the front line of Pegasi. Leaping from body to body, the front line of the flyers was instantly halt by the massive discharge of energy. Many froze in the sky, held in place by the rush of electricity that flowed across their armor and through their bones. Pegasi and Thestrals who had flown to close together found themselves stuck in a vicious cycle of pain as lightning jumped between them over and over again as the spell ran it's course.

No less than 3 Pegasi and 6 Thestrals fell in the first few seconds of the battle. Twilight paid them no mind as their bodies fell to the ground around her. Fliers were used to dealing with clouds and hazardous weather. While extremely painful, they would survive. Instead she charged forward, moving unnaturally fast towards the ground forces.

Time slowed as her hooves collided with the stone, sparks skidding through the air behind her. Lazily drifting for the briefest of moments before the frozen air snuffed them out. Cadence hovered high above, and Shining Armor stood at the forefront of the small army which faced Twilight.

“Forward!” His voice came at a crawl, slow to reach her ears as he and the others charged to meet her. Two phalanxes followed closely behind, whilst the remainder brought up the rear. Thestrals and Pegasi dove from the air or circled at high speeds, launching a barrage of missiles as they flew. Pegasi threw small knives or launched feathers made from solid steel from their wing-blades, while the Thestrals fired small crossbows attached at their forelegs. Likewise, the unicorns standing atop the castle walls and parapets unleashed another barrage of spells and concussive blasts in an attempt to slow her.

'Fools'

Magic streamed from her hooves as she ran, leaving glowing burn marks in the ground with each step, and charged far faster than her hooves would normally take her. Shining Armor, followed by dozens more ponies, charged to meet her. Meeting his eyes, Twilight dropped her head as twisting magic emanated from her horn, her blades glowing as they cut through the air, following closely behind their mistress. Undeterred, Shining brought his sword up along Twilight’s left side in a fierce swipe.

Without even a flash of light, she disappeared in the blink as the space around her collapsed in a wink. A rush of wind alongside his body proved that she had teleported no more than a foot forward and to his left. She surged past her older brother close enough for her short mane to brush against his side, and headed straight for the phalanx on his left. Before Shining Armor could even turn about fully, she had already surged past him towards her first targets.

The formation of tower shields dotted with spear heads didn’t slow in their movement as several mages threw out lead binding-chains from both sides of the shields, hoping to pin down the unicorn and weaken her magic. As the dim-grey couplings sailed through the air towards her, she once again blinked out of sight, only to reappear directly in front of the group. Sliding between two spears, she raised one hoof as she charged directly into the path of a massive shield. One Earth-pony stared eye to eye with the mare through the small slit between his shield and the next, an eye of black sclera and a shining white iris met his gaze. Pure energy corkscrewed around her hoof as she let loose a mighty punch, multiplied immensely in speed and strength by magic, striking his shield with the force of 20 earth ponies.

In a crash of metal the shield collapsed inwards, and it's wielder was sent flying back dozens of feet. His unfortunate compatriots standing directly behind him fared no better as his heavy form collided with several of his fellow soldiers, and were sent reeling in his wake. The sole unicorn mage who had barely avoided being caught up in the tumult of bodies and armor found himself defenseless as Twilight stared him down. Before he could react, she lunged forward and slammed one hoof into the side of his helmet, ripped the heavy null-chain from his hooves and lashed it like a whip, striking the stallion to the ground instantly.

She spun quickly, spinning and whipping the chain as it released from her grasp. It spun erratically through the air towards Shining Armor, the stallion falling backwards to slide underneath the twisting metal before bringing his sword up again to meet his sister. Two of her knives flowed from behind her, catching his sword at the guard and locking them together.

Sparks flew from the force of their blades colliding, and Shining grit his teeth as he pushed against his sister’s magic. Twilight leaned foreword, her face inches from his as she growled. “This all could have been avoided!” Two more blades came around her side, slicing through the air as they aimed for chinks in his armor protecting his legs. Shining anticipated the movement, jumping back to avoid the strikes, only to lunge foreword again with even greater zeal. Again she effortlessly caught his blade in hers. "I didn't want it to come to this. But you left me no choice!" She jumped back and launched a powerful blast of energy into his chest, enough to send most ponies sprawling, but he only stumbled for a moment as his armor absorbed most of the impact.

“Hmm, Adamantite plating. Not bad.” She remarked, her knives twirling through the air around. "The Armor is strong, nearly unbreakable..." Shining lurched forward and returned with his own blast of magic. Four large orbs of pink energy emerged from his horn and moved erratically towards the smaller mare, while Shining followed close behind with a thrust directly towards her chest. Twilight recognized the orbs as concussion spells. Four of her blades whizzed forward from behind her and sliced through the orbs. As they did, the orbs flashed brightly, before seeming to melt in the air, flowing into the knives that struck them. The blades began to glow and pulse with ethereal pink energy, the same as Shining's magic, and surged towards the stallion.

Shining still ran, firing another blast of light in an attempt to knock her of balance as he approached. She seemed to stare right through the approaching light as she ran to meet him, the aura of magic surrounding her dispelling his lesser attack. Gripping the blade firmly between his teeth, he shifted it backwards in preparation to swing, but was caught off guard as Twilight blinked three feet forward and locked his blade against the guard of her dagger. His eyes widened as he realized her strategy. His position was too awkward to have any mobility, and he couldn't draw his sword back without opening his throat to the cutting edge of her weapons.

She leaned foreword and simply stated, as if she was lecturing a student, "The flesh, however, is weak." The white scelera of her eyes flashed brighter than a spotlight, blinding Shining Armor instantly, leaving him no choice but to drop his sword and retreat. He took only 2 steps back before the four glowing blades struck his armor on all sides. The pink glow of Shining's magic exploded where magic-enhanced daggers collided, as the magic stored within Twilight's blades released back on it's castor.

Though the defensive capabilities of his Adamantite plating were immense, the resulting impact sent Shining Armor flying nearly 20 feet back. He bounced across the ground several times, his armor sending sparks racing across the stone. Mid-tumble, he kicked off with his back legs and sprung back onto his hooves, blinking spots and stars out of his eyes as two more phalanxes rushed past him.

Twilight leaped back as a rain of steel feathers and arrows carved into the stone where she had been standing. More than 20 flyers were bearing down on her, only their eyes visible through their protective helmets. Glaring at the sky, her eyes closed momentarily as she took a long, deep breath. When she reopened her eyes, the black and white seemed more intense. The black scleras deeper, and her white pupils glowing with a more unstable and volatile glow.

Shadows unfurled from beneath her and wrapped around her body once more. Her mouth opened wide as she screamed. A jarring and monstrous noise not like a ponies scream, but a primal and demonic cacophony of noise like the wails of Tartarus echoed through the night, while black mist surged across the stones and into the air. Instantly, the many flyers froze in the air, some falling towards the ground as pure terror truck them like a physical blow. Shining Armor covered her ears with his hooves, falling to his knees. The sickening noise in his head made him feel like his mind was breaking, unraveling as the noise reverberated in his mind.

The artificial darkness lasted only a few seconds, much to Twilight's chagrin, as light burst forth from Cadence once again, and the Panic suddenly vanished. Still flying high in the air, the illusions and terror magic evaporated in the presence of the Princess of Love. Twilight bit her cheek hard enough that the taste of copper filled her mouth as she glared up at her sister-in-law.

Massive shadowy limbs like enormous arms sprouted from the ground around Twilight, shooting in the air towards Cadence as the unicorn screamed, "Stay out of my way!" With claws longer than a ponies body, the monstrous limbs flew through the air trying to grab Cadence and subdue the minor-alicorn. Cadence dove and turned quickly in sky, barely dodging as the insidious claws tried to grab her.

Just as one claw nearly connected with her torso, it was struck with dozens of magical blasts from the unicorns atop the castle walls. Twilight's focus on the alicorn was pulled away, as she realized more spells were coming her way once more, and nearly a dozen flyers had regained their strength, descending from the sky and attacking from the ground.

All 10 daggers flew independently through the air, rising to deflect several flyers who rapidly approached. Three Pegasi and two Thestrals struck one after another, moving swiftly in multiple directions to knock Twilight off balance. The unicorn spun in the midst of them, dodging 3 of the swings, and catching the others on her floating daggers. While her magically enhanced weapons held of the two pegasi, she turned to face the others.

She grabbed the hoof the remaining mint-green pegasi, swinging him around so quickly, she felt his shoulder dislocate before he sailed through the air and collided with the shattered gate. She turned and blasted a thestral directly with a concussive blast, instantly knocking her out. Two daggers swung around as she dueled momentarily with a thestral adorned in bladed greaves, before delivering a harsh kick to his chest which drove the wind from his lungs. She gripped him in her magic before he fell, slamming him into the ground once more, before launching him into an on-coming pegasus.

She turned to see 3 more approaching phalanxes, and a dozen more Pegasi and Thestrals making beelines towards her. She teleported several feet back, as her horn blazed with light. Aiming towards the ground as swirling energy gathered around her horn, growing in size and magnitude by the second. Just as she prepared to loose it, she heard a voice directly in her ear. ‘Look out Twilight!’ Cadence screamed, jarring the unicorn's attention.

Startled, the unicorn jumped to one side just as she released the spell. The blast went wild, striking the ground, and splitting into 3 burrowing shots that rapidly dug just beneath the surface of the ground, the magical blasts tore across the courtyard. Two of them went wild, burrowing past their targets and dissipating as they collided with one of the courtyard walls, while one struck the side of an unlucky phalanx. Two Earth Pony Defenders and one mage were sent sprawling as the wayward spell cleaved through the stone terrace.

Three of her daggers flew to protect her from an attack from the pink Alicorn who's voice she heard, but there was no-pony there. "What!?" She gasped in bewilderment, momentarily distracted from her approaching enemies. The thundering hooves, only a few hoof-steps away, brought her back to reality as magic-encased hooves impacted against two tower shields in a suddenly desperate attempt to stop the oncoming attackers. Her legs trembled momentarily against the force of their impact. Had she been even slightly slower, the shields may have crushed her.

From between the shields, two spear heads violently cut through the air towards Twilight's unprotected face. Flinching to one side, she felt ice-cold steel slice through her cheek, as another biting sting told her the other spear had sliced long ways through her left ear. Pain flowed through her joints as she still wrestled with the Earth Ponies opposite to her, glaring hatefully into their eyes. The spears withdrew, drawn back in preparation to strike again.

Twilight instantly reached towards them with her magic, surrounding the offending weapons in her magic, and wrenching them away. The spears turned in the air, firing towards, and thudding into the armor of two approaching pegasi, knocking them out of the sky. Twilight's horn glowed brighter and brighter, magic surging from her horn like a brilliant flame, aimed right between the two shields. The two earth ponies tried desperately to slam their shields together, only for ten long, curved pieces of metal to interject themselves between the magically reinforced pieces of steel.

Five of Twilight's daggers had dug into each shield right where they would have met, pushing against them like a set of sick teeth, and widening the gap they so desperately tried to close. "That hurt." Twilight hissed sharply, the eyes of the ponies at her mercy widened, as she released a beam of pure energy into the phalanx. All 6 of the ponies within were sent sprawling, their armor smoking as they twitched on the ground.

Blood began running down Twilight's forehead, and she reached up quickly to wipe the liquid away before it dripped into her eyes. The spear head had carved through the center of her ear, splitting the extremity into two halves which extended halfway down the ear. Her whole body shook with barely controlled rage at the splitting pain, the cut on her cheek was deep as well. Calling her blades to her side once more, she prepared for the next assault when she suddenly felt a weight on her mind.

'Sleep Twilight,' A voice pressed into her mind, instantly causing her eye lids to feel heavier despite the adrenaline which flowed through her veins. 'You should rest.'

Twilight glared up at the Princess, still floating high in the air. Cadence's horn glowed teal, and Twilight at once knew it was the source of the pressing she felt. She screamed at the sky, “Stay out of my head!”, unleashing a chain of explosive blasts into the air. Cadence's eyes widened as she dove back, flying from side to side as the air was marred by dozens of fiery blasts. Several other flyers were not so lucky, being knocked through the air and sent crashing to the ground or into the walls of the castle itself.

Still, Cadence was persistent and the weight was still pressing on her psyche. Twilight plucked two of her daggers from the sky, gripping them in her hooves as she focused her magic on placing wards to keep Cadence out of her thoughts. Nevertheless, it felt like she was trying to build a wall out of mud, nothing was working. Magic swirled through her body, filling her like a cup about to run over, and yet she couldn't rid herself of Cadence's presence in her mind.

She readied herself for the next assault of earth ponies and unicorns. Just before a tower shield collided with her, that voice appeared in her mind once again. ‘Sleep twilight. Go to sleep.’ Cadence’s magical laced voice was calm and soothing, and for a brief moment Twilight’s stance faltered. The unicorn shook her head, preparing to catch another massive wall of shields headed straight for her, until the formation broke apart around her. The two side defenders flanked around her, as 2 ponies shot out from each side of them, and the center shield suddenly spun in the air. The mare holding it was revealed as she spun mid-sprint, gripping the strap of her defensive weapon with both hooves and hurling it towards Twilight like multi-hundred-pound Frisbee.

Twilight's eyes widened as she pushed of the ground, time seeming to slow as the massive aegis passed below her. Before she even touched the ground, the mare who threw the shield had set upon her, attacking with nothing more than weighted hoof coverings. The mare drew back one hoof, hoping to catch Twilight mid-air with a punch like a sledgehammer. Moments before contact, Twilight vanished, only to appear several feet above the mare. With her front hooves brought together, she prepared to slam them down onto the mare's helmet, until two heavy lead chains unceremoniously knocked her from the air.

The chains wrapped around both of her shoulders, instantly burning against her skin as they drew out portions of her magic. She grit her teeth to keep from crying out in pain, trying to right herself in the air, but the chains held her in place as she fell to the ground. She met the ground quickly, the collision sending stars through her vision. Nevertheless, the chains slackened giving her the opportunity the untangle one leg and quickly rise to her hooves.

Before she could move from her position, the remaining chain on her right leg pulled her sharply to the side as another chain wrapped around her left leg. She gasped as she looked to either side of her. The remaining two shield bearers had completely flanked her, standing just behind her on each side, with null-chain carrying mages following behind them.

In one sharp motion, the unicorns pulled back on the chains with all the force they could muster and Twilight's front legs were pulled out from under her. Twilight screamed as her legs snapped painfully behind her, leaving her chest fully exposed as she was quickly pulled onto her hind legs. Feeling like her limbs would be torn from their sockets, she glanced forward to see the Earth Pony mare sprinting towards her with a look that brazenly expressed an intent to kill.

Twilight's eyes widened, grunting in pain as she tried desperately to gather magic to her horn. The chains squeezed into her flesh, constricting her muscles, and interrupting the flow of magic through her body. Still, sparks gathered as Twilight desperately tried to shield herself from the coming assault. The earth-pony mare, covering the short distance between them in only a few steps, let loose a roaring battle-cry as she swung her heavily plated hoof directly into Twilight's sternum.

Multi-colored energy crackled in the air between the two ponies, as an explosion of light and smoke erupted from where the mares had been standing. Both Twilight and the other mare were sent sailing through the air opposite to one another. Twilight didn't even have time to scream, as the air was driven from her lungs and bones crunched beneath the soldiers hooves. Past the gates of the courtyard she rolled, stopping just a few paces shy of the stairs leading to the city below. She tried to stand, but the burning agony which flooded her body only allowed her to rise to her knees. The assault had nearly inverted her rib-cage and she was definitely suffering from some internal bleeding, but a last moment shield had spared her from dire peril.

The earth-pony hadn't fared much better. She slammed into the ground at the feet of her comrades, her leg plate shattered by the sudden burst of magic, and blood poured from multiple lacerations across her leg and hoof. Quickly, 2 pegasi grabbed her by her armor straps, and dragged her behind the gathered forces to the medics. Shining Armor stood at the for-front of the guards, casting a sympathetic glance to the mare who had struck a heavy blow to Twilight, before turning his gaze to the crippled form of the latter mare.

Blood trailed from her lips and even more so from her scalp, her mane growing thick with the liquid. She looked up to see Shining Armor approaching, flanked by more chain-wielding mages and a number of earth ponies and pegasi. Two Thestrals, guarded closely from behind by others, beat their wings idly as they watched her with golden eyes. Most of the company stood still a short distance away, while the null-chain users and close to ten earth ponies began to move towards her in a semi circle.

They moved quickly, but cautiously. They would be on her in seconds if she didn't act soon, but even small movements sent spiking pain through her chest. Twilight looked to where she had stood only moments ago, the space now occupied by her stoic and impassive brother, his face shrouded by his helmet. Two metallic glints beneath his hooves gave her an idea.

With a burst of magic from her horn, light wrapped around her damaged ear and glowed beneath the fur on chest. She grit her teeth in an attempt to hold back a gurgling moan of pain as her ear cauterized back into a whole, and the bones in her chest reset with a sickening crack. The noise even elicited a wince from a few nearby ponies, but Twilight paid them no mind. Instead she raised her head and met her brothers eye.

'Sorry, Shining Armor.' She thought, giving him a sympathetic glance. His eyes narrowed beneath his helmet, meeting her gaze with one of apprehension.

Reaching out with her magic, she felt the familiar grip of her blades, namely the two beneath her brother. With one motion, she flicked her horn up, and one of the blades buried itself into the underside of his left shoulder. His shoulder, heavily armored as it was, flared with pain as the dagger penetrated an inch into his flesh. Eliciting a yell of pain and surprise, he reared back only for a similarly well placed cut along his back-left leg to cause him to fall to collapse to the side. Instantly the approaching ponies stopped, more than half turning back to where the noise had come from.

Before anypony could react, 9 blades surged towards the half that still faced her. Cutting through chinks in armor, weapons fell as their wielders too collapsed in pain and confusion. Those remaining half who had been caught of guard by their captain suddenly falling, turned back towards Twilight only to be assaulted by a rapid-succession chain of spells from the lavender mare. Some found themselves frozen partially by ice spells, knocked back by concussive blasts, or struck by exploding fireballs. In a matter of seconds, sixteen ponies collapsed to the ground as Twilight drew ragged breaths.

Before the smoke cleared, she tried to take a step forward, only to break into a fit of hacking coughs as more pain radiated through her. She could feel bone fragments stab against her lungs and throat, threatening to rupture the vital organs. Even with all the magic at her disposal to repair her body, there were somethings that couldn't be healed if they were too damaged. Not in the heat of combat. Not like this.

Crimson spittle splattered the ground in front of her as she held one hoof against her chest. The pain was slowly receding but the strain was too heavy for her to move just yet. 'I'm going to need more time.' The healing spell knitting the splinters of her bones together was working quickly, much to her present discomfort.

Already ponies were mobilizing towards her, both from the sky and the ground, almost 100 guards rapidly descending on her. Though she was striking down many of their brothers and sisters, they knew she could be injured, and that blow had greatly boosted there morale. 'Come at me from every direction at once, huh? Two can play at that game.' Her horn glowed brightly, and she felt a tug in her gut and from her horn as she mentally reached for the magic flowing beneath the city.

Like a diverting water from a river, she felt some magic flow out from the ley lines of her spell-work, burning through the round as the liquid magic melted it's way through the stone. No more than a dozen feet in front of her, the stone began to glow and bubble.

Shining Armor, with the aid of 2 others, shakily rose to his hooves despite the pain flaring in his legs. His eyes lifted to see his sister, and then the glowing pools bubbling not far in front of her. His eyes widened as he realized what the liquid was. "Stop, pull back!" He shouted into the night, his voice amplified by magic. As the glowing pools quickly grew in size, some of the guards brought themselves to halt and echoed his order, flying or running back as quick as they could.

A brilliant crimson spark silently erupted from Twilight's horn and floated softly in the air despite the maelstrom which filled the night sky. Just as suddenly as it appeared, it shot towards the ground, landing within the glowing circle of stone.

And in an instant, the courtyard shattered into 10,000 pieces.

Author's Note

Happy New Years everypony!

Trading Blows

Millions upon millions of sparks joined together in a tidal wave of pure energy. The bubbling stone shattered, hundreds of pounds rock and mineral disintegrated in a fraction of a second, as a bore of energy surged hundreds of feet into the sky. One simple spark of ignition, and magic that could fuel an entire city for a month exploded in a second.

Twilight watched as the ponies who had been lunging for her with hoof, sword, and magic alike were thrown back in an instant. Even she was blinded momentarily, the veritable nuclear force of fire, sound, and power leaving a rainbow of spots dancing in her vision. The very city seemed to groan and flex beneath her, more and more stone bending and cracking. Her magic kept her anchored in place, but magically reinforced hooves wouldn't mean anything if the already fractured ground gave out.

The crushing weight of the power she wielded was almost suffocating, as a bore of pure magic 15 feet across opened in front of her, as raw, burning energy spewed forth. The warmth of her healing ribs burned like a hearth, as bones were instantly sealed by magic, but power continued to radiate throughout her body. Her hair stood on end and her cutie mark even began to glow as her magic began to surge out of control. Panic and fear was palpable in the air as dozens upon dozens of ponies were rocked by the tsunami of force.

The lucky ponies on the ground tumbled, rolled, and crashed into one another. Others were sent flying into the battlements, instantly knocked unconscious or sent careening into a multitude of directions. Screams of terror were accentuated with the crashing of metal and cracking of bones. One unicorn struck the stairs with such force his momentum launched him higher into the air. Twilight watched as he tumbled and fell up the long staircase, before being launched through the palace gate and out of sight.

Some fliers had managed to stop or pull back in time thanks to Shining Armor’s frantic warning, and were merely buffeted through the open air. It was not gentle, some were sent tumbling through the air, but Pegasi were no strangers to storms. Despite some minor burns for those too close to the source, several would recover within seconds, half a minute at the very worst.

Those who did not slow in time seemed to crumple as the energy struck their bodies. Limp bodies careening in every direction, the pegasi and thestrals were sent scattering into the wind. One was launched straight up, hundreds of feet as even his tertiary feathers were blasted of the now bad appendages. The Thestrals were treated to a far harsher rush, they being gentler fliers. Some had wings dislocated with harsh snaps of tendons and cartilage, while others slammed into the stony walls of the castle, a few held in place by the wave of force caused by the explosion. Twilight failed to suppress a wince as she saw a thestral's neck snap backwards so quickly, she was certain it had been broken.

As the unfortunate pony tumbled towards the edge of Canterlot, Twilight sent a beam of magic through air. It twirled like a bolo, wrapping around the stallions body, and latching onto the edge of the city and dangling him high above the forest below. She didn't even know if he was alive, but he deserved more than to just fall into the forest and be crushed by several tons of stone.

She turned her attention back to the torrent of energy she had created. She crouched down, focusing her magic as tightly as she could in an attempt to slow the surge. The rushing, burning sensation before her was mirrored inside her small body. Her insides seemed to twist as she attempted to control the magic which threatened to tear the courtyard apart. It was all she could do to stay rooted and keep the opening from spreading across the entire courtyard.

A groan was squeezed from her lips as her horn ignited in an attempt to cut off the magical flow. She couldn’t even take a step for fear she would be sent flying away just as the others had.

‘No, please stop!’ She could barely even think the words, as the burning in her chest spread across her entire body. She could physically feel her internal temperature rising, and the strain on her legs grew heavier with each passing second. Her knees shook as the pressure threatened to crush her to the ground. Only the enchantment on her hooves ensured she could stay grounded, but as the stone began to crack beneath her, she wasn’t sure even that would save her.

Steam began to drift off of her body, as beads of sweat were instantly consumed by the furnace of heat that surrounded her. The loosely cauterized cut through her damaged ear felt as if it would tear open again, and tears streamed through barely opened eyes.

‘I’m losing control!’ The rift before her began to widen, consuming more and more of the courtyard and opening to eventually swallow the hundreds of ponies outside, and maybe even the castle. 'I can’t turn it off. Stop damn you!

She tried exerting force over the point of exit, but like cramming her hooves over a spigot, beams of power shot off in different directions. One struck the side of the mountain, melting a hole straight through the peak, while another blasted off the top of Celestia’s personal chambers.

Through the rush of sounds, she could begin to hear screams and cries of alarm as the widening flow of magic spread closer and closer to those on the ground. Some attempted to rise and retreat, only to be flung brutally into their comrades and and join the scattered rubble that was swept back. She could just barely see Shining Armor surrounding himself, Cadence, and a few others in a small bubble, but it flickered where it stood. Two guards tried to help him stand, but his legs were limp from where Twilight’s daggers has cut. There was desperation in his eyes, that much she could see. He looked afraid.

He looked like a pony who knew he was about to die.

Twilight grit here teeth so hard she thought they might shatter. ‘I only wanted to use this if Celestia was here, but I need a conduit.’ She tried to unfurl the flaps of her saddlebag, but it was like trying to thread a needle with her tail. She could barely manage to undo one of the clasps to reveal a large oval object wrapped in a fine black drawstring bag. The top of the object barely peaked out from the magically expanded pocket.

Before she could even attempt to remove the object, she saw another surge of light from the corner of her eye. Her head whipped around to see yet another geyser like the one before her. Her heart sank, this one was so bright it was visible clearly through the flaming pillar before her. At first she thought another bore had opened in the city, this one directly in the center of the castle, but something was different. This wasn’t the same furious energy as was in front of her. Instead, it was… radiant. A brilliant gold, pure and soft. She felt the burning pressure around her diminish, as a strange warmth filled the air.

Twilight felt the tug of her magic lessen as she was caught up the enrapturing sight. She could see others starting to turn to look along with her. Resplendent magic furled high into the air, coalescing into a shining orb a hundred feet above Celestia's ruined tower. Warmth filled Twilight as the gazed upon the light, replacing the turmoil that had only moments ago seized her. Light refracted off of the orb as if it was liquid...

'No,' Twilight realized, 'It is liquid. Liquid magic!' The golden orb grew larger, as auric magic streamed upwards like a reverse waterfall. From the tower came six beams of light, red, blue, orange, green, purple and pink. One after another, which ethereally flowed through the air like loose bundles of cord and began to orbit the pool of mana. Brilliant, glistening rings spinning and twirling into a six-pointed diamond around the glistening sphere. Twilight couldn't help but look on in wonder. She had never seen something like this, and the radiating warmth seemed to fill her heart and soul with a feeling she couldn't quite place.

Her mind was called back to when she was a filly, she had sat with Celestia one morning as the elder Alicorn raised the sun. The same resplendent feeling that had filled her heart now gently caressed her panicked and fevered mind. That same wonderous euphoria feeling flowed through her again, almost enough to cause her to gasp.

A commotion broke out amongst the guards as the magical storm slowed, and the divine light strengthened. Their chest plates began glowing, the Day Guard’s star-shaped aquamarine gems began shining with a teal glow, while the Lunar Guard’s tanzanite shone with an almost silvery-blue hue. Even Shining armor seemed surprised, his purple gem casting a ghostly magenta.

A soft hum began to fill the air, calling Twilight back to the present. The rings were tightening spinning, gyrating around that golden orb of light. Something was happening, the magical energy was rapidly growing, and Twilight realized suddenly who’s power that was.

Desperately she tried to avert her eyes from the light, but it was as if she was moving in a dream. She just couldn't tear her gaze away. She gingerly lifted a hoof, not even realizing she was no longer magically anchored to the ground, and slowly reached back to try and remove the object from her pack. The limb uselessly dragged at the bag’s edge, as her enraptured mind couldn't focus on anything but the sight before her.

From that same tower came another brilliant light. Soft and warm, the light rose into the sky as a pony took flight, soaring high above the incandescent magic. Twilight couldn't even make their ponies features, but they were bathed in glorious light just as sublime as the ethereal magic that gathered into the night sky. Unable to react, she watched as the gyrating rings of light collapsed into one another, forming a band around the now perfectly symmetrical orb.

It was then, a lone voice called out. “She’s here, it’s the Princess!”

‘No...’

More voices joined in the clamor, from heartfelt cries of relief, to whoops and cheers. The clanking of metal could be heard as ponies rose to their feet, cheering louder and louder as their Princess joined them amidst the broken battlefield. Celestia flew high, higher above the swell of magic, almost reaching the hazy dome of Twilight’s spell-craft. Celestia’s eyes were closed as if she were deep in thought, her expression strangely neutral as shimmering sparks seemed to rain down from the tips of her wings.

Glowing with all the beauty of her heavenly element, Celestia’s wings furled around her body, exposing only her horn and face as brilliant white power focused directly on tip of the appendage.

No

Barely able to focus, Twilight reached out with her magic, grabbing one of her blades in a desperate grasp. Gritting her teeth, she pulled with her magic and the knife sliced through the air along her side. The pocket exploded, and the collapsing expansion-spell sent dozen of items flying across the demolished plaza.

The largest of which fell mere meters away. An oval object lay on one side, idly shifting and rolling on the uneven ground. It was medium sized, eight inches tall and still held in the simple black bag. Twilight desperately tried to grab it in her magic, but her grip was too slippery and un-controlled to move it properly. It was a firm object, but she couldn't risk crushing it with her magic flaring out of control. Slowly the stone began to slide towards her, nudged forth by magic that just barely managed a grasp, but Twilight knew she was too late.

Hundreds of feet in the air, surrounded by a symphony of color, Celestia’s horn shone like the noon-day sun. The Alicorn tilted her horn down, as magic poured out in a torrent and struck the radiant circle. The orb of magic, too pure to even be called golden, who’s brilliance surpassed that of even the purest of diamonds, compressed in on it self for a fraction of a second before expanding in fiery brilliance like the dawning Celestia’s sun.

The ring burst outwards, reflecting with the beauty of a thousand rainbows, as it expanded all across Canterlot. Every pony it passed over felt their breath catch in their chest’s, even Twilight, as they felt a magical grip encompass them for a brief moment.

As the light passed over the guards, a soothing feeling filled them to their core. As if they felt the warm embrace by a loving mother, gentle hooves promising to whisk them away somewhere safe. They forgot their fears, bruises, and cuts as a wave of pure harmony washed over them. Several laughed as the radiance passed through them, leaving them feeling washed and renewed.

Twilight, on the other hoof, was buffeted back and sent sprawling on her hind end. The bag was released from her loose magical grasp and rolled several feet passed her. She reached out desperately with one hoof to catch it, but failed to catch the egg, missing it by inches.

Trying desperately to right herself, Twilight held back the bile in her throat as her head ached and world spun for a moment. Her horn throbbed and pulsed, almost like a second heartbeat. She reached up to cradle the appendage, but pulled away at the sound of hissing. Her horn was hot to the touch, singing her fur as her hoof came into contact. An effect Twilight had never experienced nor even heard of, but she hadn't the time to consider what it meant.

The sharp pains in her chest had returned, but they felt muted compared to several minutes ago. The bones had knit back together, but the lingering ache remained. With some effort she found unbroken footing and lifted her torso but was unable to fully stand. Her back right leg felt sluggish and she couldn’t rouse the muscles to bare her weight. As she finally lifted her head, only then could she register the silence around her.

The millions upon millions of sparks, geysers of power that filled the city and flowed beneath it’s stone, stood scattered and frozen in mid-air as the wave of power flowed across the city. Individual motes of light floated idly in the air like snowflakes, gently pulsing with their soft glow.

The air was still, the magical sparks hovering and softly winking all around her and across the city. A golden glow surrounded Canterlot for a full mile, with a brilliant golden ring slowly gyrating around the whole of the city and mountain. To a far off viewer it would almost appear as if the city had been placed in a giant snow-globe, as magical sparks hung and pulsed amidst the stillness within.

There was no breeze rustling through the streets, no roar of energy, not even the faintest sparkle or hum of magic. Twilight was painfully aware of her gasping breaths and the faint gurgle in her throat that clawed it’s way out with every movement. As her eyes swept across the cityscape behind she was empty streets and houses lit up by the soft golden light. Tenderly, like a gentle whisper, a realization crossed Twilight's mind.

'Empty...streets?'

The thought registered after a moment. Potent as her spell-craft may have been, it was meant to ensure that sleeping ponies would remain asleep through the magical-harvesting process. Once their magic was drained to the spell’s cut-off point, they would be placed in a soft-coma till it was fully deactivated.

Unfortunately, some had awoken during Twilight and Luna’s battle, no doubt light-sleepers or ponies burning the midnight oil, who were unfortunate enough to be awake once the process began. The degree of power within the spell’s effect ensured that the average pony would not remain awake for long, but the jarring process would surely be remembered and felt for days afterwards.

And yet, Twilight now gazed upon bare roads. Her spell had been completely halted, but the magical sparks hadn’t dissipated. Why… The magic should have gone somewhere. Anywhere. The most logical conclusion was it would dissipate and scatter into the atmosphere, but Twilight ensured that the magic would flow in a sort of closed-loop. It would return to it’s origin point, or merely be guided back into the magically-reinforced fissures she had carved. So why had nothing happened?

“They are safe now, Twilight.” A voice called, as Twilight flinched at the sudden sound. The voice seemed to come from everywhere, all around Twilight. It was not harsh, nor was it angry, but firm and almost held a touch of sadness.

The sound of a heavy wings called her attention back to the castle, the effort of turning causing her head to swim as she fell onto her haunches in a half sitting-half lying down position. She couldn’t quite tell of she was seeing spots, or it was the glowing sparks in the air, but the Alicorn appeared to sparkle and glow as she descended gently towards the shattered grounds. Her enormous plumage of white wings fully extended as she landed with a soft clink of her golden shoes.

"I will not let you hurt my little ponies anymore."

As Twilight beheld the Elder Alicorn Princess she understood, in part, what it must have been like for Luna just before she had been restrained. Celestia's radiant plumage and coat gleamed in the light of magic, but her regalia shown like a lighthouse in the dead of night. Twilight brought a hoof to cover her eyes. She was barely able to see the alicorn past her blinding light.

The large plate-like necklace the alicorn wore glowed like it had been pulled from a forge, seeming to flow across her shoulders in a liquid state rather than simply resting on her neck. What's more, it seemed to have grown larger. The metal had spread across her entire chest, climbing halfway up her neck. The metal had seemed to unfold from itself. The normally smooth ring was now segmented and layered like scaled armor. Instead of arrow-head shaped plates, the metal flared outwards with golden feathers that decorated her shoulder blades, and seemed to fold protectively over the pinion feathers of her wings.

The amethyst gem in the center seemed larger, now with a dazzling rainbow of color shining through. Twilight barely resisted the urge to lean in closer for a better look at what she saw. The lights weren't merely shining or dancing, they flowed within the gem. Moving and intertwining in a way she didn't understand. A perfect dance, as the magic ebbed and swirled within.

She stood at the front of her guards, some still rising to their hooves with renewed strength, or perhaps even reverence, at the appearance of their elder Diarch. Twilight's attention was caught as she studied the group. The collecting of ponies seemed smaller, somehow. Several dozen ponies had been knocked unconscious by the battle and resulting explosion, but every pony she could see was standing, or at least conscious. The number seemed wrong though, as if she was looking a two-thirds, or even half the number she had seen only a few moments ago.

"They have been taken away from here." Celestia's voice rang out as if reading the unicorn's mind. Lavender eyes locked with Twilight's, the alicorn's unyielding gaze scrutinizing the smaller mare. “Everypony in this city has been taken somewhere you cannot find them, and there they will stay until this matter is been resolved.” Her voice was as still as her body. The alicorn hadn't taken a single step since she arrived, still standing firmly between Twilight and the still battered guards.

The unicorn shifted in place, trying to rise to her hooves, but her now wounded back leg slid out from under her with a sharp twinge of pain. Pain severed the lock Celestia had on her gaze, as Twilight realized the wound she had inflicted on herself. The uncontrolled blade cut so deeply through the straps on her pack, she had inflicted the same wound Luna had given on her opposite flank. The cut was thin but easily a quarter, if not half an inch deep. The dripping blood was concerning, but the stream was slow and it proved no major arteries had been nicked. Adrenaline was slowly giving way to radiating pain, but she wouldn't bleed out. Not for little while at least.

A hum of magic called Twilight's attention forward. Golden magic encircled Celestia's horn and Twilight was struck with a gust of wind, nearly sending her tumbling head-over-heel. Dust and small debris cleared around her in a hundred foot radius, but Twilight recovered from the shock, ducking low, only sliding several feet back. She was slowly pushed against a large chunk of shattered stone. She wrapped a hoof around it, averting her eyes to avoid being blinded by particulate which stung at her face and neck.

Just as suddenly as it had started, the gust stopped. Twilight cracked an eye open to see Celestia still standing a ways away. Dust-devils scattered and mingled in the air with the solemnly hanging lights, and but the alicorn had taken her eyes off Twilight for the first time since appearing. She stared into the air with narrowed eyes, and Twilight followed her gaze. Ethereal golden light floated through the air, hard to see against the backdrop of magic already dominating the sky, but it seemed drawn into the already existing motes of magic.

There gazes met again as they came to the same conclusion. 'The spell is still active.' Twilight did her best to keep the surprise off her face. With the mechanism interrupted, she didn't even understand how magic was still being drawn. It clearly wasn't attacking the source, Celestia's body, but ambient magic was being drawn in. She could feel in the back of her mind that it was still active, but something had interrupted it's processes. Tentatively she reached out with her own power, trying to touch the spell.

As magic tried to flow from her horn, sparks shot from the tip in a flurry of colors as a wave of nausea came over her yet again. "Bad idea..." She croaked. Her head swam for a moment, now accompanied by a high, barely audible ringing.

Twilight inched backwards, still leaning on the rock for support. Anything to keep as much pressure off her right side as she could. 'Hopefully that will give Celestia some pause.' If the Alicorn rushed her now, there would be no hope. Celestia was anything but hasty though, which meant she had at least a few seconds to come up with a plan.

Risking a glance behind her, Twilight spotted the draw-string bag a little more than ten feet away. It was nestled between several chunks of rock. 'There you are.' Relief swept through her. The object appeared to be in tact. From this distance at least.

Without thinking, she reached for the bag telekinetically. Instantly a sharp pain drove itself between her eyes like a dagger. Her head whipped back like a hammer blow as even more sparks shot from her horn. As they collided with the stone, small bursts of elemental magic fizzled and crackled across the ground. Flames danced across the ground in front of where Twilight had stood, a burst of rapidly growing crystals spread across an abandoned great shield a few feet away, and several sparks coalesced into a snowball that landed only a few paces from Celestia.

Twilight felt the pulsing in her horn grow stronger, causing her to fall backwards. As she rolled across the ground the ringing in her ears grew louder and the air seemed to shake around her. Her entire forehead suddenly began to ache as she tried to cradle her head, groaning under the building pressure in her cranium. 'Something's wrong. I have to move, now!'

She heard the shifting of armor as she turned away from the front of the castle, solely focusing on the bag just a few feet away. With one hoof she reached out, pulling and dragging herself across the broken ground. Through the ringing and humming the sounds of hoof-steps echoed behind her. Not the pounding of armor, but a gentle clinking. Slow, cautious, but even. The fine tinkle of golden shoes.

"No, no, please no." She muttered, as she tried to locate the bag again. Too many spots danced in her vision to clearly see, but she knew it was close. The idea of the approaching alicorn terrified her, and she kicked out and pulled desperately. 'Why? Why isn't it reactivating?' Twilight's thoughts were as desperate as her movements. 'The spell should re-power itself to maintain the flow of energy.'

She felt a shadow fall over her and couldn't help but turn to see what, or who, it was. 'What is taking so long?'

Over a mile away, down empty streets and across the villas of Canterlot, passed stores and shops locked up tight, for almost no-pony was there to see them. Far down, at the southernmost point of the mountain, a mare lie under the pale moonlight. Her chest rose and fell with soft, gentle breaths, but nary a muscle twitched or a hair of her mane moved. Nothing within her would rouse, nor did she will it to, allowing silence instead to consume her.

'Where am I?' A feeling, barely a though, flickered in her mind. In the stunning quiet around it, it was almost loud. Her thoughts were empty, but a serene feeling began to flow through her. She felt dust tickle her nose, and through closed eyes she saw shadows cross her. 'Light. There is light.'

Her ethereal mane was still, but felt something touch it. No, something was taken off of it. Something brushed across one of her wings, and something large was lifted off her rear legs. Was she buried? No, she was under her night sky. Under the glow of her moon. She could feel it's coolness touching her with the gentleness of a butterfly's wings. Cool and calm, a delicate feeling kissed her wilted body, her pores drinking in the soft magic.

She willed her mind to action for just a brief moment. To understand what had just happened. She had been trapped, yes? Hopelessly trapped. Locked into a battle against herself. Her own magic used against her. She remembered a unicorn, solemn at first, then angry, then sad. She had also been sad, then angry as well. She had been inside... a building? A prison? She couldn't recall, but her moon hadn't been able to touch here there. Not like now.

Something began to shake her. Dreamily, one eye lolled open, just enough to gaze upon her moon through bleary vision. High in the sky, Luna's beautiful moon shone down on her numb and still form. Steam seemed to rise from her body, but Luna felt the cool sensation of the moon's touch caressing and easing her mind.

A memory stirred in her mind. Anger. Anger and determination had filled her. A glowing wall surrounding her, a glyph of power slowly deteriorating, runes etched across cracked walls that began to fade and flicker as they died. A scream echoed in her mind. Not one of pain or fear, but determination. Her voice, her scream. Had she been fighting?

Her gaze was suddenly forced away, her head swiveling despite her exhaustion. She saw a pony staring at her. Two ponies. Their lips moved, but no sound reached Luna. The one holding her head was the color the noon-day sky and surrounded by a rainbow, the other was grey and wrapped in gold, while their shadow stood far behind. They hurt her eyes to look at, and she lazily turned her gaze up to her divine element again. Beautiful and true, her moon's glow wrapped her in sweet rapture.

Slowly her gaze was pulled away as her head fell downwards and she felt her cheek rest against the ground. There was a building she could see, a once large building, now shattered and broken. Bits of strewn metal marked the path from it to her, the entire wall having been torn asunder. The roof had partially collapsed, but a soft glow emanated from inside. Pale blue, with a magenta core. Something hung in the air, drumming with life and magic.

She could barely make it out, but she recalled the sensation of her horn crashing into something. Yes! She remembered the barrier walls faltering. They had begun to flicker and fail, as golden light had poured through the gaps in broken plaster and sheet metal. A beautiful feeling filled her, sweet and harmonious. It gave her courage and strength. She had driven her horn through the barrier that surrounded her, and shattered it like glass. Then she'd felt open air, cast into the arms of her night sky.

The sweet numbness that covered her entire body was the greatest joy she could have asked for. 'I can rest... for just a moment. Just a few...' A shadow flickered over her again, as the rainbow in the sky ran towards the building, and disappearing out of sight. Grey and gold knelt beside her as her eyes flickered to a close. She saw the soft glow again in the distance. The pale cerulean glow faded and evaporated into the sky. A shiver seemed to pass through the glyph which echoed in the air. It pulsed again and again like a dying heartbeat till only magenta remained.

'Only the magenta?' The thought pricked at Luna. For a moment, she began to raise her head until something else touched her mind. Something stronger, yet serene. A beautiful voice that filled her, making her feel as if she slept on the softest cloud in the sky.

"Come now, Princess, this is no time to fight. The stars are so bright, and your moon so pure. It would be a shame to leave them, wouldn't it? Sleep. Just a little longer, won't you?"

Beautiful words that caressed her mind like the light of the moon. Peace filled her, clouding her mind as the prickling thought vanished. The shadow stroked her mane gently, and she felt as if her cares and worries were brushed away with each passing hoof. Her lips widened in a gentle smile as she closed her eyes. Only the darkness and her moon remained. That, and the voice of the shadow bidding her to sleep.

"There there, Princess. Rest now, and play in your dreams. My dreams are comin true tonight. Soon, we'll be able to play in them together. Forever. It will be such fun Princess, and when that day comes the fun will never, ever, end."

As Luna slept, the shadow departed, followed quickly by his pony, as magic slowly stirred beneath the city and within the mountain. As the primary magic source was found again. As a low humming began to emanate in the air around the magical symbol. Light and power stirred, a single shrill-note began to fill the air, and a magenta glow filled what was left of the warehouse once more.

Author's Note

I swear, I'm not dead! And, even better, neither is Homecoming. I forgot to save this note when I posted the new chapter yesterday, but finally Homecoming is coming off it's eternal hiatus. PERMANANTELY!

I already have a few chapters written and ready to go, but will to try and stick to weekly releases on Saturdays, with a couple chapters in the vault, just in case of delays. I may skip posting next week due to me moving back to Florida, a friends wedding on the way, and so I can finish polishing off the next chapter, but at long last the conclusion of Homecoming is almost here!

See yall soon :twilightsmile:

Midnight Dawn

"I will not let you hurt my little ponies anymore."

Celestia looked down at the unicorn with firmness. Head held high, her voice steady and gaze level. There was no anger in her words, merely certainty. A harsh reality, as if to tell a child that they will not always get their way. But deep within her, Celestia's heart twisted with sadness.

The words seemed to burn within her as she spoke, like cinders that swelled up from her heart. They scarred her throat and blistered her tongue as she spoke, but she would not refrain. So many eyes gazed upon her, eyes she couldn't bear to meet. To see those pained faces, fear filled eyes, ponies who had been fighting and holding on with nothing left but desperation. She might have broken into sobs herself if she had, at that moment, looked to the ones she failed to protect. Instead, she only met a single gaze. Those wide, stunned eyes meeting her own in near disbelief. It brought her no comfort to see, it merely saddened her all the more, but she had a duty to fulfill...

"They have been taken away from here."

The words were true, but felt so empty as they crossed her lips. So many had been hurt already, so much destruction lie before her, and yet here she stood untouched and arriving at the eleventh hour.

She stood at the front of her ponies with firmness unmatched, stoic and silent as she gazed down on Twilight, giving no indication to her pain within. The deep guilt piercing through her, only increasing as she continued to survey her surroundings. Stone shattered like glass surrounded her for hundreds of feet, broken and lost weapons and armor were scattered across the once beautiful plaza, and everywhere for thousands of feet more magical particles hung in the air.

At her arrival, stillness and order had followed her, as the wind itself seemed to bow to the power of Harmony. In Celestia's mind, it merely gave no distractions to the awful scene before her. But despite her disappointment, the warmth in her chest was a reminder of her duty. She had not felt it's power for so long, and it spoke some peace to her. She barely felt the weight of her greatly enlarged regalia, the power she channeled bringing as much stillness to her mind as it did the rising sun.

The Safeguard was a subject of extremely small reputation, it's grand and mysterious power was only a rumor to many in the royal guard. Knowledge of it's full power and capabilities was only made known to those of the highest rank and most trusted by the diarchy. Though occasional whispers would arise among members of the guard, none had confirmation of it's existence. Some believed it to be an alicorn weapon, an enchanted army, chaos magic stolen from Discord, beasts taken from Tartarus and bound to serve when called upon, or any number of fanciful imaginings. The truth, however was both simpler and far more complicated than most could understand.

At it's point of activation, magic would sweep across the entire city as a magical index with a catalog of every citizen in Canterlot would activate and identify each pony via magical-signature. All those designated as citizens and non-combatants would instantly be teleported out of the city and to a location known only by the Princesses, and the head of the Royal Guard, Shining Armor.

They would be held in a form of stasis until the catastrophic event had come to a close. The Royal Guards, both of the Solar and Lunar, would be unaffected by the magic save for life-threatening circumstances befalling them. The gems Imbued in their armor acted as a magical life support system and anchor. Should the magical mechanism be activated, they would remain within the city to continue fighting whatever threat had shown itself. If knocked unconscious, exhausted of their magic, or suffering a grievous injury, their armor's crystal would shatter as they too were whisked away to safety. There everypony would remain in a bliss-full sleep until they were re-called by the spell's ending.

"Everypony in this city has been taken somewhere you cannot find them, and they will stay until this matter is been resolved." She finished, falling silent once more as Twilight gawked up at her. The unicorn seemed stunned initially, no doubt the magical toll had struck her frame strongly. With as intricate and powerful Twilight's spell had been, to see it so immensely countered must certainly have rocked her.

'She's right to feel that way.' Celestia thought to herself. 'Without the Safeguard, I'm not sure any pony could have undone this in such a manner. Yet another unfortunate byproduct of carelessness gone unchecked...'

Though she did not know it, Twilight Sparkle was not the first to think to anchor a spell to the mountain which held Canterlot aloft. Deep within the great mountain lay six magical stones of purity and brilliance unmatched by any in creation. Bound and submerged in a pool of liquid magic at the direct intersect of major ley-lines that ran through the continent. For hundreds of years they lingered, almost asleep, waiting to be called on to protect the ponies of Canterlot.

Their sleep had been too long though, and the delay in being fully activated was deeply regrettable. Celestia had only been gone for a quarter of a hour, but scarcely three minutes of battle had utterly ravaged the once beautiful castle courtyard, and extraneous magic had caused damage to buildings within another four block radius. Thankfully few residences were arranged near the palace, and the affected buildings were built stronger than most

While her entrance was stunning, it was a necessary display to the spell's activation. It had not taken long to awaken the elements, initially. The link built into Celestia's tower was transferred into her raiment upon being activated. Twilight's spell had unintentionally disrupted the link, and thus Celestia could only channel enough power to partially trigger the life-support inside the guards chestplates. When Twilight's grand spell had activated, Celestia was only able to break the connection from her and the nearby contingent. Other guards who had been posted farther away may not have been so lucky, but she would accept any mitigating factors she could gather.

And so now she stood. Her gaze was fixed on the small mare, waiting for any move. The unicorn began trying to rise, only for her legs to fail her. Celestia noted the long cut on her side. It was bleeding at a steady rate and the face the attached limb seemed to weakened by whatever blow had struck it. 'She won't be able to move quickly with that.' She thought, as golden magic wrapped around her horn. 'Be it far from me to let her try.' Gale-force winds ripples from Celestia whipping across the courtyard as dust and debris were sent flying into the air.

Twilight tumbled over herself once, before flattening low to the ground and find some grip on a boulder. Celestia had hoped to send her flying into the bent and broken stone fence at the edge of the courtyard, many of the pillars and wooden support beams had been cracked and broken. It would have been a quick end to things, a strange golden shimmer drew Celestia's attention towards the sky. Instantly she ended her spell, gaze narrowing.

A golden aura of her magic floated like gentle sunbeams in the air. Drifting off her horn and into the thousands of magical sparks which hung above and around her. As she withdrew her power the silky streams of magic faded. Scanning the horizon, near and far, the motes of magic didn't move or change. Still, they hung like idle warnings. Almost taunting her.

Her gaze dropped to Twilight once more, the mare already staring at her as Celestia realized what it meant. Her eyes narrowed into a glare as she saw a shadow of surprise in Twilight's eyes. 'You don't hide it well.' Twilight craned her neck up, the subtle perturbed look visible only to Celestia. Celestia opened her mouth to speak, but stopped as a steam of sparks shot from Twilight's horn.

Several guards raised whatever weapons or shields they had in anticipation of another assault, while others huddled behind their princess for safety. Celestia didn't flinch, watching the pony below her instead. Twilight recoiled in surprise, but kept her hooves beneath her. The unicorn turned away from Celestia, her eyes scanning rubble. Celestia followed with her own gaze, as Twilight's eyes settled on an object half-buried in rubble. The Princess couldn't make out what it was, but a look of relief fell over the unicorn as she raised a hoof towards the object.

'She's delirious from exhaustion.' Celestia realized. She began to take a step forward, ready to charge the unicorn is she needed to. If Twilight didn't realize her how her spell was still working, then using her magic could cause anything to happen. She made it two steps before Twilight's horn burst as even more sparks. The unicorn was thrown back as uncontrolled spells scattered in every direction.

Celestia shifted her wings to shield the guards from anything that came towards them as many of them shifted back with a clamor. Only a conjured snowball made it anywhere near them, but Celestia could feel a pulse in the air. Soft, but present. The smallest of shifts in the balance of magic.

"For the princess!" A stallion muttered behind her. She turned to see an earth pony she recognized. Nimble Tail, a brown Earth Pony with black spots like a bovine. His armor was partially torn and blood matted his mane, but he firmly clenched a sword between his teeth with a wild look in his eyes. He jumped to his hoofs, preparing to charge Twilight but stopped just as quickly as Celestia snapped one wing down. The stallion stumbled, as the harsh crack startled him out of his delirious zeal. Several other guards caught him as he fell, pulling the sword from his grasp and restraining him.

Celestia folded her wings against her side. The golden regalia's metal flexing with her muscles, folding along her sides and wrapping around her wing's tendons and scapula. Slowly she began to step forward, barely inclining her head to thr side as she looked to Shining Armor and Cadence. "Take them into the castle hall." She strides bore smooth confidence, but a tension was visible in her narrowed gaze. "Don't use any magic except for treating injuries. This might not be over."

"Are you sure you want to go it alone, Princess?" A smooth voice inclined. Wicked Wing, helping to support Shining Armor along with Cadence, seemed completely uninjured and ready to follow. "There's more than a few that can still stand proud."

"I'll be fine, don't risk yourselves unnecessarily." Her eyes flicked over the still restrained pony as his comrades pulled him up the steps. He wasn't struggling and seemed to sag in their grasp. Celestia merely shook her head as she forced herself to turn away.

Twilight was dragging herself across the ground, her movements jerky and uncertain with occasional sparks shooting from her horn. Celestia's moved as quickly as she risked, her eyes flitting from the fallen unicorn and the plethora of magical motes that filled the air. None of the magical bursts from Twilight were being pulled in, but if she was was so magically exhausted that she was suffering magical-rebounds, then Celestia dared not use her own. Something unsettled her about the hanging particles. It was like they were waiting for something. Like a thousand eyes watching her as she moved. She scanned the ground before her, eyes coming to rest on an abandoned spear between her and the unicorn. Twilight appeared beaten, but Luna had lost to her already tonight, and Celestia was loathe to act rashly and fall into a potential trap.

She gently picked up the weapon, inspected it quickly as he strode forward. The metal shaft was partially bent, but the blade appeared intact and it would keep from being within hooves reach of Twilight. “Such mayhem has not been wrought on Canterlot for hundreds of years.” She spoke in a hushed, lamenting tone. More so whispering to herself than speaking to the unicorn. “Even when the changelings came we had not been subjected to such… madness.”

As she tucked the spear into one shoulder, the air seemed to shift and tighten around her. Celestia jerked back, with a clatter of gilded shoes, her acute gaze instantly on the fallen unicorn. The mare was still blindly scrambling across the ground, hardly any farther away than she had been a moment ago. Once again looking higher, she felt a disturbing cold run up her spine. Something in the sky had changed. The motes, unenumerable as they were, didn't seem to have moved, but Celestia couldn't help but feel that something had changed again.

Her mind seemed to run at a thousand miles per second. If what Celestia had felt was real, even if only for a moment, Twilight paid it no mind. Or perhaps she just didn't notice. The fumbling unicorn was still desperately pulling herself towards the nestled sack. She tucked the weapon into her shoulder, still eyeing the unicorn and sky warily. She just needed to get a few feet closer. She wasn't sure she could hit a vital spot from twenty feet with bent spear. Just a little closer.

As she drew closer, that strange tightness seemed to slowly build in the air. Celestia continuing her cautious strides as Twilight seemed more and more desperate to find what she sought, but unbeknownst to either mares, a deep pulse began drum within the great mountain.

Nearing Twilight, barely ten feet from her, Celestia could see a small bag nestled amidst the rubble. Twilight was searching a few feet to it's left, confirming Celestia's suspicion that mare was half-blind from exhaustion. As she stood over the unicorn, Twilight stopped. Her whole body tensed as the alicorn's shadow fell upon her. Slowly the mare half-turned to face her. A sole, terror-filled eye, meeting Celestia's gaze.

The unicorn locked eyes with Celestia only for a moment, fear radiating from her expression. "I'm sorry we couldn't save you, my little pony." Celestia half-whispered as she gripped the spear in one hoof. From this close, Celestia could clearly see the damage done to her. Twilight's eyes were wild, bloodshot and half-crazed. Streaks of blood ran down her face, tangling muddied mane. The unicorn's mouth fell open, as her eyes flitted past the alicorn and she began to scramble back even faster. Twilight seemed to pay no mind to the approaching Princess, sliding back until she stopped against the same section of stone which housed her small bag. The dawning look of terror grew into sheer horror they unicorn looked past Celestia entirely.

Celestia almost snorted. Whether a paltry trick as old war, or she just taking one last glance at her brother, the outcome wouldn't change. Celestia hefted the spear in one hoof, bringing it close to her cheek as she prepared to hurl it through the unicorn's chest. She felt a stillness as the building pressure finally ceased, as she drew a steady breath in anticipation and magical lights swirled in Twilight's eyes.

In that brief, pregnant pause however, Celestia froze. Twinkling lights danced across the edge of her vision, reflecting against the head of the spear. Though her hoof was steady, the reflection was changing.. She glanced higher, nearly gasping as she did. The sky had shifted. Looking higher, she realized that all of them, every single mote of light down the smallest among millions, was slowly swirling around her as if she stood in the eye of a hurricane. She turned her head and followed Twilight's silent gaze. Thousands and thousands of sparks were moving towards Celestia, following her as they whisked through the air.

Celestia dove to the side, her horn and regalia bursting with light as she siphoned as much magic as she would risk into a barrier. A rainbow of magic coalesced around her like a wall of mist. Soft streams began to dissipate from her barrier, but feeding some magic might have been a small price to pay compared to whatever might happen if those sparks touched her. "What in Equestria are you doing!?" She demanded, aiming the spear at the unicorn once again.

Twilight sat dumbfounded, looking all around her. "I... It's not me." She took a shuddering breath. "I'm not doing any of this..." All around them, the air was filling with soft chimes and warbles, like the magic was speaking.

A single teal spark floated past Celestia, moving through her barrier, causing her to jump further back from Twilight. The spark floated towards Twilight quickly like a fishing line being reeled back, and coming to a stop almost on the tip of Twilight's nose. The pair stared in silence at it, as it pulsed in the air silently and slowly faded faded from teal to a soft magenta.

"No!" Twilight turned to scramble over the stone, but the spark burst like a flash of static electricity and struck the tip of horn. Yet again the mare fell to the ground, flinching back as if she been cuffed on the forehead. The air shifted and tightened again, even stronger than it had before. High above, the coalescing whirlwind of magic poured down through the air like a funnel, as tendrils of magic reformed and surged down towards a single point. Cries of alarm came from behind Celestia as the guards began sprinting up the stairs to escape the resurging storm.

Celestia whirled the spear around quickly, launching the blade through the air, and towards the prone unicorn. The damaged weapon wobbled as it left her hoof, but it was a steady throw but came just too late. Almost as soon as it left her hooves, both she and the weapon were jaunted sideways as an explosion of sound and pressure erupted around Celestia.

The rush of sound and force struck her left shoulder like a hammer, as the energy sent Celestia skidding across the ground, threatening to lift her into the air or pummel her against the ground. She dropped low, sparks flashing across her shoes as she tried to find purchase in the broken ground. She drew one hoof back and slamming it into the ground as hard as she could, trying to anchor herself into the floor. Her movement slowed, but the heavy pressure and already damaged rock allowed her no hold, as her hoof dug a shallow trench as she slid. Both wings unfurled, slowly snaking across her sides and down to the ground as Celestia crouched low. Her feathers squeezed tightly and angled low towards the front, allow the majority of the wind to ripple over them and hold her tighter to the ground. She spared once last glance towards Twilight, unable to make out anything more than a shadow within the stream of magic. She drew her eyes away, closing them in concentration as she crouched lower, nearly folding her legs completely under her.

Instantly her muscles tensed, kicking off the ground with explosive force, and shattering the already broken plaza to dust as she leapt into the sky. Her wings fully extended with a heavy crack as she spread her feathers wide caught the hurricane force head-on. She flew hundreds of feet within seconds, the instant acceleration sending black spots dancing in her vision, but she bore the pressure with a grunt. Like sails on a ship, she caught the typhoon in her wings, throwing her back as she sailed past the castle grounds, and over the city's edge.

Just before she would have slammed into the golden barrier surrounding the city, she leaned back, looping down through the air and rushing towards the base of the mountain. She continued the slow loop, almost close enough to touch the top of the forest canopy, before straightening and riding the momentum up the mountain side, straight towards the palace.

'After a thousand years of rule, is this is how Canterlot falls? Our ponies divided, chaos running free, and Luna missing in the night?' She hugged the massive stone wall of the mountain as her momentum began to naturally reduce. She couldn't take to open air above the city, not with that spell resurging. She would be swatted out of the air like a fly. Instead, followed the mountain's curve as she flew higher and higher, bringing herself inline with the rear wall of the Throne Room. 'Oh Luna, my sister, please be safe.'

She curved up and over the rear lip of the city. Tumultuous gusts stirred the air around her, but with the entire castle standing between her and the epicenter, she flew with relative ease. The great hall stood high against the backdrop of the mountain and night sky, the large golden stained window which glinting in the magical light. She loosed a golden blast of magic into the window, the glass shattering into dust as she sailed through the now open panel and into the hall. Instantly the sounds of the buffeting storm was silenced as she passed through layers of protection spells that encompassed the room. Diving down, she flared her wings just before she struck the base of the platform, landing almost silently on the long velvet carpet which lead from the thrones to the regal double doors.

She sprang into a quick canter, eyes scanning the room. The gently trickling fountains which flanked the dual thrones splashed harmlessly as she swiftly crossed the chamber. The regal stained glass windows and mirrors, save for the one she had entered in from, were in tact, and a flash of magic from her horn confirmed that the many protection spells covering the room had held. Warmth flowed through her as she drew Harmonic magic from her regalia, not even turning back as a burst of rainbow magic leapt from her horn and sealed the gap in the wall behind the thrones. Only the towering stained glass windows cast light across the polished marble floor gave any indication of the event outside. It might have been beautiful, but Celestia paid it no mind. The throne room, along with "The Tomb," was made to operate as a last resort shelter should the city come under attack. The large room could easily hold several hundred ponies and the spells ingrained in the wood-stone, and steel could support against a full siege. As long as that assurance held, anything else was irrelevant to her.

She made it halfway across the space before the thundering sound of the grand lavender doors opening echoed through the chamber. A dozen armored ponies immediately poured into the room, and Celestia knew by the clamor of hooves and armor that others followed close behind. Every pony she could see moved along side one or two others, carrying or supporting their fellows who were still too rattled or injured to fully move on their own. Only a grey-striped pegasus was by himself, hovering several feet in the air in the doorway and waving the assembled ponies in. He seemed no worse for wear, only sporting a few dents in his otherwise intact armor.

"Keep moving, farther in! Twister, Whistle, help Silver Moon, he's falling behind. Keep it coming!" He shouted at the swiftly following company. The stallion turned his head in time to see the approaching Princess, eyes widening in surprise. "Princess Celestia?" He asked, befuddled. Several of the ponies eyes widened at seeing her, situational awareness being traded to care for the injured instead. A few ponies looked to her in surprise, while others stumbled and began shifting off the velvet carpet so she could pass by. With a flap of her wings she took to the air above, only slowing her pace as she flew alongside the grey pegasus.

'Princess how-" He stammered, but she cut him off before he could speak. "Where are Princess Cadenza and Shining Armor?" She asked, scanning the hallway and the approaching guards before turning back to the awaiting stallion. The stallion followed her gaze for a moment, shaking his head gently. "They were following right behind me when I came in, Princess, but last I saw they were at the castle entrance. How in Equestria did you even get to the throne room before-" His words came to a stop as she waved a hoof.

"You need to move everypony inside, all the way to the platform. You'll be safe in here, but there's no telling how long this resurgence will last for. Just keep everypony away from the windows in the meantime." The Stallion's mouth sagged for a moment, a dozen questions hovering on his lips, before his eyes set and he snapped a wordless salute.

Celestia nodded, before racing down the hall with another mighty flap of her wings. The Pegasus's voice carried down the hall as his fading voice relayed her orders. "You heard the Princess, keep moving! All the way to the Dais. Stay. On. The carpet!"

Celestia flew and twisted through corridors and hallways, crossing the once reverent halls like a racer. She heard guards yelp in surprise as she flew just overhead, not slowing until she came upon the last corner before the entrance hall. Ghastly colors reflected off the floors, the bright glow preceding the sound of the maelstrom that waited just outside. Seeing the hall was empty, she tucked her wings and broke into a gallop before her hooves had even touched the ground. Twilight's spell had disrupted the Safeguard once. While the heavily wounded and unconscious had already been taken to safety, there was no way to know if Twilight's spell would interfere with that aspect of the spell.

She emerged from the tall path into the large greeting hall, the normally immaculate room in total disarray. A wide stair case covered half of the room, splitting off into two smaller stair cases that led to Celestia and Luna's private meeting rooms, while two larger halls each opened on the eastern and western walls respectively. The velvet carpet that ran through each hall and up the stairs had been tossed about the room. Tall banners had been ripped from the walls and strewn about the hall or hanging over the gilded stair rails. Paintings, bits of broken glass, and what seemed to be the shattered remains of a large piece of lattice, no doubt having been flung from the courtyard, were scattered across the checkered tile. Celestia emerged from the eastern hall, turning quickly into the arched entry way.

There, standing partially behind the massive gold and purple doors, was Shining Armor and Princess Cadence. The top hinge of one door had been ripped from the wall, but appeared study enough for Shining Armor to lean against. He was flanked by two members of the day guard, both tending to him while he and Cadence stared outside with wide eyes. His breastplate and greaves were loosened, an earth pony pulling the metal away as a unicorn finished wrapping his shoulder with a thick roll of gauze. The unicorn touched her horn briefly to the bandage before nodding to the earth pony, replacing her equipment into pouches saddled along her side. As the earth pony began to re-tighten the Shining Armor's straps, the four ponies all turned as the sound of Celestia's fervent steps grew loud enough to hear over the whirlwind.

Relief filled Cadence's eyes as the taller alicorn ran to meet her, Shining Armor and the two guards stood frozen in shock. Cadence threw her hooves around Celestia's neck with a sob, while the elder alicorn returned the hug for a brief moment. "It's alright, I'm fine." She said, pulling away from her niece. The unicorn medic snapped out of her shock first, instantly drawing more medical supplies as she ran up with Cadence. Celestia held one hoof up at the approaching unicorn. "Go tend to the others, I'm not harmed!" She had to nearly shout to be heard of the gale force winds the beat upon the castle doors. The unicorn nodded, turning to leave. Celestia didn't wait to see her go. "Is everypony inside?" She asked, not caring to hide the urgency in her tone.

Shining Armor straightening from his slump, nodding as he yelled over the storm. "It was close, but we managed to get everypony in." He moved towards her with obvious effort, limping heavily on his left side. Despite the wrappings, it was clear the unicorn mare hadn't been able to fully repair his injuries. Celestia couldn't see the one under his breastplate, but it was a tender area that would not close easily until he was immobile for some time. Red fluid was leaking through another bandage on his rear ankle, but if it caused him any pain he didn't show it. Instead, bewilderment dominated his features. "Princess, what happened!? We saw you get blown completely of the edge of the city!"

"We were so scared you were hurt or..." Cadence choked on the words, unable to bare the thought. She away wiped tears that were welling up, taking a deep breath to calm herself. "I tried to do something, anything, but..." Another round of explosions cut off the pink alicorn, causing to her to flinch back the as sounds were enunciated by a piercing shriek. Celestia instantly moved out from behind the doors, ducking her head into the gale-force winds despite a shout from Shining Armor.

Celestia pushed forward, emerging into the storm once more, and squinting as debris-filled wind peppered her body with dust. Slow steps led her to the edge of the staircase, as she peered down at the chaos below.

The magical vortex that had sent Celestia flying from the city was still swirling like a whirlpool in the air. Multi colored sparks spiraled down. The courtyard was consumed by a haze of magic, flickers and flashed of magical discharge sparking trough the air and across the grounds. Magical sparks continued to funnel into the cloud, surging down and into the thrashing unicorn at it's epicenter. As the demolished grounds were continually hammered by raw power, Twilight's horn was bursting with magical energy. Her entire body glowed with magical power that seemed to pour from her like a broken dam, great bursts of magic enunciated with shrieks of pain.

Explosions of magic, energy, fire, ice, acid, kinetic force, tendrils of raw power, all of it lashed out around her. Tornadoes formed instantly, crackling with lightning and dissipating as they clashing into one another, only to reform again. The ground around Twilight churned and crushed. The force of the magic picked the mare up several feet into the air, slamming her back down further deepening the massive crater in the once beautiful courtyard. Stone was dashed to dust, and the entire platform began to groan and shift is threatened to collapse entirely of the side of the city.

Celestia watched as the shattered remnants of where Twilight impacted reformed into clumps of stone, before being sent flying through the air by a lightning filled twisters, while another spot was crushed by gravitational magics so strong, it collapsed in on itself, glowing red like magma and burning a straight through the bottom of the city. The surge of magic caused an uncontrollable cycle of destruction, creation, and chaos. Twilight had completely lost control and was now at the mercy of the very spell she had created.

"What's happening!?" Cadence screamed, holding on to Shining Armor in fear they would both be swept away. The pair were both clinging to the door's edge, unwilling to step any further out into the fray.

"It's a magical rebound," Celestia called as best she could over the turbulence surrounding them. "She was draining the magic of everypony in the city, and funneling it through her glyphs. With her glyphs interrupted, the magic has no where to go... except through her." She finished in a whisper.

Shining Armor struggled to maintain his grip on the door as he spoke. "If we don't do something she'll tear the city apart! I can't put a shield over her, it'll be destroyed in seconds!" Turning his head, eyes squinted to block out as much dust and debris as possible.

Celestia shook her head, gritting her teeth. "Her spell is still active, my magic will just be swept up and make things worse!" She winced as Twilight let loose a shrieking yelp, and a massive column of flame surged past her and annihilated one of the castle spires. Luna would no-doubt be pained to hear her stargazing platform had been destroyed, but that was the least of Celestia's concerns. "We'll just have to wait it out."

'Or wait for her to be consumed...

Just as the thought was uttered in her mind, Twilight's yells of agony were suddenly replaced with a defiant and angry roar. The sudden shift struck Celestia with a force just a potent as the magic around her. "Shining Armor, Cadenza, get ba-" She yelled, but was cut off as Twilight let loose a scream that vibrated the air with power. Energy all around her burst into the air, shooting up in a brilliant tower of magical force that interrupted the magical cyclone. For a moment, the massive beam of magic held back the sparks. The unicorn was illuminated, body glowing brighter and brighter as she began to hover several feet in the air.

Her expression was wild as her entire body shook from the magical overload. Lips pulled taut and teeth barred in a snarl, as she fought to hold back the magic. Celestia could see Twilight's eyes flicking away momentarily, glancing just to her side. There was almost nothing left of the courtyard, the majority of loose debris having been demolished, but half buried into the stone floor, was a small round object.

The bag had been torn to shreds, leaving most of the object exposed. It was a large oval, perfectly smooth without a single scratch or dent on it's surface. It was completely untouched despite the massive pressure surrounding it. It was hard to tell through the flashing-multicolored light which covered the city, but the stone seemed shimmer a soft pink, gently decorated with purple polka-dots.

Celestia's balked as she realized what she was looking at. 'Not a stone, an egg!' The very same that had remained unhatched in her own school for over thirty years.

Magic hung in the air all around Twilight as she looked to the egg. The unicorn's eyes closed, a deep sigh passing through her, before she cried out with a groan, "Please, forgive me!" Before swinging her glowing horn down to the ground, bringing a tidal wave of power down from the sky.

Celestia stood frozen, mouth agape as a swell of magic no-pony alone could stop crashed down on top of the small dragon egg. Millions of sparks falling like a tsunami, crashing down in a roar of power, and burning a whole straight through the mountain.

Even faster then before, the magic funneled own, directed straight into the dragon egg. The immense pressure crushed the egg even deeper into the stone, before it began to glow with brilliant white energy. A loud crack shook the entire platform, and Celestia knew the egg had opened. Not just the egg, a massive split formed in the courtyard as magic struck and corroded the broken engineering, widening as stone separated and metal groaned. The courtyard split in two, finally giving way as it partially collapsed and sent several tons of rock and steel hurtling towards the forest below.

A tiny creature, freed from it's dormant shell, slowly rose into the air. As magic surged into it, it took it's first breath as a white glow spilled from it's eyes and mouth. In a only a second it doubled in size, swelling as glowing magic stirred beneath it's scales. Only a few seconds later it doubled again in size. Then again, and again, it surged with unnatural growth before Celestia's eyes.

Massive scaled split and grew again, a repeating process that sounded like thousands of bones breaking and reforming. Jutting fins grew and twisted in a mohawk of green horns that spilled down the whelp's head and along his spine. His arms and legs extended, too quickly, as magic created new layers of skin, muscle, and tissue along the limbs. It's joints, elbows and digits seemed too sharp and angular for it's body, and a thick rope-like tail stretched and ended in a sharp, hooked point. Teeth grew and fell, replaced by even longer and sharper fangs which spilled past it's thin lips, as sharp spikes jutted down across it's chin and neck.

Finally, the beam of magic from Twilight's horn stopped, as the mare collapsed to the ground. The drake hung in the air for another moment, it's head rolled from side to side across it's shoulders. Finally, the magic holding it dissipated, as the dragon fell straight down to where Twilight had collapsed. A flash of white light enveloped the unicorn, dissipating to reveal empty air, just as the massive reptile crashed down the spot she had vanished from.

Magic continued to pour around the dragons scales, no longer fueling it's surge in growth, but flowing deeper into the mountain, as a heavy thrum began to reverberate throughout the mountain-city once more. Unlike before, sparks of magic no longer danced in the sky, no great tendrils of power hung from the mountain or emerged through the city streets. Only the deep hum through stone sounded, as a shudder passed through the ground.

The creature flailed on it's back as sharp talons scored meter long gashes through stone, barely managing not to roll of the side of the damaged courtyard. It's tail was nearly half the size of it's body, easily stretching eighty feet in length and bristling with spikes and jagged scales. It was a fearsome creature, tremendous in scale, and terrifying in size, but what terrified the elder alicorn was the look of confused innocence in it's eyes. It's head still lolled on it's shoulders, eyes rolling about as it tried to identify what force hatched it. A simple mind incapable of realizing what it had become so prematurely. A mere toddler transformed into an ancient dragon.

"Shining Armor," Celestia gulped, her mouth running dry in an instant. "Gather the fastest and most nimble fliers that are still capable of fighting."

The dragon lifted it's head, a large blocky skull that was almost out of proportion to it's long serpent-like neck, high into the air. It's long neck stretching so tall, it was nearly level with Celestia. It's bleary eyes settled on her, head cocking to the side with an groaning, infantile squack as if to ask, Are you my mother? They locked eyes for a moment, the air still between them, before the creature's eyes drifted to her still glowing regalia. It's eyes widened at the shimmer of colors, pupils dilating as it was filled with wonder. Celestia took a reflexive step back, "Go, now!" she called as her wings unfolded and launched her into the air.

A massive arm reached out for her, but it's poor motor function allowed Celestia to remain clear by a significant margin. Still, the creature barked a garbled cry towards her, rising shakily onto all fours. It's eyes widened even further, lids peeling unnaturally far back in a manor Celestia was all too familiar with. The expression of a dragon taken with Greed.

As she soared high into the sky, the dragon reared his head high into the air, it's heavy jaw opened. A bellowing screech filled the air with a rage it couldn't comprehend. It's first cry resounding for miles, and echoing through the night.

Author's Note

Huzzah, new chapter! Sadly with my travel I was unable to finalize this one last weekend, but from this time forward I am going ahead with weekly, Saturday releases. This chapter was a bit more of an experimental one, as I've been re-working my prose and style. The next 2 chapters I think I have found my comfort zone, but it's always a work in progress.

I've been trying to find more poetic descriptions and in general do a better job with scene setting, descriptions, and everything. I've recently discovered the Wheel of Time, among other series, and it's totally transformed my perspective in scene establishing and character writing, so as always your critiques, criticisms and insights are welcomed! Regardless, things should be smoother from here on out.

I hope you enjoyed, and I'll see you all next week! :twilightsmile:

Awakening

Twilight's eyes stung as she gazed into the night sky. Every inch of her stung, but she felt is most strongly near the eyes. A clutched belly would ease a stomach ache, and a cradled head would a migraine, but closed eyes presented more of a danger to her than the momentary pain. Her skin crawled, aching felt deep in her bones radiating pain and depleted strength. She couldn't bring herself to do anymore than to lay in the grass and gulp great mouthfuls of air in as she blearily fought off the exhaustion that threatened to consume her.

And so, she lay there.

Slowly the aching began to fade to dull thumps in the back of her mind. Her breaths slowed as she regained control. Coolness seeped into her coat, contrasting with the fiery heat in her chest. Peace, for just a moment, filled her mind. Not the stunned silence from before. Not the quiet of a empty house, nor a picnic where the wind doesn't blow, but merely the solitude of a moments rest. In the distance she could hear the roar of battle, but as she laid in the cool grass, she reveled in the moment of sanctuary.

As she stared high into the midnight sky, Luna's moon was visible through the soft golden barrier which surrounded the city. A small smile stretched across her lips. When she was a filly, she had asked the princess if the moon was made of cheese like her brother had told her. Luna had laughed, the shaking of her head indicating Twilight may have not been the first filly to ask such a question. Twilight was sure the princess had spoken of divine powers or the raw primordial elements of magic, but in her bleary state she couldn't help but think of the comparison.

From a distance away came the rumblings of titanic feet, the raking of massive claws, the cries of frustration and anger. Bursts of light came from over the castle roof, tumultuous noises and cries sounding in the distance that did nothing to spoil the sweet serenity of the moment.

Quiet pants faded as she lie in the ice-kissed grass, flowing cold bringing a coolness to her body and mind. The cold created strange shock to Twilight's body, not painful, but not pleasant either. A strange swirl that was almost comforting, yet jarring enough to keep her from slipping into unconsciousness.

'Twilight.'

The burning in her chest had finally stopped, but she could still feel warm dampness turning cold as it ran down her leg. There was pain, oh there was pain, but it had been reduced to a momentary dull-throbing sensation. Even she wasn't sure how much more punishment her body could take.

It was a shock her heart hadn't stopped earlier. She'd held on with every fiber of her being to avoid being entirely burned up by the magical storm. Losing control like that, being at the absolute mercy of magic she couldn't control sent a shudder through her. 'I haven't felt terror like that since I was a filly. He promised never again, and yet...'

"Twilight."

Another shudder passed through. This one was different, a twisted combination of a giggle and a sob. A single hoof lifted to rub at bleary eyes before coming to a rest across her face, blotting out the night sky and leaving her momentarily in darkness. She bit down hard on her lip as she tried to stifle the mad giggles that spilled from her lips. He torso shook from the effort before she managed to choke down the macabre emotion.

As she did, a heavy groan passed through. She lay still for a moment, wishing the ground would open up and swallow her whole. One hoof thumped against the hard, frozen ground. It was too late. The moment of peace had already been disturbed. Duty awaited and the task remained incomplete.

"Devin"

She opened her eyes, drawing a deep breath to give her the strength to stand. "I know, I know." She craned her neck, eyes glancing high at the base of the statue her head lay against. Slowly her eyes drifted higher, taking in the grand sculpture behind her.

It's serpentine tail wrapped around the pillar it stood atop. It's unnatural body, long and lean, stood with arched back. The paw of a bear clutched it's chest as if to contain a great belly laugh, while the claw of a chicken was thrown high into the air, the theatrics of a presenter and show-pony. It's mouth, decorated with only a single jagged tooth, was wide open. Perhaps in the calls and chants of one hawking their wares to a great audience, or preaching their sermon to eager ears, or instead, a charlatan in deep guffaw. The triumph of their greatest joke being unveiled, even if he was the only one laughing.

Twilight took in the form of the Draconequus. More than just a statue, more than just an expertly cut piece of Limestone. Standing nearly four times as tall as Twilight, the frozen form loomed over her in all his grandiose majesty. The Mad-God Discord, frozen in stone and time. "I've finally arrived, master."

The hint of laughter rose in the air around her. Words not spoken allowed, but brought to her mind by a connection forged years previous. "Mm hmm? And three days early as well? Goodness, I've never met any pony who went through this much trouble to be early."

Twilight sighed heavily. Of course. He would be in a good mood, this was his day of triumph after all. More than a thousand years of solitude meant he had little care for what he called, 'Bumps and scrapes.' Shed blood and broken bones never meant much to him, unless it meant a task went unfulfilled. The worst part was that plugging her ears wouldn't do any good. You can't block out words that weren't actually being spoken aloud.

"Surely you couldn't have been much worse for where if you had just been on time, hmm? Regardless, adorable use of the dragon. I dare say I might not have thought of it myself. Well, not like that at least. I might have made it into a bowling ball. Oh I know! I would bake it into a cake. You go to blow out the candles, but they're still lit, and so is everypony in the room!"

He descended in riotous laughter for several moments as Twilight slowly sat up. Every inch of her body itched, and she was flecked with white patches and loose hairs. Most likely from the new layers of skin that had grown over her earlier. The issue of healing magic is that it draws upon the bodies existing sources of cells and fibers. A pony who's had a good meal will take to a healing spell better than a hungry one. With so much raw magic at her disposal however, pure magic instead became the substitute for regular means of cellular, tissue, and muscle reproduction.

The side effect, besides the incessant itching, was Twilight felt as if her own skin was stretched too tight across her body. She inspected herself quickly, running one hoof across her abdomen, mane and face. Save for the gouge across her flank, which had drawn itself tighter but not fully healed, her body seemed to be in working order. In fact, several old scars had shrunk to tiny pale slivers, unnoticeable now below her fur. Several aches and pains in her gut that had persisted for years were absent, and the tightness in her back left ankle was gone.

'All things in the moment, no doubt.' A deep exhaustion still racked her small frame. The hyper-expenditure of magic she endured was unlike anything she had felt before, even when she lost control of her magic as a filly. The spell hadn't failed, instead it re-routed to it's remaining magical origin in order to maintain it's refinement process. Magical transfusions were still an imperfect science, and performing one on the fly was especially risky. Twilight had simply found the most efficient method for doing so. 'Most efficient' and 'perfected' were far from comparable terms, but whatever long term side-effects existed weren't a particular concern to her anyways.

Still, she almost felt the need to apologize to Princess Luna. Had it lasted more than two to three minutes, Twilight might have burned out from the inside entirely. Then the city would have been in even bigger trouble. The magical source would still exist for some times, even if Twilight's soul left her body. With no living tissue to provide regulation to the magical flow, as her receptors died alongside her brain, the results, while inconclusive, could be... extreme, to say the least.

"Spending a bit too much time thinking, aren't we?" Discord's voice rang in her skull, snapping her from her thoughts. "Plenty of time to admire yourself in the mirror later, Devon. Your advantage is a ticking clock!" He finished, his playful tone giving way to a dark hiss.

Twilight turned towards the castle. Through the trees and from the lofty hedges surrounding the expansive castle, she caught glimpses of the dragon's form and Celestia flying at dizzying speeds around the beast. "I have enough time." She turned to her right, reaching for the clasps on the undamaged side of her saddlebags. "Besides, Master, when I have I ever failed to meet a deadline?"

Twilight withdrew a crystal orb, just large enough to balance on the edge of her hoof. With a flash of her horn, she reached within her library, several strewn baskets appearing on the round before her. Stacks of pages overflowed from one, while the other was filled with preserved components and parts from a variety of creatures. From the top of the pile of taxidermy, she reached out and plucked a lone dragon scale. Her warped expression reflected back at her from the ruby scale. Exhaustion written into the fabric of her features, and her eyes sagged heavily. Dark bags hanging low, visible even in the moonlight.

"Do not let hubris cloud your judgement in the final moment of battle, child." The last word was practically spit at her. Anger and malice twirled in her mind, threatening to riot her own emotions in response. "I will not sit here a moment longer, because my pupil decided that rolling in the grass or staring at herself was an appropriate measure. How much longer until Celestia decides to stop being so charitable to an infant? Surely you have learned to not simply allow your enemies to gain an advantage over you?"

Twilight dropped the scale back into the pile, staring past the statue with a neutral expression. "Of course not, Master." She closed her eyes, reaching out with her magic as one-by-one, the animal parts began to rise into the air around her. "After all, it is a student's duty to learn from their teacher's examples."

The swirl of emotions in her mind paused for a brief moment, before those same emotions spiked in her mind. "Ah!" She cried, stumbling in place as white hot pain flashed through her head, momentarily blinding her. She clenched her temple with one hoof, leaning on her good leg to keep from falling to the ground as the pain continued to seize her. Just as quickly as it began, the pain stopped as the swirling emotions pulled from her mind.

"Perhaps you've learned too much from me..." He spoke, as his presence withdrew completely back into the statue. A mad, echoing giggle fading into oblivion along with his presence. Twilight glared up at the statue. The idol almost seeming to stand up just a little bit taller, and with an even thicker air of grandiose aplomb. The mare rolled her eyes and turning towards the basket. "I suppose I only have myself to blame for that."

She spared a quick glance around the wide premises. This place use to be her favorite part of the royal grounds. Well, her second, technically, but after raiding the library whenever chance arose, she would bring her collection of books out here to read surrounded by the tranquil greenery and flora. She remembered walking with the Princesses at dawn and dusk, tea-time at the pond-side pavilion just across the campus, and even a few nights of star gazing. Each season brought new light and life to the gardens, with ponies all across Equestria vying for their skill and handiwork to be displayed at the royal gardens.

Little had changed since she was a filly. Some new statues had been placed, or other renovated and rearranged, and hedges were carved in life-like representation of magical beasts, heroes of legend, or strange new artistic forms, but the soul of it remained intact. The crispness of winter was always the most serene time to Twilight, but she still preferred the colors of autumn.

Still, that feeling never left. The sight of the grounds brought nostalgic whimsy and called her mind back to better days. Twilight sighed as she picked up the crate of diagrams and runes in her magic, each page floating out piece by piece in front of her. "I hope I don't ruin it too badly." She muttered casting one last glance around. Each page held itself still in the air, as more and more arose. "I couldn't ask for a better place to die. Octavia might have even accepted being here with me when it happens. At least we would be able to enjoy the moment together." Within just a few moments, nearly seven hundred pages surrounded her in a globe. Each brimming with diagrams, lines and arcane shapes. Every page seemed unique, but the brilliant patterns flowed into the next page, spiderwebbing across dozen of others in a spread thirty feet in diameter.

Twilight spun, head whipping back and forth as keen eyes searched every rune, diagram, and marking for even the slightest error. Some of the pages sported clear signs of fire damage at there edges, a few others lines far less neat than her hoof had drawn, but Penumbra's promise had held true. That miserable excuse for cattle had managed to preserve and repair the majority of the damage, though a few corrections would be needed.

Somehow.

Small streaks of magic zipped from Twilight's horn, straightening lines, smoothing edges, and returning the minor damage of precise lines to near perfection. The rune beneath Canterlot may have been the grandest ever created, but the work surrounding Twilight, the result of over a decade of study, experimentation, checking, and rechecking, was her true magnum opus. Hundreds of dreams and visions from her master had granted her only surface level insight into the complexity of the epic binding, but just two years earlier she had finally cracked the code. A year and a half more, and the whole design had been committed to her memory with the chances of a mistake landing within the hundredths of a percentile.

The mechanisms of the Elements of Harmony, a design she alone could have never created, not in a hundred years, lay unfolded before her. A hoof clenched her chest, heart pounding within her as she took one last look at the awesome spell craft. She closed her eyes in concentration, reaching out into the night with her magic. The marking within the pages began to glow, a brilliant array of color. "Let the old ways be broken," Each of her curved blades rose into the air, dancing around her like conductor's wands. Twilight took one last look at her master's prison.

"And balance be restored through and through."

Luna smiled serenely as she began to rouse from the dream, idly stretching across the firm ground. She had been on a beautiful hillside, dancing in a circle with shadows. They had spun and danced, hooves clapping in unison as they whirled round and around beneath the light of a meteor shower. The moon had sang for them, it's light glinting and sparkling in the emerald grass, glistening with early morning dew. She had been so tired, but the aches and pain she'd felt seemed to fade away as she leapt and spun.

She rolled to one side, giggling like a school-filly as she continued to hum the tune she'd heard. Her head came to rest on her forelegs in lieu of a pillow, while her mane bunched up around her face like a starry blanket. She spent so much time chasing nightmares away and spreading dreams that she rarely spent much time her own. It was far more fun to play with others, especially little colts and fillies, but every so often she deserved a treat.

Her head still spun from the exuberant gambol. The shadow ponies twirled and chased her so swiftly, she could still feel the wind in her mane even now. She had danced and bobbed, spinning and pirouetting in a seemingly never ending prom. Each one had smiled and whispered to her, but strangely she couldn't remember the words.

The smile turned bawdy as she nuzzled deeper into her hooves, pulling her mane across her face to hide the small blush that was creeping across her cheeks. Honeyed whispers didn't need to be remembered word-for-word, but the feeling of having your heart set a-flutter was certainly one to keep.

The Alicorn chuckled to herself, slowly rising to her hooves as she threw her billowing mane from her face. "Goodness, if sister could see me, what would she say? Me, giggling like a little-" The word caught in her throat as she peered at the hard ground she still half-lay across. She was surrounded by bits of metal and stone, and not far distant was the shattered remnants of a once impressive warehouse.

In an instant fleeting dreams of dancing and humming vanished as the night's events flooded back in an instant. Her breath heaved heavily, turning to gasps as memories of dancing and playing vanished into the recesses of her mind, replaced by shock and stunned anger.

Her head whipped from side-to-side, eyes scanning the broken ruins and wide street where she sat. The empty streets met her with silence, and the air was empty save for the light of her stars and moon. She jumped to her hooves quick as she could. Immediately soreness set in. Her shoulders sagged like a pack-mule carrying bricks, but she shook her head and tried clear the daze that was setting in.

"H-hello? Is any pony there!?" She called, the only response was her echo as she blinked in confusion. She had seen others, hadn't she? Two. Or was it three? But where did they go? Where they even there in the first place?

"ROOAAIIIIEEEEE!"

Luna spun around as an earth-shattering wail split the air behind her, nearly falling the the ground again. A hideous noise, not a roar or cry, but a caterwauling scream of agony rang through the empty city streets. She flattened her ears against her skull, but the cacophony was so jarring that she couldn't help but cover her ears. The cry went silent as Luna turned towards the three-walled building just in time to see a monstrous green and purple... something, rise above it's roof in the distance. A long bony limb ending in massive claws swung high in the air before dropping out of sight.

A thick skull slowly rose high above the warehouse roof top, and Luna's jaw dropped at the sight of the beast. It was half-way across the city, but Luna could see that it was gargantuan in size. A massive cranium rising high in the air, supported by a thin neck that appeared to be made more of spikes than muscle and tissue. The heavy skull swung wide through the air, scanning the city below with enormous, bulging eyes. The beast froze for a moment, lips barring hungrily as it seemed to focus on something Luna couldn't see. It's maw opened to loose another shrieking cry before shooting down and out of sight.

Luna was froze for a moment, unable to take in what she had seen, before breaking into a furious sprint. She nearly tripped over herself several times as her legs responded sluggishly, hooves skidding across the street as she ran. She rounded the corner of the street, emerging at the corner of a wide thoroughfare and nearly collapsing for a third time as she leaned on the store window for support. Her chest burned with exertion and her legs ached as if she'd just completed the Running of the Leaves. Momentary pains were immediately forgotten as she stared wide-eyed down the boulevard.

Far across the city, an enormous dragon was sat upright on it's hind legs in the middle of the courtyard/. What was left of it, at least. The great walls surrounding the plaza had been dashed to pieces with only a few sections still standing, the front of the castle now sported a gaping tear across the east entrance hall, and the drake spat out the chunk of staircase it had just chomped down on.

A brilliant light was zipping through the air, spinning around the creature and firing of magic at it's eyes. The hefty beast reacted as expected, recoilling and swiping blindly at the nuisance, but it seemed to have little to any lasting effect. The creature would shake off the blindness and resume it swiping and flailing, desperately trying to grasp at the radiant light in the sky. Luna couldn't fathom how a fully adult dragon had wandered into Canterlot, but knew right away who combating it.

"Celestia!" She cried out, but her voice came in a meager shout. Her sister was almost a mile away, even using the Royal Canterlot Voice wouldn't get her sister's attention. Especially not with a dragon added to the mix.

The creature was a magnificent specimen, terrifying in all it's grandeur. Coiled muscles rippled beneath glittering purple scales. Jagged spikes like spears bristles along it's hide, and ridges flowed down it's spine in a magnificent waves. It's shoulders weren't squared like many dragons, but instead it's heavy armored back seemed to narrow and point, almost creating a shell that ended in two bony nubs just past the base of the neck. It had no wings, but even with such a thick carapace Luna had no doubt it could easily scale the sheer mountain walls.

Luna ground her teeth as she took in the awful sight. She could barely walk, let alone fly, and she'd hardly do any good against an full-sized, possibly and Elder, Dragon. As the beast swiped a claw over it's shoulder, it's torso spun to face Luna. The thing managed to rise to it's hind legs for a moment, leaping of the ground and swatting at the white alicorn. Luna's eyes widened as it came to it's full height before slamming down onto what she guessed was Fillymore avenue. Roof tiles were sent flying through the air, and clouds of dust billowed through the street towards Luna. She slammed her hoof into the window she'd been resting on, shattering the glass, and jumping inside. Immediately she dropped to the ground, shielding her face with her wings as dust and debris showered the room. She could hear them thumping of objects colliding into neighboring buildings and even more windows shattering. The heavy impact of wreckage lasted for only a moment, tapering off as frantic roaring began to fill the air.

Luna peaked her head out of the broken window, watching in awe as the beast rose to it's hands and elbows. It was hundreds of feet long, no doubt close two-hundred and fifty if measured from it's nose-to-tail. It must have crushed an entire cull de sac as it fell, possibly more, and it's wild lashing certainly wasn't reducing the damage it dealt. It's physiology was bizarre, unnatural even, but that didn't disprove it's presence in the middle of Luna's home. What's more, it's mannerisms were strange too. As it collapsed, it's whole body flailed as it tried to right itself. It's thick skull was currently stuck in a wall. The creature was trying to pull itself free, rather than lift it's skull out of the hole it made in the building's roof. Dragon's never stop growing or maturing, despite age or size. One this size should be well experienced in fighting, not even accounting for speed or coordination. Ildrir the Voiceless, one who had fought against Discord during his reign, had been a hundred feet longer than what Luna saw, and even he could dance through the air like the swiftest of pegasi.

The thing's blocky head finally tore free of the wall, dragging across a full block of road as it tried to lift itself, only to collapse again as a brilliant lance of fire and light struck a spot between it's shoulder, knocking it on its belly again. For a moment, the creature went still. No doubt stunned by by the sudden blow. If Celestia was resorting to combat, things were truly dire. Luna could only guess that the rainbow of light enveloping her sister was the result of channeling the Safeguard directly. A heavy burden, but one Celestia was well equipped to endure. Even without the immense load of magic Celestia was still a terror in combat. Blunt and brutal like a great hammer. Though few still lived to remember, Celestia was not well regarded for subtlety or fineness in magical combat. Millenia of practice had refined her to be the calm and patient monarch, but her massive channeling of Solar Magic reflected the once abrasive personality only Luna remembered.

An image almost literally seared into her subconscious.

Regardless, If the Safeguard was active, than they wouldn't have to worry about collateral biological damage, but between Celestia and the Dragon, Luna wasn't sure which one posed the greater danger to the city itself. A heavy groan snapped Luna from her thoughts. The beast was rising again. Celestia hovered above, forming another blast of magic, but before she loosed it the dragon grabbed what appeared to be a chunk of an apartment and hurled it towards the alicorn. The blast went wide, striking the beast shoulder as Celestia dashed out of the way. The creature crawled to all fours and began swiping wildly at the alicorn all over again.

Luna grimaced, stepping out into the night and turning down an alleyway as she began to limp through the city. With each step the soreness faded slightly, but the exhaustion in her muscles would linger for some time. The moon's light restored a small portion of her magic on top of minor healing, but not nearly enough to justify full battle with a dragon.

'If you must fight a dragon, the best place is a valley no-pony lives in, or a mountain no-pony will remember. Tactics, cunning, and negotiation are the best tools to defeat a dragon with.' She turned a corner, rushing through several alleys before emerging into the southern thoroughfare. Her eyes held on the castle entrance, watching as several guards took flight and joined Celestia in the sky. 'That, and Allies. Many, many allies.'

Sprinting fast as she could, Luna finally laid eyes on the central courtyard where she and Twilight had fought earlier. The plaza was wide open, a circular-raised mall that let you view almost any part of the city, save for the full breadth of the Castle. Luna could clearly see the on-going battle now. A number of Pegasi were fluttering around the dragon, but it's attention was fixed squarely on Celestia.

As she ran, she cast her eyes high in the sky. Soft ethereal magic drifted into the air from her horn, as she spoke in a gentle tone. "Come Cygnus, arise and fulfill your duty." She gazed high as ten stars glowed brighter than the rest, growing slightly larger and more brilliant. "Awaken Deneb, and gather your sisters to my aid. Heed my call Albireo, and summon your brothers to battle."

A cross formed high in the sky, as the ten points of light seemed to peel themselves out of the air like paint on a canvas. The sky seemed to shake, a gentle motion that only Luna would notice amidst the turmoil. The glimmering constellation flowed through the air, as a void formed in the night sky where radiant stars began to fall.

Her eyes locked onto the still flailing beast just less than a quarter mile away. "Tonight, all of Equestria has need of you."

Defiant Sun

"Come and get me you big purple-bastard!" A pegasi screamed as his armored hoof clanged against his plating. Several others flew not far from him, similarly clattering weapons, shields, and anything they could find to draw the drake's attention. Some name-called and jeered at the beast while others resorted to whistling and whooping. Nearly a dozen of them flew through the air, circling the rising beast and creating a hefty racket, but to no avail. The dragon was finally picking itself up from where Celestia had knocked it down, seemingly oblivious to the noise around him as hungry eyes fell on the elusive treasure.

Celestia stood poised high in the air, watching down at the lumbering creature below. Despite two intensive blasts of magic at what are often considered weak points in their armor, the dragon was rising to it's feet for a third time. It was a wingless dragon, a rare breed but not scarce enough to be unheard of. The beasts odd narrow, pointed shoulders protected it's spinal column from Celestia's attacks, extreme defensive capabilities that were thankfully unmatched by combative ones thus far. They moved oddly though, flexing and tightening with the dragon in reactive fashion, rather than proactive. 'It seems to be relying upon connatural instinct rather than intellect.' A momentary blessing, but the longer the fight lasted the quicker and sharper it reflexes would become.

As if to prove her point, a thestral flew in close. Much too close for Celestia's comfort. When his short spear and shield wasn't garnering dragon's attention, he resorted to smacking the dragon's nose with the chevron instead. His attempts to draw it's attention succeeded, as massive jaws spun towards him, opening wide enough to swallow the pony whole. The stallion retreated in a flurry of movement. His well-groomed tail a few inches shorter as loose strands fell out of the dragon's jaws, just as unforgotten as the pony they came from. All the while, that slitted emerald gaze fixed on Celestia with hypnotic greed.

"I said cause a distraction, not give the bloody thing an appetizer, you ignorant git!" Another thestral called out, flying close enough to cuff the stallion on his helmet. "Tag out, and make sure the next one can exercise some sense, ya gobshite lemon!" Despite his own warning the stallion dove down, raking his daggers down the side of his plating, generating a skin-crawling screech and thumping the dragon's neck with his hind legs, all the while spilling forth a torrent of curses and profanity.

'Dire Wing's tongue is restless on good day. I suppose if he needs to get it out this is the time.' Celestia was well regarded for, and prided herself on, her calm and matronly demeanor, but her concern was quickly turning to ire. Perhaps the screaming and taunting was helping to foul her mood, but she was torn between roaring in frustration or loosing such a volume of magic, that stories would the told of the the city that used to cling to the side of a mountain.

The dragon's movement was sloppy and slow, but Celestia could tell that rapidly aged muscles were begin to tighten and spring innately. 'Still,' She gazed around the city below her. 'It's moving into the city and away from the edge. If we don't push it back soon, half the city will be torn apart.'

The dragon's neck coiled tight against it's shoulders like a serpent as a dreadful hiss spilled from it's opening jaws, pulling Celestia back to the present. She dove down, radiant blasts of magic peppering the beasts body as it's eyes tried to track her blistering movement. Flames licked up from the tips of her wings as she twisted through the air, weaving through it's front legs and striking it's soft belly with a bolt of lightning. The dragon's head followed, saliva dripping from it's lips as it snapped at her heels, only to be slowed by a torrent of attacks from the squad of fliers. Several converged on the beast, hammering down on tendons beneath exposed scales while a few others fired arrows and projectiles at it's eyes.

The dragon rose up on it's hind legs. Hungry lips parting in a wail rather than a meal, as it's pained tantrum rattled windows and eardrums alike. First from losing sight of it's shiny thing, then from the pain. Celestia flew out from under the beast, hovering over the broken courtyard while the beast lashed out at the fliers like they were wasps. She merely shook her head, it just wasn't enough.

"I'm sorry Princess, we're doing the best we can." Celestia cursed herself, realizing she had spoken aloud. She turned to see one of the Day Guard, Sergeant Aurora, hovering sheepishly beside her. "I know," Celestia said with a sigh. "You're all fighting admirably. You have no reason to apologize."

Almost twenty fliers had answered Shining Armor's call, half of which danced through the sky in an attempt to distract the fixated creature. The rest remained within the entrance hall, ready at any moment to "tag-out" should one of their fellow's become exhausted or injured. Courage could not adequately describe what it took for these ponies to so readily take up this duty, but neither could the claim be made that the Royal Guard were anything but courageous. Several pegasi had come dangerously close to being knocked out of the air by the creature, then there was the thestral who'd nearly been swallowed whole. The Safeguard would still remove them from battle should the damage threshold be met, but it was no miracle spell. If the damage was too severe, not even magic could save them. 'More than a few medals will be given out once all this is said and done.' She thought, sparing a glance at her troops. 'Still, we are like birds fighting a snake in a cage.'

If she could lower the Safeguard barrier, then they could pull the dragon away from the city, but the intertwined magic made it difficult. She would need several moments to reduce the spell's effect, not an easy task with the ravenous creature chasing her. The others would need to hold the creature off.

The realization filled her that she may have to kill the drake. A hideous thought that sunk deep in her breast, but a necessary one regardless of her feelings. Even still, the magic required would put both her ponies and the city in as much danger as the dragon presented.

'Unless...'

"Sergeant Aurora." The pegasus snapped to attention while Celestia fixed her narrowed eyes on the beast. It was shaking off the fliers mischief and searching the air in front of it like a dumb juvenile. "Gather in half of the assembled ponies, and send Sergeant-Major Wing out. I have to knock the beast over the cities edge, but I won't be able to do it if anypony is nearby. She and Dire Wing will know how to handle things. Once the twins strike, everypony needs to immediately take shelter inside the castle." She glanced passed the golden barrier. The night sky was mostly clear, but nearly three-hundred pegasi could gather a sizable tempest in no time. "Get a signal to the Regulars outside, have them begin gathering a storm. The strongest one they can make. Do you understand?"

The Pegasus nodded, dashing away without another word as Celestia close her eyes in concentration. Warmth flowed into her chest, growing hotter as she drew more and more magic from the Elements of Harmony. Her glowing armor grew heavier, spreading further across her body until nearly her entire back and chest were enclosed in flowing liquid steel. The pool of magic within her expanded, crashing and flowing like a stormy ocean. The heat was so intense, it was almost discomforting, but Celestia breathed deep and slow, opening herself to the abundant flow as the brilliant rainbow glow intensified around her.

The assembled pegasi and Thestrals couldn't help but turn towards the display, immediately shielding their eyes or glancing away from the searing light. The dragon snarled at the ponies as they began to pull back, momentarily confused why the insects surrounding it were retreating before it too felt the radiating warmth as it's rear. It turned quickly, barred teeth prepared to snap at the Shiny. It's conceited glare stiffened and wide eyes bulged at the light. It's mind consumed in awe-struck avarice. Purple scales glittered like the purest amethyst, casting reflections of violet, lavender, and magenta across the city and the mountain side. 'Shiny... and pretty.' Hungry, insatiable thoughts rushed through it's callow mind while it's long forked tongue sagged past it's lips. 'So pretty, and warm... I become pretty, become shiny... mine... Must. Be. Mine!'

So enraptured was the dragon, that even amidst the vibrant sheen which spread for miles and miles, it was oblivious to the shadow which pierced through the light. The form of a cloaked umbra and enveloped in wrought-iron armor which seemed to absorb the light around her. Wicked Wing rocketed through the air at blistering speeds, the air echoing with a gut-wrenching CRACK! as she drove her rear hooves into the side of it's jaw with brutal efficiency.

The thunderous blow whipped the serpents head down, nearly burying it through the roof of yet another building. The beast's entire body shuddered from the surprise blow. Just as quickly as the blow landed, did the creature's head rip through the air towards the luminous alicorn, the shadow forgotten as greedy thoughts turned to gluttonous rage and it's maw parted once more in an earth-shattering "SKREEEEEE!"

Celestia flared her wings, loosing white-hot bolts of magic as the beast charged towards her on all fours. She rushed forward, scattered bolts of magic striking up and down the beasts body, but the dragon pushed through the blows with renewed fury.

A massive claw rose high in the sky, talons like great swords cleaving through the air in a wide slash that could have gutted a mountain. Celestia dodged and weaved, spiraling around the long claws. She landed on the dragons wrist, touching her horn to it's surface and loosing a kinetic blast straight into the dragon's ligaments. The massive limb spasmed, and the dragon roared in pain as it flicked Celestia into the air. Massive jaws launched towards her, snapping at her to no avail.

Scattered magical bursts forced the creatures head back, as Celestia whipped through the air too fast for him to follow. The drake stepped back, drawing his long neck in tight between his shoulders as he'd done previously. 'Perfect.'

The jaw parted in a rattling hiss, eyes dilating in preparation to launch towards Celestia. The Alicorn feinted right, slowing her pace as the creatures neck muscles tightened like a spring and launched towards her at blinding speeds. With a burst of white light she vanished from it's view, leaving nothing but air for the massive jaws to close on. Teleporting just a few feet below where the creature bit down, Celestia screamed, "Now!" while firing a jet of burning magma from her horn. The molten rock coalesced into a thick pillar in the air, striking the beast in the chin and clamping it's jaw shut. Twin Thestrals converged as the creatures eyes widened in surprise, striking the creature in both eyes as a pegasi meteor-slammed it's nose with a round bracer.

Unprepared for the pain, the beast recoiled, blindly thrashing through the air and rising once again to it's hind legs. Celestia didn't waste a moment, diving down further as she yelled out in a booming command, "Get clear of him!" The three pegasi instantly corkscrewed through the air, flying back and retreating within the castle doors with the rest. The dragon lifted a large hand to it's wounded face, leaving it off balance as Celestia sent a bolt of lightning into the joint of a hind leg.

The air burst with a terrifying haze of white and blue bolts around Celestia as massive bolt struck the creature. Branches of electricity coursed across the beasts scales muscles spasmed under the intense charge. The limb stiffened as a horrid scream erupted from the air above Celestia. She didn't let up, maintaining the bolt and feeding more power into it. The column of electricity struck, carving black char marks across the creatures natural armor. Golden magics flowed through the pattern, surging through the branches and bursting at the tips with explosive kinetic energy.

Scales cracked and thick flesh tore as the energy burst from within the creature's leg with a sickening crack. The beast's leg completely gave out and it fell to one side, right on the edge of the courtyard. The momentum of the fall whipped it's head down like a flail, dragging the dense skull from the sky and burying it into the lower steps of the grand staircase once more.

Celestia cringed inwardly as she flew down, landing on the ground beside the creature. Even a hide that thick wouldn't be enough to keep it's nerves from setting ablaze with pain. That spell was devastating, capable of killing an entire company of ponies or similar creatures, but it would only give her a few moments to act.

Heavy hooves collided with stone as she impacted the ground, horn already blazing with her next spell. The air super heated around her, causing the stone to melt around her in a twenty foot circle. Super-conducted light and heat gathered at the tip of her horn for several seconds, before bursting out in a massive column of solar magic. The sound of a hundred rushing trains filled the air around Celestia as a beam of raw sunlight flowed through the air. Windows shattered for hundreds of feet, and guards in the castle clutched their ears to block out to horrible rumble. Celestia was unaffected, gritting her teeth instead from the strain as tried to force the dragon's body over the city's edge.

It's whole body shook and rippled as muscled screamed from the force. It's limbs flailed wildly, sending rocks flying across the city. Celestia held, even as the ground melted beneath her, widening further and further in an expanding dome of torridity. The beasts unnatural shoulder-stalk's shifted, trying to catch and absorb the blow, but Celestia opened herself further to the magic. She drew in as much power as she could, loosing it in the same moment as the massive dragon began sliding towards the edge.

The creature hind legs fell over the cities edge, but it's arms shot out in desperation, plunging into the ground past Celestia and clinging to the city. It's long neck pulled taught and it's head shot out of the rubble, whipping across the plaza and sinking it's teeth into a section of the courtyard wall. The pair battled each other, one pushing and the other holding it's ground. Celestia couldn't hold back a scream of desperation, boring into the drake with a massive column of flame. Magic poured through her in such magnitude that her ethereal mane shifted, changing into jets of brilliant colorful flames. The air roared louder and louder, as stone melted and glowed orange and rooftops began to burst into flame around her.

Blackened streak spreads across the creatures body, it's odd shoulders flexing and stretching as it tried to hold off the burning assault. A wet tearing sound began to fill the air as it's scales glowed red, a horrid wail erupting passed locked jaws. Celestia watched in horror as one of the massive stumps pulled and tugged, tearing free from the Dragon's back with a stomach churning rend. Thick black blood poured down the beasts scales and showered the plaza with gore as it thrashed in pain and confusion. The massive chunk of flesh and bone began to slam the ground around Celestia, still partially attached to the creature back. The exposed bone of the shoulder curved in a grotesque talon, stabbing at and raking across the ground around her.

Celestia grit her teeth. She was so close, but one wrong blow and she could be eviscerated by the dragon's blind attacks. She held for a moment, before dropping her head with a heavy groan. The magical assault ended, cold winter air sweeping in as the raging inferno died down. She kicked off the ground again, rising high into the air as the dragon desperately scrambled to find purchase.

Even as she flew towards the ceiling of the magic dome, the air was thick with the damp smell of charred flesh. Higher and higher she flew, trying not to gag at the gruesome smell. From several hundred feet up, she watched the beast's thick fingers grasp at the courtyard's golden gate. It's hind legs and tail kicked into the open air as it slowly dragged it's long torso further and further into the city.

Flickers of movement caught her attention and she turned to see dozens and dozens of pegasi flying through the sky opposite the barrier to her. Many kicked and pushed clouds, organizing them into a large stratocumulus formation, while others watched her in deep contemplation. Her orders had been received, but more time would still be needed; to assemble a large enough storm and to break the barrier. Celestia hung her head in misery, tearing her gaze away from the dozen or so that focused on her. 'I'm so sorry my little ponies, but I fear your work will be in vain.'

The dragon was nearly atop the courtyard again, this time pulling himself deeper into the city and down the central avenue. It's long neck was still anchored to the wall, unwilling to let go in a primal fear it probably didn't fully understand. She could see the sinew of tendons and muscle beneath stretched scaled, weak points exposed. Her heart sank again, as she realized the only option she had left.

She reached out with her magic, reaching across the broken courtyard and her shattered tower. Broken weapons, discarded and lost armor, steel reinforcements from the castle, dozens of pieces of metal were grasped in a massive telekinesis spell. The collection of pieces floated up towards her in a large ball of iron and steel. "I'm so sorry..." She said to no-pony in particular, as her horn burst into golden flame and the collection of metal began to superheat. With a groan the pieces of metal collapsed into each other, bursting with flame as black embers and sparks fell to the ground below her. Celestia watched the dragon mournfully as the ball of molten ore stretched and extended under intense pressure. It twisted and lengthened as a shaft formed, then a cross-guard and pommel. Impurities in the steel flaked and dripped off, hissing in the cold air as an immense great-sword took form within Celestia’s grasp.

It was not an ornate weapon, or even pretty one. The cross guards were lumpy and malformed, and the handle twisted down so far that three ponies could have held it in their grasps. The blade rippled and shimmered in waves as it was heated and compressed in Celestia’s magic. The silver metal reflecting the city almost as clearly as a mirror, so thoroughly was the metal folded under intense magic. Flames danced along the entirety of the monstrous weapon, unwieldable with bare hooves alone but held aloft in the air beside Celestia. A multicolored glow emanated from her horn, as she prepared herself to deliver a final blow. "I couldn't save you, but I can make this quick." She remarked in a rueful tone. It would be a clean strike that would no doubt sever the drake's neck instantly. She breathed deeply, weapon held aloft as she prepared to dive down for the killing blow.

"Celestia!" A familiar voice cried, jarring the white alicorn as she turned towards the source. There, coming from the shopping district in a full sprint, was Princess Luna.

"Lulu?" Celestia muttered in shock, before diving down towards the her younger sister. She tucked her wings against her side, plummeting towards her sister in relief. As she flew within a hundred feet, she could see Luna furiously shaking her head. The blue alicorn motioned high above Celestia with a pointed wing, not breaking from her sprint as she yelled, "Sister, behind you!"

Celestia spun with wide eyes in preparation for a blow to land on her. Instead, ten brilliant lights descended from the midnight sky. Harmlessly, somehow, they floated through the golden barrier and gently drifted towards Luna. Passing through the barrier, the ten motes of white light shone even brighter while two took on even greater majesty. The first shone pure white at it's core with ghostly blue radiating from it's edge, while the other bloomed orange like a hearth, while a second, smaller, cooler star floating. As she ran, the stars surrounded her. Deneb, the first-magnitude star, sank into her breastplate while the twin-star Albireo floated over her head. The other eight stars hung over Luna, shining down in silvery cosmic radiance as she ran.

Celestia was stunned as she realized that Luna had pulled the entire Cygnus constellation out of the sky. The brilliant lights did not blaze with power as the magic Celestia channeled did, but instead were softer, ethereal in nature. Cosmic wonders that, despite the brilliance of the celestial bodies, were gentle and sublime to behold.

"Don't just wait for me to do all the work, come on sister!" The Lunar Princess yelled, bolting towards the dragon. Celestia let out an exasperated breath, unsure whether she wanted to weep in relief or to laugh in joy. She allowed herself a small, warm smile as she darted through the air above her sister, the pair charging together towards the great dragon.

The dragon had just finished pulling it's hind legs over the edge, one heavy claw rooted deep inside a once lavish floral shop. It's thick jaw's had released the wall it gripped onto, heavy skull sagging from exhaustion as it's weary eyes locked onto the charging pair. It's head cocked to one side as the two sisters rushed to meet it. Each surrounded in primordial glory that left confusion in it's gaze. Both eyes flitting from one to the other, unsure which to focus on. It's disorientation left them the perfect opening, as Celestia summoned a wall of light behind her to blind the creature.

The dragon roared meekly, blinking rapidly at yet another assault on it's still sensitive vison and lashing out blindly with a heavy claw. Luna ducked beneath the blow, leaping into the air as both wings shot forward. The stars flowed across her wingspan and extended outwards, silver strands binding them together like notched whips. Two stars struck the creature on it's soft belly and arm with heavy . The impacts withdrew glowing marks remained that flared and exploded in silvery light.

Celestia followed up, striking the ground with thunderous hooves and sending great spikes of stone surging up to pummel the dragon's soft belly. The creatures head launched towards her once again, reaffixing himself on it's previous 'shiny' only to have it's toothy maw batted away with the flat of Celestia's massive sword.

The beast recoiled, stumbling back to the very edge of the plaza. It's hind legs skittered at the edge of the city, wild eyes becoming desperate as it realized the pair were forcing him back. Claws tore at the air and ground before him, spitting and hissing at the encroaching pair. The spines across it's back rippled and flared in anger as it swiped and lashed at the pair. Luna whipped her stars back and forth, striking and weaving the around the beast in a flurry as Celestia launched stones and lightning at it's legs.

The dragon crouched, back legs tensing as it prepared to leap over the sisters in desperation. "Luna, stop him!" Celestia yelled as she brandished her flaming sword. Luna splayed her wings, rattling the creatures body with blow-after-blow from her stars. With each blow that landed a magical burst erupted for the argent spheres. Silvery light doubling the power of each blow as concussive forces pummeled the beasts hide. The dragon shifted that strange exposed shoulder forward once more, trying desperately to absorb the heavy blows with it's hardier back scales.

'No you don't!' Luna followed the motion, sprinting to the side as she sent a whipping blow directly into the exposed bone. The dragon reared back with a rattling shriek. The tender flesh and bone split from the direct blow, retracting muscles only succeeding in tearing even more flesh from the creatures back.

Luna bolted forward, ducking low as she sprinted towards the dragon's side, glancing at the dragon's wounded shoulder for her next blow. Her eyes went wide with surprise, unintentionally slowing her canter as she traced the wound with her gaze. A light amount of blood coated it's side, and the bony protrusion hung in a strange way. It looked far too thin to be a shoulder blade, only three or so feet long and the sharp curvature appeared natural, if underdeveloped. Several feet down the bone another layer of skin wrapped around the base of the appendage with joints visible just below the surface.

She was so caught up in the sight, she was narrowly able to conjure a shield just as a rocketing blow struck her side. The teal dome took the brunt of a brutal swipe, but with little magic to draw on, the shield quickly fell as quickly as it appeared. A spike of pain rocked through her body, intensifying as the force knocked her back several yards. Loose stones and malformed-edges pummeled her body as she rolled across the ground.

She squeezed her eyes shut, grunting loudly as she dug in with one shoulder, tucking into the roll and springing back to her hooves with a kick. She caught her weight with her right shoulder as she came up skidding on all fours. She drifted several feet before her hoof slid into a deep divot and audible cracks erupted her ankle and shoulder. Hot pain flowed throughout the limb and every muscle in her throat clenched as she grit her teeth to muffle a scream of agony.

Furious eyes gazed down on her, the dragon's entire body pivoting towards her despite the narrow edge it stood upon. Intense pain shone in it's eyes as the beast's heavy jaws widened to display it's massive teeth. It loosed a frenzied roar at her, it's dark throat lighting with orange sparks that began to sail past it's lips.

"Luna!" Celestia screamed, watching as the dragon readied itself for another attack. The alicorn saw red as she hefted the massive sword with her magic, launched it through the air as the nearly eight foot blade sank halfway into the dragon's wrist. The dragon's head whipped to the side in pain just burst of fire erupted from it's jaws. The magma stream ending as a strangled whine took it's place. It clamped down on the hilt, snarling at her as it yanked the blade free in a spray of black blood, it's attention now squarely on Celestia again.

Heavy black spots danced in Luna's vision, but she maintained her balance despite the pain. With a labored breath she managed to groan out, "go... Vega!" One silvery orb shot straight towards the dragon, crackling with silver sparks as it exploded in the air between the serpent and the alicorns. It burst in a magnificent display, expanding a hundred times in size in gaseous ice-blue flare. Instantly the dragons eyes widened at the massive display, the enormous flash capturing the attention of it's still primitive mind.

"Take me into the air." Luna gasped out, her stars quickly shifting across her wings. Her body instantly lightened as gravity lost it's hold on her, and kicked off the ground with her other legs. She spun in the air, soaring over the dragons shoulder and lashing out with both wings as the silver strands reconnected and her magical whips launched towards the dragon. Her insides turned as she became weightless, nausea hitting hard along with the pain and over-exertion, but she fought past the feeling with a desperate battle cry. "Now Celestia!"

The white alicorn leapt high into the air before striking the ground. The ground beneath her twisted as a massive column of stone surged out and struck the dragon in it's exposed chest, just as Luna magical whips seized around it's throat. The dragon could only give a strangled "RAWK!" as it was yanked back in surprise. Celestia dug deep within herself, allowing that great pool of magic to flow through her once more, and poured another torrent of blazing energy into the creatures core.

Caught unaware, pushed and pulled by two foes, the dragon's claws were ripped froe from the city's edge and it plummeted towards the forest below. Once in free fall, Luna's star's pulled free of the dragon, the silver strands that tied them together fading as Luna began to fall with the drake. She flared her wings, slowing her descent as the constellation rushed to meet her, gently landing on the tips of her feathers. She slowed quickly, held in place by magic, but not taking her eyes of the plummeting dragon.

As she gently levitated in place, her eyes followed the descending Dragon. The creature flailed and spun, mewling and crying as it sought for any hold it could find as it plummeted thousands of feet down to the forest floor. The exposed shoulder bone flapped in the wind, rotating and spasming with an odd mobility. 'Surely not...' Luna wondered, squinting her eyes as the dragon fell.

On instinct alone, the dragon splayed out the odd bone as scales tore further away from the skin. The curved bone pulled more and more away, an enormous section of flesh and scales tearing free. She could see a wrist, then a forearm. An ooze-coated membrane caught the moonlight as it separated from a subdermal layer of skin. Talon-edged fingers wrapped in heavy mesh splayed out under silver moonlight, and the dragon's descent slowed as a single massive wing caught the air like a sheet.

"Damn it..." She muttered, turning away as the dragon struck the treetops, scattering branches and wood as it landed. It was by no means smooth, but not nearly hard enough to do any lasting damage it the creature. Instead, it was thrashing in confusion as it sank beneath the tree tops. Luna thought she saw an impressively ambulatory look of confusion as it tried investigate the new limb it discovered, before it finally disappeared below the trees.

"Damn it, damn, Damn it!" She yelled, nothing left she could do. Throbbing pain echoed through her right leg as she hung in there. A shadow fell over her as she looked up to see Celestia leap over the edge and descend towards her. "Take me back up." She grunted, trying to keep a pained whine from her voice.

Celestia rushed down to meet her, wrapping a long leg around her sisters back and helping to pull her back up to the castle entrance. The Dragon's languishing came from behind them, roar echoing within the golden barrier. Celestia barely registered the noise. Instead, as the pair landed, she drew her sister into a tight embrace as tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

"Thank goodness you're safe, Luna." She muttered while stroking her sister's ethereal mane. Luna returned the embrace, albeit far weaker. "I'm fine, sister, I promise." The younger sister pulled away, falling on her haunches while clutching the wounded hoof to her chest. The stars caressing her wings lifted from the feathers, floating above the pair in a wide hallow. Deneb pulsed softly like a heartbeat in her breastplate, and Albireo hung still just off the point of her horn. The stars slowly fed magic into her weakened body, but Celestia could see the signs of intense physical and magical fatigue in Luna's eyes. Before she could speak the blue alicorn waved waved her off with a hoof. "Where is she? Did you stop her?" Luna's eyes immediately began scanning the wreckage around them.

Celestia shook her head grimly. "She disappeared right after summoning the dragon."

"From where, her saddlebags? What kind of adult dragon doesn't realize it has full grown wings!?" She demanded. The heavy beats of flapping wings filled the air behind them as the contingent of pegasi and thestrals rushed to meet the Princesses. Luna wordlessly motioned over the cities edge with her good hoof, the majority of the group peeling off to keep watch for the dragon below. "We haven't seen one that big outside of Obsidian Valley in centuries, by all means every pony from Ponyville to Appaloosa should have seen it coming!"

"I wish we had, Luna, but this one came from Canterlot." Celestia inclined her head across the city, towards the School for Gifted Unicorns. "She hatched it herself." Luna only groaned, hanging her head as several sets of hooves landed all around the pair. The Wing twins appeared suddenly, flanking Luna like dual shadows as others arrived. They silently watched with shimmering golden eyes as two pegasus stallions crouched next to Princess Luna, the pair tending to her wounded leg as Celestia continued. "I couldn't chase her with the dragon following. I have no idea where she's gone, but with the barrier still up she'll have hidden somewhere in the city."

Celestia turned towards the green-manes pegasus, "Sergeant Aurora, gather everypony you can. With the citizens gone, we can search every single house until we-"

"No."

Celestia turned towards her sister with concern. Luna held out her limp hoof for the medics to remedy. Already yellow bruises were showing through her fur and the skin was swollen at the base of her hoof. She couldn't hold back a grunt of pain as one stallion felt along her shin for additional breaks, earning him an piercing glare from Wicked Wing.

"You have to stop her, Celestia." The Lunar princess stared down, not meeting anypony's eye. She swallowed hard. "She's doing it now. She's going to free Discord."

The assembled ponies shrunk back, save for Celestia and the twins, though their gazes turned sharply away from the medics and instead towards their princess. A stunned silence fell over the group for a moment as Luna panted and winced while the that pegasi began wrapping the limb. Luna continued speaking bitterly, obviously struggling to keep from erupting in a shout. "That imbecile thinks she can play as a god, but she'll only to get herself and everypony killed. The dragon was a distraction while she snuck away. I have no doubt she's there now."

Luna finally looked back at her sister, almost causing Celestia to flinch. She hadn't seen so much hurt and anger in Luna's eyes for years, not even when Twilight had been declared dead all those years ago. It had been a horrible day, a horrible time, but Celestia could see Luna was holding something back.

"Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, it's starting to get up! Oh pony feathers, that things got one wing!?" One voice called to the side, another picking up after him. "It's only one, but he's looking real pissed off. Looks like he's trying to climb the side of the mountain!" Everypony but the sisters turning to look at the guards. A few fliers jumped off the edge to get better visualization as chatter arose, but Luna held her gaze. Celestia knew Luna was in no position to hold off a dragon, regardless of how many ponies were with her, but the Night Princess's stare spoke volumes to Celestia. After a long pause she only nodded.

One pony flew over the ridge, calling over a maroon stallion in a higher ranking armor. The pegasi muttered something to him before he turned towards Luna. "Um, Princess, I don't want to alarm you but he just started chewing on his other shoulder."

"Go Celestia." Luna panted. "We can keep watch here, but you have to stop her. Bring down the barrier, we'll pull it away from the city in the meantime."

Celestia turned away with a heavy breath. "Be careful, sister." She muttered, before closing her eyes deep in concentration. Once more, warmth flowed through her chest as she tapped into the Elements deep within the mountain. Her wing's wrapped around her body like a great cocoon as a shimmer rainbow of light, tinged in gold, poured out from her horn.

Luna eye's lingered for a moment before thick clouds rolled across the sky and blocked out the moonlight. Instantly her knees became weak, nearly giving out as her honor guard leaned in to keep her from collapsing. Her breath grew heavy and wave of nausea rolled over her. She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping the feeling would pass quickly as another voice called out from below. The maroon stallion turned back, "Looks like we got a fire breather on our hooves! He's doing a number on the forest, and I think he just dug out his other wing."

A thick splint was secured around her ankle, and the medics began pulling a large mesh sock around her leg. A moment later a heavy bandage suspended the offending leg in the air, but there was little they could do for her fractured shoulder without bed-rest, except to apply a salve. The sounds of thunder and rain slowly grew louder, as the Cloudsdale Regulars worked to organize the storm Celestia requested. Luna nodded to the twins as the medics completed their work, grunting as the thestrals pulled her to her hooves and began walking towards the broken courtyard edge.

Luna cast one more glance towards her sister. Pulsing rings of light surrounded Celestia, the alicorn buried in her own feathers as she worked to undo part of the safeguard. The golden dome around the city began to shimmer and ripple, gently fading as the magic was altered.

Cygnus rested on her wings again, the stars gently hovering on the tips of her wings as she began to lighten. She cast a narrowed gaze on the storm high above. Thick clouds were brewing, rolling thunder growing louder and louder. Luna nodded in approval, "Get me above the clouds, as quick as you can. If I'm to be useful I'll need to stay under the moonlight."

The Twin's nodded as she spoke. A second later a sound like shattering ten thousand windows echoed through the air as the golden barrier began to break apart and dissipate. Luna heard the heavy wing beats of her sister pick up and recede in the distance. Immediately raindrops landed on the pavement and a cold wind whipped through the air around the trio.

"It looks like the paarty's just gettin' started." Dire Wing chimed, dragging the words in his heavy accent while throwing a wink to his sister. The Thestra ignored him, but Luna allowed herself a small smile. The three took off, the twin's wings carrying their nearly weightless princess over the edge and into the blackened skies. Several more fliers who'd waited behind stepped up to the edge, wings splayed in preparation for flight as the maroon pegasus bolted past the edge. Large singe marks across the front of his breastplate and carrying the scent of burned hair.

"Get back!" He screamed, eyes wild. "Stay clear of the edge, stay clea-!" His words were cut off as a deafening roar came from below. The stallion vaulted over the edge and the assembled ponies scattered, flying straight east across the city while the twins launched propelled Luna forward without so much as looking back. Luna spared a single glance back as the twins brought her closer to the storm, hundreds of ponies looking down at the approaching trio.

Heavy flames licked the top of the Everfree forest for hundreds of years, spreading through the thicket. A massive shadow, contrasted by the inferno below, was ascending towards them and the cities edge at a frightening pace. It only took a moment for it too catch up, but the dragon's massive wings beat upon the wind as it's lean frame tore through the air.

It passed the city's edge, lingering for a moment in confusion and wondering where it's prey went. It slowly turned it's head, keen eyes catching the escaping alicorn as she neared the roof of the storm. Instantly it's eyes narrowed in an intense glare, mouth opening wide to let out a hunting screech. It held the roar, wings beating a powerful rhythm as sparks danced past it lips, and the winter night was filled with flame.

Author's Note

So I wanted to post this about 7 hours ago, but 5.5 hours of editing later it's finally done. This was gonna be a short chapter, but I wasn't happy until now, so I hope you all enjoyed it. Due to this taking so long, I will be waiting until tomorrow afternoon/evening to post the story recap, for my faithful readers who don't have time to reread a 200k story in only 2-3 weeks.

Good night, good reading, I bid you all adieu. :scootangel:

Darkest Angel

As a fierce battle raged in the distance, Twilight stood silently in the midst of the garden. Her eyes were closed in concentration as the hum and chime of magic danced in the air around her. With each wave of her horn, runes glowed on their pages, pulling free and settling into the ground around her. The grass hissed and burned as the magical symbols arrayed themselves across the ground and the glowing marks impressed into the earth in a quickly expanding spellcraft. The pages they came from merely burned to ash and scattered in the building breeze.

The massive circle expanded around the mad-god's statue as minutes passed. The complex enchantment seemed to bleed magic as lines intersected, and enchantments conjoined. An occasional spark would drift into the air, and wisps of purple magic flowed in lazy tendrils as incomplete lines waited to be mended. Each one curled like magenta flame, stretching in the air as the color faded softer and lighter, flickering with white at the top like a candle flame.

Each one that formed earned Twilight's full attention, her eyes snapped open as she felt the disturbance in magical flow. Each time, more and more markings pulled free from their pages and settled into the gaps as Twilight guided the spells and tied off the loose flow. Magical bleeds in arcane patterns could create an number of effects, often referred to as "Arcane Chaos-Theory." The results were completely random; conjuration spells could malform into uncontrolled illusions, or protection spells may collapse into pockets of necromantic weaves. Discord said it was one of his "parting gifts" from being sealed away.

"Without me to keep the healthy flow of chaos in the world, SOMETHING had to keep life from being to boring. If I have to stay standing for over a thousand years, why shouldn't everypony else stay on their toes?" She could almost here him reciting the words in her head. Almost.

She'd opened her eyes for a moment to ensure a rune was properly settling into the tapestry. Her eyes flitted to her master's visage, almost causing her to flinch back in surprise. Odd shadows danced across his body, as the purple glow from beneath mingled with the warm golden light above. The rippling shadows made it appear like Discord was raising his eyebrows at her in a teasing manner. She turned away, rolling her eyes. 'He can be such an ass about timeliness, but it still won't stop him from making stupid jokes.'

All ten blades hovered in the air in groupings of five, waiting to be called upon. They rotated in slow circles, spinning as ambient magic in the air caused the rune-carved hilts to flicker with power. She waved her horn and five daggers descended, blades down as they carved a perfect circle around the base of the statue. Each blade carved out another circle just outside the ring, then a sixth, as the taxidermized components levitated to Twilight.

The dragon scale and the griffon beak were placed at the top of the hexagon, behind Discord, while the pegasi and thestral's wings flanked his side. Finally the lion's paw and the chicken foot were placed in their circles at the foot of the podium. Lastly was the serpents fang. Twilight considered it for a moment as it floated gentle in front of her, unsure exactly where to place it in the spell. Discord insisted the extra piece was necessary, despite the breaking spell requiring extremely precise actions.

"We're makin chaos, child. You're going to have to break the rules if you want it to work." He's said. Twilight sighed with exasperation, the fang floating away and landing on the pillar between the statues feet. "You better be right..." She grumbled as she turned to inspect the circles once more.

Despite the Elements of Harmony being six in total, magic was the central component which the others revolved around. The formation was a pentagon rather than hexagonal. Something that had taken almost a year to realize when she first began receiving glimpses of the spell. The geometric oddity would normally cause instability in spell like this, an arcane circle's foundation was built upon their geometric structure, but drawing the remarkably delicate formation was only the first step. Twilight had to not only match the existing spell, but combine them in such a way that the embedded weaknesses in her own spell would bind to the active circle as well. Working from the inside out as she created a mirror of the elaborate binding circle, placing instabilities within the sphere to aid the breaking process.

As the final pages began to burn away, she drew a deep breath before slowly beginning to chant under her breath. "Imperare et ferire, inter vernire res..." She stood rigidly as the words flowed from her lips. This was the deciding moment, after years of checking and re-checking, only now would she truly know if the spell would take. The set of daggers carved another circle to encompass the components and the statues base, before etching five pointed star, and embedding themselves blade-first into the dirt at each point. Twilight felt a roar within her as she opened the flow of magic beneath the city and channeled it's power through the blades. The hilts began to glow as she opened the flow of magic from below the city. Wisps of magic flowed off of them, intensifying into beams of light that radiated glowing energy much like a heat mirage on a hot summers day.

Twilight could feel the shift beneath her hooves, as the flow of magic moved out of her control and into the conduits. Bursts of heat sputtered and sparks crackled as the magic began flowing through her daggers, expertly carved tools designed for this very purpose. She continued chanting as sweat beaded on her forehead, and the magic crashed in waves that only she could feel. The entire circle began to glow a shrill, dissonant hum began to erupt around her.

"eius manus lux perpetua,' Her voice raised more and more as the final page burned away, and arcane words flowed passed her lips in a stream. Her mane whipped back as the wind picked up, and her stomach churned like she was aboard a ship being tossed by a storm. She held her ground, opening her magic to the stream and guiding the power through each of her five embedded blades.

She stepped quickly out of the circle, as the finale marking found their place in the magical weave, and she called out in a spoken crescendo, "potere cors mea semper!"Finally, she felt the magic flows smooth out, as the dissonant tones around her raised and fell, like a choir coming into tune, before uniting in a powerful note.

Instantly, the purple glow surrounding the statue brightened in a surge as the final marking nestled into the weave. Twilight felt a massive weight fall on her as gravity intensified for a moment, and she grit her teeth as she fought the pressure surrounding her. Magical bands rose into the air, complex shapes and lines forming like a spiders web as the spell formation began to truly take hold. Twilight's vision fades as spots danced in her eyes, blinding her momentarily before the building pressure suddenly relinquished and burst around her.

She stumbled back, bringing one hoof up to shield her face as she braced for an impact, but none came. She opened her eyes slowly, jaw dropping in awe as she beheld two circles before her. One, her own still shining and twinkling with purple and magenta light, while another hung inverted in the air above Discord's statue. The other circle was magnificent, it's initial shape seeming to be woven of golden threads. Each line perfectly matched her own, as a brilliant magenta star pulsed at it's center, surrounded by five pure wells of magical light. Though her own work was incredible, she was filled with wonder as she saw the intense beauty of the original binding. Each line seemed carved into infinity itself, intangible and yet seemingly stung from the purest of gold. Her awe filled gaze quickly turned to a delighted grin, as she laughed for joy. "It worked. It really worked!" She cried, falling back onto her haunches.

The flux was maintaining itself. Her life's work in all it's shining perfection, second only to the designs of the elements of Harmony, had worked. Twilight cradled her head in her hooves as tears of joy began to leak from her eyes. She had always been sure, but in her moment of success she couldn't hold back the intense feeling of relief as she sobbed quietly.

"It really is magnificent, isn't it?" A sweet, gentle voice said beside her.

Twilight nodded gently, wiping away the liquid flowing down her cheeks as she steadied herself with a deep breath. "It really is. We're finally standing at the door, after all these years." She turned to look at the soft yellow mare with a shimmering golden mane who sat beside her.

Benevolentia didn't look at Twilight, only staring forward at the statue between the epic sigils. She had a soft smile on her lips, as if she were watching the clouds on a sunny day. Her gaze was level, and her shimmering body relaxed as she sat quietly next to Twilight. The unicorn turned quickly to her bags, reaching and pulling out a metal ring and another utensil similar in shape to a tuning fork. She undid the straps with one hoof, letting the bags fall to the ground as she fiddled with the two items. "She's being awfully quiet, but I haven't sensed her pushing against the barriers. Is that why you're here?"

Benevolentia shrugged, not taking her eyes of the statue. "I just wanted to have a turn outside, it's been too long since I got to see the outside. Dem-" A quick glare from Twilight stopped her. "She is staying quiet." The golden mare corrected herself. Twilight turned away and continued fitting the two components together as Dawn spoke. "I think she's just as curious to see what happens as we are."

"Well she'll be the last one out, you can count on that." Twilight grumbled. "She's the cornerstone to the breaking ritual, so I won't even think about her until the last possible moment. The last thing we need is her trying to disrupt the spell."

"Of course, but perhaps her curiosity will get the better of her." Dawn said as her eyes scanned the trees, the corners of her mouth quirking up just a bit more. "It's not like she's the only watching the show." Twilight cast an uneasy glance over shoulder, towards the castle. Things had become quieter than she would have liked and she could no longer see Celestia in the air.

"It doesn't matter who's watching, as long as no-pony is able to stop the procession." Twilight looped the ring through the forked rod, spinning the ring through elaborate grooves so it could move freely without coming loose. She gripped the device in one hoof, swinging it back and forth as the ring collided with the fork's side. A tiny ring emitted from the device, as well as an odd hum that was just barely audible. She raised it again, and again, each time the ringing grew louder as Benevolentia watched on. The ethereal magic within her formation began to pulse softly, like an orchestra responding to their conductor as she continued to wave her wand.

Just then, an intense shattering sound filled the air, causing Twilight to jump, as the massive golden dome around the city cracked and shattered in the sky. Instantly the wind kicked up once more as thunder rumbled in the sky and rain began to fall in slow drops. Twilight moved quickly to the edge of the massive circle while her other five knives floated across the circle's diameter. "Remember, she'll be last, but you're on double duty. I don't trust the others to reign her in when the time comes, her last little trick was too close for comfort. Yours is the first seal, so get ready."

The knives once again floated across the circle and buried themselves in similar fashion to the smaller circle near the statue. This time the shape was inverted, with Twilight standing at it's head-point. She gripped the ringed fork in one hoof, rattling it as the hum and ring grew louder again, before slamming it into the handle of the dagger. The Ringing was suddenly amplified a dozen times, a high-chime the hung in the air like a heavy fog. The colors of both sigils suddenly became dimmer, more muted, as ethereal lines connected the outer pentagram. Several other taxidermized items surrounded her, a hoof, antlers, a bears claw, a snakes tail, a vial with a glimmering bead of flame, and a jar filled with leaves and herbs.

She reached into the air, plucking out the vial of dragon's breath with one hoof. "I won't be able to move once I begin, so you have to do your part quickly and hope the others follow your lead as well-" She turned back towards Benevolentia, only to find herself alone once more in the grand gardens. She turned back towards the statue, a shudder of anger passing through as she gripped the crystal vial so hard she thought it might break. "Thanks. Very kind of you!" She spat. No sooner had the words left her mouth did something impacted the ground behind her with a heavy rumble.

"If kindness is what you think awaits you, then I invite you to reconsider your expectations." A hard voice replied, no warmness or sorrow left in her bitter tone. Twilight spun around, eyes wide at the alicorn behind her. Never in her life had Twilight Sparkle stood in such adulterated, terrified awe of another pony.

Celestia stood over four feet taller than Twilight, glaring down at the tiny mare. Her wings were spread wide, the easily twenty foot wing-span only adding to her imposing size and frightful demeanor. A withering scowl was fixed upon her features, a look that made Twilight feel as if Celestia disproved of her very existence. Her large horn somehow seemed even longer, with a pointed tip that sparked with blue and white sparks. The molten golden plating had spread entirely across Celestia, covering the alicorn's entire body. The large crown, ever fixed on her brow, seemed to melt with her every step. Gold dripped down to form a nasal piece, while the edges curled down her neck and the sides of her cheeks until the only remaining semblance of the once beautiful crown was amethyst gem nestled in the center of of her forehead. Her mane which normally obscured part of her face was parted, allowing Celestia to fix both eyes upon Twilight. The normal ethereal mane seemed to flicker and burst into flames around her, casting imposing light which served to further magnify her already frightening visage. Twilight stared with wide eyes at the massive Alicorn before her. She had faced Luna just over an hour ago, the Lunar Princess twisted and imposing with her shadow magic, but she paled in comparing to her sister. Even after seeing Luna in all her horrible glory, standing face to face with an enraged Celestia brought no small grip of fear to Twilight's mind.

"Twilight Sparkle." Celestia spoke the unicorns name as a judge who was waiting to pass a death sentence. She slowly stepped towards the smaller mare, her crown, armor, and shoes glowed red with heat. The very ground where she walked smoldered with each of her steps as black hoof prints scarred the ground where she tread. A massive sword descended out of the sky, as tall as she was, and buried itself three feet deep into the ground beside it's wielder. Celestia's eyes bored into Twilight's over the hilt of the heavy weapon. "Do you have any last words?"

Twilight Sparkle in her years had come face to face with murderous ponies, dragons, minotaur, wyrms, rampaging ursa's, blood-thirsty diamond dogs, windigos, and, worst of all, Dementis. She had seen her world twisted by magic, she had suffered pain and agony greater than most ponies would feel in ten lifetimes. But as she stood beneath the blazing figure of Celestia, she could not help but shrink back beneath the alicorn's terrifying countenance. It was as if the sun stood before Twilight in all her majesty and power, unyielding, uncaring, and without mercy. Twilight was silent, wracking her bran for anything she could do to prolong the inevitable conclusions Celestia would reach. Every spell, every trick, or combat maneuver, nothing came to mind under the intense gaze the white alicorn fixed her with.

Click

Twilight sighed, dropping her head as she could feel a scratching at the door she kept locked, deep in the recesses of her mind. No voice came through the barrier, but if there was a candle in that room, she knew she would have seen the shadows of hooves at it's edge, and a single, dark eye peering through the key-hole. It's owner waiting, knowing that the only conclusion to be drawn had arrived. In a bitter voice, Twilight spoke a single name. A name she hadn't said aloud in nearly a decade.

"Dementis."

The wind shifted suddenly, as if the swirling storm high in the air had reversed itself. Twilight felt her stomach turn, as magic from deep within the magic altered it's course and began to pour out of the five knives at the circles edge. A hideous scratching filled the air as Celestia drew the sword out of the ground with her magic and charged the unicorn. As she closed the distance the scratching turned to gasping, then a dry laugh that grew loud and louder as filthy black smoke poured from Twilight's horn. Celestia rushed forward, even as the cloud covered Twilight in a blanket of darkness, her sword bursting into flame as she cleaved down to where the unicorn had been.

Mid-swing, as the blazing sword passed through the dark fog, it suddenly stopped it's momentum. A sound like tearing steel met her, as Celestia drew a breath in surprise. Just above where Twilight's head should have been, the massive, unwieldy, instrument was stuck in the air. Celestia grunted, horn alighting as flames burst around her in a circle to banish the dark cloud. Before her was a shadow, her sword embedded several inches in it's head in what surely should have been a killing blow.

Until she heard that awful, dry laughing emit from it's mouth. Two eyes opened, black pits as dark as Tartarus that seemed to absorb the light around them. As the dark cloud cleared, Celestia saw that her blade had buried itself in the mare's head, slicing it's horn cleanly in half and embedding in the base of it's skull. And yet, it's twisted, horrid grin met Celestia as it drew a raspy, labored breath.

"She said it..." It whispered in disbelief. Twilight stood just behind the other mare, a simultaneous look of determination and horror on her face as she swallowed hard. The black-eyed monstrosity turned slowly, turning the sword despite Celestia's grip as she gazed back at Twilight. She giggled softly, a crude mockery of a laugh that wasn't as much heard as felt deep within Twilight and Celestia's skulls. "She finally did it...

"She said. My. Name!" Dementis cried as she threw her head back with a ghastly wail. A wall of force emitted from her, striking Celestia and forcing the alicorn to jump back.

Dementis floated to the ground, her front hooves grasping her split head and forcing the sides back together as she erratically moved, those horrible giggles bursting forth every few seconds. Her body was thinner than Twilight's. Sickly so, with bones visible beneath her coat. Every color across her body was similar to Twilight, but deeper, muddier, like the color was being drained out of her, and left only polluted residue behind. She spun her neck to look around the garden and up at the night sky, each movement accompanied by the sound of cracking bones. "I'm free, I'm finally free. And yet..."

She turned towards Twilight, neck crunching grotesquely and hanging at a ninety-degree angle as she gazed back at Twilight. "So hungry..." The apparition stared at Twilight silently, still as a scarecrow.

Twilight fought to keep terror off her face, swallowing hard as she stood up straighter. Determination was fixed in her gaze, unwilling t allow anypony to stop her procession. "Why settle on a snack, when you can have the entire banquet?" She said in a strained whisper, her jaw rigid as she forced the words out. Dementis cocked her head at Twilight, like a hungry wolf listening to a cornered rabbit. Twilight lifted one hoof, Dementis's eyes tracing the movement with a curious delight as Twilight motioned towards Celestia. "She has more then I could ever give in a hundred, no- a thousand years." Twilight turned her head towards Celestia, and Dementis followed with yet another slickening crack. The look Twilight gave Celestia seemed apologetic, but whether it was a façade or an attempt to be strong in the presence of her greatest fear, Celestia couldn't tell. Twilight's voice came clearly, in both a command and a plea.

"So feast."

Thunder rumbled and lightning cracked as Luna rose steadily through the air. Cold rain pelted her body, but Luna could feel the warmness of fire in the air. Blistering flame scorched the freezing rain behind her, as the dragon kicked off the city's edge and began to give chase. Rain began to fall faster and faster, stinging her brow as she and the twins rose up to meet the growing storm. She didn't turn back, keeping her eyes forward as she panted with exertion.

High above, Luna could see dozens of pegasi flying in formation. A large contingent were flying in a massive halo, spinning the cloud's center to form a typhoon. Many others were still pulling bits of cloud together, or nurturing pockets of yellow light that would soon form into bolts of lightning. Celestia had asked for the strongest storm they could make, and Cloudsdale was going to deliver. The massive cloud was stretched almost a mile across, growing darker and thicker by the second.

'But we have to get there first.' Luna's mind spun as she took in the sight. They had half a mile to go before they were clear, and the dragon seemed like he'd quickly learned how to fly in a straight line. In the absence of her moon's light, Luna's legs and wings burned from the strain. Sweat washed away as sleet struck her brow, but the heavy toll on her body wasn't doing her any favors. She was in no position for acrobatics, but leading the beast in a straight chase would only end in disaster. The twins kept a strong grip around her mid-section as they flew, and the constellation neatly arrayed across Luna's back lightened her load, but the dragon was swiftly gaining.

The furious pumping of the twins wing's were nothing in comparison to the massive beating pattern dragon. Luna didn't need to turn back to know that hungry jaws were widening as the dragon grew closer and closer. The fiery display from earlier marked a turning point for the creature. It's instincts to collect, guided by infantile greed, had been replaced by the yearning to hunt and feed. It was angry, it was hurt, and now it would turn that fury upon her and her ponies.

"Make a hole!" Dire Wing screamed out into the pitch, as if reading her mind. Instantly, dozens of pegasi moved out of their formation and sped towards the group. 'Making a hole' was a common term when storm fighting, often reserved for signaling an injured pegasus who was being moved, or needed an escort. Dozens of ponies hurtled down to meet them, some pulling clouds with them, while others just blindly sped towards the dragon in a spiral formation. Enough pegasi in a line could create jet-streams, and Luna was impressed at the gall of the unarmored ponies.

As the first sets of pegasi approached, an echoing cry struck the air behind Luna. It was so loud she thought dragon could only have been a few inches away, and some of the pegasi suddenly pulled out of formation with terror-filled expressions. Before she could turn her head, Dire Wing barked out, "Kick off!" Luna didn't even have time to brace herself as Wicked Wing wrapped both hooves around the alicorn's good shoulder. She and her brother twisted sideways, bucking against each others back hooves. The trio separated at a near forty-five degree angle, as the dragon's maw crashed down on the space they'd occupied only a half-second earlier.

Luna couldn't suppress a scream of pain from the sudden jolt, as the rapid movement nearly dislocated her good leg and sent a harsh rattle up the injured one. "I gotcha, M'Lady." The Thestra muttered apologetically as she hugged Luna close and splayed her wings out. She made a wide swoop, gently guiding their momentum up towards the clouds once more in a smooth arc. The dragon fanned it's wings out, slowing instantly and locking it's gaze on the fleeing pair. Emerald eyes blazed with fury as the dragon's gullet opened wide. A deep shuddering breath swept in, as it's chest expanded and an orange glow rose through it's long neck.

Luna stretched out a hoof, barely able to focus as she desperately cried out, "Sadr! Fawaris!" Two of the silver orbs pulled free from the pattern, spinning out as a silver strand bound the two together like a bolas. As the first flickering flames reached open air, the magical cord wrapped around it's jaw and pulled the beasts mouth shut. Immediately, the dragon flailed as fire surged out of it's nostrils and caught in his long throat. Pegasi scattered as loose streams of flame wildly shot into the air while the dragon choked and tried to shake his restraints free.

Luna caught a glimpse of Dire Wing rush in with drawn knives, attacking the membrane layer of one of the dragon's wings with wild abandon. The fire died down as the drake began to claw at the heavenly strings, swiping at the Thestral with another hand. The assembled Regulars used the distraction to reorganize themselves as pegasi kicked and stomped small bundles of storm clouds, and scattered lightning around the dragon.

In a matter of seconds, bursts of yellow and blue light filled the air. They were small, but effective to an already disoriented creature. Luna watched for a moment as Wicked Wing continued pushed against the rapidly growing winds. Just as suddenly as he'd disappeared, Dire Wing suddenly reappeared at Luna's side. The stallion gingerly took hold of her broken shoulder as he attempted a cheeky grin. "That was a mite bit close, but we I think gotcha!"

Luna silently nodded. She could tell the twins had been working overtime, and were quickly beginning to tire. Wicked Wing remained impassive, ever the stoic one, but Luna could see tiredness starting to show in the corners of her eyes. They still had a ways to go until the top, and some of Luna's weight had returned with part of the constellation missing.

She spared another glance back. The assembled Canterlot Guard were finally following, climbing as fast as they could while the dragon still fought his restraints. He finally hooked his claws around the magical silver thread, pulling hard and snapping the line as the two silver orbs began to dissipate as they fell. Luna's heart dropped as the star dissipated. She'd formed them almost eight hundred years ago, and watching them scatter felt as if she'd lost two friends. She pulled her eyes away. Time for mourning would come later, ponies lives were at stake right now.

"Princess!" A pegasus called out, rushing over to flank the group. He was a salt-and-pepper stallion with a wild sea-green mane that was soaked flat against his neck. His cutie mark was a lightning bolt splitting a wave. "Squall Strider, Your Majesty, lead Storm-Chaser for Cloudsdale." He was soaked head-to-hoof from organizing the storm. Luna was nearly drenched herself at this point, but the shiver that settling into her bones almost enough to make her teeth chatter.

"Don't worry about us!" She had to yell now, the buffeting winds growing more violent as they approached the top. "I want as much wind, rain, and lightning as you can muster. Just get us through to the top!" That stallion pulled ahead, just slightly. Despite their exhaustion, the Twins were still some of the finest fliers around and they weren't going to look weak in front of a weather team.

Another cry from below meant the dragon was back on her trail. Heavy wing beats rising like the rumbling thunder above. More bursts of lightning sent shadows splaying across the clouds above, but the dragon seemed to be ignoring them now. 'Please my friends, give me everything you can.' She thought, gripping tighter to the twins and drawing as much strength as she could from her stars.

The cloud above was swirling in a slow vortex as hundreds of pegasi flew in a steady circle. Some peeled off as Luna and the others approached, some working to open the eye early while others dashed towards large pockets of lightning. Every muscle strained in her body as Luna fought to reach the top. She could glimpses of silver and blue light peeking through the misty swirl above, but they had hundreds of feet to go and the dragon was gaining more and more.

"Flames incoming" A voice screamed out from below. Dozens of shadows were suddenly visible, even against the nearly black clouds, as a massive burst of orange light began to illuminate them from below. The twins pulled Luna to the right just as a burst of flame shot past them. Heat turned raindrops into steam around as pegasi scattered and shifted to avoid the blast. Several pegasi weren't quick enough, swallowed up by the edges of the fire, and falling from the sky. Others grabbed their comrades as they fall, pulling them into smaller clouds to douse the flames and cool the burns, before taking them to the ground and out of the fight.

Wicked Wing let out a yell of pain herself as they dodged the main blast. Luna saw steam burns breaking out across the leathery wing of the Thestra, but the mare didn't stop for a moment. Wicked Wing bit down hard on her lip so hard that blood streamed down her chin and neck, but she kept pushing through despite intense pain.

Massive lightning bolts filled the air. Branching columns of blue and white energy coursed through the air, surging down and erupting in blisteringly loud waves of sound and heat. The dragon howled in surprise and frustration, still remembering well the pain of Celestia's bolt, but still he pushed through, snapping at Luna's heels all the way.

'We're not going to make it.' Luna realized, still pushing through as hard as she could. She felt another pop in her broken shoulder, but felt no pain from the surge of adrenaline rushing through her system. Dire Wing was panting heavily, lips peeled back from strain as he tried to take on more of Luna's weight. His eyes were wild, and she could feel his muscles slowing with each flap of his wings. 'Please, there has to be a way.' She thought as she cast her gaze across the sky. Pegasi were pulling away large pockets of cloud, stomping down for good measure to scatter as much lightning as possible, while others tried to whip the windy into tornadoes, but nothing worked. The heavy wings of the dragon didn't allow for twisters to build up enough, and they couldn't risk hitting the dragon for fear of hitting Luna or the twins.

Just then, Luna saw something in the distance. A shape appeared in the murky dark, punching through the darkness of the stormy night. Despite the danger, Luna squinted her eyes to make it out clearer. They were moving fast, incredibly fast. The blue streak corkscrewed through the air at such blinding speeds that the alicorn could see a vaporwave forming across the ponies out stretched hooves.

'No, not just a pony.' She realized as she saw the pony angle straight up, careening straight towards Luna and dragon. The twins eyes went wide and the Princess broke out into a grin as the pony shot passed them, trailing a long vibrant rainbow behind her as she ascended towards the storm clouds. Luna cried out for joy, "Rainbow Dash!"

Her student had entered the fray.

Author's Note

And now things get real spicy! Hello as well to all my readers who have finally caught up thanks to the recap, glad you can join us all for the main event! As usual, questions, comments, corrections are always appreciated.

-Seeker

Nocturnal Rainbows

"I don't know what to do..."

The words seemed to echo around her. Rainbow Dash couldn't tell if she was repeating the phrase over and over again, or that voice in her head had returned, mocking her with her own words as she watched calamity unfold. She was deaf to any sound. Not a single pitch, word or hum breaking through to her as she looked on absolute defeat, at the city she called snared in the embrace of sorcery.

Far below, ponies dotted the streets, brought to their knees as the magic surge seemed to drain their life force from them, but Rainbow Dash couldn't do anything to stop it. Slowly, she drifted forward through the air as she took in the sight with a numb mind. She had only barely gotten out herself. Who knows what might have happened if she hadn't, what those ponies below knew.

She didn't know how long she'd hovered there, despite the ache in her wings from whatever had triggered the event. Had it only been a few seconds? An hour. She couldn't tell, all she could consider, the only thought that dominated her mind, was that she had been the cause of it all. If she'd never listened Armor, if she had just let go like Princess Luna, her teacher, had said, none of this would have happened. 'Not the city, not Scootaloo, not Fluttershy, none of it.'

She was on vaguely aware of the hooves on her shoulder shaking her as a stallion screamed at her in desperation. She couldn't even make out his words, but she could see the helplessness in his eyes. The wild look in his bloodshot eyes, accompanied by helpless plea for orders, for direction, for... something. Anything.

She slowly dropped her eyes down, far down below to the Everfree Forest. Perhaps she should just fly back down there, and hide amidst the trees of shrubs until this was all over. She could easily say she had been too weak, too afraid to fight, to help. No-pony would blame her, not after all she'd been through. Maybe the Princesses would win the night, somehow. Maybe they had already stopped Twilight, and this was just one last parting gift from the witch.

The thoughts of doubt spun round and around in her mind as her eyes began to flutter closed. She was so tired, so numb to everything, that she didn't think she would ever feel again.

That is, until a hoof came rocketing across the left side of her face and her darkening vision instantly flashed red. She whipped back, nearly tumbling out of the air as the surprise blow cracked against the side of her jaw and hot blood poured out of her nose. The pain snapped her back to her senses as she looked up and saw Ironworks staring at her, teeth barred in an inaudible growl. Her eyes widened when she saw his hoof was tucked back in preparation to loose another blow. His muscles tensed, launching his leg forward in a blow that would have made Rainbow Dash go cross-eyed, had she not fallen backwards and let the wide-hook sail harmlessly over head. Her back legs spasmed in a pathetic attempt at a buck, merely pushing the frenzied stallion several feet away as she grabbed at her crushed snout.

"Wait, you maniac!" She gasped, leaning forward and pinching her nostrils to staunch the bleeding. The whole left half of her face throbbed in pain and she experimentally flexed her jaw to ensure it hadn't been broken by the heavy blow. Ironwork's helmet was gone, and he'd lost two of his sabatons, but not the one affixed to the hoof he clobbered her with. She felt like he'd dented her chin, and she felt an odd gap with her tongue at the point of impact. "You bucking idiot, I think you chipped one of my teeth!"

"Yeah, well you won't have to 'think' I did if you don't snap out of it right. Now!!" He screamed, already squaring up to her with a clenched hoof primed at his side.

"OK! OK, fine, just back off a sec!"

To her relief, he did. The monochrome stallion pulled back, at least, as stiffly as a pegasi could without falling out of the sky. He reached across his chest, gripping the clenched and shaking with it's opposite as if to stop himself from lashing out uncontrollably. His whole body trembled as he drew shaky breaths, trying to fall into a rhythm and slow his surging adrenaline. The pair were silent for several moments, as blood dripped down Rainbow Dash's chin and fell through the chilly air.

"Was that really, and I do mean really, necessary?" She finally said meeting her subordinates gaze with a flat expression. The stallion snorted brusquely, matching her glare with his own. "It absolutely was, ma'am. You gave me permission to do that a couple years back, and I'm not the type to shirk orders in the middle of a crisis." He said it smartly, but there was a grumble under the surface that Rainbow couldn't quite place.

Her hoof fell away from her face as she felt the blood flow slow to a trickle, and she considered returning his favor until a memory flashed through her mind. The stallion nodded with a smart-aleck look on his face that would have set her teeth grinding if the pressure didn't hurt like hell.

A few years back, she'd been part of a battle-simulation during a joint training between the Day and Night Guard. One Earth Pony had frozen up after getting hit b a wayward flash crystal that left him stunned for several minutes. Rainbow Dash, not one to lose, instead of flagging a referee or medic to pull him out of the war-game, resorted to slapping him back and forth across the face until he could repeat back his name, rank, and the "mission" they were supposed to complete.

Real life isn't a war-game, you bunch of flat-hoofed fillies.' She'd yelled at the concerned group who had paused to watch her "resuscitate" their fellow guard. 'If somepony gets the snot beat out of them in the field, but are still capable of moving, then damn-it you better get them moving! I would expect any of you to do the same thing for me. There's no referee when a fight comes down to life-or-death.'

Ironworks had been there that day, and though their group failed the objective, everypony present remembered well the "teachable" moment the Commander had instilled in them. Whether for better or worse was determined by each pony, but evidently Ironworks took it to heart.

"Fine, fine." She yelled again, turning away. The stallion's glare faded as he turned his eyes back towards Canterlot. He shook his head slowly, ash-colored mane loosely flapping in the wind as he looked on in consternation. "This is bad, ma'am." He muttered.

Rainbow Dash nodded sullenly, as hovered shoulder with him. "I know. I'm sorry for dragging you into this."

He snorted, still not taking his eyes off the city. "Are you kidding, you literally slapped me out of it. Least I could do is return the favor." He said, trying to earn even a snicker, but to no avail. They hung silently in the for a few moments, until Rainbow couldn't stand it anymore.

"Come on, we gotta try to get eyes on somepony, anypony." She stuck her still throbbing chin out, trying to at least confident in front of her subordinate. Her eyes traced around the south part of the city, looking for anypony not catatonic in the street. "Did you at least see anything before I slammed into you?"

Ironworks paused in thought as Rainbow kept scanning the streets. Her eyes lingered in everypony she saw. Even from this distance, she could tell some looked to be in intense pain, while a few others had either been knocked unconscious, or worse. Thankfully there were only a handful she could see throughout the scattered streets. Princess Luna's magic was powerful, and the spell she used sent out a soft memetic, akin to a distraction spell, that would keep ponies from leaving their homes, and keeping them asleep. Still, It pained her to see that everyday ponies were caught up in that damned Sparkle's traps too.

"Commander, I remember something." Ironworks finally said. He flew a bit higher, angling to the southeast part of the city. He pointed with one hoof towards a large warehouse that was only five or six blocks from where they had been, but Rainbow Dash had already spotted the odd glowing building. Despite the massive glow consuming the city, she was surprised she hadn't seen it earlier. Even with hundreds of thousands of strange sparks and odd tentacle-like appendages floating in the air, the building glowed with an odd hue of magics that made it stand out from everything near it.

"I thought I spotted something, but didn't get a good look in time, but I think this all started from there." He said, pointing towards the warehouse. Rainbow Dash nodded silently, her eyes instantly scanning the streets around the area for activity. It was hard to see anything. The flickering lights and odd magic sent shadows all over the place, even creating multiple shadows depending on how the sparks shifted. It was dizzying to follow, but just two blocks to the west of the glowing warehouse, Rainbow laid eyes on somepony.

"There!" She yelled, wings blurring as moved accordingly and took higher to the air for better reconnaissance. Ironworks fell in behind her, following her gaze. A pony had emerged from an alleyway and was bolting straight west towards the city-center. Their features were obscured, hidden behind a heavy cloak, but Rainbow Dash recognized the garment and a growl erupted from her throat.

"Sparkle!" She howled, tunnel vision clouding her gaze as she bolted towards the fleeing mare. "Hey, wait. Commander!" Ironworks yelled after her, but Rainbow barely heard him. She could see the lone mare running through the streets. With all the lights in the sky, Rainbow could drop on her like a ton of bricks. Her vision narrowed on the unicorn as she dove faster and faster, oblivious to the danger fast approaching.

As she neared the purple barrier, a cloud of sparks broke as one of the magical tendrils surged towards her. She barely saw it before it grabbed her, stretching through the dome and wrapping tightly around one leg. As soon as it made contact with he, the entire limb went numb, as if it had fallen asleep. She tried to pull back, but the tendril began reeling her back into the dome. "Let me go, damn it!" She screamed with futility. An aura of magic began to flow out of her wings as that same feeling surrounded her. One again, her wings felt heavy as iron. Like gravity had doubled it's pull. She kicked and fought desperately but it was no use, the magic was pulling her back in. "Ironworks, help!"

The stallion appeared instantly, diving into a kick just before Rainbow Dash hit the barrier. He struck the tendril, but it was like punching a cloud. Part of the tendril dissipated into sparks, only to reform around his hoof. He yelped, finding himself stuck and pulled back as hard as he could. His chest grew hot with exertion as he finally pulled free, instantly spinning to grab Rainbow as well.

"Give me back my Commander!" He yelled, rushing forward to deliver a swift kick to the bizarre "head" before grabbing Rainbow Dash by her front hooves and pulling back as hard as he could. As soon as he grabbed onto Rainbow Dash, the limb suddenly pulled back, falling free of her leg as the pair launched back in surprise.

Steadying themselves, they looked to each other in confusion. "What the hay happened?" She yelled, shaking her hooves and trying to rid herself of the tingle. The magical limb retraced back into the dome, though several more hovered nearby, ready to continue pulling her in of she got too close.

"I have no idea, but are you really going to complain?" He panted, watching below with a wary eye. "Looks like we're not getting back in very easily."

"No kidding." She said, finally getting feeling back in the foreleg. "Why didn't it grab you too? You didn't start getting the life sucked out of you?" Her eyes flicked to the tentacles and back to Ironworks, before scanning the streets for her nemesis once more. The stallion only threw his hooves wide in an exaggerated shrug.

"Hell if I know, I'm just glad we got you out." He paused for a moment, quirking his head in thought. "It did let you go awfully easy once I grabbed on, though." Rainbow Dash didn't respond, cursing as she searched the city to no avail. "Damn it! How could we lose her so fast?" Just as the words passed her lips, she saw Twilight sprint around a corner, still heading in the same direction as before.

"Wait, there she is, she's heading north now!" Ironworks spoke up beside her, pointing several blocks in the other direction from where Rainbow Dash looked. Confused, she followed his hoof and clear as day there was another pony galloping away in the same cloak. "What!?" Rainbow yelled, looking back and forth between the two. She gazed closer, and saw just a hint of a multi-colored purple mane and a horn glint under the light.

"Is this a trick or something?" Ironworks yelled. "She came into the city through tunnels in the mountain, is she trying to escape?" Rainbow shook her head. That couldn't be it. Sparkle was no coward. Dirty fighter, cheater, and menace, but cowardice didn't fit. Still, Rainbow couldn't think where she was heading, or why there were two Twilights. For a diversion? Going north still meant nothing, all that was up there were the Nobles district and...

Blood drained from Rainbows face and her breath went cold, a horrid feeling like frozen talons gripping her heart sent needles into every part of her. Her breath became ragged, almost suffocating as she forced the words aloud. "The hospital." She gasped out. "She's going towards the hospital. Fluttershy!" She screamed. Ironworks tackled her into a hug just as Rainbow nearly tried to dive into the barrier again.

"Wait, Wait!" He said, trying to hold the struggling pegasus back. She was nearly deaf to his words, fighting back tears as she watched the unicorn run faster and faster down the winding streets. She let out a horrible whine as Ironworks hauled her higher into the air, the armored stallion using his leverage to keep her from dragging him forward. Her vision narrowing on the fleeing unicorn. She stopped fighting her fellow guard, instead gripped the air tightly in front of her with her hooves, as if she could squeeze the pony from the distance and crush her into paste. It was futile, but Rainbow didn't have any other option. She could only watch helplessly as Sparkle ran away.

'There's only one reason she would go back. She won't leave any witnesses behind, she's know Fluttershy lived because we told her.' Her vision was pure red as her teeth ground together in a squeal, the ache in her jaw long forgotten. "We have to do something, she's going to kill Fluttershy!" It all seemed above her, and yet below her at the same time. A dizzying surge of thoughts, tactics, plans, emergency directives, and safeguards flooded her mind to no avail.

"Wait. Safeguard..." Rainbow whipped her head towards Ironworks' armor. The aquamarine gem nestled into the metal plated hung were it should, but Rainbow leaned closer and placed a hoof onto the star. Despite the cold air, the piece felt warm. Just mild enough to be noticeable. She gasped, pulling stallion closer and putting her ear against his armor.

"Hey, excuse me commander!" The Stallion jumped, trying to push her away. His hooves were slapped down as Rainbow Dash shushed him, closing her eyes and concentration. 'Come one, come on...' For a moment, all she could hear was the slow breaths of the stallion and her own heartbeat hammering in her chest. Slowly though, she began to feel rather than hear, the soft stirring of magic within the gem. It was faint, but her suspicion was correct.

"The Safeguard has been activated." She said, earning a uncertain glance from Ironworks.

"How the hay do you know? I thought no-pony even knows what that thing does."

"It doesn't matter, just trust me." She said with a huff, eyeing the magical sparks and tendrils idly floating below them. "When you pulled me free earlier, that thing didn't pay attention to you, right? While it hasn't been fully activated, I think the Safeguard might be protecting you from being noticed by whatever-the-hay Sparkle did. So long as we don't run into those weird tentacles, we might be OK."

"Wait, what do you mean 'we.'" He retorted, eyeing her warily. "Don't tell me your suggesting-"

"I will tell you, damn it! I'm your Commander, now listen to me for a sec." The stallion clenched his hoof, deciding whether to argue or just try hitting her again, but decided against it as he motioned her to continue. Her mouth was dry, even as she ran her tongue over chapped lips, as her eyes kept tracking the sprinting unicorn. "If we hold close, the magic in your armor might protect me from those things as well. If we stay close, then we might not get the life sucked out of us, and we can try to stop her."

"And what if you're wrong? How do you know you won't get pulled in by those things again?"

"I don't, but what else can I do?!" She screamed, trying to hold back heavy breaths and the tears which would follow. "If I do nothing, she might kill Fluttershy, if I try and fail, she might still kill Fluttershy, but if this works than we at least have a chance' to save my friend. Even if I get attacked, then you could be the difference between her survival, or..." Rainbow trailed off, biting back the horrid thought of what Twilight may do.

Ironworks jaw pulled tight as she stared at him with those pleading eyed. Finally, he threw his hooves up. "Fine, but this better work. I'm not gonna be the one to tell the Princess that I got her student killed cause of some half-cocked plan." She let out a heavy breath as his eyes scanned the barrier ceiling, being especially mindful of the ominous pseudo pod-like arms waiting just below the surface.

"Thank you." She muttered, wiping at her eyes for the second time that night. "OK, just trust me." She drew herself up, a steely look filling her eye. She loosened the straps around the breastplate, sliding one hoof under and joining the pair at the shoulder. "Gimme one of your shoes." She said hurriedly, ignoring the questioning look he gave her as he loosened one of his remaining shoes and she slipped it over her other leg, holding the wrapped hoof against the blue gem. She didn't feel anything, no magical hum or pulse that usually accompanies an active magical artifact, but she was prepared to take the risk.

"Move a bit more south, back the way we came. We're gonna full dive in, and once we're through we'll go from there." The stallion nodded, the pair readying themselves as they drifted away from the still waiting magical arms below. The limbs didn't follow, seemingly only attracted within a certain range, but Rainbow prayed that the Safeguard was helping. After moving some distance away, the pair drew deep breaths, before nodding together and plummeting through the air as one.

A rainbow trailed followed them as Rainbow and Ironworks flapped in tandem to keep their wings from colliding, rocketing straight down and punching through the dome. Instantly, the sound of ten-thousands ringing chimes picked up in the air around them, and a deep hum that seemed to rise up from the ground. They scanned all around them, eyes tracking any of the tendrils that might have been approaching, but were relived to see none moving towards them. Their eyes met in silent agreement, and the pair continued rocketing straight towards the ground as the paved street quickly approached. The pair slowed, flaring their wings to landing quickly and muffle their steps. They were at the edge of the warehouse district, flanked by villas and homes near the city's highway entrance. Twilight was out of sight, but Rainbow knew it would only take a moment to catch up.

She pulled her leg free and released her hold on his stone, still watching the skies just in case those tendrils starting rushing in again. Nothing happened though, and still the tendrils still floated ominously in the distance, far away from them. "Come on!" She yelled as loud as she dared, grabbing her compatriot as they sprinted down the way.

Houses rushed by as they ran, the opposite way Twilight was running, but Rainbow knew the alleys and side streets far better than Twilight. 'Just a quick detour, and we might even beat her there just hoofing it.' A corner appeared not far, a little byway called "Ivory Lane" that housed a few older shops from decades previous, but the perfect route for them to head Sparkle off. "Come on!" She called, and Ironworks fell in right behind her as she rounded the corner and was greeted by two dark orbs that swallowed her up as she ran.

"Wait"

Suddenly, Rainbow Dash was on her hooves standing in the middle of a plaza. She stared forward for a moment, blinking blinking slowly as a mass of purple and blue light suddenly appeared in front of her. She stumbled to the side, the memory of running forcing her idle legs into motions as suddenly, as she tried to squint past the sudden flare. Through bleary eyes she tried to understand where she was. Where decadent villas and smooth stone roads had been, now she was standing in a wide street, cobblestone beneath her hooves and long, square buildings in varying lengths and widths surrounding her on every side.

"What?" She spun in place, quickly finding a similarly disoriented Ironworks right behind her. The stallion stared idly forward as he slowly blinked, like a pony trying to figure out if they were awake or still dreaming. A feeling Rainbow Dash could relate to, as she spun in confusion, finally focusing on the luminous building in front of her. Her eyes went wide as she realized what she was looking at. "How in the He-"

THOOOM!

Rainbow Dash whipped back as a massive explosion shook the building in front of her. She was standing in front of the massive glowing warehouse they had seen before. The same warehouse that was now erupting in an explosion of light, sound, and shrapnel.

"Get down!" She screamed, diving to the side as bits of metal tore through the air around her. Ironworks reacted far slower, still sluggish where he stood, but she could hear his armor repel several pieces of debris even as he threw himself to the ground. Large sections of metal, wood, and stone filled the air around them, raining down in a fiery hail of rubble. Rainbow curled into a ball, protecting her head and core and only praying that a large enough chunk of building didn't smash her flat where she lay.

Slowly, se could hear the flying junk tapper as gravity took it's hold on the heaviest objects. Rainbow peeked one eye out from behind her hooves to see a gaping hole in the side of one of the biggest buildings in the entire district. Glowing lights surrounded the area, but they didn't seize Rainbow's attention as much as the gold dome surrounding the entire city. A massive barrier, even more brilliant than the one Sparkle had caused, surrounded the entire mountain and city. 'No way...' She turned her head, casting her eyes about the sky. The soft purple barrier that had surrounded the city was gone, and now a brilliant gold light surrounded all of Canterlot.

"How the..." Rainbow's head spun as she tried to fathom what just happened. Somehow in the blink of an eye, they were three blocks west of where they had landed. She whirled towards Ironworks, the stallion now picking himself up off the ground. "Did you knock me out or something? How did we get here!?" The bewildered stallion looked at her helplessly, as still as his shadow and just as lost for words as she was.

As Rainbow turned back, she saw a large pile of debris shift not far in front of her. Something big had been launched out of the building with the explosion, and steam seemed to rise from the rubble. Something dark was half-buried, and with... wings?

"Princess Luna!" Rainbow Dash sprinted forward towards the crumpled Alicorn. Rainbow began throwing off the chunks of corrugated metal, plaster, and sheet rock as Ironworks joined in to help. Splotches of discoloration and what seemed to be burns ran along Luna's coat, and for a moment Rainbow thought she wasn't breathing. "No no no, come on!" She yelled, gripping Luna's neck and pulling the alicorn's head towards her. Luna let out a small, breathy moan and barely open, glazed eyes met Rainbow Dash's. "Princess, it's me. Rainbow Dash. Come on, you gotta wake up!" She yelled again, but Luna didn't seem to hear her student. The Alicorn's eyes lazily rolled high to glance at the moon while she took narrow breaths.

With a defeated sigh, Rainbow slowly rested Luna's head down again. 'She's alive, that's the most important thing. She's alive.' She stared to the north, knowing that Twilight was still heading towards Fluttershy. To say she was conflicted was an understatement, as fury built in her chest jut as much as the anxiety of leaving her teacher behind. A hoof rested on her shoulder, strong enough be firm, but gentle enough to be comforting.

"We gotta do something. We can't just leave her like this." she sad with a sigh, placing one of her cyan hooves on top of the dark indigo limb.

"It's alright, don't worry about her."

A soothing voice said beside her. "Why don't you go on ahead. We'll stay here with her."Words like honey poured into her ears, and she felt the uncertainty go out of her like a held breath. She looked up to see the stallion smiling down at her. The night was so cold, but his smile was so warm. "Go on now, your princess will be alright, but she is getting away. Follow after her, but wait for me once you get there, yes? We wouldn't want anyone interfering after all." She could feel the pleasantness his words, and she rose to her hooves with a nod.

"You're right, just stay quiet. I'll... see you there." She said dreamily, running off into the darkness again. She didn't spare a glance back, feeling deep in her heart that his words were honest.

She ran quickly, ducking into alleyways and occasionally flying over rows of houses or building. Twilight had taken the main street, but even from starting behind, Rainbow could arrive there quickly b taking detours. She could have been there in only a minute if she'd flown the whole way, but if Twilight spotted her then things could go poorly. She was unarmed, unarmored, and the insane unicorn had any number of trick up her sleeves. Maybe Twilight would get those tentacles to tie Rainbow down, and she'd end up like him. Without Ironworks and the Safeguard to protect her, she'd be a goner.
As Rainbow passed through a street, she found a stallion collapsed on the corner. He lay unconscious, not moving a muscle, but Rainbow was surprised to not see an ethereal trail bleeding from his horn. She knelt down, pausing for a moment. She didn't need to feel for his pulse, he was steadily breathing, and almost seemed on the verge of snoring. 'That's... weird.' The stallion seemed fine, even though he had no doubt been subjected to the same effect she'd felt. "Small blessings, I guess." She muttered, picking back up into a gallop and continuing her game of jumping, ducking, and weaving through the city.

Just two-and-a-half minutes later she leapt over one more store-front and landed on the opposite sidewalk, quickly ducking into a narrow passage. Narrowed eyes scanned each corner and alley around her for several seconds before she finally stepped out into the street, confident that Twilight wasn't waiting outside. A tall glass cube several stories high, dominated the block. A place she knew well, and had spent more than her fair share of nights in. Canterlot Regional Hospital. The electricity was out, and so were the back-up mage-lights. 'Probably her doing as well. Rainbow could see a decent ways into the building thanks to bright lights above. However, she could see a number of ponies inside, all collapsed to the floor like everypony else in the city. Just like the stallion from before though, she couldn't see any life-force being pulled out of their bodies. The doors were wide open, but for some reason Rainbow Dash hesitated.

The whole building had an uneasy stillness to it, and even though urgency tugged at her heart and mind alike, she felt a creeping doubt spring up in deep inside her somewhere. Like a soft voice telling her to wait. A cold sweat dripped down her neck, and her legs tensed as she struggled to decide whether or not to stand or run.

'Wait for me once you get there, yes?' She remembered... Ironworks saying? Rainbow paused again, even more uncertain now. Now that she thought about it, the stallion hadn't quite sounded like himself. His normally clipped tone had been oddly serene, but maybe that was just him being a loyal soldier. 'Yeah, he was just taking charge, like a good soldier would.' She nodded to herself, pushing away her doubts. He could handle things with Luna, and she could handle Twilight.

Rainbow felt her chest swell as confidence surged though her once more. She wasn't going to waste a moment, not with her friend's life on the line. Heavy hoof steps clattered against the street as she bolted forward, sprinting through the large glass doors and into the darkened building as-

Once again, the room shifted and brightened like the sun appeared in front of her. She had barely taken a single step over the threshold and into the lobby, but suddenly she was standing in the middle of a hallway. Red light surrounded her on ever side, shining down from panels in a low ceiling that hadn't been there a moment ago, and illuminating the floor in an eerie glow.

Rainbow's mind felt numb again. Just like before, she'd been full tilt-sprinting into the waiting area, and now she was surrounded by doors in a hallway she didn't recognize. She turned slowly, trying to make sense of what was happening. "He-hello?" She called out warily, before covering her mouth just as quickly. She listened with fearful eyes scanning the area around her, terrified she may not be alone, and that somepony had heard her. She turned back and forth, but the dozen or so doors around her stay silent and shut. She looked back to see two silver elevator door, reflecting red light across the walls while her shadow stood between them. She glanced ahead of her again, dropping her hoof as a wall decal caught her eye. She leaned in towards the hood-etched panel to read,

Room 206,
Dr. Song, Post-surgical therapist
and rehabilitation specialist

She shook her head in disbelief as she felt out of breath. 'The second floor?' She thought, gripping her mane in one hoof as panic built up in her chest. The 'ding' of an elevator bell rang behind her. She jumped again, scrambling around in a panic. The sound of metal panels opening reached her, as she saw one of the elevators door open. No-pony was inside the glowing metal box, save for her shadow of course. She peered closer in focusing, barely able to see the shade even with the elevators cherry-colored light shining on it. It cocked it's head at her, and she returned the look in confusion. Her shadow seemed to laugh at her antics, pointing behind her with one leg and whispering something she couldn't quite make out as the doors slowly closed between them.

'Behind me?' Rainbow turned back, finally realizing the hallway curved left just a few paces ahead. 'Wait, surgical recovery. Fluttershy is just ahead!' She realized, as her shadow faded to the back of her mind. She turned, rounding the corner and jogging down the way as quietly as she could. A pair of double doors awaited her just a few feet away, both doors opened inwards to the large room. She could see the large white room ahead, beds lining the walls on each side, silently ready to host ponies who had undergone intensive surgical procedures.

Rainbow slowed her pace, though not without great effort. She knew that nearly twenty beds lined both sides of the room, and that on the fifth bed on the left, would be a sleeping buttercup pegasus. At least, deep within she hoped, she prayed that she would find her there.

She crept around the corner, leaning against the wall as she peered around the edge and felt her heart sink to her stomach. The room was dimly lit, no inner light on, but a massive, tinted bay window on the far side of the room allowed silver moonlight to cast a dull glow into the space. She could see Fluttershy laying on her back, still comatose in her large bed. She was propped up, her wings held out to the side by a series of braces and cables that would ensure she didn't roll onto them in her sleep, if she even moved. Twilight Sparkle stood over Fluttershy, hood down as she held one of pegasi's wings in her grasp. A simple knife floated in the air between the pair while Twilight Sparkle seemed to be unwrapping the bandages from one of Fluttershy's wings. She eyed the sleeping mare with a keen eye, like a doctor tending to a patience.

Or a scientist waiting to dissect an insect.

She couldn't restrain herself, as hot fire seemed to flood her veins. "No!" Rainbow wailed, tearing around the corner and leaping into the air. Sparkle instantly snapped her head up, Fluttershy's wing falling down to the bedside as she charged her horn and sent a blast of purple magic towards Rainbow Dash. The pegasus angled sharply to the side as the blast sailed by, closing the distance in a second. Twilight leapt back, scattering a burst of sparks in the air as she did. The deep red lights permeating the outer halls had preserved Rainbow's night vision, and the sudden flares caused sent spots dancing in her vision.

But she didn't slow, not for a moment. Rainbow leapt over Fluttershy's bed, half-blinded, and reaching for anything to use as a weapon. Her hoof wrapped around the leg of a small folding tray-table and she hurled the table towards the unicorn. "Get away from her you bitch!" The wooden tray spun as it flew and struck Twilight just above her right eye as the unicorn tried to duck. Her head whipped to the side and nearly brought her to the ground as she scrambled to stay upright. With a grunt, the unicorn kicked hard, springing across the room and firing a stream of spells towards the enraged pegasus. One bolt struck the pocket between Rainbow's wing and side, eliciting a howl of pain she she threw herself over Fluttershy to shield the comatose mare. It hurt like hell, but not enough to debilitate her. Twilight continued sprinting back towards the large bay window, throwing out stun spells every few steps. The blasts were sloppy, striking the wall above and to the side of Rainbow Dash, but the pegasus knew she would need cover fast.

The pegasi looked up, just as Twilight turned back and began alternating blasts between Rainbow Dash and the large window. Several shots struck the glass, sending thick cracks across the surface, but the darkened and reinforced pane proved sturdy enough to withstand a decent barrage. 'Oh no you don't, you coward!' Rainbow pushed off the bed, keeping clear of hitting Fluttershy's wings as she moved. She bolted to the side, diving behind a gurney on the opposite wall just as another shot whipped past her tail.

She ducked low, bracing the bed with one shoulder as the metal began being pummeled by magic. The frame was quickly bending under the pressure, but she held low and dropped her face to the floor. She could see Sparkle's hooves still moving, the unicorn slowly retreating back as she loosed shot after shot. 'Come on, come on...' Rainbow waited, watching until she saw the unicorns front hooves shift just enough the side that she could deduce the mare had turned her head towards the back wall again.

Rainbow shot out, grabbing the corner of the bed sheet and blanket atop the gurney and throwing them into the air as she bolted to the other side of the room. Twilight barely got one shot off at the window, the glass heavily fractured now, before she turned back to Rainbow. The pegasus had already reached two other beds on the opposite side, instantly flying back and dragging them into the air along with the other two she'd already thrown. The fabric spread wide and floated slowly down, creating barriers in the air for Rainbow Dash to disappear behind. Moving like lightning, she dove and twisted side ways across the room, grabbing more and fabric and throwing it high into the air. The room's twenty foot vaulted ceiling allowed her plenty of room to move, and soon the air was filled will spinning sheets. Before the first bed-lining had even hit the floor, Rainbow had pulled six more sheets off adjacent beds, bolting back and forth across the room and throwing more and more material into the air as she pushed her advantage.

Twilight tried to track the already swift pegasus, but every time she lined up a shot Rainbow Dash would disappear into the fold. As Rainbow pulled another lining from one of the empty beds, the sheet caught the mattress edge, and Twilight took advantage of the pause. Rainbow instead of trying to force the fabric off, instead gripped the edge she had and raised the sheet into the air, almost as if making the bed herself. Twilight's blast punched through the fabric, but there was no-pony there when it fell.

Rainbow Dash emerged near the opposite wall, once again trailing blankets and sheets behind her in a dizzying whirl. The speed and wind generated by her wings whipped the air strong enough to keep multitude of fabrics floating lazily in the air. Within seconds, Rainbow had thrown more than twenty sheets into the air, more and more swiftly following until the room was so densely packed that Twilight couldn't even spot the prismatic trail the pegasus left behind.

"What's wrong Sparkle?" Rainbow yelled somewhere in the midst of fabric-storm she'd created. "We had our first fight in a storm, why not another?" A lump suddenly dove through one of the falling sheets, streaming down towards Twilight as the mare fired off a heavy blast. The fabric exploded into feathers as the condensed pillow burst from the magic. Rainbow dove down, barely visible as she snatched another sheet with a snarling grin. "Can't you keep track of lil 'ole me?" Before she jumped out of sight again.

Twilight's head snapped back and forth, trying to find the rainbow pegasus in the fray. With a growl, she grabbed two of closets gurneys in her magic and hurled them through the middle of the air. Instantly, a dozen pieces of cloth tangled in the wildly spinning cots, but Twilight's eyes widened at the empty air in front of her. She expected to find Rainbow somewhere in the middle of the air to continue the juggle, but quickly realized her mistake as one of the sheet to her left suddenly rushed forward as the pegasus dropped it from her grasp. Rainbow blurred through the air covering the distance between them almost too fast for Twilight to see. She slammed her shoulder into the unicorn's side and Twilight tumbled back, slamming into the wall behind her hard enough to fracture both the plaster and brick behind it.

Rainbow landed on her hooves, not wasting a moment as she kept moving towards the downed unicorn. Twilight recovered quickly despite the blow, picking up her head with her back to the wall. Rainbow rushed forward, one hoof primed to deliver a hook strong enough to break the unicorn's neck if it hit. A glowing magenta wall suddenly appeared in between them, just as Rainbow Dash's hoof cracked against the barrier. Twilight's forehead was split where the table had hit her, almost looking dented from the strike, while the impacted shoulder hung weakly at her side. "Come on you coward! Don't tell me you're running away this time!" The cyan pegasus rained blow after blow on the shield, spittle flying from her lips with every hammer strike she loosed. She could see the fear in Twilight's eyes as cracks began to form across the magic.

Just as the shield was about to crack, she saw Twilight's eyes shift to the side and the sound of a bed scraping across the floor. Rainbow Dash shifted sideways, expecting one of the cots to fly towards her in a last attempt by Twilight. Instead, her jaw dropped as the bed was flung the opposite directing, all the way across the room and towards the entrance, right towards-

"Fluttershy!" Rainbow spun, abandoning her assault and careening across the room as the bed sailed towards Fluttershy's sleeping form. The mattress moved quickly, but Rainbow was faster. She slammed into the bedframe, tackling it into the far wall with a heavy crash. Even with the mattress between her and the plaster, the heavy impact knocked the wind out of Rainbow's lungs and both she and the bent metal frame collapsed to the ground.

A groan escaped her lips as she lay stunned for a moment, trying to rouse herself and pull the thick mattress off of her. The steel frame of the gurney had bent into a "v" from the impact, meaning it hadn't landed flat on her as well. She gasped for breath as she crawled out from the pile, light suddenly filling the dark room as she heard the large window finally shatter.

She look up just in time to see Twilight rise into the air, outlined in the glimmering starlight of the midnight sky. The unicorn turned towards her with an odd, almost pitying, expression. Rainbow pulled herself out, rising to her hooves only for Twilight to jump over the edge and down towards the ground below. Rainbow tensed to give chase, but the burst of magic that filled the air behind the mare confirmed she had teleported away.

Rainbow sagged for a moment, as the adrenaline left her system, only to return as she remembered her friend. "Fluttershy!" She yelled, leaping over two rows of cots and landing beside the yellow mare's bedside. She caressed the Pegasus's head, holding it gently as she inspected her body. Fluttershy hadn't been injured it seemed. Even her bandages seemed freshly wrapped, with only a few drops of dull-blood showing through the white. Rainbow breathed a heavy sigh of relief, burying her head in Fluttershy's soft mane. A soft lilac scent filled her nose, as she felt smaller pegasi's warmth against hers. She had always teased Fluttershy for smelling like flowers and shrubs, but it was the sweetest scent to her, knowing that it meant her oldest friend as still alive. She held the embrace for several moments, reassured that Fluttershy was OK.

Finally she pulled back, stroking her friend's mane once more as she said muttered, "I'm sorry Flutters, but I gotta go. I promise I'll be back soon, as soon as I can." She turned slowly, dragging her hoof through the soft pink hair as she turned back towards the newly opened wall that overlooked the city.

She took long, fast strides as she flexed her wings. The limbs still ached from her last crash, but she had flown with much, much worse before. She eyed the starry sky, light shining through even as heavy storm clouds gathered, before turning to look at the doors leading out of the recovery ward. "Now then, where the hay is Ironworks? That lazy filly said he wou-" Rainbow paused. 'Starry skies? Storm clouds!?'

She couldn't believe it, but it was true. No golden dome, no weird purple sparks, nothing but a massive monsoon building high above the city, while some of Luna's constellations still shone through. Rainbow galloped forward, leaping into the air and flying through the gap. She could still see one corner of Luna's moon shining down, just as clouds moved across and sent darkness over the city. Rainbow couldn't believe it. First Twilight's dome, then what Rainbow assumed was the Safeguard, and now this? She couldn't comprehend what was happening, let alone how the night's events could possibly confuse her any more.

Until a massive shadow rose up by the edge of the city, it's long neck rising almost as high as the tallest tower in the castle, and let a loose a ferocious, screaming roar that shattered the air around her.

"SKREEEEAAAIIIIIII!"

Rainbow jerked back as a tidal wave of sound struck her, almost knocking her back into the room she flown out of. She gripped her ears as glass shattered around her from the blaring resonance, and the cry faded as the roar of flames filled the air instead.

Rainbow rubbed her eyes with a hoof, as if doing so would wipe away the massive dragon she saw clinging to the edge of the castle. The beast was enormous, oddly lean with a thick, blocky head, and a neck that was far too long for it's body. A torrent of brilliant glittering, orange fire emerged from its jaws and filled the air above the castle.

She shook her head in disbelief. "There's no way. There's just. No. Bucking. Way!" She screamed, no-pony near enough to hear. As she stared forward, something shimmered in the air above the beast, wrapped in silver incandescent light and quickly rising into the stormy sky. The dragon noticed it too, turning away and launching off the cities edge like a platform as it chased behind. Even with her perfect vision Rainbow had a hard time making out what she saw, until she noticed heavy midnight blue wings, and a starry, ethereal mane waving in the rushing wind.

"Oh you've gotta be kidding me!" She yelled, quickly sprinting through the air as she watched her teacher rise through the air with the dragon in hot pursuit. She saw dozens, no, hundreds of ponies in the air working to whip up possibly the biggest storm she'd seen in years. It looked like half of Cloudsdale was here, and for good reason, but Rainbow Dash grimaced as she considered just what she as flying headfirst into.

Rain began to hit against her wings as she flew, and thunder rumbled loudly through the air, almost as loud as Rainbow Dash's furious mutterings. "Insane unicorns... magic tentacles... weird blackouts...' She covered the distance quickly, almost three miles in less than a minute as she began to whip back and forth, climbing high and diving low as she flew towards the dragon and mass of ponies in the distance. Fire tore though the air, Luna slung magic, and lightning bolts shattered the atmosphere in brilliant flashes. "or teleportation, or time travel, and then a dragon on top of it all!?" The air began mist as vapor curved around her in a cone and her rainbow trail behind began to permeate the air, as she flew in what had to have been some sort of new speed record.

"I had better get a damn good explanation, and I damn well better get it now!"

Author's Note

HA! 11:29pm, which means it's still Saturday :D

Sorry for the late arrival, but I hope you all enjoyed finally catching up with our illustrious daredevil R.D. Same as usual, see you next week, more to come, la la la...

Much Love
-Seeker

A Nightmare to Remember

Hundreds of voices filled the air as wings beat and thunder pounded the sky. Cold rain pummeled every creature caught beneath the clouds, freezing drops that struck fur and skin like daggers, and hail that fell like stones. Twisters and cyclones spun, barely held together as the wind of the storm swirled and the great flap of dragon wings shook the sky. Lightning fell as ponies kicked and bucked clouds, great beams of light and heat that scattered through the wind and rain, surging down to strike the dragon's scales and bludgeon it's senses as it's maw thirsted for the blood of alicorn's. Barely any slowed, but none allowed the brilliant rainbow trail climbing through the sky to escape their notice.

Pressure built around Rainbow Dash as every square inch of her body was pummeled by G-forces and the slowly swirling magic that accumulated around her. She tore through the air past Luna, just as oblivious to the Alicorn calling her name as she was every other voice shouting and lending their voices to the storm's tumult. The brutal speed with which she ascended only enhanced the sting of rain and hail on her skin. She could feel small blisters and abrasions forming where they struck, wincing through grit teeth as she forced her way higher through the typhoon.

Her wings were growing heavy with rain, the cold air filling with ice and frost that clung to her wings and mane as she flew. The vapor cone that built around her hooves was small, but clearly seen even beneath the dark cloud. The coalescing mist around her was beginning to sparkle and shimmer with glistening drops of water which flowed with pegasus magic, but flecks of snow and frost fell as way as the moisture solidified in the air around her.

Rainbow preferred method for this attack was by diving straight down and letting low air pressure and momentum do her work for her, but her effective range for a dive was extremely limited, what with a dragon chomping at her teacher’s heels.

The misty center of the hurricane was spinning just a few hundred feet above her, the distance quickly closing. Through the thinning vapor, Rainbow Dash could see moonlight beginning to shine through. Pale and clear, the silvery light beckoned her forward, to emerge into the open air and be free of the biting frost. Her body ached and numbed, both from the cold and the intensity of her flight, but still she pushed through.

'Come on, keep it together!' She practically begged, as she flapped harder and harder until she punched right through the eye of the storm. Free of the storm, the air around her burst with brilliant light. Moonlight poured down her lean form, silver beams of light catching the polychromatic cone around her. A cascade of soft colors and sparkling light rushed over her body, glistening in the storm's eyes like ten-thousand fire flies lighting up at once. To everypony down below, even Luna and the Dragon, it appeared as if Rainbow had burst into opalescent flames as moonlight intertwined with her brilliant rainbow trail. Even the dragon paused in it's base thoughts, momentarily enamored by the sight high above.

Rainbow still didn't pause, allowing the low air pressure to carry her faster on her ascendance, maintaining her momentum as she soared high above the clouds. Her whole body shook from the speed, ice and water particles shaking free as her wings beat a furious rhythm in the air. The pressure around her was still present, but it was nothing compared to what she would have to endure in mere seconds. Sweat flowed freely down her scalp as she neared her apex. Sparkling light surrounded her as she slowed, just for a moment, and allowed cool, crisp air to flow into her lungs as she breathed deeply.

'Come one.'

She turned suddenly, dropping her torso back as she kicked the air and somersaulted into a downward dive. She plummeted all of twenty feet before striking hard against the sky yet again. Her momentum reversed again as she shot right, turning at a near forty-five degree angle. A brilliant Rainbow beam marked her trail as she did, following her as she kicked out again, and again. She spun through the air, whipping the wind to and fro as she arched and spun left and right, up and down, weaving a brilliant tapestry of rainbows in the sky.

'Come on!'

The air began to hum as the brutal G-forces returned, stronger this time, but still she turned, and kicked, and weaved through the air, as prismatic energy began to flow up from her tail and across her hooves. The air began to crackle around her, as magic gathered around her wings, and the air bent and twisted around. Faster and faster she spun, until the air began to squeeze from her lungs, and the world seemed to fall into a cascade of light and sound around her. As the iridescent glow surrounded her torso and climbed across her neck, she felt an electric charge around her as bursts of polychromous electricity sparked in her mane.

'Now!' She screamed within her self, as she broke through her brilliant weave. With no wind to assail her, with no gravity to pull against her, Rainbow's lips split into a frenzied grin as she sped down, through the eye of the storm and to the dragon and her princess in the blink of an eye. Spiking straight down, the air roared around her with the fury of a hundred dragons as she reentered the stormy sphere. The whole world seemed to bend and twist, inertia altering everything Rainbow saw like she was at the center of a kaleidoscope. Down she plummeted, a pair of glowing orbs, the only thing to catch her attention as she, for just a moment, locked eyes with Princess Luna.

The multi-colored magic climbed across her head, leaving only her eyes uncovered and obscuring her features. Time seemed to slow as Rainbow's gaze met Luna's for a single moment. As the pair passed one another, their moment that met each others eyes seemed to last for an eternity to Rainbow Dash. All she could do was give a short nod as she careened past the Lunar alicorn, charging towards the ground as the coalescing energy around her shattered, and the sky and sound barrier were split in a deafening crash.

Prismatic flames burst out in a ring from her, launching her straight towards the earth as bolts of kaleidoscopic energy burst out in every direction. The explosion struck the dragon hard, rattling it's body with breathtaking force and magical lightning. The creature hadn't even a moment to shriek in surprise as it was assaulted launched back and sent plummeting to the ground once again. The collected rain on it's scales almost left an outline of it's body as it was hurled backwards, all momentum disrupted as it's body was hammered by bolts of multicolored energy. A spray of gore accompanied the beast's fall as it's unprotected stomach was scourged by the magical burst, scales and flesh tearing as it screamed helplessly in free-fall.

Rainbow Dash couldn't even look back at her Princess, worried the acceleration may break her neck should she try, descending towards the Everfree Forest at terminal velocity. The ponies above lost sight of her completely, only a pure Rainbow trail left in her wake as she crossed nearly two miles of sky in a heartbeat.

Her lips peeled back in the intense wind and every joint ached from the intensity, but Rainbow reveled in the speed and flow of rainbow power that coursed through her. Only when the threat of impact rushed up to meet her along with the ground did she pull back, fanning out her wings, but it was like trying to go from a full-tilt sprint to a fast walk. She flapped and flailed her wings, weaving side to side as she dropped towards the forest roof. Branches and leaves smacked all along her body as she flailed and spun, trying to avoid thick trunks and heavy branches as she slowly reduced her speed and caught herself on a sizable tree.

Sweat poured freely down her scalp, no more wind to sweep it away, as she landed on a thick branch. Her legs and chest shook from the heavy gasps for air that rocked her body, but she kept her hooves beneath her as she leaned against the sturdy trunk. She cast her eyes upwards to see the falling dragon lash out and cry as it tried to both cover it's wounds and catch it's fall. The Cloudsdale Pegasi had pulled back, over three-hundred ponies working on concert to get the hurricane into it's full spin while the dragon fell. It's languishing roars echoed around Rainbow Dash, but her eyes were focused on the odd bursts of rainbow lightning still fizzling out. The rainbow burst hung in the air below the storms eyes, slowly fading on it's edges along with the prismatic trail left in her wake, but remnants of vibrant, crackling lightning still flashed and stirred in the air. It too faded as the storm continued, but Rainbow was caught by the curious by product of her presentation.

'That's a new one.' She thought, pushing off from the trunk and scanning for Princess Luna. Neither she nor the Twins were visible now, only a few pegasi still below the storm layer as they pulled lingering bits of gray and black clouds into the cumulonimbus formation. In the center of the eye lingered a pattern of glowing orbs. It looked to be the same ones that had been around Luna, pulsing with soft gentle light in the shape of a cross. Though the Alicorn was out of sight, Rainbow assumed it was message to confirm she was safe. 'As long as she's alright not much else matters.' She paused for a moment, flexing her wings and stretching her stiffening legs. Everything hurt, her whole body throbbing with a dull pain that set her teeth on edge. Collecting herself, she finally leapt off the thick branch, gliding out and slowly beginning her ascent. Slowly at first, but not wasting any time either. She still watched the dragon as she rose, angling herself towards the calmer winds of the hurricane's eye and moving into the storm's jet-stream. The beast had finally slowed itself, just a few hundred feet off the tree tops, and now glared high at the cloud with a guttural snarl that she could hear even with the distance between them. With luck it would just fly away, but although Rainbow had never fought a dragon, she had learned enough about them to know the likelihood of it retreating were slim. Even with that gash across it's belly.

She skirt wide of the dragon and hoping it wouldn't notice her. "You know, Princess, you were right." She muttered to herself. She knew that no-pony was around to hear her, but Rainbow Dash couldn't help but glance around just in case. She sighed aloud, beginning the arduous climb back to the hurricane's ceiling. "Maybe a vacation isn't such a bad idea."

"Hold on to me!"

The words had barely escaped Luna as an explosive force rocked the world behind Luna. Sweet silvery moonlight poured into Luna's body from on high, filling her body with soft magic and giving strength to her limbs and horn. Magic filled Luna as her heavenly element's light poured around her in brilliant beams of silver, once more soothing her aches and pain as she summoned her magic in the air.

She grabbed Wicked Wing with her free leg, holding the wounded mare as tightly as she could, while pulling both thestrals into an embrace with her wings. Wicked nearly sobbed as Luna pulled her close, her broiled wing searing with pain despite the cold rain beating down upon them. Dire Wing merely wrapped both hooves around Luna's neck, squeezing his eyes shut as a bubble of blue magic surrounded the trio, and the Sonic Rainboom detonated behind him.

Surrounded by protective magic, the three were suddenly launched through the air, ascending far faster than their wings had carried them as rain and hail beat down upon the shield. Luna grunted in concentration, squeezing her eyes shut as she fought to maintain the dome from both the elements above and Rainbow's attack from below. It flickered briefly, spider web cracks forming on the bottom as the Sonic Rainboom threatened to shatter what little protection she could conjure. As they were propelled higher and higher, the pressure eased along with the rain as the trio were launched through the fully opened iris and into the sky above.

The three flew high into the air, carried by their momentum until they slowed at the apex, and began to fall towards the cloud's surface. Luna released the glowing ward and soft slow winds began pushing them gently through the air as Luna unfurled her wings and slowed the trios descent to a gentle downward drift. Not to say it was without strain. Luna was just a racked with exhaustion as the twins in her grasp, panting along with them. With moonlight flooding her senses now, however, she didn't complain. Evident in their faces and bodies was the exhaustion that spoke of how dutifully they had protected her.

Luna looked down to see dozens, even hundreds of pegasi flowing up through the storm's eye, swirling around in masses as they continued on in their work of maintain and moving the storm. She dropped her gaze lower, following the still shimmering rainbow trail left by it's namesake, and the plummeting dragon which fell along side it. The pure rainbow trail angled straight down, suddenly coming to a stop just above the tree line. Luna had no way of knowing what happened after words, whether her student had crashed or pulled out of the dive, but she also knew from experience that if Rainbow Dash had crash-landed, there would have been a sizeable crater marking the exact spot. 'She's here. she'll be alright.' Luna reassured herself, just as relieved by her students appearance as she was concerned by her just-as-sudden absence.

She was suddenly pulled from her thoughts by a whimper just to her left. She glanced down, suddenly remembering Wicked Wing's injury. Rain soaked all three ponies, but blood still flowed down Wicked's chin from her attempt to stifle the scream from her horrendous burn. Instantly Luna released her hold on Dire wing, drawing her wings in so she and Wicked could fall faster towards the ground as she cradled the thestra with one hoof.

"Dire Wing, find Squall Strider and anypony trained in medicine immediately." The stallion angled low and raced towards the edge of the eye, yelling out for the needed ponies as Luna glided quickly to one side of the wide storm center. "Just hold on a moment longer, Wicked." The thestra nodded, still trying to restrain her breathing. The mare's whole body shook from the pain as they fell, but nary a sound came from the wounded thestra as they fell. Luna cast her eyes to the formation of Stars surrounding her, motioning wordlessly as the group of stars pulled free from her body and gently glided through the air, coming to a rest in the middle of the hurricane's eye. As pale moonlight poured through the gap, the star's light grew brighter and purer, unable to be ignored as they glistened with cosmic radiance. Whether it be Rainbow or the Dragon who noticed, Luna knew somepony would.

The pair landed a moment later, Lune touching down gently to the cloud's surface while Wicked Wing threw herself down like a filly jumping into bed. The Thestra lay spread-eagle on her back, trying to undo her helmet's clasp while wide eyes scanned the soft ground around her. Thestrals had a terse relationships with clouds unlike pegasi, the latter's innate abilities to cloud-stride were far more reliable than their bat-winged brethren. Wicked Wing had never been able to master ability like her brother, something he often reminded her of when the two squabbled. Laying flat would ensure she didn't fall through, even though Luna doubted a cloud this dense could swallow even the most novice of cloud-striders, let alone Wicked Wing.

Luna sat on her haunches, taking the mare's damaged wing into her unbound hoof. Using her free hoof to first grip the elbow of Wicked's wing and splay the appendage as wide as possible and expose the horrid burn to moonlight. Wicked Wing did scream this time, a horrid shout when compared to her normal smooth, low feminine voice. She quickly stuffed a foreleg into her mouth, still fiddling with her helmet straps as Luna continued to work. She knelt on the thestra's shoulder joint, pinning the wing down as the finger unfolded to reveal the damage. A muffled moan of pain reached Luna's ear, and she nearly tore her eyes away from the grotesque injury.

The thin membrane was horrendously inflamed, red and splotchy with patches of white peeling away from where boiled rain drops set into the flesh. Thin veins beneath were mottled and blackened, and lumps grew where blisters would soon form. Luna nearly turned away in disgust. Wicked Wing's damage was severe, that much was evident. The wing would need immediate medical attention, but Luna was not ready to stand idly by. She pressed down on the wrist joint with her hoof, spreading the fingers wide and pulling the shriveling skin taught, all while trying to ignore the muffled sobs just beside her.
Thestrals reacted to the moonlight just as Luna did. There physical capabilities were greatly enhanced during the night, and pure moonlight shining down on the wounded appendage would be just as good as a basic salve.

It would, of course, do nothing to ease the pain though. Luna knelt on mare's shoulder, careful not place too much pressure on her. She needed the wing to go limp so Wicked couldn't jerk away, and tried not to break the tender bone under her weight as a result. Moonlight revealed even more sever details, such as the mottled yellow spreading beneath the membrane, but this time Luna couldn't hold her gaze. Not with the mare in question struggling to hold back her sobs. Wicked finally managed to loosen her muscles, allowing the wing to stay in place long enough for Luna to scoop out a pillow sized mound of cloud from the ground beside her. The soft texture was cold in Luna's hoof, but not nearly as low temperature as she would have liked. 'Work with what you can, I suppose.' She thought, as she turned to Wicked Wing.

"I'd suggest biting down on some-." Luna's cool tone halted as she saw the mare. The Thestra, tears of pain streaking down her cheeks, had already pulled her chin strap loose and allowed the finned-helmet to slide off her head. She slipped the leather cord past her pointed canines, clenching it between her molars. Wicked Wing nodded shortly, still not taking her eyes off the moon above. Without a word, Luna placed the bit of cloud over the Thestra's wing, smothering the appendage and eliciting a hiss of pain from Wicked. The Thestra's whole body shuddered as cool moisture set into the raw flesh. Had Luna's right hoof not been wrapped in it's sling, she'd have used to to restrain her subordinate. Wicked Wing was able to resist the urge on her own, slamming her hoof repeatedly into the cloud's surface to keep from pulling away from Luna's battlefield remedy.

Finally the shock of cold faded, and Wicked Wing's head collapsed to the ground as she drew deep breaths. Luna sat beside her, "It's alright, you'll be ok. The others are coming and you've done incredibly tonight." She cooed softly, eyes flitting between the mass of ponies not far distant and the helpless Sergeant-Major. A group of four peeled away from the mass and, led by a silver adorned thestral, sped towards Luna. "I couldn't have asked for all that you gave me, and I promise you will be ok." Wicked Wing nodded as tears welled around her golden eyes, still gritting the leather between her teeth.

The group quickly arrived, several ponies dropping to each side of Wicked Wing. Dire Wing landed next to Luna with the previously seen green-maned pegasus in tow. The Thestral's normally cheeky mood had vanished, his features seeming to have been carved from stone as he looked at his sister. He stood rigidly beside his Princess, but Luna could see muscles tightly drawn, ready to throw himself down to the mare's side.

Luna handed off the cloud she was holding to one pegasi, a yellow mare with orange flecks in her silvery mane, while the other stallion began pulling Wicked's armor free. The ponies began speaking to the thestra as Luna stood, slowly so as not to lose her balance. Her knees clicked and her joints protested the movements, but there was little time to rest. The medical ponies words fell by the wayside as she turned towards Squall Strider who stepped nervously in place. "What do you have to report?" She asked in a neutral breath, suddenly dizzy as she stood.

The Pegasi's wings twitched at his side, but he stepped closer and tried to match Dire Wing's posture. "W-well, the storm is spinning on it's own now. I left a few dozen pegasi inside to make sure it keeps momentum. That dragon's fire and wings could cause issues if it punches too many holes in the formation, but we should be alright for now."

Wicked Wing let out a strangled shout, causing Squall Strider to jump. The pegasus mare looked up apologetically, only to shrink back from the wide-eyed glare Dire Wing fixed her with. "May I suggest you be a little more gentle with ma' sis?" His hissed words exposed pointed fangs as he bore down on the pegasus with barely controlled anger. The mare squeaked a quick apology, pulling her gaze away and trying to pretend she couldn't tell he was still glaring at her. Luna saddled next to the stallion, bumping his shoulder. The stallion's harsh glare fell as he turned to Luna, his expression almost embarrassed. She gave him a small smile, gesturing towards the downed mare. Dire Wing let out a deep breath, pulling his helmet free as he knelt down and took his sister's hoof into his own.

Luna turned back to the salt and pepper pegasus, still sheepishly standing by. She gestured to the storm's eye just a short distance away and the pair took to the air. Her wings was stiff, forcing Luna to glide most of the way, but she gave little indication of her discomfort. "How many were injured?" She asked as they flew.

"Not many, thankfully." He said scanning the sky as if the dragon would suddenly appear. "Nopony was caught in the main blast, and anypony injured were pulled away and taken care of. Minor damage all around, and a few have already jumped back into the action..." His words trailed off as they landed at the storm's edge. Wind began to whip around them, a steady stream of hot air rose through hurricane's eye and flowed over them as exhaust was pulled through the vortex. Luna didn't complain, the updraft allowed her to hover with almost no effort and warmed her from the cold damp lingering in her coat. Ponies flew high and low around them as they hovered, kicking clouds and guiding the storm so it neither tore apart nor grew too strong. Luna nodded approvingly at the groups efforts. Maintaining a hurricane of this size required no small amount of effort, only so much moisture could be pulled from the Everfree Forest's ponds and streams to fuel it's growth.

Squall Strider wrung his hooves, finally breaking a long silence. "I... I should probably tell you, one of the Royal Guard got hit by the dragon's tail." Her head swiftly turned towards him, unspoken words playing at her lips as he struggled to find words. "It... It looked bad, but before we could get him, he sort of... vanished?"

Luna nodded, breathing a sigh of relief as she spoke. "Don't worry, he's safe." The stallion let out a heavy sigh of relief as Luna cast her eyes down to the forest below. 'The Safeguard is still in effect, at least.' She looked down to see the Everfree, illuminated by brilliant moonlight. She quickly found the dragon far below, circling just off the tree tops. Even from the distance, Luna could feel it's eyes on her, the glow of Deneb and Albireo marking her as it's target. It watched her like a wolf hungrily stared at a rabbit who'd scampered up a tree to escape. Squall Strider couldn't help but pull back slightly, rightly unsettled by the prospect of being the creatures next target. "That was quite the hit we landed earlier. It probably won't try to come after you again, right?" He tried to pass of his nervousness with a chuckle as he looked to Luna for reassurance. When she didn't respond he began to chew on a hoof nervously.

She held her gaze on the dragon. The beast was hard to read from the distance. She couldn't gauge it's injuries or it's intent, but she was confident it would try again. Primitive as it's mind may be, dragons rarely forgave. It was more than likely looking for an angle from which to attack, but she wouldn't be terribly surprised if it came straight for them.

As she watched the drake below, she caught a glimpse of blue streaking through the air at the inner edge of the eye-wall. She turned towards the object, it was flying in concert with the winds, lifting higher through the air towards the clouds surface. A smile touched Luna's lips just as a voice from the scrimmage of ponies called out, "Flier incoming!"

'Excellent.' Luna thought, turning away and back towards the twins. Rainbow Dash was only halfway to the storm, but Luna knew she would arrive quickly. The alicorn dropped down to the cloud surface as the stallion quickly followed beside her. The group of stars floating in the center of the storm pulsed once with light before flowing through the air and taking their place above Luna once more. She picked up to a jog, turning once more to Squall Strider. "I want as many ponies on lightning duty, and it might be best to start working up to some tornadoes. Once he comes, we hit him with everything, understood!"

Luna turned away before the stallion responded, scanning the area around her with narrowed eyes. "Keep a group of fliers spinning the eye." She said, "We'll need ponies scattered around to make sure the storm doesn't come loose, but only as many as necessary. The last thing we need is Ponyville to get hit with a monsoon in the middle of the night."

The stallion nodded, albeit with a deep gulp, and turned away. "Yes Princess" He vanished in a moment, lost in the sea of pegasi as Luna turned back to the medical team with Wicked Wing. The Thestra was still breathing breathing heavily, but had calmed herself down. The yellow mare looked at Luna with sad eyes, only shaking her head as she pulled the patch of cloud away.

The already peeling skin was beginning to pull, twisting and crumpling around her joints like paper. Wicked Wing's damage was severe, that much was evident. Possibly even crippled by the look of it.

"I'm so sorry Princess." The mare said in a gentle voice, though Luna could tell the apology was directed more so to Dire Wing rather than her. "She needs immediate magical attention. Without salves or medicine to apply, the damage will degrade her wing. She's possibly suffered intense nerve damage, and her blood may have partially boiled beneath the skin. She needs a team of unicorns now. If not..." The mare's words trailed off. Wicked Wing was silent as always, but her stare was the vacant at the prospect of permanent damage. Dire Wing stroked his sister's mane, expression oddly impassive for the normally boisterous stallion. "Don' worry sis, you'll be a'right." He try to hide the shake in his voice with a growl, but it didn't escape anypony's notice.

Luna understood, nodding sullenly. She approached the twins, looking down with a warm smile despite uneasy silence permeating the group. "He's right, Wicked Wing. You've done incredibly, and more than I could have ever asked for." She knelt down once more, horn glowing with deep cerulean as the stars around her twinkled and glowed softly in the brisk air. "Once this matter is sorted you'll be the first to be taken care of, that much I can promise." All three ponies looked down to the still shimmering orb nestled in the center of Wicked's breastplate. Dawning realization crossed the Twin's faces, as Wicked Wing nodded with a short, "Thank you, Princess" before turning toward her brother. "You better not die, ya tool."

Dire snorted, flicking her forehead with one hoof. "I'll not be flyin off ta Tir-Na-Nog just yet, ya lazy sow. Have a good nap for us both, yeah?" The dark thestra nodded, closing her eyes gently as Luna touched her horn to the gem. The tanzanite glowed with a burst of green ad blue energy, swirling within the gem before it shattered into dust. Particles of glass spread into a gust of wind that suddenly appeared, and in the blink of an eye Wicked Wing vanished. The pegasus medics looked up in alarm, but their shock quickly faded as they saw the expression of their Princess.

There was a brief silence after Wicked Wing vanished, but it seemed to stretch on for several minute. Finally the stillness was broken as Dire Wing drew a deep breath. "Right," Dire Wing rose to his hooves, shaking his dark mane as if to free himself from doubts. "Now that that's dealt with, do I get to kill a dragon?" He asked, turning to Luna. The thin smile said he was joking, but Luna saw fire in his golden eyes. Gone was the exhaustion from a few minutes ago, replaced by a vengeance borne of grief. Her own eyes hardened as she nodded, both ponies turning as the sound of approaching wings beat against the oddly calm air.

A scratchy voice called out, oblivious to emotions that the pair had just relinquished. "Will somepony tell me what in Equestria is going on!?" Rainbow hovered above the group, panting hard. Her mane was disheveled, and she was dripping from head to toe from her flight back up through the storm. Luna pivoted to face her student, a smile spreading across her mouth. It was almost funny to see the pegasus hovering there, damp and pouty with red welts spread across her face and chest, compared to the prismatic wonder she'd been just a few minutes previous. Luna opened her mouth, striding forward to wrap the cyan mare in a hug, but Dire Wing moved quicker.

"Whut? Didn't you see?" He jumped into the air, putting his face only a few inches from Rainbow as his fiery tongue took hold of his senses. He pointed towards the hurricane's eyes with a shaking hoof. "We all chipped in to get'ye present for Hearthswarmin. Do ye bloody like it!?" He yelled, putting himself nose-to-nose with Rainbow Dash. Luna prepared to jump in-between the pair in case things quickly came to blows, but Rainbow Dash merely stared at him with a deadpan expression. Finally she rolled her eyes, patting the stallion's shoulder as she glide past him. "Never change, Dire."

"You, on the other hoof!" She jabbed a hoof at Princess Luna, hovering just a few feet off the ground so she could look down at her teacher with disapproval. "What they hay has been going on? First you do your super moon-magic, then Sparkle puts the whole city under some kind of dome, and, to top it all off, you start a fight with a drago-HHNGG" Her words were cut off as Luna strode forward, leaping into the air and wrapping the pegasi in a full-bodied hug.

Rainbow struggled against the grip despite the alicorn's still restrained foreleg, trying to escape so she could continue to berate the Princess, but before she could get a word out Luna merely whispered, "I'm glad you're safe." Rainbow's kicks slowed as she was held in the tenderness of a mother who had just reunited with their own child. The pair were still for a moment, before Rainbow pulled back again.

"Yeah, well I could say the same!" Rainbow pushed Luna away, fixing her with a bewildered glare. It didn't escape Luna's notice, that Rainbow still gripped one of Luna's hooves as if her life depended on it. "Five minutes ago, I watched you practically get blown to smithereens in a warehouse, and as soon as I left you decided to fight a bucking dragon!"

Luna's eyes narrowed at Rainbow, but before she could respond the cyan mare let go of the alicorn's hoof and began scanning the area around her. "Whatever, it doesn't matter. Where the hay is Ironworks? That dumbass left me out to dry, so I assumed he was with you." Her head moved back and forth, oblivious to Luna's growing concern.

A long wing wrapped around Rainbow's waist, pulling her back down to face Luna. She tried to pry back the appendage, but even while clearly injured, Luna was not willing to be overpowered. "Rainbow Dash, calm down!" Luna commanded, instantly causing the mare to stiffen. "Take a deep breath and start from the beginning?" Luna said slowly.

Drawing a breath to calm herself, Rainbow recounted the night's events, starting from her breaking into Twilight's cell, finding Scootaloo, and everything that had happened with Ironwork's up till the present, including what she referred to as "time-skipping bullshit." Luna listened intently, only glancing away to motion others to keep moving as the storm raged on below. As Rainbow's story concluded, Luna could only shake her head.

"I'm sorry Rainbow Dash, there was no-pony with me when I woke up." Her student's mouth tightened in anger as Luna could tell she was thinking the worst of Ironworks, until Luna leaned in closer. "Rainbow Dash, I understand you're upset, but there may be more at play here. As best I can tell I've been awake for close to twenty minutes, not five. Are you sure you remember everything?"

Rainbow Dash paused, eyebrows drooping in perplexity. "He said..." Something had felt off about Ironworks, but he was a stallion of his word, that much she knew. "He said he would meet me there. That it was dangerous to go alone. I went in without him though, and... and..." Her words turned into a stammer as her mind suddenly blanked.

Rainbow fell onto her hind end, eyes wide as she suddenly forgot what she'd been saying. Thoughts seemed to swirl at the edge of her mind, memories that shifted like sand. Nothing seemed to certain all of a sudden, Luna watched with growing concern, and even Dire Wing raised an eyebrow at the unnatural behavior from the Wing-Commander. "And? And whut?" The thestral leaned in closer, concerned at the blank look in Rainbow's eyes. "Goodness me, sharp as a beachball ya are tonight."

Luna brushed past the stallion, gripping Rainbow shoulder with her free hoof and shaking the pegasus out of her stupor. "Rainbow Dash focus!" She yelled, as the Pegasus's purple eyes met Luna's again. Rainbow pulled back as if startled awake, suddenly finding it difficult to breath. "Sun and Stars above, why won't this night just end?" She moaned, rubbing her temples as she flopped down on the cloud.

The Alicorn shook her head quietly, being pulled into her own thoughts as well. Stunned as she had been, she could vaguely recall seeing Rainbow Dash and another pony, no doubt Ironworks, but Luna felt as if something was missing. She'd had a dream, that much she knew, but the realm of dreams was her domain. She remembered countless dreams she'd experience and shared, the nightmares she'd chased away, and the many joyful fantasies she had herself escaped too. So why can't I remember either? She thought, a sickening feeling rising from the pit of her stomach. She'd been dancing, surrounded by... friends? But she couldn't see their faces. They had spoken to her, but she hadn't remembered what they said.

She growled and stopped a hoof onto the cloud's surface. "Enough!" Rainbow snapped out of her bemoaning and Dire Wing swiveled towards his princess with slightly startled eyes. "It doesn't matter, we can deal with all that later. Right now, we need to make sure the dragon stays away from Canterlot while Celestia handles Twilight Sparkle."

Luna turned, spreading her wings wide and taking off again for the typhoon's edge. Rainbow Dash and Dire Wing fell in next to their Princess, the three swiftly crossing the cloud until they were at the edge of the spinning eye. From their vantage point, it seemed that the ground below was spinning, not themselves. The only constant, furious eyes like daggers meeting their own, was the emerald gaze which followed Luna. The dragon was rising once more, lips peels back in a snarl as sparks leapt from it's maw. Luna held her wing's aloft, the stars once again falling into place across her form, save for Sadr and Fawaris.

Hundreds of ponies perched on the cloud's edge, eyes glancing back and forth between their princess and the beast, as Luna watched through narrowed eyes. "Dire Wing." The clinking of armor was her only response, as the stallion stood at her left. "Lead the remaining guards, make sure they stay at the forefront of the battle. The Safeguard will be there in case they are harmed, but the Cloudsdale Regulars have nothing but their speed. Ensure they won't need it."

"Aye." He said, crouching low in anticipation.

"Rainbow Dash." She said, as the cyan mare turned towards her. Luna smiled at the unarmored mare. "We go together." Rainbow Dash locked eyes with her mentor. Luna could still see an insecurity within her, something they both shared, just as much of as their shared gap in memory. Rainbow Dash quickly buried it as her lips spread to form the daredevil grin that defined her. "I wouldn't go any other way, Princess."

Luna closed her eyes, feeling the power of her moon shining down on her. On them. She felt her stars grow brighter, aiding her as she reached out with her own power, binding ties of cerulean and pale silver as the cool moonlight began to shine brighter down through the storm's eye. Power and strength once more filled Luna as her wings snapped wide and she leapt into the air, her student and the remaining twin following her as she cried out in a thunderous voice, "Follow me!"

The snap of hundreds of wings responded, as pegasi plunged down into the storm, following their princess. Wind and rain followed them as they dove down towards the climbing dragon. His jaws parted, spewing embers and a roar of defiance, as the ponies sped towards battle, bringing the fury of the sky down with them.

Mayhem ran wild in the garden as Dementis's grin spread wide, hooves leaping from the earth as she ran for Celestia. No sooner had Dementis' hooves left the ground, did Twilight spin to face the buried dagger before her. She fired a thin beam of light from her horn into the rune-marked hilt, and the massive spell pattern beneath Discord's statue began to warp and surge with light and magic. Beams of light began to climb through the air, reaching towards the true sealing-spell hovering in the air as magic drew up from the caverns below. Twilight closed her eyes, turning her back to both Celestia and Dementis as she began to chant loudly her spell's hymn.

"The first fruits of Harmony drawn forth, as light came from the darkness..." Magic sprang up from the unicorn's hooves and intertwined around her like vines, locking her in place as the magic took hold and threads of power continue climbing towards the sky. "So too did the gloom, to taint the tree' the first fruits blighted from birth..."

Celestia tried to listen, her mind racing as how she could offset the spell. If Twilight would be immobilized, then the spell's framework would be extremely delicate. If Twilight was injured or killed, the spell could unravel, but that also meant magic interfere with the weave of magic and words she spun. Many possibilities flooded Celestia's mind, but she had no time to act as Dementis set upon her. The demon flew through the air, that horrid smile stretching wide on her face as eyes so dark they seemed empty seemed to drink in the light around her.

The apparition lunged through the air, closing the distance between them in a second. Celestia leaped back, golden light bursting from her horn, as the magic drawn from the elements of Harmony coursed through her body. Her armor glinted in the darkness, and as Dementis outstretched hooves reached for Celestia's horn, the crude great sword was suddenly suspended between them and batted away the twisted mare. Dementis was struck with a bone-crushing blow, but even as the side of her skull caved in, shattering her eye socket and sheering the flesh from her jaw, her smile never fell away. The demon's body melted into darkness like ribbons being undone. Only a Cheshire smile remained visible, as the darkness coalesced into a mist and reformed her body again.

Her lips parted in that teeth-grinding, skin crawling laugh as her neck stretched towards Celestia. She snappd her jaw open and shut, barking at the alicorn with a dry growl and unsettling click of her teeth. "She plays, she plays so well!" Dementis proclaimed, as she once more bolted for the golden-clad alicorn. A giggle spilled past her lips with every step, and she reached out for Celestia once more. The Alicorn was pushed back as her flaming sword seared a path through the air with each swipe, but Dementis ducked and leapt side to side as the sword passed harmlessly by. Despite Celestia having witnessed the magic Dementis could call upon, the phantom lashed out at her with hooves and teeth rather than arcana. "More!" She called, as Celestia's sword passed over the creatures head close enough to sever the tip of one ear.

Dementis gave no indication of pain, instead billowing smoke emerged from the damaged appendage and the tip reformed. "Faster. Faster! Give me more!" Dementis howled, her broken tone becoming more dissonant as she shrieked and begged.

It was all Celestia could do to keep the phantom back, spinning her sword around her with lightning speed but to no avail. Dementis was ferocious, and yet Celestia couldn't help but feel that she was holding back still. 'If it's play you want...' She thought, disappearing in a burst of white light and reappearing several feet back. She crouched low, the heavy sword being completely embraced in her magic as she awaited Dementis' next charge. The phantom's head cocked like a dog's as she leapt forward yet again, a spark of curiosity filling the mare's empty black eyes.

As she flew through the air, Celestia launched the sword forward, the flaming tip pointed directly between Dementis' eyes. Just inches before impact, the mare seemed to defy momentum as she twisted in the air and the sword sailed harmlessly past her. She struck the ground, skin stretched to it's absolute limit as she bounded across the ground and reached for Celestia's horn with greedy, outstretched hooves.

'Then I will play' Celestia reached out with her magic, a rift tearing opening in front of the flying sword, swallowing the greatsword just as another appeared at her hooves. Dementis opened her mouth as if drink in Celestia's power, only for burning steel to fill her maw and shatter her teeth as the sword drew, blade fist, out of the ground between the two ponies. The sword pierced the bottom of her jaw, splitting the creatures skull in half. The momentum of her savage leap carried her forward, and the flaming sword dragged through her head, neck, and finally came to a halt between her shoulder blades, nearly split her head from nose-to-chest .

The apparition stared at Celestia, as inky darkness poured out of the splitting wound rather than blood. Her neck and head twitched awkwardly, as if some part of her was trying to register pain and the damage done. The twisted giggle fell silent as wet gurgling took their place. The smell of burning, rotted flesh filled the air but Celestia didn't even blink as she stared down the pathetic creature embedded on her blade. Viscous ichor dripped to the ground as Dementis still reached for Celestia's horn, greedy to steal alicorn magic rather than pull herself free. Celestia's glare held, as she poured more magic into the blade and the blackened sword burst into brilliant blue fire.

"First, I will burn away your filth." She said as if lecturing a child. "Then Twilight will die at Discord's feet, and this matter will end." As she finished, Dementis body went limp on the sword as her hair withered and flesh blackened. The dripping pitch oozed slowly like tar as flames hot enough to melt stone cooked her body from within. The hiss of a death rattle was all that came from Dementis' mangled throat as the flamed receded and Celestia thought the matter concluded.

That is, until the demon's hooves reached out and grabbed the still glowing steel. Her fur caught fire and hooves seemed to melt as she gripped the scorching ore. Thinking she would try to pull the blade free, Celestia leaned in and slowly pushed the weapon farther into the creatures body, flaring fire once more. As the blade burned deeper in, more and more black filth poured from the creatures body as she let out a slow, dragging, squeal. As the blade slowly cut and crushed through her body, Dementis's hooves seemed to pull the blade further in, as her flesh began to slowly mend. Celestia felt a tug at her horn, as her magic came forth faster than she used it. Fear filled her chest as she tried to stop the flow, but as Dementis' mouth and jaw formed back together, the squeal morphed into a twisted cackle. She still moved closer to Celestia, now trying to pull her blade free from Dementis body, as brilliant flames blackened and flowed into Dementis. Her horn glowed an awful color, like the inverse of Twilight's beautiful magenta, as she pushed her body through Celestia's sword and devoured the brilliant flames and golden magic.

"The light, the flame, drink the pain." The pure magic twisted and blackened as it drew into Dementis horn. Even her voice was awful, like words formed from screeching steel and moaning breaths. "Let me taste it! First the magic, the power, and then the screams!" Celestia ripped the sword free from the apparitions body, sending a wave of harmonious power pouring out of her armor as she leapt back.

A thousand points of light converged in the air, flowing in brilliant majesty as they struck the demon's chest. For a moment she seized in place, horrid black misting flowing out of her like a cloak of pestilence, until her painfully wide smile fell away her body twisted involuntarily. She let out a horrid squeal, a sound that seemed to multiply upon itself like a choir of the damned. Celestia landed some distance away, her sword held before her as her armor burst into flames once more. She eyed the apparition with renewed vigilance. She couldn't tell if it had been a trick, or Dementis truly was not a physical being, but her sword would do little good against the creature.

'That's what she may want me to believe, perhaps.' Celestia mused, feeling harmony swell within her again. She didn't know whether or not the sword would do any good, but at least she knew now that Dementis wasn't invulnerable. The alicorn was snapped from her thoughts as Dementis began bark out that mockery of laughter. The phantom swayed on her hooves as whatever stunning effect concluded, drawing rasping breaths as words began to follow.

"Tear the flesh and break the bones! Blood so red to sing a song." She practically sang the words, but it was no music in Celestia's ear. Devoid of rhythm or tone, just like Dementis it was a twisted impression of something beautiful. She took slow steps towards Celestia as she hummed the dreadful tune. Black magic crackled at the tip of it's horn and those impossibly deep eyes met Celestia's. "Chew the pulp and bite her bones, gnash the skin and savor the screams; singing screams to feed the beast that Twilight fears!" Dementis screamed out as a wave of blackness poured forth from her, rushing to swallow Celestia in it's pitch.

The Alicorn leapt high into the air, kaleidoscopic magic bursting from her regalia in a brilliant flare. Filthy, dark magic surrounded her but the light of Harmony kept it's taint from touching her. As she channeled the magic from within the barrier, Celestia could feel the tainted magic as if it was rushing over her skin. It seemed to sap at her very mind, eager to rip the magic free from her body, but the Element's power seemed to pure for Dementis to corrupt. 'For now.' White flames poured over Celestia's body, rolling from her horn and filling the dome around her before exploding out like a solar flare. The misty darkness was scattered as Celestia's magic overpowered it, and from high up she looked down on Twilight Sparkle.

The mare was staring intently down, still maintaining her beam of magic. Celestia could just make out the words Twilight spoke, fervently, yet with practiced consideration. As if she were recalling a fairytale to an infant. "The first was sweetest, kind above all, and beautiful to behold, but plagued and ravaged from within."

Light surged in front of Twilight as a column of magic sprung up from the first circle, reaching high into the air and striking it's mirror on Harmony's sigil. The first breaking had begun, and Celestia's eyes flared white with power. 'I will not allow this!' Lightning crackled from her horn's edge, the same spell she'd unleashed upon the dragon just minutes ago, as she turned her fury to Twilight.

Lost in her rage, she was caught a something landed on her neck. Dementis. The mare suddenly appeared, the blackness Celestia had scattered swept up into the air and reformed as the demon dropped onto her from above. The sickening feeling she'd felt seconds earlier was nothing in comparison to the creatures touch. A sickly cold like a thousand needles pierced her, spreading across her body as Dementis howled in laughter. "Give me your fire, give me your screams!" She bellowed, as dark magic spread across Celestia's skin like ooze. Desperate to escape, she abandoned her concentration on the lightning, trying to draw as much of the Element's power forth as she could. The air crackled and burst around both her and Dementis as harmonic power crashed against Dementis' tainted sorcery. Like two opposing magnets being touched together, the pair were knocked from the sky just as Celestia's lightning spell flew wild through the air,

The air shattered from the sound, and Celestia was knocked back from the force of her own magic. She and Dementis separated, half of the apparition's body being turned to mist and scattering in the air as Celestia slammed into the ground with the force of a meteor. Dirt and turf flew around her from a ten foot wide crater as she landed. She quickly rose to her hooves, struggling to keep her breath as she swept the ground and skies for Dementis. Were it not for the glowing armor around her, both the spell-clash and the impact may have been catastrophic, but Harmony's power dulled the blow to nothing more than a bruise along her breast. One thing she knew for sure now, whatever Dementis was doing wasn't magic. For such a violent reaction to occur, the phantom's magic coming into contact with pure harmony, meant that her sorcery was the complete inverse of the magic that wove Equestria together.

"The taint mocked love, and so from evil's hand came evil gifts; borne of benevolence, only to whither die."

Celestia turned, watching hopelessly as Twilight sealed the first bind of her spell. The ground shook and the air trembled as the column of light seemed to become glass and a pony floated high in the air. A golden unicorn, brilliant and beautiful, seemed to be creation of light coming together and taking shape. She was suspended in the air between the two massive rune circles. Her expression was serene, smiling down at Celestia as the Alicorn watched on.

"And so, Kindness was undone." She spoke, words as tender as flower petals filled the air. Her hooves were extended, as if to offer Celestia a sweet embrace. Benevolentia's voice was soft and loving, a pleasant tone far above what Luna had described. Celestia was nearly stunned by the mare who seemed to be the picture of radiance. The golden mare's inviting smile deepened as Celestia stared on, beaming down on the golden-clad princess. She nodded just behind Celestia, the warm smile tightening. The alicorn whirled around just in time to see a black puddle coalescing on the ground just behind her, that stretched smiling emerging first as the mare leapt upon Celestia with savage glee.

Desperate to keep the creature off her, Celestia grabbed the apparition in her magic and held her in place. A bolt of white light shot from Celestia's horn and embedded into the creatures chest. The kinetic magic stopped somewhere in Dementis' chest and rapidly expanded as Celestia's surprise morphed into primeval rage. The unicorn only had a moment to widen her empty eyes as magic burst outwards and the mare burst into black mist, torn limb-from-limb in an instant.

The swirling blackness immediately began to join together in front of Celestia, as she realized her mistake too late. Celestia felt a tug within her, like a rope embedded within her chest, as the mist formed into a hoof, then legs, and soon the rest of the creature as she drew out Celestia's magic to fuel her reformation. The Alicorn fired a spark of light into the earth, two large plates of dirt and stone rising up on either side of her and slamming together just as Dementis' stretched smile had appeared. Celestia back-peddled quickly, drawing as much power from the Element's as she could could and severing the link again. The drain ceased instantly, but Dementis reappeared once more with black magic coating her horn.

Dementis swept her horn up through the air, as if gouging the sky itself, and Celestia felt a stirring beneath her hooves. The ash beneath her sudden formed into black blades that stabbed at chinks in her armor on every side. The needles didn't pierce her gilded mail, but she could still feel that sickly pollution trying to eat away at her magic just as much as her flesh. She blinked away, reappearing several feet to the side and placing both of her adversaries in line of sight. With a yell she reached out with her magic, reaching for dozens of stones and rocks across the garden and buried in the earth.

"As grace withered and fell, so too did wisdom cease. In it's place came resentment, as the tree demanded to know who had wronged it."

Twilight's words were barely audible as fire and power roared in the air around Celestia, as the ground exploded all around her and she whipped every object she could at Dementis. The demon countered, spewing forth hundreds of black bolts into the air that shattered stones and struck Celestia. The Alicorn held firm, her greater magic protecting her as reared back and slammed her hooves into the ground. A rift of earth raced across the ground, springing up in angular stone that struck Dementis and sent her flying through the air. Celestia let loose a burst of prismatic energy from her armor, striking the falling mare and once more contorting her body and giving it form. With a wave of her horn, burning chains leaped up from the ground, encircling Dementis and binding her down as she slammed into the dirt. Even though stunned by Harmony, Celestia could already feel Dements eating away at her power. She reached out with her magic again, finding her sword some fifty feet away and hurled it through the air, passed the languishing nightmare, and spinning towards Twilight Sparkle.

The throw was perfect, flaming blade spinning fast enough to split the unicorn down the middle, but the blade wobbled and fell offside at the last moment. It slammed into the ground just next to Twilight, drawing a gasp of both surprise and pain as heat rippled across Twilight's side. The mare yelped, momentarily pausing in her chant as the heat of the sword singed her side even though the blade missed. The whole city seemed to tilt for a moment as the balance of her spell was upset. The harmonic ringing splintered, becoming discordant and uneven as Twilight's invocation was interrupted.

Celestia was bewildered for a moment, how she could have missed, until she locked eyes once more with Benevolentia. The gilded mare smiled apologetically, her hooves extended towards Twilight as if she were laying a blessing on the unicorn's head. Celestia met her with a burning glare, heat rising again as she loosed a flurry of bolts towards Twilight. Most went wide, scattering around the mare thanks too Benevolentia's influence, but one bolt one elicited a scream as it struck the lavender unicorn's neck and set part of her mane alight. Twilight was forced to turn a way for a moment, slapping the flame out of her burning hair. Lighting crackled at the tip of Celestia's horn, ready to send another wave of death towards Twilight, until the shattering of chains caught her ear. She turned and loosed the bolt on the demon, ensuring not to hold the spell should Dementis try to tether her again. Dementis blinked away, dissolving into mist and reappearing behind Celestia as the two clashed and danced in battle again.

Pockets of magic began to burst and scatter in the air as the unicorn turned back and continued pouring magic into her knife once more, desperately trying to maintain the spell. Faster and faster she siphoned magic from below the city in order to maintain stability. It was like trying to find the loose ends of a thread and draw them together again, all while the loose threads were being pulled free of her tapestry. Difficult, but in only a moment she felt resonances begin to calm and intertwine once again. The flickering and bursting lights began to die, as Twilight drew forth more power, binding it too her will and body as a glowing column of magenta surrounded her. The glowing buried sword was launched out of the ground, cast aside as the veil of protection surrounded Twilight. Hurriedly she resumed her chant, trying to ignore the flashes of heat and dark magic surging behind her.

"Anger welled deep within Harmony, growing fierce as the sickness took hold."

Celestia heard the words continue, growling in anger as Dementis chased her across the garden. Their manes whipped back as arcane winds beat around them, the weight of their will an magic clashing as each sought to overpower the other. Celestia's mind was pummeled with twisted emotions and the taint of black magic, while Harmony poured from her armor and clashed with the darkness before it. Every time she tried to move towards Twilight, Dementis would follow or block her path. 'She's moving faster. Celestia thought as she loosed a torrent into the sky, the flames appearing as a band of phoenix's which hurtled towards Dementis. The demon only laughed, mimicking her spell as a murder of ravens appeared and the spells cancelled one another. 'She'll only grow stronger as this continues, stronger and more creative.' Celestia feinted right, blinking away and splitting into two with a mirror image. Dementis only giggled, firing a burst of black magic at the clone as she ran towards Celestia. Black magic jutted from her horn as she lunged for the alicorn, and Celestia was forced to conjure a golden shield to stop the blow from piercing through a gap in her shoulder plating. Dementis snickered, "Sneaky, sneaky Princess." as Twilight's voice punctuated the air around them.

"Charity lay forgotten, as rage compelled the tree to seek amends for the crimes wrought upon it. Soon it's anger could not be quenched, as the tree demanded to know why it had suffered so..."

Magic erupted from the circle and spread across the garden. The ground began to shake as the mountain groaned. Trees twisted and splintered as the statues and fountains began to crack. As magic began to pour out of the second circle, ascending high to it's mirror above. Just as before, another pony appeared. Dementis giggled, clapping her hooves as she pointed towards the beam of light. "This one!" She screamed with sickening glee. "She's my favorite!"

Heat shimmered in the air like a mirage as nearly pure white unicorn appeared. Her eyes were like rubies, and her mane and tail rippled through the air like wildfires. Her hooves were clenched at her side, and fury sparked in her gaze. Malevolence made her sharp features, which should have been striking and beautiful, shrewd and callous instead. Celestia could see blackness marring her coat in spots, and spreading through the sclera of one eye. The taint of Dementis that Luna had spoken of. Saevio's eyes fell upon Celestia and Dementis alike, pure hatred radiating from her seething glare as she hissed from behind clenched teeth. "And Generosity was consumed in the flame of Rage."

As soon as she spoke the words massive rifts began to tear across the grounds, as rifts of earth shattered sending jets of earth and clay shooting into the air all around the garden. Celestia nearly lost her balance as magic smote the very earth around her, splitting the wide grounds into pieces. The pair began to separate as grand forces tore at the city and the mountain alike, threatening to raze the whole of it to the ground under the crushing weight of arcana. Behind her, Celestia could hear stone and glass beginning to shatter and shouts of surprise growing in the distance. 'The palace!' She turned, seeing the majestic castle shaking with the same force that struck the royal garden.

"From anger unknown, came resentment. Hatred consumed the tree, it's fruits growing bitter as the serpents poison burned it from within. 'Where had it's friends gone?' The tree cried, abandoned by those who had sworn to protect it."

Celestia retreated, trying to keep both Twilight and Dementis in her line of sight as she did as she siphoned more and more Harmony from beneath the mountain and into her body. Dementis seemed undeterred, however, laughing maniacally and bearing down on Celestia with greater resolve as the chaos she embodied dominated the royal garden.

"She cowers and runs!" The demon tore across the shattered earth and leaped across the rifts of earth as she screamed. Celestia continued running, leaping, and bounding across the widening turf, desperately trying to pull more and more power to keep the city from falling to pieces. She knew how, the spell was there waiting in her mind to be called upon, but it would be no easy feat.

As Dementis fired black bolt after black bolt at Celestia, leaping from one landing to the next, a familiar voice yelled out from the direction of the castle. "Hey ugly, you hungry!?" Dementis whipped her neck around with a sickening crack. Her mouth fell open as if demonstrate her answer, only for a ball of pink magic to strike her jaw.

Celestia turned to see Shining Armor and Cadence, the former being carried by his wife as they landed on a stable piece of ground. A tether of magic shot out from his horn and latched onto the orb of magic Dementis chewed. A tether formed and the stallion jerked his horn back, pulling Dementis through the air as if reeling in a fish. Celestia's eyes widened in horror, lips parting to tell Shining Armor to stop. She could see Dementis' horn glow black in preparation to drink in Shining Armor's power. Just as soon as the tether appeared did it vanish. A look of pained concentration crossed Shining Armor as a glowing cupola took shape in the air between him and the imposter. Just as the unicorn sailed through the formation, Shining armor flared his magic and sealed the phantom inside a glowing cage. Dementis crashed into the barrier, crushing her nose from the momentum and letting out a howl anger, a howl that quickly morphed into a baleful laugh. "More magic, more playthings!" She cried with feral gaiety, blackness already beginning to eat away at the barrier.

"Princess!" The stallion called out, pointing towards Twilight as he fought to maintain his hold on Dementis. Celestia could already see the strain on his face as he did, but she couldn't waste the opportunity he had given her. Golden magic poured from her horn, just as harmony radiated out of her armor. The magic intertwined in front of her, binding together like threads of heavenly light that multiplied upon themselves. The strands lengthened, growing in size and luster as it formed into a ball of thread, expanding in power and glory with every moment. Celestia's mind felt the calm of Order rest over her as she fully embraced the Element's powers. She closed her eyes, allowing both magic to pour out of her as the ball of thread exploded out in a supernova of power.

The world faded to light for everypony present, just for a moment, as Harmony covered the length of the royal garden. Celestia felt a thousand strands of power connect to her body and pulling every direction. She opened her eyes to see golden threads having pierced every shattered part of ground around her. Every muscle tensed in her body as the weight of reality fell upon her, and she ground her teeth as she exerted her will over the dual-magics. "I will have Order!" She screamed, as the threads tightened and every piece of shifting ground and splintering mountain was suddenly slammed together again.

Shining Armor nearly collapsed from the force of Celestia's magic, blindly stumbling across the dead and scarred terrace grounds. His injured legs were still weak, the slow ooze of blood dripping down the once white bandages, but he finally managed to find his footing as the heavy tremors came to a stop. Despite this, he felt, rather than saw, his barrier weaken as his concentration fell away. Horrible, relentless whispers and emotions plagued his mind, but he cast up mental barriers to protect himself. He'd known enough from what Luna had said, and the brief skirmish he'd seen between the phantom and Celestia, to know that Dementis would try to steal his magic. Even with that in mind, he couldn't had been prepared for the mental assault she'd unleashed on him. Luna had done something similar when he had become Captain, forcing him to overcome nightmare's and mental assaults, but nothing she threw at him was as sickening as Dementis' touch. After only a few second his head was pounding and his stomach churned. It took everything he had to keep himself from turning tail and fleeing the garden. 'If Twilight had to live with this every day, it's no wonder she turned out this way.' He thought, blinking in an effort to clear his vision.

The light faded enough for him to see Dementis hammering at his barrier, both fighting against and drawing in power from the barrier. He tried to reestablish his tether to fuel the spell, but Dementis sent a crashing hoof through the side of his barrier. The merciless, horrible grin pierced his mind, just as the empty eyes seemed to stare into Shining Armor's soul. His barrier began to crack into spiderweb lines as pink magic began to dissolve from within and flow into the cursed mare's horn.

He wanted to run, and turn and flee, but with all his willpower he managed to hold his ground against the psychic forces that pounded in his skull. His horn glowed as he drew on power for the mare's next assault, deaf to all the world except for the horrid whispers in his mind, until a flurry of light snapped him out of his daze. Shining's whole world seemed to appear as if he was underwater. A tugging feeling latched into him from within, and like a diver pulled to the surface, dark and cold flowed past him as warmth, light, and sound shook him to his core.

"Betrayed by it's guardians, the tree's roots began to crumble." He heard his sister speak, as light and sound came hurtling back into senses. Beautiful and pure ribbons of magic curled through the air, surrounding everything. Music like ten-thousand chimes followed the flowing magic as they wrapped around his barrier in a myriad of knots and cut Dementis' influence from his mind. She briefly screamed before her voice was lost in the chime of Harmony. Only now, as the world exploded in light and color, did he suddenly realize his vision had been going dark. He'd nearly been pulled completely under from the creatures influence, barely saved by...

Shining Armor turned towards Celestia, eyes going wide as he saw the white alicorn. Celestia was wrapped from head-to-toe with brilliant threads of magic, some as vibrant as cords made from pure gold, while others seemed like ephemeral visions of magic itself, not truly there, but visible nonetheless. Her legs were shaking as she flourished her horn and hooves alike, binding the magic to itself and trying to tie off the glamorous tapestry. More threads flowed off her pattern and into Dementis' cage, while other danced around her as she worked, floating and shifting until they were pulled into her weave. Dementis' exposed hoof quickly withdrew, as her shadowy essence seemed to fizzle and burn as she came into contact with the harmonious magic.

Shining Armor was caught up in his watching his Princess work, dumbfounded by the complexity of magic she commanded; the precision with which she moved and worked. She hadn't even turned towards him when he'd been freed from Dementis' influence, her full concentration on holding together her magic and the mountain itself.

He was even more caught when she quickly turned towards him, eyes shooting wide as she screamed, "Don't!" A wall of fire blasted a line through the air, right towards Shining Armor. He leapt back with a shout, throwing himself down the ground as fire rippled through the air, and temperature seemed to triple in only a second. The blast went wide however, rippling just past him and interceding between Cadence as she stared up at Dementis temporary prison. The pink alicorn did just as her husband, shrieking in surprise as the glow around her horn vanished.

She turned towards her aunt in fearful confusion, Shining Armor following suit. Strain gripped Celestia's expression as she finally tied off the final thread. Every strand that surrounded the garden suddenly vanished as the rumbling in the ground subsided to only minor tremors. Celestia succeeded in keeping the mountain from splitting apart, at least for the time being.

"Don't open your mind to her magic" Celestia panted from exertion, burst of steam filled the air around her head, as sweat beads were evaporated by intense heat. "She will consume you in a heartbeat, Cadence. Focus your magic on stopping Twilight. Shining Armor and I can handle Dementis together." Celestia's sword flew through the air, reappearing at her side as she regarded Shining Armor with a grave expression. Though she remained silent, Shining could feel words radiating off her like the glimmering of heat in the air. 'You shouldn't have come, but you may as well stay.'

The stallion drew himself up again, staggering somewhat from his injuries, but swallowing his uncertainty as he met Celestia's gaze. His jaw tightened and brow narrowed as he met her firm gaze with his own, turning back towards his sister and the glowing prison which held Dementis, floating just off the ground.

"Ichor turned to toxin, and the blood that gave the world life became a blight upon creation. Love turned to hatred, uncertainty morphing into..." Twilight's chant became inaudible as Dementis' shrieking cackle pierced the air. Cadence leapt off the ground, gliding past the glowing prison as laughter emanated from within, sharply contrasting the almost holy unity of magic binding her there.

Threads of harmonic magic began to disassemble and fade, as the laughter grew louder and more relentless. Shining shifted his weight to his good leg, horn glowing in anticipation as the prison began shutter and quake in the air. He prepared to pour magic back into the barrier, but stopped as Celestia's voice called to him. "Let her through!"

He turned sharply towards her, mouth almost falling open. "Why in Equestria should we do that!?" Celestia's eyes were focused on the prison, staring down the glowing polyhedron as golden magic mingled in the air with power drawn from the Elements. The magic formed into chain links, growing longer and thicker as she pulled more and more magic free. "The more we bind her with, the more she has to take. It doesn't matter how many times we destroy her, she will just recombine herself by drawing on the ambient magic all around us." Celestia's sword shifted, pointing blade first in the air as Dementis' hooves once again burst through the barriers side. Even more black mist poured out, a vapor cloud spreading through the air as she began to pull free of the bindings. "We'll need to exorcise her completely, there's no other way around it. And a word of advice I suggest you abide, Shining Armor." Celestia' armor and sword burst into rippling blue flames once more, as one eye scrutinized him with intense care. "I recommend not getting too close to me if you don't to be burned to ash."

The last of the mist pulled free, forming a twisted unicorn that mirrored his sister. The abomination floated high in the air, leering down at him with that stretched smile as tendrils of blackness poured out of her horn. "Stand ready!" Celestia called out, as her blade went flying through the air, and she charged with it. The demon loosed blackened pitch from her horn as she rushed to meet Celestia. Shining Armor contemplated the pair for only a moment, swallowing any doubt that may have lingered and screaming out a battle cry as he followed his Princess into battle.

Author's Note

Ok, now I'm sure a few of you were getting worried, but I promise I wasn't trying to scare you into thinking I have vanished again.

In all seriousness, this and the next chapter were supposed to be one giant chapter, but as you can see from this one's length, that was obviously getting a bit out of control. And so, the next chapter will (hopefully) be up by next weekend. Funny enough, sticking with this chapters theme, I am currently typing this as Hurricane Ian is landing near Orlando. If my power doesn't go out, then I will hopefully have a productive few days and should be able to get chapter 62 out next weekend.

Of course, I encourage you to follow me so you can get my bog posts for updates and what not. On a final note, I am so excited to say that we cross 1500 likes for Homecoming, and are nearing 2000 favs. Still blows me away, but that just means more friends to join me for this journey. Anyway, I love you all and I hope to see you all again next week!

(Urgent Update 04/09)

Hello friends, I am terribly sorry to bring you news of another short haitus.

As mentioned in my recent blog updates I had recently begun my application for the US Navy, and had been given a ship date for a few weeks out, however my ship date was moved forward as of last weekend. I'd hoped to get the Part two chapter out by today, but with the insanity of packing and prep, I was unable to do so, being so desperate as to try to finalize the chapter on my drive up from Orlando to Jacksonville. (I wasn't driving, it's all good)

My Basic Training will be for the next 8-10 weeks, and so I won't have any updates until then (God willing I do not get injured/sick while in Basic) and so I am extremely disappointed to say there wont be any chapters till June. Once I get to my A-School, I can continue putting out the final few chapters, but I am sorry to have to announce another brief delay.

I love you all for your continued patience with me, and I hope to be back as soon as possible with the final updates. Take care, and I'll see you all soon.

-Seeker

Special Chapter- Recap

Author's Note

Hello my faithful readers, This is not the first chapter of Homecoming!

I am posting this recap for anyone who is rejoining the adventure after my most recent G. R. R. Martin-esque hiatus, so they can catch up with the current events of the story. If you are just finding this story, please continue onto the next chapter, Know My Name, which is Chapter 1.

To all of my returning or out-of-date friends, I hope this helps you, my many wonderful and faithful readers, and I look forward to delivering you all the next chapter this weekend. So glad to have you back with me for this stories wonderful conclusion!

Much love,
-Seeker

Special Chapter- Recap

Our story begins as a hooded mare enters a distant outpost-town in far north of Equestria. A fight breaks out and the hooded mare brutally kills several ponies, only as upon leaving identifies herself as Twilight Sparkle. Word of the incident reaches the Princesses, who are shocked to hear of Twilight's involvement. They go to Luna's personal student, Wing-Commander Rainbow Dash, and assign her to find Twilight and bring her to Canterlot, explaining that Twilight Sparkle suffered from intense magical tantrums was a filly. The final one killed a number of other children, and she was thought to have been consumed in the explosion, but conflicting testimonies and witnesses placed doubt in the Princesses mind.

Twilight arrives in a ruined town where she repairs a number of houses with magic, and discovers that the residents are being extorted by a squad of reprobate guards. She recognizes the leader of these guards, Render, and tells the head of the town that she will help them. She sends a letter bound in violet ribbons away via magic, while she waits. When the group arrives, she goads the Render into a fight. She fights in an erratic and frightening manner, defeating the group but knocking herself unconscious as a result. She awakens with solid black eyes and sporting a twisted grin, assaulting a pony who suggests requesting Canterlot for help, before disappearing via magic.

Octavia Van Clef finishes a performance and is overjoyed to receives a letter bound in violet ribbons, stating the Twilight will be arriving in a few days. Wile Rainbow Dash travels north, Princess Luna enters into the dream realm in order to search for Twilight's mind, and is surprised to find the mare's subconscious despite having tried years ago. She finds a hall divided by two doors, entering in the first and being invited for tea-time by Twilight, the same way Luna had seen her when she was a filly. They are interrupted by a golden mare named Benevolentia. The mare chastises the filly, whom she calls Inquio, and requests Luna follow her.

Rainbow Dash makes contact with the town, discovering Twilight had left behind one of her daggers, a strange curved blade imbued with strange designs and magical glyphs which she keeps. She stays the night, hoping Twilight will return on the morrow. Twilight suffers a nightmare, chased through a never-ending maze by a copy of herself who sports solid black eyes and an insane grin. She manages to banish the creature with a spell and escapes the dream. Luna is shepherd by Benevolentia, also called Dawn, through the other door she had seen, being introduced to three other ponies; Judicium, Vindicta, and Saevio. Dawn explains that Twilight's mind was divided into six parts in order to cope and survive what happened when she was young, and each personality represents her core emotions, Kindness, Judgment, Vengeance, Innocence, Rage, and Insanity. Hearing it's name, The psychotic apparition Dementis appears and attacks Luna, feeding on her magic. Twilight appears, banishing Dementis and Luna out of her mind simultaneously.

Rainbow Dash continues hear search, while Twilight awakens inside a luxurious magical-room and discovers that her blade is missing. She she returns to the town, holding a colt hostage and calling Rainbow Dash back to the town with a magical signal.

In Canterlot, Shining Armor tells Cadence about Twilight, and she tries her best to reassure her husband that everything will be ok. They are summoned to the castle by the Princesses as Luna explains what she learned. They are interrupted when the group feel a nearly immeasurable explosion of magic far in the distance, visible from hundreds of miles away, and Celestia realizes that somepony had tapped into the power of her Sun. While they watch, a severely injured Rainbow Dash magically appears next to them before falling unconscious.

After taking her to the infirmary, Rainbow Dash details how Twilight attacked her immediately after landing. Both ponies sustaining heavy injuries. Rainbow Dash had knocked Twilight unconscious, only for Dementis to take control of her body and draw on the power of the sun, nearly killing Rainbow. Rainbow was forced to withdraw via a magical glyph, but managed to swipe a book from Twilight's bags. Twilight was able to recover her missing knife, as well as a slip of paper which had fallen out of Rainbow's armor. Shining Armor recognizes the book as Twilight's childhood journal, and Luna takes it for study and safekeeping.

Rainbow Dash returns home to recover, being cared for by Fluttershy and Scootaloo. Princess Luna begins studying Twilight's childhood journal, pausing only to assist Celestia in tending to Sweetie Bell. The filly suffers from the same disability Twilight did, the Princesses' striving to successfully ensure she does not suffer the same fate Twilight had.

Twilight dreams of a massive serpent whom she refers to as "Master". She demands he take Dementis from her due to the personage using all of her magic, but he berates her for allowing her mental-wards to drop. After some discussion, he gives her a portion of magic to quicken her recovery, and says "Caretakers" are waiting for her. The dream ends as Twilight awakens in the Changeling Hive, assaulting one of it's members before Chrysalis arrives to chide her for her violence. Nearly crippled from the failed invasion of Canterlot herself, the queen invites Twilight to stay and recover, but the the unicorn insists on leaving. While collecting her things, Twilight is horrified to realize her journal is gone.

Luna pours over the book, discovering Twilight had been suffering from strange dreams, hallucinations, black-outs, hearing voices, and visitations from an unknown master who promised to help heal her and give her magical power. Twilight and Chrysalis combine magic to send a powerful projectile to Canterlot before anypony can uncover the book's contents. Luna discovers that Dementis was planted into Twilight's mind, and was the cause of the disaster fifteen years ago. Before she can finish the journal, she is forced to flee as Twilight's spell destroys both the journal and Luna's personal chambers. Luna is unharmed, but Twilight is exhausted from the spell and agrees to spend another night in the Hive.

Luna calls a meeting to explain what information she could gleam, and to plan for Twilight's potential arrival in a few days. Shining Armor struggles greatly with the information, suggesting that perhaps Dementis, the "gift" this master had given Twilight, was to blame instead. He and Rainbow argue over the point, and the meeting is adjourned with the princesses unconvinced by his arguments, noting that Twilight and Dementis seem to interact independently of one another. Octavia reflects on another letter she received that morning, notifying her that Twilight would be delayed a few days, while she walks through the market with a Twilight Velvet. The mare invites Octavia to a gathering with the promise of a surprise announcement, but the pair are interrupted as Shining Armor and Cadence arrive.

Twilight awakens to Dementis pressing for control, but maintains her mental barriers. Chrysalis is concerned, but Twilight promises she has a contact waiting in Canterlot to help stop Dementis permanently. She bids farewell to Chrysalis and departs with a changeling guide named Ersatz who guides her through the changeling tunnels. Luna and several mages detect traces of changeling magic at the the remnants of her tower, and she informs Celestia that she will try to locate the Hive for answers. In the tunnels, Luna encounters Twilight and the changeling, sparking a short chase which ends in Ersatz capture, he and Twilight having swapped identities during an intentional cave-in. Frustrated by Twilight's escape, Luna storms into the hive to personally question Chrysalis. The queen initially is combative, but laments that even she doesn't understand entirely why Twilight has arrived. Chrysalis urges Princess Luna to stay out of the way and let her accomplish whatever she is setting out to do. Twilight manages to find her way out of the hives through a small tunnel that emerges into the castle itself. She knocks a guard unconscious, disguising herself with his armor as she triumphantly returns home.

Although his injuries are minor, Luna is furious to discover Twilight's assault on the guard and subsequent escape through the castle. Later that night, Octavia finishes a performance and discovers a golden unicorn named Dawn awaiting her. The two return to Octavia's home, where Twilight drops her disguise and the pair unite in an elated kiss.

The following morning a terse meeting is called at the Palace between the princess and heads of the Guards. The decide to place the Guard on high-alert, but not announce the reasoning to the public, worried that after the Changeling attack it may cause a panic during the Hearths-Warming Season. During an argument, Shining Armor and Rainbow Dash nearly come to blows. Luna places Rainbow Dash on leave, concerned that she or Twilight will kill each other if they meet again, while Cadence sneaks off to her room. She secretly enlists the help of three changelings, Mirror, Switch, and Chip, who she found and helped after the failed invasion, as they will be able to identify changeling disguises and spells.

Twilight spends the morning with Octavia, learning about what she's missed and inquiring about her family. Twilight tells Octavia that Dementis had taken control twice in the last week, prompting Octavia to play a song on her cello which puts Twilight peacefully to sleep. In a dream, Twilight's master scolds her again for using up her magic and tells her to rendezvous with another "Child," who will help her. Twilight uneasily inquires as to who this "Child" is, to which the Master states it is an old friend of her. Despite Twilight's revulsion towards the pony, The Master warns her she has 20 days to finish her mission. Meanwhile, Luna apologizes to an irate Rainbow Dash, stating that Rainbow is motivated by revenge and jealousy from losing her fight, and that Twilight may respond similarly if they meet, and reasserts that Rainbow Dash will be taken off the mission for now.

Twilight begrudgingly meets her contact, a stallion with solid black eyes named Penumbra, whom she shows extreme contempt towards. He gives her a Mana-fruit, an extremely rare plant that quickly restores magic. Despite the gift, Twilight threatens to kill Penumbra if she finds him in the city after today. Later that night, Twilight is working in the caves below Canterlot, carving magical runs and markings into the stone. She returns to Octavia's home, hearing an odd clicking that seems to follow her in the night. While trying to fall asleep, she sees Dementis staring down at her from the ceiling, but is saved as Octavia appears and helps her fall asleep with music. Later, Twilight tells Octavia that she was careless, and should have known Dementis would try to fight back against Octavia's "Power." Octavia suggests Twilight come to the market with her the next day. That night, Twilight Velvet confesses to Octavia that she is pregnant, which the earth pony relays to Twilight Sparkle.

Rainbow Dash begins suffering night terrors and intense paranoia. Fluttershy runs for help after discovering Rainbow's eyes turning black. A voice whispers to Rainbow Dash that her friends will betray her, before the entity tries to seize control of Rainbow's body. As Fluttershy arrives at the castle tells Luna what happened, while Rainbow Dash finds Shining Armor in the marketplace. As he runs off to find Cadence, Rainbow Dash feels compelled to follow a golden mare she'd never seen before. The voice returns, causing her to hallucinate and panic in the crowd as Shining and Cadence arrive. Cadence tries to calm the growing concern in the crowd, senses Twilight's presence in the crowd. The disguised unicorn attacks Cadence through mental magic and flees as Luna arrives and pulls the group to safety.

The Princesses examine Rainbow Dash and discover corrupting magic in her body. Luna is disturbed to find the source of the corruption missing, and opts to keep Rainbow Dash for observation while placing guards at Fluttershy's home for safety. Shining Armor tells them he may have seen Twilight in the market place, and takes Cadence home after being dismissed.

After arriving home, Shining Armor is stunned to find Twilight waiting for him. After a tense meeting, she tells him that her "Master" saved her, and that she can guarantee no-pony will be hurt if he and the Princesses stop searching for her, telling him to congratulate their mother for her, before vanishing. Disoriented by the encounter, Shining Armor visits his parents and is stunned to discover that Velvet is pregnant. Before he leaves, he asks Velvet who else she had told. Shining Armor spends several days investigating several of Velvets friends, but strange records and inconsistencies lead him to ask more questions about Octavia. Cadence discovers this, but promises not to inform the princesses, passing the information to her changelings in secret. That night Chip discovers Twilight leaving Octavia's house, marking the building and trailing her, but is discovered and captured by her shortly after.

The Princesses summon Cadence and Shining Armor to the castle after receiving a letter from Twilight. As they open the letter, a severely wounded Chip magically appears. Cadence is barely able to save him with a flood of love magic, and afterword confesses what she'd done. Cadence is unwilling to leave Chip alone while he heals, and Shining Armor offers to inform the changeling's brother and sister what happened. After earning their trust, he asks them if Chip gave any indication of where he had last spotted the unicorn. He finds the mark Chip left and goes to Rainbow Dash for help, which she agrees to. While Octavia is at a performance and Twilight is away, they sneak into the house, capture Octavia, and take her away for questioning.

Octavia awakens in an interrogation building called The Tombstone Rainbow Dash and Shining Armor, but she feigns ignorance. Twilight returns home, confused by Octavia's absence. She investigates the house, discovering a small spatter of blood and the remnants of magic on the door, promising revenge as she departs.

Fluttershy receives a visit from an Earth Pony named Pencil Pusher who states she is on business from the Royal Guard, and is compiling a psychological evaluation of Rainbow Dash, a necessary step of working through ponies exposed to corrupted magic. Fluttershy recounts the story of Rainbow Dash's growing up, their friendship, and how Luna offered to become her teacher, sparing no detail regarding both of their sordid upbringings. As they conclude, Twilight drops her disguise as she stuns the pegasi and withdraws a pair of shears from her bags. Shining Armor and Rainbow Dash are found at the Tombstone by the princesses, and are summoned to Rainbow's home. They find the barely living Fluttershy, her wings having been clipped. As Shining Armor confesses what he and Rainbow Dash had done, another guard arrives to inform them that Scootaloo was picked up from school by an unknown guard and was missing. The teacher was placed under an enchantment spell with instructions to give them a letter from Twilight. Upon opening it, an illusion of Twilight appears and demands they return Octavia to her. The group realizes that Twilight is speaking directly too them, as she threatens that any harm done to Octavia will be returned to both her prisoners, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. As the spell ends, Luna demands to see Octavia. Twilight sleeplessly returns to her work in the caverns.

Both Princesses speak to Octavia, and she tells them about Twilight, though cryptically states that something restricts her from answering all of their questions, before explaining that Twilight is slowly dying from Dementis's influence. After an outburst from Luna, Celestia realizes that Octavia is using magic to calm their emotions. She states, surprised, that she can calm emotions through her words, but the effect is amplified by her music. She and Twilight met years previously, and she used this power to restrain Dementis, but her recent attempts have been unsuccessful. Octavia concludes the meeting by telling the Princesses that the only way to stop the violence is to let Twilight complete her mission, or to kill her.

They find Twilight's waiting at the arranged spot, Twilight carrying an unconscious Sweetie Bell in tow. Luna rushes in and pummels the unicorn into submission. Moments later, Dementis seizes control but a suddenly appearing Rainbow Dash knocks her out once more before flying away.

A team of examiners, study a heavily restrained Twilight for several hours, although Dementis is in total control of her body. While sitting by the comatose mare, the voice begins to speak in Rainbow Dash's mind once more, and she leaves for The Tombstone. The lead doctor reports to the Princesses his finding, noting Twilight's enormous pool of magic, bodily anomalies, extreme scarring, and a particular set of scars under her mane of an arcane variety. The Princesses surmise that it is why Octavia could not answer some questions, she being forbidden by magic, and Luna attempts to speak to Twilight.

Dementis taunts Luna with threats and showing Twilight in extreme pain, forcing Luna to knock her out again. Cadence helps to restrain Dementis as Luna delves into Twilight's mind once more, while Rainbow Dash tries to get into Twilight's room. Celestia goes to investigate, noting that Rainbow Dash seems not to be herself. Luna re-enters the mental space which houses Twilight's personalities. Dawn is there, holding a sleeping Twilight and desperately trying to keep Dementis at bay. Despite interruptions from Dementis and the other, now corrupted, personages, Dawn asks if Luna truly wants to save Twilight, before telling her she must make a promise.

Luna awakens in a panic, tearing out of the room in search of Twilight's bags, but not before being notified of Rainbow's presence in the building. She comforts Rainbow, but still does not allow her to speak to Dements, and the pegasi appears to be subdued. As Luna departs, the voice once more convinces Rainbow to act of her own accord.

Luna and Celestia enter into Twilight's crystal, realizing that the small room expanded into an immense library where they discover extensive, writings on magic, medicine, rituals, torture, even forbidden and lost spells. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash assault the guards posted outside Twilight's room, forcing her way. Despite the voice urging her to kill Twilight, Rainbow resists and instead forces Dementis to tell her where Scootaloo is before flying away. Guards surge in to ensure the unicorn doesn't escape, but Dementis reveals she was only pretending, having deactivated her magical restraints not long after Luna departed, and escaping in a torrent of black magic.

Celestia calls Luna over, still inside, the library, as the sister's are disturbed to discover animals parts, preserved limbs of the sentient races, and, somehow, a complete diagram of the binding on Discord's prison. Realizing Twilight has come to free Discord, her master, Luna destroys the majority of the room in a blind fury, as two guards enter the crystal and inform the sisters of Rainbow's actions. The cyan mare heads to the location Dementis gave her, an old and decrepit slaughterhouse, and begins the hunt for Scootaloo. Several Pegasi guards followed Rainbow Dash, entering into the building and assisting her in her search. The group split off, but quickly realize one of the doors was enchanted with a distraction spell. They push through the effect after several attempts and find an unharmed, peacefully sleeping Scootaloo inside.

The Alicorns emerge and find a destroyed Tombstone awaiting them. Luna tells Celestia to pull the guards to safety and activate "The Safeguard" while she goes after Twilight. Celestia departs, as Luna draws on the full power of the night and vanishes in shadow. Twilight sprints through the city, having wrested control back from Dementis, as the stars vanish an unnatural darkness clouds around her. Luna chases the unarmed Twilight and the pair clash in a desperate battle. After a hoof-to-hoof fight, both are nearly knocked unconscious, before a mysterious voice pulls Twilight to safety for a moment. She finds her bags and a note from Penumbra teasing her about carelessness, but stating he managed to save the majority of her "collection." Twilight continues running as Luna chases not far behind, following Twilight into an empty warehouse. Twilight forces the alicorn into a magical circle and knocks Luna unconscious.

After some time, Luna awakens within a magical prison, and a battered Twilight completing a ritual spell. Twilight asks if Fluttershy survived, to which Luna mocks and derides her stating how the pegasus will never fully recover. As Twilight shares the horror of living with Dementis, Luna rebuts her by stating that Discord had destroyed her parents, twisting realty, and hunted her and Celestia for years. After he'd been sealed away, Discord had nearly broken Luna's mind with an entity she called Nightmare Moon that tried to corrupt her with envy, but Celestia had saved her. She begs Twilight to stop, threatening that Discord will once again turn the world on it's head. As she finishes her spell, Twilight cryptically asks if Luna thinks she intends to destroy the world, and states that she will make sure no pony ever suffers what she suffered again, before activating her spell with Luna as it's power-source.

Storm clouds gather

Dawn had broken, and Rainbow, not wanting to lose a moment, immediately awoke to begin her marehunt. She stood at the edge of town, wings prepped and ready for takeoff. For once in the entire winter, the blizzards had cleared, and the sky was visible, but Dash knew it wouldn't last. The storm could clearly be seen gathering again and would strike sometime later in the day. She wasn't worried, though; her new armor was thermal and the townsfolk had been kind enough to refill her supplies. She was seconds away from taking off when Dasher caught her.

“Wait, Commander,” Dasher shouted. Rainbow Dash paused and turned to see Dasher running towards her, carrying something in his mouth.

“I almost forgot,” he said around the hilt of the blade he carried. He laid it in the snow in front of the commander. “Twilight dropped this after the fight. She must have forgotten one. I've heard that unicorns can track magical signatures, so I thought it might help.”

Rainbow picked it up with her hoof and held it to her ear. It took many years to develop the skill, but she could tell when an item leaves a magic signature – the artifact literally hums. It’s extremely quiet and difficult to detect but always promising. Dash listened for a few moments before pulling it away and smiled at Dasher. “Good job. If I can get this to one of the trackers, this might be enough to put her on the radar. Thanks again for all of your help.”

She extended her hoof out to Dasher, who accepted it. “You’re welcome, but...”

Rainbow gave him a quizzical look. “What's wrong?”

Dasher sighed and looked at the ground. “She put her life on the line to save some pony she had known for 3 hours. She could have been injured or worse, but then I found out she’s a wanted murderer.”

He stared into Rainbow's eyes. “What kind of senseless murderer does that? I mean, she could have left and never given another thought to this damned place, but she didn't. She stayed.”

His voice trailed off, and Rainbow put a hoof on his shoulder. “First of all, we don't know if she is guilty or not. Second, I've seen a few ponies with their own sense of justice. While they may help other ponies, their way is not always right. I want to find out whether she is aggressive or not and hopefully convince her peacefully to come home. I don't want to hurt her or cause her any more pain. But...”

Rainbow's face steeled. “I will do whatever it takes to protect the innocent. I just hope she sees it my way.”

Dasher smiled brightly at her. “Well, I do too. Good luck on your mission, Commander.”

Rainbow flashed a wicked grin and saluted, “Commander Rainbow Dash is on the job!” She jumped and flew into the air, chasing the unknown predator.

=

Twilight jumped awake. Her hoof was at her side, cradling a knife strapped to her leg. She looked around her at the surroundings. She was sitting on some pillows, and a blanket lay at her feet. Her heart was pounding at her ribcage so strongly; she felt it would leave bruises.

She was in a large room. A few feet away from her were some bookshelves filled with magic texts and spell books. At the far end of the room sat a podium. Atop rested a crystal sphere, which shined brightly and gave off a warm glow.

She spent a few moments taking deep breaths before relaxing and sighing deeply, “Oh thank heavens.” She lay back down for a few moments, waiting for her panic to fade.

As she lay, she thought back to earlier. A scowl crossed her face. ‘The damned moon princess. Almost got me and those innocent ponies from the town killed. Why did she have to interfere right then?' Twilight growled and slammed her hoof into a pillow. 'I'll have to recast the mind wards to ensure she doesn't succeed again. But it technically wasn't her fault... I'll have to punish Dawn later.'

She slowly rose from her makeshift bed. A few feet away, her coat and black jumpsuit lay sprawled across a chair, along with her saddle bags. She walked over and slowly dressed herself. As she set her rows of sheaths she noticed that one of the knives was missing. Twilight's eyes grew to the size of dinner plates. Panicking, she tore the pillows off the floor, trying to find the lost blade. “No, no no no no no... WHERE IS IT?”

Her entire body shook. She glared at the floor. 'I have to go back.' She quickly put the rest of her gear on.

Fuming, she walked over to the orb resting in the pedestal. The orb shone brightly and sparkled in its own light. Twilight touched her horn to the orb, which flashed brightly. A moment later, the room around her melted and was absorbed into the crystal.

Soon, she was standing in the clear tundra. Twilight scowled as she surveyed the area. 'One thing after another. Now, I have no protection from anypony flying over. Canterlot will have deployed pegasus guards, especially after the town incident.'

Twilight pulled a compass from her pack. A moment later, she slipped it into her bag again and began the long walk back to the town. As she walked, another thought crossed her mind. 'Can I ever get a bucking break?'

=

Ever since Celestia and Luna had come into the barracks, Shining Armor had been panicking. It's not every day you find out that your baby sister has been alive for almost sixteen years without your knowing.

His day had been extremely unproductive. How could he work when his mind was so distracted? After hours of paper work for the different soldiers, he could finally go home. He had spent the entire trip home thinking about Twily, little sweet Twily, who could never have been a murderer.

“I'm home,” he called out as he entered his home. He searched through his house, but he couldn't find his wife. “Hello? Honey? Where are you?”

As he walked into his bedroom, he was tackled to the floor by a bright pink alicorn. He received multiple pecks on the nose before his loved one responded, “Hello to you too, handsome. Rough day at work?”

Shining sighed deeply into the carpet. “You could say that,” he mumbled.

Giggling, the young alicorn let him up and nuzzled his cheek. “Aw come on. What's wrong? Soldiers giving you trouble?”

Shining took a moment to think. He didn't want to tell Cadence, as she knew Twilight when they were both young. He couldn't break her heart and tell her Twilight could be a... a... No. The idea was too horrible.

“Just some noise coming from the north; nothing we can't handle.”

Cadence narrowed her eyes playfully. “Really. I've seen that look on your face. You only get that look when something is seriously bothering you, like the time your mother got sick and was in the hospital.” She met his eyes. “Shining, please tell me. You know I hate seeing you unhappy.”

Shining stared into the eyes of his wife. He was ready to just tell her another white lie, but as he stared into her eyes, he didn't see a want for knowledge or just a simple desire to know. He saw a mare who would do anything to stop him from ailing. A mare who would always comfort him for as long as he lived. A mare he couldn't lie to. But could he tell her about Twilight? She had known and loved her for so long and still did. And still thought her to be dead.

Shining Armor swallowed a lump in his throat. “Cadence... You loved Twilight right?”

Cadence pulled her head back. “Of course. But what does this have to do with...”

Shining met her eye again, and he told Cadence about Twilight’s appearance.

Cadence pulled away from him and stared, dumbfounded. She covered her mouth with a hoof and her eyebrows knit in shock and disbelief. “Shining...” she whispered.

Shining nodded grimly. He tore his gaze away from his wife and stared at the floor. “Shining... This is WONDERFUL!”

Shining jerked his head towards her. Cadence beamed down at him, a huge smile covering her face. “Twilight is alive. You should have no reason to be sad.” She jumped into their bed. “Come on,” she called, patting the spot next to her with a hoof. “Come tell me how you found out.”

Shining climbed in and told her the story. As he spoke, she wrapped her hooves around his torso and nuzzled his neck.

“... And after Luna left with Commander Dash, Celestia personally briefed me on the situation. There was a disturbance in a northern hellhole of a town. This place was full of fugitives and mercenaries. A refuge for murderers and thieves. A lavender mare went into a tavern there and supposedly attacked those inside, but I don't buy that for a second.” Shining stared at the ceiling with a look of disgust. “A place like that... There is no way she struck first. The point is, multiple stallions were killed or seriously injured, and one stallion claimed the attacker was Twilight.”

He looked at the alicorn holding him tightly. She sadly stared at the covers she lay on.

He gave her a gentle and reassuring smile. “Hey, don't worry. Everything is being taken care off. Besides, this is great news. Twilight is coming home. We should be happy!” He tried to sound reassuring, but seemed to be question himself.

Cadence nuzzled him again. “No. You’re right. We should be happy. Are you going to tell your parents?”

“I don't know. I mean, how would I? 'Hey, Mom, Dad, remember the daughter you thought was dead? Well, it turns out she's been alive and possibly a murderer.' I won't tell them until we’ve confirmed her state of mind and reasoning for coming home. It may sound cold, but I want to ensure the safety of those I love. Mom, Dad, you, Twilight too. If something happens, I don't want anything bad to happen to Twilight.

Shining suddenly felt a warm sensation envelope his body. All sadness melted away and was replaced by happiness and hope. He looked over to see Cadence smiling warmly, her horn glowing softly.

“You know you won’t stay sad when I'm around,” she reassured him. “Now, you listen to me.” She moved in front of him, her eyes inches from his. “I know you're worried. I am, too. But you have stay brave. For her sake. For now, we can only hope for the best. Can you do that?”

Shining smiled at his wife. “You always know what to say, Cadence.” He kissed her on the nose. “I could never have hoped to meet a better mare than you.”

“Well,” she blushed. “I am pretty great,” she said as she returned the kiss. Their legs tangled together as they embraced each other.

Shining Armor chuckled to himself. Cadence smiled mischievously. “What's so funny, 'Captain'?”

With his eyes closed, he nuzzled his wife. “I'm just amazed a schmuck like me ended up with a love goddess as my wife.”

Cadences smile grew wider. “Yeah, well, I'll show you a love goddess. Come here Mister,” she whispered as she rolled on top of him.

Shining Armor chuckled. “Come on, Cadence. I have work tomorrow. I can't leave those knucklehead soldiers alone. The last time that happened, we had to rebuild one of the training rooms.”

“Too bad,” Cadence giggled. “Besides, you promised me we would go shopping last week, and we never did, and there are no dignitaries from the griffon kingdom visiting tomorrow, so your schedule is empty.” Shining heard something in his wife's voice that told him she wouldn't take no for an answer.

Shining sighed in defeat. Cadence smiled down at him. “Good. Now come on and kiss me, stupid.”

A morning chat

“What would you like to hear about first?”

Twilight and Octavia sat at her small dining table. It was a calm, quiet winter morning. They both awoke earlier in each other’s grasp, neither wanting to let go. They had just lied there, each staring into their significant other’s eyes and enjoying the company. Eventually though, they rose from their tangle of hooves to prepare for the morning.

Octavia had made breakfast while Twilight had cleaned herself up and changed her bandages. It was late morning by the time they sat down for their meal.

Twilight considered the question for a moment. “While I would ask about you, I must know: how have they been through all these years?”

“Who? Your brother or your parents?”

Octavia brought in some coffee along with breakfast. Twilight began engulfing her coffee as soon as it was given to her, the sweet aroma waking her from her drowsiness. Coffee was like liquid gold to her, as it was incredibly difficult to find in the northern wastelands.

As she drained her second cup, she spoke, “I would say my parents, but I found myself entering Canterlot through the palace, and my brother was there. Do you know why?”

“No,” Octavia said with a slight smirk. “Unfortunately, I never asked much about Captain Armor's business—“

Twilight almost dropped her now refilled mug in surprise. “CAPTAIN?!” she sputtered. “Like, Royal Guard Captain?”

Octavia nodded, trying to suppress a giggle. “The very one!”

Twilight slumped back in her chair, disbelief written across her features. “Captain,” she mumbled. “I can't think of anypony more deserving than him to receive that title. It was always his dream to join the Guard. It seems fitting that he should lead them.”

“He's also married to Princess Cadenza.”

Twilight could not hold back a massive choke that time. After a short coughing fit, she met Tavi's eyes again.

“WHAT!?”

“You heard me correctly.”

Twilight stared off into space, her jaw hanging slack. “Now that I think about it, I'm not surprised. They always were very flirty with each other. But still… A PRINCESS. How did he manage that?”

“Who knows? Maybe it was his charming personality.”

“Charming personality? You have met my brother, correct?” He couldn't charm a snake to bite him, even if he stole its mouse.”

Octavia giggled. “You haven't seen him for sixteen years. He's changed from what you told me he was like.”

“Unbelievable,” she whispered. “Well then, what about my parents?”

“Well, to start off, they both retired from the observatory.” Tavi folded her hooves in front of her. “They mostly stay at home. Your mother still goes to her book clubs and star-watches, though. You father still takes walks through the Canterlot Gardens a few nights a week.”

Twilight eyes glazed over as Octavia spoke of Twilight's parents. She was suddenly brought back as Octavia spoke softly, “They still talk about, you know…”

Twilight and Octavia eyes met. “They have a small grave for you. Just outside the royal gardens. From what I can gather, the princesses were quite distraught with your 'death,' just as your family was.”

Twilight broke the stare, now looking longingly at the table. Her eyes gave a small shimmer.

“That's a scary thought, knowing I have a grave set out for me. Makes you wonder…” she trailed off.

She paused for a few moments. “I wonder if Shining has told them. I doubt it, but maybe he has.” Twilight shook her head. “No. He couldn't. They would never believe him, and if they did, they would demand why he didn't tell them sooner.”

She drew a ragged breath. Octavia could swear she saw a small tear escape, but Twilight rubbed her eyes, destroying any evidence of a tear. “But. We shouldn't dwell on unhappy thoughts.”

She smiled brightly at her lover. “I forgot to ask about you. You seem to be doing well among the Canterlot Elite.”

Octavia returned the smile. “Believe me, it took some time. I really had to work for it. Six years of work led up to this.”

Twilight looked around the house for a brief moment. It was by no means a mansion or lavish, but it was warm and had a homey feel. The house felt open, like it would let you stay forever.

“Still, though,” Twilight started. “No pony would blame you for wanting to live in some mansion in Hoofington Square.”

Octavia smiled. “Yes, but to do that, I would have to put up with all those rich snobs and so called 'royalty.' The only nice ones from that group are Fancy Pants and Fleur, his constant companion. Besides, I like this place, and I couldn't leave Vinyl alone. She'd probably burn it to the ground.”

“Vinyl?”

Octavia sighed. “Yes, my roommate Vinyl Scratch. She came to Canterlot about a year and a half after I arrived, to be a DJ. I’ll explain in a moment,” Octavia said quickly, seeing Twilight's quizzical look at the unfamiliar term. “She was looking for a place to stay, and I had a spare room which she still rents. She mostly plays at night clubs, so she sleeps during the day which is good. She can be infuriating at times.”

“Interesting. So... what’s a DJ? I don't recall the term.”

“Mostly for a good reason,” Octavia nodded. “DJs are a recent breed. They are mainly unicorns who take sounds and manipulate to create 'dance' music. According to her, it has to be played as loudly as possible to experience the full effect, but it's not for me. They utilize the newer technology to create electronic noises and sounds. You'll understand more once you get to meet her. Oh, and if she asks you to sample some of her music, I would recommend for you to cover your ears first.”

“So, wait, they just play loud music and that's it?”

“Not quite. Each DJ has their own signature. Sometimes it's the speed of their music, types of sounds, 'drops' as Vinyl calls them, or anything to set themselves apart from the others. Vinyl, being a unicorn, takes advantage of lights. She can take a plain light and make a rainbow of colors, which accompanies her music. She uses multiple lights to create strobes and lasers to 'energize' the crowd.”

“Hmm… Sounds interesting.”

Octavia sighed. “Be my guest to look into it, but if Vinyl asks you to test out a piece, tell her no. You'll save yourself the pain and hearing loss.”

“What could be so harmful about that?” Twilight remarked, a spark of doubt in her eye.

Octavia chuckled softly. “You'll find out eventually.”

Twilight nodded. “Well.” Smiling, she shifted in her seat. “I want to hear more about you and your life in Canterlot.”

For the next hour, Twilight listened as Octavia spoke extensively about her time in Canterlot, her friends, her stories, concerts, and her life as a whole. Most would be bored by the discussion, but not Twilight. As long as she was with her lover, she could suffer through anything.

Suddenly, a voice called out.

“OCTAVIA!”

The voice screamed from the other room. Twilight jumped, slightly startled while Octavia only sighed. “That would be Vinyl.” She looked at a nearby clock. “She's not usually up this early. She usually gets up in another five to six hours.”

Twilight turned in her chair as clumsy hooves rapped against the polished floor. A moment later a white unicorn came around the corner. Her mane was ruffled, clearly showing her recent awakening. Her eyes were tightly squeezed shut, and one leg was covering them.

“Octavia,” she croaked. “Have you seen my glasses? I can't find them.”

“I'm afraid not.” Octavia stood and made her way to the unicorn. “Did you leave them at the club?”

The mare shook her head. “I had them when I got here, and now they’re gone. I searched my room and they’re not there either.”

“Alright, we'll look.” She wrapped a hoof around one of Vinyl's, but she wouldn’t budge. With her eyes still covered, Vinyl asked to the room, “Who's your friend?”

Twilight cocked her head. The mare had turned toward her without seeing or hearing Twilight.

“Twilight Sparkle,” she calmly replied. “How did you know I was here?”

The mare smiled. “Light refraction,” she said simply.

Twilight's eyes brightened. “You followed along light waves. Used them to see the room like a picture. Amazing.”

Vinyl's smile grew even wider. “Wow, Octavia. Your friend is smart.” Turning back to Twilight, she continued, “How would you know that?”

“I'm a bit of a scholar. How did you learn that?”

“Self-taught. I've always been good with lights. If I can find my glasses, I can do a proper introduction.”

“Of course,” Twilight answered, wanting to learn more about this mare. The three of them sent the next few minutes scouring the house before Octavia finally found them buried beneath a stack of papers. Once they were around her eyes, Vinyl finally dropped her hoof.

“Vinyl Scratch, pleased to meet you,” she introduced herself. “It's Twilight, right?”

“Correct. Your eyes - you must have extreme sensitivity to light, correct?”

Vinyl nodded. “Yeah. My glasses are specially made to block out a majority of light without reducing my vision.”

Twilight put a hoof to her chin. Octavia finally spoke up. “So, Vinyl? Why are you awake now? You usually aren't for another five hours.”

“Oh damn, that's right.” Vinyl perked up, quickly looking to a clock. “I have an early show and I need to be there to set up.” She mare quickly began dashing back and forth between her room and the door, holding various items in her magic and hooves. Within a few minutes and with a quick goodbye, she was out the door.

Twilight's voice called quietly. “She's a very... energetic thing, isn't she?”

Octavia gave a soft chuckle. “Yes. But you'll get used to that.” She sat in the same spot at the table again, with Twilight following suit.

Octavia sat silently for a moment before finally breaking the silence. “So,” she began. “You've heard of your parents, brother, and me.” She met Twilight's eyes, a serious look in her own. “But what about you?”

Twilight felt as if the temperature in the room dropped fifty degrees. She leaned forward, resting her hooves on the table, an almost scared look in her eyes. After a moment, she lifted one hoof, tapping it to the side of her head. Octavia gave a dark nod.

“Is she?” Octavia asked.

Without a word Twilight nodded.

Octavia sat back in her seat, her eye far staring distantly. “Has she succeeded?” she asked, her voice deep and low.

Twilight drew a ragged breath. “Twice,” she croaked.

Octavia met Twilight's eyes. “When?” she asked quickly.

“Within the last week.”

Octavia's jaw dropped. She stared at Twilight with a look of horror. “How badly?” she gulped.

Twilight chewed her lip, staring distantly at the table, her eye unfocused. “The first time, no damage. I was able to recover quickly... But the second time…” She closed her eyes. A moment later, her horn lit for less than a second before a stream of sparks shot out. Gritting her teeth, she stopped the attempted flow of magic.

“As you can see, I now have no magic. On the bright side though, no innocents were hurt or killed.”

“What about now? Is she-”

“No,” Twilight quickly denied, cutting Octavia off. “She's smart, though. She’s biding her time. She’s waiting. Waiting until she can fight me with the least resistance.”

Twilight glared at the table. “Sleep, rest, panic, fear, anger. Anytime I can't keep my focus completely in check, she will attack.”

She met Octavia's eyes again, fear showing in her own. “She's even stronger than before. A few years ago I could get rid of her, no problem. One quick mind spell and I would be problem free. But now...” she trailed off.

Octavia slowly stood, giving Twilight a warm and reassuring smile. “Come with me. I know what you need.” She wrapped one hoof around Twilight's torso. They walked together, Twilight's head resting against Octavia's. They entered Octavia's room and Twilight laid down on the bed as Octavia opened her cello case.

As she brought over her large instrument, Twilight lay down, closing her eyes.

“Be at peace, my love,” Octavia whispered softly before giving Twilight a peck on her forehead.

A moment later sweet music filled the room. Twilight breathed slowly and deeply, taking in the music as if it were the air around her.

As she laid there a deep calm settled over her, and for the first time in years, she slept peacefuly.

Friends and foes

No matter what happens to any creature, good or bad, the universe will always find a way to elevate or oppress the individuals that live in it. It is a strange balance, one that has persisted throughout all of eternity. It is a meter, and it serves to remind everypony that while life is never perfect, it can have its moments. Without sadness, one cannot know true happiness. And without happiness, sadness cannot be there to remind one of mistakes made, serving as memories to learn from and challenges to overcome.

No life is perfect. No matter who you are, life will remind you that you are not untouchable. The strongest, fastest, oldest, and wisest could discover a simple thing blocking their path. Even the “All-Powerful Alicorn Sisters” might find that they sometimes fall prey to bleak days. The darkest of shadows is illuminated by the smallest of flames, but the brightest sun can easily be overshadowed by clouds. And so it was that, even though the sun shone brightly, very little light fell on the city of Canterlot below, and dark clouds brewed where nopony thought to look.

Shining Armor and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza at first felt moods directly opposed to the seeming disposition of the sky that hung heavily above the city of Canterlot. They had risen early that morning, entwined in each other's hooves. Though the sky was bleak, they had gone about their morning as if Celestia's sun was shining upon the city brighter than ever. Together they pranced and played around their home with springs in their steps and smiles on their faces. The mare and stallion held a bond stronger than any other, so that even the smallest thing could bring them together and make it stronger still. It was truly a rare connection, but one that grew every day they were together. A match made in paradise, it would seem.

It was late in the morning when she came for them. The two were curled up together, each levitating a book in front of them while resting peacefully on their couch. Cadence lay her head on her husband's shoulder, while Shining rested his head on top of hers. A small lamp was lit, providing enough light to comfortably read while the grey sky glowed with a dim light. From playful to peaceful, the couple simply rested while enjoying each other's company.

It was too good to be true.

A flash of light bright as lightning and a booming sound like thunder cracked outside their home, shattering the peaceful air which had surrounded the two. They shot up as one from their positions, dropping their books to the ground. Panicked, they turned to each other for a moment. Pure shock and surprise dominated the features of both. Immediately, they assumed the worst as to what waited outside their home.

Silence ruled the quiet home for a painfully long time before it was broken by a rapid knocking at the door. Shining Armor and Cadence simply stared at the entryway, their jaws hanging open. They had half expected it to shatter open, revealing a murderous unicorn out for blood. There was silence once again for a few brief seconds, before the pony outside repeated the action of rapping their hooves against the door..

“Hello? Shining Armor? Cadence?” Shining Armor was broken out of his trance, and practically sprinted to the door upon hearing this particular voice call to them. It was Luna, but why was she here? And to arrive in such a manner... Shining Armor undid the small latch and threw the door open, revealing the deep-blue princess.

Shining and Cadence instantly saw that something was wrong. Normally a very calm and collected mare, Luna looked deeply disturbed as she stared back at them with wide eyes. Her entire body shook to an extent that neither Shining nor Cadence had ever seen before. Her eyes were wild like those of a terrified beast, and her breaths were quick and ragged. The moment she laid eyes on them, her entire body sagged, as if the weight of the world had been removed from her shoulders.

“Auntie?” Cadence cried, rushing forward to embrace the panicked alicorn.

Before she could speak another word, Luna heaved a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank goodness you two are okay. Celestia and I were terrified. Nopony in the entire castle had seen you two, and we feared the worst.”

Shining Armor shook his head. “Princess, what is going on? Of course we're fine. What's gotten into you? I've never seen you like this.”

Before he could say more, Luna shook her head. “It is best if you come with me.” She returned, tone grave. Her eyes hardened at the couple standing in front of her. “We've received a message from Twilight Sparkle.”

At hearing his sister's name, Shining Armor's eyes widened. “Well what are we waiting for, then? Let's go.” Luna nodded quickly, before her horn glowed with its characteristic blue hue, and in only a moment the three were encased in the glow of her magic and disappeared.

Within just a few seconds they appeared outside of the throne room. The normally packed hallways were completely empty. They were always full of ponies ranging from commoners to the nobility, each hoping to petition the princess. Whether it be a disturbance at a farm, funds for a school house, or the repealing of a law, everypony was given a chance to speak with no judgment or discrimination. To see the halls empty during the day was strange to both Shining Armor and Cadence. Without all of the petitioners, the long corridor seemed larger than they remembered. The fact that the guards were also absent only added to the dread that Shining and Cadence felt. Shining's military instincts naturally came to full alert at the lack of a military presence, and though Equestria was for the most part peaceful, Cadence also grew uneasy, as she had always been surrounded by the Royal Guard. Without them she felt naked, open, an easy target.

Shining Armor knew most of the royal guard personally, so deep was the bond between his soldiers that they were practically family to one another. If they were all gone, just what awaited them on the other side of the massive doors in front of them?

Luna pushed one of the doors open and quickly shuffled the couple inside. Once she herself had made it through the doorway, she wrapped her hoof around the door and shut it behind her with a resounding “BANG”.

Shining Armor and Cadence turned towards the throne. The usually filled seat was instead empty. Celestia sat at the foot of the throne, a scroll laying rolled-up at her hooves. As they approached her, she stood. The tall alicorn rose to her full height, towering above the others, including Luna.

Celestia's expression was grim. Though she wore a simple frown, her eyes blazed with anger and power. Cadence could feel the emotions radiating off of her Aunt. It was enough to make her feel sick and slightly shaken. Almost instinctively, Shining Armor moved closer to his wife and wrapped one hoof around her.

As they approached Celestia, Shining drew a deep breath. “So?” He asked. “What's the situation?” His eyes wandered to the scroll which still lay at Celestia's hooves. “I'm assuming that is why we are all here. Correct?” Celestia and Luna nodded in unison.

“We received this less than an hour ago.” Celestia began, her tone deathly serious. “A guard brought it to Luna. Apparently it was left outside of Shining Armor's office.” The scroll was encased in a golden glow as it levitated into the air. Slowly it rolled open to reveal three words, crudely plastered across the paper. The message was written in a hideous brown and red substance.

Shining Armor instantly knew that it was no ink. No, the grave message was written in blood.

YOU WERE WARNED

Cadence buried her head in Shining's mane, trying to hide from her thoughts the horrible message that was scrawled across the page. Even Shining Armor, who had seen actual combat, felt his breath catch in his throat and his voice die away before he could speak. His entire body shuddered as he shook his head.

How could this be? He had made no move to capture or threaten Twilight. He was only guilty of reading a few files and a suspicion of one mare. His thoughts were called away as Luna spoke.

“That is not all that we have received. Show them sister.” Celestia unfurled the page even further. Laying at the bottom of the page was a small, flat stone. A symbol was carved into the front. Slowly, it glowed and pulsed with a gentle purple light. Though it sat innocently, the small rune filled Shining Armor with terror.

With a message like that, what could possibly come from the rune? After a few moments, Shining finally found the words to speak. “What is it?” He ventured. Luna walked out from behind Shining and Cadence, who peeked out from her husband's mane. Luna stood at her sister's side, both of them staring back at Shining Armor while gently shaking their heads.

“You haven't activated it yet, then?” Again the Princesses shook their heads darkly. Shining's chest rose as he took another deep breath. “Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's see what it holds.”

Celestia nodded. The rune detached itself from the page and levitated to the floor. Once there, Shining's horned flared to life, and the stone was encased in a small force field, barely large enough for a pony to fit in. Seeing the others begin jump into action, Cadence slowly moved back. She hated that she couldn't do anything to help. Emotions being her forte, she was never good with combative or protective magic.

However, she did not feel left out this time. In fact, she was glad to not have to partake in the action. The message had terrified her, and she wanted no part in whatever her aunts and husband were about to do. All of their emotions, even her own, left an impact on her, and the fear she felt made her sick and weak.

Luna's horn charged and crackled with deep blue energy as she stood in a combative stance, similar to that of Shining Armor. Cadence watched as Celestia herself stepped forward. She bent down, her horn pushing through Shining Armor's field. She gently touched it to the small stone, a spark of magic coming off and connecting with the rune.

Immediately, she shuffled back as the stone bounced to life inside of Shining' cover. Her horn now also glowed with a golden light, prepared to face anything that came from the magical item. A flash of light came from the stone before a large, black insectile creature appeared inside the shield. The figure was covered in blood. A large gash was open on it's head, but nothing spilled from the open wound. The blood caking it's body was old and dried, meaning that the creature had been injured for some time.

“Oh Celestia...” Shining gasped. “It's a changeling.” His shield dropped as he, Celestia, and Luna rushed forward to investigate the creature. Each of them was oblivious to Cadence's open jaw and horrified expression. Shining dropped down, putting his head to the changeling's chest. After a few moments he pulled away, his expression grim. “The poor thing barely has a pulse. It's too far gone at this point. There's nothing we can do.” The three stared down in pity at the creature. A small whimper escaped from Cadence's lips.

“Chip.” She said simply, her words reaching Shining's ears. His brow creased in confusion. Luna and Celestia themselves turned towards the younger alicorn, confused. Before any of them could inquire further, however, Cadence let out an earsplitting shriek.

“CHIP.” She screamed, launching herself towards the the body of the broken changeling, tears streaming down her cheeks. Pure emotion fueled her as her eyes glowed white with magic. She embraced the young changeling's body, pointed her horn to the young creature, and let loose a massive burst of magic.

The energy sent a jolt through the changeling's body, causing it to shudder and convulse. 'Come on Chip.' Cadence begged. 'Live. Live. LIVE.' She let loose another blast of magic into his body. The large wound on his forehead slowly began to mend itself shut. 'Yes. That’s it. Keep going.'

Neither Shining, Celestia, or Luna took any action. The three stared in shock at Cadence's sudden outburst. They hadn't expected this in the slightest. How did she even know the creature's name? Though they knew they should, none of them moved to stop or confront her, instead they watched as she let another massive wave of magic emit from her horn.

This time, the changeling's chest rose as he drew a raspy breath into his lungs. Cadence let out a laugh, the white light in her eyes slowly dying. She had done it. He was okay.

The changeling drew more breaths, his eyes still closed. “Chip,” Cadence whispered at first, “Chip, you're okay.” She said gently, tears forming in her eyes. Her voice quivered as she fought the urge to sob. She hugged his body even tighter to hers, nuzzling the changeling gently.

Finally, Celestia stepped forward. “Princess Mi Amore Cadenza,” she called, using Cadence's full title, “just what in the name of Equestria is going on, and how do you know that changeling?”

The pink alicorn turned toward her aunt with a furious expression, causing Celestia to step backwards in surprise. “Why don't you help me and we can get to questions later, hmm auntie?” She growled, shocking the other three ponies in the room. There was a long silence as Cadence stared furiously at her family members, with said members looking back at her in total shock.

Shining was the first to step forward. He nudged his head underneath the changeling's body, lifting the injured creature onto his back. He faced Celestia and Luna, who were still in shock. “I think we should listen. She might turn on us too.” Shining half joked, trying to lighten the mood. Somehow, the attempt only seemed to bring the room down even more.

After a few moments and a quick cloaking spell, the group departed from the throne room, the heavy cloud of questions unanswered following them all the way to the hospital.

Once the group arrived, Chip was placed in a private room. There he would receive medical attention from only Cadence and those whom she deemed trustworthy. Other than that, the changeling would be left alone where he could recuperate and build up his strength. What would happen to him after that depended on what Cadence told Celestia and Luna.

As soon as Chip was left in his room Celestia, Luna, and Shining Armor all demanded answers from Cadence. She had hoped to wait far longer to tell them, but now she simply couldn't evade the questions. She was forced to tell them about how she had found the changelings, took them in, fed them, nurtured them, and earned their trust, just as they had earned hers.

Though they were obviously surprised as Cadence told her story, none of her family members ever interrupted or stopped her as she spoke. Only when Cadence got to the part where she had used them as spies did Celestia and Luna finally speak up and question the young mare.

“Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?” The sisters scolded her, Shining remaining silent during the affair. They went on about “Putting herself in the line of danger,” and “having the responsibility to tell them about the hidden changelings.”

At hearing them say this, Cadence interupted them. “So you're really saying that if I had just told you I was harboring changelings, you would have let them stay without interrogation or hassle?” As expected, Luna and Celestia fell silent. Without a doubt they would have forbade Cadence from keeping the creatures.

As she finished her story, Shining couldn't help but notice that she had left out the part where he had told Cadence he thought he knew where somepony was hiding Twilight. Instead she had only told them that 'her' changelings had been spying around Canterlot.

After a few questions more, Celestia and Luna left the hallway where Cadence had told them her story, presumably to decide what to do with the young changelings. After a few minutes they returned, their expressions sincere and genuine. “After some thought,” Celestia said slowly, “Luna and I have agreed that the changelings may stay.” A smile spread across Cadence's face. She ran forward and embraced her aunts in a tight grip.

“However...” Luna spoke this time. “That is on the condition that Celestia and I personally speak to them first, and if they agree to stay on the palace grounds until we allow them to leave.” Though she did not agree with the restrictions, Cadence reluctantly assented to her aunt's terms. Anything that would help the young changelings.

“There is one thing I have to do first, though.” Cadence said quietly, her expression turning grim. She stared down at the cold, hard floor, not wanting to meet anypony's eyes. “I have to tell them what happened to Chip. Even though they knew the risks of what they were doing, I'm still responsible for what happened to him. I asked them to do this, so I should be the one to tell them.”

Shining Armor placed a hoof on her shoulder. As she turned to him, he gave her a reassuring smile. “Don't worry about it. I'll go. It wasn't your fault, and you should stay with Chip. He would be dead twice, if it weren't for you. Go and rest.” Cadence enveloped her husband in a tight hug as he finished. She gave him a short kiss before moving past him and her aunts into Chip's room.

Shining took a breath before saying a short goodbye to the Princesses, promising to accompany the changelings back to the throne room once he was finished. He slowly made his way through the long hallways until he found the stairway to Cadence's private tower. Step by step he made his way up the long stairway, and remembered.

Years ago when he had joined the Guard and held a more minor leadership position, it was his absolute duty to care for each and every one of the soldiers beneath him. If anypony was hurt or injured, it was his job to inform the parents or any close family. Luckily deaths were few and far between, and Shining had never had to deal with the guilt or memories of telling a mother that her son had been killed. The worst was when a magical charge had gone off prematurely during a military drill. Shining had been obligated to tell the stallion's parents that they weren't sure if he would wake up from his coma. Oh how the mare had cried. She couldn't even speak through the sobs that had racked her body. Shining had never before felt such a weight come off of his chest as the one removed the day that the stallion had woken up after a few weeks.

You would think that a pony would be used to it, but Shining would be lying if he said that. It was a sad thing when a pony became numb to the suffering of others. The reason torture was so very rarely used as means of gathering information, the reason it was saved for only the most heinous of criminals, was because there were very few ponies who were able to not only inflict pain, but also watch mercilessly as it happened.

Shining finally reached the top of the stairwell. He gently pushed the door open and was greeted with silence. Cadence had said that the changelings always hid from anypony who entered the room, unless it was her and her alone.

He stopped in the middle of the large room, taking a deep breath before speaking. “Hello,” he said to the still, quiet room, “my name is Shining Armor. Princess Cadence is my wife. I'm afraid that I have bad new about your friend, Chip.” He received no response, but nevertheless he continued. “While he was scouting last night, he was discovered and... and he was seriously injured.” He felt something shift in the air. As if he could feel the changelings perking up at his words.

“We found him earlier this morning. He was nearly dead, but Cadence saved him. He's resting in an intensive-care room in the medical wing of the hospital. Cadence told the Princesses and I about you. If I'm not correct, your names are Mirror and Switch, right?” Slowly, the closet door creaked open, and a small changeling poked her head out, only enough to see the large stallion.

“H...How do we t...trust you?” The young changeling sounded like she was holding back tears. Fear and worry were sown into her voice.

Meeting her eye, Shining relaxed slightly. He had been sitting in a rigid military stance the whole time. “I'm not here to capture you. I told Cadence to stay with Chip so that I could tell you what happened. I guess I'm a bit more experienced with this sort of thing.”

He chuckled sadly at his pathetic joke. Another head came into view from behind a pair of curtains covering a window. “The Princesses want to personally speak with you and have agreed to allow you to stay in the palace. You have no reason to hide now. I promise that nopony in this place will hurt you.”

Slowly, they came out from their hiding spots, facing the large stallion whom they still did not completely trust. “Thank you for coming out.” Shining said to them. “But before I take you to the Princesses, I have something to ask you.”

Shining leaned in closer to the changelings, his face deadly serious. “Where was he when you last spoke to him?”

It was still late in the afternoon. The sun was at the top of the sky. Or it should have been, at least. The grey clouds still blocked out the sun. For some reasons the weather patrol did not feel the need to clean up this depressing sky, but the weather was not what was on Shining Armor's mind.

Slowly he walked through the small alleyway, his eyes scanning the street and houses for something, anything. A sign that the changeling had been there. He had been at this for a few hours now, and hadn't had any luck so far.

He was beginning to give up hope when something caught his eye. There, on one of the walls, was a small graffiti mark. Something about this one caught his eye. It was rather small, smaller then his hoof, while other “tags” generally covered entire walls.

As he inspected it closer, he couldn't help but feel that he had seen it before. I was an intricate drawing of a flower. A white flower. Suddenly, a name came to him. A name that he had heard from Cadence.

“White Primrose.” He whispered to himself. That was it. It was one of Cadence's favorite flowers. He had gotten one for her when he had proposed to her. How could he have forgotten? But instead of laughing at his bad memory, he felt as if the world had gotten darker. This was it. He had found Twilight. But what did he do now? He didn't dare go after her alone.

He turned back, walking out of the narrow corridor. He was going to need help with this, and he knew just the pegasus to ask.

True Understanding

The moment Rainbow zipped from the room, the guards who had been attempting to force their way inside sprang into action. Over a dozen of them slammed into Twilight, effectively pinning the unicorn to the floor, as several others peeled away to attempt to chase the cyan blur.

The chaos that had ensued for several minutes was brought to a screeching halt in just a few seconds, but nopony was breathing easier. Twilight was roughly grabbed and shoved backwards by the armored stallions. Clearly, they were hesitant to give her room to move until they were sure she was safe or subdued.

She was forced back onto the pathetically small cot that hung in the far corner of the room, sitting straight up so that her captors could keep a close eye on her. However, despite the aches and pains that ran across her body, she still smiled her wide smile at the stallions. It had taken its usual place amongst her features, and still shone strong as she stared at them.

In the hallways, multiple guards still ran about. Some were in pursuit of those chasing Rainbow Dash, others were trying to locate Celestia and Luna, and several were simply standing about, waiting, in case anything was about to happen. Though the initial panic had gone away, there was still heavy tension floating in the air. Nopony knew what was going to happen next, if anything at all.

Soon, the hallways calmed down as ponies ran off in different directions, each with their own tasks to fulfill, leaving eleven guards in total watching over Twilight. Four of them stood watch in the small room on the other side of the one-sided mirror, tensed and watching the purple mare for any signs of aggression. Three were stationed outside the door waiting for their comrades to return with news of Rainbow Dash or the Princesses in tow. The last four were inside of Twilight's cell, making absolutely sure that she was still confined.

These last four, while still keeping their distance, eyed Twilight closely. They looked at her like she was a bomb, and they didn't know when she would go off. As they watched her, she would occasionally make eye contact with them, staring in their hard eyes with her mad, black ones. The others would avert their eyes, or flinch backwards whenever she looked to them. They preferred to not meet her insane stare.

One guard, a unicorn who happened to be the closest one to Twilight, found it in him to keep his eyes locked with hers, unlike his comrades around him. The second unicorn was right behind him, only a few steps away, hoof on his comrade's shoulder. Most likely he was there in case his friend decided to act, or fight if Twilight attacked them. The third was a pegasus whose wings fluttered at his sides while he watched on, unable to contain his nervousness. And the last was an earth pony who stood cold and silent, with wide eyes that seemed to hold a strong gaze, but who could still not meet Twilight's.

Twilight focused a bit more on the first stallion, seeing as how he was the only other one brave enough to face her. After several minutes of no reaction, a quiet hissing voice filled the dead, silent room.

“This one doesn't seem to be afraid,” Twilight rasped, her hard stare keeping even with the other stallion's. “Tell me, who is so brave that they would meet my eye?” The stallion didn't respond, and neither did the others. Instead, they watched on, albeit gripping the weapons at their sides a bit tighter.

After several moments without a reaction, Twilight spoke again, still in the raspy, venomous tone.

“No takers, hmm? Maybe you aren’t as brave as I thought you were. Maybe, behind that stern boulder of a face there is a little colt, ready to piddle himself in his armor. After all, you can't even seem to find it in you to tell me your name, how could I expect you to fight me if I managed to get free?”

Hearing that, the earth pony and pegasus drew metal batons from their sides and raised them, ready to swing. The unicorn behind the first stallion moved closer to his comrade, horn sparking once. On the other side of the mirror, the four guards tensed up and shifted in their armor, wondering what exactly was going wrong and how safe they actually were.

The stallion in front of Twilight finally broke his long silence as his comrades prepared for a possible battle.

“Don't get too hasty, boys. She's just trying to mess with us. Remember what they told us, yeah?” He told the three stallions around him, trying to catch the eye of each and make sure they didn't do anything rash. However, his words seemed to have little impact on his partners, as they still didn't lower their weapons.

Twilight gave a low chuckle, seeing the poorly hidden fear behind the guards' 'brave' faces. “Well, well, it appears one of you is brave enough to speak to me. But what about the others? Will his friends have the courage to match their comrade, or will they just look on like scared little bunny rabbits?”

Nopony in the room moved. All eyes were on Twilight, scrutinizing the mare as she spoke. They dared her to move or lash out. Their bodies were tensed, and their minds were on the edge. For Twilight, it was the same, although she relished what she felt. She watched the four stallions before her, wondering how long it would take until they would break.

Would they scream and yell? Would they lash out and strike her, daring her to fight back? Maybe they would just stand still, not looking at her and acting like she wasn't there. Or would they just stay like they were, tense and on nervous, waiting for the penny to drop and to spring into action at a moment's notice?

The silence went on, as nopony even dared to breathe.

“BOO!” Twilight yelled, suddenly. One of the guards, the pegasus, jumped so high he nearly knocked his head against the ceiling. The second unicorn stumbled in place, while the other two stallions simply let out the breath they had been holding.

She had just been testing them.

Seeing their reaction, Twilight fell back in her bed, laughing a low, raspy laugh. It was a sound was equivalent to a snake's laugh, when it has found something about its prey particularly funny. Despite her obvious pleasure in her cruel joke, the guards that she'd embarrassed didn't find it as funny.

“Oi, Braveheart?” The second called to the first. “What the hell are we here for, to get toyed with by this bitch?”

The first unicorn, Braveheart, spoke calmly to his comrade. “You know what we have to do. Just wait for a few more minutes, the Princesses will be here to take over.”

As if on cue, the metal door behind them swung open. One of the guards from the other side poked his head in. He pointed to the earth pony, calling him over to where he stood. Once there, the other guard whispered in his ear in a hushed tone before looking at Twilight. The earth pony smiled before turning back to the others.

“See, everything is all fine. They found the Princesses and are headed back now. Guess you were right Braveheart, nothing to worry about.” He smiled at his comrade. The head pony snorted in amusement.

Twilight laughed again, calling back the attention of the five guards. “You know I'm still here, right? You shouldn't talk like I'm not. I'm very dangerous, after all.” She said this last part in a mocking, pouting tone.

The others didn't seem bothered by her attitude now. The pegasus snipped back, “Please. The Princesses are on their way back, and they made sure you wouldn't move an inch. Besides, you're useless without your magic. How the hell do you expect to fight out past a legion of guards and two alicorns when you're completely powerless?”

Twilight gave them a confused cock of her head. “What do you mean, powerless?” She looked up at the three rings encircling her horn, her mouth forming an O, as if she had just realized she was still wearing them.

“Oh, these? These aren't a problem.” She reached up, her hooves suddenly free of their restraints. Calmly, she pulled the rings off of her horn, showing them to the guards who stood before her in utter shock.

“See,” her face still held its wild grin, “I deactivated these over an hour ago. They won't bother me now.” There was a long, dead silence in the room. Twilight stood still, while the five guards all gaped at her in horror. All of them were too shocked to move.

“I suggest,” Twilight said softly, “that you run very quickly.” She tipped her hoof, allowing the silver rings to fall to the floor. The guards, finally broken from their temporary stupor, turned away from the purple unicorn. Whatever was about to happen would most likely be nasty, and none of them wanted to be there to see whatever it was.

They didn't stand a chance. Nopony could have moved that quickly. Not even Rainbow Dash could have gotten out in time. As the first ring struck the floor, Twilight's horn burst to life, throwing a wave of black magic across the room that swallowed the five ponies before any of them manage to take a single step.

Before the wave struck him, Braveheart had one final thought, before he lost consciousness. 'Bastard just had to say something, didn't he?'

“Celestia, what is it?” Luna called to her sister. She had finally managed to tear herself away from the stack of books she'd been engrossed in. After a moment, she realized she had to find out her own answer to her question, much to her dismay, but Celestia had made it sound important, whatever it was she found. Luna hoped it was what they had been searching for. A way out of this seemingly never-ending nightmare.

As she approached her sister, she noticed Celestia's wide-eyed stare as she looked at the pages before her. She had an unbelievable look on her face, and it seemed to be punctuated by an expression of... fear? Was that fear in Celestia's eyes? Surely whatever she found couldn't be that bad. Even the darkest texts Luna had found had only served to anger her.

But fear... Fear was a whole other thing. She and Celestia were brave, but Luna was a pebble compared to the immovable mountain that was Celestia's resolve. She had the straightest face, the greatest will, and the brightest smile. That was why she was the face of the kingdom, while Luna preferred to work in the shadows.

To see Celestia look so frightened greatly worried Luna. Whatever her sister had found, it was important, and Luna felt that she was going to be greatly needed. It was a nagging feeling that had persisted in her mind ever since they brought Twilight in.

“Sister?” She called again, trying to reach the other alicorn. But Celestia's eyes still stayed glued to the sheet. “What worries you, Celestia?” She tried yet again, this time making her voice more insistent, and finally succeeded in gaining a response from her sister.

“Sister, I feel we are in more danger than we ever imagined.”

Hearing Celestia's words caused Luna's blood to run cold. She could hear fear and fury in her sister's voice. Not the outward rage that a pony has when they are usually angry. Instead, her tone implied the fury that was barely hidden in her voice. It was the tone of a pony who just realized that they had made a critical mistake.

It was the last thing Luna wanted to hear.

“Celestia, what is it? What's wrong?” Luna practically begged her sister, hoping that whatever the problem was, they could solve it together. After several moments, Celestia tore her gaze away from the page, giving a look to Luna that swept her hopes away like a whirlwind. Just by her expression, it appeared it was far worse than Luna had ever imagined.

“It started when I was reading through these texts.” Several books held in Celestia's warm yellow glow floated in front of her sister. Detailed sketches of runes and diagrams used for bindings, sealing, summoning, transmuting, transporting, destroying, etc... The list went on and on, and clearly so did the usability of the elaborate circles and diagrams. “These contain some of the most powerful spells I have ever seen, Luna. With spell circles like these, a pony could do almost any task. There are even spells for communicating with the dead.”

Celestia shook her head at each page, while Luna gazed forward, still waiting on an explanation. Clearly this was serious, but it couldn't be that bad. Symbols like these would take some time to create, not to mention that one had to have all of the proper ingredients and trinkets for some of them. One couldn't just drop a circle on the ground and imbue it with magic. There was a process, and it was a lengthy one for most of these. Some of these enchantment could take days or weeks to prepare.

“This is all very scary Celestia, but what is the point of all of this? What does this all mean?” Luna asked, trying to hurry her sister. Who knew how long they had, before whatever had Celestia so scared took hold?

“Bear with me sister, this has a meaning, I promise.” Though Celestia's voice sounded uplifting, her tone was far from it. Instead, it seemed to only attempt to mask her fear of this unknown factor that had suddenly come into play.

“Then please, Celestia. Hurry.” Luna urged her sister on.

Celestia nodded, continuing as one particular text moved into Luna's vision. It was a quadruple-sized page, folded inside of itself, within a small leather-bound book. “It wasn't until I came across this, that I began to understand what was truly at play here.”

The huge page, once unfolded, contained the intricate diagrams of a binding circle. Or to be more accurate, a large set of binding circles. Elaborate shapes surrounded circle after circle as they were stacked into one another. Each circle was home to any number of shapes, patterns, drawings and characters. This spell was especially powerful, with dozens, if not hundreds of counters, negators, and anti-spells. To work a spell like this, of such immensity, would take incredible power and the aid of magical items.

But Luna recognized this pattern. She recognized it all too well. She could count every swirl and pattern, knew every word and character from any of the languages that were a part of the spell. It was the one she and Celestia had worked, over a thousand years ago, aided by six mysterious items.

It was the spell used to seal Discord into his stone prison.

Luna sat dumbstruck, her eyes unable to fully understand the meaning of the symbols on the pages, of the spell that was in front of her very eyes. She knew what it was, but she couldn’t understand how she saw it before her. The spell worked on Discord long ago was more powerful than any spell that had ever been created. Even the spells that contained Tartarus were child’s play compared to the intricacy of Discord's trap. There was no way anypony should have been able to recreate it.

“How can this be? Nopony has ever seen this spell other than us. Anypony who could have seen it has been dead for over a millennium. We forbade anypony from studying or using the Elements. How can it be here? How does SHE have it?” Luna shook her head, her voice trying to sound mighty but only coming out as a whisper.

“I'm afraid there is an answer to that question, sister, but you will not like it.” Celestia continued. “When I saw this, I thought the same as you, but I denied it myself. I thought it couldn't have been what we used long ago, but it is. And there is more.”

Sitting on the table, amongst all of the assorted parchments, papers, and journals, was a medium-sized wooden box. The outer work was plain, just a simple mahogany box scarcely the length of a foreleg.

'But what lies within this 'simple' box?' Luna wondered to herself as her sister drew the box closer to them with her magic, the lid flipping open. With her magic Celestia levitated multiple objects out of the box, setting them down on the table. Luna glared down, her eyes scanning each and every item placed in front of her.

A chicken's foot. A dragon's scale. A snake's tail. The cloven hoof of what looked to be a donkey. A small glass vial that pulsed with light and, if her senses were to be believed, heat. Upon closer inspection, Luna saw it what it truly was. Dragon's Breath. A notoriously difficult item to gain, as to harvest it involved killing a dragon. Several leaves of Aconite, also known as Wolf's Bane, were inside a small jar. Petals from a Yarrow flower. Adder's Tongue. Heather. Sulfur powder. Wormwood.

Several other assorted plants, compounds, and... items, were separated into bags, vials, jars, or just sitting out with others. Clearly, Twilight had worked long and hard to collect some of these items; Dragon's Breath and Wolf's Bane alone were notoriously dangerous to find, let alone harvest.

Celestia saw her sister's discomfort, and she could offer no solace, for she knew there was even worse to come. Another box made its way onto the table, this one slightly bigger than the other. “Luna,” Celestia began with a shaky voice, “I think you should brace for this.”

The box opened to reveal a sickening sight. One that filled Luna with pure rage and anger. Inside the box were several items. The beak of a Griffon, a lion's paw, a unicorn's horn, and the wings of a bat pony and a pegasus. For a moment, Luna was stunned. Every item that came from a living creature was one of the assorted creatures Discord was made of. Every plant and herb was used for summoning rituals or the removal of curses.

It was the end of Luna's patience.

With a blast of magic, she destroyed the boxes in front of her. Luna hurled the hovering book containing forbidden knowledge across the giant room, screaming in rage. The previously crisp pages were torn from the sleeve that bound them. Before they could come to rest, a blast of dark blue magic disintegrated them, leaving only a few pieces of ash floating through the air.

Luna screamed again, sending a blast of magic flying into one of the tall bookshelves. A hole was torn through the center of it, leaving not a single scrap of paper nor splinter of wood left in its wake. But she didn't stop there.

She turned again, sending a blast of silver magic into another bookshelf, then sending a shower of fire into a third. With each shot of magic, she uttered a cry of rage so loud it would have sent animals fleeing in terror and caused ponies to collapse in fear.

At that moment, nothing could stop her rampage. Celestia stood a ways behind her, having backed away at seeing her sister's rage. Luna had her way of dealing with grief, and Celestia had hers. The elder alicorn stood stony and silent, her expression even and unmoving as she watched her sister's paperback massacre through glazed eyes.

She understood her sister's anger perfectly. They knew what caused this. They knew who was to blame. And yet, it had danced in front of their noses this whole time. They should have gone to him first. Even inside of his stone prison, the spirit of chaos was still powerful. He still had his reach, and it went farther than they ever could have expected.

Twilight Sparkle was the minion of Discord. She was here for HIM. Not to murder innocent ponies, not to get revenge on the alicorns who failed her. She was here for Discord, and Discord only.

Celestia focused on Luna, who had sent a blast of flame towards a map of Equestria hanging on a nearby wall. As the giant map burned, Luna finally ceased her assault. She slouched where she stood, panting from her exertion.

Shelves that once held hundreds of books were now shattered, their precious and vile contents scattered across the massive room. Books with knowledge that wars had been fought over were flung about, their pages either torn to ribbons or reduced to ashes floating through air. The floor was now home to craters and burn marks where surviving scraps of paper rested. Precious knowledge that could benefit or destroy a whole kingdom had been lost in Luna's rampage.

But she didn't care. Her anger had pushed her over the edge. When she had first entered, she could see the good amongst the bad, but the more she had read and the more she had delved into truth, the less doubt she'd had in her own mind as to what she needed to do. This place contained only evil. How much pain and suffering had gone into each of these books and manuscripts? How much blood was mixed with ink, as these words had taken form on their pages?

The name flashed through her mind over and over again. Discord. Discord. Discord. Discord. It had been obvious the whole time, but they had been too blind to see it. Too ignorant to think of it. Too arrogant to consider it. Who else could have guided her, a filly of eight years old, to where she needed to go to learn to fight and survive? Who else would be evil enough to put a foal through that?

Only one name brought her to the obvious conclusion. The master of chaos himself. They had been such fools.

But that time was over. When Luna and Celestia left here, she would go straight to Twilight while Celestia went to reinforce Discord's bindings. Celestia always was better at sealing magic than Luna was.

However, before she had the chance to catch her breath, the somehow untouched doors to the library burst open. An armored pony ran through the doors, panting and sweating heavily.

“Princess Luna!” He yelled.

With a shudder, her eyes open wide and bloodshot, Luna turned her head towards the guard. Before she could even say a word, the guard's eyes, locked with hers, widened in fear, and he tore out of the room, terrified of facing the wrath of the clearly furious alicorn.

There was a moment of silence before Celestia ran out of the library to follow the poor guard who had been unfortunate enough to see Luna while she was in her present mood. Luna watched as her sister chased the guard, she herself unsure if she should follow. Though her anger was great, she would not turn that upon her citizens. It would be unfair of her to lash out at others, especially now. Now she needed a level head, and a clean conscience.

Twilight Sparkle was going to attempt something Celestia and Luna had thought impossible, and they needed all the help they could get. Slowly, Luna made her way outside of the library, her head held high as she prepared herself for a fight. She imagined she would get one.

And though she doubted Twilight would be able to accomplish her task, one that was considered impossible for many good reasons, she remembered that impossibilities seemed to be the purple unicorn's specialty. One that she delivered with a cold heart, and a missing conscience.

Author's Note

Jinkies, it's been almost two months since the last chapter was posted. Sorry everypony, but I guess I got a little bit behind. I'm just glad no resorted to rioting or anything of the likes 'dodges lamp being thrown' Oh for the love of...

Anyway, suffice to say I will be picking up my writing pace now that I am out of my slight writing slump, so that means you guys get the next chapter much soon (This one should only take 6 weeks :D) Also,I should note that after I posted the last chapter, Homecoming hit 1000 favs, a feat I didn't think I would ever accomplish. If you guys want, you can check out the blog I made in celebration. (http://www.fimfiction.net/blog/366151/1000)

Soon this story draws to close, and the final fight upon our heroes. Who will succeed? Good or Evil?

Scars of Yesterday, Part 1

Frost gathered at the tips of Luna's feathers as she leaned into the tumult. Her wings made no motion themselves, save for the occasional tilt as the gale force winds carried her through the howling storm. Bolts of magic ripped through the air, striking up and down the dragon's plated form as it screamed out in fury. Thundering skies responded with sleet and lightning that stung at his eyes, and winds to push him back. The damage was negligible, but it kept the princess from the drake's viscous teeth and hooked talons.

His maw parted once again, the familiar glow of fire lighting up the creatures throat. The jet of flame tore through the air, covering the distance the dragon could not. The night princess didn't even flinch at the oncoming blaze, stoic as she slung her free hoof into the winds and was whisked away by a rainbow blur. Rainbow Dash gripped Luna's good hoof with two of her own, face tight as she pushed against the swirling air. Her smaller wings beat against the zephyr as dark forms rippled through the air past her.

The glowing column of fire hadn't even faded, sparks still dancing 'round hail and steam, before the dragon was swarmed by armored fliers. Roaring flame was replaced by raking steel and battle cries, punctuated by the unending shrieks of the frustrated dragon. Arrows, spears, swords and daggers alike punctuated the deep rumbling of the sky, each strike aimed towards gaps in the dragons armor and open wounds, few as they were. His tail and hind legs curled in to protect the heavy stomach wound, but as far as the Guard were concerned, that only meant his shoulder, neck, and eyes were all the more open.

A squadron emerged from the protective shadow of the storm's ceiling, rushing past the princess and her student as they charged the dragon with lethal intent. "This is gonna be a big one!" Rainbow called out to the group, eyeing a massive, swelling pouch beneath the cloud layer. She didn't watch for long, steering herself and Luna farther away from the blast zone. Though none acknowledged her, Rainbow Dash knew her fellows heard the warning.

The dragon's head whipped back and forth as a handful of ponies rushed forward, biting and gnashing it's teeth at any pony who got too close, but one thestral moved with lethal ardor. "Don't let up, give him hell!" Dire Wing slammed into the creatures temple, spurred on by a rage as cold as the rain. The dragon immediately whipped it's head through the air, eager to shake him off, but he held firm as his hind legs wrapping securely around one of the many horns protruding from it's skull.

Despite the rollercoaster he found himself on, Dire Wing pulled himself up and slammed against it's brow with one hoof. The other held to the same horn his hind legs wrapped around, fervently moving back and forth with dual purpose. Despite his pummeling, the beast's dual-eyelids had covered the extremity from any harm. Several seconds went by before the dragon had enough. It's neck stopped swinging about as claws skittered across it's scales and in search of pony flesh.

"Follow up!" Dire Wing called out as he let go, pulling back before a massive talon could eviscerated him. The fatal claw had been no more than a foot away, but his wings tensed as a streak of silver glimmered in the air around him.

Another pegasi suddenly rushed forward, breaking out of a formation to deliver a swift kick into the dragon's snout. It wasn't hard enough to cause damage, but the dragon's eyes snapped open at the impact against it's sensitive orifice. It's eyes locked onto the offender, a mint-green pegasi, but the mare immediately dove downwards as something pulled at the side of the dragon's head.

The sound a furious scream caused the dragon's eyes to flit upwards. Dire Wing came rushing down, gripping one of his blades with both hooves. The dragon reared back, but Dire wing only moved faster. The silver thread, wrapped securely around the dragon's horn and fastened to the stallion's hoof snapped taught, and Dire allowed the momentum to pull him forward.

"This'ns for Wicked you slimy bastard!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, plunging his blade deep into the dragon's eye. The creature shrieked, nearly deafening the stallion as it cried out in anguish. The eyelids closed on Dire's hoof, slamming into it hard enough to crumple his greave, but he barely registered the pain. He felt warm fluid run across his hooves as the knife kept him anchored against the creature.

"Full clear!" He heard Luna's voice echo into the night, and the heavy bass of thunder confirmed the order. The bat-pony didn't bother holding on either, leaving his blade imbedded in his foes iris as he was launched through the open air. The momentum slung him hundreds of feet away, and with a wet crack of his leathery wings, he vanished into the storms shadow once more. Nearly twenty other guards followed his lead, scattering as the Thestral cried out, "Bom bom tarrare!" Corkscrewing high towards his princess, the bat-pony covered his ears in anticipation. Dozens of pegasi above pulled the seam of the cloud apart, filling the air with charge as the cloud struggled to contain the power building within.

Once the dragon has pulled the prick from it's eye, it realized too late all of the prey had fled. It's eyes traced the skyline for the glimmering alicorn, only to be met with a massive black pocket, bursting with white and blue luminescence.

Manes and tails stood on end for the pegasi team nearest the center, as crackling energy supercharged the air. Branching fractals formed as the power cascaded down through the sky faster than the eye could follow. A dozen bolts struck the ground, devastating the ground where they struck and forming into one column of galvanized discharge.

The night sky exploded with light, heat and sound as the bolt surged up from the ground, snapping back into the air as a full-realized column of electricity. Everypony save for Luna averted their eyes as the dark sky turned to brilliant blue. The eruption of light and sound was nearly blinding and deafening, darkness banished in an instant as blue light flooded the air,
and the dragon was lost in the midst of voltaic combustion.

Deafening booms layered one upon the other, rocking the air as the pulsing energy devastated the air. Most pegasi covered their eyes and ears, but a large enough group added their own shouts and cheers to the mix as the combustion continued to echo through the sky. Rainbow Dash's lips split into a startled grin, almost getting caught by a draft as she flew.

Dire wing saddled along side her, whooping and cheering with the rest. "That's what ye get ya overgrown gecko!" He shouted, rapping the cyan pegasus with a hoof while shifting some of Luna's weight onto his shoulder like before.

"Do you think we nailed him this time?" Rainbow Dash asked, turning to Luna with a hopeful look. Her smile faltered instantly, seeing her Princess grimacing with clear frustration. The alicorn only shook her head, eyes fixed on the fading thunderburst. A screeching cry suddenly pierced through the display. The two mare's could make out a curled form within the crackling obelisk. Even as branches of lightning coursed through the air, the dragon suddenly thrust out his wings and launched himself to one side, roaring and gnashing his fangs as he sought to free himself from the blistering assault.

His long form was pocked with black marks and collapsed scales, and the scythe like blade at the edge of his tail was hanging at an angle, the tip barely attached. A small victory as they had yet to do any real damage since the battle had restarted, but the damage was superficial at best. The only major difference seemed to be a few fresh tears in his wings, and small chunks of flesh taken out of his limbs. The fight was no where close to being over.

The celebrating ponies quickly fell silent, doubling back and falling in as they began the arduous process of preparing for another assault. This dance had been going for several minutes, and though they'd struck a heavy blow than before, the dragon didn't seem like he would be beaten anytime soon.

Rainbow Dash let out a groan, locking her hoof with Luna's and pulling them high and right, keeping the dragon in their shadow. "He's not gonna let up, is he?" The creature was already scanning the horizon, brutish face sweeping through the air before it's eye landed on the still glowing alicorn.

"Evidently not." Luna replied, eyes glazing over the creatures body.

"We can't do this much longer." The pegasus scanned the hurricane, eyes lingering over the warped edges of the eye-wall. "The storm is already starting to pull itself apart, and the weather team are gonna start tapping out soon." She chewed her lip in thought, a flicker of nervousness shading her grimace.

"Ill be honest, princess." Dire Wing sighed, disappointedly looking over a heavily dulled blade. He threw it to the side, already drawing another pair from slots in his armor. "I'm thinking we might need to collapse the storm an' hope for the best."

"Lets not even consider that." Luna said flatly, fixing her eyes on the thestral. The deluge receded partially as the trio emerged into the moonlight and the moon's cool power filled Luna once more. "Not unless it's a last resort. The Regular's would be in just as much danger from that going badly as they are from the dragon, if the storm doesn't entirely scatter to every town in a hundred miles."

Even though she was certain it was the wrong move, the idea hung in Luna's mind. 'Storm Collapsing' was an extreme weather protocol that was rarely ever used. Originally created as a way to combat storms created by Wendigo, it was more commonly used in coastal cities and near islands where storms could more easily spiral out of control. Everypony in a weather team was taught the maneuver, but most would go their whole lives without having to use it. As far as Luna could recall, only a few present pegasi had earned the title 'Thunder Jockey.'

Dire Wing merely shrugged, falling wordlessly from the two mare's as he dove towards the dragon once more. Rainbow watched as Dire went, seeming to chew on his words. Luna could tell Rainbow was considering his suggestion. Truth be told, the thought weighed heavy on her own mind.

"We just have to hold on a bit longer, just hold it off until Celestia finishes this." She glanced once more at Canterlot. The odd splashes of light that flickered like candles in the distance spoke of a battle yet raging.

"Oh shit. Princess!" Rainbow Dash said, suddenly angling herself down. Luna snapped from her thoughts, horn alighting once more as she saw the drake snaking towards them through the air. With each rhythmic breath, puffs of fire filled the air around his head and left a burning trail through the crashing storm. Immediately she could see something was different. The dragon's eyes had been fixed on her the entire night, drawn by her constellation, but this time he seemed to be looking past her.

She looked back, seeing nothing but large sections of cloud and the scattered weather team moving along the cloud formation as they-

The Princess's eyes widened as drew in the star's power. "Take me down to him!" Luna yelled, the constellation immediately reforming around her and lending their strength to her wings. She dove down, magic raising the volume of her voice as she shouted into the darkness, "Guards pull back, protect the weather team!"

“'They see your weakness, and think you kindling to be cast aside and burned.'"

Heat and light flared all around Twilight, but the unicorn didn't move her gaze an inch. Despite the burns across her legs and neck, the bruises that rooted in her bones, and the battle being waged by a goddess and a monster, she didn't give a thought to anything save her mission.

Despite dry, cracked lips and a parched throat burning for want of a drink, every word she spoke was clear and powerful. Verbal components were tricky, a stutter or pause could have disastrous consequences. Twilight had narrowly reigned in the spell once tonight, and didn't care to try a second time.

"'For why else would they forget you, and leave you to suffer?'” She intoned, her voice shifting as she spoke not in a chant, but as if she were weaving a tale before an eager audience. With each word, the magic took shape. Glowing wisps of light from the two spells circles flowed through the air and mingled with one another. The bound to one another, Twilight's magic serving to act like rope as she fastened and anchor to the legendary power of the Elements of Harmony.

It was brutal work, but she didn't waste a spark of magic to ease her pain. Only drawing further and further from her flowing reserve beneath the city. Her posture, the placement of each hoof, every move she made effected the flow of magic through her, all while dozes of calculations flew through her mind as she shaped the magic to her will. While most magic was learned through feeling and following the flow of magic that passes through a unicorn's body and horn, the more advanced spells required mathematic equations, runic scripts, and extremely precise flows of mana. All these and more were required for Twilight.

Managing the steady flow from within the mountain and beneath the city, and most importantly, the creeping stress of the nearby battle made nothing about her task easy. Without years of preparation and memorization, the entire spell would have come undone two-dozen times over by now. Her battle with Celestia and having to summon Dementis, feeding the monstrosity, had taken a large portion, but by her estimate there should be just enough to complete the un-binding.

She was already two-fifths done now, and nearly finished with the third seal. Each one was different, having to combat the harmonic element with a countering, yet similar emotional bond. She needed to keep her emotions steady as much as possible in order for it to work, so calmly and clearly she continued to speak,

"Swallowed by it's misfortune, the tree lost who it was and who it had once been-"

Twilight's smooth words tightened suddenly, words almost dying in her throat as her concentration suddenly deteriorated. Images and sounds suddenly flooded her mind, filling her with a wild surge of emotions and feelings. Warm sunlight on a spring morning, the clap of dancing hooves, flowing waterfalls, the crackle of a Hearthswarming fire. All at once her fierce concentration became unsteady as she felt an influence come over her mind. She didn't have to turn or glance up from her calculations to know who hung in the air just behind her.

Twilight's words seemed to echo through the air around Cadence. The pink alicorn glided gentle through the air, hardly making a noise as she hovered above the mare she once watched over. Where it not for the column of purple energy, Cadence could have nearly touched her with an outstretched hoof. So close, yet so far away. Despite their proximity, Twilight hadn't seemed to take notice of Cadence yet. Twilight's attention was squarely on the ground, channeling a steady beam of power into it's hilt. The act seemed so simple, but as she moved closer, Cadence could feel the effect it had. Waves of power filled the air, soft enough to be felt but with enough force that Cadence could feel herself being gently pushed back. An aura of power that seemed to push any influence away.

There was something odd about the magic that Cadence couldn't quite identify. It felt ancient, primordial even, yet there was something simple about it. A feeling that pushed her away, yet drew her in at the same time. She likened it to sun-rain, a combination that didn't make sense yet had a uniquely pleasant sensation that was hard to describe.

Reaching out with her magic, she felt the aura of her power stop at some sort of boundary. Breathing deeply, she pushed gently against the wall. She'd expected this, but the wall was different than the one's Twilight had summoned earlier. In the midst of battle, Twilight had tried to create hard barricades against her mind, bit emotional magic could easily penetrate through such. This one was different. Softer, like a net woven from silk. Her magic creeped through the air around Twilight's form, like a translucent sky-blue fog. Sweet thought's filled her mind, partially spurred by the draw of her own magic, but she didn't let me then run wild. Not with Celestia and Shining Armor relying on her.

She glanced away from Twilight; still guiding her magic gently as she watched the continuing struggle. The battle was intense, all three ponies moving in constant flux as the Alicorn and unicorn tried to pin down Dementis.

Celestia danced across the ravaged landscape, appearing and vanishing in the air as flamed followed her. Dementis howled and cackled, moving like a shadowy hound as she chased Celestia back and forth. Shining Armor stood a healthy distance away. He conjured barriers every where the apparition ran, trying to catch her in bubble or shaping the terrain to slow her. Every so often he threw out beads of magic, bullets tat tore through her body, but to little effect. Doing so only seemed to please her, only briefly distracting Dementis from her pursuit of the shining alicorn.

A glimmering weave of harmonic followed Celestia everywhere she appeared. The effervescent magic coiled in the air, being fed from the magic drawn through Celestia's regalia. It was clear that intense focus was required, as Dementis had begun making ground on Celestia. Not say she was helpless. The alicorn waved her horn as Dementis sprinted towards her, causing the air around the demon to shimmer as particles superheated and boiled the creature alive. As flesh began to slop from her body, she reared back and the mist that was her true form pulled into the air while a twisted black skeleton continued to charge the alicorn. Shining Armor seized the carcass in a bubble just as it exploded into corrosive vapor. Dementis merely re-formed in the air cackling wickedly. The distraction served them well however. Celestia gripped the harmonic strand with one hoof, and the magic weaved into a chain link. She slammed her hoof down, binding the chain into the ground before teleporting away, Dementis resuming the chase.

Celestia could barely track the activity, as magic still shone and dance from all around her. The distant storm didn't help either, with massive bolts of lightning striking and illuminating the sky enough to show Princess Luna was still engaged with the dragon. She turned away closing her eyes in concentration to ensure she didn't become distracted. She had a job to do in order to save her family, and she wasn't about to disappoint them.

The mental barrier suddenly fell, and Cadence felt her magic seep through as she made contact with Twilight's mind. She looked down at the. As soon as Cadence's magic flowed over Twilight, the unicorn's entire body tensed. Her mane seemed to bristle like a wolf as tried to push against the pink alicorn's influence, momentarily pausing in her chant.

Cadence seized the moment, pushing as hard as she could to further dissrupt the spell. Warm sunlight on a spring morning, the clap of dancing hooves, flowing waterfalls, a crackling Hearthswarming fire, friends laughing together, festival music ringing across open fields. Everything she could think of, Cadence pushed into the unicorn's mind.

Twilight's whole body tensed as she fought against Cadence, desperate to both maintain control of her grand spell. Light and shadows still formed in the third circle, dancing back and forth as they awaited to be drawn together by her command. The struggle lasted only a second, but to the mare's it seemed to stretch on for ages; Twilight trying to push Cadence away, as the alicorn defiantly held on.

"Are you sure you should stop her?" A voice bloomed beside Cadence, sweet and gentle. The young princess suddenly felt a force come over, disrupting the struggle and easing the strain in Twilight's expression.

Twilight nearly fell forward as Cadence's hold was weakened. She could still feel the alicorn trying to pump images and feelings into her mind, but not enough to stop the incantation. Pressure grew in her temples, but Twilight forced herself to speak the words necessary to form the third link.

"Wicked deceit... bent... the world." Each word was strained and heavy, but the magical flow didn't stop.

The alicorn's head flew up, rising to meet golden eyes that looked into her own. Benevolentia hung in the pillar of light, hooves still outstretched in a protective gesture. The mare stood so still that Cadence had forgotten she was there. Without knowing how, the young Princess was sure it had been her.

"Of course I do, look at what she's doing!" Cadence motioned towards the battles raging behind her, both in the sky and in the garden. "How in Equestria can you think this isn't wrong!?" She nearly shouted, her grip waning as she felt anger welling inside her chest.

"The... purest truth...blinded..."

The golden unicorn didn't break eye contact, her soft smile only deepening as she held the Alicorn's influence back. 'It's true, there is much for you to lose if you do not.' Cadence was surprised by the tender look in the unicorn's eye, almost as admiring as it was sympathetic. 'No-pony would blame you for trying, but have you considered the cost of victory?'

"What are you saying?" Cadence shouted, almost unable to believe what she was hearing. Her wings flared out as if to fight against a windstorm, till feeling her grip on Twilight slipping. "She's going to hurt everypony, we have to stop her."

"...by His foul mischief." Despite Cadence's efforts, with each phrase, each word Twilight spoke, the column was growing brighter and denser. The light within the column was different from the others, a mix of shimmering light and milky blackness that swirled around one another. An odd gentle sensation rippled over Cadence as the light and shadow grew stronger. Even some distance away, Celestia and Shining Armor exchanged worried glances as they too felt the sensation.

'Not every good action is met with good in return.' Benevolentia's words seemed to flow into Cadence's mind, taking shape as images began to fill the alicorn's mind. It was a memory she remembered well, a day she had taken Twilight on a picnic. She saw the same day through the filly's eyes instead, snapshots flickering by. They had gone a hill just outside the city, but their lunch was ruined by an unscheduled storm. Instead of becoming dower, Cadence had led the young unicorn on a run back home. The pair jumping through every puddle they found before arriving at the filly's modest home soaked to the bone. She swore it was the happiest she had ever seen the young filly, but the memory suddenly turned dark.

After a bath complete with splashing and bubble-fights, the pair's story-time was interrupted by the royal guards arriving to bring Cadence home. She remembered Twilight beginning to cry, telling her that she would come back again the next day, but a feeling of crushing loneliness set into the young Princess unlike anything she'd anticipated. It was almost enough to take her breath away. She always knew Twilight hated when she left, but she never comprehended so much hurt within the filly.

'Neither does evil always return evil.'

"Certainty became..." Twilight's strained words seemed to fade away as Cadence as more and more images flooded Cadence's mind. So many, that she wasn't even sure if her magic was still effecting Twilight's mind. As the purple unicorn's words faded into silence, Cadence was struck by a furry of faces, memories. She saw Chrysalis, the cruel changeling snarling down at Twilight with contempt written in her torn features, yet within her eyes was a glimmer of compassion. A diamond dog held a bloodied hammer in one paw, yet gave her cool water to drink with the other. A grey earth pony mare hurled words cruel words at her, only for the same mare to hum a gentle tune as she embraced Cadence. 'Even the wicked can give good gifts.'

"Hey Cadence?" Shining Armor shouted from across the way, a sinking filled him stomach. The air was growing heavier as waves of power seemed to emanate from the brightening column of magic. Even the elder Alicorn felt it, busy as she was keeping the ravenous phantom off of her as much as possible. "Gonna need you to hurry, hon!"

"Stop." Cadence begged. So many images poured through her, she thought her mind would explode. More and more memories, faces, experiences flashed by. An empty wasteland covered in ice, a dragon drinking a toast before choking on poison, a broken bed, a stallion as dark as shadow grinning at her, mismatched eyes coursing with the deepest abyss of madness. She gripped her head in her hooves, whimpering past tears as she tried to hold to Twilight's conscience, reaching out for every happy memory, every beautiful picture in her mind.

'For you to succeed, she must lose. I say this to help you, Cadence.' A gentle feeling settle over Cadence's shoulders, like an embrace that kept her from getting too close. 'Do you understand?' Benevolentia whispered, so softly Cadence thought the mare was speaking into her ear.

The young alicorn hung in the air for a moment, sniffling as all at once the images plaguing her mind seemed to fade. Her mind caught in the unicorn's words.

"Yes." Cadence looked up suddenly, her eyes hardening as they settled on Benevolentia. For a moment, she withdrew her grasp from Twilight's mind, the purple unicorn gasping as the mental pressure released for a single moment. Cadence imagined herself pushing the golden mare away, throwing the gentle hooves off of her shoulders and denying the mare's kindness. "I reject your gift." Cadence declared.

Benevolentia's tender look didn't fade as the mare curtly nodded to the princess. 'Very well.' She said. Cadence felt the invisible force vanish from around her as Benevolentia dropped her hooves to hover Twilight once more. The Alicorn reached for her magic, lowering her horn as she once more tried to reach into Twilight's mind.

'But the others will still have their own say.'

Just as Cadence felt Twilight's mind open to her, another forced slammed into her like a steel door. Pure rage flowed through her mind, like a wildfire gone out of control. A vision of a white unicorn with flames for hair appeared, deep red eyes scowling at Cadence.

Saevio's arrival was so abrupt, Cadence felt her influence repulsed briefly. Just long enough for the purple unicorn to recover her wits.

"As the world turned upside down!" Twilight suddenly cried out.

"No!" Cadence shouted, trying to seize hold of Twilight again, but it was too late. The glowing lights and swirling shadow within the third circle pulsed and danced, flowing into one another and mingling in strange ways. It seemed unnatural, and hurt Cadence's eyes to look at, but the light began to take the shape of a unicorn's body. Her features were sharp, hawkish even, unlike anypony Cadence had seen. Her head was held high, chin pointed so the mare could look down her nose at everything she saw. Narrowed eyes seemed to stare into Cadence's heart, scrutinizing her for every flaw that could be found. The dancing shadows flowed over her body in fine tattoos that spiraled over her legs, hips, shoulders, neck, and even pointing into the corners of her black-tipped scleras.

The other three ponies paused in their struggle. Shining Armor stared in awe and wonder, the spell at his horn's edge crackling as it faded. Celestia and Dementis both turning towards the expanding column as they felt immense power within the mare, threatening to burst free.

"Thus Honesty was obscured." The mare spoke quickly. Her words short and pointed. "as cruel Judgment was wrought upon the world."

The circle of light expanded rapidly at her word, sweeping across the garden to quickly for anypony to react. Cadence cried out, reaching for her husband as terror filled his eyes. A tsunami of black and gold swept across the mountain side, and for a moment Cadence thought she was about to lose the stallion she loved.

But as the light spread into the distance, fading in the night sky, Shining Armor stood unharmed. Even Celestia and Dementis paused their battle for a moment, glancing at the tattooed mare before looking at each other again in confusion. The situation would have been comical, but Cadence was nearly overwhelmed with relief that Shining Armor was safe.

Until the air seemed to crack around her, and a gust that didn't seem to quite be there rustled through her mane. A strange feeling filled Cadence. Within her, Celestia could feel the Element's power flare, warming her breast as she felt an odd weight within her, like an anchor. Cadence felt similar, though hers was more akin to holding onto the edge of a cliff, still grappling with Saevio for Twilight's focus.

Dementis gasped, drawing everypony's attention. A slow realization dawning across her features. "Judicia." She spoke the third mare's name like a lover she fondly remembered, hugging herself with a sigh. "So strict, so proper. And yet..." The mare leaned back, suddenly moving diagonally into the air, drifting away from Celestia like a flower in a stream.

Shining Armor was momentarily lost in the feeling, trying to make sense of it. The floating feeling surrounded him, gentle at first as he gazed high towards the stars above. They almost appeared to be falling towards him, the sky shifting in it's place as the ground rose up to meet him. It was not until he felt his tail and mane begin to fall sideways, strands lifting as gravity's hold over him began to shift, did he realize the ground neither rose, nor the sky fall, but the very axis of the world had begun to change.

"Oh no..." Was the stallion had time to say. The whole landscape tilted higher as down was suddenly behind him and Shining Armor had only a moment to scream before he fell into the horizon.

Something changed in the wind, that much the alicorn knew. Even as Luna flew down, chaining one spell after another down towards the rampaging dragon, something seemed to bend in the air around her. Like a ghastly voice who's whispers skittered down her bones.

The aerial battle had once moved like flocks flying in tandem, but it now buzzed like a beehive under assault. Pegasi flew in ever direction, formations broken as the rampaging dragon streaked across the sky every way he could, gnashing his teeth and swiping his claws at anypony near enough. Vitreous fluid leaked down his face, but Luna could see the slitted orb gazing back at her. Furious, raw, and most certainly not blinded. Stallions and mare's alike scattered in terror as the dragon's full fury was wrought upon anypony it could see.

Squall Strider, and several of his juniors, tore back and forth through the sky, moving their fellows and corralling loose storm clouds as they went. Hundreds of Pegasi moved too and fro, the majority pulling back to the storm ceiling as he gave chase, but smaller groups still trying to whip gusts and clouds together to halter his movements. Armored guards, those that remained, did everything from running interference to pulling the others farther from danger. The dragon moved with savage abandon, tearing recklessly through any attempt they made. Already five more guards had fallen, bringing their total number down to less than thirty, and his frenzy had seemingly only just begun.

It seemed to Luna that he had lost all control his primitive mind had. A sign of intense wear in a dragon, but a perilous one to boot. The Lunar Princess was on the chase now, diving down past the falling rain as she felt her magic flow through the stars as she moved. "Go for it's wings, full charge!" She yelled out. Her dark wings fanned out to slow her rapid descent, as the stars realigned and rained bursts of magic down on the creature. Crystals and frost grew where the magic struck, but was shaken off before it could fully spread across his scales.

Even with all these things pulling at her attention, demanding her fixation and exact focus, Luna could not ignore the shudder that stretched into ever corner of the sky around her. She could barely spare a second to look, but those lights and waves of power surrounding Canterlot we growing stronger. With every shimmering pulse that echoed into the night, she felt a terrible marching dread fill her heat.

A group of armored pegasi curved through the air, flying in a V-formation as they charged from below towards the dragon's belly. The dragon seemed to sense the movement, jack-knifing suddenly and slicing through the air with it's mangled tail. Had the appendage not been mutilated the blow would have eviscerated half the group, but the loose protrusion flailed through the air and only struck two pegasi. One immediately vanished, as the blade tore into his armor, while the other was batted away into the wind like a sack of flower.

Rainbow Dash immediately dove down, rocketing past Luna and closing the distance as loosed a beam from Albireo. The dual-beam struck at the dragon's head, distracting it long enough for Rainbow Dash to swoop in and catch the stunned pegasi. "Stay in it's blindspot!" She yelled out to the others, pulling back as she tried to rouse the dazed stallion. "Come on stallion, name and rank. Name and rank!"

Luna waved a hoof and rain ceased to fall in a fifty foot circle around her, the water suddenly drawn to her in lengths. A cold flash burst from Deneb and the water froze into enormous spears of ice. Dozens of frozen blades launched towards the dragon with a push of her magic, but a wide burst of flame all but reduced the volley to steam.

Luna dove right as another burst was aimed at her, wrapping the steam around her and vanishing from sight. As the serpent searched for where the alicorn would reappear, another twin-beam of light surged towards him from the haze. Sparks and smoke may have obscured Luna's vision, but not her memory. The beam cut through the smoke and steam, striking the dragon's face with searing heat and piercing cold. He recoiled with a shout, and Luna shot to the right out of cover. The movement sent pain through every inch of her wings, but she had no time to think about that.

The princess pulled back, stars realigning to reduce her mass as the dragon rushed forward in a blur of teeth and fire. She held her movement, waiting to shoot straight up as the once the dragon got near enough to be unable to follow. She held for the space of a breath, her gaze deadlocked on the dragon's with absolute precision when everything went completely wrong.

A wave of power flowed through the air, striking both Luna and the dragon as the hung in the air. Suddenly Luna felt her body crush in, as if a great fist had grabbed her and began to squeeze the life of her. The Night Alicorn's whole body stiffened, every muscle tightening despite her willing them to move. "What in Equ-" She tried to speak, but even her jaw seemed locked shut.

The dragon veered in the air, yelping in shock as a flap of his wings suddenly sent him spiraling high into the air above her, and swinging him into the Hurricane's eye like a leaf caught in a gale. Luna spun as well, dragged down as she could only watch the massive serpent be slung higher towards the storm ceiling.

The Princess tried to cry out, to tell the others to flee or to call Rainbow Dash for help, but all she could manage was a crushed groan as an opposite force pulled her down through the freezing rain. The silver glow of Cygnus turned dark, and she could have sworn she heard her stars cry out along with her as crushing weight surrounded her. Faster and faster she plunged downwards, spinning in a viscous cycle as the lights merged into one, and her vision went black.

"Shiny!"

"Captain!"

Both alicorns cried out, watching as the white unicorn was uprooted from gravity's hold and pulled swiftly into the night sky. Cadence lunged forward, ready to fly after her husband, but before she could take flight a golden barrier immediately formed in front of her.

"I have him, Cadence! Do. Not. Stop." The elder alicorn spun around to her nephew, turning her back on Dementis as she reached out with a single hoof. The first golden chain suddenly lashed out, following her movement and snaking through the air towards the falling Captain. Shining Armor reached out in an attempt to dig a hoof into the grass that now sped by like a sheer cliff wall, slamming his heavy limb into the dirt. Dirt sprayed across his eyes and face, but he only succeeded in pushing himself farther away from what once was the ground.

Cadence tore her eyes away with a sobbing groan unable to watch as her husband continued to sink into the horizon. Her whole body tensed as she grit her teeth, eyes shut as more and more blue magic flowed and she continued her grapple with Saevio. She merely grinned her twisted grin, watching with glee as the stallion tumbled into the distant night sky.

Celestia turned away from Dementis, tucking in her wings as brilliant magic gathered around her blazing form. The ground erupted as she struck the blackened earth, pushed further in as she channeled her power into the dirt. Hundreds of pounds of earth shifted beneath her hooves, moving across the way towards the falling stallion. The inverted gravitational force dragged the screaming stallion closer to the open horizon, but just before he passed the garden's edge the ground beside him exploded outwards. A massive claw made of dirt and clay snagged the stallion, narrowly keeping him from being flung into the distance.

The catch was by no means gentle, driving the air from his lungs as he impacted the earthy mass. Shining Armor heard a wet crunch somewhere within his torso, but he quickly scrambled to his hooves and waved towards the alicorn "I'm ok!" He yelled out, not waiting for his Princess to call out for him.

Celestia breath a sigh of relief, countered by disappointed groan from Dementis above. She wanted to hold for just a moment as the strain began to weigh on her shoulders. As she had plummeted, she could feel a shift in the air around her no less than three times. Were she not channeling the Element's power directly, Celestia had no doubt she would be in a similar straits as her Captain.

"Beset by the dark influence, the Serpent’s pernicious words captivated the tree."

The voice spoke from across the estate. Power and arcana echoed Twilight's sentiment as she continued to channel. The wind began to shake as she spoke. Something within Celestia, feeling the wrongness within the very fiber of her being.

"From the garden of creation spilled forth plague and desolation, wishing for all to suffer as it had."

Twilight no longer spoke with calmness. A heavy strain was evident in her voice, but whether it was from the weight of her own spell or Cadence's attempts, Celestia couldn't tell. For a moment she was torn between continuing her fight with Dementis, or unleashing everything she had towards the unicorn, but the grating voice above her spoke first.

"Why are ponies always so BORING!?" Dementis screeched, suddenly kicking off the air as if it were stone. The air seemed to carry like a wind tunnel through the air, before she suddenly shifted to float straight up. Celestia watched as the phantom leapt, swam, and floated through the air in a bizarre display of scientific impossibility. The way she moved made no sense, not that anything about her did. She did almost nothing herself, simply allowing shifting forces to carry her along a twisted path towards Shining Armor.

'She's moving through gravity wells.' Celestia realized, breath hitching in her chest as the demon maneuvered towards Shining Armor. Her horn lit ablaze with golden magic and Celestia's eyes glowed brightly as her view of the world shifted. The ground and the sky faded to dull colors, while the air burst to life with every color of the wind. The clouds far above gleamed pure white, while green and yellow ran through the ground at her feet, but those were of little interest to her.

Instead, her eyes hung on the soft blue hues that contrasted with fiery coils of red and orange that snaked through the air in every direction. Cylinders of purple light ebbed and flowed around her, some moving while others remined inert. Gravitational forces had been separated from their magnetic counterpart, which meant the ley-lines were beginning to splinter. With both forces shifting independently, Celestia couldn't possibly guess what would occur, but all that mattered was she had mapped out where to avoid.

Shining Armor was not idle, for his part. Slinging spells as Dementis followed the coursing influences towards him, her grin leering across the way as she rapidly approached. The earthen claw suddenly cocked back in it's place, and Shining Armor's eyes widened. He turned towards his Princess, realizing just what was about to happen.

“'My friends have become idle so let them never be at rest'!”

"Brace yourself." Celestia said in a simple tone, turning her head so her words flowed along one of the orange strands and into Shining Armor's ears. The stallion's eyes went wide as the claw pivoted, suddenly angling him towards the city edge and forest below. Even disoriented by gravity's change, the last place he wanted to go was over the edge. "P-Princess, you aren't actually going to-" was all he managed as the earthen fist suddenly cocked back and hurled him straight over the side of the mountain.

Celestia merely watched with a look of calmness as the stallion disappeared over the edge, screaming as he went. Dementis was rounding one edge of the garden's plateau, and the mare's grin actually altered a bit as she glance towards Celestia in perplexing. Princess Celestia paid her no mind, reaching out with her magic as she felt the power of Harmony entangle in the loose bubbles of gravity and polarity. "three... two... one."

"So cried the tree, as the ground soaked with tears and blood."

The screaming stallion suddenly came flying back over the edge, as if thrust out from a geyser. He whipped through the air, now encased in pink bubble of magic, as he traveled through an undisturbed pocket of gravity and nearly seemed to arch over Luna's moon. Dementis snapped her head back towards the flailing stallion so quickly any other pony would have broken their bones, but her wicked grin reaffixed itself as she realized Celestia's ploy.

"Tricky, tricky Princess!" She chortled in that sing-songy tone, thrusting herself out of the east-moving gravity well and into a beam of soft blue light that swiftly moved her to intercept Shining Armor.

"It’s words echoing a lament with none to hear."

Celestia felt the air bend around her, and the shifting lights bent to her will. Just as Dementis threw out her hooves to grab the falling stallion, a cone of purple energy suddenly appeared between them. Shining Armor was suddenly flung towards the mountain's peak at an angle, all the while displaying an impressive lung capacity. Within seconds he passed through another, pulling him down towards the partially destroyed green maze, before being grabbed by yet another tunnel of force.

Dementis chittered and cackled as she swam with renewed fervor through the shifting wells, black eyes locked on the helpless stallion. "Play!" She cried, leaping from one cone of gravity to the next. "Play with me, fishy!"

'Just a bit more.' Celestia merely watched with an unwavering cool as Shining Armor was brought closer and closer, feeling harmonic power build at her hooves. The stallion dropped out of a funnel and into another, one that led straight to Celestia. The alicorn held out one hoof, exerting her will over the space to bring him near with a low breath.

Dementis moved faster. The creature leapt from a magnetic flow and into a sphere of grey-purple spots. She came to a dead stop in the apparent zero-gravity spring suspended a short distance away from Shining's tunnel. With a horrid wail, she threw her hooves wide and a burst of black energy shunted the sphere to the side, directly into the unicorn's path.

"No, no, no!" Shining Armor screamed, trying to fight the current as it whisked him towards the awaiting grasp of Dementis. She panted and grinned, black magic already gathering at her horn, already savoring the taste of his magic even before she claimed it for her own.

"So impatient." Celestia tutted. Swiping her hoof through the air, the chain that once failed to grasp Shining Armor now sank into the stallion's breastplate. The golden bond pulled him out of Dementis' path and into the one that had first snared him. The stallion was dragged through the air like a fish on a line, landing into the original flow that had nearly swept him off the mountain. The red sparks shifted to blue, and soon he was moving towards her once again.

“If the light of the firmament shall not look upon what she has wrought, may she be blind to all of her children’s woes."

Dementis spun in place, her grin faltering as she glared at the flaming alicorn. Celestia didn't flinch, only waving a hoof at the phantom as if to beckon her closer. "Always acting, never learning." The first chain sprang to life and shot through the air, sinking into one end of the gravity tunnel Dementis had submerged herself in. Quickly the shifting light began to turn a dark purple color. "So typical is madness." Celestia extended the hoof towards Dementis once more, and golden light burst from the ground beneath her front hooves. A new chain shot forward, rooting itself in the opposite end of the flow, and similarly twisting the gravitational forces.

Dementis tried to summon her power again, to force herself or the gravity sink hole out, but with harmonic magic pouring in her efforts were in vain. Celestia reared back, physically pushing with her hooves as the ends of the column began to collapse inwards. The air twisted unnaturally as the space collapsed irregularly, trapping Dementis in the middle. The phantom tried to scream, to siphon Celestia's magic, but to no avail. A thirty foot long column of space collapsed on top of the creature, crushing her body down into a black mist, and then more so until the singularity began to collapse.

Celestia finally had enough, she slammed her hooves to the ground and the gravitational forces reversed and expanded once more. Black mist was slung in every direction, scattered to the wind for a moment as Dementis was shredded at a nearly cellular level.

Celestia panted from exertion. For a moment, she allowed herself to pause as Shining Armor dropped to the ground just a little ways off. Far enough to ensure he wasn't scalded by her flames, but close enough to see he was uninjured. Within seconds of hitting the ground, Shining Armor rolled to the side and began retching as the changes in pressure and gravity caused his stomach to flop.

“Let the heaven’s light scourge the land with fire until the end of time...”

"Get up, Shining Armor." Celestia panted, already gathering another coil of Harmonic energy in the air. "We've only bought a moment." Golden energy surged around her, granting her more power to create the next bond with Dementis banished for a short while. Her molten armor was beginning to blacken in spots, and the rainbow of flames surrounding her seemed to be returning to strands of ephemeral hair once again. She was tiring, but her stoic expression betrayed the exhaustion.

"And may the sky and sea war and clash till the end of days, that serenity shall not linger in any good place."

With great effort the stallion rolled to his hooves, wincing as he clutched a bruise quickly growing on his right side. It was probably a broken rib, but he wasn't eager to complain when the world seemed to be ending around him.

"Alright." He panted, steadying himself as he watched a cloud of black form in the air once more. "Ready for round two."

"The binding will hold you for now, but it is temporary at best." Celestia spoke quickly, both ponies watching as Dementis swung through the air, moving with the closer with magical tides. "I will need it once the others are finished, but it will keep you from being swept away in the meantime.

"Cadence is giving us the opportunity to finish this." The pink alicorn hadn't turned back since Celestia had forbidden her to leave, eyes closed in deep concentration. Rainbow flames coiled around her as a haunting smile formed just a few paces away. "Let's not squander her effort."

Author's Note

Hey guys, glad to finally be back with the next chapter. If I'm speaking honestly, this one has been an immense challenge to write, ergo the "part 1" but it's finally here. Now That I have my steam back after everything I've been dealing with, I plan on the next chapter dropping in the next 7 days or so. It could be out in 3 days, or the full 7. I'm honestly not sure, but as soon as it's ready I will have it for y'all. I'm just so sorry it took this long.

In other news, I have been busy trying to work on other aspects of the story and the following chapters in this hiatus, and while the next couple should be out very soon, I am happy to say there are some great additions to old chapters as can be seen on the story cover. I found a brilliant artist who has done several character portraits which have been added to the heading of a few chapters, please check them out as well as KirillK's portfolio, he has been very good to me.

And with that, I leave you until sometime this week. Take care, please leave feedback, and have a great rest of the week.

Back on Board (Special update)

Hello my friends, I am excited to say I have finally returned from Bootcamp (mostly) alive and well! Definitely still tired from the whole thing, but I am now a, somewhat, free-man at my A-school. I've been graduated for about a week now, but I haven't yet received my laptop or gotten ready access to a computer since arriving. I should be getting it sometime in the next few days, in which I am will resume work on the next chapter and bringing you guys more Homecoming.

I do want to say, thank you all for the messages of encouragement and love you all sent, especially from veterans and my fellow service members. I loved reading the comments yall left, it was a lovely treat to come back too.

I will be classing up tomorrow, and should have a solid idea of my schedule for the next 5 weeks by this weekend, but I will also make good on delivering chapters in a reasonable amount of time.

Yeah yeah yeah..., I know with my track record that statement may have caused a few belly laughs or long groans, but I promise that everything will be wrapped up by Fall at the latest. Pinky swear it :pinkiesad2:

If all goes well, more will follow in about two weeks. I'll be putting out blogs to keep followers updated, so give me a follow if you want to be kept up to date, or just wanna say high every so often. Thanks once more for yalls patience, and I look forward to seeing everyone's thoughts on the upcoming chapters.

With love
-Seeker