Echoes of Harmony

by BronaFides

Rating: everyone
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Main 6, Princess Luna, Changelings, Queen Chrysalis, Adventure, Princess Celestia
Length: 66711

When Queen Chrysalis inadvertently tangles Equestria in war, only the Mane Six revisiting the history of the elements of harmony - literally - can save them all.

It all starts simply enough with Chrysalis sending two of her most trusted changelings to infiltrate the bearers of the Elements of Harmony, but now she has a civil war on her hooves that threatens to spill over into all of Equestria.

Celestia and Luna have read the signs and enlist the Mane Six to handle the changeling threat forever... by stopping it before it ever happens. Using one of Starswirl the Bearded's most coveted spells, they have a chance to go back to prevent Queen Chrysalis' tragic origins, but one misstep could destroy the present that they came back to protect, and when they get tangled up in the history of the Elements of Harmony, things get even more complicated.

(Conceptualized prior to season 3 or the comics, though it takes place shortly after the events of The Crystal Empire).

Published 2013-01-24 07:40:01 UTC
Last updated 2013-11-01 01:05:53 UTC

A Ruse Too Far

The rainbow-maned pony furrowed her brow in concentration as she slalomed between smaller clouds, trying to keep her path ever tighter. She slipped a little smile as she reached the end of the row flawlessly, then she changed trajectory to climb altitude to the larger storm clouds. She spiraled around one, then another, until they began to spin synchronously with her motion. She nodded, satisfied, then began her ascent even higher, turning as she peaked to begin the rapid descent. She tried to ignore the sweat forming on her brow. Just like I've always done it, she reassured herself. As she built up speed, the resistance became more intense, like the air was coalescing around her. She could feel the forces along the ridges of her back and wings, the air wicking away the sweat...

And suddenly the force became too much, rejecting her forward course so firmly that her flight path became uncontrollable, erratic. The couldn't read the air or the forces or even the direction of the ground until she suddenly became entangled in the tree branches.

“Oh, Rainbow Dash,” a gentle voice praised her, “You were amazing! Woo hoo!” It was barely above speaking level.

“Yeah, an amazing failure. I have to be able to perform a Sonic Rainboom. Everything counts on that!” She carefully righted herself. “There's no way they're going to believe I'm Rainbow Dash if I can't do her most awesome move!”

“Well, she doesn't do it that much,” the pink-maned yellow pegasus replied. “I'm sure you'll do just fine.” She smiled wide and reassuringly, but the flat tone of the final word betrayed her concern.

“Just. Fine?” Chambin said, still echoing Rainbow Dash in frantic tone. “Fine is not cool enough to be awesome or radical! Besides, the point is to dupe them into a confrontation and betray them. You don't think Rainbow Dash would bring her A game to a confrontation like that? Ugh.” She collapsed on the ground and watched the clouds she had spun finish losing their momentum. “I don't get it. Hey, your Fluttershy is getting pretty good.”

“Oh!? You think so? I... don't know...” Faerbin lowered her head demurely.

“See, I never thought you'd manage that timid thing considering how proud you are.” Faerbin even managed to look hurt as Chambin added, “Sorry, I mean... you're doing a great job.”

“I don't know,” Faerbin replied. “My squirrel is still a little off. Mr. Flufftail here either just asked if I'd seen any acorns or demanded you stop laying on his pickles.” Chambin quickly took to the air and checked the ground beneath him, then looked at at Faerbin, who smiled and added, “must be the acorns.” They laughed heartily, and Chambin flew up to a nearby oak and picked a couple acorns and handed them to Faerbin, feeling a little more confident again.

“Say,” Chambin said, scanning the skies, “have you had to eat?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, it's been three months out here. I've not felt hungry at all. Doesn't that seem weird to you?”

“Not really,” Faerbin said, “I just assumed that the creatures here had been feeding me their love, isn't that right, Mr. Flufftail?” The squirrel squeaked, perked his ears, and then skittered off.

“Nah, animals scare easily, and sense what other ponies can't. He wouldn't trust you if you were feeding off his love. Pets have never worked for us before. Besides, that doesn't explain me. What's different?”

“Oh, I don't know,” Faerbin said, watching the squirrel bound into the woods, an expression that was either genuine concern or a perfect mirror of it. “We can ask Chrysalis when we go back to report.”

“I guess.” Chambin wondered at his reluctance to return. Three months ago, he balked at the idea of not being by the Magnificent Queen's side. The Running of the Leaves was fast approaching, and it would be harder to hide from the weather pony patrols without cover. “I just think we'd do better to stay like this.” Chambin gestured vaguely to herself and Faerbin. “I just feel so much more confident....”

Confidence. Was that it? If you believe in yourself, was it close enough love?

Confidence.

The thought only amplified itself. Chambin was sure he'd stumbled upon something. It would be enough. He took to the sky with as rapid of a climb as he could.

“Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy gasped quietly. “Waaiiit.” She pointed in vain to the horizon, where she could see the actual bearers of the elements approaching. Between Chambin's focus and Faerbin's lack of volume, the warning didn't reach her. Faerbin quickly darted into a nearby bush.

* * *

“So, let me see if I have this right,” Applejack said as they walked down the road. “Last year's Gala dress won't work?”

“Oh, no, of course not,” Rarity replied, matter-of-factly. “Last year's fashion's will hardly catch anypony's eye. At least, not in a positive way, hmm?”

“Well, shucks, how about the bridesmaid dress from Cadence and Shining Armor's wedding?” Applejack countered. “That's more than fru-fru enough, right?”

“Oh! Nonononono,” Rarity replied. “Of course you musn't wear that again.”

“Ever?”

“Now you're getting it, Applejack!” Rarity praised her, smiling.

Applejack eyes widened, then she squinted at Rarity in disbelief. “Havin' you for a friend, I'm gonna need a bigger closet.”

“Look, girls!” Twilight Sparkle pointed at the picnic hill, where Pinkie pie was bouncing in from the other direction, followed closely by their two pegasi friends. “Everypony else is already here!” She was grateful for the distraction to change the subject – after the last Gala, her stomach knotted up even thinking about the uncomfortable formal event. But, in the intervening year, she and her friends had only become even bigger celebrities, and their absence would be noticed and digested into shameless gossip, and that would just make things more miserable for Princess Celestia. Twilight would be there for her mentor, and maybe it wouldn't be so bad now that she knew what to expect.

Besides, she'd already talked Rarity into going again, not that it took much. She began sketching the new dresses immediately. Applejack wasn't too hard to talk into it either – after the wedding, some of her fancier apple treats had become well sought after by the Canterlot elite, so her customers were already waiting.

“Hurry up slow pokes!” Pinkie Pie called to them. “Rainbow Dash has got a new trick she's promised she's gonna show us, and it sounds pretty neat!” She nodded, then looked puzzled, “Or looks pretty neat? Or will sound like it looks pretty neat?” She shrugged. “I guess will just have to wait and see! Or hear.”

As Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, Twilight mentally added Pinkie to the list. It may not be her favorite kind of party, but she wouldn't say no to any party her friends were going to. “Something cooler than the Sonic Rainboom?” Twilight queried.

“Oh it's like, way way way cooler!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “I call it... The Super Rainboom.” She swept a hoof dramatically in front of herself, stopping her hoof on each capital letter. As Twilight raised an eyebrow questioningly, she noted Rainbow Dash would be a harder sell after last Gala, but her loyalty would see that through in the end. “Okay, it's like the Sonic Rainboom to start, but right after it goes off, I put on the breaks, slow past the Sonic Rainboom barrier, then kick it into max speed so it goes off again!”

“Oh, Rainbow Dash, that will be beautiful,” Fluttershy nodded in support, smiling broadly. Rainbow Dash squinted at her, and she added “Oh, I mean radical,” Twilight knew she could probably just badger Fluttershy into going again, but she wanted to avoid taking advantage of her friend's timidness. Maybe the animals would be less frightened, since they'd seen Fluttershy in less noisy circumstances since last year...

“It'll be both,” Rainbow Dash said confidently. “And awesome. And you get a sneak peak! Are you ready?” To the various cheers and confirmations, Rainbow Dash began a rapid ascent.

* * *

Chambin reached the upper atmosphere and began his dive. Confidence was their power, what enabled them to exist without love gathered by Chrysalis for them to devour. “And if I have enough to survive, I have enough to do this!” She began a dive at a steeper angle than before. It was all or nothing this time, she thought as the wind began to pull at her, to resist, and as she adjusted her body and wings ever so subtly until the resistance seemed to diminish, until the wind seemed to become a part of her movement. She closed her eyes and let the feeling surround her, felt as the pressure prepared to give way to her once and for all -

“Look out!” a voice said, snapping her out of the moment. The pony that uttered the warning was a mirror image, and both ponies were stunned into inaction at that crucial moment right before their inevitable collision.

And the Rainboom.

* * *

“Ooooh!” the girls all uttered in unison below.

“That was at least six times cooler!” Pinkie Pie tallied on her hooves. The Super Rainboom was definitely different. The wave of color was vivid almost to the point of blinding, and seemed to move out not just on a single plane like one rainboom, or even two planes, but more like an expanding sphere. But when it faded, there wasn't a rainbow trail leading away, where all their eyes followed.

“There!” Rarity was the first to notice, and sharply pointed a white hoof into the sky, where a blue blur spiraled lazily downward.

Then, to everypony's dismay, Pinkie Pie's tail began to twitch.

“Somepony's got to slow her down!” Twilight Sparkle said decisively. “Fluttershy!” She turned on the demure pony who pulled her head down and back reflexively against the sudden noise. “You can get to her fastest. It'll buy some time.”

Fluttershy stood up straight quickly. “Right!” she replied, taking to the sky as quickly as her recently improved wingpower would allow.

Twilight scrambled for more ideas. “Rarity! Did you bring your fainting couch with you?”

“Oh! I decided that much drama was simply unbecoming...” The sheepish embarrassment in Rarity's expression mingled with, but didn't mask, her growing concern for her plummeting friend.

“Twi, there's a cart of hay in front of the barn that Big Mac and I could haul back here in a jiffy if he hasn't left for town with it already–” Applejack offered.

Twilight looked up, squinting against the light of the sun, and saw Fluttershy had reached Rainbow dash and was doing her best to slow her descent, grabbing her tail and dragging her back, but she wasn't as effective as Twilight had hoped. “No time.” she muttered, her horn aglow. She had walked from this spot to Sweet Apple Acres many times in the years, and she had the calculations perfect in her mind. There was a flash of light in front of them.

A very surprised Big Macintosh was standing on their picnic blanket.

“Sorry,” Twilight managed after a short delay, cringing.

“Big Brother, were you hitched to the cart?” Applejack asked.

“Eeeyup,” Macintosh answered

“Twi–”

“On it,” she interrupted, her horn already aglow again. The cart appeared in position with only seconds to spare. Hay flew in every direction as the free-falling ponies impacted, and Fluttershy, carried by the momentum crashed into them an instant later. As the cloud settled, she was first to emerge.

“I'm so sorry, I tried to slow them down,” brushing the hay dust from herself and shaking it out of her wings, “but together they were just too much weight for me.”

“They?” Applejack queried.

“Together?” Twilight Sparkle asked at the same time. They peered into the cart to find not one, but two Rainbow Dashes laying unconscious in the pile, wings intertwined and bent to odd angles.

* * *

Twilight stood at the end of the hospital beds, glancing from one to the other occasionally, then ventured a few glances down at the book in front of her. She skimmed a few lines quickly, then the book glowed purple before a few pages flipped and she skimmed some more. She bunched up her face in frustration before the book glowed and descended sloppily onto a growing pile of books. She lifted the next one from the stack and repeated the process as Spike gathered the pile of books she'd already rifled through to take back to the library.

“I picked the ones I thought would be best, just like you said,” Pinkie Pie said, nodding at the book pile, handing a fresh-baked cupcake to Twilight.

“You did great, Pinkie,” Twilight reassured her before taking a bite of the cupcake. It was crisp and sweet and reminded Twilight that she'd never gotten a chance to eat at the picnic, so she quickly finished it. “'History of Arial Milestones,' 'Famous Pegasi Throughout History,' 'The Wonderbolts Book of Equestrian Records,'” she listed off a few of the titles she'd already been through. “There's just no mention of the Sonic Rainboom anywhere except in old mare's tales and filly's books. Nothing substantial, certainly not enough to explain this.” She looked up at the two Rainbow Dashes, laying in two beds, side-by-side.

“Uhhh,” the Rainbow Dash on the left groaned, stirring slightly.

Applejack had fallen asleep standing up nearby, and snapped awake. “I wasn't asleep!” she said loudly, then, becoming aware of her surroundings, added, “She's wakin' up!”

Rarity put down some stitching that she had brought with her to pass the time, approaching. “Careful now, Applejack. Let's not startle the poor dear.” Her eyes darted to the next bed over, and she gasped, causing Twilight to turn to face that bed.

“Uhm, this one is moving, too,” Fluttershy confirmed. “Oh, don't try to move yet, Rainbow Dash!” she interjected as the bandaged pegasus tried to sit up.

“Heh, this room looks familiar,” the Dash on the left muttered.

“I guess the Super Rainboom didn't go so well, huh?” the right Dash said almost at the same time.

Both narrowed their eyes and turned slowly to peer at each other. Both blinked slowly. There was an awkward moment when nopony dared to say anything.

“Now, Rainbow Dash, I know you're–” Twilight Sparkle began.

“What the hay!?” they both exclaimed simultaneously, pointing quickly at the other, wincing in pain as they did so. “What do you mean, what the hay!?” they accused each other. “Twilight, zap her, she's a a changeling!”

Twilight took another breath and tried to start again. “We–”

“You've gotta know it's me, right?” the one on the right appealed to her.

“It's me, your old friend, we know each other too well for cheap tricks, right?” the left one followed up.

“Look, no offense,” the right one said to the left, “but nopony is as cool as the original, genuine Rainbow Dash, which is obviously me.”

“Uhm,” Fluttershy attempted to interject.

“I'm a little flattered,” the left one retorted, “I mean, I can understand why you'd want to pretend to be so awesome, but there's only room enough in these skies for one Rainbow Dash.”

“Please stop,” Fluttershy continued, ignored. “You need to rest...”

Twilight Sparkle watched helplessly as the argument moved back and forth. She had been hoping they'd wake up one at a time, giving her a chance to talk to them each alone. She realized now this was best. Let her get it out of her system. Applejack and Rarity were now holding each one back as the accusations escalated, keeping them in bed, and Pinkie Pie was trying to talk over them, something about Bran Muffins in attempt to break the tension.

“Lay DOWN!” Fluttershy finally yelled over everypony. All the noise immediately stopped, and the struggling Dashes laid flat in their beds. “First, you have an injury to take care of, and this isn't helping!”

“But–” left Dash began.

“And don't you think your good friends haven't tried to figure out who was the real Rainbow Dash while you were unconscious?” she moved closer to left Dash as she spoke, who now looked like she was trying to burrow into her pillow.

“Hah!” right Dash laughed and pointed at left Dash, only to have Fluttershy's fury turn on her.

“And you're not helping anything or getting any better with all this fighting! Now, say you're sorry!”

“Sorry,” both Dashes said to her.

“To each other.”

“But-”

“She isn't...” both trailed off as Fluttershy turned the full Stare on them. “Sorry,” they said to each other sullenly.

“Now,” Fluttershy continued, calmly and gently, “was that so hard?” She smiled.

Twilight Sparkle rolled her eyes, and began, “Listen Rainbow Dash,” she said, consciously trying to avoid looking at either of them while she spoke, “the first thing I did was try the changeling detection spell on both of you. Neither of you is a changeling.”

“No offense, Twilight, but are you sure you got the spell right?” left Dash asked.

“Positive.” She had done it by instinct during the Royal Wedding Incident, but working with the princesses, they were able to hone the spell, and she trained the entire Royal Guard afterwards. It was an exhausting couple of weeks, and Twilight was pretty sure she could do it in her sleep, and may have even done so during some of the sessions. “It has to be something about the Sonic Rainboom.”

“That doesn't even make sense!” right Dash countered.

“I know, but honestly, the science behind the Rainboom itself is shaky at best, and that doesn't stop you from doing it. We just don't know enough to explain it...” Twilight trailed off. “Do you remember anything from the Rainboom that might help us figure out what happened?”

“I remember the dive and the moments right before it, but the next thing I remember is waking up,” the left one supplied, looking to the right one, who nodded agreement, both lowering their heads sullenly.

“Well, I'll just have to make two of your dress for the Gala this year,” Rarity observed, breaking the silence that followed.

“Huh?” Applejack said, then, as Rarity glared at her, she understood. “I mean, yeah, and I promised to set aside a mug of cider for ya next cider season, what's two mugs instead? I'll still beat the wings off of both of ya at the next Running of the Leaves!”

“I already have to use the dozen cupcake pan for our picnics,” Pinkie added, “so that there's one for Spike. And so I can have a couple fresh out of the oven to make sure they turned out right!”

“Um, we should let Rainbow Dash... or, I mean, Rainbow Dashes, rest for a while,” Fluttershy interrupted quietly

“I'll do some more research back at the library,” Twilight said, lifting the pile of books magically with her, moving another stack forward onto the night stand between the two Dashes. “Here's the Daring Do collection. Just try to read and keep calm while we sort this out.” She tried to smile reassuringly.

* * *

From the tree outside the hospital room window, Faerbin-Fluttershy watched everypony shuffle out of the room. She watched the two glare at each other, then reach for the same Daring Do novel.

“Hey, I haven't read that one yet!” She tugged gently on the book.

“Me neither, Twilight had forgotten that her brother had borrowed it, and she'd just gotten back. And she was going to lend it to me.” She tugged back

“Yeah, I've been waiting since I finished The Alicorn's Shadow.” She tugged back, a little hard this time, wincing as her own wing twinged.

“No, I finished it.” She retorted, straining on the book now. Both began to sweat, the book not budging from the midpoint between them. “My favorite part is when she defies the Nightmare Shadow.” The strain carried into the tone of her voice.

“No way! The best part was when Daring Do got the drop on Sebastius by using his own trap against him.”

“Omigosh! I can't believe I forgot that part. She is so awesome! But that wasn't as awesome as when she-” Faerbin stopped paying attention as the strain left their voices, and they began excitedly discussing their favorite fictional character. This is excellent! We couldn't have planned this better. She quietly thanked the birds who allowed her to move their nest for a better view before she gently put it back where it belonged, then looked around before flying away. Chrysalis will be very pleased.

Author's Note

Yes, I know the "Double Rainbow" theme is done to death, please just bear with me, I promise you won't be disappointed.

The More The Merrier

“'1' by a nose!” Pinkie exclaimed excitedly as two pegasi blurred by her. They ascended up into the sky, through some hoops, around some flags, then back by. “'A' by 3/16ths of a nose!”

“What in Celestia is goin' on now?” Applejack asked, coming up behind them

Twilight Sparkle tallied the newest results, floating a quill into an inkwell being dutifully offered up by her number one assistant, Spike. “Well, they're getting along much better, anyway.”

“'1' by 2 3/8 noses!” Pinkie continued.

“They've decided on a friendly competition to see who the 'Real' Rainbow Dash is,” Twilight Sparkle said, adding to the tally.

“I've been on the receiving end of a friendly competition with her before,” Applejack observed, rolling her eyes. “Has it come to a scuffle yet?”

“'A' by 3 and 19/32 noses!” Pinkie exclaimed. She waved a foam finger labeled “Go Rainbow Dash A!”

“Not this time, but they did make it best out of 101 races,” Twilight responded wryly, tallying again.

“'1' by 5 noses!” Pinkie had lowered the previous foam finger and on the other hoof had raised one reading “Dash 1 is #1!”

“What the hay is with the 1-A thing?” Applejack asked.

“Well, we needed some way to distinguish the two, and of course, neither would agree to be '2' or 'B'” Twilight explained.

“Naturally,” Applejack observed nodding.

“Indeed,” Rarity interjected, having arrived unnoticed. “I can't imagine the thought of having to contend with another of myself. After all, twice the Rarity would be half the rarity, as it were.”

“Two Rarities? Can you imagine?” Spike said dreamily.

“You would have a fit, wouldn't you?” Applejack directed to Rarity, grinning.

“And you wouldn't?”

“Nah, wouldn't bother me none. I'd get heaps more done around the farm each day with two of me.”

“I see, and tell me Applejack, who would win the next rodeo that came into town?” The white unicorn glared knowingly at Applejack, anticipating the response.

“Well I would... oh.” Applejack removed her hat and scratched sheepishly at her mane. “I see what yer gettin' at.”

“'A' by ½ a nose!” Pinkie called out. The two Dashes collapsed to the ground, panting and sweaty.

“So,” Dash A said between breaths, “I'm sure I've blown her away at this point, right?”

“The only thing you've blown is your chances to prove your the one and only Rainbow Dash,” Dash 1 retorted. “ I mean, I could do this all day, but there's no point in even running the 101st race since I'm beating her so badly.”

“Give me a minute,” Twilight Sparkle said, studying her notes, the abacus beads near her glowing faintly purple as they shuffled back and forth. “Well, you're not going to like it... but the score stands at 50-50.”

“What?!” they both exclaimed. “No way!”

“And before you ask,” Twlight added, “I added up the margins by which you won each race.” She looked them in the eyes one at a time before finishing with, “overall, it's a perfect tie.”

“I was sure I had her,” Dash 1 said, her brows furrowing as she lowered her head.

“Look, we've got the last race,” Dash A countered. “We'll get this sorted out. Hey, your moves on that last race were pretty awesome! You had those corners pretty tight.”

“Yeah, I did, but I couldn't keep pace on your speed on the long straightaway. Endurance like that will get us in with the Wonderbolts for sure,” Dash 1 said.

“They do seem to be getting along much better,” Rarity observed dryly, rolling her eyes.

“Yes, I think Rainbow Dash may be the only pony I know with enough ego to be able to really handle this,” Twilight Sparkle said, also rolling her eyes.

“I guess this way when she competes, she always wins,” Applejack offered, smiling. They all laughed briefly.

The reconvened to one of Rainbow Dash's favorite proving grounds, Ghastly Gorge, for the tie-breaking race. The Dashes began stretching in preparation, flexing their wings and extending them into every possible position. Both looked just as determined as always when they shook hooves.

“Ready?” Twilight prompted.

“I was born ready,” Dash 1 said.

“Let's do this,” Dash A said at the same time.

“On your mark... get set... go!”

Both launched cleanly into the air and began their dive. At first, they flew straight as an arrow, but then they began drifting around each other. Both equally impressed by the maneuver, they began to spiral around each other tighter and tighter. When the time came to dodge, they alternated back and forth around obstacles. Then, they leapfrogged on the quarry eels, tossing each other from the back of one to the next. They moved into a loop-the-loop move where one of them went forward and the other backwards. They fell into line beside each other, smiling. Then, both opened their eyes wide as they recalled this was the race, and they began charging ahead and full speed again.

Twilight craned her neck from the finish line. “ I can see them!”

“Who's winning?” Applejack asked, squinting, as the sun was setting on the horizon behind the racing pegasi.

“I.. I can't tell, can you?” Twilight looked at each of them, who shook their heads in turn.

Pinkie Pie got her most determined look and jumped up on a nearby rock. “It looks like it's '1' by a nose. No, 'A'... no, they're neck in neck... it looks like it's...” she trailed off, looking confused.

They were clearly in site now, and they were practically a silhouette of each other. Every move, every weave, was perfectly mirrored as they crossed the finish line fast enough to produce a palpable wind. Everypony cheered, but almost completely without enthusiasm as they tried to work through their confusion.

“So, who won?” Twilight Sparkle finally asked them both.

“That was my most radical run through Ghastly Gorge ever!” A Dash said as she took the “A” off her flank.

“Seriously, those moves make a great routine,” 1 Dash said, tossing her paper number aside. “We should work on that some more.”

“But–” Twilight tried to interject.

“It needs some fancier moves, maybe a little synchronized cloud work?” One of them said. They were moving around so fast mimicking their flight moves that Twilight Sparkle could no longer tell which was which.

“Oh yeah, we could just expand on phase two!” The other continued. “Only, I'm not sure how we pull of the Sonic Rainboom, we can't do it at once anyway–”

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight Sparkle exclaimed, exasperated, as she teleported between the two. “What is going on here? Don't you even care who won?”

“Well, not really,” one answered.

“You... you don't,” Rarity stammered incredulously.

“Are ya sure ya feel all right?” Applejack asked. “Maybe ya got out of the hospital too early.”

“Nah, it's just...” the other Rainbow Dash began. “Rainbow Dash doesn't leave anypony that needs her hangin', and that includes Rainbow Dash!” The two bumped hooves.

“But... uhm... how will we tell you two apart?” Fluttershy asked.

“Oh!” said Rarity, “I could make you each different custom hats , slightly different from each other!” She smiled hopefully, but was met by dubious looks from both Dashes.

“Different toned noisemakers?” Pinkie suggested, blowing a sharp note in a noisemaker that she mysteriously had with her.

“We need something that will stay with her,” Applejack countered them.

“I may have something,” Twilight Sparkle said. She'd been considering the problem herself during the banter. “How about number 25?”

“Uh, Twilight?” Spike said, “I'm not sure Rainbow Dash would look all that great in a mustache.”

“No, Spike,” Twilight said. “It's simply for hair growth, it doesn't have to be a mustache. Maybe just a little change to her mane...”

“It's got to be little, though,” Rainbow Dash said nodding, “part of the new routine is the whole twin thing we've got going on, and that won't work otherwise.”

“Got it,” Twilight said, beginning to focus her magic, her horn glowing slightly. The spell went off, and two single hairs, light cyan, wiry and twisted, rose from the mane of the Rainbow Dash in front of her. Twilight felt a little shiver down her own mane and shifted in slight dizziness.

“Ya'll right, sugarcube?” Applejack said, steadying her with one hoof.

“I think so,” Twilight rubbed her forehead with a hoof. What was that, it's not that difficult of a spell, she thought to herself, then aloud, trying to convince herself, “I haven't cast that one in a while, must just be out of practice.”

Pinkie Pie was tweaking at the two stray hairs over and over, and asked, “Do we still call you both Rainbow Dash? Because you'll both be like 'what?' Oh, and you'll get each other's party invitations and that will just be awkward!”

“I've been thinking on that.” The blue pegasus blocked the intruding pink hoof, then tried to smooth the two hairs down herself, though they just sprang back up. “I think I'll go by Iris Dash.”

“Oh, that's lovely!” Fluttershy beamed.

“Very classy,” Rarity added, nodding calm approval.

“Kind of you to give up yer name,” Applejack commented.

“But she didn't really,” Twilight countered. “It means the same thing!”

“Yeah, I saw it in a reference guide you left in the hospital, 'All Things Rainbow.'” Iris Dash explained.

“Oh, I wondered where that one went. It must have gotten mixed in with the Daring Do books when I was researching...” Twilight mentally added a reminder to check the item to locate that book off her 'to do' list when she got back to the library. “Spike, take a letter.”

Spike retrieved the parchment and quill that he seemed to always have on him.

“Dear Princesss Celestia,

Today I learned an important lesson about the element of Loyalty.

There's a quality to it that extends beyond just a loyalty to your friends or your community. There's also an aspect of it that goes deeper, that gives it meaning without which loyalty can never be given. You must first have a loyalty to yourself. Because if you let yourself down, you'll never have the confidence to believe that your loyalty to others can make a difference. When my friend Rainbow Dash suddenly became doubled in a Sonic Rainboom phenomenon, she struggled with that at first, but as the element of loyalty, she was able to overcome her doubt, and embrace herself in a way that ensured their continuing confidence and loyalty to the vision of their shared aspirations.”

She stopped dictating for a moment to look to her friends. Rainbow and Iris were giving an animated explanation of their routine changes while the others listened excitedly. Pinkie Pie had gotten out celebration cupcakes. She had brought two sets depending on which of them won, so she set them both out. Rarity had gotten out a sketch pad and was clearly recalculating the dress design for two Dashes instead of one. Applejack tried grabbing both by the tail as they went to dart off to demonstrate, but the cumulative lift power of two Dashes lifted her off the ground instead, so they carefully lowered her back down.

“Your faithful Student,

Twilight Sparkle.

PS – we'll need one more ticket than usual for the Grand Galloping Gala.”

Spike carefully rolled, sealed, and sent the letter.

* * *

Celestia stood on her balcony watching the last of the sunlight fade away below the horizon. The stars began to appear carefully in the sky, bit by bit, creating a layer of ever changing pictures one by one as they filled in, and the moon carefully drifted up into sight. She smiled down at the glowing form of her sister in the adjacent tower as she flexed her magic to bring the night. Luna had been tentative upon her return, reluctant and out of practice. I hadn't taken long for her to return to, and surpass, her former level of skill. Celestia smiled at her, as Luna finished and turned to face Celestia's tower.

Still seeking my approval. Dear sister, you always had at least that.

Swallowing her sorrow as she did every night, she turned to go inside. She was only mildly surprised when Luna landed on the balcony and followed her in.

“Good evening, dear sister,” Luna said, in the tone that most people reserved for 'good morning.'

“Good evening, Luna,” she said. “Your stars are lovely tonight.” The tea kettle above the fire glowed as Celestia spirited over to the cups, pouring for Luna first in the cup she always had ready for her visit, then herself. Two cups remained empty on either side.

“The running of the leaves approaches, and the cold nights that follow leave many turning their eyes skywards,” Luna explained. “I wish to gain their respect and adoration.”

Direct as always, Celestia suppressed a sigh. “Ruling has more nuances than that, dear sister.” She took a sip of the hot tea. It seemed stronger than usual tonight.

Luna sipped slowly, then replied, “I defer to your experience, Tia.” She almost kept the petulance out of her voice, but that restraint dissolved as a scroll appeared above the table in a flash of green flame. “Ah, look, a missive from your faithful student.” Luna carefully contemplated the surface of the tea in her cup rather than make eye contact with Celestia, who could not suppress a sigh this time as she unrolled the scroll and began reading.

“Ah, a lesson in loyalty,” Celestia noted as she began. “Luna, I think you'd find some of this interesting.” Loyalty to yourself, she mused, pausing. That's one way to put it. Would that I'd let her hold that element. She shook her head, as if to rattle the fleeting regret out, and took a sip of tea from the cup floating nearby before she continued reading. When my friend Rainbow Dash suddenly became doubled–

Luna was startled out of her pensive reverie studying the constellation of tea leaves that had come out of the filter and settled to the bottom of her cup when she heard Celestia's cup clatter the table. Both it and the scroll has stopped levitating, and Celestia wobbled slightly as the color in her mane seemed to have faded slightly.

“What is it, sister?” Luna implored, setting her cup down carefully, all bitterness fleeing her voice and mind as she moved to her sisters side to steady her. Celestia moved her head slightly toward the scroll, which glowed a dark hue as Luna lifted it and began reading. Her eyes widened. “So, it has begun, sister.”

“Yes,” Celestia breathed in a strained whisper. “We are coming to the end of it at last.”

Schism

“So, Chambin doesn't recall he is a changeling, and the spell left him unaffected,” Chrysalis summarized, contemplating Faerbin's report carefully.

“Y- yes, m-my queen,” Faerbin replied meekly. The report took quite a while to deliver in her current form, but she couldn't bring herself to drop the spell. She figured that she must be afraid all that work to perfect her character would be wasted if she dropped it, so she meekly whispered and stuttered until Chrysalis became frustrated and snapped at her, causing her to cower even further.

“This could work to our advantage, yes,” Chrysalis stood and paced and she spoke, “but there's still a chance that the right one will end up with the element in an emergency. I'd like better odds.” She turned to face Faerbin again, who cringed instinctively at the fast motion. The queen rolled her eyes and added, “but we'll find a way to identify Chambin at the crucial moment, and remove Rainbow Dash from the equation. But for now, come! You've done well, and must be famished.” Her horn and eyes began to glow, and a wafting strand of green magic drifted up from her, seemingly carried by an undetectable wind towards Faerbin.

“N-no... thank you, my queen,” Faerbin said, drawing back from the tendril as if it was her own shadow.

“But,” Chrysalis was taken aback, and the tendril drifted slightly. A few stray changelings nearby quickly darted through it, bathing in her adoration to sustain themselves before she quickly withdrew the spell. “I don't understand, dear Faerbin, don't you need love? And have I not kept you all well fed, well adored, as you have adored me in return?”

“You have,” Faerbin admitted, “and it's... nice.” The flat tone she ended on lacked any enthusiasm.

“Yes, I know, freshly collected love is more... poignant, but once we've thrown Equestria into chaos, we should be able to stock as much as we need!” She moved the tendrils to Faerbin again.

“I'm fine...” Faerbin countered, and she added, “you should save it to feed other changelings. Look at that poor fellow over there,” she flew over and mussed his mane. “Poor thing, looks like nopony has loved you in days. Here, feed this one.” She smiled convincingly at Chrysalis as the changeling, another elite, leaned into her, his weakness countered by her attention.

Faerbin clearly couldn't see it, but Chrysalis could. She could see the small amount of magic seeping from the pony in Fluttershy's shape, and it seemed diffuse, and weak, but it slowly eked into the other elite, who was looking stronger already. She was not afraid when Twilight Sparkle unmasked her, and was a only briefly concerned during her duel with Celestia. Fear never even entered her mind as Shining Armor and Cadance's shield wave swept her out into the badlands. No, fear was a new taste for her, and it was bitter, caustic. She drew in the tendrils of magic, then lashed them out before she even knew what she was doing.

Faerbin was knocked to the ground, and she briefly tried to stand, coughing the dust and shaking it from her mane, before she realized that Chrysalis was towering over her, and she cowered uncontrollably. I... why don't I just change back? I wouldn't be as frightened. Something else made her resist, but she had no further time to ponder it.

“We will decide who and when we feed!” Chrysalis boomed above her in full royal voice. “Your insolence will not be tolerated! Gone from my sight, both of you!” She dismissed the other elite with Faerbin. The ordinary changelings buzzed overhead, echoing her fury as they were simultaneously drawn to her outcry and repulsed by her rage. Faerbin charged away as quickly as she could, the other elite not far behind. The other elites followed them with their eyes, then looked to each other. They saw it too, Chrysalis thought to herself as the fear seeped away and replaced by a sense of foreboding. “Come, my loyal ones!” she cried to them, raising her magic again. “Be sustained!” As they descended to feed, she tried to reassure herself nothing would come of it.

* * *

Faerbin curled up on a rock, crying into her tail. Nopony was in sight – she had run until the buzzing of the hive was a faint echo. This is silly. I don't have to be her anymore. She sniffled, then suddenly startled and turned belly up as a nose nudged her side. She forced her eyes open to see the elite that had run with her was there. “Oh... uhm... hi there,” she said. “You... uhm... didn't have to follow me.” The other changeling drew back for a moment, then shimmered and became a mirror image of the Fluttershy shape Faerbin seemed to be unable to escape.

“Oh, but I did,” the reflection replied. “I just couldn't let you go without thanking you for what you did.”

“Oh, but I didn't do anything...” Faerbin trailed off as the memory replayed in her mind. She could see it suddenly. Her confidence, its tie to this shape, her ability to generate her own love... and her ability to share it. “I mean... you're welcome.” She smiled widely, her eyes beaming. “Do you want to know a secret?”

* * *

Chrysalis tossed and turned fitfully in her sleep. Nights in the badlands were cold, and while the drones were still building the hive, she curled up on the surface surrounded by her elite changelings for warmth. Half asleep still, she moved about one way, then another, but all she could find was handfuls of chilly dust. Her eyes snapped open and she stood suddenly.

The valley around her was empty. There was the faint sound of the cold night wind, and the faint drone of the changeling horde all around her, though that was a noise she has long since grown so accustomed to as to not hear it at all. Nothing else stirred. She was alone.

“They... don't need me,” she pouted briefly. Then, her magic flared about her, shimmering tendrils and wreaths of green, and her eyes glowed deeply. “Ingrates! Just because you no longer have need of us, to abandon us, to cast us aside after all we have provided for you! Traitors!” Her crooked horn shimmered solid emerald as she summoned the horde to her. “Find them! Bring them to me!”

The horde moved across the sky like a cloud of locusts, twisting every so often to smash a rock structure or tear through a dark ravine, literally ripping the ground apart in attempt to obey their queen's orders.

* * *

Faerbin sat silently in the shadows of the massive hall's columns, listening the buzzing overhead grow louder. She heard the cries of the Royal Guard, and saw the flashes of magic fired into the sky, giving her an opportunity to see the writhing cloud that sought her. She began to shiver in spite of herself, but the cloud started to draw back. In her anger, Chrysalis had overextended herself, and the horde limped back to her, the sound growing more faint.

Faerbin moved forward to look out of the broken window, and she squinted trying to make out the details, but then was nearly blinded by a flash of blue-white light. The light formed a column upwards then slowly refocused itself. She cowered as it seemed like the light was going to focus directly on her, but then it veered slightly to the left and passed her. The Dodge Junction Outpost, she surmised. They must be signaling Canterlot.

“It's all right now, everypony,” she urged softly. “We'll be safe here.” She watched as several dozen Fluttershies moved out from behind various columns. Nopony had come here for years, deep in the Everfree as it was, and since Nightmare Moon had been defeated in this very spot a couple of years prior, it had remained vacant. “Now, we have to find you poor dears your own confidence, don't we? This form just won't fit for all of you, sillies.” She smiled broadly.

Summons

Twilight Sparkle carefully studied the sky, mentally checking off every star in view against a list. Some were faint and took a little work to locate, but since she knew what she was looking for, it didn't take too long.

“Isn't it a little early?” Spike muttered groggily.

“Oh, Spike, sorry if I woke you,” Twilight said, not moving her eye from the telescope as she continued to check off stars. “This particular constellation is clearest in late summer just before dawn, and I wanted to make sure to get it. Owlowiscious was taking care of things for me.”

“Who,” the mostly nocturnal bird observed sagely.

“No, you didn't wake me, and I didn't mean that,” Spike replied, rolling his eyes at the owl. “I meant isn't this a little early?” He held a scroll up.

She moved back from the telescope, and settled the scroll and quill on the nearby table. She blinked a couple times to let her eyes adjust to the light level in the room. “Spike!” she gasped, “that's from Princess Luna!” The “L” etched into the seal was an older, calligraphic style instead of the usual “C.” Twilight hesitated for a moment before opening the scroll. She hadn't heard anything from Princess Celesta since her last missive, which was a couple months ago. She pushed the uneasy feeling away and broke the seal.

“I should have noticed that,” Spike apologized. “I wonder what she wants,” he prompted, trying to get Twilight to read it aloud. She was too concerned to hear him.

To Twilight Sparkle,

We consider thee a friend, and thou hast aided us more than once.
We believe that our sister has need of thy service, but for a number various reasons, she is unwilling to call upon thee.
We... no, I, call upon thee, not as a subject but as a friend, come at once, for the sake of Equestria.

May the light of the moon watch over thee in dark times,
Yours,
Princess Luna de Canterlot.

PS – Thou wouldst best fare to bring the elements.

She let the scroll fall atop the star chart and the checklist, one star unchecked and circled with a “?” by it.

“Twilight?” Spike said, the growing concern in his eyes providing a mirror for how concerned she must look.

“Spike, we have to pack, we're off to Canterlot,” she called over her shoulder as galloped to her room and opened the top drawer of her vanity.

“On it,” he nodded, yawning. “What scrolls and books are we bringing along?” He grabbed her quill from the table and a blank parchment, yawning again.

“Skip them, there's no time,” she lifted the box from the drawer simply adorned with a monogram of her cutie mark, and carefully lifted the element of magic atop her head. Since the wedding, they all kept their elements close.

Spike mouth stuck open mid-yawn in incredulity. He exchanged glances with Owlowiscious, and finally said, “No books? This is more serious than I thought.”

Twilight Sparkle arrived at sweet apple acres full gallop only a few minutes later. Applejack was looking out of the barn while Big Macintosh was gathering empty buckets, so she spotted them coming. “Something's got her in a hurry,” Applejack observed, squinting to see Twilight Sparkle among the dust she was kicking up, then her eyes widened. “Big Brother?”

“Eeyup?” Big Macintosh replied

“Looks like I might have to leave off. Think ya'll can get Applebloom and her friends to help out?”

Big Macintosh gave a dubious expression, but then Applejack nodded towards the rapidly approaching unicorn. His expression softened as he, too, noticed the tiara she wore. “Eeyup,” he said nodding, with an expression of determination. “Be careful, sis,” he added.

“Nothin' ta worry about,” she countered opening the cellar door, “probably be back by dinnertime.” She smiled weakly as she descended. She pushed aside a few of Granny Smith's Zap Apple Jam jars and retrieved a small box adorned with three red apples.

“Big Macintosh, I know it's early, but is Applejack up yet?” Applejack could hear Twilight inquiring.

“Hold yer horses, sugarcube,” Applejack said, reascending from the cellar, the Element of Honesty already hanging from her neck. “Saw ya comin'. What do we got? Changelings? Discord? Something new?” She grabbed her best ropes from hooks on the barn wall and stuffed them in her saddlebags while she asked.

“I'm... not sure,” Twilight Sparkle admitted. “And I think that worries me more. I just want to get to Canterlot fast and find out.”

“Well, sun's not quite up yet,” Applejack considered.

“I know, but the message was from Luna.” Twilight didn't stop to give Applejack time to consider that before continuing. “Fluttershy is sometimes up early to get breakfast for her animals. I'll go get her, have her get the Dashes. If you can head back to Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie should be up making the first batch of baked goods for the day.”

“What about Rarity?”

“Spike's taking care of that.”

Applejack rolled her eyes briefly, then put a hoof on Twilight's flank. “On it. It'll be all right, Twi.” she added reassuringly, before running full speed on a straight line towards town, not bothering with the gate, instead leaping the fence as she went.

Twilight smiled at her feat briefly, before putting on a determined expression and charging to the edge of town. She approached the Fluttershy's cottage quickly, reared up, then at the last moment slowed down and gently tapped the front door. No reason to start with her startled.

The door opened just a crack and the pink-maned yellow pegasus peeked out. “Oh, Twilight! I wasn't expecting you, would you like to come in for breakfast?” As she offered, her eyes moved up to the tiara. “Oh.. uhm... it's not anything too scary is it?”

“I don't think so,” Twilight smiled reassuringly.

“W-well, I'll need to put some food out for the animals, and Angel bunny will want his breakfast...” As she said this, the bunny came to the door, looked from one pony to the other briefly, then walked into the kitchen. He emerged from dragging a carrot behind him, then walked right towards the door, forcing Twilight to step aside as he passed. He went out to his bunny house, where there was the sound of him rummaging through some things. He emerged with the element of kindness, which he fastened around Fluttershy's neck before giving her a nudge forward, then gesturing dismissively. “Oh.. okay... well, then...” she started off, half galloping, half gliding on her wings.

“Thanks, Angel,” Twilight said before following, getting a smart salute from him before he went inside the house and closed the door.

It didn't take them long to get to the Dashes' house. Fluttershy flew up and called gently in. Twilight tried her hardest to resist pacing while she waited for them, but she found the only thing should could think of then was good pacing patterns based on the terrain, so eventually she gave in. The three of them flew down. Iris and Rainbow were holding the element of Loyalty with one hoof each.

“We aren't sure how this works with us,” Rainbow Dash explained. “Does it work for one, and not the other, or was the ability split between us, or what?”

“We figured if we're both holding it, it'll do its thing, day saved, no problem!” Iris Dash concluded.

“I'd not thought about that,” Twilight admitted. “Well, come on, we'll sort it out later.”

They arrived at Sugarcube Corner to witness Pinkie Pie jumping circles merrily around Applejack, and Rarity and Spike arriving from the other direction.

“How the hay did you ever get her up before sunrise?” Applejack called to Spike.

“How could I resist when my widdle Spikey-Wikey made moi a perfectly lovely breakfast in bed?” Rarity answered for him, while Spike blushed. “Such a shame, Sweetie Belle got to enjoy most of it, since this was on the tray as well,” she nudged the Element of Generosity with one hoof as she glared at Applejack meaningfully.

“We're all here!” Pinkie Pie announced. “To the Friendship Express!” She pointed dramatically in the direction of the station.

“No time,” Twilight countered, and they all stopped two hoofbeats into their run. She nodded at the horizon, where the crescent moon was just about to vanish behind the hills. The sky was already growing lighter.

“Are ya sure you can take everypony that far?” Applejack asked with concern.

“That's why I ran to get you,” Twilight explained. “I saved all my energy for this.” Her horn began to glow, and she focused on the castle in Canterlot. She debated where she should target. Luna had called her, so perhaps she should talk to her first. On the other hoof, it felt wrong to teleport in behind her beloved teacher's flank. She realized the best thing to do with a spell this challenging would be to go to the spot she knew best, so she locked firmly onto the memory of the Canterlot library.

She coalesced more magic, and her horn increased in intensity. Her friends shifted their gaze away slightly from the brightness, but Element of Magic or not, she could feel it wasn't enough. She was just about to drop the spell and consider another plan, when the moon finished disappearing in the distance.

Suddenly, it was like she had been playing tug of war with the magic, and it let go of the rope. She was suffused with so much power, it felt like the air around her had suddenly become charged, and her mane was standing on end. It felt like she would burst with it, so she recalled the spell she was attempting and channeled all the energy into that. Her field of vision was suddenly overwhelmed with a bright flash.

“Woah, nelly!” Applejack exclaimed.

“Did I do it?” Twilight Sparkle said, as her sight slowly returned. They were all hovering slightly above the floor of the Canterlot library. Rarity was trying to smooth down her mane, which was slightly rebellious from static of the magic overflow. The three pegasi were trying to get their wings to respond to their airborne state in vain, Rainbow and Iris for once looking as uncomfortable in the air as Fluttershy. Pinkie just kept turning circles apparently unperturbed, and Applejack was lightly flailing her hooves in attempt to make contact with anything. Spike alone sat midair motionless. “Sorry, everypony,” She glanced out of the library window to see the sun begin its ascent into view. “I'll-” Her grip on the spell slipped, and they all fell, not far, but suddenly, into a heap.

“What a way to travel!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, bouncing rhythmically in place..

“Yes, let's never do it again,” Rarity commented.

“Come on, everypony, I want to get to Luna before she goes to sleep for the day,” Twilight urged.

“That won't be necessary, Twilight Sparkle,” the familiar voice of the princess of the night came slightly ahead of her form ascending the staircase.

“Princess Luna!” Twilight exclaimed. “How did you know I had arrived?”

“After that spell?” Luna queried, raising one eyebrow. “Surely every unicorn in Canterlot felt that arrival, though few would know what is was they felt. Those most familiar with thy magic would know it unmistakably as thee, so my sister will surely arrive once the sun is fully in the sky.” She walked slowly past them as she spoke, and out to the rising sun beyond. “I must admit I am pleased that you responded to my missive so quickly.” She turned and smiled gently, and from where Twilight was standing, Luna's dark form was silhouetted by the sun in a very strange juxtaposition.

“Of.. of course. I'm not sure why Princess Celestia would avoid asking for our help, but we're here to do what we can.” Her friends all nodded agreement.

“Change is difficult, even for those who have lived for an age... maybe even more so.” She turned to the sun as she spoke, and her words were so soft, Twilight Sparkle wasn't sure if it was meant to be a response or if Luna was speaking to herself. “Come, you should see the reports for yourself,” Luna said, descending the staircase to the room where Twilght had lived during her studies in Canterlot, and beyond to the exit, expecting them to follow. They descended the stairs around the outside of the tower. As they reached the ground, she began galloping to Celestia's throne room, the others close behind. She charged right through the familiar room and into a side room off to the left of the throne.

Inside, light in the room was subdued to two stained glass windows on one side. One of them depicted a center panel in the shape of a heart. Inside were two unicorns, two pegasi, and two earth ponies in a tight outward facing circle, half obscured, with expressions of defiance. Outside the heart, several ephemeral creatures seemed to chase each other's tails, their eyes still seemingly aglow from the way the light caught the cut of the glass. The other one showed ponies around a round table, one signing a parchment and all of them looking happy. Driving off the Wendigos and the founding of Equestria, Twilight noted to herself. The latter window had the wendigos in the upper part of the window, still watching the scene. The eyes on this one seemed to be looking right into the room in a way that made her feel uneasy, and the flag on the wall behind the scene was an unfamiliar one, but the very same flag was hanging on the wall opposite the windows, barely recognizable under layers of dust. The table in the center of the room was littered with various scrolls surrounding a large map of Equestria, which had markers of various colors set upon it. On the other side of the table was a single bookcase, dozens of books and several large scrolls, none of which seemed to hold even a little dust.

Twilight Sparkle resisted the urge to go peruse the bookcase, and was likewise prevented from doing so as Luna physically placed herself between Twilight and the books as she lifted a scroll off the table and moved it towards the ponies following her.

“Best to start with this one,” Luna began. “We received this a couple months ago.”

“Changeling attack?” Twilight said as she read it quickly, then passed it magically to Rarity, who held it for the rest of them to skim. “I remember that night, you gave us an excellent view of the Horsehead Nebula that night by keeping the moon northerly, and it was overshadowed slightly by some lights to the south. That was a signal beacon?”

“Yes. Tia suspected we hadn't seen the last of Chrysalis, so she had outposts established in Dodge Junction, Appleoosa, and Baltimare.” Luna paused suddenly, turning from the table. “Thou... you noticed our display?”

Twilight nodded, still reading the next report. “After your return, Princess Celestia wrote me to keep an eye on the night sky, that you could do amazing things that she couldn't. I've held viewings for your meteor showers.” She handed off the report and turned for the next one to find Luna smiling warmly, a distant look in her eyes. “Princess Luna?”

“S-Sorry,” the dark alicorn stammered, a nearby scroll glowing and moving towards her, “W- I've waited a long time to have my work appreciated again like this. My thanks.” She moved the scroll to Twilight as she spoke.

“Thank you for the chance to see-” Twilight paused as she read. “I think this might be the wrong scroll, Princess. This one from Appleoosa doesn't have anything to do with changelings. It's just a census report.”

“Looks like Braeburn'll hafta get that orchard expanded,” Applejack noted, skimming the numbers over Twilight's shoulder. “That's a might more than were there when we visited.”

“Indeed,” Luna replied. “Yet, the census from other communities in Equestria show almost no change.” Luna presented several scrolls at once for their inspection.

“I know I haven't had any going away parties in Ponyville,” Pinkie Pie confirmed.

“So, you think the increase in numbers in a changeling invasion, then,” Rarity concluded.

“But, it doesn't make any sense,” Twilight shook her head. “Why alert the outposts with an attack they described as direct and easily repelled, putting us back on guard, then try sneaking in? I'll admit Queen Chrysalis made some logical mistakes, but her planning was elaborate.”

“You assume that both parts of the plan come from the same source, my faithful student,” came the response from behind Twilight Sparkle. She turned to see her teacher silhouetted in the doorway by the greater light.

Author's Note

I conceived this story in its entirety (mostly) in October, and didn't work on it furiously enough to not run into some issues with season 3. I mentally set this originally a few months after the wedding (and later moved it to after the Crystal Empire - inclusion of that upcoming), but didn't really integrate the small details of season 3, so the mention of them already having the elements on hoof (which I thought was crazy after the first Discord fiasco that they didn't keep them) is probably a little non-canon, but a minor detail, IMO.

PFFs

“Princess,” she said bowing, mostly as ceremony, but partially in shame. She still felt as if she was sneaking behind Celestia's back when she came here, and she was greatly relieved to hear no emphasis or sarcasm on the word 'faithful.'

“You need to arrive less noisily, you nearly made me drop the sun in surprise!” Celestia replied with a smile.

“I didn't mean to, I'm so sorry!” Twilight recoiled slightly.

“Don't apologize, it was quite impressive!” Celestia added reassuringly. “Still, enough of the court hold doubts of my power since my defeat at the hands of Chrysalis. It would not do to give them more reasons to mistrust my abilities.” She looked over her shoulder pensively.

“What did you mean about her?” Twilight managed after a pause. “About Chrysalis? That she's not controlling all the changelings?” She never thought she'd be bringing up the changeling queen as a way of distracting her teacher from her worries.

“She was weakened by her loss here,” Celestia explained, “and it's possible some saw her as weak and broke away to seek their own fate. Or were able to do so without her will being strong enough to control them.” She shook her head. “We don't really have much information on how her control and their hive mind works. I don't even know if it could work that way, it just explains the facts.”

“Which would mean the attack wasn't meant for Dodge Junciton to begin with,” Twilight reasoned.

“Right,” Applejack chimed in, “she was aimin' for the ones leavin' her.”

“So... if we know one group or another is hiding in Appleoosa, all we have to do is go there and test everypony with the Changeling identification spell!” Twilight smiled excitedly, sure she had found the solution.

“And terrify the citizens there with the idea of Changelings among them?” Celestia countered. “Neighbor suspecting neighbor?”

“Oh,” Twilight said, silently cursing herself for missing that nuance.

“But in the end is not the safety of our citizens tantamount, sister?” Luna said, stepping towards Twilight in support. “Would it not be worth it ridding them of the danger in their midst?”

“At too high of a cost,” Celestia almost snapped. The others all stepped back a half step at this. She took a breath, then continued, “As you can see, we've already discussed this. But we were both right, in a way. I allowed Luna to go through with your suggestion, at night while everypony slept.”

“Then, didn't that take care of everything?” Rainbow Dash spoke up for the first time since they arrived. “I mean, that spell is foolproof, right?” Iris Dash looked sideways at her, and took a half step backwards.

“No,” Celestia said, looking straight at the pair firmly. “The spell is designed to strip away deception. Something about the way they were hiding, they no longer believed themselves to be deceiving.”

There was a an awkward pause while everypony tried desperately not to look at either Rainbow Dash or Iris Dash.

Finally, suddenly, Iris Dash leaped and glided onto the table.

“I... I never meant to,” she stammered.

“No,” Rainbow Dash almost whispered.

“How long have you known?” Celestia said.

Iris Dash reached up and touched the two wiry blue hairs amongst her mane. “I felt something when you did this to me,” she explained, looking at Twilight.

“Me too,” Twilight said. “I didn't think it felt right.”

“No.” Rainbow Dash was louder this time, but seemed to be at a loss to elaborate.

“I probably even knew then, deep down,” Iris admitted, nodding. “But even then, it would just be a brief flash when I'd slick the hairs back,” she emulated the unconscious tick that Twilight realized now she had seen frequently, “or when I'd see them in a mirror. But you were all my friends and Rainbow Dash and I had such an awesome routine.” Iris' voice grew thick, “and I just pushed the feeling down and hoped it would go away. Can you forgive me?”

“No!” Rainbow Dash shouted. Iris Dash recoiled, but it wasn't in response to her question. “You're me. I'm you! Right? We're in this together, right?” Iris Dash looked to the floor, her eyes tearing slightly. “You can't leave me hanging like this. What kind of Loyalty would that be?” Anger finally crept into Rainbow Dash's voice in that final statement.

“I'm sorry, all right!” Iris Dash yelled back. “I didn't ask for this! At least, what I can remember of me didn't! Aagh!” She pounded her hoof on the table in frustration. “Listen, I wish there were no changelings, that the Rainboom is what created me, and that we could go on living this lie! The lie is happier!”

She made to dart out of the small room, but she was intercepted by a another, inexplicably faster pony, who pounced her to the ground. The blur of yellow and pink was so sudden, they all froze in place.

“Let me go!” Iris Dash demanded, trying to shake Fluttershy loose. For her part, Fluttershy only grabbed tighter, here eyes squeezed shut in an expression of blind determination. “Let go. Let go!” Bucking wildly now, Iris seemed to lose her will quickly between the exertion and emotion, collapsing to the ground sobbing.

“There, there,” Fluttershy said softly, burying Iris' head in her mane . “We're all here. We're all here, and it will be okay.” She smiled, her kind eyes darting around the room for support.

“The lie never lasts, sugarcube,” Applejack said softly. “Best get it out now, and move on.”

“It's not like we're not your friends anymore, silly,” Pinkie Pie added. She tapped one hoof against her chin thoughtfully. “But we'll have to figure out your birthday so we can give you your birthday party on right day. Oh, I know, how about the day we all met you?”

“I've already made two dresses,” Rarity chimed in, “and I know Rainbow Dash certainly isn't going dress up often enough to need a spare.”

“We're your friends, Iris Dash, and what you are doesn't really change who you are, not if you don't want it to,” Twilight Sparkle sounded more reassuring than she felt, because while she spoke, her eyes were locked on the other rainbow-maned pegasus. For once, Rainbow Dash, who was normally an open book, was completely unreadable.

“D-do... do you really all mean it?” Iris Dash said, but as she emerged from Fluttershy's forced embrace, her eyes, too, were only looking to one of them.

“What kind of a question is that?” Rainbow Dash replied in monotone. She stepped forward until she stood over her double, her head down and her eyes hidden behind her mane. Nopony in the room seemed to breathe. “We're PFFs, right?” Rainbow Dash said, finally meeting Iris' gaze, smiling and extending a hoof towards Iris.

Iris beamed brightly as she bumped Rainbow's hoof. “T-thank you, everypony.” She wiped her eyes. “Now enough of this mushy stuff.”

“You all mean it, then?” Celestia moved forward a step. She had watched the exchange so quietly that Twilight Sparkle had almost forgotten she was there. Even now, her expression was unreadable. Everypony nodded confidently. Then, the princess turned to the changeling in their midst.. “Do you mean it?”

“What do you mean?” Iris responded, “I can't imagine anything more awesome than staying here with my friends.”

“The other part,” Celestia countered. “The part where you wished there were no changelings.”

“Princess, are you suggesting...” Twilight trailed off. She couldn't believe that she was suggesting outright war, but how else could she eliminate the changelings?

“Twilight Sparkle, did you read the book that I suggested for Hearts and Hooves Day?” Celestia asked.

“I... only skimmed it.” Twilight struggled with the shift in topic. “The Cutie Mark Crusaders borrowed it before I got a good look. Something about dragons and love potions-”

“Love poison,” Luna corrected. “Between a princess and her prince.”

“Specifically,” Celestia continued, “Princess Chrysalis and Prince Cocoon.”

Roots

“Every queen was once a princess,” Celestia said gently, disturbing the shocked silence, “though not every princess becomes a queen.”

“So, she was once a normal alicorn Princess?” Rarity was the first to manage a response.

“Indeed, every changeling was once a normal pony, living a peaceful life in a distant kingdom, far to the south.” Luna traced one hoof down the map on the table, south past the badlands. A green-flagged pin glowed black and affixed itself in the margin of the map. “There, was it not, sister?”

Celestia nodded before continuing the tale. “The story speaks of the desperate prince that used the love poison, and the kingdom that fell in neglect, but sadly it wasn't as direct as that. You see, the two were so madly in love that the kingdom wasn't all they neglected. They lost all regard for personal safety and care, sacrificing so much of themselves. Eventually the prince fell ill and never recovered.”

“But the spell, once they didn't see each other for an hour, it wears off, right?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“Yeah, that's how it worked when my big brother and Miss Cherilee got all googly eyed for one another,” Applejack recalled.

“For the spell to truly be broken, one must look into the eyes of the other after the hour, and see the love gone. Otherwise, the enchantment never loses its hold.”

“Wait, you mean, because the prince died, she was never able to see the love gone from his eyes?” Twilight said, shaking her head as she spoke, hoping very much to be wrong, but Celestia only nodded once. “That's... horrible.”

“Alas, the horror ended not there,” Luna picked up the tale after a brief awkward pause. Celestia seemed lost in thought, Twilight noted, or perhaps overwhelmed by the sadness herself. Luna's horn glowed and she shifted the shadows in the room into the shapes of various ponies. Little shadows unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies walked down imaginary streets. One stood larger in the middle, an alicorn.

“So great was her need, that she sought the love of her subjects. They adored their princess well,” the shadows all bowed graciously, “but it was not the same. In her desperation, she found a spell that would allow her to take the shape of another. She studied well from her lofty tower until she found a target,” a pair of earth pony shadows near the middle embraced, then parted, “and then she would strike.”

The form of the alicorn glowed a sickly green hue and then became an earth pony, running out to take the place of one of the shadows, running to the other. “In this form, she would be loved by them as they would love their closest.” A small green tendril moved from the pony to the disguised alicorn, and the pony staggered. The disguised alicorn glowed again, changing to match the pony she had just left, and then ran to the other. “Slowly, the magical process would drain her citizens. They became less and less of themselves.

“And finally her constant efforts meant that she slowly forgot herself as well.” The alicorn form reemerged, slightly different than before. She would shift again, then back, each time looking less like the original shadow form, and more like the queen they knew. “And all they could remember was the love she gave them, no longer even recalling their love for each other, and losing their forms to become what she needed.” Soon the shadows looked eerily like a changeling horde, which turned to strike out at the watching ponies before Luna dispersed the show again, causing Fluttershy to dive behind Iris Dash, shaking.

“I... I don't remember that, that's for sure,” Iris Dash admitted.

“I would doubt any changeling does,” Celestia finally spoke again. “Least of all their queen.”

“Princess,” Twlight Sparkle began, looking first to Celestia, but then to Luna, unsure of which one she was really addressing, “You summoned me here, so I assume you thought we could help with the situation. You want us to find a way to get rid of the changelings, or turn them back somehow?”

“If anypony can find the way, Twilight Sparkle, surely it is thee,” Luna said. “And I believe my sister may have something to aid you.”

“I was waiting for you to be ready,” Celestia answered Twilight's gaze as it shifted to her. “And I know you are now.” She gestured to the bookshelves, and Luna stepped aside. “These books are excluded from the library because they are Starswirl the Bearded's most personal study diaries. Every spell, every experimentation that he did was in here.”

“I thought those were in the Starswirl the Bearded Wing of the archives,”Spike recalled.

“Those are the public documents for the spells and studies he approved for teaching at the Magic Academy,” Celestia explained. “These are less well known for... several reasons. But I knew him well, and I know he would have wanted you to have them.”

“You knew him?” Twilight Sparkle furrowed her brow adding, “But I thought he was Clover the Clever's mentor, and predated Equestria.”

“I might have used a little... creative license with history in the Hearth's Warming pageant,” Celestia admitted, blushing slightly. “Aside from magic users with an avid interest in the history of magic, few would know his name otherwise, and I felt he deserved more fame than he had.”

“That explains why Princess Luna spoke of him as if she knew him,” Twilight mused. Luna winced slightly. “Why would he want me to have them?” Twilight asked.

Celestia turned meaningfully towards Twilight Sparkle as she said, “because of all of his line, nopony has surpassed the magical ability of his great-great-great-great-great-great- granddaughter.”

Twilight Sparkle was leaning in, waiting for Celestia to finish. “Wait, me?” she finally realized. She looked over at her friends, and Rainbow and Iris were barely suppressing a laugh at her expression, and the others were smiling broadly. “That's... great!” Twilight blurted, causing Rainbow and Iris to not be able to keep from laughing any longer, and the rest smiled, even Luna briefly. After a moment of sheepishly ducking her head, Twilight stood straight and continued. “I won't let you down, Princess. I'll find a way to help the changelings become ponies again!”

“I have no doubt you will,” Celestia said, “but you've used a lot of energy getting here this morning. Would you all care to join me for breakfast before you begin?”

Author's Note

Luna's reference to Starswirl really did stick out in my head as the greater reference. Her "thou even got the bells right" felt more like she knew him personally, and connected with me so much that I completely forgot Clover the Clever's off-handed reference until a recent rewatch. I also think from the Hearth's Warming references, it clearly happened before the current Princesses were around, so both can't be true.

Out of Time

Twilight Sparkle woke as her head impacted the ancient round table, the noise of the book falling from the air reverberating in her ears. I can't stop now, the answer has to be here. She lifted the book again and began quickly skimming the page.

“Hast thou been reading through these all day, Twilight Sparkle?” Luna voice sounded behind her.

“Is it night already?” Twilight glanced at the windows, wishing they let in just a little more light. She focused briefly, and the candles in the sconces around the room all came alight, the faint smell of burning dust briefly pervading the room. “No, I fell asleep after breakfast. I guess the mass teleport took more out of me than I thought.”

Luna nodded at the stack. “May I?” Twilight floated a book to her in answer, and Luna began flipping through it with her. “It must have. I cannot imagine the pony grown from the filly my sister described slumbering while a shelf of rare books awaited her perusing. Where are the others, thy friends?”

“Oh, Pinkie helped me by randomly picking the books to start with, she always has a knack for that. She's in the kitchen now helping Applejack make snacks, so I don't have to take breaks as often.” She nodded to a plate of fresh apple fritters and apple-frosted cupcakes. “Rarity and Fluttershy were gathering supplies earlier, but without any clear goal, there was only so much they could do, so I think they're touring the castle grounds now.” The book she was skimming while she spoke was a fascinating discussion on weather-related spells, and she had a difficult time not stopping to read in more detail. There will be time later. “The Dashes are doing a wide patrol to see if a pegasus-eye view can provide more details on the changeling movement.” She closed the book and moved it aside, floating the next one over. 'One Hundred and One Growth Spells.' Well, change and growth are pretty similar.

“I will aid her by watching the night from my tower,” Luna said decisively, “lest they end up deeper in Equestria.” She lowered the book she had slowly onto the table.

“Do we even know if they mean harm?” Twilight looked up and met Luna's questioning gaze. “I mean, if they've left Queen Chrysalis behind, perhaps they've rejected her deceptive ways.”

“Their very nature is deception. I fear there are two great possibilities – that they have split with her, and her vindictive nature will cause her to seek them out, leading to an epic pony war, or that they are still working with her, and the attack was a ruse to distract us.”

“I... I hadn't thought of it that way.”

“Do not be hard on yourself. I may be a thousand years short of my sister's experience, but I do know something of strategy.” Luna moved to the door, and said softly as she left, “Fear not, you will find what you seek in time, Twily.”

Twilight Sparkle set the book she was reading down, jarred by the nickname. She must have heard Shining Armor use it, she reassured herself. Still, it was odd for Luna to use such an informal name with her like that. Maybe she's finally relaxing a bit. She moved to the door, watching Luna depart. Her formal stance and measured gait didn't seem any more relaxed. Twilight's stomach rumbled slightly, and she lifted a cupcake from the platter munching on the edge as she returned to her book.

Suddenly, she felt heat rise up hear cheeks all the way to her mane. “Hot! Hot!” she ran out the room, knocking the book Luna had set down onto the floor. She ran full gallop to the kitchen, sweat pouring down her face. She forced the door open, looking frantically around for a drink.

“Looks like your warning will be too late,” Applejack observed.

“Sorry Twilight, I accidentally gave you the batch with hot sauce!” Pinkie had a tray on her back with several other cupcakes and a pitcher of lemonade. Twilight quickly snatched the pitcher and drank its contents.

“How's the studying?” Applejack offered her a slice of apple pie.

“Oh, good.” She ate the pie quickly, the sweet crispness countering the last of the burning sensation.

“Really? You found something?” Pinkie Pie asked excitedly.

“Well, no,” Twilight frowned, then growled in frustration. “It's all really fascinating, but none of it has been helpful so far!”

“Well, you know a little break might do you some good,” Rarity said from the doorway. “Fluttershy and I have just finished touring the garden maze. You know, without Discord making it a labyrinth of torment and despair,” she added nonchalantly.

“Rarity, I spent a lot of my youth here,” Twilight reminded her. “I've toured everything. Multiple times.”

“Yes, well,” Rarity countered, “I still think a little fresh air would do you good after all that dust and the smoke of those candles.”

“The candles!” Twilight ran back to the room as fast as she could. Of course, she reminded herself as she checked the sconces, they were wall mounted, so none of them could have set the books on fire, but having just gotten this collection, she couldn't help but be a little paranoid about it. She sighed in relief and then picked up the book Luna had been looking at carefully. On the black leather cover was etched the two five-pointed stars with the background spiral, unmistakably the cutie mark of Starswirl the Bearded. She checked the spine and found there was no title. Her curiosity piqued, she opened it up.

She closed it again, studying it carefully from the outside, then opened it again. “Is this a prank of Luna's or something?”

“I doubt it, she doesn't strike me as a real prankster,” Spike commented, entering the room. He picked up the pile of books that Twilight had finished with and began refiling them.

“Then what do you make of this?” She floated the book to him and opened it.

“Are all the pages blank like this?” Spike scratched his chin thoughtfully when she nodded. “Maybe it's a notebook he never got a chance to use?”

“But Luna sat here and leafed through the book while I talked to her.” Twilight thought back to the discussion. Her eyes had been glued to her own books while she talked, and she barely noted the book that she had floated to Luna, but she recalled now that it was bound in red leather, and was quite a bit thicker. She spotted that book nearby on the table, dust still on the cover. “So, where did you come from, then?” She flipped through the pages anxiously. One page near the middle had a single speck of ink in the center, but all the others seemed completely clean. She squinted at the spot. “Spike, stay back, I'm going to try something.”

He darted a glance around the room, and decided the safest place was to wedge himself under the ancient table. “Just be careful, all right?” he waggled a claw at her before his hand retreated to safety with the rest of him.

She leaned in, bringing the book closer at the same time, until the tip of her horn just touched the black spot. The second it made contact, she could hear a buzzing noise, like it was coming from somewhere behind her, and so faint she wasn't sure she wasn't just imagining it. She moved the book back slightly, and the noise stopped. Not just my imagination, then. She furrowed her brow, and made contact again. There was another barrier there, she could feel a slight flow, like static in her mane. She pushed just the slightest bit of magic down her horn.

Suddenly, the pages of the journal were alight with her violet hue, lines tracing out from the original spot, until they made the shape of two overlapping six-pointed stars, with five other smaller stars appearing nearby. Inside the outline of this image of her own cutie mark, words and letters suddenly faded into view, then seemed to pour out of the outline until they filled the page. She quickly turned the pages to find them slowly filling in the same way. The cover shuddered and the light pulsed outward across the room, extinguishing the candles as the light itself went out.

“Twilight, what happened? Are you all right?” In the same direction as Spike's voice, she heard a thud.

“I'm all right, hold still.” Twilight relit the candles quickly to see Spike rubbing an obvious bump on his own head. In his concern, he'd stood up too quickly and hit the table. Twilight felt like she must have hit her head as well, as there was a dull throbbing just behind her horn. That spell was simple, but... subtle. Strong. She shook her head, trying to shake the knot of pain loose.

“Cool, it's got your cutie mark on it now,” Spike said, picking up the book and leafing through it. “Too bad it's still all blank.”

“What?!” Twilight stopped her shaking suddenly, and lifted the book from Spike, flipping the pages quickly. She skimmed them, then turned it back to him. “So this looks blank to you?”

“Uh, yeah. Twilight, are you sure you're all right?”

She turned the book back to read the pages, her eyes skimming the cramped writing and the carefully notated diagrams. “I'm more than all right, Spike. Put the rest of these away, I'm pretty sure I've found what we need.”

* * *

“There has to be an easier way.” Twilight sighed, pacing in circles around the table, dark circles under her eyes and her mane in a disarray. Spike had eaten the last of the cupcakes hours ago and fallen asleep awkwardly on the platter. She vaguely recalled reassuring each of her friends that she was on her way to bed, but she couldn't remember if that was before or after she had stumbled across the spell that she still had the book open to. She stopped for a moment, flipping the pages back and forth again, the sound of shuffling paper soothing her...

“Oh, my faithful student, did you get any sleep at all?”

“I'm sorry, did I oversleep for the test,” Twilight mumbled. She could feel Celestia's calming presence near her as she awoke, so that she was less startled that she should have been.

“No more tests, Twilight Sparkle.” The sun princesses voice was a little firmer now. “It's the real thing this time.”

“Did something happen?” Twilight suppressed a yawn as she forced herself to wake faster.

“An assault came from The Badlands to Appleoosa last night.” Celestia continued in response to Twilight's expression of concern, “no, nopony was badly hurt this time, but they lost a lot of the crops, and they're terrified,”

“Why didn't Luna get me? We could have helped...”

“She knew what you were doing here was more crucial. Even more so now. I fear we were right, and the factions have split. And now the other faction will flee further into Equestria. I'll have to stretch the guard posts to Applewood and Las Pegasus now. More innocent ponies in the middle.”

“Then... I think I have an answer.” We don't have a choice, we have to try it. “I found a treatise on time travel spells in this journal,” she levitated the book and moved to the page she wanted to discuss. “I've used one of Starswirl's earlier time travel spells before, but it was very limited. He theorized that the Elements of Harmony could be used as a spell booster and extend the range of the spell.” She looked up and saw Celestia staring blankly at the page. “Oh! I thought maybe you'd be able to see through it. He had a very powerful encryption spell on this to make sure it didn't fall into the wrong hands.”

“No. He always said it seemed that alicorns had more raw magic power, but the subtlety of his skill was always a marvel. Luna put some effort into it when she was young, out of respect for an... idol of hers, but I accepted the nature of my magic long ago.” Celestia seemed distant again, and she added, “go on,” without bringing her focus to bear.

“Right, I... can't find a way to break the spell on the changelings. Starswirl the Bearded didn't even mention them directly, but he discusses the nature of interwoven spells – I think the existence of any of them fuels the enchantment for all of them. They all tie back to the queen. So, I think the only way to get rid of them...” she paused here briefly, then pushed the last part of the sentence out as she exhaled, “is to make them not happen to begin with.”

Celestia seemed to consider the distant point she'd focused on for a minute longer without wavering, and Twilight was just beginning to wonder if maybe she'd spoken too softly, and opened her mouth to repeat herself, when Celestia finally spoke. “Are you sure, Twilight Sparkle? If you change the past, there's no telling what else could change. You could return to an unfamiliar world.”

“I found this half a night ago,” Twilight responded. “I've tried to think a way around it, but I don't see a choice. I'd have to ask everypony - since I need them for the spell, they'd have to agree.”

“Then ask them, and give them a day to think on it,” Celestia added, “And get some sleep, my student,” she smiled warmly, mentally returning to the room and turning to face the unicorn. “You'll want to have all your strength if you're going through with this!”

* * *

A slight creek in the door let Twilight know that somepony had entered her room, and she opened her eyes slightly. She was facing Spike, who was still snoring soundly in his bed, where she'd moved him carefully before collapsing on her old bed and into a deep slumber. The tiara and notebook perched on her night stand reminded her sharply what she intended to try, and she turned her back on them both to see who had arrived.

“Twilight Sparkle,” Luna said, “Art thou prepared for thy plan?” The dark alicorn hovered a tray over to the bed. It looked to contain the most amazing breakfast Applejack had ever prepared.

“I'm more prepared for that than I am to be waited on by a Princess,” Twilight responded. The quickly levitating the slice of dutch apple pie and took a small bite. The crust was buttery, crispy, and perfect. “Would you like some? Applejack really overestimated my appetite.”

“Thy slumber lasted all of yesterday, and most of this night,” Luna responded, helping herself to a fritter. “Her concern probably stems from that.”

“What?” Twilight nearly dropped her pie. “How long until the dawn?”

“An hour remains until Tia awakens for her morning duties.”

For a moment, Twilight hesitated. We could wait until tonight]. One last day, just in case? She shook the doubt from her head. No. This will work. I can do this. She finished the remainder of the pie while she calculated. “Gather everypony. We'll leave before dawn. Spike?”

“What is it? Changeling attack?!” Spike startled awake, shaking.

“It's okay Spike, you're safe here” she soothed him. “Luna and Celestia will look after you while we're gone.”

“Are you sure I can't come?” Spike pouted.

“Fear not, young dragon,” Luna interrupted, stepping forward, lowering her head to look him in the eye. “Thy mistress shall return swiftly, and until then, thou can assist me with some royal reports.” She winked at Twilight Sparkle as she turned to lead them from the room.

“Aw, I have to work while you're gone?” Spike pretended to complain, but Twilight knew he'd feel better being useful. “I suppose I can send for Peewee, and he can play with Philomena while I work....” He grabbed an apple off her tray as he passed it, munching it as he followed Luna. Twilight rolled her eyes, resisting the impulse to scold him. He'll be fine... no matter how this turns out. She pushed back at the returning doubt, swallowing it with a bite of apple brown betty she dragged along.

* * *

When they arrived in Celestia's balcony, everypony was already there. Twilight wasn't surprised to find all her friends, but she asked, “You're all sure? I... I can't guarantee that we'll come back.” Her eyes drifted to Celestia's, whose face was once again unreadable as she met Twilight's gaze directly, and recalled her warning. “And we might change more than just the changelings.”

“Braeburn and Appleoosa will be in a might better shape if that attack never happens, Twi.” Applejack said.

“If we can keep those poor ponies from suffering as changelings,” Fluttershy added, “it will be worth it.”

“And that poor princess!” Rarity pondered, “I wonder what Chrysalis looks like... before.”

“I think you'll be surprised by her beauty,” Celestia spoke with a sad smile.

“And you know we'd stick with you no matter what, silly!” Pinkie continued, nudging Twilight.

Twilight smiled and turned to Rainbow Dash, but the multicolored pegasus was considering her double seriously, before finally asking, “Are... are you sure you're all right with this?”

“Hey, you can't leave your friends hanging,” Iris Dash said nonchalantly. “Besides, you heard Fluttershy, I'll be a happy, non-changeling pony if you do this, who will have lived and died peacefully years ago.”

“But-”

Iris put a hoof in Rainbow's mouth to cut her off. “I won't remember anypony here,” she nodded her tone more serious, “but you'll remember me, so that will have to be enough.”

Rainbow Dash nodded, and she turned a focused expression on Twilight. “All right. Let's do this.”

“Okay, everypony stay close. Princess Luna, I'll need you to signal me when the moon is gone. I'll be concentrating on the spell.”

“Until next we meet, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna nodded sharply, turning to the moon, her whole form set aglow as she lowered it form the sky.

She turned to Celestia, who moved a few steps further away, watching them the whole time. Her mouth opened slightly, then closed again wordlessly.

“Okay, girls, use the elements, but focus them back on me.” No words of encouragement? Maybe she doesn't think I need it...

They nodded, forming a circle around her, and closing their eyes serenely. The necklaces they wore began to glow, faintly at first, then increasing in intensity. The elements began to swirl around Twilight Sparkle, waiting for the final element to guide them.

Twilight frowned slightly as the element of loyalty seemed to crackle and arch some of its energy towards Iris Dash. The changeling noticed it, too, and went to step away, but the energy arc fought against her and pulled her back in. Twilight gestured at her to stop, and Iris swallowed nervously and nodded silently. Like she said, none of this ever happens...

Twilight began to focus on the details of the spell, carefully laying all the groundwork and structure to support the final casting before she pulled in all the power to activate it. Celestia provided the exact number of years, months, weeks, and days, and the exact direction in which Chrysalis' ancient castle lay in. She fixed the direction based on the stars, and slowly turned the circle until she faced that way.

“Now, Twilight!” she heard Luna's royal Canterlot cry.

She pulled as much magic as she could reach, and as it rushed into her, she relaxed, letting the flow suffuse her. The tiara she wore shimmered such a bright light, she could barely see Celestia over the light, as she finally mouthed the words.

“See you soon.”

The arch of the element's rainbow bloom arched up, a five-petaled flower blossom from each of the other ponies in the circle, settling firmly on the crown Twilight Sparkle bore, the pure light of magical energy escaping her creating a pillar that reached beyond the castle towers, above the highest roofs of Cloudsdale, and beyond.

Now.

* * *

Celestia stood shakily. The wave of magic discharge had washed over them like hurricane winds, and for a moment, Celestia fully expected they might be flung to the far corners of Equestria. She had stood her ground though. Still strong enough. The towers of Canterlot were still miraculously undisturbed, but she could see the wave if light on the horizon, still expanding outwards. Everypony will panic. No helping it, and Chrysalis will be worried, too. Besides herself and Luna, nopony else remained on the balcony.

“Sister, she did it,” Luna marveled. Her mane was ruffled her feathers slightly out of place, but she certainly looked steadier than Celestia felt.

“Of course.”

“If thou knew she would succeed, then why wait so long to summon her?”

“I wanted to see if you would.”

“A test, then,” Luna sighed.

“One you passed beautifully. We shouldn't have to wait long,” Celestia noted, turning to take to the air, nearly stumbling as she did so.

“Tia, raise the sun from here,” Luna urged, suddenly at Celestia's side, holding her upright.

“After that display, and with everything going on, everypony is going to be nervous enough! I'll do it from the summer sun display, as I have since the wedding. If I don't show-”

“Fine. Then let me accompany thee. Seeing both royal sisters will be even more reassuring. And I shall aid thee in thy duties.” Celestia opened her mouth to object, but Luna anticipated her. “I will need to learn it, why not start today? And I will be discreet.”

Celestia closed her mouth slowly. She's starting to get this. She smiled with relief and nodded mutely.

Landings

Twilight Sparkle could feel the castle tower disappear around her, a disorienting sensation of motion taking its place. The light that still filled her vision seemed to flicker and pulse, and there was a howling noise like the frigid winds of the northern Crystal Mountains, but no breeze stirred her mane.

Somewhere in the cacophony of sensations, she could feel her friends were still around her. She reached out with her senses, and she felt like she was yelling to them that everything would be all right, and she felt a reassuring nudge return, but all of it felt like it was more inside her than around her.

Suddenly, the sound and light grew more intense, then instantly vanished, leaving Twilight stumbling in pitch black. Moving as if she had suddenly landed from a a running leap, it still felt more like the ground fell at her from above than it felt like she collapsed.

She heard her friends stumble into each other, and Fluttershy squeak nervously at the darkness. “Urahh...” Twilight's attempts to speak were thwarted, and she coughed slightly. Her throat felt parched.

“Where are we?” Rainbow Dash's voice echoed in the darkness. “This doesn't look like a castle to me.”

“Is it night?” Rarity's voice added.

“Too dark,” Applejack noted. “No stars, no moon.”

“Oh no, we went too far and nothing exists yet!” Fluttershy almost shrieked.

“Something exists, or where would we be standing?” Pinkie Pie said in singsong, a stomping sound accompanying her words.

“Hold on,” Twilight finally managed, lighting her horn slightly. The natural stone formations within the radius of her light answered their question. “A cave?”

“Iris Dash?” Rainbow dash said incredulously, pointing at her double. “But how?”

“You got me,” Iris shrugged. “All I know is I felt the Element of Loyalty tug at me when you started. I didn't want to disrupt the spell, so I was going to move further away, but Twilight seemed to think it'd be better to move in.”

“I wonder why-” Rainbow looked down. “Hey! Where's my necklace?!”

“Oh my, mine's gone too, and yours,” Fluttershy pointed to Pinkie Pie's neck, who was closest to her.

“They're all missing,” Rarity observed. “Even... Twilight? What happened to you?”

“What do you mean?” She looked up, trying to see above her horn, shaking her head slightly. “Yes, mine's gone, too.”

“I don't think that's what she means, sugarcube,” Applejack said, “I think she means that.” Twilight followed Applejack's hoof in a line to her own flank, where there was an hourglass symbol, the sand depicted as being mostly on top.

“My cutie mark!” Twilight exclaimed, puzzled. “It must be the spell.”

“Will it go back to normal when we return to our own time?” Rarity asked.

“I... don't really know. Starswirl's notes didn't mention anything about this.” Her head throbbed, and her light flickered slightly, then suddenly a bright blue light overpowered it.

“What are you thinking, Rarity,” the white unicorn asked herself. “Let me take care of the lighting, Twilight. You must be exhausted.”

“Well, we'd best work on finding a way out of here,” Applejack glanced around uneasily.

“This way!” Pinkie Pie was already bouncing in a direction.

“I don't understand,” Twilight said, following. “This should be the right place and time. Maybe I wasn't powerful enough, maybe we didn't make it all the way.”

“Twi, I never even thought to imagine what you tried,” Applejack reassured her. “I'm sure we'll get it sorted out.”

“Get us open sky and we'll get you where!” Rainbow Dash added, hoof-bumping Iris.

“There!” Rarity pointed ahead, the shape of Pinkie Pie's bouncing outline silhouetted against daylight. “See that wasn't so-” Suddenly, the opening seemed to vanish.

“What in Celestia-” Applejack began, but then fell speechless as the light returned.

“It's okay!” Pinkie Pie yelled back cheerily. “It just became nighttime, then daytime again!”

“That... uhm, doesn't sound okay,” Fluttershy stammered.

“Wait, does that mean what I think it does?” Rainbow said. They all turned to Twilight Sparkle.

“Well, we're in the right time, then, anyway,” Twilight Sparkle noted, smiling reassuringly despite the shiver that ran down her spine. “We were aiming for 1,348 years in the past, which would be.. in the year of the reign of King Discord.” She rushed the last part out, as if the sentence could sneak by undetected if she pushed it along.

“King. Discord?!” Rainbow Dash fumed. “We'll see about that!” She and Iris took to the air, only to have their tails enveloped by a rope.

“Hold on there, girls,” Applejack said, giving the rope a sharp tug. She'd long since developed a technique to wrangle them both at once. “I don't remember hearin' about Discord being toppled by a couple rainbow-maned pegasi, do you?”

“No, but-”

“Applejack's right,” Twilight Sparkle interrupted. “We have to leave him to the princesses if we want to recognize our world at all when we get home... That's it! The elements! Their magic is unique – they couldn't follow us to this time, because they already exist here!”

“Hey, Twilight, what were those things you'd said about the love poison story?” Pinkie Pie said as they caught up to her at the cave entrance.

“There was a prince who wanted to win the love of a princess,” Twlight began to recite reflexively.

“Not that part, before that!”

“Uh...” she focused around the knot that lingered inside her head. “There was a part about a wizard and a dragon, but-”

“Oh! Oh!” Pinkie hopped in place, “Then we're in the right place, look!” She pointed in the distance. In front of them was a barren stretch, and hills further away, on the other side of a distant road that seemed to rise up from a valley on their left. The valley was surrounded by jagged broken ground, so that the path was the only way through. Twilight Sparkle only had a few seconds to dedicate to the terrain, though, as all of her attention shifted to the scene where Pinkie Pie was pointing.

A large red dragon billowed plumes of smoke, swinging its head around towards the shape of a unicorn which was dwarfed by the reptile. Flames spouted from the dragon's mouth, and the air wavered with the heat, but the unicorn brought up a force field, holding it in place, even as he seemed to be galloping in their direction.

“Do we get involved in this, then?” Iris asked.

Twilight hesitated a moment, but the intimidating beast only loomed larger with each moment. “It doesn't look like we're getting a choice. Dashes, see if you can't provide a distraction.” Iris and Rainbow nodded, giving a fierce look as they launched into the sky. “Everypony else, get close! Applejack, Pinkie Pie, when we get there, try to keep his tail busy! Fluttershy, be ready for The Stare in case we can get him to a point where we can use it.” Fluttershy nodded, though still shivering uncontrollably and ducking behind Rarity. “I'll get to that unicorn and see if we can work some spells.”

“But-” Twilight wasn't sure which of her friends was going to object, because she interrupted them by teleporting them in before they could finish. Their sudden appearance startled the dragon, who was already confused by the swift pegasi buzzing around his head. He reared up and let out a roar that seemed to shake the ground, and only then did Twilight realize how massive the ancient beast was. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Too late now.

“How can we help?” She yelled to the unicorn.

“I'll admit, I'm not an expert dragon fighter,” he responded, continuing his gallop towards her. “I rescued this from him,” he nodded back to a bundle on his back, wrapped in a traveling cloak as caked in mud and dust as the unicorn himself was, “and I'm afraid he was none too pleased.” Twilight looked behind to where Applejack was trying to wrangle the dragon's errant tail, Pinkie Pie hopping over it each time he swiped with it. “I'm in thy debt.”

“'Tis nothing,” Twilight responded, mentally trying to account for the lingual shift. They'll all sound like Luna in this time. “Hast thou thoughts on besting this beast?”

“Twilight!” Rarity interrupted. The dragon had taken to the air in a short leap, and was darting right towards them.

“Hold on!” She judged the distance and quickly teleported them to where Pinkie Pie and Applejack had been left behind in a tangled rope when the back draft from the dragon's wings buffeted them. She stumbled as the painful knot throbbed.

“Impressive!” the unicorn noted. He began muttering to himself, drawing figures in the dust.

“He's pretty mad,” Rainbow Dash said, darting in.

“I don't think The Stare's going to work this time,” Iris added.

“Oh, good,” Fluttershy responded. She had been instinctively trying to fly in the opposite direction the entire time, her tail firmly wedged in Rarity's mouth.

“Hol sthill!” Rarity objected around the tail, her magic working to help untangle the earth ponies.

“Dost thou know any weather spells?” the unicorn interjected.

Twilight considered his sketches, then her face suddenly lit up. “I know this one, I've just been studying them of late. Rarity, might we enlist thine aid in this?” To the questioning glance she received in reply, she clarified. “I just have need of thine energy, we can guide the spell.”

Rarity nodded, dropping Flutterhy's tail. “Whatever thou hast in mind, make haste!” she replied, flawlessly taking up the accent, pointing behind Twilight. The dragon, momentarily confused by their disappearance, had located them, and was turning his bulk to renew his attack.

“Right! Everypony else... follow Fluttershy! I'd like distance between you and what we're trying.” Twilight smiled reassuringly before they could object, turning to face the looming dragon.

“Shall we, then?” the unicorn asked, his horn already aglow with a bright yellow.

Twilight stepped closer and carefully put her horn near his, pulling up her own magic and gently pushing it towards his horn. The purple glow arched like electricity across the gap. Rarity followed her lead and stepped up to the other side, adding her own blue arch of magic to the spell. Twilight looked back at the sketch in the ground, making sure she had her figures right. It was definitely like the one she'd seen in Starswirl's weather spells.

No. It is the sketch from his weather spells.

“Easy, now!” he warned, as her magic had surged with her sudden realization. “Thou wilt carry us all off at that rate!” Already, the winds were pulling the dragon's smoke and flame into a wreath around it, and its confusion at that only grew as the winds became strong enough to lift him from the ground with its wings still motionless. As it slowly ascended out of range, it made a single errant swipe at them, and Twilight felt Starswirl subtly split just a bit of energy away from the spell to create just enough of a force field to deflect it.

Momentum continued to carry the beast high into the air, and the pony-made tornado slowly moved off past the cave they'd arrived in, and further out of sight, dragon and all.

Starswirl exhaled deeply, then lifted his bundled cloak from his back, setting it gently on the ground, the bells trimming the edges of the cloak tinkling only slightly. “My thanks, fair mares. How might I repay thee?”

Kindling a Spark

For a time, Twilight felt like she was suspended above the air. She couldn't feel anything but a mild sense of motion. She smiled inwardly wondering if this was how the Dashes felt when the slept on the clouds. But no sun shone on her – the darkness was absolute. Then the sensation seemed to waver, and it felt more like she imagined a ship tossed by a storm might feel, then there was warmth and softness, and peace. Slowly, light seemed to seep into the edges of her awareness, and whispering, but no other images. Finally, something inside her spoke with urgency, and she bolted upright.

The tent she was in was made of white cloth, thin enough that the light of the sun penetrated and lit everything. The bed she was in was quite large and made of the same translucent cloth. That was as much as she could observe before the dizziness from sitting up suddenly caught up with her, and her head sunk back to the pillow quickly. She faced outward into the room.

Fluttershy was in a peaceful slumber near the entrance. Just as well she was asleep, I would have startled her horribly if she'd been awake when I did that. She closed her eyes briefly, and the memory of the past day's events replayed in a flash through her mind, and she bolted upright again, knocking the sheet off of her. She looked at her strange new hourglass cutie mark, and it seemed like some of the sand had definitely shifted to the bottom. How much time had passed? Then, she closed her eyes and tentatively set her horn aglow, letting the magic flow through her. There was a minor tingling at first, but it cleared up almost instantly. No permanent damage, anyway.

“Ah, the young wizard returns to us,” Starswirl noted. Twilight startled, teleported behind him reflexively. The combination of his voice and that motion startled Fluttershy off the bed by the door.

“Oh, Twilight, you're awake!” she noted as she smiled at Twilight upside down. Then, she turned to Starswirl. “I-I'm so sorry, I was supposed to let you know...”

“All is forgiven,” Starswirl said, smiling reassuringly. “Perhaps thou could beseech thine other friends to conjure our young wizard some breakfast. She will be famished.”

“I don't know...” Fluttershy looked to Twilight.

“It's all right, Fluttershy,” she said reassuringly. “I'm feeling quite a bit better.” Her stomach added its own commentary, and she chuckled lightly, adding, “and breakfast would be nice.” Fluttershy nodded, but then gave a meaningful glare at Starswirl before exiting.

“Why does the full intensity of her gaze make me feel so uneasy,” Starswirl muttered after she left.

“It's... a special talent of hers,” Twilight said vaguely. She looked directly at him for the first time since she awoke. I would have recognized him like this. He had washed the dust and mud from his fur and mane and cloak. His fur was a pale tan, like in the legends. He had a long, brown, wavy mane and tail - not white, but that made sense, just like the lack of the beard. The cloak was just what she imagined. Luna was right, I even had the bells right. No hat, though. Maybe that comes later, like the beard.

“It's actually the first time I've managed to get all of them to leave thee alone in two days. After the scuffle, I'm not sure they were ever fully convinced that the captain wouldn't clap thee in chains.”

“We're very close.... two days.” Twilight blinked.

“Indeed, well, more or less, since the sun and moon are not currently reliable. I honestly expected a magic coma would last longer, but thou art young and resilient, and thou had the fortune of being tended to by extraordinary nursemaids.”

“My friends and I have endured many trials together.”

“I do not doubt it from their behavior, but it was not to them I referred. The Royal Sisters, in their gratitude, have graciously tended to thee in person. They even insisted on knowing the mending spells I wove about you. It's Celestia's personal quarters you currently occupy.”

“I... I don't know what to say.” She blushed deeply.

“Thou needn't say anything, Twilight Sparkle. For showing me the curse's weakness, I, too, owe you a debt I cannot repay.” He bowed his head, and his voice grew tender and less formal as he spoke. “Beyond just being the ones I've sworn to serve and protect, they are also my close friends. I feel the urge to protect them in much the same way the one with whom thou travel protected thee... and my studies were incapable of penetrating Discord's spell. He left me unaffected because I knew I would never leave them, and he found it droll to torment me with their state.”

“I know... have heard of his capacity for cruelty for his own amusement. And I am certain that we will encounter more troubles in which your magic will outmatch mine, and thou wilt earn the opportunity to repay the debt.” She smiled with such certainty, that he too raised his head again and nodded confidently. If only he knew how many times he had already... would already... have saved us with what I've learned from him? Her attempts to phrase the thought in the correct tense were interrupted by an approaching stampede. If she hadn't seen the smile and eye rolling from Starswirl, she may have suspected that the captain did change his mind, and she was to be escorted to holding.

“Oh Twilight!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed loudly. “We were so worried! I mean, I was worried, weren't you worried?” She darted glances to the rest of them.

“Me?” Rainbow Dash said, waving a hoof dismissively. “Nah, I've seen this unicorn do some pretty radical things in her day. You know, for an egghead.”

“We all took turns watchin' over ya', sugarcube,” Applejack smiled, a tray on her back piled with an assortment of baked goods. “Pinkie and I have been makin' what we could out of their supplies, so I hope this to your likin'.”

“It certainly has helped endear us to the Captain and his men after our little faux pas,” Rarity said.

“Is that what they call it when a Lady bucks three teeth from the Captain of the Guard's mouth?” Iris countered. “I call that priceless.”

“I call it a lesson in manners,” Rarity retorted, tossing her hair. “One he shan't soon forget.”

“Indeed, I expect whatever he didn't lose to the concussion will be etched in his mind,” Starswirl added, bowing deeply. “I will take my leave now. Rest, Twilight Sparkle, and when thou art ready, the princesses will desire an audience with thee.”

Twilight was quickly engulfed in an embrace by all of her friends, and she closed her eyes, enjoying the moment. After a short time, Fluttershy said, “You're sure you're all right, then?”

“Yes.” Twilight could sense a stillness in the group, as if none of them was breathing, or willing to speak next. She sighed and said, “Let's get this over with, shall we?”

“Pinkie?” Applejack prompted, an irritated expression on her face.

The pink pony inhaled deeply, then began all at once, one word tumbling over another. “We knew if we came here that we couldn't change anything here or we might change things there” - Here' and 'There' were punctuated by Pinkie moving a single hoof back and forth, Twilight's eyes blankly following the hoof's motion - “except the thing we were trying to change here so that things would there, but that anything else might not be so good and you said to be careful but you changed something really really big here so that things there might be really really different!”

“I mean, really, Twilight, I know how you feel about her, but changing Celestia's past?” Rarity asked. “Doesn't she affect our history directly in so many ways?”

“I know,” Twilight said simply. “I couldn't bear to see her that way. I'm sorry.” After an empty moment she added, “well, we know they weren't like that when they sealed Discord away. The elements wouldn't work if they were. Probably Starswirl would have figured it out. The end results will be the same, so maybe it doesn't change too much...”

“It'll be all right, sugarcube,” Applejack said with a sigh. “We all knew there were risks, but it's best ya don't go off without at least warnin' us first next time.” She winked as she added, “not that we didn't have a hoof up on those guards anyway. Take a far sight more than twenty of them against us, right, girls?”

As they regaled Twilight Sparkle with tales of the scuffles that had taken place while she was casting the memory spell, she was grateful that they were willing to drop it so easily. Twilight still had reservations. Oh well, you can't change the past, she reassured herself, trying not to suddenly laugh at the irony of her thought. For a time, she relaxed with her friends as they shared breakfast.

Suddenly, the light coming through the tent walls faded and disappeared. Both unicorns had just set their horns aglow when suddenly the light returned.

“That's still unnerving,” Rarity shuddered.. “Why does he do that anyway?”

“'Cause he can,” Applejack said, her eyes narrowing.

“More specifically,” Twilight added, “to rub in that he can to the princesses.”

“Well, then,” Rarity turned to Twilight Sparkle. The reminder of where and when they were had broken the mood. “It's probably time we let you get to your audience with them. You heard Starswirl, they wish to speak to you.”

* * *

Luna's tent, appropriately less translucent, had two of her own bat-winged guards, as well as two of Celestia's personal guards stationed outside. Clearly, they had been expecting Twilight Sparkle, as they moved wordlessly aside, bowing as she approached. Her eyes quickly adjusted to the lighting as she entered, and at other end of the room, Celestia sat upon a cushioned dais speaking to Starswirl, a serious expression on her face. Starswirl in comparison, Twilight noted, looked far more animated and energetic than he had two days prior. She turned to find Luna only just in time to see the young filly at close range, a smile of joy on her face as she darted through the air directly at Twilight, knocking her to the ground.

“Twilight Sparkle!” she yelled joyfully, her voice ringing in Twilight's ears. “We've waited for thee to awaken! Tia, look!” She glanced up at her sister, pointing a hoof at Twilight so close that Twilight tried to move back, an act made impossible by the young filly still sitting on her. “We owe thee so much. Tia,” she looked to her sister again, and Twilight looked as well, to see the reserved expression had softened to gentle amusement, “I didn't get to bring anything from Canterlot, has thou something with which we can reward her?” Celestia opened her mouth, but Luna continued, “The egg! Oh, let her have the egg Tia! Starswirl can find thee another.”

“I'll just wrestle another dragon for one, then, shall I?” he muttered. He rolled his eyes, but he was still smiling.

“Thou might start by letting her stand, Luna dear,” Celestia said gently, her horn glowing radiantly as she lifted Luna placed her on the dais beside her. Luna stuck her tongue out at Celestia unceremoniously, but if Celestia noticed, she didn't react. “Forgive my sister's dithering, Twilight Sparkle. Discord's curse upon her started with him taking her voice as punishment for defying him and raising the moon against his design, and I fear she shall never be silent again.”

“That's how I got this!” Luna yelled in interruption, shaking her flank, pointing her horn at her crescent moon cutie mark. Celestia winced at the volume of the interruption, but her smile remained unshaken.

“It's quite lovely,” Twilight commented. “Thou must be quite a powerful filly for thy magic to be able to override his.” So, Luna earned her cutie mark in an act of defiance. It made sense, and as Luna beamed gratefully at the praise, Twilight pushed down her sorrow that the sisters had no idea what that foreshadowed.

“Indeed,” said Celestia, “and proud though I was of my sister, had he guessed how she had accomplished the feat, all our scheming would have been for naught.”

Starswirl, who had moved to the side during their conversation, stepped forward again, looking to Celestia, who gave a single nod. He turned to Twilight began solemnly. “What we are about to tell thee is a well guarded secret, known only to those in this room.” He lifted a tome from a nearby table, and Twilight carefully suppressed her reaction as she saw the brown leather cover embossed with six golden diamonds surrounding a golden unicorn head with a green gemstone eye. “This one, I couldn't leave behind. In thy studies, did thou come across the Elements of Harmony?”

You could say that, Twilight thought wryly as she answered, “I am familiar with their legend. Art thou saying that they are real?” She feigned surprise poorly, but it went unnoticed.

“Three of them are in the room with thee at this moment,” Starswirl whispered. “Princess Luna holds Generosity and Honesty, as they are truest to her nature.”

“Indeed, Discord was withholding the moon that night,” Celestia explained. “Luna's generous nature compelled her to fulfill our subject's need for a light in the darkness.” She smiled proudly at her sister before adding, “alas, her true, honest nature has made discretion... problematic.”

“Princess Celestia holds kindness,” Starswirl continued. “a natural trait for her for as long as I've known her.” He bowed respectfully to her.

“Of that I have no doubt,” Twilight Sparkle said so earnestly that Celestia blushed slightly at the praise. “What of laughter and loyalty?”

“See for thyself,” Starswirl said, pushing the book towards her. “This tome is ancient and seems to be an enchanted one. It alters its description to reveal the most recent history of the elements.”

Sure enough, Twilight Sparkle flipped to the page that would send her to the ancient castle of the alicorn sisters, and found - “Discord has Laughter?” she exclaimed, her jaw dropping. This can't be right, either...

“Indeed, 'twas in our uncle's possession,” Celestia explained. “He hoped that laughter would tame Discord's dour cruelty, and gave it to him willingly. Alas, it merely changed the nature of his cruelty. If only we'd been able to tell my uncle that we had begun to gather the Elements against Discord, but there was never an opportunity...”

“But... if he has laughter-” Twilight stammered.

“It's a concern, but moot if we cannot locate the others,” Starswirl said. Luna had grown bored of sitting and was batting at the bells on the back of his cloak idly. When he took half a step forward, she fell forward, levitating herself. He turned the page. “This mission assigned to us by Discord could not have been more fortuitous. Loyalty was last known to be in the possession of the royal family of Aurelia, before it mysteriously disappeared.”

“Too fortuitous,” Celestia added. “I believe Discord is just trying to extend the reach of his tyranny, but part of me wonders if he suspects us.” Her eyes bore an expression that Twilight had only seen briefly twice before - once when discord escaped his prison, and again when Chrysalis stood over her, temporarily triumphant - an expression of fear.

“Regardless, we don't have any choice but to act,” Starswirl seemed to say more to Celestia than to Twilight. “Which is why, after what thou hast already done for us, we so soon beseech thee for aid. The book is not more specific, and a unicorn of thy talent would be quite a boon for our search.”

“It would be my honor to aid Equestria and their true royal family in this,” Twilight Sparkle replied, bowing formally to Celestia. She turned to bow to Luna, who was now flapping her wings to keep herself airborne upside down, and couldn't help but smile. “I only ask this – the trust you have placed in me must be extended to my friends.” Starswirl opened his mouth, but Twilight continued. “There are some among them who know much of loyalty, and would further my ability to assist. I swear their discretion is unmatched.”

“Would thou not be more apt to misjudge them, since they are so close?” Celestia asked.

“No, princess, hast thou no close friends that thou knowest beyond thine ability to explain it?” Twilight appealed to her. Celestia's eyes changed subtly, her expression growing cold as she looked slightly away. Twilight was confused briefly, then her eyes widened suddenly. “Princess, I'm sorry, I didn't mean...” She trailed off for a moment, then added, “I know that a royal position is probably sometimes a lonely one, but at the risk of further putting my hoof in my mouth, thou art currently deposed, art thou not? Princess,” she extended her hoof, “would thou grant me the opportunity to fill the role I described, to be thy friend?”

The princess stood, her expression still cold as she advanced. Well, good job Twilight Sparkle. You've just met your future mentor, and you've already offended her. Her future mentor. She just had to remember that same pony was right here in front of her. Twilight Sparkle searched through her own mind, pulling up memories of how warm and supportive Celestia could be, and did her best to project that feeling towards the Celestia in front of her.

Celestia's expression slowly softened, and she went to reach out a hoof to Twilight Sparkle, then drew it back briefly, taking the time to remove her fancy hoofwear. She reached forward again. “The honor would be mine,” she said, “but thou must call me Tia.”

“No fair,” Luna said with a pout, hovering nearby, “only I can call you that!”

“I'll make a deal with thee,” Twilight offered the young filly, “Wilt thou allow it if I be thy friend as well?” She smiled warmly. Luna crossed her front legs, attempting to be so serious in her consideration that Twilight laughed and added, “I'll even let thee call me Twily, and only my brother does that.” She winked at Luna.

Luna considered only a few more seconds, before smiling and nodding. “Yes!”

Twilight moved her hoof to rest firmly against Celestia's, Luna quickly grabbing her other front hoof and shaking it vigorously, so that her front end was suspended between the Royal sisters. She looked briefly beyond where Starswirl watched, his expression unreadable.

The Road to Aurelia

“Everything okay, Twi?” Applejack asked as Twilight Sparkle came away from the tent. In the clearing between the two royal tents, Applejack and Rarity were waiting. “I'm guessing that's a yes?” she added as Twilight turned a beaming smile towards her.

“Yes, everything seems to still be on track, I think,” Twilight said happily. “We'll just have to be part of history as it unfolds.”

“Not something I would expect you to object to at all,” Rarity observed dryly, her eyes still intently on the tent that Twilight just left as she spoke.

“Normally, no,” Twilight Sparkle said, then thought further and said, “no, I guess never really. The chance to see all this, and to meet Starswirl the too-young-to-be-bearded, and see how Luna and Tia were all these years ago. I'm afraid of the consequences, but I don't suppose there's a choice right now.”

“Tia?” Rarity echoed, her gaze still not shifting.

“It's... sorry, she insisted. But... it's nice.” Twilight began waving her hoof in front of Rarity's line of sight as she spoke.

“Relax, sugarcube, maybe there's something that we can get outta all this. If we'd landed right on Chrysalis' lap, I think we wouldn't have known what to say anyway. This gives us a chance to gather information.” Noticing Twilight's gestures, she added, “while you were in there getting cozied up with the royalty, Rarity thought to flirt with the guards to get close enough to... uhm, listen in.”

“He looks right through me, that one,” Rarity said, wrinkling her nose. “He is a mystery that must be solved,” Rarity muttered.

“Can Pinkie Pie get through to them?”

“Oh, yes, by the first day you were unconscious, she had already befriended everypony in sight.. She couldn't eavesdrop because she's busy packing up the mess tent.” Rarity's eyes lit up. “Oh, I could probably ask her about him.”

“Yeah, and we could help her pack, too,” Applejack pointed out.

“Of course, that's what I meant.” Rarity added.

“Packing up?” Twilight Sparkle asked as they moved from the royal tents. She noticed the other tents were already partially disassembled. In the distance, she could see Fluttershy conversing with the pair of oxen that they were fastening to a half-full cart.

“They were only waitin' on you, sugarcube,” Applejack explained. “Aurelia's a three day march from here.”

The Dashes swooped overhead and landed in front of them in unison. “No sign of any dragons or other dangers on the road ahead,” Iris reported.

“The weather looks clear, too,” Rainbow added. “At least for a couple days. We might encounter some rain three days in, but Iris and I may be able divert some of it between now and then.”

“I don't even know if we have three days,” Twilight considered, looking back at her cutie mark, “so divert it if you can, but I've got to talk to everypony about what I've learned. For now, just know your part in it is going to be pretty important.”

“Why me?” Rainbow Dash asked, pointing a hoof at herself.

Darting glances around meaningfully, Twilight merely answered, “later.”

It only took a couple more hours to get everything in order and get moving on the road. The Royal Guard was a small but well trained group of twenty, and they, too, traveled light. The procession moved forward, a handful of earth pony and unicorn guards in advance, followed by the Royal Sisters and their personal guards, another guard group, the single supply cart, now packed full, Twilight Sparkle and her group, then a final handful of guards, with pegasi interspersed throughout above them all.

They were never far enough away from any group of guards long enough for Twilight to feel comfortable talking to the girls about the Element of Loyalty. Starswirl and Celestia had made it clear they were hesitant to even let her share the secret. Are they worried about spies, or do they just want the guards to be innocent in case Discord questions them? Either way, they didn't get a chance to discuss it until they stopped to rest again.

“They don't even know where the elements are?” Rarity queried, amazed.

“Well, we know they find them, right?” Fluttershy added.

“Right,” Twilight Sparkle said, between quick bites of her dinner. “They have to, or they'd never have going to have been able to have defeated Discord.”

“Twi, I think sometimes talkin' about a past that hasn't happened yet sounds more twisted up than that fancy unicorn talk,” Applejack observed.

“If it makes you feel better, I'm not even sure what I just said made any sense,” Twilight Sparkle admitted.

“So, you think since I'm the future Element of Loyalty,” Rainbow Dash summed up, “I might be able to find it easier.”

“I'll help, too.” Iris said. “I may not actually be the Element of Loyalty, but I know her well enough to fool myself, so I might have a wing up on the rest of you.”

“It still reacted to you, so it's a real possibility, Iris,” Twilight said. “We should definitely all keep our eyes open - Princess Celestia will probably be tied up with diplomatic concerns. if you do find it, we should try to set them up so they seem to discover it on their own. I've probably done enough damage already.” She chewed the last bite and stood quickly. “And on that note, I have an appointment with the princesses to keep.” She smiled, then ducked out of the tent. She walked across the gap to the neighboring tent, nearly running into Starswirl as she did. “Oh, sorry!”

“The fault is mine,” Starswirl said. “Are thy friends going to help with thy newer friends, then?”

“They'll do what they can to aid in the search,” Twilight Sparkle confirmed, wondering about his peculiar phrasing. She looked at him as the walked, remembering something that nagged at her from their last encounter. She stopped suddenly. “I'm sorry.”

“I thought we'd moved beyond that,” Starswirl said. “Thou didn't even step on my hoof.”

“Thou had said the princesses were thy friends, and yet when I offered my friendship to Princess Celestia, she said she had none. I didn't intend to cause thee pain.”

He closed his eyes, sighing as he lowered his head. “Thou specifically asked if she had friends that she knew beyond words, and while we have studied together, conspired together, and consider each other friends, I am her subject. To know a friend the way thou describes, one must also allow thyself to be known in such a way, would thou agree?” He looked at Twilight pointedly as he said this, but she wasn't able to answer before he continued. “Some part of her remains carefully hidden on that dais. As somepony outside her domain, she can offer you that hidden part without being concerned it will effect her role as a leader. Dost thou see?”

Twilight Sparkle considered his expression carefully before placing a gentle hoof on his side and saying, “I do. And my apology stands.”

He blushed slightly before responding. “Worry not, I've long since accepted my role, and I'm grateful just to be near her.”

They continued to the royal tent, where Starswirl stopped to check with the guards, gesturing to her to continue on. When she entered, Luna ambushed her yet again. “Teach me a spell, Twily!” she yelled at the overturned unicorn that she was now seated upon.

“Very well, princess,” Twilight said, magically lifting the filly and righting herself. “Hast thou in mind a particular one?”

Luna beckoned and leaned her head close to Twilight's, trying to whisper. It came out at about Fluttershy's normal speaking volume. "Sometimes Tia looks sad, and I'd like a spell that would make her feel better."

"I see," Twilight said, contemplating the request with exaggerated seriousness. "I think I have just the one. Observe closely." She winked at Celestia, who was watching from the dais with interest. "Sunshine, sunshine," she stomped in time with the rhyme, "ladybugs awake!" She covered her eyes and peaked at the filly, then magically grabbed Luna's hooves, clapping them to her own as she continued, "clap your hooves," and finally, she turned around, waggling her tail at the young alicorn, "and do a little shake!"

The dubious expression that concerned Twilight Sparkle from an older Luna merely seemed comical on the younger one. "Thou cannot be serious," she said.

Twilight giggled in spite of herself. "There are spells that can make things, and spells that can change things, and making or changing those things might make ponies happy... for a time. Lasting, deep happiness can never come straight from magic. Making somepony smile, that's far more effective in that regard." She watched as Luna's doubt faded into contemplation. "Shall we?" They repeated the litany again, and when Twilight turned around, the filly looked up past her wings and tail at Twilight, beaming a smile back at her. "See?" Luna nodded once emphatically.

"Thou art well versed in magic indeed, it would have taken me months to convince her a happiness spell couldn't exist," Celesta noted as she approached.

"The magic of friendship is all it takes to make a spark," Twilight observed, as she watched Luna practicing her new spell with a very confused Starswirl, who had just arrived.

"The magic of friendship..." Celestia repeated.

"Just... an expression," Twilight said dismissively. Stupid! she scolded herself. This is going to be harder than I thought. "So, Starswirl and thee have known each other for a long time?" she asked hastily.

"Indeed, we attended the magic academy together,” Celestia explained. “All of the royal line are expected to attend, even if their talents are not strictly magic-based, so that we can understand the talents of the wizards at our service. I must admit, were it not for Starswirl's aid, there were a few exams I would not have passed.”

“But thy talent is magical in nature, is it not Pr-, Tia?” Twilight corrected herself at the last moment, taking Celestia's lack of royal plural as a sign that she was genuine in her insistence that Twilight use her nickname.

“It is, but it's very particular. I'm capable of a wide range of magic, but raising the sun, that's where I shine.” Twilight darted a glance at the princess, not sure it was an intentional pun, but had it confirmed when the princess winked at her. She burst into laughter from surprise alone, and the princess laughed as well. “And thee, Twlight Sparkle, why thy hourglass cutie mark? What be thy specialty?”

“Uh.” I should have been expecting this question sooner or later. “Good timing, I suppose.”

The princess merely nodded. They chatted a while about the mundane details of next couple days of the journey, and then, after Starswirl excused himself, they turned to lighter matters at Celestia's request. Twilight recalled everything she could from her slumber party guidebook and engaged in as many activities as should could from that. They were short the supplies for a makeover, so they had do make due with braiding each other's manes. Twilight was amazed by the elaborate old styles, though. Tia and Luna, on the other hand, were astounded by concoction of a s'mores. Luna readily bested them both in the pillow fight. She decided to skip the ghost stories, since they were in gloomy enough era as it is.

She didn't skip truth or dare, and since there were a lot of truths she couldn't reveal, Twilight ended up running through the camp throwing leftover s'mores at the guards and walking across the room with the dragon's egg balanced on her horn. She'd hoped to use the experience to get some more information to help them in Aurelia, but she realized afterwards any questions she had about that wouldn't really work in truth or dare. She stumbled for a few minutes before asking Celestia, “What is it about bringing up the sun, what compels thee and makes it thy special talent?”

Celestia thought for a moment. “Once, it took a great many unicorns to raise the sun. One time, I attended the ceremony and I witnessed them struggling with it, because they were reaching so far, dealing with such a weight. I remember it all seemed so silly to me, and since I was young and brash, I stood and walked onto the platform. Of course, this wouldn't normally be allowed, but nopony was going to question the granddaughter of Princess Platinum, even when I said, 'no, like this.'”

Celestia turned to her sister, who had fallen asleep, her muzzle still sticky with chocolate and marshmallow, and lifted a blanket to cover her. “Luna knows. Our talents are grounded here, closer. Far easier to just flip the world.” She smiled slowly, as Twilight Sparkle began to do the mathematical calculations in her head. “I see in thine eyes that thou understand. It was so simple, so elegant, yet nopony had ever considered it before.

“When they asked me to do it the next day, I was so nervous. I had done it the first day without thinking, but they needed it to be me – even with the easier method, a single unicorn could not match my raw power. I couldn't remember exactly how I'd done it, and they were just about to give up when I saw the people's expectant faces. They weren't waiting to see if I'd succeed or fail, they were just waiting for the sun. For the joy of the warming rays of light on their face, for waking and living again after a restful sleep. I could give that to them, and at that moment, I wanted nothing more than to do so. Since then, since my cutie mark appeared, that's all I've needed to remember to raise the sun, nothing more.”

Silence followed, at first because Twilight was really hoping for more, and then because she wasn't sure how to respond. She'd never told me all that before. Twilight really wanted to share her own story, to show her gratitude, but as Celestia's future self figured prominently in it, she didn't see how she could possibly manage to make it vague enough. Then, as she yawned, it occurred to her. “I... I also was inspired by the dawn,” she began. “I saw thee, raising the sun, and I wanted to learn how to wield magic like that.” She half closed her eyes, recalling the day.

“Thou hast more raw magic power than most unicorns,” Celestia considered.

“That's what you said before.”

“Did I?”

Twilight startled from nodding off and corrected, “Yes... must have while I was sleeping off the spell, must have overheard you... thee.”

“What of your talent for timing?”

“We'll see,” Twilight said, her head dropping, whispering with a gentle smile, “if I make it back in time, we'll see...”

* * *

Twilight awoke to the sound of Luna's snoring. The filly had rolled off the cushion that she'd fallen asleep on the night before and was on the floor mere inches from Twilight. She smiled briefly before magically lifting the blanket and then lifting Luna back on to the cushion under it. She stood to find she, too, had a blanket tucked up over her while she slept. As it fell from her flank, a chill ran down her spine as she discovered yet more sand had passed to the lower part of her cutie mark. Surveying the room, Celestia was absent. She must have gone to bed herself after Twilight nodded off. She walked as quietly as possible out of the tent as to not disturb her hosts.

“I've seen you staring,” a voice said gruffly as Twilight opened the tent flap, and she closed it behind her quickly before the noise woke the sleeping princesses. She turned to find one of Luna's personal guards yelling at Rarity, who, for her part, didn't flinch or move as he rallied at her. “Come see the freak!” He spread his leathery wings and held his bat-like ears up. “Discord thought it was hilarious. 'The Night Guard should be given a form befitting their trade.' So, go ahead, laugh!”

Rarity, still unblinking, waited a brief moment before countering, evenly, “Art thou through?” The guard opened his mouth to retort, but found himself lacking. “I cannot change what thou hast become, more than I can fix the uneven passing of the day. No, that is not within my power. But what thou hast become, is thee. Thou canst own it, make it thine. Make it shine!” She stepped towards him, hovering a sketch over to him. The other Night Guard stepped forward to look over his shoulder. She explained, “Be not ashamed, and make thy curse a gift! Let everypony know and respect the Lunar Guard; look not down upon thy self, and none shall ever look down upon thee again.”

Twilight, unable to escape the scene, moved forward “Twilight, thy coiffure!” Rarity beamed. She had turned from the guard abruptly, leaving him to contemplate everything she'd said, and at first Twilight just thought Rarity was using her presence as a convenient exit, but then she remembered that she had fallen asleep with the braid still in her hair. “Come, come, I must know how it's done.” She pointed to tent where they'd been staying, falling in step beside Twilight Sparkle.

“I'm not sure I could explain it, Tia did this one.”

“Leave it to me, dear,” Rarity smiled as they entered the tent. The others were all there, though the Dashes were still asleep. “We were a little concerned when thou didn't return.”

“I'm sorry, I meant to, but I fell asleep.”

“It gave me an excuse to inquire after thee with the guard, so no worries.”

“Uh, Rarity,” Applejack said, “we're alone, you don't hafta keep talkin' like that.”

“Like what? Oh!” She blushed slightly. “Sorry, it's quite catchy.” She ignored Applejack's dubious gaze, and turned to Twilight's hair, her eyes following the pattern of the braid, dissecting the technique. She began pulling it apart with her magic, mumbling to herself. “Hold Still,” she added to Twilight.

“About that,” Twilight said. “What was with that? Designing their uniforms?”

“He just seemed so needing of a little generosity, I only wish I'd had the materials to make it for him. And I don't see what difference a little uniform revision would make in the course of history. It's certainly no slumber party with the future leader of Equestria.” She mumbled the last part, tugging slightly as she unbraided Twilight's hair. She gestured to Fluttershy to come closer, and Rarity began meticulously reproducing Twilight's braid in Fluttershy's long, pink mane.

“I guess...” Twilight finished unbraiding her own mane, looking over at Iris and Rainbow. “Is it early, or are they just sleeping in?”

“Hard to tell when the sun won't behave,” Applejack answered. “She was out pretty late tryin' to corral that storm, though.”

They all ate breakfast together and then helped pack up the camp again. The day's march was fairly uneventful, but the transition in the landscape was striking. The soil, which has begun exhibiting signs of green at the end of their march the day before, began to show exotic looking plants and flowers – sparse at first, but ever increasing in their frequency and variety. Eventually even birds could be heard, and Fluttershy spent a great deal of time in the air moving from treetop to treetop.

Applejack remained fairly quiet and focused for most of the journey, not even fussing when Rarity, keeping herself busy, took a turn at braiding her mane as well. She added an extra backwards twist into the sequence she'd copied from Celestia, and it gave an uneven look to it that suited the usually unkempt mane. Rarity moved to Pinkie Pie, considering her mane briefly, before shaking her head in resignation. She glance as Iris, who had landed beside her, and smiled. Iris looked around at the braid work the others wore and gave a concerned look before taking to the air again as quickly as possible.

Twilight watched quietly, considering her cutie mark from time to time. It hadn't changed since she woke up, so maybe she'd just imagined that some of the sand had moved? No, I'm sure more of it is on the bottom. So, it's not at a steady rate...

They marched directly behind the Princess' personal escort this time – the Captain obviously decided they weren't a threat after all. The sun rose and set several times while they marched, and it seemed to Twilight that they marched further that “day” the the previous one before Celestia ordered the caravan to stop. The various soldiers still seemed to be in high spirits, though, having sung some marching tunes that Pinkie Pie had taught them. They made camp near a clear lagoon, the song of the various bright colored birds only slightly diminished by their presence.

Applejack had managed to find an exotic fruit growing near the lagoon that would serve in her recipes in the place of apples, which was fortunate as the extra travelers were an additional strain on the supplies. As she chewed, Twilight noted the texture was similar, but that the fruit definitely had a more tangy edge to it.

“We should reach the castle by midday tomorrow,” Rainbow Dash noted as they ate. “I didn't get too near – I didn't want to not alarm the guards.”

“What's it like?” Rarity asked.

“It looked a lot like the ruins in the Everfree, except where there are missing windows in the ruins, it looks like this castle is open on purpose,” Iris explained.

“Must be typical to the style,” Twilight noted. “Odd, I've not read much about architecture.”

“The ruins in the Everfree were the template for the Neo-Classical architectural era pre-dating Nightmare Moon,” Rarity commented. When Twilight shot her a startled glance, she added, “fashion and architectural history are very closely tied, you know. One can sometimes predict one trend from the other, and they both work in cycles, so one cannot deny the advantage such studies grant.”

“That... makes a lot of sense,” Twilight said, thinking and suddenly adding “we're not under-dressed, are we?”

“Like in the future, most ponies would only dress for formal occasions,” Rarity explained, her brow furrowing as she added, “technically we should have court outfits for our reception by Chrysalis' court, but our back story of a hasty departure and our desperate need are only made more believable by our lack.”

“Thank Celestia for that,” Applejack added, rolling her eyes to signify her extra implication of relief at not having to dress up. She hadn't taken out the braid, though, which surprised Twilight a little.

“Ladies, might I enter?” came Starswirl's voice from outside of the tent.

“Your great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather really was quite refined, Twilight” Rarity noted quietly.

“I don't know, he seems a might bookish, though I suppose it runs in the family,” Applejack added, winking at Rarity as they shared a smile.

“Thou may enter,” Rarity added louder as Twilight glared at them.

“I desired to pay my respects to the earth ponies in your company,” he said, nodding politely to Pinkie Pie and Applejack as he approached them. “This evening's repast was of unmatched quality, and lifted my spirit. I offer thee my thanks.” He bowed his head.

“W-well, shucks, sugarcube, I can get ya the recipe if ya like,” Applejack stammered, blushing. Behind him, Rarity smiled slyly at her and mouthed the word “bookish” silently.

“Oh, Twilight, we've got to come this far south when we get back, these birds are amazing!” Fluttershy said as she entered the tent, several exotic songbirds still perched in her hair. “Oh!” she took a half-step back, folding her wings and landing as she noticed Starswirl, then cleverly added “I mean, once we have more time to travel this way at a leisurely pace.” She smiled, widely, squeaking slightly.

“If all goes well, I imagine you'll have need of an regular emissary,” Starswirl nodded in agreement, then he turned to Twilight and away from Fluttershy, who exhaled in a sigh of relief, disturbing one of the birds in her mane. “Will thou be joining the princesses this evening?”

“I will,” Twilight replied. “Give me a moment to finish, she pointed to her meal, and I shall join thee outside.” He nodded stiffly, then his eyes swept across all of them as he obeyed her dismissal. “You don't mind-”

“We can manage, Twi-,” Applejack interrupted. Everypony looked away from Twilight, and she waited patiently, unmoving. Finally, Applejack sighed and added, “Look, sugarcube, we don't own ya, and Pinkie proves you can have as many friends as you want, but don't forget these friends are far from home, too.”

“Don't think I have,” Twilight answered. “Don't you realize how thin I'm spread? But Tia needs this now. At the worst, no matter how this all turns out, we all have each other when we get home. Luna and Starswirl... and me, that's all she has right now. Just this one night, then I'll stay with you tomorrow. Promise.” She mock-gestured crossing her heart with her hoof and jamming an imagined cupcake in her eye to seal the promise.

Starswirl was waiting for her outside, and fell into line beside her silently as they moved to the other tent across the way. His expression was so pensive that even as absorbed as Twilight was in all her own problems, she couldn't help but notice, and she stopped. “What troubles thee?” she almost demanded.

“What? I...” Starswirl began, then concluded flatly, “Nothing.” He took a couple more steps, clearly expecting that would end the matter, then he stopped and turned as Twilight didn't follow.

“Out with it. It's... about me, isn't it?”

“I owe you such a debt, I shouldn't even begin to question thy motives-” he looked Twilight right in the eyes, that fierce expression that she'd seen directed at the captain once before emerged again, “-but I do. Good timing, indeed. Too good. And thee and thy friends are conspiring beyond thy stated goal. My ears have always been sharp,” he blushed slightly, “and while I never intended to listen in, I've overheard snippets of your conversations, and while I must say I cannot follow all of it, thou art not who thou sayest thou art.”

Twilight nodded slowly. “I see.” She stepped forward a half-step, and Starswirl's horn began to glow, anticipating whatever her response would be. She paused briefly, then took another step, ignoring the tingling sensation of his nearby magic and resisting her urge to pull it up herself in defense. No, that would only make things worse. Making sure to keep constant, unblinking eye contact, she responded, “I cannot deny that there is more to us than we have revealed, and I wish that I could tell thee all of it, but I cannot, for everypony's sake. What I can tell you is that I will take any oath that will convince thee, I would never - could never - mean any harm to thyself or the princesses, and I swear to defend them with any and all power that I can conjure to my aid.”

He blinked briefly, then lowered his head slightly, sighing as he gently released the magic that he had pulled up around him. “Just promise me this – that thou will tell me what thou can, should the need arise.”

“I promise.” She placed one hoof on his shoulder reassuringly and added, “I can tell thee that everything will work out in the end.”

“Thou art sure of that?” his tone was more incredulous at her absolute certainty than dubious of her statement.

“I am.” It has to. “Please, stay with the princesses and I this evening, and thou will see the good I am doing.” She kept her hoof on his shoulder until he nodded assent.

“Twily!” Luna ambushed her, this time circling around her in flight excitedly rather than pouncing her. “Come see, come see, I made thee a gift!” Luna ran over to the table, still bouncing as she magically lifted a teacup from the table and floated it over to Twilight Sparkle. It was ceramic teacup, perfectly balanced and painted in stripes that matched Twilight's mane.

“Very impressive,” Twilight praised. “I was not aware thou knew pottery.”

“The night is boring and lonely sometimes,” Luna said dismissively. “Learning new skills fills the time.” A shiver ran down Twilight's spine again. You can dismiss it now, but it catches up with you. “There's more,” Luna said slyly, “turn it around.”

Twilight turned the mug to find the other side was embossed with her cutie mark. It seemed so congruous that it took Twilight a moment to realize that it was her actual cutie mark. She let the mug go and it dropped a few inches before she caught it again.

“What is that symbol?” Starswirl asked, eying it from behind Twilight.

“A cutie mark,” Luna answered before Twilight could come up with anything. “She wears it in her dreams, so I figured it meant something important to her. I made thee one, too!” She pushed another mug at Starswirl before showing off matching ones for herself and Celestia.

“She worked on those all evening from the clay we found in the soil nearby,” Celestia commented as she approached, carrying a tray with a teapot on it as she approached. “She even insisted on magically firing it herself. She did well, they should never break.” Celestia smiled, and the tension of the moment and of the unspoken question about the cutie mark seemed to melt away. It was the most serene that Twilight had seen her since they arrived. Twilight glanced at Starswirl, and his expression relaxed, too. He's not going to risk souring her mood, so he'll drop it. For now.

“I... My thanks,” Twilight stammered finally, beaming genuine gratitude. Luna hugged her briefly before leaping over the table in a short flight to her own seating, nearly upsetting the teapot as Celestia set it down.

“Would thou join us?” Celestia said to Starswirl. She said it gently, emphasizing the inflection that made it a question rather than an order.

“I-” Starswirl stammered, then he shook his head. “It seems you are all conspiring to keep me from my studies this evening, anyway, so how could I refuse?” He was trying to sound irritated, but his eyes betrayed his happiness. They all sat around the table while Celestia poured the tea. Whatever blend it was, it was foreign, sweet, and pungent.

The evening seemed to stretch on forever as they sat, just chatting softly. Twilight Sparkle regaled them with tales from her own studies, made slightly vague to avoid disclosing anything important about the future. If Starswirl had noted that her 'instructor' didn't match the description of any of the professors that he knew from the academy, he kept any such suspicions to himself, much to her relief. She and Starswirl briefly worked with Luna on a few spell lessons, using the hair growth spell as a harmless example to show her the value of subtlety. Twilight and Starswirl compared notes on a few spells, and she was careful to let him take the lead so that she didn't disclose his own future discoveries to him. Celestia for her part spoke little, but it was clear from her expression that the burden of the task ahead of her was far from her mind, and fortunately the moon didn't blink from the sky once the whole evening to remind her.

Only as the evening grew late, after Starswirl and Luna had drifted into sleep one at a time, did it come up again. “When we are successful, I think Luna and I will move the throne to the forest below," Celestia mused. When. Not if. Good. "Discord has made a mockery of the high castle, and it would honor mother."

"Mother," Twilight repeated tonelessly. Other than Luna, Cadance, Blueblood, and her mention the previous evening of Princess Platinum, Celestia had never mentioned any family.

"Thou would have liked her," Celestia continued, a sad longing in her voice. "Princess Laurel Grove D'Everfree. While others shied away from the one part of Equestria where nature runs free, she always said she felt most at home there, like it was speaking to her." She sighed, then continued more cheerfully, "Will thou and thy friends join us on our return? I can show thee."

Twilight thought carefully about her reply. “I promise that no joy will be greater to me than joining thee when I can,” Twilight finally managed, “but we both have obligations once this mission is done that will keep apart for a time, I think.”

Celestia smiled again, but her eyes focused further in the distance now. “I suppose thou art right. Twilight Sparkle, I must thank thee heartily. If only briefly, I forgot the troubles that have been following me, and that favor I shall never forget, nor this night.” She bowed deeply.

“Nor I,” Twilight countered, returning the gesture. “I must take my leave.”

“Indeed, we have an early morning preparing for an audience with Chrysalis. Good night, Twilight.”

Twilight had returned to her tent and settled quietly in without waking her friends before she realized that she'd left her mug behind. Luna had seen her true self, and Twilight couldn't help but think as she drifted off that some part of Celestia had glimpsed it as well. She glanced reflexively to where the cutie mark should be. The sand level is lower again. She would ask her friends to verify, but it definitely seemed to have changed, after moving not a bit all day..

The next morning moved quickly, and the flurry of activity from the guards and the royal escort had a more sombre tone than the joviality of the previous day.

“Do you even know what you're going to say?” Twilight Sparkle asked Rarity.

“One needn't plan too tightly, if one can read the situation,” Rarity replied. “You've given us a home location, and we certainly have a plausible enough need. Besides, arriving at the same time as the Canterlot delegation, we'll barely be noticed.”

“I wouldn't fret too much, sugarcube,” Applejack said, “the cover only has to be good enough to keep us there for our opportunity to change things.”

“I'd worry more about getting that far,” Rainbow Dash added, peering in the distance.

“I thought you moved the storm well out of the way,” Twilight said absently. She stayed with her friends as promised, but once again she found her attention divided. She'd managed to get a message to Luna that she didn't wish to break up the set, and to hold the mug for now until they could have tea again, but she couldn't think of anything reassuring for Celestia.

“Pssh, well, yeah, you had the two best weather ponies in Ponyville working for you, of course that's taken care of,” Rainbow countered. “I was talking about that.”

Even as they turned to look where her hoof was pointed, they could hear a general cry rise up from the various guards. The sun glinted off of the shiny red scales and the sharp teeth as a roar bellowed out from the very familiar dragon that was growing larger and larger as it approached from the southern horizon.

Author's Note

Sorry about the delay for this chapter. It's a long one, and despite its lack of momentous actions, it's probably one of the more pivotal ones, so I gave it a few extra passes of polish.

The Shining Gates

“Formations!” The Captain of the Guard yelled. The supply wagon stopped, and the guard advanced to brace for the coming attack.

“I'll... be back,” Twilight Sparkle told her friends, before teleporting ahead to the Royal procession.

“I thought we might be seeing you,” Starswirl said, though he didn't take his eyes off the approaching dragon.

“That cyclone should have taken him all the way to the sea!” Twilight said.

“And so it probably did. Angry dragons are like any other angry creature. They move faster.”

Twilight nodded. “Thoughts this time?”

“How about... move!” Starswirl yelled. The dragon made a sudden lunge, his wingbeat bending the trees that he had passed, and he nearly landed on them as they dove aside. Somehow, he had missed. He turned towards Starswirl and Twilight Sparkle, raising his sharp talons before they could recover.

“Hold!”

Twilight had pulled up her magic, preparing to shield them, and Starswirl's horn likewise glowed in her peripheral vision. She looked around trying to find the source of the voice, for the dragon was as still as stone, though his eyes were still dilated to narrow slits that spoke rage and they glared at the unicorns.

“Rubyscale, enough!” the voice ordered again. “Let me down, boy,” it added more gently. The dragon's eyes relaxed, and finally its claw moved back, as if to scratch behind its ear, then descended slowly, palm up.

“That's a good boy, I know they've riled you up, but I need to speak with them.” The voice firm but level, and belonged to a unicorn. Between glinting silver helm and armor etched with shapes of various butterflies, her bright red mane danced in the wind generated by the dragon shifting his wings, settling down behind her, still glaring past her at Twilight and Starswirl She turned her green eyes, sharp as the crossed spears that made her cutie mark, towards the two of them as she descended from the dragon's paw. “You are approaching the Shining Gates of Aurelia and have entered the domain of Princess Chrysalis, what business do you have here?” She pointed a canary yellow hoof at them accusingly.

“That question is for us to answer,” the familiar voice boomed as Celestia approached, her head regally high and her eyes sharp, “and to Princess Chrysalis and no other.”

“Ah, erm, Princess Celestia,” the newcomer addressed her, bowing low, her tone softening. “I did not expect this to be thy delegation, forgive me. We'd heard of the problems to the north, and given Rubyscale's descriptions, I expected brigands and... well, forgive me. I should know better than to trust the description of an angry dragon with a wounded pride. I am Firebane, Captain of Her Highness' Royal Guard.”

“Thy transgression is understandable, Captain Firebane,” Celestia reassured her, though her tone and posture didn't soften, “Perhaps thou should take a position at the lead of our procession, to avoid further confusion?”

“Of course, by thy will, Princess,” Firebane bowed again cordially. She blushed slightly, looking past Celestia to the guards that were still in battle formations. “I'll give thy procession a moment to... recompose themselves after the confusion.” She jumped back into Rubyscale's paw, who advanced a few steps away from the party after she mounted, rather than taking flight again.

“An intimidating figure,” Starswirl noted. “I suppose the dragon adds to the effect.”

“It was the eyes more than the dragon,” Twilight countered. He glanced at her questioningly and she added, “trust me on this one.” Maybe it's a good thing Fluttershy isn't that assertive.

“She means well, and has a gentle heart,” Celestia said. “Chrysalis wouldn't have made her Captain otherwise. Now, if the vicious brigand wizards would return to their places,” she added, winking subtly at the two of them, “we will continue onwards.”

Twilight smiled and returned to her friends, explaining the escort.

“Dragon Riding, now that's gutsy!” Rainbow Dash commented. “Hey, Fluttershy, you should use The Stare to tame a dragon to ride, too.”

Once Fluttershy was reassured that the dragon would remain in front of the procession, she had come out of hiding from the back of the supply cart. “Oh, I don't think that I'd make a good dragon rider.”

“Sure, you'd be fine, right Iris?” Rainbow Dash countered.

“Huh?” Iris answered absently. “Sure.”

“Something wrong?” Rainbow asked.

“Just... she sounds familiar.” Iris smoothed back the stray hairs in her mane absently.

“Uh. Yeah. The Stare.” She pointed to Fluttershy, then to her own eyes to emphasize, crossing them to focus on her own hoof as she moved it inwards.

“No, it's something else...” Iris drifted off, both in thought and literally a bit further from the group. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash exchanged glances and Rainbow Dash shrugged.

They marched only a short while longer when the ground seemed to rise. When they reached the crest of the hill, Firebane and Rubyscale took to the sky again, signaling to somepony unseen in the distance, before turning back to the delegation and calling to them. “We have arrived. Welcome, travelers, to the Shining Gates of Aurelia!” She bowed dramatically from her dragon's back, and he likewise bowed and drifted to the side to allow a clear view of the valley.

Ahead was a short wall with a bustling, bright town within it. Ponies went about their daily business tending to fields and tall bright flowers.

“Alfalfa, milkweed, cornflowers, lavender, goldenrod, whole heaps of herbs...” Applejack began tallying the crop variety.

Beyond that was a river that flowed through the middle of town with a simple bridge that was barely noticeable next to the arch that stood on the other bank.

“Rainbow Dash,” Rarity said, “When I asked how the castle looked, do you think maybe one might have mentioned,” her voice began rising in tone, “the beautiful, ornate, intricately carved, jewel encrusted golden arch!?”

“Well, I had to leave some surprises, didn't I?” Rainbow Dash replied, her eyes narrowing at Rarity as she grinned, leaving the white unicorn stammering.

“So, the 'Shining Gates' aren't just an expression,” Twilight Sparkle noted. Among the intricately carved figures on the arch, some looked familiar, and she realized it was a depiction matching the stained-glass windows in the room behind the throne in Canterlot of the defeat of the Windigoes and the uniting of all ponykind. So Aurelia was built after that as well. I wonder, is there a similar monument in the Crystal Empire? She mentally noted to contact her brother when they returned.

Beyond the arch was a taller wall, and a vast, open double door that served as the functional castle gates. As Rainbow Dash had said, the rest of the castle was laid out like an open version of the castle of the Alicorn Sisters in the Everfree. Not only were the windows open frames, but ornate, massive planters lined the walls, one in front of each massive pillar. Butterflies flitted in and out, drawn by the sweet scents and bright colors. In the middle of the open entryway, there was an ornate, multi-tiered fountain carved with images of the local exotic birds they had seen on their journey, right where the Elements of Harmony were displayed in the castle's mirror in the future.

“Cryssie's castle is quite pretty, sister!” Luna whispered loudly to Celestia. Celestia said nothing, but nodded.

Ahead of them, another large archway, more plain than the main gate, separated them from the receiving room in front of throne room. A single guard stood on either side of the arch, their armor matching the style worn by Firebane. Several paces closer was a unicorn stallion, dressed in unremarkable gray formal attire. His mane and tail were light blue, complimenting his dusty yellow color. His cutie mark was an unfurled scroll, and he was checking the pocket watch in front of his nose, shaking his head disapprovingly and mumbling before closing it and tucking it in his suit.

“Greetings, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna,” his said, his bow as perfunctory as his voice. “Forgive us, but thy quarters will be prepared shortly, Her Highness was not expecting such a large delegation...” He trailed off, his eyes darting towards Twilight and her friends so briefly that she thought that she might have imagined it.

“We met them by chance on our travels,” Celestia explained, “though they, too, seek an audience.”

“I see,” the unicorn replied, his eyes narrowing, as he turned to address them. “I'm afraid in light of the... recent events, The Butterfly Court is not accepting any foreign petitions.” He turned back to the princesses, adding, “present company accepted, of course.”

“We must insist, Chamberlain,” Celestia admonished. “We owe them a great debt for their assistance on the road, and will vouch for them.” She arched her eyebrows as she added, “Surely our reassurance is sufficient?”

He paused a moment, expressionless before replying, “With respect, I will allow Her Highness to make that decision, but I will express thine opinion.” He advanced to Rarity, who had taken the lead of their group in matching with their cover story. “My name is Chamberlain, and I will handle thy needs during thy stay in Aurelia.” If his bow to Celestia was lacking, the bow he offered Rarity was barely noticeable.

“Lady Rarity,” she introduced herself, an irritated expression flickering quickly across her face. For her part, Rarity countered with the most flourishing curtsy she could muster, and stayed at the lowest point, waiting, as if she hadn't noticed Chamberlain's polite nod at all. For a moment, he stood as if frozen, clearly wanting to walk away, but unable to merely dismiss her gesture. The guards shifted uncomfortably in the awkward silence before at last Chamberlain clumsily returned a full bow. Rarity rose at last, with only the slightest smirk.

“Both your delegations can wait in the quarters until Her Highness can receive you,” Chamberlain said as he exhaled, turning sharply to lead them.

“No.” Celestia's refusal was monotone.

Chamberlain stopped mid-stride, so that Rarity and her procession almost ran into him. “I-I'm afraid Her Highness will already have their appointments through today at least, perhaps I can-”

“I have come as emissary from King Discord of Equestria, on a mission of goodwill and utmost import to all the kingdoms of ponykind.” To his benefit, Chamberlain seemed less shaken by the Royal Canterlot voice than he did by Rarity's performance. The butterflies that flitted randomly throughout the hall seemed to scatter from the area before Celestia continued, only slightly softer. “I have traveled with haste through the perils of the Badlands for an audience. Surely on such grounds, I might request my own cousin find time to receive me yet today?”

Author's Note

And so more of the lineage of Princess Platinum is revealed! More to come...

The Butterfly Court

Cousin. Twilight Sparkle let that revelation sink in. Chrysalis was Celestia's cousin? She glanced quickly to the other girls and they all seemed just as shocked. To anypony else, it might seem like their reaction to Celestia's tirade. The intervening silence gave Twilight time to think. I suppose it makes sense, she mentioned being Princess Platinum's granddaughter. She thought back to the arch. And all the kingdoms trace back to the same moment of founding, of which she was the unicorn representative.

“The nobles of The Butterfly Court will be unsettled,” Chamberlain mused, though his tone was definitely more eager than upset. “But they'll have to understand that these are unusual times.” As if to punctuate his statement, the sun suddenly vanished from the sky. Horns were aglow almost instantly. A few pesgasi with torches mounted to a modified saddle came along the hall, lighting sconces quickly. “If you'll excuse me,” he added, passing through the door, closing it behind him. There were sounds of muffled protests inside, then the door reopened, several ponies dressed in very fancy clothes bursting out of the hall backwards almost as if they'd been physically pushed.

“Well, I never!” one of the exclaimed, then turned with an irritated expression towards Celestia, mouth already formed into an angry shape. Whatever tirade she had prepared died on her lips when she saw for whom she was making room. “Uh... I...” She bowed briefly before darting out of the hall. Several others followed, but by now they'd clearly seen the other Princesses, for they all bowed carefully as they passed.

Celestia, for her part, never lowered her head or really acknowledged them at all, instead looking distant and plaintive. She doesn't want anypony seeing Discord's spell is broken, Twilight suddenly realized. She thinks he might already have spies here? Twilight remembered how powerful Discord was, reminded by the sudden return of daytime, and decided Celestia probably wasn't overreacting. The same set of pegasi flew back down he hall, extinguishing the torches they had lit only moments before.

“There,” Chamberlain said, the corners of his mouth turning up in what must have been a smile. “I've secured enough room for the Princesses and their personal guards.” Celestia said nothing, but resolutely turned towards Rarity, then back to him, simple raising one eyebrow. Chamberlain's tight smile disappeared. “Thou cannot be seri – It's just we've already...” He sighed. “Very well.” He departed again, more noble and merchant ponies departing, careful to save any complaining until they were barely in earshot of the group, though Twilight noticed Starswirl's ears twitch and his expression show a bit of dismay. Chamberlain reappeared, looking slightly more unkempt and unbalanced. “There will be consequences for that later, I assure thee. Thine entourage should arrive before Her Highness in time for dinner,” then muttering, “To which she'll invite them, surely, I should notify the kitchen.” He spoke up again, looking from Celestia to Rarity, “Please wait inside, I must attend to arrangements.” The bow he gave was hasty but clearly defined to both of them before he ran to a small side door and disappeared again.

“I'm not sure I trust that guy,” Iris Dash said quietly to their group, her eyes narrowing in suspicion as she watched the door close behind him.

“Chamberlain is fiercely loyal to Princess Chrysalis, and doesn't want things to be any harder for her than necessary,” Starswirl answered, also keeping his tone low. Iris' eyes widened slightly, as she hadn't intended for him to hear. He continued as they advanced to the gate, where the two guards opened the door for them and bowed deeply, “also, those ponies he just ejected for our benefit were clearly wealthy, powerful, and will probably make his life harder in the future, out of spite.” As they entered the room, they noticed those remaining before them were less well dressed, or not wearing clothes at all. “He felt it was more important that common ponies with real problems managed to see the Princess today, when he could have ejected them instead with almost no personal consequence. Ask thyself, what does that tell thee of him?”

“It's all right sugarcube,” Applejack comforted Iris, whose sheepish expression betrayed her regret at her statement, “he came off as too big for his saddlebags to me at first, too. Goes to show ya' can't always judge an apple tree by the seed it sprouted from.”

The few hours passed slowly, and Twilight more than once checked her cutie mark, expecting it would look emptier, but there was no change since the night before. Finally, the gate opened, and she could hear a clear voice announcing them. “Their Royal Highnesses, Princesses Celestia and Luna de Canterlot!”

Celestia gave them a reassuring smile, then turned and walked slowly into the throne room. Luna walked in step beside her to the right, both walking in resolute, perfect step, their heads high and their posture impeccable. Despite her youth, Luna was clearly her sister's equal at court. Starswirl followed a half-step behind to Celestia's left, and one each of Luna's and Celestia's royal guards two paces behind them. Rarity nodded to the advancing royalty, then looked meaningfully at the rest of them, and they organized themselves more or less to match. “Lady Rarity of the Apple Shores!” the voice announced. They moved forward, Rarity first, Twilight a half step back, and the rest behind in file.

If there seemed to be numerous butterflies amongst the town's massive flower crop, and a greater number in the castle's halls, the throne room was almost suffused with them. Twilight was grateful for the stately pace of advance, as she was worried she would accidentally crush one if she moved any faster. They shimmered as they flew in such a variety of colors and hues, that she was absolutely shocked when, as Luna and Celestia's entourage bowed in front of them, the beauty of the Princess of Aurelia outshined them all, even as they seemed to encircle her.

Her massive wings were spread to reveal her intricate feather pattern – black around the edges with an occasional white feather thrown in, mostly vibrant orange in the centers, with a few narrow veins of black running through the orange. Like a monarch butterfly, the comparison jumped to mind only an instant before Twilight noticed Chrysalis' cutie mark. A small branch and an empty shell circled it to one side like a crescent moon. The majority of the mark was a monarch butterfly, spreading its wings for the first time after its wings had dried after hatching. Her mane and tail, set against the contrast of her ivory coat, were a vibrant green, matching the outer circle of her dual-colored eyes, the inner color being an emerald shade so deep that it almost blended into the pupil. Her eyes never changed. Twilight suppressed a shiver at the memory of the first time she will have had seen those eyes, in Canterlot, when she revealed her true form. No, this is her true form. The form I'm here to preserve.

Rarity cleared her throat gently, snapping Twilight out of her reverie, as it was now their turn to bow. She did so deeply and without reservation. For her part, Princess Chrysalis nodded her head just as lowly to them as she had to her cousin moments before. The continued on and moved off slightly to the right, just opposite Celestia.

“My, how extraordinary it is to have such guests!” Chrysalis spoke at last. Her voice had the familiar deep resonance to it, but lacked the eerie reverberation that her changeling-self exhibited. “Dearest cousins, we will hear what brings you to Aurelia?” She looked to Celestia.

“Dearest cousin,” Celestia echoed back at her, her tone flat, “We have come to thee as an emissary of the court of His Great and Noble Majesty, King Discord of Equestria. We offer gifts to signify a desire to enter into a lasting truce with thy kingdom.” The other of each of the Equestiran Princesses' guards appeared then, escorting a large chest.

“So, things flourish under the new rule?” Chrysalis asked evenly, her eyebrows raising.

“Indeed,” said Celestia, “His Great and Noble Majesty, King Discord of Equestria, treats us, its deposed Princesses with kindness and respect, and is well loved by all.” Again, her line was delivered with such monotone, Twilight had to try her best not to laugh at Celestia's performance.

“We understand,” Chrysalis said, musing as she turned towards Rarity. “And thee, Lady. We have not had the pleasure of thine acquaintance, have we?”

“Indeed, Thy Highness,” Rarity said, bowing again slightly with her head, “our small town is far from thy domain, and the bulk of our trade has been with Equestria.”

“Thy desperation must be great to travel the Badlands with such an unprotected entourage to see us. We are glad to meet somepony so bold.”

“Thy compliment is too kind, Thy Highness. In desperate times, decisive action often comes from necessity, not boldness. We've of late had... complications... in our business with Equestria. We believe that it's likely due to... the usual rigors associated with a change in leadership,” Rarity said this slowly, considering each word. She can't call Celestia a liar, but she can imply it. Twilight admired friend's quick grasp of detail as Rarity continued. “We sought a trade agreement while things normalize, and perhaps thy court could send a delegation to verify our claims?”

“Indeed, and the long road would have to be patrolled, would it not?” Princess Chrysalis countered. “We surmise from the show of arms among your entourage that this duty would fall mostly to Aurelia?” Looking right at them, Chrysalis winked, and it was so brief that Twilight was sure she must have imagined it. “We would need to arrange a tariff to fund the upkeep of such a force.”

“Just so-” Rarity began.

“Fear not, Lady,” Chrysalis interrupted, “We are not rejecting thy request, just... considering our position.” She turned back to Celestia and added, “And to thee cousin, we offer our enduring alliance to the Rulers of Equestria.” She took a half-step back to her throne, and nodded to the guards by the door.

One stepped forward and pounded his hoof on the stone resonantly three times. “This concludes the business of The Butterfly Court for today. Long life and prosperity to the Rulers of Aurelia!”

Celestia's group remained motionless, as did Princess Chrysalis, so Rarity followed suit and stood her ground as well. They could hear various shuffling, and only then did Twilight realize there had been observers along the side of the court. No doubt records keepers, guards, and nobles. Once the sound dissipated, Chrysalis waved at the guards by the door. The one who had just dismissed the court raised his eyebrows questioningly. She gestured again, more insistently, and he bowed deeply, then closed the main door, himself and the other guard closing themselves out. They were alone.

“Oh dear cousin,” Chrysalis said, a deep chuckle in her voice, “that performance! How did thou expect me to keep a straight face!”

Author's Note

And so we see Princess Chrysalis' true form at last. I myself barely have the visual artistic talent to make a stick figure, but if anypony out there would like to draw me a picture showing her beauty and majesty, I would certainly be willing to change my cover art to it (with permission, of course).

Conspiracies

“I'm supposed to be enchanted, thou should be aware,” Celestia said, dropping her formal posture. “He may have eyes even here.”

“That I wouldn't doubt,” Chrysalis agreed. “Many of my court are already controlled by their fear of the rumors coming from the north. And sadly, some are greedy enough to seek to keep their wealth by joining the enemy.” She sighed, and doors near the back of the room opened, Chamberlain emerging. “Excellent, Chamberlain, We were about to call thee to have the meal expanded for our guests.”

“It's already taken care of, Thy Highness,” he said with a bow, much more fluid than the one he'd offered Celestia or Rarity.

“Thou art amazing as always,” she turned to Celestia. “I'll have Chamberlain himself serve us. He alone of my staff do I trust without reservation, and I have many more questions to ask.”

He bowed again, giving the hints of a slightly crooked smile. He stomped his hooves on the floor, and the echoes were followed by several other doors opening, a procession bringing in a table to sit in the middle of the hall, followed by a flurry of ponies with various place settings and serving dishes filled with food. Almost as quickly as the arrived, they were gone, all except Chamberlain, who guided them all to their places.

All the dishes smelled wonderful, and some were exotic foods that Twilight had never seen. She grabbed two small flowers that had tightly wrapped little red buds up and down the stalks from one dish.

“Ah, yes, Rillik Blossoms,” Starswirl said beside her. “A delicacy, but a little spicy for my tastes.”

“Spicy?” she said, her ears lowering to match her tone.

“Fear not,” he chuckled lightly, serving her a green stalked vegetable overtop of her current selection. “The sauce from that will take the edges off.” He smiled and winked at her.

“I wished for us to dine peacefully before the serious business began, but there is one question on which I can bear to wait no longer,” Chrysalis began once they were all settled in front of their food. “Dear cousin, w-what... what has become of my father? He set off for Canterlot shortly after news of the calamity arrived, and I've not seen him since.”

Celestia, about to take a bite, closed her mouth, allowing the food to lower back to her plate slowly, and then blinked slowly. “I bear grave news,” Celestia answered. Twilight took a bite and found the flavors mixed into a blend of spicy and sweet. “I'm afraid thy father, Lord Sombra, was also enchanted by Discord, and was sent to conquer the Crystal City.

Twilight Sparkle would have been able to hear the others gasping, but she was in the middle of swallowing when Celestia spoke, so all she could hear at the moment was herself coughing violently. Celestia gave her a look of concern, magically lifting a cup of tea over to her. “My thanks,” she finally managed to croak as she took a sip. “It was spicier than I expected,” she quickly improvised.

“Poor father!” Chrysalis said softly. “Sent against his own sister! Even enchanted, I cannot imagine him ever hurting Aunt Armonia. Granted, he was always closer to thy mother, but they never had any quarrel of which I was aware.”

“Indeed,” Celestia replied, placing a hoof softly on Chrysalis' shoulder. “Even enchanted, some of himself must have surfaced. Before I left Canterlot, word had arrived back that he had failed to capture her, and that the Crystal Princess, Mi Affetto Armonia, had escaped into exile. Thy father was an excellent strategist, and that was surely not an accident.”

Twilight looked around the table. The Dashes and Fluttershy were too far down the table to have heard, and were conversing quietly. Applejack was chewing slowly, avoiding eye contact, but her eyes were wide with surprise. Rarity was conversing with Luna's guard, the one she'd given the design to, but Twilight could her her stumbling on on their conversation, and the quick glance she darted at Twilight let her know she had heard as well. Pinkie was unceremoniously gobbling down cupcakes that she had topped with the Rillik blossoms, and her expression was jovial, but Twilight had learned long ago that Pinkie rarely missed the conversation even when she seemed to be occupied.

“Thy enchantment was reversible,” Chrysalis replied excitedly. “Possibly we could get to father, and then we could-”

“Chrysalis,” Celestia uttered just her name in a flat monotone, and looked directly into Chrysalis' two-toned green eyes. “Discord's orders to him were to take the city, and begin experiments with the crystals. With Dark Magic.” Her hoof never left Chrysalis' shoulder while she said this, but as she finished, Chrysalis drew back, her eyes wide and her ivory hair seeming to pale.

“It's forbidden!” Chrysalis said sharply. “Thou know father, his heart is kind and full of laughter! The darkness will... it will-”

Luna stepped forward, having been uncharacteristically quiet up to this point. “Chryssie,” Luna intoned, reaching a hoof up to her. She smiled, and said again, louder this time, “Chryssie, we will try anyway.” A single tear ran down Chrysalis' cheek, but she nodded and leaned her head down to embrace Luna, smiling weakly at the filly.

“I was able to break the enchantment,” Twilight Sparkle found herself saying, with more ferocity then she intended. “And should the opportunity arise, I pledge that I will make the same efforts with Lord Sombra, Your Highness.” She, too, had a single tear moving down her cheek. It will seem to be tears of sympathy, she reassured herself. Not tears of guilt.

“Do you understand the weight of what you're promising?” Celestia asked. “He will be deeper than we were, in the shadow of the crystal's power in addition to Discord's.”

“I do,” she snapped, stomping a hoof to punctuate, suddenly upset with her mentor, and by proxy, the younger version that was now questioning her. Why didn't you tell me? Celestia blinked, confused by the rebuke, so that Twilight added more softly, “I make no promises on results, but I will try.”

“Now at least I understand why you took these wanderers on the road into thy conspiracy, cousin,” Chrysalis said softly, wiping the tear from her cheek, her soft, green eyes settling on Twilight with a warmth that they would be incapable of in the future. “I had my doubts when Chamberlain approached me with the news, thinking thy desperation great. Our thanks...”

“Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia supplied, half to supply the name to Chrysalis, half as a question in confusion at the sharp tone Twilight had taken with her a moment before.

“Yes, let us have introductions!” Chrysalis said, more cheerfully, though the tone seemed slightly forced, “Lady Rarity, would thou do us the honor of introducing thine entourage to us?”

Once the attention was off of Twilight Sparkle, she shot Celestia an apologetic glance. I'm sure she had her reasons. And would it have changed anything if I'd known? She was aware of Lady Rarity introducing the other girls to Chrysalis, but she remained lost in her own thoughts until her reverie was broken by an unfamiliar voice.

“Did thou start dinner without me, then?” Twilight looked up to see a silvery-maned unicorn stallion approaching the table. His eyes were a rough match for the dark green of Chryslis' inner eye color, his hair a pale white. He was tall and thin, and where Chrysalis bore a cutie mark of a brilliant monarch butterfly, its wings outspread, his was a moth, the colors more muted, but the wings just as intricate in their pattern.

“Oh!” Chrysalis exclaimed. “I... I didn't think thou would be up this early.” Her tone was affectionate, but tentative.

“One could hardly slumber through the smell of this lovely feast,” he said, his nonchalance rebuffing her tone. He turned to the guests briefly. “Princess Celestia. Princess Luna.” He nodded

“Prince Cocoon,” Celestia countered, returning the gesture.

“So, what do we have here?” With no further conversation, he began filling his plate.

Chrysalis' eyes lingered on him a while longer before turning back to the conversation. If Chrysalis' attention was divided, he was intent on the food. This doesn't make any sense. Cocoon certainly didn't seem a like a Prince madly in love with a princess, and she certainly didn't seem to be ignoring him in a way that would require any love potion. The Prince, for his part, seemed to be listening absently to Rarity, but never said anything himself.

“May I?” Chamberlain queried, drawing Twlight Sparkle's attention, pointing politely to her place setting.

“Huh? Oh, yes, of course. My thanks,” Twilight replied, and he cleared away her place setting, replacing it with a dessert plate and a teacup. She watched as he gaged everypony at the table and always seemed to approach them at the right time. He likewise carefully lifted Chrysalis' dinner plate out of the way and set her place with a dessert plate and teacup as the meal progressed, but unlike with anypony else, he selected a few desserts for her and silently lifted them onto the plate. She continued eating without comment, her expression still pensive, though her eyebrows lifted slightly when she sampled the desserts, and her brow became slightly less furrowed.

Twilight looked carefully around, pretending to chose a dessert herself, and saw that Cocoon was on his fourth plate. He hadn't spoken further. From where he sat, he could have made eye contact with Chrysalis, but he seemed to be staring out the window. Chamberlain scurried by, taking the two empty plates that Cocoon had pushed aside, giving the price some intense looks to which the prince remained oblivious. Chamberlain started when he noticed Twilight watching him, and he scurried away with the dishes, absently pulling his watch out of his pocket and checking it, mumbling to himself.

“Here, this one will probably suit thee,” Starswirl said, placing tira misu on her dessert plate. “It's always been a favorite of mine.”

“Oh, thanks,” Twilight responded. She absently took a bite, trying to refocus her attention on the conversation. “This... this is really good. I'll have to make sure Pinkie Pie gets the recipe.”

“So, she is a cook, then?” Starswirl asked.

“One of the best I've met,” Twilight Sparkle answered, taking another bite.

“I was just wondering how much of Lady Rarity's stories are true,” he said, his tone getting even lower. “She is quite good at weaving a tale.”

“The best lies are mostly true,” Twilight sighed. It was too much to hope he'd forgotten. She looked up from her dessert at him, and his expression was gentle. She'd seen the same look of concern from her own parents, and from her mentor. “She's excellent with details. Thou should see the clothes she can design.”

“I have,” he said eagerly. “Shadow Wing took her design to the smithy as soon as he was finished with his duties.” Twilight was at a loss momentarily, until she realized that must be the name of Luna's guard.

Before she could reply, Cocoon wordlessly began walking away from the table, which would have escaped twilight's notice, except that it didn't escape Chrysalis' notice, and all the various conversations around the table involving her faltered at once. He disappeared out of the same door that Chamberlain had entered through, and Chamberlain waited carefully until the conversations resumed before clearing the abandoned place setting.

“He's... not what I expected,” Twilight whispered to Starswirl, her lips hidden behind her teacup as she took a sip.

“It's a sad tale of arranged marriage, common among nobility,” Starswirl commented.. “Because of their similar talents, they seemed a good match, but the prince is... not the princess' equal in many ways.” Twilight looked over at the monarch of Aurelia again. She was lively, quick, and had a quick grasp on any conversation around her. Prince Cocoon, on the other hand, Twilight had little to go off of, save that he might be able to best Pinkie Pie in an eating contest.

During a lull in the conversation, she managed to catch Rarity's eyes and signal her, perhaps a bit overtly, by nodding toward the door a couple times meaningfully. Rarity smiled gently, then slipped into the conversation, “thy accommodations are more than generous, Thy Highness. However, the road was a long one, and I believe we can conclude our business in the coming days?”

“Of course,” Chrysalis replied politely, “Chamberlain will arrange for thine entourage to be lead to their quarters. We have much else to discuss privately, at any rate.” She looked to Celestia and Luna as she spoke, then nodded to Chamberlain. At the cue, he had already opened the side door and issued some commands to the guards, who were already present, bowing to Rarity. “It has been a pleasure, Lady Rarity.” Chrysalis bowed formally, watched formally as they all left. Probably unwilling, like Celestia, to drop the pretense in front of the guards.

“I, too, shall turn in for the evening, Highnesses,” Starswirl could be heard behind them, followed by the echo of his hooves in the corridor as he moved quickly to catch up. He said nothing, but positioned himself alongside Rarity and nodded politely.

The guards took them to what could more accurately be described as a suite than a room. The room was furnished with multiple plush velvet couches, vibrant carpeting, a massive ornate chandelier over the sitting room. A tapestry on the wall depicted a scene of a wedding, tropical birds circling the ceremony. “These are our quarters?” Twilight found herself asking aloud.

“Thou should see the suite prepared for the Canterlot entourage,” Starswirl commented wryly. He nodded to the guards, adding. “I know the way, I must have some words with Lady Rarity at the moment.” They saluted and left, and he turned back towards them.

Pinkie Pie was already bouncing on one of the couches, and Applejack was busy studying the tapestry, avoiding eye contact with Starswirl. The others blinked silently at him, unsure what to say.

“Is that S-, Lord Sombra,” Applejack asked suddenly, pointing to the tapestry.

“It is,” Starswirl answered. “That particular tapestry is a commissioned piece based on his Wedding to Parrot Song.”

“The fountain at the entrance was for her as well, was it not?” Rarity asked, her eyes wide with interest.

“It was a gift from her subjects,” Starswirl replied flatly, his eyes narrowing slightly. “The deft interest in conversation is no longer needed to the extent thou practiced at dinner, Lady Rarity.”

“I--,” Rarity stammered, momentarily at a loss. “Thou misunderstand, I do find the history fascinating...”

“No doubt inspiration for your next clothing creation. Something feathery, perhaps?” Starswirl replied wryly. For a moment, everybody in the room was motionless. Even Pinkie Pie had stopped mid-bounce in the air.

“Everypony,” Twilight finally managed with a sigh, “Starswirl has surmised and overheard enough to know we have an... ulterior motive for being here.”

“Indeed, but even so, Twilight Sparkle has convinced me to trust in thine assistance,” he smiled as he spoke, and Pinkie Pie gently landed with a sigh, echoed by the others.

“Right, the Element of Loyalty,” Rainbow Dash chimed in, winking at Starswirl. “Any ideas where to start?”

“None,” Starswirl admitted. “I don't even properly know if the book meant the town of Aurelia, or the castle proper.”

“Rainbow, Iris,” Twilight called. They quickly presented themselves. “Start a perimeter search of the town, see if you can find anything.” They saluted and flew off. “Fluttershy, any information from the local animals?”

“Not yet,” Fluttershy admitted, “There's enough butterflies here that they shouldhave seen nearly everything, but they speak with a very thick accent. I'm hoping to have better luck with the other animals nearby. The birds seem very accommodating.”

“Let us know if you hear anything useful.” Twilight Sparkle nodded and turned to her next target. “Rarity, you-”

“Thou,” Rarity corrected quietly under breath, her eyes wide.

“Thou should continue to circulate at court. Thy talents serve both purposes most valuably that way.” She's right, even with him knowing part of it, the lingual shift is just one more thing to explain. She didn't make eye contact with Starswirl as she moved past him, gesturing to Pinkie and Applejack and meeting them right by the tapestry. She looked at the serenity of the scene above them, and the kind, serene eyes that Sombra directed at Parrot Song. It was no wonder that Applejack barely recognized him, she thought, shaking her head gently to deny the bitterness. No time for that right now. She spoke in a tone below what she hoped would be detectable by even Starswirl's sharp ears. “I need you two in the kitchen.”

“Again, Twi?” Applejack asked, an edge in her voice. “I could see it on the road, but we can help a might more than that.”

“It's not that, Applejack,” Pinkie said, “It's to keep an eye on Cocoon, and he's a foodie!”

“A who?”

“A foodie, silly. He likes his food, didn't you see him eating at dinner? A foodie like that spends a lot of time where the food is.”

“Right,” Twilight interjected. “We know the poison comes from him... at least according to the story. So it's the only clue we've got to go on. Keep an eye on him.” She nodded to them and moved back towards Starswirl.

“What about you, sugarcube?” Applejack asked.

“I'm going to look for information in the most likely place,” Twilight responded with a smirk. “Starswirl, would thou be kind enough to accompany me to the royal library? I assume Aurelia has one?”

He smiled broadly. “I thought thou would never ask.”

Patterns In the Dust

“I was told I might find thee here.”

“I'm sorry, did I oversleep for the test,” Twilight mumbled. She could feel Celestia's calming presence near her as she awoke, so she forgot at first where she was. Suddenly, she bolted upright, knocking a stack of books off the edge of table, scrambling after them with her hooves instead of her magic in her grogginess, tumbling after them as a result.

“Apologies, Twily,” Celestia said with a smile, and the hint of a politely repressed laugh.

“My own fault,” Twilight countered, righting herself, then the books. “I must stop this habit.”

“I admire thy dedication,” Celestia said, scanning the titles of one of the stacks of books. 1,001 Aurelian Nights. Legends of the Aurelian Court. On Loyalty. Twilight mentally recounted as Celestia read, then checked again subtly to make sure that the spines on the stack that she had just knocked over were faced away from Celestia. 108 Rare Potions. Curses and Charms – Real or Hooey? Love Me!: Desperate Methods to Win Your Love. The real reasons that she kept researching long after Starswirl excused himself.

“I just hope we end up being able to help thee,” Twilight said, suppressing a yawn. “How did things go with thy cousin?”

“She has her mother's vibrancy, and her fathers quick wit. She saw the merit in our plan, and our execution thus far. Alas, she knows nothing of the missing element.”

“Are... art thou sure?” Twilight responded, wincing even as she spoke.

“Dost thou think perhaps she holds something back?” Celestia asked, drawing back at the suggestion. Twilight wasn't sure if the motion was just surprise or disapproval. At least the tone lacks offense.

“Of course not, she has given me no reason to doubt her,” Twilight managed. I cannot think of her as she will be! Twilight paced a few steps away to the nearest window. This one was encased with glass, unlike most in the castle, which had open shutters, likely to ensure the books were protected from the weather. The halls coming from either end, as well as the main double-door in the front, which remained open to the main castle corridor, provided enough of a cross-breeze. “Perhaps... she might recall something Lord Sombra or Lady Parrot Song may have mentioned offhand, something as a clue.”

“Indeed, she thinks it may be so as well,” Celestia nodded, walking over to the window beside Twilight. “As I said, she has a quick wit. She had kept a diary of the advice given to her by her parents on ruling, and she has promised to review it.” She turned and looked directly at Twilight and added, “I did not mean to call thine abilities into doubt, Twily.” Her tone was level and quiet, and she looked towards the floor as Twilight turned to meet her gaze.

“I'm sorry!” Twilight blurted immediately. “I took no offense, it's just... I don't want more sadness.” She reached over and lifted Celestia's chin so their eyes met again. No more sadness, Tia. “Princess Chrysalis had enough to deal with.”

Celestia smiled gently. “Thou hast a kind heart, Twily. I have steeled myself so greatly, I sometimes lose sight of how others must feel. A weakness I must rectify before we retake the throne, I fear.” She turned to look out the window again.

Twilight closed her eyes and smiled, “Worry not, I am sure thou will shine as Princess.” She, too, turned and looked out the window.

As they watched, the sun rose gracefully, gently from the east, as normal as any day. Maybe Discord grew bored of playing with it, Twilight mused. She could see an embankment of trees in the distance, a strange lighter shade of green of this distant foreign land, and she recognized the forms of three pegasi consulting near them.

“Thy friends are as dedicated as thou said,” Celestia nodded out the window, “to be up so early. Have they found anything?”

“I haven't had a chance to speak with them,” Twilight admitted. “Look, here comes Rainbow Dash... or possibly Iris, I cannot tell from here...” She shrugged and watched as the three pegasi flew in three different directions, one heading towards the library, and it wasn't until she flew by the window, waving, that Twilight realized it was Iris Dash.

“Well, I'll leave thee to consult, and Starswirl will surely check on thee later,” Celestia said, turning to leave.

“Thou needn't leave,” Twilight said. “Thou should spend more time with my friends, I think thou would find them as delightful as I do.”

“I do not doubt it,” Celestia countered, “but the castle is waking, so I must resume my enchanted appearance. Plus, there are actual matters of state with Chryssie.” She winked as she used Luna's nickname for her cousin. “There will be time enough later.”

“Yes, that's right,” Twilight said reassuringly. Much later. “Good luck!” She waved to the departing princess as Iris arrived from the side hall.

“Fell asleep in the library again, huh,” Iris teased. “Easier when you're living in one all the time, I guess.”

“Yes, feels just a bit like home,” Twilight said, smiling lightly. “I don't think I've found anything useful for either the element or the poison. I was hoping to find another antidote in case we can't stop it in time, or something that would help us identify it.”

“Yeah,” Iris said, pushing back the blue hairs as she spoke, “Applejack said if we'd had more time, we probably could have asked Big Macintosh if he remembered how it smelled or looked.” She shrugged. “They've spent a lot of time in and out of the kitchen, and they said your hunch was right, Cocoon has been in and out all night.”

“All night?”

“Yeah, Rarity said he's something of a night owl by reputation, which is why Chrysalis didn't expect him to be awake for dinner.”

“That makes sense. Moths are more often nocturnal.”

“Yeah, but he sure doesn't seem to be pining after Chrysalis at all, that's for sure. Are we sure that the tale is about them?”

“Iris? Luna and Celestia are here right now. This wasn't something they heard about secondhand.”

“Oh yeah, right.” She grinned sheepishly before continuing, “We've not noticed anything suspicious in our patrols. Fluttershy thought she'd finally broken the language barrier, and that they wanted her to look at something, but they don't actually seem to be leading her anywhere. She's been going in circles all morning. I'm going to grab us some breakfast and we'll keep looking. I'll get you something, too.”

“Just be back for dinner. I expect we might be required at court at some point.”

Iris saluted before flying down the side hall toward the kitchen. Twilight yawned, and lifted the books that she had carefully hidden, the stack following her back to the shelves. I'd better put these away before somepony else sees them. She carefully slid the first one back into place, subtly recovering the spine with dust. She was almost to the shelf where the second one went when she heard the echo of hooves against the marble floor of the empty library. She looked up, half-expecting Applejack with food, or Starswirl checking up on her already. Instead, she saw Chamberlain entering from the side hall. He was muttering to himself, his pocketwatch hovering inches from his nose.

Twilight opened her mouth to explain herself, but the words stuck in her throat as she realized he hadn't seen her yet. She had already begun hovering the books higher out of site, so she lifted them to on top of the shelves, then silently teleported herself around the corner. His hooves continued to echo until he stopped directly across the shelf from her, where she had been standing moments before. Straining to hear, Twilight almost jumped as he sneezed, affected by the dust she had just moved about. She heard the sound of two leather bound covers rubbing against one another as he slid a book off the shelf. Then the sound of pages turning. She heard his hooves echo again twice as he turned to leave, but then they suddenly stopped. Don't notice the holes from the books I hadn't put back yet, she pleaded fervently. It felt like minutes that she stood there, fully holding her breath, before she heard the sound of another book sliding off the shelf, and his echoing hoofbeats resumed.

Twilight exhaled sharply, rounding the corner and looking down the shelf row both ways before lowering the books that she had hidden and putting them back where they belonged, blending them into the shelves. She too, turned to leave, but stopped suddenly as she turned, then turned back to the shelf. “Something's not right...”

“What do you mean?” Iris responded, startling Twilight so badly that she ended up teleporting to the next row over again. She walked back, and Iris was holding a tray with a breakfast for Twilight, and wearing saddlebags that were too full to be fastened in addition to her amused expression.

“Chamberlain was just here,” Twilight explained, only glaring slightly as she hovered the tray over to the table. “He took two books and left.”

“I admit, something about that guy still feels off to me, but how's that not right?” Iris said, taking one of the local fruits out of the saddlebag and taking a bite. “Are you not supposed to check books out of this library?”

“Iris Dash, look at the shelf,” Twilight thrust her hoof at the empty space. “There's only one book missing.”

“Are you sure it wasn't just two very thin books? He seems like a busy guy, not as much time to study as you.”

“No. Look,” Twilight lit her horn. “The outline in the dust is a uniform shape. Even if they were two books of roughly equal size, there'd be a slight indentation in the outline between the two. Any librarian worthy of their charge knows that.” She nodded sharply, then inhaled just as sharply.

“I guess you'd know,” Iris said glibly in response to the explanation, then in response to the gasp, more seriously, “What is it, librarian senses tingling again?”

“No!” Twilight scowled – not at Iris but at her own flank. “That is.” She watched as some of the sand in her hourglass cutie mark trickled into the lower half. “You saw that, right?”

Iris nodded, “What does that mean?”

“I think I might know,” Twilight said, carefully removing the two books that she had just returned. She held her lighted horn close to the empty spaces. “I thought so.”

“I don't see anything back there,” Iris said, flying slightly above Twilight so she could peer into the space.

“Exactly.” Twilight lifted the adjacent books out of the way, keeping them in order. “See, there's an outline in the dust where another book had been wedged in the shelf behind the others. And if I hadn't had this book out...”

“He wouldn't have seen it.” Iris rubbed her chin briefly, then concluded, “so the sand moves when you change something?”

Twilight nodded. “And we have a limited amount we can change before the sand runs out.” She shivered visibly. “I wish I knew which book he took. Either way, he can't see the titles I returned, or he might suspect something. I'll have to put them back... out of order.” She shifted the books so that the previous gaps were closed, then began to carefully insert the books at the end of the rows. She pushed them in ever so slowly, sweat forming on her forehead as she winced and looked away.

“You can't do it, can you?” Iris said after a minute.

Twilight looked and the books were barely slid in an inch. “It's... it's just not where they go!” Twilight said in a defeated voice.

“Here, just turn your back, I'll take care of it.” Iris grinned as Twilight turned her back to the shelf, then flew over to the books. “Listen, I'm going to take the food to Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, then I'm coming back here.” Twilight heard the sound of the books sliding in as Iris talked. “Somepony has to help you keep an eye on that guy.”

“Just promise me you'll be discrete.”

“Hah! Nothing to worry about. I'm probably like the most discrete pony you've ever met!” Twilight turned back toward the shelf so she could gaze dubiously at Iris. “Yeah, yeah, got it. He won't even know I'm there.” Iris gave a dismissive wave as she took to the air, leaving the library to deliver the supplies.

Author's Note

Sorry about the delay, I lost one of my main free blocks of time... I should pace better from here on out.

Corrupted Hearts

Once she was alone, Twilight let out a yawn, then made her way over to the meal that had been brought for her. It was some type of local grain, boiled with their local fruits and a just a hint of apple, dusted lightly on top with powdered Rillik blossom to give it a little extra bite. The flavors complimented each other so well. I wonder if we can get south past the Badlands to get some of this when we get back. Pinkie could double or triple the Cake's monthly sales numbers with these new flavors. She thought about Pinkie and Applejack still in the kitchen. Those two aren't just watching the prince, they're touching all the food he gets! We should be able to to head off any poisoning. Twilight sighed and relaxed as she took the next bite. No, they have to be looking at each other when they take the poison, so it wouldn't be in the kitchen... She sighed again as the anxiety returned as quickly as it left.

She glanced around the library quickly, tallying how many shelves they had checked. They covered all the more obvious sections right away, so all that was left was to find a random misfiling of some use. She slammed her hooves on the table in frustration, nearly spilling her breakfast. She lifted her dishes, then headed to the kitchen herself. Pinkie and Applejack confirmed her thoughts, that they were monitoring all the food, and also that Princess Chrysalis was almost never in the kitchen in person.

“Almost?” Twilight asked.

“Well, they say she comes by for an inspection once a year,” Applejack explained, “and to thank them personally.” Twilight opened her mouth, but Applejack continued, anticipating the question. “It just happened last month, so it'll be a while until the next one.” Applejack took off her hat, dusting the flour out of her mane and agitatedly scratching her head, reflecting her own frustration. “The staff all adore her, sugarcube. I don't think it's anypony here.”

“So it has to be an matter of state,” Twilight said.

“There not expecting any big parties until about a month from now,” Pinkie added.

“Maybe... Rarity has some information on something political brewing,” Twilight said. “Has anypony seen her this morning?”

“She's at court right now,” Applejack said, “so if there's some dirt to dig up, she's your pony."

"Well, except actual dirt.” Pinkie Pie added, rubbing her hoof on her chin in mock seriousness.

Twilight arrived at court through one of the side doors, where she had seen the nobility standing the day before. Most were merely watching, some seemed to take interest enough to take notes of the proceeding, and some were aside in small groups whispering and gesturing excitedly. Rarity was in one much group, a larger one at the far end of court.

“So you can see why my house would be best suited to handle the local sale of your crops,” a younger earth-pony stallion was summing up as Twilight approached. “You need but suggest to Her Highness upon completion of your trade agreement.-”

“See?” An older unicorn mare interrupted, commenting to a another unicorn nearby, “this is why the earth ponies should never have been added to the nobility. No subtlety.” The other unicorn chuckled lightly, then the first turned to Rarity. “Surely thou can appreciate the grace and good nature garnered by a more... traditional house?”

“Ladies, Gentlecolts, while I would love to give a definite answer, I'm afraid there's still just too many details to outline with Her Highness before we can begin to discuss such arrangements.” Rarity's eyes locked with Twilight's just long enough for her to give a subtle wink. “Alas, it seems my dear retainer is in need of me. Some trivial matter, I'm sure. I shall return shortly.”

“Sorry to interrupt,” Twilight said once they were out in the hall and out of the guard's earshot.

“No, your timing was perfect. The situation would have escalated, but now the two of them will fume at each other, even more committed to securing the trade rights. Lord Golden Wheat is clearly more qualified to handle the crops, but Lady Ruby Rose has enough influence to muscle into any market. It's a hard choice.”

“You do remember that you're not actually here to trade apples, right?”

“Of course, Twilight.” Rarity turned to look directly at her. “But if you want them to notice you enough to speak to you, you have to be worth their while.” She furrowed her brow. “Of course, they're far more practical-minded than the elite of Canterlot.”

“They have to be. Things are tough now. Listen, would any of them have enough of a quarrel or benefit enough to... poison the Prince and Princess?”

“I should think not.” Rarity had begun shaking her head even before Twilight had finished her question. “Some of the older unicorn families are upset with the integration of the earth ponies and the pegasi into the hierarchy, but they seem to have no lack of loyalty here. Speaking of?”

It was Twilight's turn to shake her head. “Fluttershy might be on to something, but otherwise we're stumped there, too.”

“Are we sure it's here?”

“The ancient book said so, and that book did a good enough job leading us to the elements.” Twilight sighed. “Maybe there's something more to it. I'll get with Starswirl and see if we can get the book to be more specific. I didn't want to risk anything happening to it... since we need it later.”

“Well, then, I'll return to court and see what kind of price I can get for our imaginary apples. Come to think of it, I'll actually be choosing which house to embarrass...” She chuckled to herself as she moved back toward the hall.

Unless we fail, then both houses will just become changelings. Twlight walked the short distance to the royal guest chambers where Celestia's entourage was staying, she reached up to knock only to have the door open first, Starswirl emerging with the book on the Elements of Harmony hovering in front of his nose.

“Oh, Twilight,” he said, surprised. “I was actually just coming to look for thee.” He held up the book. “I tried to subtly use a finding spell on the book, and, well, see for thyself.”

Twilight looked, and saw that there were additional words in the description of the element of loyalty, written as if by an unsteady hand, become more blurry as the words continued. “Previously held by the royal family of Aurelia, but then mysteriously disappeared as... Lord Sombra wished...” she squinted, trying to make out the words. “still... resides in the castle... in the form...” She sighed. “It's so close, maybe if we just tried a little more.”

Starswirl shook his head sharply. “I tried, and the page began to smoke under the strain. I don't think we should risk any further.”

“So, it's in the castle anyway. I can call Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy back from the perimeter and the city and we can refocus the search.” Twilight opened her mouth, but the echo of hooves approaching made her change her words. “The novel sounds riveting.” She began flipping the pages randomly in the book. As chamberlain came around the corner, he nodded absently at the two unicorns as he passed by.

“Yes, it's the best fictional extended biography of Clover the Clever that I've read.,” Starswirl asserted, following her lead as Chamberlain moved out of earshot. As he continued, a heavily armored pegasus knight passed by. As she passed, she raised her visor, revealing herself to be Iris Dash. She winked at them, then closed the visor. “He's quite a... fascinating figure... all on his own.” He raised a questioning eyebrow at Twilight as he stammered through the distraction.

“Yes, he was present at the discovery and founding of Equestria, was he not?” She resisted the urge to put her hoof on her forehead as she continued the banter.

“Indeed...” Starswirl trailed off, as the hall was now empty except for the two of them again.

“Sorry,” Twilight Sparkle said, looking in the direction that Iris had just disappeared. “For her, that's subtle.”

“And why is she following Chamberlain anyway? I thought I had clarified the situation to the pesgasus' satisfaction?”

“There's been... a complication,” Twilight Sparkle said tersely.

“Thy mission or ours?”

“Ours.” There was an awkward silence for a moment while Starswirl waited to see if Twilight would elaborate. Maybe if I just told him that Chrysalis was in danger...

“I see,” Starswirl said finally, the moment passing while Twilight debated internally. “Use caution, as Chamberlain is a particular favorite of Her Highness.”

Twilight opened her mouth, then closed it, nodding and turning to leave. She sighed, feeling uncomfortable being unable to talk to him freely. She returned to their suite, where Pinkie Pie and Applejack were already asleep in their beds after keeping an eye on the prince all night. She collapsed on one of the fluffier couches, trying to figure out what she was missing, and finally drifting off into an uneasy sleep.

Rarity woke her along with the others when she returned to the room to prepare for dinner. “I'm sorry, Twilight, it's not that the nobility is particularly innocent, but none of them hold any ill will for their princess.”

Twilight sat among her friends during dinner, Applejack and Pinkie still bleary from their short shift sleeping, Rainbow and Fluttershy exhausted from the day's fruitless search. Even Rarity's interjections into the chatting were diminished. Iris was absent, presumably still on her reconnaissance mission. But Chamberlain is here, so what is she doing? Twilight kept expecting the guards to burst through the doors any minute with the rainbow-maned changeling in their custody.

“Thy dedication is amazing,” Celestia commented to her quietly as she passed by, “but please, dearest Twily, do not work thyself ill!”

“But time is of the essence,” Twilight mumbled, wondering if she really looked that exhausted, of if Tia just knew her that well.

“Indeed, but I finally have hope that we can defeat Discord, thanks to thee.” She smiled as Luna nudged Twilight and smiled in agreement.

“Tia, Luna, my thanks,” she smiled back, though weakly as they turned and proceeded to their place by Chrysalis. Only, my current problem has nothing to do with Discord Suddenly, Twilight felt a tingling sensation along the back of her mane and a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. Doesn't it?

“Princess, hast thou opened the gifts from the Canterlot delegation yet?” Twilight interjected, interrupting whatever conversation was taking place.

“It's been taken to our quarters,” Chrysalis replied, her tone cordial despite the breach in etiquette, “but we've been too busy to examine it further. Why ask thou?”

“It's just... King Discord...” she paused briefly, to try and gather her wording carefully.

“Our thanks for thy concern,” Chrysalis interrupted earnestly, smiling, “but we take the threat seriously, and it's been thoroughly examined by our most trusted servants.” The glance and smile at Chamberlain wasn't necessary for Twilight to know who she meant. The sensation in her stomach only became more uneasy. Twilight glanced at the others, and their various expressions of concern let her know that they understood the meaning of her question.

The rest of the meal passed slowly, none of them urging the conversations longer. Iris arrived a few minutes later, apologizing for her tardiness. She settled in and caught Twilight's glance as she ate, her eyes overtly darting an Chamberlain. She definitely found something. Well, we can't act on anything right now, but at least we can keep an eye on everypony. Indeed, as long as Chrysalis and Cocoon weren't in the same place, the poisoning could never happen.

When the meal ended, Iris immediately landed next to Twilight as she left. Twilight nodded and added as quietly as she could, “we'll get back to the room and discuss it.” Her eyes darted around the room, and Chrysalis was still discussing something quietly with Celestia, but Chamberlain was nowhere to be seen. She began walking faster, and the rest of the girls changed their gait to match. Twilight did her best not to burst into an outright gallop, then stopped suddenly. She glanced down the halls and they were alone, so she summoned her magic and teleported them to their room.

“I was right, he is up to something,” Iris babbled almost before they had finished materializing.

“The poison has to be in that chest,” Twilight said almost at the same time. “Pinkie, Applejack, find Cocoon and stick with him. If he doesn't get near Chrysalis, it never happens. Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, see if you can't track down Chamberlain.”

“That might be harder than you'd think,” Iris said, causing the other two pegasi to halt as they were about to launch in flight. “The book he got from the library, I had to know... so I broke into his room.”

“Iris Dash!” Twilight scolded, “what if you'd-”

“The book!” Iris yelled, cutting off Twilight's interruptions. “It was a magic treatise entitled 'On Metamorphosis.'”

Twilight felt all the blood rush away from her face, and the tingling in her mane again. She whispered almost inaudibly. “The changeling spell.” Iris closed her eyes and nodded somberly. “Well, look for him anyway, or anybody suspicious.”

“Ya' mean more suspicious than us, sugarcube?” Applejack adjusted her hat nervously.

“It's true, I'm not even sure anypony would believe us... but there is somepony everypony would trust.” She turned to Rarity. “Go to Starswirl, tell him the message is from me, that Princess Chrysalis is in danger.”

“Are you sure, Twilight? Doesn't he already know too much?”

“Maybe not enough. We've played it safe, and now things are moving too fast for us. We need all the help we can get right now.” Twilight took a deep breath and added as everypony disbursed on their mission. “Okay, Iris, let's get to that poison before they do.”

Iris nodded, leading the way with a fierce expression. They rounded corner after corner, Twilight barely slowing long enough to check for guards. Strangely, they seemed to miss all the patrols. We're making good time, we're bound to get there before-

Her thought was interrupted as she nearly collided with Princess Chrysalis. “Oh!”

The princess turned and looked at her, her expression neutral. An awkward moment passed before Twilight realized an explanation was expected. “Ah, dear highness, I was hoping to catch thee.” Not a lie. Where had Iris gone? Twilight had gotten distracted in her headlong charge and not even realized the rainbow-maned pegasus had slipped behind a large, ornate flower pot nearby, from which she now waved silently.

“Indeed, Twilight Sparkle?” the princess replied. “Thy demeanor was distant at dinner, we expect something was on thy mind.”

“I-I hope this won't sound too forward,” Twilight stammered, “but I still feel uneasy about the gifts from Canterlot. I do not doubt the skill and care of thy servant,” she added quickly, noting Chrysalis' suddenly furrowed brow, “but I'm sure Tia – er, thy cousin has told you of my familiarity with Discord's trickery. I beg thy leave,” she bowed her head to the floor. “It can do no harm to check again.”

“I suppose thou art correct, Twilight Sparkle,” Chrysalis said after a moment's deliberation, dropping the Royal plural for Twilight for the second time. Her horn glowed lightly and opened the door to the Royal chambers. “Please, come inside.”

“My thanks, Princess,” Twilight sighed relief. “I will be brief, but thorough.” In the corner was the chest that she recognized. She lifted the lid slowly, as if expecting some trap to be sprung just from that motion alone... which she immediately realized was unwarranted since it had been opened once before. She scanned the contents carefully, lighting her horn to feign the magical analysis, but also to light the dark corners of the chest. Trinkets, baubles, gold, griffin feathers... It would be SOME sort of drink. Twilight's desperation reached a fevered pitch when she realized there was an empty spot, a circle left in the dust outline on the bottom, where a bottle could have been.

Twilight almost jumped when Chrysalis said, “Hast thou investigated to thy satisfaction, Twilight Sparkle?” Her dual-green eyes glinted with benign amusement that still felt mocking to Twilight.

“I-I... suppose my fears were unfounded, Princess.” She bowed apologetically.

“But thy concern touching,” Chrysalis smiled again, then as the door clicked behind her, she turned. “Oh, I didn't expect thee back so early,” she muttered.

“Yes, the kitchen seems to be having some troubles tonight,” Prince Cocoon answered her. “So I thought I might join thee for a time?” Twilight just managed to hold in a gasp.

“Yes. Of course,” Chrysalis replied, her tone reflecting surprise. “If thou could excuse us, Twilight?”

“Of course,” Twilight left the room slowly. How did he get past Pinkie and Applejack? I can't leave them together! Calm down, Twilight. The poison's not in there. But where is it? As she passed him, she saw Iris gesturing wildly but silently from her hiding place. She pointed to the Prince, then to her own mane.

Twilight turned and caught a glimpse of Cocoon just before the door finished closing. Amongst his silver mane, a single hair stood out, the same color as Chamberlain's.

“Changeling,” Twilight exhaled in a sigh of relief, smiling slightly.

“Why are you happy about that?!” Iris exclaimed as quietly as she could, reaching up to touch her mane where her own transformation flaw identified her. “He can't be up to any good, pretending to be the prince.”

“But that means it doesn't matter if the two of them are alone. It buys us some time.”

“The tale's been off so far, how do you know it matters if it's the real prince or not?”

Twilight tensed again. “I don't. We need to know what's going on in there.”

“Spying on the princess is a serious proposition,” Starswirl whispered suddenly, causing Twilight to jump and Iris to take flight in surprise. She turned to see him, Rarity following behind. “Thou art absolutely certain that she's in danger?”

“It's... why we're here,” Twilight said, looking at him desperately.

He nodded, then perked up his excellent ears, furrowing his brow in concentration. “I've been too distant, and I wish to make amends,” he repeated as he heard.

“Which one?” Twilight asked.

“The prince.” Starswirl continued, “Let us drink, then. I have a rare cider I've been saving for a special occasion.”

Before he'd even finished, Twilight began charging the door, her horn glowing as she forced open its magically reinforced locks. “Prince Cocoon, I need to speak with thee right away, it's an emergency!” The two had filled wine glasses floating in front of them, and for an instant, Twilight thought maybe she was too late, but both turned to look at her, Chrysalis in surprised dismay, Cocoon with an angry glare.

“Can't it wait?” he said as Twilight and Iris, who had followed her lead, began physically jostling him from the room.

“No, apologies. Apologies, Highness!” Twilight yelled back at the bewildered princess.

“Twilight, thou cannot honestly suspect the price,” Starswirl said hotly, shifting from hoof to hoof in discomfort.

“I do not,” Twilight said firmly, “But this is not the prince.”

“Do you even understand how dangerous that magic is?” Iris said, her low, scolding tone fierce enough to make Twilight take half a step away from her.

“What would a pegasus know of magic?” the form of Cocoon practically spat. “It's a risk I'll take for her. She deserved better than that simpleton.”

“Chamberlain?” Starswirl said incredulously, his ears twitching. “I can hear that it's thee, but... it's not thee.”

“Changeling magic,” Twilight said shortly. “Chamberlain, please, thou cannot possibly understand the danger you're putting her in!”

“What harm can a love potion do?” he said dismissively.

“Plenty,” Twilight answered.

“Sugarcube, you've got him!” Applejack declared as she and Pinkie clamored around the nearby corner.

“Fire's all out, your Princieness!” Pinkie smiled, “Why don't you come back to the kitchen and sample the new batch we have ready?”

“Wait, there really were troubles in the kitchen?” Twilight said.

“Sorry, Twi, I was... tired, and I lost track of a batch of muffins, and they got a little overdone,” Applejack explained.

“Then where's Cocoon?” Twilight countered.

“But-” Applejack gestured at the fake prince in front of her.

Twilight ran back to the Royal Quarters at full speed, passing the approaching Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, unable to stop and answer their puzzled expression. I'll tell her an assassin is disguised as the prince. We can take them both, get rid of the poison, and get it sorted out. As she rounded the corner, she opened her mouth to speak to the princess, then closed it again.

Prince Cocoon and Princess Chrysalis had the drinks to their lips, and were tipping the half-empty glasses down. She watched helplessly as the binding magics did their work, and the two looked into each others eyes, unable to even look away to acknowledge Twilight, their smiles broadening.

Twilight turned and walked away slowly, passing the others as the now-familiar tingling ran through her flank.

“Where are you going?” Iris asked with a puzzled expression.

“It doesn't matter,” Twilight said, feeling as if the voice came from far away as she added. “It's too late. We failed.”

Author's Note

Or, it can take me even longer to post the next chapter. Sigh. Well, I do hope you enjoy, as a lot happens in this one!

Passage

Twilight stayed focused on the center of the tapestry in their sitting room, but without really seeing it. She was vaguely aware of the others around her: Celestia and Starwirl's voices, demanding an explanation for what has happened to Chrysalis, after seeing her transformation at court the next day; the brooding presence of Chamberlain, too lost in his own despair to add to the conversation, though his expression was beyond contrite. Whatever explanations were given, Twilight's mind only heard it as if it was down a long tunnel, or maybe underwater. We failed. I failed.

“So why are we still here, sugarcube?” Applejack asked her after the others had departed. When she didn't get a response, she stepped right in front of Twilight's nose, their eyes locking. “Twi! Don't check out on us now.”

“Maybe there's still more for us to fail at,” she said bitterly, lowering her gaze to avoid Applejack's eyes. “More damage to be done.”

“That's quite enough,” Rarity added. “You simply cannot bear the weight of this all yourself. We were all in this together.”

“Right,” Rainbow Dash added. “Maybe we can still help with the Element of Loyalty?”

“Or... maybe we can still find a cure?” Fluttershy said. “I'd been focusing on the other, but I can start asking the animals about local healing plants.”

“That's right, there's all sorts of ingredients here we never would have run across in Equestria!” Pinkie Pie said.

They all looked at Twilight, smiling reassuringly, but expectantly at the same time. “Everypony, thanks.” She returned their smile. “Listen, maybe we can still fix this, but we have to hurry, and I don't have any idea where to start. So, if you have an idea, just act on it. We'll see where it takes us.”

Their optimism floated them through the first week before the exhaustion began to catch up to them. Rarity reported a change in the mood at court had already begun.

“They still adore their dear princess, but they are confused that she has no time or direction for them,” Rarity yawned. “The few cases presented to her went all but ignored while she and the prince exchanged sweet talk.”

“There's no point to us being in the kitchen anymore, sugarcube,” Applejack added. “He's with her at court all day, and doesn't come in to eat. Neither of us have a handle on anything that goes through the kitchen that sounds like it'll help.”

“If he doesn't show up at the kitchen, when does he eat?” Twilight asked. “Does he sleep at night if he's up with her all day?” They all shrugged.

Of course, as Prince Cocoon grew noticeably thinner and the dark circles under his eyes answered the other question. He was consumed by his new obsession. By the end of another week, Firebane officially canceled the court sessions, using his perceived illness as excuse.

“No court is likely to be less harmful that the ineffectual one the nobility was witnessing,” Rarity said approvingly, “but it seems like she was overstepping her bounds. Maybe Chamberlain could have done it...”

“Say, has anypony seen him lately?” Iris Dash said.

“I think he blames himself,” Twilight said, sighing. “If he hadn't let his feelings get in the way of his judgment....”

“Or he's using those spells again to hide from the blame. Maybe I should track him again...”

It turned out there was no need. “He hasn't left the library, except to check in on the Princess from time to time,” Starswirl explained quietly, looking across the library at the unicorn and shaking his head. “Not that she had the presence of mind to request anything from him.”

“We could help him look,” Twilight suggested.

“I've tried. He insists he can fix it himself. And maybe he can. He recognized the nature of the enchantment on the poison, though not the full strength of it, I think.”

“It must be torture,” Rarity sighed. The interest the nobles had in her was dispelled with the court's confused state, which left her with more free time, so she accompanied Twilight and Iris. When Twilight gave her a a questioning look, she continued. “He wished to take the prince's place because he loves Chrysalis, and was willing to risk even the enchantment of a known villain to get her to see him the same way. Now, even the closeness he had to her before was gone. He's lost even that.”

“I... didn't think of that,” Twilight admitted. He glanced to Iris, who was nodding, staring at Chamberlain less than discreetly as he pushed yet another book aside, pulled his pocket watch from his outfit, horn glowing as he prepared to smash it on the floor. He stopped it mid-motion, took a deep breath, and stood tall, walking past them, his eyes closed so nopony could see them. What was that about? Twilight exchanged glances with the others, who shrugged, except Iris, whose gaze followed the departing stallion, oblivious to the exchange.

Another week passed, with no luck finding either a cure or the element. Twilight woke early, before dawn, and started towards the library, but she could feel a palpable tension in the air as she walked down the hall. The guards barely seemed to notice her, as if they were absorbed in thought. Silence hung so heavy that every hoofbeat against the stone floor echoed so much that, more than once, she stopped to make sure it was indeed only her. She arrived to find the library door closed for the first time since she had arrived, and she pushed it open just a crack, just enough to see Chamberlain in the center of the room, illuminated by the lit sconces. Before him on the table was a single book, propped open, and Twilight didn't need to see the title to guess what it was.

“Stop!” she cried out, teleporting between him and the book. “Nopony should ever use this again.”

“I can still fix it,” Chamberlain growled at her, his horn alight, his stance defensive.

“Hasn't thou done enough damage already?” Twilight regretted the words even as she spoke them.

“But I cannot leave her suffering!” Chamberlain retorted. “I broke my promise, and I will not break it again!”

“What does thou mean?” Twilight asked, taking half a step back.

“The prince has died, and her heart is broken. And it's my fault.”

Twilight dropped her guard completely, her horn's light fading. She closed her mouth and swallowed hard. “How?” Her mouth formed the word, and she felt the course texture of it stick in her throat more than she heard it.

“He... just became too weak. Then, they were apart, only for a moment. He couldn't stand their separation, and when he ran after her, he collapsed coming down the stairs...” Chamberlain's bloodshot eyes were wide as he spoke, darting back and forth an expression of horror on his face as if he was watching the scene play out before him. “I tried to take his place once, I can do it again!” He gathered the magic around him again.

“Would thou do that to her?” Starswirl said, pushing the door open and entering, Celestia, Fluttershy, and the Dashes following behind. “Taunt a heart so recently broken?”

“She won't know...” he sounded less certain, but Chamberlain didn't release the magic he had called up around him. It hovered and pulsed like water tainted a sickly green hue was trapped in a fishbowl with him, sloshing aimlessly around his ankles.

“Art thou so certain?” Celestia asked. “The heart sees with better eyes than thou give it credit for, I think.”

“And even if thou art right,” Twilight added, “to break the poison's enchantment, you must look at her with the prince's eyes after an hour apart, an hour that will be agony to her, and those eyes must hold no love. Can thou manage that?”

“She is in agony already,” Chamberlain spat, and the magic flared up around him, the intensity of his horn nearly blinding. Twilight stepped forward, sensing Starswirl and Celestia both a half-step behind her, but another force darted over their head faster.

“NO!” Iris Dash snapped, darting hoof first at Chamberlain through the air with all the speed she could muster in the short distance. The hoof hit the rising green bubble, and ripples spread out from it as she pressed against it. Finally, cracks spread across across the surface, and the unicorns stopped their charge, sensing the raw power of the spell turning on itself. When it shattered, a wave of blinding light swept across the library.

When her site returned, Twilight saw Chamberlain, his hoof raised defensively, had come hoof-to-hoof with the charging pegasus. The two wide-eyed ponies seemed locked in that position, and for a moment of panic, Twilight was afraid they had somehow turned to stone. Suddenly, both blinked and gasped simultaneously, like the deep gasp of a pony that had had nearly drowned. Iris suddenly fell from her frozen mid-air position, clutching her hoof, a look of pain on her face.

“Woah, you okay, Iris?” Rainbow said, landing next to her and reaching out to steady her double.

“I'm... cool. It's just...” she reached out to wave dismissively at Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow grabbed the offered hoof and held it. “Will this be all right?” She said, smiling reassuringly.

“I don't know,” Iris said flatly.

“What is it?” Twilight asked, unable to see from her angle.

Iris turned to Chamberlain and stared at him, and it seemed to Twilight like she was trying to look right into him, somehow. She thrust the hoof out at him, and Twilight had to muffle her own gasp, but heard the Celestia and Starswirl follow through where she had halted. The black hoof and leg that Iris dash leveled at Chamberlain had several large, gaping holes. The rest of her was still in every way a twin to Rainbow Dash, but the backlash from the spell had revealed her leg's true appearance.

“This is what you will become!” Iris Dash intoned one word at a time at Chamberlain. She grabbed the book, 'On Metamorphosis,' and took it to the only still-lit sconce, the rest of them extinguished by the magic wave, and dropped the book in before anypony could move to stop her. “Stop heading down this path before it's too late!” Every fiber in Twilight's body told her to rescue the book, but her mind calmly replied. No. Let it happen. Some knowledge should be lost.

“I still remember how to cast it,” Chamberlain said. His casting had drained him, and he looked pale and exhausted, but he stood tall. “I will find a way to change the outcome, or die trying.” He once again removed the pocket watch from its place on his uniform, hovering it in front of his nose, winding it carefully. Though his outfit was singed from the magical feedback, the watch looked as if had just been polished to a shine. “When Lord Sombra gave this to me, he knew how he felt about his daughter. He asked me, 'can you be always close to her, always her protector, knowing that she can never return your affection?' I promised him, swore to him, that I would always be loyal to her, no matter what.”

He sighed, continuing, “but I broke my promise, both to remain content, and to protect her. So I no longer deserve this.” He lifted the watch and floated over into Iris Dash's changeling hoof. Her eyes went wide as she held it.

“Hey Rainbow Dash,” Iris said, “does it feel familiar to you?” Almost before Rainbow could look puzzled, Iris tossed the watch at her, and the very instant it touched Rainbow Dash's hoof, it became a golden pendant with a gem in the shape of a lightning bolt.

“He had it?” Rainbow Dash marveled, taking the pendant in both front hooves as she hovered, cradling it like a lost baby. “The whole time?”

“Oh!” Fluttershy said, “That's what the Butterflies were saying. Not look, watch!” She smiled sheepishly.

“Indeed,” Chamberlain sighed. “But I have betrayed it. I will make what amends I can by the side of my dearest Princess.” He turned and ran from them through the side door. Twilight opened her mouth to call to him, but then closed it again. Nopony else had the heart to stop him, either.

“Catch!” Rainbow Dash said, tossing the pendant back to Iris Dash, where it returned to its watch form. “Huh, weird, it didn't used to do that. Maybe it's because your not one-hundred percent Rainbow Dash?”

“Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy admonished. “Iris is probably scared enough right now.”

“No, it's okay,” Iris said. “And... that's probably it. Anyway, here.” She turned and offered it to Celestia. “You need this.”

Celestia reached a hoof out shakily, physically taking it rather than lifting it magically. As she took it, it became a gray orb with an etched symbol in the side, a form Twilight hadn't seen it in in over two years. Or 1,346 years from now, Twilight reminded herself.

Suddenly, Twilight felt the tingling in her side again. She turned, expecting to see the hourglass finally empty, but a few stray grains of sand remained. She frowned, then turned to face the open-mouthed expressions of Celestia and Starswirl, both of whom had also clearly witnessed the change.

Celestia closed her mouth, considering the stone in her hooves, and finally she sighed. “I was on my way to offer what comfort I could to my cousin when we heard the commotion. “I am glad that we thought to aid a friend in need. Thou hast remained my friend, Twily, even though I knew thou chose to keep some truths hidden from me.” Twilight opened her mouth to reply, but Celestia continued. “Nay, Starswirl never betrayed thy trust, but I was Princess Celestia de Canterlot once not too long ago, and perhaps now shall be again. We were required to be observant.” She arched her eyebrows, taking a formal posture, her nose high as she used the royal plural with Twilight for the first time in nearly a month.

“Tia, I...” Twilight stammered. “I'm so sorry.” How do I tell her I'm just following her own orders, trying to change as little as possible?

Celestia's expression softened again quickly. “Yet thou remain my friend.” She almost shrugged. “But please, Twily, canst thou tell me the meaning of this?” She nodded to Twilight's flank. “Of all this?” Her hoof swept the rest of them, but her eyes settled chiefly on Iris Dash's black leg.

“I can explain,” a voice said sternly from the shadow of the doorway. Into the dimly lit library strode the Captain of the Aurelian guard, Firebane. “They were sent here to poison the prince.” She stepped forward, squaring herself steady in the doorway, lowering her horn in a defensive posture. “And she and all her friends are under arrest. Please step aside, Princess.”

Flight

“What?” Rainbow Dash was the first to respond after the shocked silence, taking to the air and approaching Firebane, oblivious to the pikes being directed at her by the flanking guards in response to the threatening gesture. “There's no way we poisoned the prince. Twilight did her best to stop it! You saw that!” She pointed to Starswirl with the last statement, appealing for his agreement.

“Indeed?” Firebane responded immediately. “And how did she come to know of the poison?”

“I...” Rainbow Dash landed. “can't... tell... you?” She smiled convincingly.

“But thou can insinuate that the source of the poison was the bottle of wine shared between them, one handled by the very same Twilight Sparkle?” Firebane walked forward slowly as she spoke, baring down on the normally confident pegasus with her sharp, piercing eyes.

“That is the source,” Twilight Sparkle blurted, rescuing Rainbow Dash from Firebane's intimidating stare, “but we came here to prevent the poison from reaching its target.”

“And thou never bothered to report this threat to the Royal Guard? Or even to thine own influential friend?” Firebane gave a sideways cursory nod of respect to Celestia. “And what was the source of thy suspicions to begin with? Who sent thee hither?”

“I am not allowed to reveal my sources,” Twilight Sparkle said, struggling to maintain a confident posture and tone under Firebane's gaze, and doing her best not to look in the direction of her future mentor.

“A shame,” Firebane snorted. “It seems thou cannot verify or prove any of the claims that may prove thine innocence. Guards.” The other guards stepped forward, but were forced to stop as Celestia stepped forward between the library entrance and intended prisoners. “Princess, thou art a noble guest, and my respect for thee is great, but this is now an internal Aurelian matter. Please stand aside.”

“Thou art accusing Twilight Sparkle and her friends of a crime they did not commit, and they arrived her under my protection, so that makes it my business as well,” Celestia countered, spreading her wings to their fullest position, her head held regally high.

“And what proof hast thou?” Firebane retorted.

“None,” Ceslestia countered. “But she... they... remain my friends, and I will believe and protect them even without proof.” The newly found element began to shimmer and glow, hovering beside her as she spoke. “One cannot abandon thy friends when things are at their worst. Indeed, that is when friendship must be its strongest.” The element flared, suddenly becoming a large, pink gemstone, exactly the shade of Celestia's mane. “And if thou must arrest them, thou will have need to arrest me as well.” She smiled slowly and added, as if speaking to the hall beyond, “but I don't think they are in a position to do that, are they?”

“Not today, Princess.” The guards with Firebane turned toward the voice to find themselves surrounded by Celestia's own Captain and honor guard. “We were on our way to the procession when we heard the commotion. Apologies for arriving late.” Luna emerged from behind him, head held high as she advanced so stand regally by her sister's side, breaking her mood only long enough to briefly turn and stick out her tongue at Firebane.

“Thou had best return to thy fate in Canterlot, Princess Celestia,” Firebane seethed as she and her guards lowered their weapons. “For I will be marching at thy heels. I will have my quarry.” She glared briefly at Twilight again before Fluttershy surprisingly stepped in the way, smiling reassuringly at Twilight.

“Do as thou must,” Celestia said, turning to face the window, nodding to Starswirl, who returned the gesture.

His horn began to glow, as did massive glass window facing out of the library. There was the sound of surfaces scraping each other as the windows slowly moved out inch by inch. He waved the others through, followed by the guards, the princesses, and finally Starswirl himself. In one final flare of his horn, they heard several slamming noises, followed by the window slamming back in place. “That won't slow them for long. We'd best hurry.”

As they began galloping along the castle wall, Twilight ran alongside Celestia. “Thank you,” she said simply.

“Of course,” Celestia replied. “I meant what I said. My trust was well placed, I assume? Wilt thou finally reveal thyself to me fully?” Beyond Celestia, Twilight could see Starswirl running, definitely within earshot for him, Princess Luna riding on his back, looking more like she was enjoying herself than running away from an army.

“I-,” Twilight began. I owe it to Celestia to tell her more, but how?

“Oh, for Celestia's sake,” Applejack called, catching up to them. Twilight started to shoot her a warning glance, but understood Applejack's gentle expression and smile before the words that followed. “We've not much to lose anymore, sugarcube.”

Twilight looked at the rest of her friends as they galloped and flew alongside her, and they all nodded, their expressions understanding, except Iris, who cradled her changeling hoof as she flew, still lost in thought. “It was thee who sent us.”

“I don't understand,” Celestia began, but then her eyes widened. “Thou knew what was gong to happen, thou knew because...”

“It has already happened, and thou were hoping to change it,” Starswirl concluded for her. “That explains a few snippets that I overheard that made little sense to me.” He glanced around, then suddenly added, “Princess Luna, where are thy guards?”

“Acquiring more time for our escape, and gathering a few things we left behind,” she said smiling. “I sent them back even as the other guards moved into position around the Aurelians. I have them bringing the mugs I made, and thine egg, Twily!”

“Thanks, but-” Twilight stopped short, as the filly was beaming so proudly of her own planning. “Thanks,” she repeated, smiling gently.

They began to gallop again and were nearly clear of the outer villages before Celestia spoke again. “What now? I suppose you will return to thine own time?”

“I think so,” Twilight responded. “Only, I'm not sure why we haven't yet. We've failed, and the spell should unravel.” She lowered her voice before adding, “I'm concerned that we changed too much, and perhaps our future isn't there for us to return to.”

“Thou would be welcome in Canterlot, should we succeed,” Celestia said, her eyebrows raised with an unspoken question.

“I... best not tell thee too much,” Twilight said. “Lest we change things even more. Sorry, Tia, thine orders.” She smiled reassuringly.

“Well, thou had best follow those orders,” Celestia countered, smiling in return. “Besides, thy lack of answer is an answer. If we had failed, it would be worth the risk to change it.” The smile took the edge of a sharp grin, and Celestia winked. “No, Twily, fear not, I will pry no further. At least I know when we're parted that I will surely meet thee again, and that's enough.”

“Sorry to interrupt, Highness,” the Captain interjected, “but we're going to have trouble up ahead, I think.” He nodded back at the Aurelian castle, where a beacon fire was clearly visible from the guard tower. “There's an outpost ahead that's likely to stop us, now.” He took the lead, calling to the others, “formations!” The guards expertly circled the entourage. One of the bat-winged night guards caught up to them as they prepared.

“I'm sorry, princess, we delayed the beacon as long as we could. We hoped to buy more distance.”

“Thou hast done well, Blackmane,” Luna said, flying clumsily alongside him and placing a hoof reassuringly on his mane. “Where is Shadow Wing?”

“He insisted on stopping to get that infernal armor Lady Rarity designed for him,” Blackmane countered, rolling his eyes. “Damn foal,” he muttered, then adding, “begging your pardon, Highness.”

“It seems we'll have need for armor,” Luna countered, nodding ahead where the outpost guards were tiny dots on the road ahead. “Take thy position, and good luck!”

Twilight fell back a couple steps between Pinkie Pie and Applejack. Rarity quickened her pace to catch up and the pegasi all dived beside them to be in range. “Everypony, when we started this, I would have said to hang back and let events unfold. Well, forget that. Give it everything you've got.” Rainbow Dash and Applejack grinned outright, and even Rarity's eyes glinted fiercely.

“And me without my party cannon!” Pinkie Pie quipped sullenly.

As soon as they were in range of the guard outpost, and it was clear they were not slowing down, arrows began raining down on them, but they were no match for the magic shielding that Starswirl and Twilight had put in place. The two groups collided, Celestia's guard taking the forefront. They were outnumbered, but clearly more experienced as they pushed into the Aurelian guards, quickly splitting them up. Rainbow and Iris kept the archers' attention turned skywards after the initial volley, though the bows aimed at them began disappearing one at a time in a golden glow as Celestia magically plucked them from their owners. “We are not truly enemies,” she explained, “so I want as little bloodshed as possible.”

It seemed like they'd be through the blockade shortly, but suddenly several spears pierced the ground around them, some striking a couple of the guards before Twilight could redirect the shield. She turned to face the new threat, and the shield wavered slightly before she found her voice and yelled, “incoming, from behind! We need out of here, now!”

“The wounded will slow us down, but-” Starswirl stopped as he turned. “Oh.”

Twilight's friends lost their place in the battle as they turned to see the oncoming force. A dozen pegasi, and the unicorn Aurelian Captain, astride her dragon mount. Rubyscale's eyes were narrowed to slits, his expression of rage mirrored by his rider. As he raised his talons to strike, his rider jumped from his back, aligning her spear with her hoof as she dropped her body's full weight towards Twilight Sparkle.

Twilight hesitated only for a moment. If I pull back my shield, the arrows will get through to Celestia's guards. The furious unicorn was dropping towards her at an alarming rate, and she didn't have enough time to calculate a teleport. Twilight winced, raising a hoof as a meager attempt at defense.

There was a sudden glint of light reflecting off of silver and the sound of metal on metal.

Twilight watched the unbalanced Firebane as she bounced on ground nearby with a thud. Even as she struggled to her feet, Twilight looked up to see her rescuer.

“Sorry for the delay!” Shadow Wing reared in the air, grinning. The sunlight glinted off every etched line of the silver armor, and gave the green cat's eye jewel embedded in the chestplate an eerie glow. He shifted his spear to one hoof and gave the winged helmet a debonair tip towards Rarity. “Lady,” he nodded politely.

“Oh, it's fabulous!” Rarity called as Twilight's jaw dropped. I've seen that outfit before... but Rarity wouldn't have.

“I'll keep the dragon busy!” Shadow Wing called boldly, launching in the air right toward the dragon's narrow eyes, dodging a gout of flame as he flew.

“Don't dare ignore me!” Firebane called as she closed on Twilight, diverting her attention back to the ground. Twilight wilted as the gaze of the fierce eyes, filled with rage and pain, locked on her own. Firebane would be within spear range within seconds, and Twilight was locked in place.

“How dare you!” a voice rose above the din as Fluttershy dropped down to intervene. “You think you can attack us, can accuse my friends without proof?” Firebane stopped instantly as her line of sight came into contact with Fluttershy's eyes.

Both stood motionless, speechless, as if suddenly turned to stone. The palpable will between them seemed to collapse back on itself, neither able to look away. Twilight's attention was pulled back to the dragon, who howled and took to the air, flailing wildly at the pegasi around him. With his mistress neutralized, he went into an unfocused wild frenzy. It slammed back into the ground, shaking it with such force that the earth ponies and unicorns from both sides staggered.

“Is everypony okay?” Twilight called turning in circles. Pinkie and Applejack were visible ahead, alongside Celestia's troops, driving the outpost guards back into their tower. Rarity had a giant boulder lifted into place, ready to drop it front of the gate and trap them. Starswirl had focused his shield down to around himself and the princesses, blocking a stray arrow or two, Celestia having stripped most of their opponents of their armaments. Luna cheered the airborne troops as they and the Aurelian pegasi dodged each other in the air, a constant almost mesmerizing act of acrobatics. The Dashes and Luna's guards attempted to keep the dragon's attention scattered while he swiped wildly at any target he could reach.

Suddenly, Shadow Wing emerged from the fray, swinging back around and diving at the dragon's head. He lined up his spear, ready to strike it in the eye. Rubyscale doesn't even see him coming... Twilight took a half step forward, unintentionally interrupting the stalemate between Firebane and Fluttershy. Both immediately turned to follow Twilight's line of site, and before she could comprehend it, Rubyscale's face was blocked by the yellow pegasus, her hooves and wings outstretched. Firebane appeared on the dragon's shoulder, tugging on his neck. Shadow Wing reared up and stopped, his spear just short of Fluttershy, who smiled reassuringly at the confused bat-pony.

Everything seemed frozen for a brief moment, until the dragon's massive claw smashed into Shadow Wing, completing the swing he had begun before the interruption. He was driven into the ground with a single bounce, where he staggered briefly, then collapsed to the ground, motionless.

“No!” Fluttershy squealed, turning to face the dragon squarely in the eyes. Twilight was running towards Shadow Wing, nearly colliding with Rarity, who had unceremoniously dropped the rock she was placing and come running, so Twilight didn't hear what else Fluttershy said, but she felt the slight shake as the dragon landed gently. Shadow Wing's armor had deep scratches across the fine etching, and his breathing was uneven.

“So, was I magnificent?” Shadow Wing gasped, managing a weak smile at Rarity.

“Ab- absolutely,” Rarity stammered. “Radiant beyond words, a light in the dark!” She smiled uncertainly, placing a hoof gently by his bat-like ears. He winced slightly, but she calmly stayed just as she was.

“I don't understand,” Firebane's voice was so uncharacteristically soft, almost inaudible, so that Twilight turned from the emotional scene. “Why would thou save him?”

Fluttershy smiled reassuringly at the question. “Oh, he was just scared, and he needed somepony to tell him it was all right. He's not really a bad dragon, he was just worried about you.” She left Firebane speechless, turning towards Shadow Wing. “Will... will he be all right?”

“He comes from sturdy stock,” Celestia's Captain of the guard muttered from behind Twilight. She turned again to realize the fighting had all ceased, and Celestia's entourage was reassembling. There were a few bruises and minor wounds, but nothing severe. “Plus, that pretty armor of the Lady's seems to have saved his life, too.”

“What's happened?” Twilight Sparkle asked Celestia as she approached the gathering.

“It seems our pursuers have ended the fight,” Celestia nodded to Firebane, who was leaning against Rubyscale gently.

“I must confess, I have misjudged thee,” Firebane said, shaking her head gently. “I will leave the field in defeat, though it pains my pride to do so.” She smiled and nodded at Fluttershy. “It's the least I can do, to show my gratitude. However,” she turned and looked back in the direction of Aurelia, “We were just an advance guard, and the full force of Aurelia will not be far behind.”

“We understand,” Celestia said. “We shall use the time thou has gifted us well. May we meet again in happier times, Captain Firebane.” Firebane nodded and quickly mounted her dragon, her tattered troops following behind. The sun departed suddenly as well, the night sky suddenly decending.

“This is problematic,” Starswirl chimed in. “The march is a long one, but the supply cart was damaged in the battle.”

“Will we not make better time without?” Celestia countered.

“Normally, but the troops are worn, and while Shadow Wing will pull through, he'll have to be carried for now,” her Captain added. “Leave us behind to block the way, Highness. Take your sister and Starswirl and pop Discord in the mouth once for me, and that should be good enough.” He must be tired to be so informal with her, Twilight thought.

“Out of the question,” Celestia replied almost before he finished. “We will go together.”

“Think of the greater good of Canterlot, Highness!”

“I am, what good are we if we lose what makes us who we are?”

As the clamor of the argument continued, Twilight looked around at her friends. Fluttershy and Rarity leaned gently against each other. Pinkie and Applejack had some smudges and a few bruises from the battle. Rainbow Dash was absorbed with Iris, who studied her own blackened changeling hoof with a distant stare. She thought back to when they first met Iris Dash, and the wild journey that began with that meeting.

With the Sonic Rainboom.

“What if there was another way?” Twilight said loud enough to drown out the arguing. She turned to face Celestia's group. “Tia, would they attack thy troops if those accused were no longer present?”

“They would probably allow them to surrender and release them, assuming they promised no interference,” Celestia said.

“Which we could never do while they are trying to catch you!” the Captain told her. “We were taking orders, but you willfully interfered with their arrest, and Princess Chrysalis is mad with grief.”

“What if thy charges were beyond capture?” Twilight interrupted again. “Say, all the way back in Canterlot?”

“I admit I've seen more power from thee than many,” Starswirl countered, “but even with the ease with which I've seen thee teleport, I would have to believe Canterlot is out of range.”

“Not if I have a boost,” Twilight said, turning again. “Rainbow, Iris, can the two of you perform a Sonic Rainboom?”

“In my sleep!” Rainbow Dash said, her eyes darting to her double, awaiting a matching reply, but got only uncertain silence.

“Iris,” Twilight said gently. “Please, I need you to be Rainbow Dash just a little longer, can you do it?” She reached up and gently, but deliberately, touched the changeling hoof. One by one, her friends followed suit. “Please?”

Iris smiled gently, then looked at Twilight. “What is loyalty good for, if not this? I'm in.” She shooed them back a couple steps, then focused. Her changeling hoof flickered briefly, then was slowly covered back up by the illusion of Rainbow Dash's cyan hair, almost like sock sliding on, until no sign of the changeling underneath remained. “I'm ready.”

“Just one question, Twi,” Applejack added. “Why a Sonic Rainboom?”

“Other than our teleport to Canterlot before we came here, the longest teleport I ever managed was while running,” Twilight explained. “I think some of the momentum is preserved during the teleport, maybe even amplified.”

“So if they're moving really really fast when you teleport them, they'll go really really far!” Pinkie Pie concluded, gesturing emphatically in the general direction of north.

“Luna is one thing, but can Rainbow Dash carry a full sized alicorn?” Applejack asked.

“She carried myself and three wonderbolts,” Rarity reminded her.

“What is this 'Sonic Rainboom' of which thou speak?” Luna chimed in. “It sounds impressive to grant one such speed and strength.”

“Oh, it's quite impressive!” Fluttershy began to explain.

“What of Starswirl, though?” Celestia interrupted, her brow still furrowed with worry. “He actively blocked the Aurelian army, and may be considered part of the royal party.”

“I can get myself back to Canterlot by a series of smaller teleports,” Starswirl reassured her. “That will allow me to get my bearings during each jump, too.”

“Bearings!” Twilight said, inhaling nervously. “Does anypony have any idea which direction Canterlot is from here?”

“Twenty-six degrees east of north from Aurelia,” the Captain chimed. He grinned proudly in response to a few questioning glances, and added, “What? My father was the Royal Cartographer.” He reached under his armor and pulled out a small trinket that rattled suspiciously, causing his smile to fade somewhat. “I can't help with North, though. It looks like my compass was damaged in the fight.” He sighed.

“I believe I might be of assistance,” Luna said. She hovered slightly above the ground, studying the sky seriously. She closed her eyes tightly, straining with effort as the light speckles in her mane seemed to glow a little brighter. In the sky above, a new light suddenly flared into existence. Followed by another, and then two more. They moved off in different directions towards the horizon. “One for each point of the compass,” Luna panted at the effort, smiling weakly. “Stars to aid in our escape.”

Stars to aid-

Twilight looked to her friends. Rarity and Fluttershy were wide-eyed, Rainbow Dash and Applejack had their mouths hanging open in undisguised shock, and Pinkie Pie was nodding with her eyes closed, smiling broadly.

“I can always take them down once we've completed our task,” Luna said apologetically, taking Twilight's expression for disapproval.

“No!” Twilight nearly shouted. “I mean, they're absolutely amazing! Thou should leave them up.” She smiled nervously, trying her best not to shiver as her hourglass sent another jolt through her flank. Not much sand left. One last thing, then. “All right then. Dashes, get ready for your approach!”

“Princesses, take to the-- ah!” Twilight found herself embraced form either side by the alicorn sisters.

“What of thee, and thy friends, Twily,” Celestia asked, her tone not one of a question.

“We shall return whence we came,” Twilight said softly, and Celestia nodded.

“I will miss thee, Twily,” Luna said tearfully.

“And I thee,” Twilight said, then she added impulsively, “but know how much I will love thy beautiful nights until next we meet!” She felt her own tears running down her cheeks. Poor little filly. She is in for so much pain...

“Thou art certain thou can return to the world thou left?” Celestia voiced her final concern.

Twilight looked to the four beacon stars in the sky. “I am absolutely sure, yes. It will be as we left it.”

“I am glad thou can find thy way home,” Celestia said softly, looking back towards Aurelia, “though I know it means thou failed thy mission. We will send back to Princess Chrysalis if all goes well in Canterlot, and try to mend the bonds, though we cannot mend her heart.”

Twilight nodded mutely. I might as well let her keep her false hope for now. Then, more bitterly, like she let me. She looked seriously at them both, and finally said, “Luna, Tia, until next we meet.”

“Until then, Twily,” Celestia smiled warmly, then she and Luna flapped into the air, ready to be snagged by the Dashes.

“Twenty-six degrees,” Twilight echoed, facing the star to the north. It was Griffini Oculo, the Griffin's Eye. In another age yet to come, on a star chart in her library, the star was circled with a question mark noted by it. I thought so. The captain had paced out the angle and was waving to her. She focused her magic and set her horn aglow. She nodded to Fluttershy, who took to the air and waved to signal the Dashes. As suddenly as it had vanished, the sun reappeared, giving them full view of the descending pair of rainbow-maned mares.

As they drew closer, Twilight pulled still deeper into her magic reserves, then waited breathlessly. Sure enough, only seconds later, two rings of rainbow light emanated out from the diving pegasi. Twilight shut out the exclamations of surprise and awe from the guards and waited patiently for them to grab the waiting royalty.

Now.

The rainbow contrails blazing behind the Dashes suddenly ended as they vanished from the sky. Twilight's horn dimmed and she wobbled slightly from the sudden drain put into the effort. Her remaining friends were suddenly all around her holding her up. She smiled weakly.

“Thou did it, I think,” Starswirl said, not a drop of surprise in his tone. “I'd best follow them quickly, to aid however I can in the coming battle.”

“Sir,” Blackmane said approaching, “the princess was insistent that we bring these things.” He handed a bundle to Starswirl. “Perhaps you'd best take them.”

Starswirl opened the bag slightly. “The mugs,” he smiled. “And this.” He lifted the egg out of the bag, smiling at Twilight Sparkle. “Thine, I think?”

“Thou must keep it safe for me,” Twilight said shaking her head. “I will return to claim it.”

“We shall meet again, then,” Starswirl queried. Twilight tried to phrase a response, but she felt the weariness at her efforts close in on her, and the delay was too long. “I see.” Starswirl extended a hoof towards her. “It's been an honor to meet thee.”

“No, the honor is mine, I assure thee,” Twilight retorted as emphatically as she could manage, lifting her hoof to meet his.

Starswirl turned toward Canterlot, glancing at the fading contrail to get his bearings. He muttered, “Perhaps I could cast a spell on it, change the egg somehow, so that it will only open for you, and for you alone...”

Twilight felt the shivering in her flank again as she marveled. Father of the amniomorphic spell... She would have laughed outright, but she turned at that moment to see the hourglass on her flank had no sand in the top part, and had began to shimmer, gently at first, but with growing intensity.

“Out of time,” she said briefly, giving her friends a warning, but no time to reply, as they suddenly fell back into the cold, bright space between then and now.

Author's Note

Whew! I hope that bit was worth the wait, and thanks for your patience! Just a little more, then finally the climax.

Day Awaits Twilight

Celestia watched as Luna slowly brought the moon into the night sky. The princess of the sun took a relaxed posture, as there was far less fanfare for the coming of the night. A few guards patrolled the outer wall, and a few bat ponies took to the air as the pegasus patrol retired for the evening, but the clamor of the busy streets of Canterlot below was beginning to dissipate. She smiled gently as Spike emerged out onto the roof, to report his latest task was accomplished. And of course to see if his friends have returned.

She was about to reassure him that it couldn't be long now when a sudden shimmering light began to undulate on the horizon. It was like the Aurora Borealis, but from every direction at once. Suddenly, it seemed to be getting closer, converging on the tower into the same pillar of light everypony had watched spread to the horizon early that morning. Celestia looked away from the intense light, towards Spike, who was blocking his eyes with one raised arm, squinting to try and see into the intense aura.

Little by little, the light faded, and when Celesta looked back, and the seven ponies that had vanished earlier were collapsed there, almost entirely in a heap.

“Everypony okay?” Applejack spoke first.

“I... think so,” Rarity answered. “Rainbow Dash?”

“Here,” Rainbow grunted. “Pinkie, your hoof is in my ribs.”

“Sorry! Oh, and my other hoof is in Iris'!” Pinkie stepped off both of them at once, hovering strangely while they moved aside before clicking her hooves against the ground.”

“Ah good, I was worried you were too far away,” Fluttershy smiled at the Dashes. “Twilight?”

Celestia opened her mouth, then closed it again. Her faithful student-- No. My old friend-- righted herself onto her hooves and walked passed her friends, towards Celestia, who smiled warmly, “welcome back--”

“How could you?” Twilight interrupted. Her voice was shaking even as she looked up and Celestia, her eyes full of anger. “You sent us there to fail.” Celestia was still smiling, as if frozen. “You don't have to say anything,” Twilight continued. “I just don't understand how you could use us like this.”

“Twily, I--” Celestia stammered at last, the smile finally fading. Her eyes darted nervously back and forth. It wasn't supposed to be like this.

“You don't get to call me that right now,” Twilight fumed. “Maybe you've always been using me.”

“Enough!” The Royal Canterlot voice of Luna cut in. “Twily, thou must understand--”

“Must I?” Twilight turned towards the younger royal sister. “Then why am I not given all the information? I've always served Celestia well and faithfully, but I don't know what drives her. Not really.”

“You want to see?” Celestia chimed in. While Twilight looked away, her bewilderment gave way to something older, deeper. Something she'd pushed aside for so long, for duty, for Equestria. For too long. Her horn began to glow, deeply, intensely. “I will show you, Twilight Sparkle! I never could quite get your memory spell right, but I can do this.” Before Luna or any of the others could interject, she charged right at Twilight, crossing horns with her as she let the spell flare up around them both. The last thing Celestia saw was a look of shock in her student's... her friend's eyes.

* * *

Twilight opened her mouth to speak, but Celestia was suddenly gone. She started to turn around, but it felt strange, like moving through water.

“I have returned to depose thee,” Celestia's voice sounded from behind Twilight just before she entered her field of vision.

“What... what did you do,” Twilight asked, already feeling sheepish for her outburst.

“Oh, really? With those little trinkets?” another familiar voice chimed in, pulling Twilight's vision towards the towering figure of a draconequus seated upon a throne. He laughed lightly. “And here I thought you had no sense of humor, dear Tia.”

“I assure you it is no jest,” Celestia replied in an even tone. It was only as Twilight looked back to her and saw Luna step forward beside her, the little filly attempting a menacing expression, that she realized she was looking at their younger selves.

“No, I should have known,” Discord replied. “I'll tell you what, I've enjoyed this gift from your dear uncle quite throughly.” He rhythmically twisted his paw back and forth under the orb representing the Element of Laughter. “You need it far more than I.” His eyes narrowed only a split second before he threw it suddenly with all his might.

“Princess, look out!” Twilight jumped in the way, only to have the element pass through her. She shook her head, then suddenly, her eyes widened. I'm not here. This... is her memory. She turned towards the princess, who was suddenly gasping as if she was choking on something.

“Tia!” Luna cried, breaking her glare at Discord to look with concern towards her sister, who had dropped to her knees.

Suddenly, Celestia took a deep breath, then a smile spread slowly across her face. She chuckled lightly, then laughed harder, deeper, until it was a rolling maniacal sound. Luna took a half step backwards, her eyes widening. Suddenly, Celestia stopped and winked sideways at Luna, whose expression slowly fell into amazement, then amusement, then she began to laugh. Celestia laughed along in earnest now, another gem emerging from her chest and affixing itself beside the others.

“Clear, joyous laughter!” Celestia spat the words at Discord. “A sound that should echo throughout Equestria, this day and always!”

“Be that as it may,” Discord countered, scratching his chin with obvious irritation, “I still only count five.” Celestia and Luna's eyes widened. “Yes, yes, I know all about your precious Elements of Harmony. I even know the pony who first forged them, an alicorn of impeccable quality that you two pale to. Only your mother ever came close to his elegance.”

A sudden bolt of energy darted towards Discord, who stopped it in his claw, turning it into a shower of posies. “Do not speak of mother! Thou does not have the right!” The glare from Luna expressed a sudden viciousness that Twilight Sparkle had only ever seen in Luna's darker alter ego.

“My, my, temper temper,” Discord was acting nonchalant, but he gently rubbed his claw as if soothing a wound. “Anyway, I happen to know he was as fond of riddles as I.. so,” Discord grin was vicious even as his eyes raised in curiosity, “have you solved his yet?”

Neither alicorn answered. Celestia closed her open mouth, then her eyes, and the three elements around her neck began to glow. Luna quickly followed suit, setting the two amber gemstones attached to either of her ears ear aglow as well. The light began to arc back and forth between them, then suddenly collapsed like snapping bands, causing the two to stagger slightly.

“Ha!” Discord said, picking up a nearby goblet filled with chocolate milk, swirling it lightly. “I thought not. Well, then, I guess I'll continue my antics as I see fit.” He took a quick sip, then continued. “And I think I'll start...” he snapped his fingers, which cause a zipper to appear in the air. He unzipped it, reached through, rummaged around, and concluded, “with this one.” His claw was firmly wrapped around the collar of Starswirl's cloak, the startled unicorn struggling in the air.

“Starswirl!” Luna exclaimed.

“Forgive me, Highnesses,” Starswirl replied, sighing. “I had hoped to teleport in to distract him, but it seems he saw me.”

“Thou will not harm him,” Celestia stood tall, thundering.

“Harm him? What would be the fun in that?” Discord's eyes narrowed and he tugged at his chin, grinning unpleasantly once again.. “But what to do?”

Suddenly, Luna's horn flared, and Starswirl vanished, reappearing on the other side of the sisters. Luna took to the air, steady, and as royal in posture as her sister, despite her small stature.

Discord moved the still-floating zipper, reached through it again, then pulled his paw back, quickly placing a red, throbbing finger in his mouth. “You cannot block me forever!” There was a clear effort of exertion, and Twilight could barely make out a double shield the sisters had between themselves and Discord. “Without the spark, you can't possibly hope to stop me.” He snapped his claw, and a clock appeared in the air near him. “So, how long can you hold out, I wonder?”

“Don't worry about me!” Starswirl yelled. Suddenly, a few small cracks appeared in the shields that the sisters held up.

“It's okay,” Luna said softly, closing her eyes.

“But thou must defeat him, let me be his plaything, to buy precious time” Starswirl countered. “Time to think...”

“Thou art worth protecting,” Celestia said, looking him right in the eyes. “What good is a kingdom, if we give up on our friends?” She smiled gently.

“But-” Starswirl began, then his eyes widened. “Spark.” The cracks in the shield widened, glowing an angry red. Discord made a gesture of a yawn, checking the clock nonchalantly. “'Friendship is all takes.'” The air shimmered above him and a familiar stone orb appeared above him, descending to Starswirl. It changed shape into a pointed hat that matched the pattern of his cape, bells jingling slightly as it settled on his brow.

The shield in front of the princesses splintered and shattered, and Discord jumped forward to grab his new targeted plaything, but he stopped mid-stride, his mouth dropping open, an expression of surprise Twilight Sparkle must be mirroring herself.

“Now.”

At Celestia's behest, the others nodded and their elements shimmered with massive energy, merging into the spell that Twilight was very familiar with, wrapping around the startled draconequus, who screamed with panic as he became stone.

There were a few minutes of silence amongst them, until finally Luna flew over and gingerly kicked at the statue, flying back half a step immediately afterward, wincing. She grinned and then kicked it harder, sticking her tongue at it.

“And so ends the reign of King Discord of Equestria,” Celestia spoke, just above a whisper. “We did it!” She smiled at Starswirl, then gently touched his new headgear with a single hoof.

“Nay, it was thee and thy sister,” Starswirl said quickly. Celestia opened her mouth to counter, but he continued. “Princess, the monarchy of Canterlot was usurped, and the other two kingdoms are in such disarray, now is the time that thou must be a beacon for all ponykind, a beacon of the old nobility. Besides,” he added, touching the rim of his hat, “I cannot believe that the riddle for this was merely for jest. Let it remain secret as it was intended.” Luna, bearer of honesty, looked at him dubiously, but nodded.

Suddenly, the scene seemed to get blurry around the edges. Twilight tried squinting, but the blurriness only engulfed everything until there was only a brightness.

* * *

“It's okay, Luna, I'm here!” Celestia said soothingly. Twilight waited for more of the scene to come into focus, but then she realized it was still poorly lit. the sun low in the sky out the window.

“Oh, Tia, it was horrible,” Luna sniffed. “It was just stairs, and more stairs. A trap of some sort.”

“Something he made?” Celestia asked.

“I think so,” Luna responded, nodding. “But I think he's trapped , too, somehow. I called out to him, but then he turned and looked at me.” She snuggled into her sister's pink mane, her voice breaking. “Those eyes, Tia! They were not the eyes of our beloved uncle. The kindness was gone.”

Celestia stroked Luna's mane gently until she calmed into a restful dreamless sleep. She tucked the filly into her bed and walked over to the table, picking up the mug with etchings of the large star with the smaller ones upon it.

“She should not go dreamwalking so boldly,” Starswirl whispered from the doorway, where he had been watching from silently. “Though, even were she not a princess, I doubt anypony would have the power to dissuade her.”

“She wants to help them,” Celestia whispered back. “As do I. Between that, and her visions into poor Chrysalis' dreams...” she set Twilight's mug back on the table. “We can no longer afford to wait. Let's give her tomorrow night to have a good night's sleep, then we shall march on the Crystal Empire.” Starswirl nodded, and left at a run to make the preparations. Celestia touched the mug gently again, closing her eyes. “Twily, it's been nearly a year, and I know thou said thou would help with this, but perhaps it is not yet time.”

Twilight opened her mouth to answer before she recalled it wouldn't matter. Either way, the scene began to shift yet again.

* * *

“Sister, make haste!” Luna shouted, stepping backwards as a dark crystal suddenly jutted out of the ground in front of her. Twilight Sparkle turned to see the menacing form of Sombra grinning at the little filly. “He has blocked me from the Crystal Heart, I cannot reach it!” Sombra's warped horn glowed its menacing vermilion, and Twilight turned again to see Luna airborne, sideways so that her wings were untouched. “Uncle, please, thou must remember! Something of thee must still remain!”

Suddenly, Celestia burst through the opening in the floor with the nearly unending staircase. “I've got it!” She darted through a translucent bubble that surrounded the Crystal Heart even as Sombra directed his magic at the aura, trying to shift it to keep her out. She took the heart in her hooves and darted towards her sister, but she was now trapped within.

“My crystal!” Sombra grunted in a low, rolling growl.

“Sister, to me!” Luna yelled, placing her hooves against the edge of the aura. Celestia moved over to her and tried to reach her. The two focused, and where their hooves touched, the aura weakened. Celestia moved the heart over to Luna, using their magical bridge to push the heart through the shield. Luna held it, exultant, as she turned towards Sombra, who growled with rage. Suddenly, the tower began to shake.

“What is it?” Celestia yelled over the noise.

“If I cannot have it,” Sombra said, “nopony can.” He grinned evilly as he lunged at Luna, pushing her through the aura, and propelling himself within as well. The aura began to shrink in on itself as the shaking of the tower began to amplify.

“He's trapped it, so that the heart could not be removed,” Celestia said aloud, her eyes widening as she figured out his plan. “His heart, his tower.”

“My crystalssss,” he said again in a low tone, menacing even as a whisper, unconcerned as the aura around them shrunk a a little further.

“Thou... mean to say all of them?” Celestia stamped her hoof angrily as Sombra smiled in confirmation. “Us, yes, but why all the innocents that will be trapped within?”

“My slaves,” Sombra spat.

“Then... we have failed,” Celestia said, as Luna leaned into her. She placed one hoof on a nearby crystal, still white and pure, a short, perfectly shaped pillar, and closed her eyes. “Perhaps we can still get some of the crystal ponies to safety--”

Before she could finish, the scene changed around them, but not the blurry way that Twilight had grown accustomed to, and she looked up to see Starswirl looking at her... or through her, towards the sisters.

“I felt thy signal along the crystals,” Starswirl said, “Hast thou the heart, then?”

Luna went to lift it, and found she had a worthless stone instead. “But, it was... Sombra must have switched it somehow when he tackled me.”

“Every crystal in that place was carefully crafted and placed in accord with his devious paranoia,” Celestia sighed. “Still, I wonder what would happen if one was missing.” She lifted the crystal that she had been leaning against. “It must have snapped off in the quake right before thy rescue.”

The answer came in an agonizing scream from the Crystal Tower, which the sisters turned to face. It was then Twilight realized that they were just outside the city. The tower shimmered, then the light emitted outwards from it, engulfing the entire Empire in its searing aura. Twilight looked away, and when she looked back, the entire thing was gone.

Starsriwl stepped forward his horn aglow. “It's still there, somewhere,” he said frantically. “Only... it's also.. not.” He probed again and again, then stamped his hoof in frustration, then turned back to face the sisters. “I'm... sorry.”

“If only I could have gotten through to him,” Luna said, looking at the ground, a single tear rolling down her nose into the snow. “His eyes, they were like mine, or Tia's, when we looked into the door. Somewhere deep beneath them, uncle was trapped by his own fears.”

“Nay, the fault is mine, dear sister,” Celestia said, lifting her sister's head and looking her in the eyes. “If only I had faced my fears as quickly as thee, perhaps I might have arrived sooner, and the outcome might have been different.” She smiled, and Luna nodded softly. Then her smile faded, and she asked quietly, “what did thou see, if I may ask, sister?”

Luna started, then pulled away from Celestia's hoof, looking into the distance. “It was nothing, dear sister... just... a creature of nightmares.” She smiled and waved dismissively.

“Well, perhaps the delegation we sent southward to check on Princess Chrysalis will return with better news,” Celestia said, turning to Starswirl. “If she has had sufficient time to grieve and return to her senses, perhaps she may aid in us finding a way to rescue her father.” The world again began to blur even as she finished speaking.

* * *

Twilight found herself in a courtyard at night, the sound of a fountain trickling gently reached her ears before her eyes adjusted to the pale light. Celestia was standing in front of the fountain, above which five stone platformed jutted out at various lengths, upon each resting a single gemstone. The elements. This must be the sisters' castle.

“They still shine as brightly as ever, just as thy Highness does,” a familiar voice approached. Starswirl... the Bearded. Indeed, enough time had passed that he now appeared as she recognized him from various sketches and artwork. His face was gnarled and half-hidden by a plume of white hair on his chin, and his gait reminded Twilight more of Granny Smith's than the energetic young unicorn she had fought alongside recently.

“And thee as well, old friend,” Celestia responded warmly.

“Hooey,” he countered. “That's why that one wasn't yours.” He gestured vaguely at one of the two amber gems.

“I am being honest,” she said, “it's in the eye of the beholder, after all. How is thy family? I'm surprised Dewdrop let you make the journey alone.”

“Well, that old gray pegasus is no younger than I am these days, so I just had to outrun her,” Starswirl grinned at his own joke.

“And Starshine? She was only a filly last I saw her, but she must be nearly a full grown mare.”

“Aye, and every bit as vibrant as her mother once was. Her knack for magic is creative, though. She reminds me of an old mutual friend of ours...” Starswirl stared off into the distance as if trying to remember something, which unnerved Twilight because he seemed to be looking right at her again.

“Well, thou art quite a bit more responsible for today than most know, it's fitting thou should be here.”

“Yes, the three-hundredth Summer Sun Celebration under the flag of New Equestria,” he gestured to the banner hanging above the door leading to the throne room, the familiar flag of the alicorn sisters chasing each others tails, and the cycle of day and night within.

“I preferred the old banner,” Celestia lowered her head as she spoke softly.

“The banner of the Three Kindoms?” Starswirl said. Twilight recalled the dusty banner she had seen in the chamber behind the throne room in Canterlot, and again flying above Aurelia. “Almost nopony still living recalls that banner. Equestria is all they know.” Tears were running down Celestia's nose, and Starswirl reached over to wipe them away gently. “Now, now, all is not lost, as long as you still live, there is still a chance thou will one day find a way.” He looked into the darkness outside, then added, “after all, isn't that what this day is all about? The dawn of a new day, the light of hope?”

Celestia nodded, then said, “My thanks, old friend. Let us give the people their hope.” They strode side by side out the front gate. Twilight, expecting the scene to fade, hesitated briefly before following them.

Outside, by torchlight, she could see ponies gathered in a vast crowd outside the gates of the castle, the silhouette of the Everfree Forest barely visible on the horizon. At Twilight has seen once long ago as an impressionable young filly, and many times since, Celestia rose into the air to raise the sun in a breathtaking show of power and beauty.

Only, nothing happened.

Twilight realized that it was taking longer than usual, then a murmur rippled through the crowd uneasily. Finally, Celestia descended, less gracefully, clearly unbalanced from the effort. She looked questioningly toward Starswirl, who merely closed his eyes and shook his head.

“What's the matter, dear sister?” a voice boomed, it seemed to come from nowhere at first, but then menacing clouds in the sky suddenly swirled aside, revealing the full moon overhead, and a figure of a pony floating in front of it, with a coat so black, the light of the moon itself seemed to be diminished where she moved. “Wouldn't thou just hate to disappoint the mass of adoring ponies that admire thy beautiful day? Surely thou can raise the sun?” She approached close enough that the crowd could recognize their other ruler, so that the uneasy murmurs turned to notes of confusion and fear. “I fear thy light has been taken away by a greater power. For, when the light fails, the night is always waiting to engulf all! And those who refuse to see its power, its grace, its beauty,” and she turned her cat-eyed gaze toward the crowd, “shall learn to fear it first, and love it later!”

“Luna?” Celestia finally spoke. “What is this?”

“Luna exists no more! I am Nightmare Moon! You ponies have turned thy backs to the night, but it has not forgotten you, and now it comes for you all. Now, and forever!” She began to laugh, a deep maniacal sound that still sent shivers down Twilight's spine.

“Nay, sister, I will not allow this,” Celestia ascended. “I know not what has twisted thee so, but our subjects must have the light and warmth of the sun. I beseech thee, end this madness!”

“Dear sister,” Nightmare Moon said, more quietly now, a slow grin spreading over her face as her eyes narrowed, “Did you really think me such the foal as to not expect thine interference?” Celestia moved back slightly, and before she could speak again, the swirling clouds arced lightning between them, and right towards Celestia. Celestia winced at the impending strike, but it never landed. When she opened her eyes in confusion, she realized a shield surrounded her.

The sight of their rulers doing battle was too much for the uneasy crowd, who began to panic and scatter back through the untamed Everfree. “Protect our subjects!” Celestia screamed to her newest Captain.

“But, Highness,” he objected, his eyes darting to the menacing figure above.

“Thy safety is paramount!” Celestia asserted again. Besides, he'd be useless against Luna's power. The Captain clearly understood this, too, nodding and ordering his troops across the bridge to pursue the crowd. As soon as he was clear, a single gesture from Nightmare Moon caused the bridge to collapse into the ravine.

“I expected thou might be a factor, as well,” Nightmare Moon bellowed, her eyes locked firmly on Starswirl, his horn aglow, and his brow sweating from the effort put into the shield spell around Celestia. “Come, old friend, let me show thee what wonders I have learned!” She dived at him even as she spoke, vanishing as she reached him, along with the aged unicorn.

“Sister?! Starswirl?!” Celestia cried, turning circles as the shield around her vanished as suddenly as they had. A single beam of moonlight curled down tenuously from the moon above, right into the castle, becoming thicker. Suddenly, it exploded outwards percussively. Windows shattered and walls of the castle rattled and fell as the ground seemed to rock back and forth. Celestia was knocked to the ground suddenly. For a moment, she lay completely still.

“Come on, wake up!” Twilight cried, ineffectually, caught up in the scene. It seemed like an eternity before Celestia blinked suddenly, then got her her feet. She glared up at the moon, where the pillar of light had been replaced by a sickly strand of pulsing darkness. The staggered into the castle, Twilight following closely behind her.

The magic aura of the dark strand somehow seemed to illuminate the dark room with its magic. Nightmare Moon stood at the top of the stairs on the other side of the fountain, in front of the door leading to the throne room. Starswirl was collapsed by the fountain, mostly shrouded by his cloak, unmoving.

“No.” No. “Sister, why?” Celestia looked up to her sister, her eyes misting with tears. Suddenly, her horn began to glow, a muted light in the dark aura. The elements glowed in kind and floated towards her. “Why?”

Nightmare moon watched Celestia, her expression full of contempt. “Would thou use those ancient baubles against me?” Her horn glowed, and the two amber gems were yanked forcibly away from Celestia. “I held these ones, and held them dear, until one day I realized how useless they were. What good is honesty, when nopony will hear what you say? What good, generosity, when nopony wants the gift thou offer!?” She tossed the gems carelessly, where they clattered, then shimmered, becoming lifeless cold stone orbs, rolling to a stop against Celestia's hooves. “Thou art beaten, sister. Thy power of friendship will not aid thee, and thy friends will not come to thine aid.” Her face formed a snarl, as she added, “And with no further raising of the sun, thy dearest friend, Twilight Sparkle will never witness thee raising the sun, as she professed she once did. Nay, even she cannot help thee now, she whose memory thou held more dearly than thine own sister!”

“I... never,” Celestia answered, though she hesitated, and Nightmare Moon laughed evilly again. “I will ask thee again, sister. I will beg thee, let me raise the sun.” Celestia fell to both knees in her desperation.

“Ah, that looks good,” Nightmare Moon said, her tone mocking “But can thou not just flip the world?” She waited a moment. “No, thou cannot? Hast thou not yet figured out the genius of it?”

Celestia looked into the dark pillar pouring into the castle from the moon, then gently began to probe it. Through her memory, Twilight Sparkle saw the mechanism behind it as well. Genius, indeed, Twilight though in begrudging admiration. The pillar passed through the castle, through the world, and tied to the sun, like a solid spear piercing all three celestial bodies. No matter how Celestia tried to flip the world, the sun would remain hidden.

Celestia got to her hooves again, gathering all her magic and determination around her, using it to slice through the pillar of darkness. It curled up like a wounded vine snapping. Celestia smiled jubilantly.

“Curses!” Nightmare Moon said, but the tone remained mocking instead of concerned. “I am undone! If only I had thought to make more!” In the distance, through the broken out windows, the dark aura of other pillars became apparent.

Desperately, Celestia sliced at those two, but then as they curled up, four more seemed to take their place. Faster and faster, she sliced, and faster, new tendrils took their place. Nightmare Moon's started with a cackle, which rose into a full maniacal laughter. She moved into the air above Celestia triumphantly. Celestia pulled as much magic as she could, and the five elements circled her. “Please,” she whispered to them. “Help me... for everypony. For my sister. Help me save her from herself.”

“Do it,” a raspy voice suddenly added. Starswirl nodded at her, tears in his eyes as he dropped his hat on her head, the sixth and final element.

She nodded, nearly exhausted as she pulled one more time at the magic around her... the elements began to coalesce, and suddenly her eyes were filled with light, and her mane began to glow in stripes of various colors as the elements coursed their energy through her. She gasped in pain as their energy almost seared her, then she used the last of her focus, directing them into a magic blade, spinning it full circle around her, cutting all the dark tendrils at once. They all suddenly curled up at once, curling their wounded tendrils around the dark figure above, who suddenly ceased her laughter.

“What!?” Nightmare Moon struggled against the tangled darkness as it engulfed her. “It's not possible! I cannot be defeated, not like this!” The tendrils began to shrivel up, back towards the moon, Nightmare Moon struggling futilely to escape her fate. “This... is... not... the end!” Her final words echoed as Celestia took to the air, reaching out her hooves to grab her sister's outstretched hoof, but fell short.

“No!” Celestia settled to the ground beside Starswirl, sobbing. She barely noticed as the elements stopped shimmering and all returned to their lifeless stone form, the hat on her head vanishing. “Why?”

“Because there was no other way,” Starswirl rasped again. “Thou will see it someday.”

“Will I...” Celestia sniffled back the tears. “Will I see Luna again?” Starswirl nodded almost imperceptibly. “How long?” she asked just above a whisper. At first, Starswirl said nothing. “How long!?”

“A thousand years.”

The answer stunned Celestia so completely that she collapsed, her head resting on her old friend's shoulder. Then she sat up, startled. “Thou art cold.”

“I feel the pain of this moment deeper than thou know,” Starswirl said, misunderstanding her meaning. “For I had the power to stop it, but I could not.” He coughed several times. “I have left thee some notes. They are sparse, but there are signs thou must follow, and no more than that. Thine own orders.” He winced, coughing again. “And my private notebook, it's in thy study. Thou must promise to give it to my great-great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter. Thou will know when the time is right.” He smiled gently, then reached up and touched her face gently with his hoof. “Worry not, my friend. We shall meet yet again.” He winked impishly, then lowered his hoof, and did not move again.

Celestia began to sob again, alone in the darkness. It was not you alone that could have stopped this, Starswirl, Twilight thought bitterly between her own tears, I could have, too.

“Oh, Twily,” Celestia whispered, interrupting Twilight's thoughts, “please come soon, for I am all alone.” She pushed one of the cold elements across the floor with one hoof, where it clicked with an echo against the fountain.

* * *

The scene faded into a blur, and Twilight's own mood echoed the numb despair as she watched in seeming high-speed, as Celestia went through the motions over the years, being the imperious but reassuring ruler that ponies needed over troubled times, moving the seat of power from the ruins of the Everfree back to Canterlot. She was kind and gentle, and over the years, the horrors of the past were forgotten, at least by her subjects. She was loved and adored by all, and nopony ever saw her behind closed doors at the end of the day, how she wept as she brought up the moon each night, how she shrouded herself in her loneliness. The price of royalty, to remain above them, she often convinced tried to convince herself. One day, one year, one lifetime all seemed like the next, until one day...

“... and the school for gifted unicorns will celebrate its two-hundredth anniversary next month, for which your attendance will be expected, of course. We've had several prosperous years in a row, highness, and our current settlements are being outgrown by their populations,” Celestia's Captain of the Guard droned on. The scroll that hovered in front of him had nearly all its items meticulously checked off.

“What about Baltimare?” Celestia inquired. He shook his head. “Manehattan?” He shook it again.

“Filled to the brim I'm afraid. Some ponies have taken to being roaming pilgrims, looking for opportunities to settle new land in the wild. Some arrived just today, in fact.”

“Oh?” she said, lifting a quill to sign some of the more mundane documents that he had set before her in regards to earlier items.

“Yes,” the Captain scratched his head, “The... Smiths, I think. Seed peddlers.” He turned towards Celestia as he spoke, then flinched in response to her apparent shock. “Highness, are you okay?”

“Has it been that long already?” Celestia whispered to herself.

“Highness?” the Captain looked around nervously, at a loss.

“Nothing,” Celestia waved a hoof dismissively. “I should be able to address that concern shortly, but we must conclude our business for the day.” She smiled as the Captain nervously glanced at the unchecked items on the list. “There will be time for that later. For now, I absolutely must have some new seeds for the royal gardens.”

* * *

Time blinked by again rapidly, and Twilight watched through Celestia's eyes as Ponyville grew from a speck in the distance to.. well, a slightly larger speck. The rolling of the years stopped again.

“As you sure you won't stay?” Celestia said, still watching Ponyville from her balcony as she spoke.

“I don't see why I would,” an unfamiliar voice came bitterly from over her shoulder. “I thought as your personal protege, I would have greater opportunities to learn more advanced magic, but it's become clear than you've nothing more to teach me.”

“Nothing you're ready to learn,” Celestia replied coldly.

“And when will I be ready? I'm done waiting. I'll take my chances seeking magic in whatever realms my travels take me to. Goodbye, Princess.”

Celestia turned towards the bowing yellow-and-red-maned unicorn and sighed. “Farewell, and good luck in your journeys, Sunset Shimmer. If you do not find what you seek, may you at least find what you deserve.”

“Hmph,” Sunset Shimmer snorted, then turned and marched out of the room, slamming the door angrily as she left.

Celestia shook her head and whispered quietly to herself, “You could have handled that better, Tia.” She sighed.

The Captain opened the recently slammed door, tentatively sticking his head through. “May I enter, Highness?”

“Of course, Captain, everything is fine,” she replied, smiling. “How is your sister faring?”

“She's in labor now, Highness, she will likely give birth any moment,” the Captain said, smiling proudly.

“That was sudden!” Celestia replied excitedly, unfurling her wings and taking to the air.. “If there's no further business, I'll go to see her right away.”

“Just... one more thing, Your Highness,” the Captain said, causing her to stop mid-motion and turn to face him. He blushed, nodding in the direction of the sun, continuing hesitantly, “I wouldn't mind a few more hours to wrap up the day, but you know some of your subjects might find it... unsettling.”

“What? Oh!” She settled back down on the balcony. “Yes, Captain, you're right. I'm sorry, that hasn't happened since... well, I don't think that's happened before. Can we keep it between us?” She winked at him.

“Of course, you've a lot on your mind,” he nodded reassuringly, “I'm surprised you haven't forgotten before. No! I didn't mean that.” He blushed again. “I mean you've been ruling for several lifetimes, and you're getting older. No. I...”

Celestia laughed, and smiled reassuringly. “Don't worry captain, I understand.” He turned away from him, then slowly lowered the sun, bringing the moon into the sky. She sighed as she always did, a sound laden with such sorrow that Twilight's younger self always noted, but could never understand. “Now then,” she smiled and dove from the tower.

Twilight was slightly disoriented as she was pulled along with the memory of the flight, her consciousness bobbing in the air alongside the princess as she landed in front of one of the houses of the nobility of Canterlot and knocked on the door. She was admitted immediately, of course, and taken back into a sitting area.

“Princess, what a pleasant surprise!” a familiar voice greeted her.

“Nightlight! How is she?”

“Just resting now, while they finish cleaning up the foal,” Twilight watched her father beam a proud smile at the princess.

“Ah, so I missed it?” Celestia's own smile drooped only slightly.

“Just moments ago, I'm afraid, your Highness,” he said apologetically. “It was right while you were changing over to night, so there was no helping it.”

“I suppose not,” Celestia sighed. There was a silent moment before she continued. “May I... may I see her?”

“See her?” Nightlight furrowed his brow at the unusual request. “Yes, of course. My wife is resting well enough, and the foal is with her. One moment while I make sure she's awake.” He darted quickly down the hall, from which emerged a young, white colt with a blue mane.

“Princess!” Shining Armor said, smiling and bounding over to greet her, only remembering himself at the last moment, stopping, and saluting her smartly.

“Why hello again, young soldier,” she chuckled lightly at his antics. “Do you know what? Today is a very special day.”

“It is?” said Shining Armor. “Do I get presents?”

“In a manner of speaking,” Celestia continued. She leaned in and gestured him closer, as if sharing a secret. “Today, I'm going to meet Starswirl the Bearded's great-great-great-great-great-great- granddaughter.”

“Wooow!” Shining Armor said, amazed. “And you stopped here to see us first?”

Celestia laughed aloud, slightly louder than she intended, before lowering her voice. “Yes, it was on the way.”

“She's ready,” Nightlight announced, reentering the room. Celestia moved softly down the hallway, the young colt shadowing her two steps behind.

“Come in, Princess,” Twilight Velvet said weakly from the bed. “It's quite an honor.”

“It's an imposition, and I apologize,” Celestia said politely. “You should be resting.”

“Nonsense, she was very little trouble at all.” Twilight Velvet carefully lifted the bundle towards the princess. “Since she was born between the sun and the moon, like I was,” she continued, as she turned the newborn filly to face the princess, “we've decided to name her Twilight Sparkle.”

Celestia froze as she heard this, her face an unreadable mix of so many expressions at once. She took a half-step backwards, almost seeming like she was going to flee the room, when she looked down into the filly's eyes. Suddenly, everything about Celestia softened. She moved in as close as she dared to the newborn, tears running down her face. “Hello, Twily,” she finally said in a nearly inaudible whisper.

“Twily!” Shining Armor practically shouted next to her, disrupting the scene. “Twily, Twily, Twily!” Twilight Velvet wrinkled her nose at the nickname.

“Sorry,” Celestia said, brushing the tears away.

“No,” Twilight Velvet sighed, chuckling, “it was bound to happen.”

“Yes, it certainly was,” Celestia said, chuckling too.

* * *

Twilight waited for the next scene, still in a daze, so that it took her a few moments to realize that she was back on the balcony, in the present, once again. She raised her head slowly, her teacher, her mentor, her friend, stood before her, horn still lowered, face shrouded in her multi-colored mane. Beneath Celestia, the ground wet with tears reflected the fading light of the spell.

“Princess,” Twilight began, her voice caught in a quiet sob, and she realized that she had been crying as well. “Tia, can you ever forgive me?”

“I didn't think so, once,” Celestia said. “But all of that bitterness fell away long ago, when I stared into that newborn filly's eyes. You couldn't have known. Any more now than you did then.”

Twilight's eyes widened, “Oh Luna!” she turned towards the Princess of the Night, who had turned away from Twilight Sparkle and Celestia. “If I'd just said something-”

“Dost thou know if it would even matter, Twily?” Luna said calmly. She turned towards her, drying her own tears. “It may all have still happened. There are reasons that it needed to, besides. Whatever else may come, it was thee... all of you, that freed me, more than once, and my gratitude will always outweigh anything else.” Luna gestured broadly, and Twilight looked around, noticing there wasn't a dry eye, except Spike, who looked thoroughly confused in such a comical way that Twilight laughed in spite of herself.

“Come on, everypony,” Twilight began, “we've been through a lot together,” she looked up at her mentor again, adding pointedly, “all of us.” She leaned in against Celestia as she had throughout the years, and she felt all of her friends moving in to share the embrace. She glanced up at Luna, who had moved closer, but still stayed back a single step. Twilight smiled gently at her and nodded, and that was all the permission Luna needed, collapsing into the embrace with everypony else.

“Drat, I've arrive too late for the tearful reunion,” a voice came from the door. “That's okay, never really liked them anyway.” Twilight looked up to see a pale tan earth pony with short, spiky brown hair approaching. I know him from Ponyville, but who-

“Oh, Doctor!” Pinkie Pie called excitedly, “You just missed some really super-neat timey-wimey stuff!” Of course Pinkie would know who he was.

“I suppose I did,” he mused, “but that's okay, I'm sure I'll have the chance to see it again.”

“But what are you doing here?” Twilight said.

“I've already said, the reunion,” he said with some exasperation. He looked expectantly at Twilight for a moment, then added, “Oh! Right, I almost forgot.” He concentrated, and on his forehead, a unicorn horn shimmered hazily into place. “And just in case that wasn't enough to jog your memory, I'll just be borrowing this for a moment.” The tiara that had reappeared on Twilight's head when they returned to the present shimmered with a yellow glow and lifted over to the unicorn. As he placed it on his own head, it immediately shifted its appearance, the bells giving off their characteristic jingle as it landed.

“Ah, Starswirl,” Celestia called, without even a single note of surprise, while Twilight remained speechless, “so that's where you've been hiding.”

Author's Note

In case you haven't figured it out by now, ontological paradoxes are like my favorite thing ever.

Whew! Okay, well that was supposed to be just a quick deviation into the passage of time through Celestia's eyes, but that ended up being longer than I thought.

Next chapter we finally get back to the relevant conundrum! No more history lessons for now. (which means Discord's cryptic references are meant for another story. Yeah, I'm like that).

Reunion

Twilight sat quietly at the table, her eyes closed. The events of the past day... day? Month? Epoch? She shook her head gently, hoping everything would just click into place. She opened her eyes to see Starswirl across from her, glasses perched upon his nose as he studied some of the charts and reports about the changeling movement. Even with all the impossibilities Twilight Sparkle had been witness to, she found it odd to have him sitting across from her.

She looked slightly to her right, and Luna was staring at her. When they made eye contact, she looked at the floor between them awkwardly. Suddenly, Twilight remembered Celestia's memories. She not looking at me, she's trying not to look at him. She felt her own pang of guilt to mirror Luna's, and she reached out and gently touched Luna's hoof with her own, drawing her gaze back and smiling reassuringly. What happened is not who you are,Twilight mouthed silently to her.

Luna softened, her eyes and smile reminding Twilight of the young filly that pounced her to the ground long ago, and Luna clearly remembered too, blushing slightly.

“Well, I understand why this was the concern,” Starswirl said. “I've been watching as best I can since I arrived here, but from the periphery, it was hard to get a full grasp on the situation.”

“How long have you been here, anyway?” Twilight Sparkle said. “Thinking back on it, I can't remember a time you weren't in Ponyville.”

“I remembered the last moments before our parting quite well,” Starswirl explained, removing his glasses and setting them on the table. “The stars that Princess Luna made seemed to make quite an impression upon you all, and I assumed, slightly incorrectly, that they might be tied to whatever disaster had driven you to time spells. When the stars vanished, the spell spat me out...”

“Which would have been the night that Nightmare Moon returned,” Twilight Sparkle nodded.

Starswirl turned to Luna, considering her sadly and shaking his head. “You can imagine my surprise. The princesses ordered me to follow you only a dozen years after you left us. I had no idea...” He looked to Celestia, who was sitting serenely by the fireplace, waiting for the tea kettle to boil. “And to find a thousand years had passed...” He sighed, then looked at his hourglass cutie mark. “As you know, I'm bound here until time is done with me, so I've passed the years quietly with my companion, doing my best to avoid Celestia's notice, as ordered.”

“So why now?”

Celestia approached with the kettle and a ornately carved wooden case. She opened it, and within were the four mugs that Luna had crafted for them all those years before. She set the mugs before them and poured water for each as she answered, “He was instructed to have as little impact as possible, and only provide aid with whatever task your journey had failed.”

“And of course, under no circumstances, should it arise,” Starswirl added, “was I to change anything which caused your journey to begin with.” He took a sip of he tea set before him. “After all, we benefited too much from your failed attempts to save Prince Cocoon.”

“And now we only have one option available,” Twilight Sparkle said gloomily. “An outright war.”

“Nay, Twily,” Luna finally spoke, swirling the tea in her cup, still not making eye contact. “We have gathered here to consider our options one last time, with Starswirl able to aid us now.”

“But my friends, shouldn't they be included in this meeting, too? After all they've been through these past weeks...”

“Twilight,” Luna said softly, looking up at her at last. “It has been weeks for thee, and only years for Starswirl. Even my... exile... passed like a horrible dream that seemed timeless.” Her eyes darted nervously at the mention of that time. “But for my dear sister, eras have come and gone. For her, Twily, for this moment, just let us take tea.”

Twilight turned and looked towards Celestia. If she had heard Luna, she made no indication, quietly sipping her tea. Twilight sighed and smiled at her lightly, taking a sip herself. The flavor was just as sweet and pungent as it was nearly fourteen hundred years prior.

* * *

“And that's when we ended up here!” Pinkie Pie gestured enthusiastically to the tower around them, gasping for breath as she concluded the fastest possible retelling of their journey.

“Let me get this straight, you didn't change anything?” Spike said, scratching his head. “Not even a little?”

“Seems like we were always supposed to be there, sugarcube,” Applejack replied, looking over the balcony off toward the south, where lights from Ponyville were starting to go out for the evening.

“Oh! Oh! And you were there, too, Spike!” Pinkie added.

“Me?” Spike pointed to himself. “Does that mean we time travel again and I get to go next time?” The young dragon perked up notably.

“Not unless you become an egg again,” Rainbow Dash said, swirling her element in the air with one hoof, leaving Spike even more confused.

“Do you suppose...” Fluttershy began. “I mean, I could ask the princess...”

“I'm sure Shadow Wing lived,” Rarity said, confidently. “I designed that armor for form as well as fashion. Applejack, did thou not say that they wear that style of armor still?”

“Uh, Rarity,” Applejack said, “we're not in the past anymore, nopony talks like that.”

“I don't know what thou...” Rarity began. “Oh.” They all smiled as she blushed slightly.

“So, that's Starswirl the Bearded,” Spike said, looking towards the room where the others were taking tea. “I bet Twilight really freaked out, huh?”

“Anypony else wonder why in the hay Twilight's element changed like that when he touched it?” Applejack pondered.

“Because the elements remember their keepers, no matter what,” Iris Dash answered. “Rainbow Dash.” She reached a hoof forward, toward the element. “Can... can I borrow that for a bit?”

“Huh?” Rainbow replied, looking at the element. “You can hardly borrow it, it's as much yours as it is mine, remember?” Iris Dash smiled, but it was a weary smile at best. She reached up slowly, hesitating on the verge of touching it, before she had taken a deep breath. With a single motion, she took it, wincing. Then she looked at it, she sighed deeply.

“Listen, Rainbow Dash,” Iris began. “I want you to know that I'll always remember this time, and I'll always remember how joyful flying with you was. How joyful being you was. We would have made a great addition to the Wonderbolts someday, and I'm sure you still will.” Iris spoke faster the longer she spoke, leaving no gaps for interruption. “And everypony, thank you for being my friend, even with... everything.” She darted for the door and closed it quickly behind her.

Rainbow Dash tried to dart after her, only to find her tail firmly wedged in Applejack's teeth.. She turned to say something, but Applejack just shook her head, closing her eyes. Rainbow Dash sunk from the air onto the cobblestones.

* * *

“The real problem is, we need to be able to maneuver these armies away from populated areas,” Starswirl said, studying the maps. “We don't even know their motive, or why one group of changelings would turn against Chrysalis to begin with.”

“The rebel faction is being led by one resembling Fluttershy,” Luna noted. To Twilight's concerned expression, she added, “we did not mention it to her because we thought it might unsettle her.”

“Good thinking,” Twilight nodded.

“The rebel faction are the elite changelings,” Iris Dash suddenly interjected, having just entered the room. She walked over to the table where the others were drinking. “We were the ones that were unicorns before the change, and the vestiges of our own magic keeps the hive mind from completely dominating us.”

“You remember, then!” Twilight said. “Who you were before you became Rainbow Dash!” She smiled, happy for her friend.

“I do,” Iris Dash said, and there was such a weight in her voice, Twilight decided her joy might have been premature. “I am her most trusted, the one she can only remember as Chambin. Faerbin and I were sent here to infiltrate the holders of the Elements of Harmony and betray them at a crucial moment, until... plans went awry.”

She took a deep breath before continuing. “But I remember who I was, even before that. I was the foal who started it all, and now I will finish it.” She raised the hoof in which she held the Element of Loyalty, closed her eyes, and focused, the familiar aura of form-shifting closed on her, shining brightly. When it faded, the unicorn before them set the ancient pocket watch on the table and considered them all with familiar eyes.

“Chamberlain,” Celestia said, the first to recover enough to respond. “You were hardly the beginning of all our ills.”

“I suppose Discord bears the brunt of the blame, but I...” Chamberlain closed his eyes tightly, his expression recalling some past pain. “I couldn't bear to see her that way, so I ignored Iris Dash's warning.” He snorted and smirked bitterly. “I was just trying to warn myself all along. I showed Chrysalis the changeling spell, hoping that any love she could find would ease the aching of her own lost love. If I'd just been brave enough to tell her how I felt...”

Twilight lowered her head, then her eyes caught the watch on the table. The element remembers... but the changeling spell is enough to fool it. She took her own Tiara off, remembering it changing when Starswirl put it on just recently. Faerbin... Fluttershy. She stepped away from the table, only vaguely aware of Luna trying her best to reassure Chamberlain as she paced.

“Twilight Sparkle?” Celestia queried loudly, waving a hoof to silence the others. “I know my... student well enough to know she on to something.”

“Ir.. Chamberlain, do you have any idea why Faerbin is rebelling?” Twilight Sparkle asked.

“Probably she felt the same way I did after being Rainbow Dash for a while,” Chamberlain mused. “She felt her independence from the hive, and liked it.” His eyes widened. “Of course, Fluttershy... it's Firebane, you know.”

“Some part of her might still mistrust me,” Twilight considered. “Would she trust you? And Fluttershy?”

“I think so, but-”

“Would she work with us if we could promise to help her with her independence?”

“I won't let you hurt my princess,” Chamberlain said firmly.

“I wouldn't dream of it,” Twilight said, putting a hoof on his shoulder.. “Every changeling's spell is tied to her, right? We want what you want, Chamberlain. We want her to to be the princess you love. But you're going to have to lie to her for me.”

“I can do that if I have to,” Chamberlain nodded.

“It's not a little one,” Twilight added, looking him right in the eyes, “it's a lie of the heart. And it will hurt her. Can you do it?”

Chamberlain's eyes widened slightly, but he didn't waver. “I think I know what you want. I couldn't before, but the time for cowardice is past.”

“Well said,” Starswirl said encouragingly. “What's your angle with Firebane, Twilight?”

“Chrysalis is weakest when she thinks she has the upperhand. We're going to fall into her trap. Only not us. And not really. Did you ever figure out the changeling spell?”

“I tried briefly, hoping I could get deeper into the hive than our scouts and find out what was going on,” Starswirl admitted, “but I couldn't quite grasp it.”

“Then Chamberlain will show you,” Twilight said.

“That spell is the cause of our current problems,” Luna protested. “Isn't it best that it remain lost?”

“I'll tell nopony else,” Starswirl countered, “and never use it again after this. And never write it down.”

“That's a promise I know he keeps, too,” Twilight reassured Luna. He looked at her oddly, and she added. “You left me your journal. With all your spells.”

Starswirl's eyes widened. “Ah, the tornado spell you'd read about... and the time spell I suppose, too.”

“An invisibility spell would really help out with my plan,” Twilight said. “Do you have one?”

“Not yet,” Starswirl answered. “But I could certainly start working on it as soon as I get back, then journal it... but I suppose it would have been in there, right?”

Suddenly, something occurred to Twilight “Just a moment.” Before he could answer, she teleported to the bookshelf in the room behind the throne, grabbed the journal, and teleported back, opening it and setting it in front of him. “Before I unlocked the journal, everything in it was invisible.”

“It still is, I think,” Starswirl said, his brow furrowing.

“Oh!” Twilight turned the pages absently. “I guess it's tuned only to me right now... but this page is still blank, even to me.”

“I probably set it up so I couldn't see the rest so I wouldn't get to cheat,” Starswirl sighed. “But this page has one line I can see.” His horn began to glow. “Twilight, if you'd assist?” He leaned in and put the tip of his horn against the page. Twilight followed suit, and before she could do anything magic arced between them. The page revealed itself.

“I can see it, too,” Luna said from over their shoulders. “Was that intended?”

“I was never one for keeping secrets,” Starswirl explained, looking to Celestia, as he handed the journal to Twilight. This is it. This will do.

“You kept it that way to keep me from being tempted to try using that time spell, I think,” Celestia said.

“You always take too much on yourself,” he chided. “I suppose I'll have some secrets to keep now anyway.” He looked back at Luna as he spoke.

“Okay, this will work,” Twilight said aloud finally. “I'm calling in my friends. They're not going to like it much, but I think they'll understand.”

Author's Note

The stage is set, the players are in their places, and now, the final confrontation can begin!

Metamorphosis

“So, let me get this straight,” Rainbow Dash asked. “We're walking right into the trap that you know she wanted to set, and that's when you'll have her where you want her?” She turned from window, shrugging at the others in the train car. Their assorted party had the car completely booked, orders of Princess Celestia, so Twilight could fill them in on the way.

“I gotta admit, sugarcube,” Applejack added. “It's a pretty, uh, bold move.”

“But the details are well thought out,” Rarity added.

“And we have to do it,” Fluttershy added. “All those poor ponies who don't even remember who they are.”

“It means so much to me that you'd be willing,” Iris Dash added. Chamberlain had shifted back to the form they had grown familiar with before they had rejoined the others. And maybe that he had grown familiar with, too.

“We'll stop in Ponyville for a few hours,” Twilight Sparkle continued. “Ch... Iris and Fluttershy will ride on ahead to Appleoosa to track down the elite changelings. We'll rest up and leave midday tomorrow, assuming their success.”

“What... what if we don't?” Fluttershy asked.

“You will,” Twilight added.

“That some future knowledge talkin'?” Applejack inquired.

“No,” Twilight smiled. “Just faith in my friends.” Fluttershy will be fine, she just needs us to be her confidence.

The train pulled into the Ponyville stop just after midnight, and everypony turned and waved Iris and Fluttershy on.

“We left the library a mess,” Spike reminded her, “but don't worry, Owliscious and I will get it taken care of, you just rest up.”

Twilight smiled her gratitude as she stumbled down the stairs from the station platform. When was the last time I had some rest? She had to think for quite a while before chuckling to herself. About 1,348 years ago, right before fleeing Aurelia, holding back dragons, teleporting two alicorns halfway across the continent, jumping over a millennium, walking a weary path in her friend's memory, and learning an invisibility spell.

Her friends excused themselves one by one to go to their homes to rest, stumbling with their own exhaustion. By the time she arrived at the library, only Spike and Starswirl remained. “Did you want to come in?” she offered politely.

“Hrm?” Starswirl said, snapping out of whatever thought he was lost in. “No, I... have some goodbyes of my own to say.” He looked at his hourglass cutie mark, adding, “I think no matter what happens tomorrow, my time here is almost at an end.”

“Do you... suppose we shall meet again?” Twilight asked.

“I wouldn't think so, but I suppose just about anything is possible.” He turned to leave, taking a couple steps before he stopped. “For what it's worth, Twilight Sparkle, my someday descendant, I'm proud to have known you.” He opened his mouth again as if to say something else, then closed it, nodding to himself.

“Wow, you obviously made quite an impression!” Spike said excitedly as they close the library door behind them. Twilight smiled lightly to herself as she walked, across the worn wooden floor and up their stairs. Spike continued to talk in excited tones, and she nodded at him, but she had only one goal in mind. She pulled back the covers, collapsed into her own bed, and fell asleep.

* * *

The next afternoon, they arrived in Dodge Junction, getting off the train to find Fluttershy and Iris Dash already waiting for them. The ride had passed in relative silence, everypony well rested, but anxious.

“Firebane has agreed to do as we ask,” Iris Dash said. “It's a good plan,” she said reassuringly, though the concern in her eyes showed her own worry.

Celestia's guards followed them as far as the edge of town, but they stayed behind to reinforce the defenses. If things went poorly, Dodge Junction would bear the brunt first. Halfway to the border into the badlands, Rainbow Dash took to the air and landed on the top of one of the nearby natural stone formations, then returned quickly. “I can see dust clouds ahead.”

“That's them,” Iris Dash said. “They weren't so far into the badlands to begin with, and they'd have moved closer with the need to constantly send expeditions out.”

“Is everypony ready, then?” Starswirl asked, squinting into the distance ahead of them. When silence followed, he added, “no, I suppose not. Well, here we go anyway.”

* * *

Chrysalis sat on her cold but serviceable throne. The changelings had done a fair job carving her a temporary kingdom out of the barren rock and stone of the Badlands, but it lacked the warmth that Canterlot would have provided, not to mention the sparseness of food. She shivered, rising, as she was about to ascend out of their artificial valley to see if they couldn't find some casual passers-by or expeditions to feed off of. Ponykind pushes out further every day, so being here has its rewards, even if it has its risks.

A sudden commotion at the entrance of the valley caught her attention. Some of the drones buzzing in that direction were forcefully pushed back, flying through the air. More drones interceded, but they were falling faster than they could be replaced so that the din of the struggle became closer. Soon, Chrysalis would see for herself who was assaulting her hive. As if I need to guess.

Within moments, she was thoughts were confirmed. “Ah, Twilight Sparkle! And you brought your friends. Welcome to the the seat of my monarchy's power!”

“A broken monarchy, Chrysalis,” Twilight Sparkle retorted, the tone grating on Chrysalis' ears. “We know you've got a faction that's left you.”

“It means nothing!” Chrysalis said, hoping her voice carried the absolute confidence that she didn't really have. “A few stray miscreants. And nothing has changed that would enable you to best my army.” The mass of the drones settled to the ground between Chrysalis and the ponies.

“It has, because we have these,” Twlight glanced upward at her crown, “and you can't get between us and them this time.”

Chrysalis maintained her poise even as she felt a shiver down her spine. She surveyed the line carefully, and managed to not change her expression or have her eyes linger as they past over the Dashes. Perhaps I can, Twilight Sparkle, she thought smugly.

“Okay, girls,” Twilight Sparkle signaled. “Let's do this!” Her crown began to glow, and then all of the Elements of Harmony began to glow in turn... including the one held jointly between the two Dashes.

No, Chambin, are you... it cannot be! Suddenly, Chrysalis' own fear and doubt closed in on her, the caustic taste in her mouth once again. She would never have thought Chambin could betray her, but she felt that of Faerbin as well. If my elites were still here, they wouldn't have even made it this far. What remains will have to do. “Changelings, protect me!”

Just as the elements combined their powers and shot forward its multicolored beam of light towards Chrysalis, her changeling army took flight, constantly shifting their pattern to block the oncoming blast. They could barely resist it for seconds before falling to the ground, stunned. Chrysalis stepped backwards slowly, step by step as the beam grew ever closer. They are tired, poorly fed. She could have almost touched it now, as she felt her flank bump into the rocks behind her. She could take flight, but she decided against it. It would buy mere seconds. No, better to go this way. She stood tall, regal, as she could feel the edges of it dance against her flesh.

Then it stopped.

It didn't fade, and nothing additional blocked it. It was just suddenly gone. Over the masses of her dazed troops, she looked to her assailants and saw that only one of the rainbow-maned ponies had the element now, fastened firmly around her neck. The other was covered with dust where she had been pushed to the ground. Chambin!

“Sorry if I concerned you, Your Supreme Majesty,” Chambin said, grinning wickedly. “It had to be convincing, and they should be exhausted after that.”

“Too exhausted to escape us,” a voice came from above, as another group of ponies descended by flight from the surrounding terrain or ran down the valley behind the commotion. They quickly took places around the ponies menacingly, blocking their escape and grabbing hold of the pegasi to keep them grounded. One of them, a mirror of Fluttershy, split off from the group and flew over to the Chrysalis bowing. “The rebellion was all just a ruse, my queen, a plan Chambin and I came up with. If they thought you were vulnerable, they would attack. We apologize for withholding the details, but we figured the performance would be more... authentic.”

Chrysalis laughed, delighted, as she simultaneously scowled at her captured foe. “Faerbin, I cursed your name many times these past few days, but you have brought me a wonderful gift.” Her smile twisted with maniacal glee as she turned towards Twilight Sparkle, then she furrowed her brow. She should be afraid, or confused. She looks more like she's... waiting. “Why don't you two, and the other elites, rejoin with me, so we may fully share with you the feast we will extract from these ponies?”

* * *

Uh-Oh. She must sense something's up. Twlight Sparkle saw the brief hesitation in Faerbin's eyes, and she was sure that Chrysalis would have seen it, too.

“I know you've found a way to feed without me,” Chrysalis said, green tendrils of magic slowly rising from her, twisting about. Twlight found herself having to carefully sidestep to avoid them. “And I won't put a stop to it. But if you are really still with us, that strength must be shared.”

“B-but my queen,” Faerbin said, her eyes darting nervously, “What if the prisoners escape while our guard is down? Wouldn't it be best to deal with them first?”

“Where could they go?” Chrysalis snapped. “Without their precious Elements of Harmony, and all alone, they will not make it beyond our reach.”

Just a little longer. Twilight moved forward just a little, inch by inch. She remembered that this was exactly what Faerbin and Chamberlain were worried about. If they share in the feeding, they may lose themselves, become one with her will again...

“Of course... my queen,” Faerbin lowered her head, landing from flight with a bow, waiting still as the tendrils of magic from Chrysalis caressed her. The other elites looked to each other and followed suit. Finally, Iris Dash, too, bowed, awaiting, her eyes darting to Rainbow Dash with a wink.

Rainbow turned to the others and nodded, before she began struggling to get loose. The others started struggling as well to create a distraction and finally Rainbow Dash got loose, grabbing Iris and pulling her out of the way just before the sinuous tendrils made contact.

“Traitor!” Rainbow Dash yelled. “How could you do this, after all we've been through? After the way we were friends.” She pushed Iris Dash yet again, further from the feeding.

Twilight could see the light leaving Faerbin's eyes, and then the others that had followed her. She's giving up everything to give us a chance. Twilight eked forward just a little more, doubling her efforts in an attempt to honor the faith Faerbin –no, Firebane – had placed in her. She's made up for doubting me all those years ago.

“Friends?” Iris Dash said with contempt. “What good is your friendship? What did it gain me besides the love I needed to stay alive?” She moved forward assertively, moving away just a little further from the tendrils following her. “You ponies like to pretend you're better than changelings, but in all reality you just feed off it, too. Pretending your friends mean something because they have a use to you, or amuse you.” She looked to each of them as she spoke. “We need it to live, what's your excuse?”

“If you're quite finished,” Twilight Sparkle said, eying the tendril of green carefully as it eked past her, closing in on Iris Dash quickly. “I am done being ignored. Look at me, over here.” She turned to Chrysalis, looking her right in the eyes. The queen had descended into a partial trance while she reconnected with her elites, and she regarded Twilight with bemused eyes. “Your time is up. Now or never, Twilight Sparkle!”

Chrysalis only had a second to be confused before the Twilight that she was looking at shimmered and shifted, a strange brown unicorn in a pointed hat in her place. “But.. impossible, you wielded the element!”

“Just borrowing it, this time, Chryssie,” Starswirl swaggered. “But I mean it. Now, Twilight.”

Sweat on her brow, Twilight dropped the invisibility spell, having crept as close to the queen as she could during the battle and the exchanges. I'll just have to chance it from here. No longer creeping along to keep the invisibility intact, her horn flared to its fullest as she charged into the queen. “Princess Chrysalis, remember! Though it may pain thee, remember!”

* * *

Chrysalis gasped as the spell hit her, and the tendrils disappeared almost instantly. Buzzing and confusion came from the changelings around them. Even the elites, reverted to their previous changeling states, recovered quickly, sensing a threat to their queen. They charged at Twilight, only to bounce against a powerful shield.

“I can't hold it for very long.” Starswirl cried. “Everypony, buy as much time as you can!” The others burst furiously from their captors.

“My turn, then,” Iris Dash said. She focused in her mind and brought forth the spell that she knew more intimately than anypony. If I had only never felt the need be somepony I was not. She carefully recalled the old memory, the image of the pony in her... his mind. He concentrated through the din of his friends fighting around him, never doubting for a moment they would keep him safe, give him the time he needed. There, he finished forming the image in his mind, then smiled bitterly to himself. And if only I'd known then that hurting you a bit would have saved you from this tragedy. He pulled the spell over himself in a blinding flash of transformation, opening his eyes as the sounds dissipated.

“Why are they slowin' down?” Applejack asked, bucking a changeling that was attempting to disrupt Starswirl.

“They're still linked to her,” Starswirl said, dodging as Pinkie Pie shot a a wad of confetti at a changeling on the other side of him, knocking it into another that was attacking the shield wall around Chrysalis and Twilight. “It's confusing them.”

Chamberlain turned his new form towards the scene, and his eyes widened. Inside the shield that flickered with each attack, he could make out not his queen, but his princess, slowly restoring herself. As her memories flood back in, she's finding her way back to her true form. This might actually work. He stepped into place, trying not to waver in resolve as he could hear within the shield.

“No!” Chrysalis sobbed. “Please, no. It cannot... I cannot.”

Suddenly, the shield around them vanished, and Chamberlain glanced back. Starswirl was glancing down at his own flank, a startled look on his face. The hourglass was empty. “Good luck, old friends!” He was fading from view quickly as he added, “Oh! And tell Celestia the other-” but the space where he was standing was empty, the element of magic drifting down into the dust.

“I don't want to remember!” Chrysalis shouted. “I cannot be without him!” Chamberlain turned to look again, and Twilight Sparkle was protecting herself now in a shield. The lovely alicorn princess that he had served all those years ago was pressing toward the shielded unicorn with fierce eyes and her horn aglow, still a sickly green as vestiges of the changeling enchantment remained.

“Without me, dear heart?” Chamberlain spoke with a voice that was not his own. A voice he always disliked the tone of. Or was it just jealousy?

Chrysalis turned immediately to face him. “Cocoon, my love?” There was such longing in her eyes, Chamberlain swallowed hard. No! No time for bitterness. Only the lie. Or, the truth. He smiled, the warmest smile he could with the face of her dead prince. He let all the love, all the tenderness that he had felt for her fill his eyes. He watched hers respond in kind, flaring with a pink hue briefly, reengaging the love spell that had never released its hold on her.

Chamberlain opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, Chrysalis darted in, placing her head tenderly against his neck. He lowered his head onto hers, pulling her into the embrace. Then, she suddenly pulled back, smiling coyly. “Thou art different than I recall.”

For a moment he nearly panicked until he realized she was staring at his sides. He turned and nearly gasped himself. How could I have gotten that wrong?! He flapped the silver wings tentatively, wings that the simple unicorn prince never possessed. “I- I was under such a deep spell, it kept me away from thee so for long. But thy love, it has transformed me!” He smiled convincingly.

Everypony was frozen in place, while Chrysalis contemplated the statement, rubbing her chin with one hoof.. Chamberlain looked over to Rainbow Dash. Of course, the wings just felt natural. Some part of me will always think so, now.

“Oh, dear Cocoon,” Chrysalis said at last. “I would love thee with or without wings or a horn, so long as I never need leave thy side again!”

“And here is one more thing we can share, my heart!” Chamberlain said, taking to the skies with a few hard flaps of his wings. “Even in the air, we can be together! Come, catch me, my heart!” He took off as fast as he could, looking back with a smile, but avoiding eye contact just the same. It will certainly help with this. I need only stay ahead of her for an hour.

* * *

“Wait for me, sweet prince!” Chrysalis launched herself skyward, heaving with her ornate wings as she followed more quickly than Twilight Sparkle expected. Chamberlain has quite a flight ahead of him, I think.

“So, there's nothing more for us to do here, then, is there, sugarcube?” Applejack asked.

“No, it's in his hooves now,” Twilight Sparkle sighed. Rarity carefully lifted the hat out of the dust and back atop Twilight's head, where it once again became her familiar tiara.

“Uhm Twilight,” Fluttershy said. “Shouldn't the changelings be changing back? I thought their spell was tied to her?”

“They probably will once the love potion is broken,” Twilight responded, “I think since that was the reason that she used the changeling spell, the two became intertwined as she... changed.” She glanced around, suddenly aware of the reason for Fluttershy's alarm. The confusion of her memory restoration, and her change back to her true form had stunned them briefly. Now, they were recovering, and the angry buzz of their wings seemed to be amplifying as more and more off them took to the air.

“Get in close, girls!” Twilight called, putting up a shield around them as the approached. “Closer, and don't move!” Her horn glowed brighter as she dropped the invisibility spell over the shield.

“Were they coming after us?” Pinkie Pie asked, as she aimed and reaimed her party cannon, trying to evaluate the nearest threat.

“No, they're going to be looking for her,” Fluttershy answered before Twilight could. “The hive needs its queen.” As if in response to her words, the changelings suddenly exploded into a flurry of motion, each flying in different directions, bouncing off their makeshift hive, tearing it to pieces as they went.

“Why are they doing that?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I don't....” Twilight began. “They can't sense her! They're still linked to her, but it's so weak they don't know where.”

“That's good, right?” Pinkie Pie said hopefully.

“Sugarcube, look around!” Applejack pointed to the destruction around them, which seemed to spread as the changelings whirled in larger circles toward the top of the valley. “They'll keep doing that to anything and anypony they run across until they find her, does that seem good?”

“Oh, Ri-ight,” Pinkie Pie responded, nodding.

“So, we'll just lead them to her,” Twilight Sparkle said.

“But aren't they just as likely in this state to interfere with Chamberlain breaking the spell?” Rarity countered.

“You're right,” Twilight looked at the destruction. “We've got to contain them somehow.” She bit her lip nerviously.

* * *

Celestia slipped to the side of the tall pillar as Rainbow Dash flew up and landed on it. Fortunately, the pegasus' eyes were focused in the distance, so that she did not see the princess' hoof marks in the dirt. She remained only a moment before darting back down. “I can see dust clouds ahead,” Celestia could just hear as the pegasus darted back to the ground below.

Celestia sighed as she retook her perch. “So, it's all over, at last,” she said calmly to herself. “I've lived long enough to see it through.”

“Is that why thou hast lived all this time, Tia?” Luna's voice surprised her. Celestia turned quickly to see her sister landing regally beside her, eyes filled with tender sympathy. “How long has it been since thou hast left the castle without your guards, dear sister? It did not take me long to discern where thou were heading.”

Celestia turned away from the soft expression, towards the group that was slowly making its way to the opening of the changeling gorge. “I lived all this time, Luna, because I did. Everything that's happened was what I knew would happen. Well, more or less. Starswirl gave me exactly enough to go on. But that's over, now.”

“So, thou has no idea what happens now?” Luna said, smiling slowly. “Then why are thou here?”

“Starswirl left when the results were still... in doubt. I'm here to do whatever it takes to help. Even if it costs my life.”

“I see,” said Luna softly. “So thou art giving up?”

“What?”

“Dear sister, you have spent a long time in a prison. Believe me, I know.” She smiled, and still, no bitterness. “There were no walls, and no bars across the windows, but thou had always to answer to the march of time. Eventually, thou stopped resenting it. It was certainty. It was comfort, when thou had none. And now, thou art free. And the openness terrifies thee.”

Celestia frowned, opening her mouth to retort, but she looked into her sister's eyes, and closed her mouth again. Nothing was said that she could dispute. “How do you do it? How did she do it?”

“Do what, Tia?”

“Your first words to me, when you returned to yourself, were to beg apology. When the weight of my burden became too much last evening, I thrust that burden angrily on my pupil... my friend.” Celestia shuddered. “And she, too asked forgiveness for it. How can either of you still love me, when even now, I've asked no forgiveness for my deeds?!”

“Dear Tia,” Luna said softly. “Thou did what thou always do, what thou had to do. Thou gave the future of Equestria, of the Three Kingdoms, a fighting chance. And Twily and I will not forsake it for pettiness.”

Celestia leaned into her sister, embracing her with a fierce pride. I'm such a foal. She is ready.

“And,” Luna added, smirking at her sister, suddenly straining, sweat on her brow, “Aunt Armonia lived to be 1,800. I read thy memoirs on her. Thou are not leaving us anytime soon.” Suddenly, the moon unmistakably pierced the horizon, taking its place beside the sun. “So no more playing the martyr, dear sister.”

“You raised it the old fashioned way,” Celestia said, nodding appreciably. “Very well, then.” Celestia's horn and eyes glowed, and the sun suddenly seemed a little hotter, a little brighter. “Let the Sisters De Canterlot show Equestria what their united strength can do!”

“Oh, cousins!” a familiar voice suddenly startled the sisters, as the familiar Chrysalis that they had known ages before stood before them. She has changed not at all. The years have done nothing to her. “Did thou see? My prince lives, and he is an alicorn now!”

“He's what?” Luna said in surprise, before glancing upward at the airborne form of Cocoon.

“But, of course, thou already knew,” Chrysalis pointed to the sun and moon side by side in the sky. “Oh, cousins, thanks for the brilliant sky as a gift at our reunion!” Before the bewildered sisters could comment, an eager, enchanted Chrysalis could sit still no longer, taking to the air after Chamberlain, towards the north.

“They did it, then, Tia?” Luna finally asked after a moment of stunned silence.

“Perhaps,” Celestia answered, pointing a hoof towards the valley as the din of destruction rose to a level that they could hear in the distance. “But it looks like we're right where we need to be. This pass leads out of the Badlands into Equestria.”

“Then we shall hold it, for our subjects,” Luna agreed, lowering her head and summoning her magic to her. It seemed to flare all around her.

Celestia did the same, and it felt stronger that it had in weeks. Luna's right. I am free. She gazed fiercely ahead at the oncoming whirlwind of changelings. And I will survive to enjoy it. She felt the magic course through her, tingling everywhere. She lifted from a single saddlebag the light crystal that she had kept for over a thousand years, levitating it over between herself and her sister. She crossed horns with it, then looked expectantly to Luna.

Luna smiled, crossing her horn with the crystal, and with her sister's horn, and the magic arched between the three. A vast shield wall swept out from them, ground to sky, and along the edges of the badlands as far as they could see. The changeling wave reached it, battering uselessly against it.

* * *

“Too fast, my love!” Chrysalis shouted, and her tone sounded breathless. Chamberlain slowed slightly as he glanced back, but Chrysalis darted forward coyly when he did, forcing him to change direction sharply swerving at a downward angle so that Chrysalis would hit a thermal current.

You foal, don't let up! He absently pulled out his pocket watch and checked it discreetly. If she sees I have it, it will remind her of Chamberlain. Only half the hour was spent. As he tucked it away, he suddenly realized that if he had it, he was still holding the Element of Loyalty. Rainbow Dash! I'm sorry, friends. I hope you have no need of it...

“Ha!” Chrysalis said suddenly, startling him out of his reverie as she dove out of a could ahead. He changed direction quickly, flying close to her, right by and into the cloud himself. The sudden direction changes started to make his wings ache. I've done way cooler moves when I was Iris Dash, but this shape just isn't the same... Still, I can't take a chance, I have to stay in this form. He took deep breaths as he emerged above the clouds, trying to shut off the creeping fiery sensations in his muscles. I can do this. He went into a dead dive, back through the cloud, laughing with a feigned joy, so the sound of his laughter would draw the princess back through the cloud.

* * *

“They are fierce,things, Tia!” Luna said panting.

“We can hold them,” Celestia said in monotone, shaking her head slightly to keep the sweat from her eyes, adding, “and they will be ponies again.”

“Tia! Look!” As the swarm recoiled for another strike against the shield, they stumbled back across the valley they had sheltered in. It had been scarred and battered one too many times, and finally it couldn't hold itself anymore. The walls began to slide down into the valley, a thunderous chain reaction that made the valley almost swallow itself up.

“No! I will not lose them!” Celestia wavered only slightly, and a few cracks appeared in the shield wall as the changelings smashed against it. Her eyes burned with a stinging sensation. She glared at the next wave. “If they get through, retreat to Dodge Junction,” she said, her voice heavy.

“But-”

“Princesses, I'm so glad to see you here!” Twilight Sparkle's voice suddenly intoned behind them.

“Twilight! We were worried,” Celestia said.

“We're all here, including some old friends,” Twilight stepped forward, her other friends behind her as she stepped into sight. Neither princess dared to drop their focus for a moment. Next to appear in their peripheral vision was a group of unicorns, most of whom Celestia didn't recognize, and one in particular that she did.

“Welcome back, Firebane,” Celestia greeted her. “though these are not quite the happier times I had hoped for.”

“Not yet,” Firebane acknowledged, bowing deeply, “but the promise of it may yet bear fruit.”

“The unicorns regained their minds first,” Twilight Sparkle explained. “And the spell seems to have left them. So, they're here to help me take over this shield wall.”

“Twilight, we should be able to hold it, get everypony to safety,” Celestia ordered.

“Tia,” Twilight said, turning to look at Celestia, her face unreadable. “I'm not asking as your student. I'm asking as your friend. Please. Let us help.”

“We could use a rest, sister,” Luna urged her. Finally, Celestia nodded.

“The memory of being a changeling is already hazy,” Firebane said, “but I think we've learned a trick that may aid thee, Twilight Sparkle.” The group of unicorns lead by Firebane focused, their horns glowing brightly. The magic light slowly crept from their horns, wafting tendrils, moving as if carried on the wind. All the tendrils intersected above Twilight's head, swirling above her crown.

“It might be enough,” Twilight admitted. She brought her own magic to bear, Rarity stepping to her side, intersecting her own horn, offering what little power she could add. “Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, I'm going to make the shield so that you can get through. Some of the changelings in flight are earth ponies, and may need your help as they regain themselves.” The pegasi nodded. “Applejack, Pinkie Pie, I'm going to put you on the ground... do what you can to help them understand. They're still going to be a little confused.”

“Okie Dokie Loki!” Pinkie Pie responded as Applejack nodded firmly.

“Everypony... now!” the tendrils dove into Twilight as she took over the shield, teleporting the earth ponies to the ground below. The pegasi darted out, staying just beyond the changeling's reach as they waited to rescue them.

Celestia carefully considered her friend as dropped the spell herself, stumbling slightly, then she levitated the light crystal so it intersected with the tendrils of magic from the Aurelian unicorns. Twilight's crown flared to life, the Element of Magic stirred by the excess presence of raw magic.

The changelings gathered their mass and smashed against the shield again. Despite the collective magic being channeled into the shield, the cracks widened slightly.

“Twily!” Celestia called out. “The crystal, it connects directly with the palace of the Crystal Empire. They are all one!”

There was a brief pause, then, “Got it!” A single pulse of light formed around the crystal, then lashed out as a single laser, stretching itself razor thin toward an unseen goal to the north. Moments later, a much wider stream responded, striking the crystal. Twilight's eyes became suffused with light as the cracks in the shield began to repair themselves.

“Got some ponies snapping out of it!” Rainbow Dash yelled, darting forward to catch some earth ponies that had suddenly appeared from the mass, tumbling toward the ground, Fluttershy barely a single flap behind her.

“Tia!” Twilight called, her voice reverberating with the strength of the magic that she was guiding. “I think I can hold it for few more waves, but it won't be enough... unless, how long would it take you and Luna to push the sun and moon just below the horizon?”

“A few minutes, only,” Luna answered first, responding in like volume. She looked to Celestia, who shrugged slightly in confusion.

“Start now, then,” Twilight called, bracing the magic around her as the changelings barrage battered against the shield again, a few more ponies escaping the enchantment.

* * *

Physical exhaustion wasn't all that was straining against Chamberlain as he panted, quickly dodging through the thorny bushes of ghastly gorge to buy himself just a little distance from the princess. The spell was never meant for a mere unicorn to support the vast power of an alicorn's form.

He glanced backward quickly, making sure to avoid direct eye contact. He sighed, dodging up the sides of the gorge, suddenly taking his flight path low and between the trees. No helping it, there's no way I could have kept this far ahead and other way.

He took a moment to check the watch. Almost time now. Time for the greatest deception. He changed direction yet again, making a sharp ascent. Chrysalis saw him and was just a few yards behind him, and closing.

His lungs burning, his wings feeling leaden, and his horn dimming, her could feel the breeze of her wings flapping as she slowly pulled alongside him. “My dear prince, thou art a fair bit more fit than I recall thee,” she teased between her own ragged breaths.

He glanced sideways at the watch as he slowed. He had done it, the hour had passed. Now, the hard part. He closed his eyes, turned toward her, and then thought of everything he had been through. No, everything everypony had been through. I have to do this. For me, for my love, for my friends. I can do this.

He slowly opened his eyes, staring at the alcorn he has always loved, but he met her gaze with a cold, passionless stare. Not a look of scorn, or disdain, either – simply one of utter indifference. The same look that used to infuriate Chamberlain so much. He certainly knew it well enough to mimic it. But will it be enough?

At first, Chrysalis drew back slightly, as if stung. Then, she came closer again, as if seeing him for the first time. “No, that is thee... isn't it?” She sighed, the pink hue leaving her eyes, and the last tint of green aura from her horn drifting away on an errant air current, scattered like a handful of sand tossed into an ocean, until it was no more.

“It's done, then,” Chamberlain sighed, smiling crookedly. A coldness crept through him as his own changeling spell fell away, his magic finally and throughly exhausted. His wingless form began its decent, away from his princess. Before he disappeared into the cloud below them, he called to her, “forgive me.”

* * *

Twilight felt it like a tingling running up her spine the moment the spell broke, which she could only note briefly was impressive considering how much tingled with the magic she was carrying. I think I'm tingling in my shadow, and three inches from my skin.

“Ohmygosh! We're gonna need a little more help!” Rainbow Dash called out as all at once, all the remaining changelings regained their old pony forms. Earth ponies, disoriented pegasi, and even a few weaker unicorns that remained in sway until the end, became a jumbled mess plummeting towards the ground.

“Luna! Tia! Now!” Twilight called, and even though it was not in the direction that she was looking, she could feel the celestial bodies drop below the horizon.

The pulse that arose in her was massive. The light that suffused her eyes and crown spread along every inch of her body. Even still, it was more than she could contain, and it swept outward into her mane and tail, which were suddenly aflame with power. Even as she became aware of it, she only had seconds to act.

Ponies about to hit the ground suddenly vanished, reappearing safely upright and motionless on the ground, albeit even more disoriented than an instant before. I have to catch them. The frequency became greater and greater, as she quickly read even the minutia of their life force, plucking them out of the air, and setting them safely down, one by one.

“Twilight,” Celestia whispered in her ear. Twilight was aware of her friend and mentor be her side, even as the vortex of magic that was emptying into Twilight singed the princess.

“I have to save them,” Twilight strained to speak between her teeth, as if the magic might leak out if she opened her mouth too wide. She didn't stop her constant teleporting as she spoke.

“Twily,” Celestia whispered again, her tone plaintive, but firm. “That's the last of them. Let go.”

“I –“ Twilight felt the heat in her mane and tail in earnest now. “I can't –“ Finally, she folded the magic vortex back in on itself, and it collapsed almost instantly. So did Twilight, and the last thing she felt before she lost consciousness was Celestia's head supporting her, warm and familiar.

* * *

As he plummeted towards the ground, his eyes closed, he held in his mind the last he saw of Chrysalis. Her mane was wind-tossed from the flight, and her face and eyes were sad, but they were her own. Finally, completely, her own. He smiled happily, waiting for the cold ground to meet him.

Instead, hooves wrapped around him, startling him into opening his eyes, finding he was staring deeply into Chrysalis' own dual-green eyes.

Neither of them spoke for a moment while Chrysalis caught her breath. Finally, she said, “it was thee, all along, was it not?”

He started to nod, but then he realized her meaning was deeper than just his ruse. A tenderness in her voice. “It was. Always.”

She nodded, too, almost before he answered. She moved in closer, the tip of her horn just touching his. “Is it... is it all right that I miss him, Chamberlain?”

He leaned in closer. I've kept my promise well enough, Lord Sombra “Of course,” he answered firmly. He hesitated a moment, before boldly continuing, “Chrysalis?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for saving me.”

She smiled softly. “And thank you for saving me.”

Epilogue

Dear Princess Celestia,

It was a long, rough journey for everypony involved, but I'm happy to report the whole affair ended happily. Princess Chrysalis and Chamberlain gathered the Aurelian ponies, and, with generous aid and an escort from Canterlot, as well as food stores supplied by Sweet Apple Acres, began the slow trek to the south to rebuild Aurelia. Firebane is headed in that direction as well, but only after she searches for an old friend in the wilds. After all, dragons live a very long time.

The farewells were heartfelt and tearful, not the least of which was Rainbow Dash and her once-double... though she'll never admit it. He returned the Element of Loyalty into her care without a question, and his excitement as she tried to distract from the tears by describing her newest flight routine is proof that his time with us has left an indelible mark.

Indeed, most of the Aurelian ponies remember very little of their time as changelings, so they had to become accustomed to the passage of time. Their amazement at the idea of a steam locomotive and their reactions to the changes in fashion and speech were entertaining to behold. Rarity has promised to open a speech training class for any unicorns wishing to convert to “modern parlance.”

But most of all, what I learned was that a real friendship, even a brief one, can endure any test of time, even ages, and and trials, even the harshest trials history has to offer.

“Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia admonished. “First of all, aren't you supposed to be resting, and second, why write me a letter when I'm right here?”

Twilight looked up past Spike, who was dutifully scripting her dictation as Celestia ascended the library stairs into Twilight's bedroom. “Oh, Princess, welcome! I'd gotten so used to writing those letters to you, I find it helps me organize my thoughts sometimes. Besides, this is very important history. We owe it to future generations of ponies to record the events as carefully as we can. Plus, ” she added, “I was unconscious for a week, and that was a month ago. I think I'm well rested enough. My mane has nearly grown enough that I can get the last singed parts trimmed out.”

“I suppose a walk would do you some good,” Celestia agreed. “Would you accompany me?”

Twilight stood quickly. “Yes!” she answered with an enthusiasm that made them both laugh. They left the library and walked out toward the edge of the Everfree.

“Princess, may I ask you a question?” Twilight finally asked.

“There are certain questions that as Princess, I cannot answer,” Celestia answered sagely. “But as Tia, I can surely make exceptions.” Her eyes glinted with mischief, reminding Twilight Sparkle of the young princess.

“Well then, Tia, Luna mentioned there were other reasons... her imprisonment was a benefit.”

Celestia sighed. “It will come up soon enough. Twilight, when the three kingdoms were formed, they were never supposed to remain as kingdoms. You see, that was the old way, with the unicorns ruling. Equestria – and the Crystal Empire and Aurelia, too – were founded after the different kinds of ponies united. The nobility was only supposed to rule long enough for something different to replace it. All ponykind ruling together.”

“I don't recall ever reading anything about that,” Twilight said, considering Celestia's words.

“No, after everything Equestria went through, and being the last and only kingdom of ponykind, we extended the rule out of emergency, until pretty much everypony forgot it wasn't supposed to be that way.” She stopped moving along the path and turned to face Twilight. “Even in the lie, I tried to rule in a way that would benefit all ponykind.” When Twilight nodded reassuringly, she continued. “Now, we have the other two kingdoms back, and for most of them, little time has passed. The promise to them is fresh and unforgotten.”

They sat there for a while, staring into the depths of the Everfree quietly for a while before turning back towards town. “Twily,” Celestia said softly. “alicorns live a long time, but not forever, and Equestria has a need for the nobility to continue, in a way they have become accustomed to, even should it be in my absence.” Seeing the concern in Twilight's eyes, she added hastily, “Don't worry! I'm fine right now. Maybe even better. Having no edicts from the past or future has been... liberating.”

“So, if Luna had aged alongside you... but instead she had 1,000 years without aging,” Twilight added. “Still, that's quite a price for both of you to pay.”

“On its own, it wouldn't have been worth it,” Celestia admitted, “but Starswirl was right not to warn me. Luna will need your help, too, if you're willing?”

“If I'm willing? Tia, you know I'd always be willing, for either of you. Both as a faithful subject, and as a friend.”

“I think it will be a hard road. Change often is.” Celestia smiled. “But I should get back before the new Captain of the Guard thinks he's misplaced me again. And you shouldn't push yourself too hard for a while.”

Twilight almost bowed out of habit, then chuckled lightly. “Change is difficult sometimes.” She placed her hoof against Celestia's and said, “See you soon, Tia.”

As she watched the princess fly away, she surveyed Ponyville around her. Yes, the town seemed busier all the time. Change is difficult, but it comes to us all, whether we like it or not. Her eyes caught a glipse of Lyra and Bon-Bon out for a walk, chatting with Minuette in front of Sugarcube corner. She furrowed her brow at the hourglass cutie mark, recalling Starswirl's last words. “The other...” She shrugged, then trotted towards the library, eager to research forms of government and write up some proposals as quickly as possible.

After all, time waits for nopony.

The Mission

“Curse her, it's not fair!” Chrysalis wailed, stomping her hoof against the dry soil, stirring a cloud of dust. Of course, in The Badlands, there were few other options – dry soil and rocks, mostly, with tall spires of rocks interspersed throughout. She resisted the urge to cough, trying to keep her royal demeanor.

“If I may, Your Supreme Majesty, you did defeat her.” The changeling that addressed her bowed deeply, and even though he was obscured slightly behind the kicked-up dust, she saw the two hairs of his mane that remained a pale shade of cyan. “You shamed her in front of her court, and her most beloved ponies.”

“It's of little comfort, Chambin,”she retorted, “until she has suffered as I have!” She paused and smiled at her closest servant. “When I see Princess Celestia stripped of Equestria, and forced to wander the world in shame, only then will I rejoice!”

“What about finding a stable food source?” another changeling added. Chambin gave a sideways look of warning.

“I don't see why we can't have both, Faerbin,” the queen replied, her eyes narrowing so slightly that the changeling failed to notice. “Once we have thwarted her, her kingdom will be in such disarray that we can easily blend in and feed anywhere in Equestria.”

“The elites should have no problem with that,” Faerbin replied, brushing her hoof against the small tuft of red mane that did not match the pure black of the common changeling, “but the others have trouble maintaining the change indefinitely.” Chrysalis frowned pensively, her eyes narrowing further.

“If I may add, Your Supreme Majesty,” Chambin ventured, “There is still the problem of her guardians.”

“She cannot keep Shining Armor and that wretched Cadence by her forever,” Chrysalis snapped.

“Even so, I didn't mean those ones, Milady. Your cunning strategy, reserving the elites to keep the bearers of the Elements of Harmony away from their power worked this time,” Chambin managed to keep it sincere even while thinking it was luck more than anything, “but I fear they will be better prepared in any future confrontation.”

“Yes, that Twilight Sparkle especially irks me!” Chrysalis shouted, stamping again. “She was the downfall of all my planning! If there was a way to cause personal pain to her in all of this, it would make my victory all the more satisfying.”

“She relies on and protects her closest friends above all else,” Faerbin mused. “Hurting them would be the best way to hurt her.”

“Yes!” said Chrysalis, her eyes aglow. “And they are the other bearers as well. How it would utterly destroy her if they betrayed her.”

“I don't think–” Chambin began.

“No, I know they wouldn't.” Chrysalis anticipated the objection. “But if they were changelings, they could betray her at a crucial moment, and stop the Elements of Harmony from working at the same time. Oh, the look on her face would be priceless!” Chrysalis' distant expression gave away that she was playing it out in her mind, as she cackled slightly to herself.

“But milady,” Chambin objected, “If she could tell that you, our Queen and Supreme Ruler, wasn't somepony that she hadn't seen in years, how could anypony hope to fool her about her closest friends?”

“They would have to be very good at it, dear Chambin,” she mused, moving closer to him. “The best, in fact.” She leaned in very close and looked him directly in the eyes as she mused this.

“B-but... milady,” Chambin stammered, “as your closest personal guard–”

“We are on the edge of barren lands, Chambin, and far from the entrance to Tartarus. Neither pony nor beast is likely to seek us out here. No,” she stood and looked across the sand where her changelings were busily burrowing a new den into the sands, “It must be you. Oh, and take Faerbin with you as well.”

“Me!?” Faerbin had been smiling silently Chambin was dismissed, and was caught off guard when she was drawn in. “Why me?”

“Can you recommend better elite changelings than you two, Faerbin?” Chrysalis snapped.

“I... I suppose not.” Faerbin replied, raising her head. It was Chambin's turn to chuckle inwardly. Faerbin's pride committed her to this mission more than Chrysalis' command ever could.

“Then go!” Chrysalis commanded. “Study them, become them, replace them! Return to me only with a message of your success.” Chambin and Faerbin both bowed deeply and took flight to the north.

* * *

“Are we sure this will work?” Faerbin asked they hid at the edge of the Everfree Forest. “I fear our Queen has become blinded by her need for vengeance.”

“I will not question her orders, Faerbin,” Chambin replied. “Our queen is ever vigilant in her protection of her people.” He couldn't help but being concerned - if Chrysalis herself could not emulate Cadence well enough, how could they possibly hope to? It nagged at him that she seemed to do so well at it until Twilight Sparkle showed up. She knew Cadence wouldn't have been so cold to Twilight Sparkle, so why couldn't she keep up the ruse? “Let's just not underestimate the bearer of the Element of Magic,” he suggested aloud.

“Right,” said Faerbin. “So, who are we?”

“Well, I've been thinking. The pink one is always with her friends, so there'd be almost no chance to perfect her character without being discovered.”

“Pinkie Pie, you mean. Don't know why she picked you, you've not been in the field for too long.”

“I'll catch up fast,” Chambin retorted, trying to hide his own doubts. “The white one... Rarity?” He awaited a confirming nod from Faerbin, while he tried to remember the reports. “She's likewise constantly planning events or working with customers.”
“Applejack has too much family too close,” Faerbin continued the thought. “That leaves Fluttershy, right on the edge of town, and Rainbow Dash, who is often practicing or napping out of view.”

“Kindness and Loyalty. I've never been very fond of animals in general, why don't you take Fluttershy?”

“What? Are you questioning my loyalty? Besides, you're not the most athletic.”

“Well, shall we race, then? Around that tree and back.” Chambin pointed to a distant tree, then scratched a finish line in the ground with one hoof. He concentrated and assumed the form of a pegasus pony before crouching at the ready.

“I suppose that's the way to figure it out,” Faerbin said, snorting. She too shifted and crouched on the line.

“Go!” Chambin yelled, launching himself forward. He wasn't sure why the difference was so important to him. Faerbin was right, being athletic wasn't really Chambin's style, but he knew they needed to succeed, for their Queen's sake, and he felt somehow this was how he could best do it. He was through the turn and leaving Faerbin behind before his mind was back on what he was doing, and as a result he won by a few full pony lengths.

“Have it your way, then,” Faerbin said, a hint of confusion in her voice as they landed. “Shall we begin?”

Idols Made Flesh

“Uh, I... I... eh,” Twilight responded.

“Thou must forgive my traveling companion,” Rarity interceded. “She hath used her skills to bring us a far way on our journey today, and I believe she hath overtaxed herself. Lady Rarity, at your service.” She bowed her head respectfully.

“Starswirl of Canterlot,” the wizard replied.

“Starswirl the-” Twilight began, her mind finally able to wrap around the situation, “th-the wizard,” she caught herself in time. No beard. Not yet. Of course not, silly. Everypony is young once. Even him. “I've heard thy name in my studies, 'tis an honor to make thine acquaintance. I am Twilight Sparkle.”

“The honor is mine,” Starswirl exchanged nods with her. “Always a pleasure to meet a fellow member of the academy. I must ask, in what tome had thou seen such spells?” He pointed to the sketches on the ground, now partially obscured by the settling dust from their spell. “I have some curiosities about weather spells, and perhaps it would aid my studies.”

“Ah, I... read it in our library, in a town on the western sea,” Twilight quickly fabricated. “Had I brought it with me, thou would be welcome to borrow it. Alas, we were forced to travel light and swift.”

“Always the books that get left behind,” Starswirl sighed, shaking his head with regret. “If it's not intruding, Lady,” he turned to Rarity, “what brings thee hither in such haste?”

“Well, we-” she looked to Twilight, who nodded reassuringly, “we seek a treaty with Princess Chrysalis, that we might aid each other in these troubled times.”

“Can anypony tell me why they're talking like Princess Luna?” Applejack whispered.

“That's how they talked back then, silly!” Pinkie Pie whispered back. “Or, back now?”

Twilight could barely hear them, so she was sure Starswirl couldn't. Still, his ears twitched a little as he said. “As fortune should have it, I happen to be part of the guard of an ambassadorial mission from Canterlot to Aurelia for the same purpose. Perhaps we should travel together?”

“So everypony talks that fancy stuff?” Rainbow Dash whispered.

“I don't think so,” Fluttershy whispered back. “When I was reading through the Hearth's Warming Eve script notes, it sounded like it was mostly leftover from the old Unicorn Kingdom.”

“Oh thank Celes-” Applejack began, slightly louder, before she noticed Twilight Sparkle glaring at them. The earth pony smiled reassuringly at her friend, dropping her whisper below what Twilight could hear.

“Lady, I suggest we take the offer,” Twilight Sparkle urged. For safety. And so we know the way. Yes, that's it. Nothing more. She wasn't fooling herself, and clearly Rarity could read her as well, and teased her by looking lost in thought, considering the offer.

“Since thou hast heard of this gentlecolt before, I will rely on thy judgment,” she finally answered. “Very well.”

“Excellent,” he said. “Gather your entourage,” he nodded to the others politely, “and follow me to the road.” He lifted the bundled cloak carefully and headed in the direction he and the dragon had come from. The others moved up to the unicorns, smiling broadly.

“Best get it out of yer system, sugarcube,” Applejack said evenly. And only then did Twilight realize how broadly she herself was smiling. She inhaled deeply.

“Omigosh it's Starswirl the Bearded except he's not bearded yet and he's like the greatest unicorn magician that ever existed and... and... he said I was impressive!” Twilight almost squeaked at the end.

“He seems very nice,” Fluttershy smiled.

“I like his bells!” Pinkie Pie added.

“He's a genuine gentlecolt of quality,” Rarity said blushing slightly. “We'd best catch up.”

“Whatever you say, Lady Rarity,” Iris Dash prodded with an exaggerated bow. Rainbow Dash grinned at the statement.

Rarity snapped her head forward, neck straight, horn high, and lips tight, refusing to take the bait.

The rounded a low hill and Twilight could see the procession ahead.

“Damn foal risks!” the lead guard shouted angrily at Starswirl, so that they could hear him even at a distance. “And for what?”

“Unless thou hast a dragon's egg of which I'm unaware, Captain,” Starswirl replied coolly, “Then I currently surpass thy count by two Rarities,” he flourished a bow as he stepped aside, allowing the captain to see their group.

Hearing the cue, Rarity further strained the formal stiffness of her posture as she approached, still managing to make it look natural and fluid, and the guard bowed. “Lady,” he said gruffly. He turned back to the wizard. “Still, you'll have to answer to her.”

“I will, when she returns to us,” Starswirl retorted, an edge to his voice that spoke of danger far greater then the tornado he'd just whipped up. Despite himself, the captain shifted nervously. Starswirl turned to Rarity, and shifted his expression back to such a welcoming one, Twilight wondered if she'd just imagined the menace in his voice. “Come, you all must meet the ambassadors.” He called ahead as the guards parted “I've brought thee gifts!”

“To what end? I'm not worthy of them,” a sullen voice muttered back.

Twilight stopped advancing immediately, one hoof in the air mid-step. The others tripped over each other at the sudden halt, confused. No, they wouldn't recognize that voice as easily. The voice that had been calm reassurance through her youth, the voice that guided her, buoyed her through failures, praised her through success. Yet, bitter beyond words - that was different.

So was her appearance. Her white fur seemed sallow and dusty. Her mane and tail were a dull gray, and her wings hung droopily at her sides. The sun that was her cutie mark was a dim, darkened bronze.

“Nonsense, Princess Celestia” Starswirl said, smiling reassuringly. “Thou hast always sought the egg of a rare creature, and few are more rare than this.” From his cloak, he produced the rescued egg, lavender with dark purple spots. He floated it over to her.

“How would we even open it?” Celestia muttered. “Worthless.” She stared down her nose at Starswirl. If he took the comment personally, he didn't show it. “We shall take it to His Majesty the king when we return to Canterlot.”

Suddenly, the egg glowed black and floated to a small black filly, who wrapped her hooves around it. Luna stuck her tongue out at her sister. The little alicorn also seem faded, more gray than black, and there wasn't a single twinkling in her mane. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, pounding her hooves against the ground in a silent pout.

“It's not right,” Twilight Sparkle said, barely failing to choke back the words.

“'Tis not,” Starswirl sighed, speaking just above a whisper. “I'm afraid Discord did what he could to restrict their power before he sent them on this foal's errand.” He stomped his hoof against the ground in anger. “He wrested the sun and moon from them, and those now dance at his whim like the rest of Equestria.”

“King Discord,” Celestia corrected sharply, scowling. “Take care to show a little respect to our king, lest you find yourself accused of treason!”

“Thou once thought otherwise,” Starswirl said in a low, even tone. “I daresay if not enchanted, thou would think so still, but alas,” he turned to Twilight again, before concluding, “I've not ever seen a spell like it.”

“I have,” Twilight interjected. Her horn was already glowing, the spell conjuring itself up in response to her emotions, through the throbbing pain of exhaustion. I can't see her this way!

“Hold on, there!” Applejack took a swing at her tail with her teeth, but Twilight Sparkle anticipated the intercession and teleported a half-step from the princess.

“Hold still, princess, this won't hurt.” As she moved in with her horn, Twilight was vaguely aware of the royal guard beginning to react to her sudden move. Starswirl was motionless on the edge of her vision, his expression a myriad of concerns, and she could hear him asking everypony to wait. Then, Twilight's horn made contact with Celestia, and she pushed the energy she had into the memory spell.

With her friends, she knew or could guess what memories played through their minds when she cast it. With this young princess, she had no idea what she was remembering. Come to think of it, I don't really know much about her future self's past at all, either. As she exhausted her magical energy, the throbbing pain became more of a searing one, interrupting her thoughts. She closed her eyes and focused everything on completing the spell. Her legs became wobbly, and she was about to collapse, when a head was suddenly supporting her side.

“That's enough, young one,” a gentle, familiar voice reassured her. Once she had her footing, Twilight Sparkle opened her eyes, and could see the reassuring smile of her young teacher, flowing pink mane above her friendly eyes. Her fur was pristine white and her cutie mark almost seemed to reflect the sun on the horizon, which seemed now to be shining directly at her with its full radiance, but nowhere else. “Everypony, hold!” She added, standing to full height, in what was unmistakably the Royal Canterlot Voice. In the confusion, the guards had tried to stop Twilight, and her friends had interceded on her behalf. Various scuffles froze where they were, at her command.

“Princess, these assassins-” The captain of the guard began, but stopped as he turned to face the princess. “Oh.” His sour face slowly softened, his mouth opening in awe.

“Thou hast returned to us, Dearest Highness,” Starswirl said. “All hail Princess Celestia!”

“Nay!” she said quickly as the entourage prepared to bow. “Save thy show of respect for this young wizard who has reminded us who we are! What is thy name, young one?”

“T-Twilight Sparkle.”

“Then, our thanks, Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia said, bowing to her. The entourage followed, and to avoid standing out, Twilight's friends all followed suit, though they shot Twilight glances that varied between confusion and irritation.

Twilight was overwhelmed by the moment, but once every head was down, she became more aware of a single filly next to her who wasn't bowing, but still glared at her, silent and sullen. “Thy gratitude is heartwarming beyond words,” she said weakly, “but premature.” She lit her horn again, feeling pain and heat all the down her flank this time, and she brought it to bear on young Luna. The spell began to work, but she could feel the light of her horn fading, until she felt another horn near hers, a familiar presence pushing a surge of power into her spell. It will be enough, and Twilight smiled gently before her consciousness faded away.