Who Rules: Shattered Hearts

by Nom deCheval

Chapter Two

She blinked her eyes open as her lips smacked against each other. The sun was still up, shining through the window and warming her coat gently. A smile crept across her face as she recognized the afterglow that warmed inside her. Slowly, she glanced around and saw the mare lying next to her. And the stallion lying next to her.

Her eyes shot wide as she jumped to her hooves. “Not again,” Cadance whispered. “No, no, no. Not again.” Quickly looking around, she got her bearings--not to mention located her crown, chestpiece, and shoes. Levitating them up, she quietly made her way to the door without even bothering to try to put anything on.

The door clicked softly behind her as she stepped out onto the street. Her body slumped in relief, but only for a moment as she quickly realized that she had to get dressed. In the street. In public. Again.

Strangers turned and looked at her standing outside the small house. She smiled and did the only thing she could think of at the moment: she ran. The alley nearby offered an instant haven, and she took it.

Shoes and chestpiece went on hastily, crooked but secured, and the crown was put into place as she took to the air. Her coat chilled as the sweat she had broken evaporated in the passing air. She kept her eyes up, steering her way through the skies above Canterlot, twisting through the towers and avoiding anypony that might be looking up at her.

It didn’t matter that they would have no idea what she had done. Why she was racing through the sky. Or where she had just been. It only mattered that she didn’t see them.

Her mouth felt dry. She tried to swallow, but something just seemed to catch in the back of her throat with every try. She coughed and tried again, unsuccessfully. Her mouth opened and closed, suddenly trying to find something to make it feel normal.

The more she tried to moisten it, the more dry it seemed to her, and the stronger her desire to remedy it. A glance downward, only just for fear of seeing ponies staring up, was enough to spot a local cafe. She kept flying for a moment, and then turned back and swooped down to land in front of the door. A quick step later and she was inside.

“Princess!” A voice greeted her as soon as the small bell above the door announced her entrance. “What an honor. What can I do for you today?”

The mare behind the counter was young and perky. An earth pony with a rich brown coat and a cream colored mane and tale, wearing a white apron with several stains on it.

“I...” Cadance coughed when she tried to speak. “Excuse me. I’m rather thirsty, and thought I might get something to drink.”

“Of course!” The pony pranced over to the menu board, gesturing up at it for Cadance’s benefit. “Is there anything you see that interests you?”

Cadance’s eyes were fixated on the mare’s flank, and the kettle cutie mark that rested on it. “Um...tea or coffee?”

“We have both,” she answered in a cheery tone. “But I guess you can see that from the menu.”

Shifting her eyes up, Cadance stammered out an answer. “Yes. Uh, yes, I do. It’s just a lot to take in. Do you have a suggestion?”

The mare blushed. “Well, I do have a fantasy to admit to...” she began.

She would swear that her heart stopped for a moment as Cadance heard those words.

“I’ve always wanted to serve my custom house blend of tea to your aunt, Princess Celestia,” she confessed. “It would be such an honor to serve it to you today.”

“Oh thank the stars,” Cadance felt her blood pump once again.

“Really? Y--you would like to try it?” The mare’s eyes glistened in the cafe’s lighting.

“Uh...yes. Yes, I would be honored,” Cadance smiled, happy for the barista’s misunderstanding. “It sounds lovely, in fact.”

Beaming, the mare almost danced behind the counter, moving over to grab a tea cup and a small container. Cadance watched as she carefully pulled the leaves from the tin, put them into the cup, and then poured steaming hot water over them, all the while with an unbridled exuberance that made the alicorn smile, despite her earlier situation.

“I really, really hope you like this, Princess,” the mare said as she carefully carried the cup on a saucer over to the counter, “but I want you to be honest. Completely honest.”

“It would be rude to be anything less,” Cadance said, levitating the cup over to her mouth. Her nostrils caught the scent of the tea, and for the first time since she woke she felt moisture fill her mouth as she salivated. She let it sit there, enjoying the sensation of warmth in her nose and saliva in her mouth. Her eyes glanced over to witness the mare almost trembling in anticipation. She understood that kind of thing, and took a sip of the hot liquid to relieve the stress.

“Delicious,” she said, first to herself, and then silently again as she looked directly at the brown mare.

“Really? You really like it? You aren’t just being nice?” she asked back excitedly.

“I am being completely honest. This is one of the finest cups I’ve ever tasted,” Cadance answered truthfully. “You know your craft.”

“Thank you! Thank you so much!” she tittered.

“How much do I owe you?” Cadance asked as she took another sip.

“Nothing, Princess! This is on the house! It’s an honor, truly!” Her steps were effortless as she moved about behind the counter, cleaning every surface with pride.

“What’s your name, miss?” Cadance asked, a smile resting on her face.

“Camellia,” she answered. “This is my shop.”

“And it is a most excellent shop,” Cadance stated. “I’ll have to tell my aunt about it.”

Camellia’s eyes pulsed. She stood silent for a moment before turning her back around again and giggling in excitement. And giving Cadance another view of her shapely flank.

“Well,” Cadance said suddenly, “I thank you for your hospitality, and for this excellent refreshment, but I think I really need to be going right now.”

“Oh, well, I understand. Thank you so much for stopping by, Princess. It’s been a true honor,” Camellia said happily.

“And a pleasure for myself,” Cadance stated. “Thank you again.”

She stepped back onto the street, and was met by the views and attention of several ponies passing by the shop. They smiled at her politely, and she smiled back at them. No pony looked at her with anything but respect.

She turned towards her house and began to walk home.

* * * * * * *

The sun shined brightly into Twilight’s eyes. Squinting, she turned her head to one side, hoping to see clearly.

“How can the sun be on this side?” she asked aloud. “It was on the far side of the mountain when I went in.” Moments ago a purple flash signaled her arrival from the pit below. “Either there has been a serious time shift, or the exit portal was on the other side of the mountain. Interesting note...”

A quill appeared alongside a pad of paper, scrawling down pieces of information. She scanned the horizon, her eyes trying to take in anything and everything. “Season and appearance seem relatively equal. Air quality is comparable. No sign of anypony, but that isn’t unusual at this height with this terrain.” She turned her eyes skyward. “No pony flying overhead, but cloud cover seems consistent with the Equestria I know.”

Twilight strained her neck, turning it from side to side as the quill raced over the paper. Colors. Smells. Textures. Everything that she could take in from within a few meters of the cave opening.

“This is so exciting!” she beamed. “Everything is the same, yet so new. I want to go down and see what’s at the bottom of the mountain. Find somepony to talk to and learn what I can from them. But I made a promise to the princess, and I won’t let her down. But now that I know it’s safe, we can come here together and continue our search!”

She giggled as she teleported, the flash of light shining at the bottom of the cave briefly. Trotting over to the pool, she stared at the shimmering water hanging on the wall of the cave like an impossible pond. She smiled reflexively, and stepped forward into the mirror pool, ready to return to give the good news to Luna.

And walked straight into a wall.

Jumping backwards, she sputtered out water, her mane drenched and hanging on the side of her head. “What? What happened?” She pushed her forehoof out, sticking it through the sheen of water that hovered there and pressing into the wall behind it. “No, no, no, no!” Her hoof shifted along the pool, pressing against the stone behind it all along the way.

“There has to be a spot. I just missed the right spot. That’s all it is,” her words were working hard to convince herself, and failing miserably. “Its got to be here. Its just got to!”

Minutes passed, and the only thing that Twilight discovered was that the water on the wall was very, very wet. Soaked, she stood there, staring up at the pool that taunted her by hanging magically above her.

“I--I’m trapped here,” she cried.

* * * * * * *

“OBEY ME!” Luna shouted, her frustration growing. Magical energy cascaded through the chamber as the princess let loose another torrent of power from her horn. The water refused her command yet again, as was evidenced by Luna’s hoof reaching through the water to touch to the rock beyond.

“Damn!” She spun her back to it, her face twisted into a grimace. “I should have known better. I should have stopped her, and now she is stuck on the other side of this portal.”

Turning back to face the pool once more, Luna took a deep breath. “I swear to you, Twilight Sparkle, I will find a way to reactivate this pool and get you home. This I do promise.”

Luna sat down, closing her eyes and letting her magic reach out to touch the pool in a more soft and probing manner.

* * * * * * *

Twilight sat quietly, her horn glowing as her magic gently probed the pool, trying to find something to grasp. Something to give her a hint as to how the magic worked and how to reactivate the pool. Using everything that Princess Celestia had taught her, and everything that she had learned on her own, Twilight tried to find the core of the magic and touch its core.

She was failing miserably.

Her chest rose and fell, filling completely with each slow breath. “You can do this, Twilight. Magic has a pattern, a frequency, all you have to do is find this one and let it resonate in you.” Her mind tried to focus on the spell, but her thoughts wandered. “Unless of course it was a pool that only worked once. Or only worked in certain circumstances. Like--”

Her eyes popped open. “Like a magic word! Or words! The magic phrase that makes the cloning pool work. There might be something like that to make this portal pool work.” She stood up and started walking back and forth in front of the pool. “But there are millions of possibilities for that, and it would take the rest of my life to possibly happen on the right phrase. So...” She stopped, raising her head up and fixing her gaze. “So I need to go out and find somepony that knows that phrase.”

Spinning on a single hoof, Twilight stepped forward until she could see the opening of the cave above her, and in a purple flash of light removed herself from the confines of the chamber.

“Okay,” Twilight said as she stood and looked at this world in a new light, “approach this logically. Take it apart a step at a time. This is no different from being in a strange country. Imagine that this is the Griffin Kingdom, and you are needing to find a magic spell that is only known by a magic griffin--ignore the fact that there is no such thing--and you have to learn it to get home.

“That makes the first step finding the magic griffin, then--hoping that griffin speaks the same language that you do--finally learning the spell and casting it and going home. It’s that simple.” She started walking, looking down the mountain to figure out the easiest way to descend. She gulped back a lump that was growing in her throat. “Yep, that simple.”

The next half hour was spent in a combination of walking, jumping, and teleporting down a mountain--with a few interspaced instants of intense insanity. But she did find the bottom, and then had to make the decision of where to go next.

“Well, let’s see what’s back home,” she said to herself as she turned east, beginning the long trek towards what she knew as Ponyville. It didn’t take long for her plans to change.

A small copse of trees hid something she couldn’t see from above. A simple structure of stone and wood that stood near a small pond, that was kept in excellent condition. A home.

“Oh my,” Twilight said softly. “I--I suppose this is a good opportunity. I just wasn’t expecting it so soon. Still, better sooner than later, I suppose.”

With a deep breath and a curt nod, she trotted towards the cottage. Standing outside the door, she paused for another breath, raising her hoof to knock. There was no need, as the door swung open, surprising both her and the young griffin that was inside.

“Ahhh!” Two voices screamed in unison.

“Wh--what are you doing here?” the griffin asked. It was female, and seemed to be rather thin by what Twilight could make out.

“Oh, thank goodness!” Twilight’s shoulders slouched in relief. “I was afraid we wouldn’t speak the same language.”

“Um, okay,” the griffin responded. “But you still didn’t answer my question: what are you doing out here. No pony ever comes out here.”

“Well, that’s kind of a long story, and I’m not really sure that this is the right time or place. But, well, my name is Twilight Sparkle, and I was wondering if you might know anything about any magic or legends in this area?” She smiled, hoping to seem friendly and not desperate.

“Magic? No. No, I don’t know anything about magic,” she shook her head. “Why are you asking about magic? Who sent you?”

“Um, no pony sent me. I was just wandering by, and I had heard, um, stories about the area,” she half-lied. “I was just hoping to get some, uh, local flavor. So...no stories?”

The griffin’s feathers fluffed out, her voice reflecting the tension. “Stories? No!”

“Oh,” Twilight placidly replied. “Well, thanks for your time, miss?...”

“Goldfeather. Goldfeather Morninglight,” she eyed the pony as she spoke. “Where did you say you were from?”

“Oh, east of here,” she nodded. “A small town. Really small. You wouldn’t know it.”

“East? How far east? You don’t live near Canterlot?” she asked in amazement.

“Canterlot?” Twilight’s eyes and voice both grew. “Did you say Canterlot?”

“Uh...yeah,” Goldfeather answered. “Big royal castle. Pretty sure it’s the best known place in the world.”

“Oh my gosh! I hadn’t even thought about...” she quieted herself. “Thank you! Thank you so much! You have no idea how happy I am now that I’ve spoken with you! This is the best news I could have possibly gotten today!”

Twilight grabbed one of Goldfeather’s claws and shook it vigorously. “It’s been great meeting you. I’ll be sure to remember your name.” Twilight turned and started away at a brisk gallop.

“No! No, please don’t mention me to anyone at the castle!” Goldfeather pleaded as Twilight sped away.

“Why not?” Twilight shouted back over her shoulder. “I’m sure the Princess would love to hear how nice you are.”

Goldfeather stood there, her eyebrows raised and her jaw open slightly. She closed her mouth and swallowed. “Princess?” she asked. “What princess?”

* * * * * * *

His heels clicked as he came to attention upon entering the room. “You wanted to see me, Your Majesty?” Shining Armor’s voice was clear and distinct. He stood still, his eyes forward awaiting a response.

Raising her eyes up from her desk and the paperwork resting on it, Celestia saw the Captain of the Guard and his exacting appearance--as always. She stood, keeping an even expression, and slowly walked over to the stallion.

“Thank you for coming, Captain. At ease,” her voice was level and calm. “How are you today?”

His body relaxed slightly, but his mental attention remained just as focused. “I am well, Your Majesty, thank you.”

“I’m glad to hear that. And I suppose you are wondering why I asked you to come here today,” she stated, as she walked around him, “so I will save you the trouble of asking. I need to get a full report of the state of Equestria, and Canterlot specifically.”

“Of course, Your Majesty,” he replied. “I will write up a report and have it on your desk by morning, outlining our offensive and defensive capabilities, current known and suspected threats, and any actions being taken here or abroad to insure our safety.”

“Well, that sounds very thorough, but,” she finished walking around to stand in front of him, “I don’t want a written report.”

“I beg your pardon?” Shining Armor asked, his head cocking slightly.

“I want to talk to you about the current situation. Get a feel of what’s happening directly,” she said, the first hint of a smile creeping onto her face.

“But, we could discuss the details after I write the report,” he stated. “No offense, Your Majesty, but it would be a much more efficient way of handling this.”

“Perhaps, but not as informative,” she answered, turning to walk over to a table near the balcony. She carefully stepped around to the chair nearest the door leading outside and sat down. “Join me?”

With a slight hesitation, Shining Armor stepped over to the table, positioning himself across from Celestia, and sat down. The table was adorned with a kettle of tea and a selection of various pastries and snacks, including a small plate of daisy sandwiches. Two place settings were already laid out, one in front of Celestia and the other now in front of him.

“This...isn’t about Canterlot, is it?” he asked, and then quickly added, “Your Majesty.”

“You can stop the honorifics for now,” Celestia levitated the kettle up, pouring herself a cup of tea. “After all, we are related, dear.” She raised the kettle up again. “Tea?”

“Uh...sure,” he answered, pausing for a moment, “Princess?”

“Celestia is fine. Or Aunt. Or nothing at all. Just relax,” she said, placing the kettle back on its cozy.

“I’ll do my best, but it seems a bit disrespectful,” he replied, with a hanging moment at the end where he wanted to say something else, but didn’t. “And to repeat, is this actually about Canterlot?”

“Most definitely,” Celestia said, sipping her tea. “Mmm. I love a good black tea. Helps wake me up.”

“Helps to wake YOU up?” he answered incredulously. “No offense, Your--uh, Aunt Celestia, but most ponies tend to think of you as the one pony that is always awake during the day. Almost by definition.”

“True,” she answered. “And I do rarely sleep while the sun is up, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the sensation a cup of black tea gives me.”

“I suppose,” he answered, lifting the cup up to take a sip himself. “I just never think of you that way, I guess.”

“And how do you think of me?” she smiled, looking peacefully across the table.

“Uh, well, I guess as my Princess, and a goddess, and, well, sort of...” he hesitated, “perfect.”

“Oh, ho ho ho!” she laughed. “Perfect? Well, I won’t try to do anything to spoil that perception of me.”

“You couldn’t,” he answered too quickly.

Celestia raised an eyebrow, and then slowly lowered it. “Please, have something to eat.”

“Thank you,” his magic immediately grasped one of the daisy sandwiches and brought it over to his plate. “These look delicious. Twilight used to make these for me all the time.”

“I know,” Celestia answered. “That’s why I had them made for you today.”

“You did?” He looked up at her, the sun catching her mane--flowing away from her head in a constant ethereal wave--cascading color through it like a living rainbow. His mouth fell open reflexively.

“Of course. Your sister is my faithful student, after all. She and I would talk at length for hours about every subject. She told me that you liked them,” Celestia stated.

“And...you made some for me?” he lifted the sandwich up and took a bite. His eyes seemed to grow to half again their size. “These are amazing!”

“Yes, I was rather impressed with them, myself,” she answered. “Surprising flavor.”

In about four bites, Shining Armor had finished the sandwich and levitated another over to his plate. Celestia brought a piece of strawberry cake over to her plate, taking a small bite from it along the way.

“You were hungry,” she stated.

“I--I guess I was,” he answered. “I didn’t realize it.”

Nodding, Celestia took another bite of cake. “So, tell me, what is the current state of security in Canterlot? Is there anything that I need to be made aware of?”

He shook his head. “No, Your Majesty. If there was any threat that I felt you needed to know about, I would have told you well before now. There are the same issues we always monitor--the changelings, the dragons, even the rogue diamond dog or two--but nothing that is a threat at this time. Of all those, the changelings remain the greatest threat to the kingdom, but we keep them very closely monitored since the last event.”

“Excellent,” she answered, sipping tea between bites of cake, and ignoring the fact that he fell right back into his old habit of addressing her. She was keeping her eyes moving, taking in everything that he was doing. “And what is the overall state of preparedness?”

“Primed and ready,” he finished his second sandwich and moved another to his plate. “I have no intention of our troops being taken off guard ever again. I make sure that drills are run at least once a week to address various created emergencies, and, as you know, we recently finished some maneuvers with the griffins to test both our forces and theirs. Our troops performed very admirably, in my opinion.”

“Very good,” Celestia answered, nodding. She set her teacup down and looked directly into her nephew’s eyes. “And tell me, how are you?”

“I, uh, well, I’m fine, Your Majesty,” he answered. He moved the sandwich back to his plate, half eaten.

“Are you sure?” she asked, sitting back and watching his reaction. “When was the last time that you ate a full meal before now?”

“Um, well, I’ve been very busy, Your Majesty,” he stated.

“Shining Armor,” she spoke softly, her voice soothing and gentle, “you are the finest Captain of the Guard that I have ever had. Your commitment and your attention to detail are second to none. But, you are still a stallion, and you are still subject to being a mortal pony.”

“I...don’t understand,” he answered weakly.

“You do,” she replied. “Your focus has been lacking recently. And we both know why.”

“We do?” he asked nervously.

“Yes, we do,” she answered confidently but comforting. “And I want you to know that you are important to me. That your well-being is vital to the success and safety of Equestria. And what’s more, I want you to know that you’re safe in this kingdom, from any internal reaction.”

He sat there, staring across at the goddess who smiled back at him, finding himself in an unusual situation. He was uncertain.

“I--I don’t know what to say,” he stammered.

“I’m not looking for an answer, Shining Armor. I simply want to tell you that you have nothing to fear from me or from Canterlot. This is your home, and you are very, very welcome here.”

The sunlight still shimmered against her mane, but all Shining Armor could see was Celestia’s eyes. “You’re amazing,” he said without thinking.

“Thank you,” she answered. “But so are you. And, if I may be so bold, so is Cadance.”

He blinked.

“You are young and she is inexperienced, but you are both such good ponies,” Celestia stated proudly. “And you are both worth fighting for.”

He nodded.

“But I need you to be my captain. I need you to be secure in your job. Today you have shown me that you are still in control of duties,” she leaned over towards him, “but I need you to be in command of yourself, too. If you let your body falter, your mind will follow, and you will lose the control that is one of your finest qualities. Can you do that for me, Captain?”

He smiled. “I can. And I will not let you down, my Princess. Canterlot will be safe.”

“I have no doubt,” she answered, once again picking up her cup of tea and taking a sip.

“Thank you,” he said, still staring into her eyes.

“You’re welcome,” she answered. “And you are dismissed. You still have duties to perform, Captain.” She paused. “Oh, but you may take some of the sandwiches with you, if you like.”

“Don’t mind if I do,” he said, picking up the remainder of the meal and putting it in a satchel on his side. “And you are right, I need to get back to work, no matter how wonderful being here with you might be.” He stood up and straightened his uniform, making sure that everything was perfect. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for both the meal and the conversation.” He came to attention, snapping his hooves together.

“Good afternoon, Shining Armor,” Celestia said calmly.

“And to you, too, Your Majesty,” he responded.

He was halfway to the door when Celestia spoke again. “Oh, and one other thing,” he turned to look at her, “I’m flattered, but I’m also married.”

She had a big smile on her face, which he reciprocated.

“So am I, Your Majesty. So am I.”

* * * * * * *

Night had crept over the landscape by the time that Twilight reached the familiar view of Canterlot Castle. Standing out from the mountainside, it stood as a beacon for all ponies to see for miles and miles. She felt her heart soar slightly, the same way it did every time she came near what she thought of as her other home. Even though this wasn’t her home. Or even her world.

It was still Canterlot.

She galloped on, heading towards the gate, hoping to find it easy to get inside. Her mind ran through various reasons and excuses to get into the city, should the guards have the gates locked down for some reason, knowing that telling them what was happening would be a sure way of getting locked out--or worse, locked up.

She sighed a quick sound of relief when she found the gates open and unguarded, racing inside the walls of Canterlot at a full gallop. The next question was where to look. The archives seemed to be the logical choice--and Twilight liked following logic--but she was also very familiar with the libraries and what was and was not contained inside them. Which was why she still kept the book she showed to Luna that led her here--some things are on more of a personal level.

It took no thought for her to run through the empty streets, despite the lack of lights to guide her. She had walked the street to the castle itself countless times--because she decided to stop counting once she reached the five-thousandth time--so running them was easy. She paused briefly at the gates to the castle itself, checking to make sure none of the guards were going to chase her once she ran inside, but she couldn’t see any as she passed the threshold.

“I wonder if the princess will recognize me?” she wondered aloud. “Oh my gosh, is it possible that there is another Twilight Sparkle? If she’s the princess’s student, then she might be able to help me. She would definitely be able to relate to my situation, or at least my mindset. Assuming that cross-dimensional personalities would remain consistent. I should be taking a lot more notes about this, actually.”

Her hoofsteps echoed off the empty hallways, as she approached the throne room. She looked at the open doorway, and suddenly slowed to a trot, then a canter, and finally a slow walk.

“Where are the guards?” she asked herself. “There are always guards here. In fact, I haven’t seen anypony since I entered the city...” Her eyes started to look around, hoping to find some sign of somepony moving or acting in the darkness. “Everything is clean. It doesn’t look abandoned or neglected.”

With great caution, Twilight moved to the doorway, peering inside from a safe vantage point, unsure of what she would see.

Sitting on the throne of Equestria was a single figure, totally obscured by the lightless shadows of the room. Large and regal, with large wings resting at her side and a graceful horn spiraling up from the top of her head, resting next to a gleaming crown of gold.

“Princess?” Twilight asked softly.

The figure turned, and Twilight could feel eyes staring at her. “Princess?” the voice answered in a curious tone--a very familiar voice.

“Princess Cadance?” Twilight took a step into the room, gingerly.

“Cadance?” the voice spoke softly, soothingly. “That is a name that I haven’t heard in a very, very long time.”

“Wh--what do you mean?” Twilight asked carefully.

“Who are you, little pony?” she asked softly. “I’ve never seen you before, and yet you are here speaking to me in a very familiar manner.”

“M--my name is Twilight Sparkle,” she was suddenly very nervous, and fighting an onrushing urge to turn and run, “Your Highness.”

“Better,” she said in a pleasant tone. “Please, Twilight Sparkle, enter and tell me why you have come.”

She stepped into the room, her eyes focused on the throne. “Why is it so dark in here? And where are all the guards?”

“I need no guards, nor light,” she answered. “But forgive my manners. I should be a more gracious host.”

Lights rose in the room as crystals began to glow from sconces on the walls. Twilight’s eyes followed them as they came to life, captivated by something she had never seen before. One by one around the back of the room, lights came up, and her eyes moved along the path, until she was stopped by the figure sitting on the throne.

On the surface, the alicorn there looked familiar to Twilight. A beautiful pink coat and a pastel mane, but there were just as many differences. The mane flowed in the ether, shifting endlessly, and she was as large as either Celestia or Luna, if not slightly larger. On her chest was the golden harness that Celestia wore, only with a large crystal heart on the front of where her gemstone normally rested, and the golden crown of Equestria sat on her head.

And then there were her eyes. Fierce, draconian teal eyes. The eyes of a nightmare.

Twilight stumbled back a step, distressed by what she saw. “C--Cadance?”

“Interesting,” she stood and stepped down from the throne, slowly walking over towards Twilight Sparkle. “That is twice you have used that name, but I thought I knew every pony who was aware that I ever had that name. And you are not one of those ponies.”

Twilight scrambled backwards, her hooves sliding from underneath her in a panic as instinct fought to make her run. A figure caught the corner of her eye. A white pony with a spiraled horn.

“Princess Celestia?!” She spun around, looking for a savior--and let out a shriek of horror.

On the wall was the head of the Sun Goddess, mounted on a plaque of solid wood. Beside her was the head of an ombre mare, also with the tell-tale long horn of an alicorn. And then beyond them was a unicorn stallion with a black mane and red eyes. And then another head. And another. And a dozen more. The wall was littered with the mounted heads of dead ponies.

Twilight screamed, running away from the wall that stared lifelessly back at her.

“And you know Celestia,” the other mare stated calmly. “You are a mystery. And I do not like mysteries.”

Twilight’s eyes couldn’t focus past the tears, her coat awash with the sign of fear and sadness that suddenly gripped the unicorn. “Wh--who...what are you?”

“You know me, Twilight Sparkle. Or at least knew me,” the mare stepped evenly towards Twilight, who found herself rooted in terror. “But I haven’t used the name Cadance in centuries. I am Fantasia Coldheart, Empress of the Six Nations.”

Coldheart stepped between Twilight and the wall of mounted heads beyond, giving her a moment to try to focus. Concentrating, magic began to swell into the unicorn’s horn as she prepared her escape.

“Ah!” Pink magic swelled around Coldheart’s horn. “None of that.” Twilight felt her magic disconnect. She concentrated again and felt a spark where there should have been a jolt.

“Wh--what do you want?” Twilight asked, scurrying backwards.

“Why, I just want to talk. I want to find out who you are and how you know the things that you do,” Coldheart closed the gap, towering over Twilight who trembled beneath her. “But before that, I want you to do one other thing.”

Her teal, slitted eyes turned to solid pink.

“Love me.”

* * * * * * *

Goldfeather jumped, startled by the knock on the door. It was late. Very late. And she never had visitors.

She sat there, staring at the door, her eyes pulsing, nervously. Not daring to make a sound, she waited, hoping that whoever--or whatever--knocked on her door went away. She glanced to her side, cursing the fact that she had a light on this late at night. It wasn’t smart, even this far away from the castle. No pony--or griffin in this case--wanted to draw any attention to themselves in any way.

The knock repeated, and Goldfeather screeched, reflexively. Her claw shot up over her mouth, covering it too late.

“Hello?” an unfamiliar deep voice said from outside the door. “Who is inside? I wish to speak with you.”

“Dammit, dammit, dammit!” she whispered, punching her forehead with her balled-up claw. “Okay. Okay, don’t panic.”

Her legs were able to hold her weight--barely--as she stood to move towards the door. “Go away!” she shouted as she moved closer. “Just...go away!”

There was a silence for a moment. “I wish to speak with you,” the voice answered. “Open the door, please.”

“No,” she replied. “I’m not going to. Leave me alone. I just want to be left alone.”

“Again, please,” the voice said calmly, “I ask that you open the door. I only wish to speak with you.”

Looking around quickly, Goldfeather grabbed the chest she kept near the door and pushed it over, blocking the entrance. “No! Go away!”

A long pause gave her hope, but it faded instantly.

“Are you alone?” the voice asked.

She could feel her heart as it tried to beat its way out of her chest. “N-no. No, we aren’t alone. And if you don’t leave, then we’ll have to do something about it!” she bluffed.

The door burst inward, sending the chest flying backwards into Goldfeather, knocking her to the floor in a heap. The world spun around her, all meaning of direction lost for the moment, as she tried to find a way back upright. Her head twisted just in time to see a massive black figure looming above her, fangs glinting in the dim light.

“I mean you no harm, griffin,” Luna stated, “but I need to know if you have met with a pony named Twilight Sparkle.”

Goldfeather screamed.

* * * * * * *

She looked up into those glowing pink eyes, finding herself drawn into them completely. A flood of emotion washed over her, soaking into her being and her mind. All of the tension and fear flowed out of Twilight, and she suddenly realized that there was no other place that she would rather be than right here. She smiled.

“That’s better,” Coldheart said softly.

“Oh Princess, thank you--”

“Empress,” Coldheart interrupted.

“Yes, Empress, I’m so sorry,” Twilight fumbled over herself. “I just...I love you so much.”

“I know,” she answered. “And you should. Everypony should.”

“But I’m not like everypony,” Twilight pleaded. “I’ve loved you since I was a foal, I just didn’t realize it until recently.”

“Really?” Coldheart smiled, her teeth showing only the faintest hint of a fang as she did. “You have an odd manner of displaying it.”

“No, no, no!” Twilight stared up into the Empress’s eyes, seemingly oblivious to their predatory appearance. “I was just confused. I would never dream of hurting or insulting you.”

“Oh, I wasn’t worried about that,” she answered.

“But now I feel like I insulted you. Please, please let me make it up to you,” Twilight begged.

“Very well, you may show your appreciation,” Coldheart stated as she extended her right forehoof.

It was a routine that Coldheart had performed before. The supplicant would kiss her hoof, bow down in front of her, begging for mercy and a chance to prove themselves. How she would react was the only variable--usually.

Leaping directly up, Twilight wrapped her forelegs around Coldheart’s neck and met her lips directly with her own. The kiss was firm and impassioned, causing the Empress to pause. There was warmth in this kiss, and she found herself amused by it.

She kissed back, letting her lips tease over the unicorn’s. The smaller mare responded with a soft moan, opening her mouth, inviting a visit inside. Coldheart felt her lips part and laughed softly, taking her tongue just to the edge of Twilight’s mouth and teasing her lips with it. It brought out a desperate groan from the mare, and an increasingly deep smile from Coldheart.

The kiss was broken by a deep growl from a black dog that walked up behind the embraced couple. Pulling away from Twilight, Coldheart turned towards the beast, her smile fading slightly. “Toy, I don’t believed that I summoned you here.”

Twilight stared over at the dog, who looked back at her with glowing green eyes. A snarl pulled back the dog’s lips, and its jaws snapped forward towards the mare, causing Twilight to jump backwards.

“Toy!” Coldheart snapped. “Do not make me punish you.”

The room lit up green, as fire surrounded the dog, flaming upwards and leaving another figure behind. Dark, chitinous skin fell down to legs that were riddled with holes. A pale green mane hung loosely down her neck, while frail, shattered, translucent wings buzzed on her back. Fangs were bared on her face, as she hissed over at Twilight Sparkle.

“Queen Chrysalis!” Twilight shouted, jumping backwards.

The changeling hissed again, spitting out bile towards Twilight. “NO!” She turned towards Coldheart. “I did not use that name! I would never use that name. Please, please do not punish me!”

“Calm yourself, Toy,” Coldheart reached over and pet the changeling’s mane gently. “But explain yourself. Why did you growl at this mare?”

“She is wrong! I know this, Empress. She is not worthy of you!” Toy pleaded.

“And now you are here to tell me what is and what is not right for me?” Coldheart asked.

“N--no, Empress. Toy did not say that! I just do not trust this one. I knows things that are not natural, and this one is not!” The changeling was emphatic, and frightening to Twilight Sparkle, but she found herself unwilling to leave Coldheart’s side. Instead, she pressed herself closer to the pink alicorn, trying to hide from view.

“You are jealous, pet,” Coldheart said softly. “You don’t like that I this pony has been given a taste of love. You want it for yourself, even knowing that I give you love at my whim, feeding you--sustaining you.” She reached over and pet the changeling’s mane once again. “But it isn’t your concern what I do with my love, is it? And it is never, ever your place to question me.” Her tone changed, growing hard and razor sharp. “And if you question me again, I will see you wither away into nothing, is that clear?”

The changeling withered away whimpering, her eyes up at the being lording over her. She slumped down onto her belly, ready to crawl away.

“Do not think of leaving,” Coldheart commanded. “I want you to see everything that this mare does to me, and everything that I give her in return.”

Toy’s lip began to twitch, even as her eyes welled with green tears. Twilight stared out at her in disbelief, slowly stepping out around Coldheart. “H--how did you...”

She looked down at Twilight, with a smile that would freeze a flame. “She is my pet. A few years ago she was foolish enough to try to invade my Empire, bringing with her an army of creatures that fed upon love.” She laughed. “Love, of all things. She thought herself powerful enough to confront me directly. I showed her the error of her ways. I drained all of the love from her, leaving her weak and helpless, and then killed her people. She is the last of her kind. It might have affected her thinking.”

“I would never imagine...” Twilight whispered.

“You don’t have to,” Coldheart brought the mare’s eyes back up to her own, and Twilight felt her heart skip a beat, “you have me. And I am all the reality that you would ever need.”

“Yes,” Twilight gasped.

“I want you to show me how much you love me, Twilight...Sprinkle was it?” she asked.

“Sparkle. But whatever you want to call me is fine,” she said back, her eyes glazed over.

“How about I just call you pet for now? It won’t matter in the long run, anyway,” she said.

“Well, if you think that’s best,” Twilight responded. She glanced over at Toy, who looked up at her, and for a moment Twilight thought she saw a tinge of hate behind the fear. “Are you sure we’re safe?”

“I’m completely safe,” Coldheart answered. “And you are with me, so what harm could come to you? Now,” she ran a hoof over Twilight’s mane, “how do you want to love me?”

“In every way I can!” Twilight answered enthusiastically, forgetting the changeling once again, her every thought focused on Coldheart.

“Then begin. Our time together is sure to be short, and I don’t want it wasted.” Laying down on the floor, she sprawled out on her side, her wings unfolding behind her as she settled her body into position. Her mane and tail flowing over the ground in a cascade of pastel color.

“So beautiful...” Twilight trailed off as she stared down at her, captivated completely.

Licking her lips as she went down to her knees, Twilight brought her mouth over to meet that of the beauty in front of her. She pulled on them, tugging gently with her own mouth against the alicorn’s, tasting the passion with every moment.

A giggle and a slight push from Coldheart showed Twilight where to go, as she broke from the kiss and began to pepper her way down her body. Moving along her neck, she played with the flesh beneath the coat, feeling the pulse quickening

“Yes pet,” Coldheart said, “take your time. You will want to relish these moments.”

“I am,” Twilight spoke as she moved along, taking a brief side trip to mover over the alicorn to tend to her wings. Light kisses and small nips with her teeth teased at the base of the other mare’s wings, eliciting a slight moan.

“You’ve done that before,” she said. Her feathers bristled under the unicorn’s administrations, and she could hear Toy growl in the background. She smiled.

Twilight moved down the side of the mare, kissing down her body once more, finally reaching the cutie mark on her flank. For a moment she paused, suddenly noticing that the color of the mark was off. The heart was darker and more disturbing than it normally appeared.

“What are you waiting for, pet?” Coldheart asked. “Do you not want to please me?”

“Of course I do, Empress!” Twilight exclaimed. “I love you!”

The growl from the changeling grew a little louder as Twilight moved back around to the alicorn’s belly, trying to push her way between the mare’s legs. Coldheart kept them closed, much to Twilight’s frustration.

“Are you enjoying the show, Toy?” Coldheart teased. “I really should let you do this to me a little more, don’t you think?”

The changeling knew better than to answer. Instead she bit her tongue--literally--tasting blood to remind herself that this pain was better than what she might suffer from if she had spoken.

Coldheart moaned as Twilight found access to her marehood. The unicorn had slipped around behind her, burying her muzzle deep enough so that her tongue was able to tease along her wet slit.

“Would you like access, dear pet?” Coldheart laughed down at the unicorn.

“More than anything, Empress!” Twilight spoke in a muffled tone.

“And what are you willing to give me in trade?” she asked.

“Everything!” Twilight was fighting to get her tongue inside the mare’s nether opening.

Toy’s eyes grew huge as she heard what was transpiring. She wanted to scream, but held herself in check.

“Excellent,” the Empress said as she opened her hind legs.

Like a starving nag finding its first meal in weeks, Twilight’s mouth latched onto Coldheart’s pussy. Licking and sucking like a madmare, Twilight’s actions drew a laugh from the alicorn.

“Slow down, pet!” she said in a mocking tone. “You have plenty of time to taste as much as you like.”

“Mmmmphh.” The voice was vaguely Twilight’s, but there was no way to figure out the words. Her tongue was very busy at the moment anyway, exploring deep inside the fleshy opening of Coldheart, while her lips teased and played over the hood of the clit, hoping to coax it out of hiding.

“Hahahaha,” the alicorn laughed. “You are very enthusiastic, pet. Don’t you agree, Toy?”

Looking up from the floor, Toy stared at the action between the alicorn’s legs, but it wasn’t the sex that was drawing her in, but rather the passion behind it. She could taste the emotion pouring off of Twilight as she worked on Coldheart, and it was causing a reaction of her own between her legs.

“You would love to be a part of this, wouldn’t you, Toy? I imagine that you are doing everything in your power to hold yourself in control, aren’t you?” she asked. “Well, I’m sure I can make it a little easier.”

A pink glow surrounded Coldheart’s horn, and a fragment of it broke off and floated over towards Toy, whose mouth began to quiver as she saw it approach. It impacted against her, covering her body in a faint pink glow. Her eyes closed, the lids flickering as they fought to reopen, and her body shivered in near-orgasmic delight as the rush of love energy coursed through her.

“That is just a taste of what I am feeling from this mare, Toy,” Coldheart said. “She would be a full meal for you. Wouldn’t that be delightful?”

The changeling’s lips curled up, her fangs coming full into view. Her eyes opened, and she now stared across at the unicorn performing on her Empress with a whole new outlook.

Twilight was oblivious. Her entire focus was in pleasing this amazing mare that was allowing her the privilege of doing so. Her tongue was moving faster than she ever had done, plunging in and out of the depths of the mare’s cunt. She was moving her lips madly, playing across the outside of Coldheart’s pussy, feeling them vibrate against her. And she allowed her own hoof to slide down between her hind legs to find a sopping wet marehood anxiously awaiting.

Staring down at her, Coldheart was impressed. The mare working between her legs wasn’t the most experienced that she had ever found, but she was certainly one of the most enthusiastic. Whatever was motivating her to act the way she was, it was something deep and personal.

Toy’s mouth was watering. The smell and taste of the unicorn’s emotion was so strong, so delicious--and she hadn’t truly tasted her. Yet.

Coldheart let the moment happen. She rolled her head back, allowing herself to feel the physical stimulation completely. The change brought about a new excitement from Twilight, as all of her work suddenly seemed to be paying off. The pink alicorn’s clit emerged from its hood, and Twilight pulled her tongue loose and began to lick and suck on the sensitive nub.

A smile crept over Coldheart’s face, her hooves sliding down her sides and stroking her coat sensuously. She concentrated on her the way her skin felt, and on the way the mare’s tongue felt on her most private areas. Her hoof moved down between her own legs, grasping the unicorn’s mane and holding it tight. She began to buck her hips, smashing her groin into the muzzle of the young mare that was so anxiously trying to please her.

For what it was worth, the unicorn tried to keep up with her, but she was merely mortal and quickly lost tempo. Her mouth and tongue became an object. A thing for Coldheart to grind herself against. She could hear the unicorn whimper, but she didn’t know--nor care--if it was from pain or pleasure. She sensed the mare playing with herself. She saw the hunger in Toy’s eyes. But she only cared about what was happening to her.

She rode that mare’s muzzle to orgasm. Her teeth grinding together, she continued to buck against her face, each thrust enhancing her bliss as she let loose a torrent of her juices, letting them soak into the mare’s lavender coat. Her hips twisted in a small circle as she finished her crescendo.

Finally done, a small flick of her leg tossed Twilight Sparkle to the side, flinging her two body lengths away, where she landed with a wet thud. “I’m done with her, Toy,” she said softly. “You may have her, but leave her alive. I have questions for her, yet.”

Without hesitation, Toy stood up and rushed over towards the unicorn. Even unconscious, Twilight Sparkle was radiating emotion, and the changeling’s long tongue snaked out of her mouth and wrapped around her lips, drawing in the drool that began to form.

Her head lowered, teeth bared, ready to bite into the tender flesh in front of her and feed on the emotion and life that lay within. And she was horrifically frustrated when her progress was stopped by a shield of glowing gold.

Her head jerked up with a growl, and she met the gaze of a snow white mare with a flowing mane of gold. An alabaster horn with an aura of gold rested on her forehead, as her magic shielded the unconscious Twilight. The angry tone of Toy drew the attention of Coldheart, who lazily turned her head to identify the commotion.

“Trueblood,” she grumbled. “Still meddling in my affairs, I see.”

“Fantasia.” The mare’s voice was clear and strong. Her eyes were bright and focused. And there was a glint shining from her teeth.

From a crouched position, Toy hissed and began to slink along the ground, circling behind Trueblood. The white mare remained unfazed, keeping her eyes on Coldheart.

“Why are you bothering me tonight?” Coldheart asked.

“You aren’t getting this one,” she responded without pause. “I’m taking her.”

An eyebrow went up on Coldheart, and she leisurely moved to a sitting position. “Taking her? And I’m supposed to let you?”

“You don’t have a choice, actually.” Trueblood remained oblivious to Toy as she positioned herself for an attack. She smiled as her horn grew brighter, leading to a golden-white blinding flash of light just as the changeling leapt forward. When she landed there was no pony there, just the floor where they had stood prior to the teleportation.

“Witch!” Toy cried out, gnashing her teeth with green spittle flying everywhere. “I will eat your spleen while you watch!”

Her head jerked over to look at Coldheart. The alicorn sat there a placid expression on her face. She slowly shook her head, and gestured out towards the window. “Go. Bring the lavender one back. Do what you must.”

With a snarl Toy flew out the window, hunting for fresh prey.

* * * * * * *

Luna walked through the halls of Canterlot castle, her eyes taking in the sights. She was currently staring at the windows where normally a celebration of the past was honored with various stained glass works of art. These were clear, clean glass.

The floors beneath her were clean marble. No inlay. No decoration. It was hard to make out the color in the dark, but they were either off-white or a pale pink. There were no paintings on the walls. No tapestries to dress them up.

And no lights.

This wasn’t an issue for Luna, as there was no darkness that could hinder her vision, but regular ponies that would come through here would be lost. And she knew why--at least to a point.

The doors to the throne room beckoned her. They stood open, and the room had the one quality that was missing from the rest of the castle: light. Her stride remained even as she walked up to the doorway, pausing to look around the room for a moment, her eyes drawn to a familiar bright pink alicorn that stood beside a window, staring out into the night.

“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza?” The size was wrong, but the familiarity was too strong to be anypony else. That was, until the mare turned to look at her. The draconian eyes that stared back were far too familiar to Luna. “No, I suppose not any longer.”

“That is twice in one day that somepony has used a name that I thought long forgotten,” she turned fully, striding across the room in a slow, deliberate gait. “Who are you? An alicorn in my Empire? How is this possible?”

“I am Luna, Goddess of the Night. You would do well to remember my name.” She stepped into the room, her eyes focused on the mare returning her gaze.

“Goddess of the Night?” Coldheart laughed. “I think I would know if you were, whelp.”

It was Luna’s turn to laugh. “Yes, and what is it that you are calling yourself now? Nightmare Love?”

“I am Fantasia Coldheart, Empress of the Six Kingdoms.” She stopped walking, standing several meters away from Luna. “And that is another curiosity. Why do you not know me?”

“And why should I know a pretender to the throne?” Luna asked.

“A pretender?” The room echoed with her laughter. “And who would challenge me? You? Them?” She pointed to the wall behind Luna.

A chill fell upon the room as Luna turned over her shoulder to behold the wall. Her eyes danced across the trophies that lined the one part of the room, but they always fell back onto the head of a white figure sitting at the center of it all.

When she turned back, her eyes had changed. Teal light glowed, filling them completely and radiating anger. Her lips had curled back, revealing her fangs in a snarl that would cause statues to step backwards. “What?! Did?! You?! DO?!”

Coldheart smiled. She slowly turned and walked over to her throne, taking great care to do so in a slow, graceful step, her mane wafting elegantly. She sat down on the great, golden seat, turning back to look at the angry goddess.

“It began hundreds of years ago,” she said thoughtfully, “when I used the names that you and the other mare called me. I found an ancient tome of power, hidden in a cave inside the Everfree Forrest, and began reading. Page after page of knowledge and enlightenment, things that Selene had kept hidden from me, that Celestia had kept hidden from me. And with every word I grew. I evolved.”

Her chest rose and fell as the memory filled her. “It was clear to me that they had never truly cared for me, and I lost all feeling towards them. I saw them for who they truly were, and I knew who I truly was.

“It was my own dear great grandmother who I approached first. I filled her heart with more love than she understood, and she wept at my hooves, lamenting any pain that may have ever come my way. And I laughed as I took her life,” she smiled as she spoke.

“And you claim to not know me?” Luna growled.

“Why should I?” she asked. “With Selene’s death, I took her power, absorbing her strength and becoming the Goddess of the Night. And then... Then I turned my attention to Celestia.”

Luna’s eyes narrowed to slits of pure rage.

“The pompous ruler of Equestria. The high queen on her throne, sitting above us all and holding court. Looking down at everypony from her own lofty position,” her voice was thick with hatred. “The egotistical fool. She thought herself untouchable. She fell before me, begging to please me in every way--and I taunted her. I made her demean herself for my amusement, while openly laughing at her. She cried thinking herself not worthy of my love.

“Which, of course, she wasn’t.

“Her’s was the first head that I mounted. My prized possession. I keep it here to look at every day as I bring up the sun. A reminder that I am now what she once was, and so much more. I found Selene’s head and placed it beside her. The old order of the sun and the moon, now passed and replaced by a better version. And then the other rulers of the kingdoms that make up my empire joined them, as well as the fools who would challenge me, until there was no pony left. I am the sole power in the world today. The perfect mare in my perfect world.”

The air around Luna shimmered. A rage so controlled that it radiated from her being. “You do not deserve to live,” she said through clenched teeth.

“Interesting,” she responded. “Every pony in the world knows this tale. Which can only mean one thing: you are not from this world, are you? You are from Endymion’s world.”

Luna’s head snapped back, her eyes opening in surprise. “Endymion? You know Endymion?”

A silent laughter accompanied the mare’s response. “Of course I do. He was my great grandfather. The tales of his arrival were told by Selene on a regular basis. How he came here from a distant land--a land beyond any land we know--and won the goddess’s heart. How his even temper brought a peace to the land, and quelled the growing contempt between Selene and her sister. He saved the world.

“And you are from his world, aren’t you?” she asked, leaning forward.

“It doesn’t matter, but yes, I am. Goldfeather was right, you are a demon come to life,” Luna hissed. “And as soon as you tell me where Twilight Sparkle is, I will put an end to you and leave this place forever.”

“I see,” Coldheart softly answered. “And you intend to do this how exactly?”

“By tearing your head from your body, and hanging it on the wall in place of my beloved!” Luna shot back. “And leaving it there alone, so that everypony in the world can come by to see it.”

“Oh. Well, in that case I have only one thing to say,” the alicorn stated, sitting back into her throne.

“And what are your final words?” Luna asked.

“Love me.” Her eyes flared to solid pink.

* * * * * * *

“C’mon friend, I need you to help me out here.” Trueblood was carrying the unconscious form of Twilight Sparkle, levitating her along behind as she walked briskly through the streets. “I can’t carry you forever, and I’m sure that she’s out hunting for us already.”

The dark streets of Canterlot were a haven to anypony trying to be stealthy--unless of course you were bright white with a golden yellow mane. And it didn’t help to be transporting an unconscious pony with you. Trueblood kept her eyes scanning in every direction, waiting for the inevitable.

“Where are you...?” Her tone was soft and quiet. She turned back to the unconscious unicorn with her. “What do you think? Hiding sounds like a good idea until I can get up enough magic to teleport us out of here. Right now I’m more worried that I would just draw attention to us before we could make it out of town. But if we hide out and wait, I’ll have enough to get us well out of town where we could make a break for it.”

Twilight said nothing in her knocked-out state.

“Yeah,” Trueblood turned and moved between two buildings, “talking to a zonked-out mare. Not my best moment.”

Four doors welcomed her to the alleyway, each leading to a different building, and none of them identified. The first door on the right seemed like as good an option as any other, so she took it. The lock fell easily underneath the pressure of her magic, and she slipped inside, carrying Twilight with her.

She set the mare down, and then shut the door quietly behind them. “Wait here,” she instructed, and went deeper into the place.

Silhouettes of ponies filled the room beyond. Unmoving figures made of coarse fabric and stiff padding, serving as display models for the items draped onto them. In this case, hats. Mare’s hats.

“A milliner,” she said, levitating one of the items over to her. A wide-brimmed cloche in silver and blue with an intricately hoof-stitched pattern worked into it. “And a pretty good one, too. Or was, at least.” Dust fell off the hat in a cloud as Trueblood shook it in the air. “Abandoned. Like most of the town.”

Keeping a close eye out, she walked to the front of the store, looking out of the large window and into the dark streets. Looking for a sign of movement from anypony--or anything.

“Quiet. Good,” she said to herself, and then turned back to the rest of the room. “Wonder if there is anything in here that we can use?”

Moving back into the heart of the chamber, she took a quick survey of her surroundings. Fashion figures and lots of hats were all that showed up at first glance--or even second. And it was on the second glance that her eyes stopped.

“Oh my,” she gasped, stepping forward towards a wide-brimmed sun hat, red with a gold band. She pursed her lips and took hold of it with her magic, raising it up and shaking the dust free of it. “Oh my,” she repeated.

With careful grace, she moved the hat on top of her head, and then turned to find the closest mirror. There were several available, including a trio of mirrors arranged to give her a wider view. She stepped in front of them, looking at herself--and smiling. “I always did look good in red,” she said softly with a sigh.

She was right, too. The red stood out so beautifully from her pale white coat, and the gold band on the hat matched her mane surprisingly well. Plus the rich color really helped bring out the violet in her eyes.

And then she saw the green reflecting in the mirror behind her.

Practiced reflexes moved before she had time to think. In one motion she fell and rolled, coming up to the side of the blast that shattered the mirror, sending shards of glass flying and creating a refracted glisten of magical green throughout the room.

“Good a shot as always, eh, Toy?” she mocked the changeling’s miss, hoping to buy a second.

“Your luck will fail you tonight, mare, and then I will feast twice. Once on the love harboring inside the lavender unicorn, and then upon your heart for dessert,” her voice buzzed with hate.

“That doesn’t sound like a good idea to me,” Trueblood answered, moving backwards slightly, getting position. “You sure Fantasia won’t be upset if you do that? Besides, you’re going to tire here in a minute anyway. When was the last time she fed you? A week? Longer?”

The changeling hissed. “I was getting a full meal tonight, until you showed up.”

“Yes, a full meal. A morsel that she threw your way,” Trueblood shifted around, with Toy moving as her reflection to the other side. “She could sate you for months with just a brief thought.”

“One day she will give me back my strength,” she spat back. “I will be restored. And then I will be no toy. You will see.”

“Right. You go on thinking that,” she answered.

“I will think what I like. And I will do it while wearing your skin as a blanket,” she answered.

Trueblood winced. “Ooh, I think that my mane is really going to clash with that shade of green.”

“Let’s find out,” Toy answered, leaping forward to tackle Trueblood. The unicorn reacted instantly, teleporting behind where the changeling had leapt, ready to act. The changeling was just slightly quicker, though, as she turned the second she landed, redirecting herself back to where Trueblood now stood.

The unicorn saw everything happening in slow motion. She saw Toy, easily twice her size, closing in on her, fangs dripping with green saliva--at least she hoped it was just saliva--and the ragged edge of her hooves set to tear her flesh apart. Her first thought was that even though she thought red looked good on her, she didn’t really like blood red. And it would take forever to get it completely out of her coat.

And that’s when Toy vanished from sight.

A flash of magenta took her place, brilliant light in the dark of the room. She heard a crash of glass and could feel the air rush in through the shattered window as her mind began to match the speed of what was happening around her.

She jerked her head to the side in time to see Toy bouncing against the far building, falling to the ground motionless. At least for the time being. Turning her head back the other way, she saw the figure of a lavender unicorn, her horn still crackling with power with a face that was twisted with anger.

“I’ve been waiting months to do that to her,” Twilight stated.

“I didn’t even know you had met Toy before tonight,” Trueblood said, stepping over to the other mare.

“I hadn’t. Or I kinda did. Or...well, it’s complicated,” Twilight stated, looking into Trueblood’s eyes for the first time.

“I’m Trueblood. I’m here to rescue you,” she said.

“Uh...Twilight Sparkle. And, um, thanks, I guess,” she answered. “What happened to me? I feel...odd.”

“I’ll tell you when we’re far away from here,” she answered. “You feeling okay?”

“Disoriented, but okay,” Twilight said.

“Good, because teleporting can be a bit of an experience,” Trueblood explained.

“You can teleport?” Twilight’s eyes grew wide.

“Yep!” And they vanished in a flash of golden light.

* * * * * * *

Pink energy crackled across Luna’s coat, arcing between her wings, and dancing over her feathers.

“No,” she said firmly.

Coldheart blinked. “Excuse me?”

“You told me to love you, and I am telling you no,” Luna repeated.

A smile of delight grew on Coldheart’s muzzle as she rose up on her throne. “Are you actually defying me?”

“I am doing more than that. I am removing you from authority.” Lightning slipped down from the sky, piercing through the roof of the building and striking on and around the golden seat holding Coldheart. Shards of flooring shattered, flying up into the air and creating a halo of debris that hung in the air around the throne itself, blinding the figure from view.

It stopped as suddenly as it began, the bits of flooring falling haphazardly around the area of destruction. And when all was done, there sat Coldheart, her expression unchanged in the aftermath.

“I cannot believe that you resisted me,” she said in delight. “You have an amazing sense of strength.”

Luna’s only response was a direct blast of energy from her horn, which shattered two feet from its intended target, sparking around Coldheart in a pyroclastic display. She stood up, Luna’s energy continuing to pour around her as she stepped forward.

“Tell me,” she began with more enthusiasm, “are there others like you on your world? Perhaps some even stronger? I have to find out. I have to go there.”

Leaping directly at her, Luna snarled, baring her fangs. She had every intention of sinking them into the neck of this beast and ripping her throat out in one motion. Instead, she found herself hanging in the air in front of her intended target.

“How did you get her?” Coldheart asked. “And be specific.”

A burst of magic surrounded Luna, giving her a moment of freedom as she began to fall, free of Coldheart’s magical grip. Her wings unfurled and she propelled herself forward once more.

This time she connected. Her fangs sank into the alicorn’s flesh, and she tasted the mare’s blood on her tongue. And then she tasted her own blood mixing with it as Coldheart slapped her across her muzzle, sending her flying across the room, smashing into the far wall with enough impact to crack the stone.

“How DARE you?!” Coldheart shouted, her eyes growing darker by the second. “You actually drew blood from me! ME!”

“It won’t be the last time, either,” Luna allowed herself a momentary smile.

“Oh, that’s where you are wrong.” This time it was Luna who was on the receiving end of a burst of lightning. It rained down through the windows around her, shattering the glass, slamming into her body and burning the hair on her coat. She could smell the flesh cooking even before she began to scream.

Coldheart watched as the energy tore through the dark alicorn, somewhat upset that she allowed herself to react this way. It would be more difficult to find the alien world without this mare, but she still needed to be punished. Terminally so.

The light flashed around the room as Luna slumped to the ground, each flash tearing through her instantly. When the final echo of the last scream stopped, Coldheart stopped the spell, bringing silence and stability to the room.

“A pity,” she sighed, “you would have been entertaining.”

She turned her back, stepping away from the body on the floor--only to stop at the sound of a groan.

Her head craned backwards, staring in disbelief. “You’re alive?”

“You m--may find me...rather difficult...to kill,” Luna struggled to speak.

“You have no idea how excited I am right now,” Coldheart gasped.

“Then...I will have to...change that,” Luna struggled to stand, finding her willpower much stronger than her legs at the moment.

“Oh, I doubt that very sincerely,” she turned to walk over towards Luna once more. “But I do think that we are going to get to know each other much, much better.”

“Sorry...to disappoint.” Luna’s horn lit up, energy shooting from it to strike out at the mare--and shooting far wide.

“Your aim is poor,” Coldheart stated.

“No, it isn’t.” The words came out just as the cracking sound echoed through the room. Coldheart spun around to see a column splitting in two and beginning to crumble, the ceiling threatening to do the same.

Her own magic sprung to life, forcing the stone back whole and restoring the cracks in the ceiling with very little effort.

By the time she turned back around, the only evidence left behind was the thin, faint trail of purple mist that was creeping across the grounds outside her castle.

“What a very clever mare...” The appreciation was evident in her tone.

She was still staring out the window as a dark green figure stormed into the chamber. It walked up near the alicorn, hesitant to speak out loud, but knowing that the longer she remained silent the worse her likely punishment.

“Empress?” Toy grit her teeth with every word. “I’m sorry, Empress, but the ponies managed to...escape.”

“Hmm?” Coldheart turned slightly, not even facing the changeling. “Oh, what a shame. Oh well, another day perhaps.”

“Yes, Empress, another day. Very soon from now, I hope.” Toy responded with disdain. Her focus was still on the two mares that drove her off. Her two meals that slipped through her hooves like a sieve. Her mind raced through the things she wanted to do to each of them, in turn, while the other watched.

“Toy?” Coldheart snapped her attention back.

“Yes, Empress?” she responded instantly.

“I want you to summon my Dragoons.” Her focus was still out the window.

“The Dragoons, Empress? But...but they haven’t been together in years, and--” Toy was cut off with a wave of Coldheart’s hoof.

“Yes, yes, but this is something unique. Something different.”

She turned around, looking at Toy with a fire burning in her eyes. “We have a world to conquer...again.”

...to be continued.

Author's Note

"Hey, um, Nom? You forgot the scene where Luna went through the portal..."

Actually, no I didn't. How to get through the portal will be a part of the plot. Luna figured it out. Twilight hasn't. So, that's why no scene of her getting through.