Who Rules?: Shattered Hearts

Who Rules: Shattered Hearts

by Nom deCheval

Chapter Four

“Report, Captain?”

Shining Armor relaxed, his head coming down as he went at ease. This ante-chamber of the Throne Room was scarcely used, but he always made sure that it was in perfect condition. If he had things his way, the room would be different in its construction. Two southern-facing windows on one wall might allow for a flood of sunlight during the day, but it also left a huge whole in security. The other walls were thick stone, with only the one obvious door on the northern wall that led in and out--though there were two other doors that only he and the princesses were aware of on the western wall.

The center of the room was the focal point. A large, round table, currently littered with maps and journals. The main map showing all of Equestria, while the smaller maps showing particular areas in greater detail were either hidden under or off to the side of it--with one exception. A detailed map of the section of the western area of Equestria sat atop the main map, garnering the attention of the two ruling figures of the country.

It was a room that no pony wanted to use. The war room.

“The squad is in position outside the cave,” Shining Armor stated. “We have fifty of our best there right now. If anypony comes out of that pool, we’ll know about it and stop them on the spot.”

“Excellent,” Celestia said. “Good work, Captain.”

“Did you instruct them about what to do if Coldheart appeared?” Luna asked.

“Yes, Your Highness. They have instructions to collapse the cave on the spot,” he answered. “No warnings. No hesitation.”

Luna nodded, her brow furrowed. “I hope that it works.”

“Collapsing that cave would stop anypony, Your Highness. Even you or Princess Celestia,” Shining Armor stated confidently.

“Don’t be so certain,” Luna said. “You underestimate either of us--or her--and you may find yourself in a bad place. Trust me on this.”

“Enough, Luna,” Celestia said firmly. “What is the status with the rest of the army?”

“I would say that we are sitting somewhere between eighty and eighty-five percent. We are still bringing in the last of the ground squads from the southern and eastern borders, and we have sent two of the flying squads to patrol the entire perimeter while the ground forces are absent.”

“How long would it take them to get to the castle?” Celestia asked, her face a shroud of emotion.

“Six, maybe seven hours,” he answered.

Celestia nodded, her form still placid. She moved the smaller map to the side, and brought in a more familiar one to everypony at the table: a map of Canterlot.

“Tell me, Captain, where are our weak points? The changeling invasion must have revealed some to you,” she suggested.

“It did,” he answered, stepping over to stand across from the ruling pair. “We have taken great care to correct the mistakes that were made that day. There are several avenues of approach that we realized were best handled by putting new ramparts in place, which we have done. I have also been refining my defense spell, reinforcing it against physical assault. I think you will be pleased with what I’ve accomplished.”

“I’m already pleased with what you’ve accomplished, Captain.” The first ray of light finally shined from the Sun Goddess, as her smile lit up the room. “And I’m hoping that I don’t have to see your spell in action.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Shining Armor went back to a state of attention.

“Keep me updated on any changes. You are dismissed, Captain,” Celestia said politely.

A curt nod and a sharp turn later, Shining Armor stepped out of the room, leaving the princesses behind.

“He is a good stallion,” Luna said. “Our niece is a lucky mare.”

“Yes, well, that’s another matter,” Celestia said, taking a deep breath.

“What do you mean?” Luna raised an eyebrow.

A heavy sigh came out of Celestia. “It’s not the proper time to bring it up, but...he and Cadance are having issues.”

“That is not good news!” Luna stated.

Celestia shook her head. “No, it isn’t. I just hope that it doesn’t interfere with what we need to do now.” She looked at Luna with intensity. “Which reminds me, how are you feeling?”

“Better,” she answered, thrusting her chest out. “I am prepared for anything.”

“Really? Give me your right hoof,” Celestia asked.

Luna turned her head to the side, narrowing her gaze. “And why would I do that?”

“Because I want to see it,” Celestia stated.

“If you want to see it so badly, get down on your knees and kiss it!” Luna commanded.

“Luna,” Celestia’s voice leveled. “Give me your hoof.”

The Night Goddess and the Sun Goddess locked eyes, staring deeply. Neither one seemed willing to move at all. Finally, Luna broke away, a snarl on her face.

“Fine,” she grunted. “I’m still a little sore. But I am healing quickly. I will be fine by the time that we get to anything on the other side of the portal.”

“And what if she’s waiting on the other side of the portal? Are you ready then?” Celestia asked.

“Oh, I relish the moment when I get to confront her once more.” Luna bared her fangs.

“You are the one who told me to be wary of her. Of how dangerous she could actually be,” Celestia reminded her sister.

“Have you forgotten how dangerous I can be?” Luna asked.

Shaking her head, Celestia extended a wing over her wife’s flank. “Don’t let this become a matter of ego, Luna.”

“Oh, it is,” Luna said with a toothy grin.

“Luna!” Celestia snapped.

“Tia!” Luna snapped back.

“This is a serious matter,” Celestia stated.

“I am very serious,” Luna said. “Tia, I want her. She beat me easily, and I want to show her that I am not that mare.”

“I...” Celestia thought back to her confrontation during the changeling invasion. Of her battle with Chrysalis. “I understand.” She looked firmly at her sister. “But you need to be careful, still. You need to be at full strength before you confront her.”

“I will be.” Luna extended her muzzle over and nuzzled against Celestia’s neck.

“How long until you think you will be healed? Honestly?” Celestia asked.

“I am not sure,” Luna said. “At the rate that I have been healing, I would estimate half a day, maybe a little longer.”

“Then we will wait until morning before we go. I need you to be at full strength,” Celestia said.

“And until then?” Luna asked.

Pulling her wing back, Celestia moved to the far side of the table, her eyes focused down on it as she walked. “We have to be prepared for the worst.”

* * * * * * *

The chamber echoed with the sound of lapping water. No other sound dared to disturb Coldheart as she stared at the unusual sight of a pool hanging on the wall.

“Beautiful,” she whispered. “Absolutely beautiful.”

The gathered ponies--as well as Toy and Goldfeather--remained silent. Letting the empress speak her mind.

“You are absolutely sure that this is the right place?” she asked no pony, not turning at all.

“Yes, Empress,” Goldfeather answered. “The scent of the larger pony led directly here.”

“And you can still smell them here?” She stood still, her eyes fixated on the shimmering water.

“Yes, Empress. Their scents are becoming muddled with all the others here, but...yes,” Goldfeather’s voice scratched and wavered as she spoke.

“Oh? Well, then,” she turned to face the group, “leave. Everypony leave the chamber. I do not want the place contaminated. Except for you, Toy. I wish for you to stay for now.” She turned to Goldfeather. “I want you to gather the Dragoons and the rest of the forces. Have them ready for me when I exit, understood?”

“Yes, Empress!” Goldfeather bowed, her body already shifting towards the exit as she did.

“Go,” Coldheart said simply.

Goldfeather was the first to leave, her wings carrying her away at lightning speed. The other ponies in the chamber were quick on her heels, climbing or flying out in a steady stream.

A smile grew on Coldheart’s face as she watched them scamper.

Quite the contrary, Toy stood there with no expression on her face. Her eyes were dark, a glint of green glowing from their depths. She kept her face directed at the pool of water.

“What’s wrong, Toy?” Coldheart’s voice was soothing, and Toy knew how disingenuous it truly was.

“Nothing, Empress.” Her voice was flat.

“Oh, don’t lie to me, Toy. We are too close for that, aren’t we?” Coldheart moved over, her wing draping across Toy’s back. Immediately, Toy’s wings buzzed, only to be pressed down flat.

“What is to be the fate of this other world, Empress?” she asked.

Coldheart smiled. “Oh, that is simple, pet. I intend to conquer it.”

“And this world? What becomes of it? You cannot be in both places at once,” Toy stated, her eyes still fixated on the pool.

“Why? What are you wondering, Toy?” she asked.

“You have no intention of leaving it to...her,” she turned her very slightly, “do you?”

“Trueblood?” Coldheart laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous! She is a spiteful, irresponsible whelp.” She took a deep breath. “Both worlds are mine, of course. I will rule them.”

“Of course you will, Empress,” Toy stated. “I realize that you are beyond reproach, but...who will carry your word while you are away?”

Finally breaking from the view of the water, Toy looked at Coldheart, her eyes soft and giving. “Who will keep your subjects proper behind your back? You will need time to tame the new world, and if you leave this one totally unprotected, then Trueblood will run rampant. She will gain followers and undermine what you have created.”

“Oh, Toy,” Coldheart reached her hoof up, brushing away the wispy mane that surrounded the changeling’s face. “You are so very transparent.” She laughed. “And while it amuses me, it gains you nothing.”

“Then let me amuse you! Let me please you, Empress! What can I do to earn your favor?” Toy pleaded.

“You already have my favor, pet,” her hoof stroked down Toy’s side. “Why do you think that I keep you around?”

Toy’s lip twitched momentarily. “You are so very kind, Empress, but I want to prove to you that I can be more than you think I am. More valuable than you think.”

“Oh, so now you choose to think for me?” Coldheart asked, her voice carrying an overly hurt tone.

“I only wish to prove myself to you, Empress,” Toy bowed her head.

“And how do you propose to do this?” Coldheart asked.

“Let me watch over the empire while you are gone. Keep the rabble in line while you expand your holdings,” Toy stated. She fell down to her knees, staring up at Coldheart. “I beg of you, let me do this.”

The alicorn turned her head slightly, staring down at the changeling, her lips pulled back in a thin smile. “Oh, Toy, you do know how much I love to see a pony begging.”

Toy’s head dropped further, inching forward towards Coldheart’s hooves. “It is more than just begging,” Toy’s lips reached out and kissed the metal-clad hoof, “it is an honor.”

Half-lidded eyes stared up at the predatory dragon eyes that stared down. Toy kissed her hoof again, and then again, and then let her lips move upward along the shoes. She paused at the top, her eyes asking permission to proceed.

“The thought of conquest has always excited me,” Coldheart replied, her voice level and certain. “Do not stop until I am satisfied.”

At once, Toy resumed her ministrations, kissing up the length of Coldheart’s leg, moving to the outside and up, until her lips were brushing against the underside of the base of the alicorn’s wings.

Which is when the wing folded down on her, trapping Toy to the side of the alicorn.

Instinctively, Toy lurched backwards, trying to pull her head free, but it was clamped like a vice against the ribcage of Coldheart. Her legs flailed, kicking out and pushing against the slick, cold stone of the ground, finding no traction.

“Yes,” Coldheart hissed, “please struggle. Please prove everything that I already know. That you are weak, and I am strong. That you are nothing, and I am everything.”

Panic crept into the corner of Toy’s mind, and she lashed out, striking against Coldheart’s body. The alicorn did not flinch, her flesh barely moving as blow after blow rained down on her side.

“Are you feeling trapped, Toy? Having trouble breathing?” She laughed. “Good. And remember, I am doing this with only a single wing. Just one. I haven’t put forth any effort at all. What does that tell you?”

A muffled whimper was the only response.

“Let me answer it for you,” Coldheart sneered. “It means that I own you. That at any moment I can choose to snuff out your life like a candle. That every breath you take is a gift of my infinite generosity. That I can crack your carapace in half and watch as your life leaks out of you onto the ground with only the slightest. Little. Effort.” With each word, her wing flexed, pushing the changeling harder against her side, causing a frightened shriek from her victim.

Her wing relaxed, and Toy fell out, gasping for breath. It was short lived, as she found herself grasped by one of Coldheart’s hooves, yanked around and held up in front of her.

“Who do you belong to?” she asked.

“You, Empress!” Her eyes were wild and twitching.

“And what does that mean?” Coldheart smiled with no joy.

“Wh--whatever you want it to!” Toy stammered, her voice desperate.

“Yes, exactly. It means that if you ever try to play me again, I will break you apart a piece at a time, keeping you alive and in agony for the whole process. Understood?” Coldheart’s eyes were razors staring into Toy.

“Y--yes.” Toy’s voice broke, her lip quivering.

“Now,” Coldheart let her go, and the changeling slumped to the ground in a heap, “what is about to happen?”

“A--anything you want,” Toy answered from below Coldheart’s hooves.

“Perfect answer,” Coldheart let out an easy sigh. “Now, get on your back.”

Immediately, Toy flipped over, skittering so that she lay flat, her wings buzzing as they fell to her side. She stared up at Coldheart, her pupils dilated fully.

“Extend your tongue,” the alicorn commanded.

The long tongue slipped out of her mouth, falling down over her chin.

“No, Toy! Up and rigid. I want your tongue sticking straight up!” Coldheart insisted. “And longer! I know you can do it.”

Toy stuck her tongue straight up, altering its size slightly with her magical power, as instructed. Coldheart looked down at it and smiled. She made no motion for a moment, letting the changeling deal with the strain of keeping the tongue out in the damp air of the cave for a moment, the oddly forked end of it looking somewhat like a bulbous prod.

“Now then,” she began, “there are some important things for you to remember for the next few minutes. Firstly, and most importantly, I want you looking at me. I want your eyes on mine the whole time. Secondly, you will be doing all the work. And finally, you might want to do that work very well, as you won’t be able to breathe while it is happening. Understood?”

A tremor ran through Toy as she nodded her agreement.

“Excellent.” Coldheart moved, stepping over Toy’s body, and positioning herself directly over the changeling’s face. Her eyes glowed a brilliant pink, and the whole chamber began to echo the color, the water causing a cascade of color that shimmered through the entirety of the space.

A familiar feeling invaded Toy, one that she knew all too well, and despite her true desires, she felt herself becoming aroused. Her eyes were locked with Coldheart’s, staring up at her with a desperate longing that hadn’t existed moments before. She longed for Coldheart to lower herself down and impale Toy’s tongue into her sex. The front of her thoughts all screamed out for the Empress to take action, rather than just hover there above her face. The back of her mind was cursing herself for wanting that to happen.

And then a single drop fell down. One drop of nectar dripping from Coldheart’s drenched vagina, landing onto Toy’s outstretched tongue. Toy groaned with desire as the taste exploded on her tongue.

Coldheart fell with all her weight, shoving Toy’s tongue deep inside her pussy with a single thrust. She grabbed the changeling’s face with her hooves, holding it still while she settled her nethers down comfortably.

The two mares stared straight into each other’s eyes. One of them in desperation, the other in contempt.

The lips of Coldheart’s vagina completely covered Toy’s mouth and nose, cutting off all of her airways, and for a moment it looked as though she wouldn’t ever do anything else except watch the changeling suffocate.

“Ah, my Toy. My favorite Toy. It is time for you to work your magic. Start fucking me with that tongue,” she commanded.

Toy did just that. Pulling it back almost completely into her mouth, Toy started out slowly, making sure she had the right angle and motion down before increasing the tempo. As soon as she was comfortable, she began to plunge her tongue in and out of Coldheart’s pussy with vigor, attacking it with lustful violence.

“That’s it,” Coldheart purred. “Do me like your life depends on it--because it might. If you aren’t able to get me to cum quickly, you might never take another breath. So, make your Empress happy, Toy. Make her very happy.”

The changeling channeled her own natural magic into the tongue, changing the shape of it as it moved in and out of Coldheart’s cunt. Ridges and rises formed and fell along its length, sending waves of pleasure into the alicorn.

“Yes. This is why I keep you around, wench. Because of your talent. Because you are my favorite plaything. As long as you are able to please your Empress, you will find that you have a special place near me,” Coldheart stared down, looking beyond the eyes of Toy. “A special place beneath me.”

A burning was forming in the back of Toy’s lungs. She had expanded them to take in more air than she needed, but even that excess was beginning to run low. Her tongue was moving like a piston, powering inside Coldheart’s marehood, driving her towards the edge of release.

“Do you have any idea how excited I am, Toy? How much the thought of finding a new world to conquer has made me?” Coldheart’s voice was rough and primal. “And the fact that this Luna mare was able to defy me even for a moment was...exhilarating. This is the first challenge that I have had in what seems like forever, Toy. And I intend to make the most of it.”

Her own desire was almost unbearable, but Toy knew better than to even attempt to touch herself. Any distraction away from the pleasure that Coldheart was receiving would be met with harsh disfavor. Instead, she let the pleasure that she was giving drive her on, hoping beyond hope that it might somehow be reciprocated when the Empress found release.

“Do you want me to cum, Toy? Do you want to make me happy more than you want to breathe?” Coldheart asked. Toy’s only answer was a redoubling of her efforts. Her tongue slammed into and out of the other mare’s pussy with blinding speed--an unnatural speed that no pony else in the world might be able to duplicate.

Coldheart’s teeth suddenly bared. Her lips curling back as the sensation washed over her.

“You! Are! Mine!” she shouted down at Toy, and then threw her head back, a scream echoing off the walls of the cavern and filling the room with a clear and unbridled moment of erotic cacophony.

Keeping her tongue moving, Toy pressed herself to finish. Her vision started to blur and her mind began to wander. She couldn’t focus on the task at hoof, and visions began to appear in her mind. Colors and shapes that made no sense. A kaleidoscope of incoherence, with a growing center of black that began to take up more and more of her mind.

A loud, sharp intake shocked Toy back, as air once more filled her lungs. Coughing and sputtering, the breaths came upon her in desperate, ragged gasps. She rolled onto her side, finding no strength to do anything else at the moment.

“Please, Toy,” Coldheart said from somewhere nearby, “show some control. You are embarrassing yourself.”

With all of her strength, Toy turned over to see Coldheart standing in front of the pool. Her breath was returning to normal quickly, and her focus was returning with equal speed.

“So close,” Coldheart said. “All I have to do is reach out,” she extended a hoof, “and take it.”

Her hoof passed harmlessly through the water.

The Empress pulled her hoof back, her head jerking to the side. She quickly re-inserted it, finding nothing but the hard rock of the back of the cave waiting.

“That...is bothersome,” Coldheart’s voice was forcibly calm and level. “Still, if the other mares used it, then...”

A white light filled the chamber, and Toy watched as silhouetted ghosts seemed to move around her suddenly--including one that looked like herself. Each stepping backwards, they performed a backwards display, rewinding their motion until the chamber was once again empty. And then there was nothing for a long moment, suddenly interrupted by a black alicorn with an ethereal mane of stars stepping backwards through the portal. Another flash of white and the chamber was free of the ghostly images.

Coldheart laughed. “So simple.”

“What is, Empress?” Toy slowly regained her hooves, standing once more under her own power.

“The key to activating this pool. I must thank Luna for pointing it out to me when next we meet,” she replied. Turning to face Toy, she continued. “Which brings up another point.”

Stepping over to stand in front of Toy, Coldheart smiled. “I always intended for you to be my proxy while I was gone, Toy. That was why I asked you to remain behind after I sent the others away. So that I could tell you that and prepare you for your duties.”

“Prepare me, Empress?” Toy asked.

“Of course. I don’t expect you to handle everything, but I do expect you to handle certain things--one of which has just made itself clear to me,” Coldheart said. “That being the fact that you will need to hunt down and capture the mare known as Twilight Sparkle. She is the only other being in the world that knows of this pool.”

Toy’s eyes lit up. “I would love that opportunity, Empress. But she will be with Trueblood, you know.”

“Ah, yes,” Coldheart said. “Such a disappointment, that one. But you are right, they will be together, I suppose.”

“Let me deal with her, Empress,” Toy pleaded. “Take care of the disrespectful stripling once and for all.”

Coldheart met the gaze of the changeling, and her eyes softened. “So bloodthirsty. What a delight you can be, Toy,” she sighed. “Very well, I grant you permission. Take Goldfeather and a contingent of troops and hunt them down. Do not kill Sparkle or Trueblood, but I want them captured and contained on my return.”

“I will try, Empress, but they are powerful and crafty, and my strength is limited,” Toy stated.

Coldheart smiled. “Of course.” A pink glow surrounded Coldheart’s horn, and the energy was soon replicated in a field around Toy’s body. Lifting her into the air, the pink energy began to spark and arc across Toy’s carapace, surrounding her and finding ways to penetrate into her flesh and between the seems in her chitinous armor.

A flash of pink energy turned to green, and standing in the middle of the display was a very different figure. Her head held high, her mane flowing easily, with wings that looked strong and powerful once more, Toy stood with a sharp-toothed smile on her face.

“I take it that is enough love to keep you going while I am gone?” Coldheart asked.

“Empress,” the hollow voice of the changeling buzzed, “that was absolutely perfect.”

* * * * * * *

“Daughter? Mother?” Twilight shouted the two words, as though bringing their very meaning into question. “How is that even possible?!”

“Okay, first, the stallion has to take his penis and--” Trueblood wasn’t able to finish her reply.

“I know that part!” Twilight shouted. “I Just don’t know how you can be a daughter with that mother!”

“Well, yeah,” Trueblood answered. “Most people who are daughters do have mothers.” Her eyes shifted upwards. “All of them, in fact.”

“Not like this!” Twilight exclaimed.

“Sparky, calm down,” Trueblood reached over, only to have Twilight shirk away.

“What are you really doing?” Twilight stepped away, eyeing the mare. “Are you trying to find out something from me? Is this a trick?”

“Oh yeah,” Trueblood stated, her voice dropping. “You saw through my clever plan by getting me to tell you the situation outright instead of lie about it and make something up. You’re too clever for me.”

“No sarcasm!” Twilight yelled. “Sarcasm is...not right. I don’t know, just...NO!”

“Okay. Sorry, Sparky,” Trueblood smiled. “But honest, why would I tell you that if I had ulterior motives?”

“You...might be trying to throw me off by telling me the truth, so that I think that you aren’t doing something insidious, when in reality you...” Twilight took a breath. “Okay, yeah, I’m not buying that either. Fine, you aren’t evil.” She turned her head to look at Trueblood sideways. “Are you?”

“No,” Trueblood laughed. “Much to the chagrin of Fantasia, I’m actually a rather decent pony.”

“How did... I don’t even know how to ask the question,” Twilight said.

“How did I get to be like this with a mom like that?” Trueblood asked for her.

“Yeah,” she said.

“Well, it wasn’t easy. C’mon, let’s go for a walk and I’ll tell you,” Trueblood said, turning and taking a couple of steps before looking back over her shoulder. “And I mean I’ll tell you while we’re walking. Not trying to change the subject, honest.”

Her smile was infectious, and Twilight couldn’t help but to fall in place beside her.

“Okay, so, my life,” Trueblood said. “That’s a big story, so I’m gonna chop it down into small bits if that’s okay.” She pondered for a moment, and then continued. “I guess the best place to start is my birth.

“Fantasia was just starting her concept of creating the perfect warrior, and she figured that there was no better building block than herself. So, after doing some research, she chose a group of stallions that would be the ideal genetic material to father a child that she could mold into what she wanted.”

Sunlight spilled down through the limbs of the Everfree as the two worked their way through the thick growth.

“Of course, she can’t control nature,” Trueblood laughed. “Well, at least she hadn’t figured it out then. So, I was born and the first thing that she did--as I’m told--was trying to get me to love her. With magic, of course. That didn’t work.”

“Didn’t work?” Twilight fought to stay next to the Trueblood, wanting to hear the full story.

“Nope. Turns out that there is one pony in all the world that her magic doesn’t effect.” Trueblood turned to face Twilight. “Me. I’m immune to her spells. Her attempts to make the perfect soldier created the thing that she most feared: some pony that she couldn’t control.”

“But, why didn’t she kill you?” Twilight immediately tried to backtrack. “Not that I’m condoning that! That would have been horrible!”

“No worries, Sparky, it’s not like you are the first one to ask me that,” Trueblood said, a natural ease in her voice. “And my guess is that she didn’t do it out of pride. She didn’t want me to be the one pony that she couldn’t break so she had to kill. So, I was the constant target for attacks and experiments, as she tried to figure out how to break me.”

“I--I’m so sorry,” Twilight said gently.

“Thanks, but it gave me some good perspective on her, and when I got older it gave me all the inspiration I needed to fight against her,” Trueblood stated. “At first it was little things. I was a rebellious teen, just going against everything she did. Not wanting the food we had for dinner. Not calling her Empress.”

“What about ‘mom?’” Twililght asked. “Or mother? Did you ever call her that?”

“Oh, heck no! She didn’t want me calling her that even when I was small. I was taught to call her Empress from the time I was a foal,” Trueblood explained.

The pair broke through the tree line, and Twilight felt her breath catch in her throat. A deep gorge, one that Twilight thought she recognized, fell out below them, plunging down a daring depth that threatened vertigo. To their left was a cliff that soared up into the clouds, losing itself from view. From that dizzying height fell a torrent of water. A waterfall that dropped from farther than she could see, to lower than she dared to look, and took her breath away completely.

“Wow,” she whispered.

“Yeah, I know. I told you that it was pretty cool,” Trueblood said. She walked over and sat down at the edge of the precipice, looking back at Twilight expectantly. Hesitantly, Twilight stepped over and peered over the edge at the spot where the other mare was sitting. A shear drop.

“I wouldn’t do that,” Trueblood warned. “It can make you kinda dizzy.”

“Yeah,” Twilight stepped back slowly. “I just found that out.”

Twilight plopped down next to Trueblood, her flank hitting the ground solidly.

“So,” Trueblood stated, “after a while Fantasia started to be upset with me on a more regular basis. Which led to me realize that I might be better served spending time away from home. Eventually, I found my way to Everfree, and to Bea.”

“Bea? You met her here?” Twilight asked.

“Yep. That’s her house we’re using. She built it,” Trueblood said.

“Really? She’s never struck me as the type,” Twilight stated.

“You’re thinking of the wrong Bea, then. Yours is named, what? Trixie? I take it she’s not very good with her hooves.” Trueblood picked up a rock and tossed it over the edge and into the gorge.

“Oh, she’s very...capable, I suppose. She just, well, gets on my nerves,” Twilight explained.

“How so?” Trueblood turned to look at Twilight.

“She’s just so...so...her!” Twilight shook her head. “You would just have to meet her.”

“Well, maybe I will,” Trueblood said. “You never know.”

“I know that I need to find out how to open the portal, and then get back to my world so the princess doesn’t worry about me,” Twilight said. “Of course, she’s probably already worried, so that idea is shot.”

“Hey, don’t worry, Sparky,” Trueblood put her hoof on Twilight’s shoulder, “we’re gonna get you home. I promise.”

They sat there in silence--if you can call the roar of a waterfall silence--for a full minute.

“I still can’t believe that you’re Coldheart’s daughter,” Twilight said.

“It’s true,” the other mare stated. “Sad, but true.”

Twilight turned and saw something totally new. Trueblood sat there without a smile on her face. She stared out over the gorge, her face hanging.

“I’m sorry,” Twilight said, extending her hoof to Trueblood’s shoulder this time.

“I don’t like talking about this part of my life,” Trueblood said. “It’s tough enough just being her kid. It’s another thing to realize that--” Her voice caught, a single tear tracing down her cheek. “It’s tough knowing that your mother is--or was--the Goddess of Love, and the only way that she thought of it was by magic. That if she had only taken time to be my mother then--”

She couldn’t finish. The rest of the words hung over and spilled out into the gorge, never to be heard.

“I’m so sorry,” Twilight’s words seemed inadequate to her own ears.

“It’s okay,” Trueblood’s smile returned, weak but present. “Don’t, uh, don’t tell the others I cried, huh? Don’t want to ruin my reputation.”

“I--I won’t,” Twilight said. “Do you not talk to them about this?”

“Oh, they know I’m Fantasia’s kid, and that her magic doesn’t work on me, but...not about the rest. Not about not having a mom.”

“Why tell me?” Twilight asked.

“Why not tell you?” Trueblood answered.

She sat there a moment, looking at Trueblood, who had turned back to stare out over the gorge. She scooted over until she was sitting next to her, and wrapped her foreleg around her, pulling her closer.

Trueblood let her head fall down onto Twilight’s shoulder.

* * * * * * *

“I still don’t know what I have to do in all of this,” Cadance said, pacing back and forth.

“You have perhaps the most important role of any of us, Princess Cadenza,” Celestia instructed. “You must rule in our stead while we are gone.”

“But I suck at that!” she exclaimed. “Don’t you remember what happened last time?”

“I do. I also remember that you were able to overcome a large number of obstacles to maintain order,” Celestia said. “Even if you did try to keep it hidden from me for a while.”

“Well, that’s the problem with having advisors who see secret things that the princess isn’t supposed to know about,” she said, “they eventually advise.”

“Exactly. You’ll come to appreciate that in time,” Celestia said.

Celestia was sitting calmly. The gardens were lovely, truly her favorite area of the castle. Carefully crafted and luxuriously adorned, she had taken great care over the centuries to create it exactly as she saw it in her mind. As she sees it from above.

A pony dressed in a servants outfit brought a cart with tea and cake for Celestia and her guest.

“Will I?” Cadance asked. “I mean, what about me screams ‘leader?’ What about me is so special?”

“You are a Princess of Equestria,” Celestia said. “That doesn’t happen randomly.” She smiled at the servant pony. “May I have a cup of darjeeling and a slice of cake, please?”

“Of course, Your Majesty,” the mare answered cheerfully.

“But I didn’t choose to be a princess,” Cadance continued. “I was born into this. I was born into responsibility. I don’t even feel like I had a chance to find myself before I had to start taking care of others! And...and...”

“Princess Cadenza,” Celestia said softly, “you are almost a hundred years old. You’ve had plenty of time to grow.”

“Luna is thousands of years old! And she JUST grew up!” Cadance argued.

“You should sit and have some tea and some cake. The cake is exceptional!” Celestia said.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” the servant said softly.

“When I think about it, I haven’t done much of anything yet. I’ve spent most of my life here in the castle, dealing with...nothing! I was so non-involved that I worked as a foal sitter!” Cadance ranted.

“Oh, did you make the cake?” Celestia asked the servant.

“No, ma’am, but my sister did. She’ll be thrilled to hear that you enjoyed it,” the servant smiled.

“I could have been out there learning more about the mares and stallions of the world,” Cadance said, the tempo of her pace increasing. “I mean, love is something that I feel innately. I can sense it, see it, smell it, even.”

“Has she been cooking in the kitchens for long? This cake seems very new to me,” Celestia asked the servant.

“No, ma’am. She only began a few months ago. She was just allowed to start baking on her own early this month,” she answered.

“What is her name?” Celestia asked.

“Sugar Spice, Your Majesty,” she answered.

“What a cute name!” Celestia smiled. “And what is your name, if I may ask?”

“Crumpet, Your Majesty,” she lowered her head and answered.

“Are you even hearing me, Aunt Celestia?” Cadance stamped a hoof.

Very slowly, Celestia turned her head to look at Cadance. “I am, Princess Cadenza. Are you done feeling sorry for yourself and acting like a spoiled child? Because your tea is going to get cold, and I truly do not have time to deal with your own insecurities at this moment. So, if you are done, I would genuinely like to sit with you and have a conversation about what will be happening very soon.”

The servant suddenly turned her attention back to her cart.

Cadance stood there, her mouth open. “Wh--what?”

“Please don’t make me repeat myself,” Celestia said. “Just sit down and have some tea.”

A few awkward steps later, Cadance plopped her plot down on the chair next to her aunt. “Why are you being so mean to me?”

“Do you really think that I’m being mean?” Celestia asked. “Because if you do, then you are going to have a very difficult time of things in the near future. There is a very real possibility that Luna and I are going to be leaving Equestria for an unspecified length of time, leaving you behind to care for the ponies and the nation. This isn’t a vacation. This is a threat to our way of life.”

“But I--” Cadance didn’t get another word out.

“Not you. This isn’t about you. This isn’t about me. This is about them.” Celestia pointed to the servant. “We aren’t here for you and I. We are here to serve. To make sure that this pony and her sister are able to have a good life. If you are wanting a life of luxury then we can end this conversation right now, but if you are half the mare that I know you to be, then you are going to take a cup of tea from this fine young mare, and we are going to have a talk about your duty.”

Cadance swallowed gently, and then turned to look at the server pony. “I’ll have what Princess Celestia is having. She spoke highly of it.”

The servant pony smiled. “Of course, Your Highness.”

“So,” Cadance looked at Celestia, “how can I best serve Equestria?”

“By starting with questions like that,” Celestia answered. “But think of it differently. Do not wonder what you can do, but wonder what Equestria needs. Fill that gap. Find the question before it is asked. We live in a beautiful country that enjoys peace and a quality of life that is unequaled in the world. It is our duty to make sure that we do not fall complacent to that fact.”

“How do I do that?” Cadance asked, as her tea was set in front of her.

Celestia turned her head ever-so-slightly, just enough for Cadance to notice. Her eyes followed Celestia’s to the tea in front of her, and the cake resting next to it. Cadance blinked, and then her eye’s grew slightly. She smiled and picked up the tea and took a sip.

“Oh my!” Cadance said. “This tea is amazing.” She turned to the servant. “Perfectly brewed. Thank you, very much.”

“You’re very welcome, Princess,” the servant bowed her head slightly as she replied.

“Thank you,” Celestia said. “Princess Cadenza and I need to speak privately. Please come back in a few minutes.”

“Of course, Your Majesty,” the servant bowed deeply, and then immediately pushed the cart back down the path away from the seated royalty.

“Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?” Celestia asked.

“No. No, of course not,” Cadance stated. “I was just being kind.”

“You were doing more than that. You were being royal,” Celestia said.

“I don’t understand,” Cadance answered.

The daylight seemed to brighten from the size of Celestia’s smile. “I have known you since you were a foal, Cadance. You are kind, caring, gentle, smart and lovely. You are giving and warm, and very, very intelligent,” Celestia said, with a gentle sigh.

Cadance took a sip of her tea. “But? That statement was definitely leading to a ‘but.’”

“It’s time to be more than that,” Celestia said. “It’s time to be a true Princess of Equestria. And believe me, I would not be doing this if I did not feel that you were every bit capable it.”

She sat there for a moment, not sure what to say in response. She glanced down, and smiled. “You should have your cake, Princess Celestia. You never know when you are going to get another opportunity like this.”

Her eyes slowly blinked, and Celestia levitated the entire slice of cake off of the plate and up towards her face. She reached out and took a huge bite of it directly, no fork or utensil in sight.

Cadance started to giggle. Its contagious quality spread to Celestia, and soon she was sharing the moment, her mouth still full of cake.

“You look ridiculous,” Cadance laughed.

“I don’t care,” Celestia said. “I really do like this cake.”

The two moved to open laughter, the sound flying around the garden like a birdsong.

Their joy was suddenly cut short by five words.

“Princess,” both mares turned, finding Shining Armor standing there, his face devoid of all pleasantry, “we have a situation.”

* * * * * * *

The hallway of Canterlot Castle was perfectly quiet. The pair were walking in total silence, their steps soft and even. For over seven minutes they had been walking next to each other, heading to the same destination, but since their initial greeting they hadn’t exchanged a word.

Goldfeather turned to look at Toy, the large changeling smiling as she strode confidently down the hall. Goldfeather didn’t share her cheerful expression.

“This is bad,” Goldfeather finally stated, shaking her head.

“What is?” Toy responded, turning to look at the griffin.

“This. The whole situation. Everything,” she turned to look directly at Toy. “She’s insane, you know.”

“Are you questioning the sanity of our Empress?” Toy raised an eyebrow.

“Of course I am!” she barked back. “And you know she’s crazy. I’ve seen the way that you look at her. You don’t like her any more than the rest of us.”

“I love and respect Empress Coldheart,” Toy answered, raising her head. “As should everypony.”

“Right,” Goldfeather said, her voice dropping.

“So, what is the plan?” Goldfeather asked.

“Simple, we do as we were instructed. We hunt down Trueblood and Twilight Sparkle and take them into custody.” Toy’s voice became smooth and silky, despite the buzz echoing behind it.

“Uh-huh,” Goldfeather replied. “For what purpose?”

Toy’s smile grew, her tongue coming out to play on the edge of her fangs. “Then...the real mission begins.”

“She gave you instructions?” Goldfeather asked.

“Of course not. She told me to capture them, and put me in charge of the Empire. What happens while our most beloved Empress is gone is my responsibility. And what happens to the Empire falls to me,” she purred.

“You--you’re planning something,” Goldfeather said. “What?”

“I would never betray our Empress,” Toy recoiled at the words, her mouth open in mock distress. “I plan on doing exactly what she said. I plan to find Twilight Sparkle, and find out everything there is to know about that portal.”

They walked on in silence for a moment, until Goldfeather spoke again. “You want to control that portal. You want her trapped on that other world.”

“It would be a shame if something horrible happened to our Empress while she was away at war. Tragedies occur every day in those situations, and if she were to never make it back, well,” she turned to look at Goldfeather, her eyes narrowing and her lip curling up on one side, “I currently rule the Six Kingdoms.”

“And you can’t come right out and say that you hate her,” Goldfeather shook her head. “I’ll never understand you.”

“You don’t have to understand me, Goldfeather,” she smiled. “You simply have to obey.”

“Obey?” Goldfeather raised her voice, her eyes flashing. “Look, I’m not going to get in your way, but don’t think that I’m some obedient pet, either.”

Toy’s expression flattened. She nodded and continued to walk down the hall and into the grand auditorium, where her troops waited. Over a hundred ponies, each of them willing to give their life in the name of their beloved Empress.

And all of them under her total command.

She walked past all of them, Goldfeather by her side, moving up the stairs to stand above them on the stage. She turned and looked out at the gathered forces, and her smile grew.

“Hut!” a voice called out. As one, the troops turned to look at Toy and Goldfeather as they stood on the stage.

“Welcome,” Toy said easily. “You know me. You know who I am, and what position I now hold in the Empire. Our beloved Empress has put me in charge while she is off introducing a new world to her glorious rule. You are to address me from now on as General.”

She turned and walked to the side of the stage. “But those are simply her orders. I have yet to prove myself to any of you. To offer you leadership that you can follow. To create the same respect for me that you have for Empress Coldheart.”

Her hooves carried her to the other side of the stage. “And I cannot. I can only offer you the same things that I have. Opportunity and possibility. If you are able to take those things, then you will do well under my rule.” She stopped and moved back to the center of the stage. “But there is one other thing that you must understand.”

Her fangs appeared. “Respect. With Empress Coldheart gone, I am the most powerful being in the world, and I will not have anypony disrespecting me.” She turned to look at Goldfeather. “No pony--or griffin.”

Goldfeather took a step back, her head cocking sideways.

“Do you understand that I am in charge, Ms. Morninglight? Do you realize that I am Empress Coldheart’s hoof-chosen figure to rule in her stead?” Toy stepped forward, drawing closer to the griffin on stage.

“Y--yes,” Goldfeather stammered. “Of course I do.”

“Good, then you won’t mind proving that to these gathered troops,” Toy stated.

“How so?” she asked, her eyes darting back and forth across the stage.

“I’ll tell you.” Toy spun around, looking back at the troops. “You all know of the griffins, and what they have been doing since our Empress removed their threat to us. The few straggling survivors have been terrorizing ponies. Attacking, and in some cases, killing them.” She shook her head. “A tragedy.”

Stepping aside, she gestured over to Goldfeather. “But not every griffin is like that. Some of them have come to realize their place, and are willing supplicants in our service. Such as this fine specimen, Goldfeather Morninglight. Step up here, Goldfeather.”

“What are you doing, Toy?” Goldfeather mumbled as she tentatively stepped forward.

“This creature is powerful,” Toy stated. “Sharp claws, mighty wings, and a razor-like beak. She could rend a pony to bones in minutes, and there is little that you could do to stop her. But to me,” she turned to look at Goldfeather, “she is a pet.”

Goldfeather narrowed her eyes.

“It’s time for you to perform, pet. It’s time for me to show all of these ponies what happens when they even consider disobeying me,” Toy snarled.

“I’m not going to--”

“You don’t have a choice!” Toy shouted. “Now, this can be done one of two ways: you can do what I tell you, or I can make you do what I tell you. Your choice.”

Toy could hear Goldfeather’s beak grating as she spoke. “And what is it you want me to do?”

“Present yourself,” Toy commanded.

Goldfeather’s eyes grew wide and she blinked repeatedly. “I’m sorry, what?”

“I want you to present yourself to me. Here. In front of these ponies,” Toy stepped up to her and stared down, a sneer on her face. “And you are going to do it, one way or another.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Goldfeather said.

“Oh no, I’m not. And if you don’t do it willingly, I’m going to give every pony who wants one a chance to pleasure themselves with you when I’m done,” Toy growled. “Is that clear enough?”

“Don’t do this, Toy,” Goldfeather whispered.

“It’s done, pet,” Toy whispered back. “And once I make an example of you, these ponies won’t hesitate at anything I tell them. So, thank you in advance for being an excellent example.”

“I won’t do this,” she snarled.

“Would you rather it be done once, or be the target of a train of stallions who want to show the rest of the troops how tough they are by screwing a griffin?” Toy countered. “Because I will do that to you tonight to make my point.”

Her cheek quivering from rage, Goldfeather stared directly into Toy’s eyes. “If you do this, you will pay. I swear it.”

“You have two options, griffin. You do this completely willingly, or I drag you to the front of the stage, force your head to the floor, yank your ass up and have my way with you. Either way ends with the same result, it’s just one is a little more dramatic,” Toy grinned.

Her beak ground together as the situation sank in to Goldfeather.

“Fear is a one way street here,” Toy said. “You fear me, but I do not fear you. That’s why this is going to happen.” The two locked eyes in an instant, with Goldfeather turning her head after a moment. “Now, go to the front of the stage and present yourself to me.”

Her head hanging, Goldfeather moved to the front of the stage, keeping her face towards the crowd and her haunches towards the back. She lowered herself down, keeping her head on the ground, her eyes screwed tightly shut, and raised her rear up as high as her legs would comfortably allow.

With a smile that spread across her whole face, Toy stepped up behind the griffin, admiring what she had accomplished. She raised her face to her troops.

“This griffin is mine,” she said. “If you do what I tell you, when I tell you, then you might just find that you are able to make use of some of the the Empire’s more exotic opportunities.”

She grasped Goldfeather’s tail with one hoof, and yanked it up sharply, drawing a sharp squawk from the griffin. Toy raised her other hoof, her horn glowing and creating a green slime that oozed from the holes in her leg to cover it.

With one swift motion, Toy buried her hoof deep inside Goldfeather’s sex. The griffin’s eyes clenched tighter shut, her beak distorting as Toy drew her hoof back halfway. A murmur spread through the crowd, which quickly grew in volume.

“I want you to remember this, Goldfeather,” Toy stated, her hoof beginning to piston itself in and out of the griffin. “Do you have any idea how excited I am by this? How much I’m enjoying this display? I have every intention of you becoming my favorite new plaything. But for now, the important thing for you to know is that,” she leaned in to whisper in the griffin’s ear, “you. Are! MINE!”

Tears fell out onto Goldfeather’s cheeks. She kept her face down, her beak closed, and her eyes shut, but no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t block out the sound of the cheers from the ponies in front of her, or the laughter from the changeling behind her.

* * * * * * *

Laughter filled the room. Six ponies sat around the table, each of them with a plate filled with food. A five-layer casserole of potatoes, carrots, radishes, onions, and squash, rustically prepared, with a tomato compote that married them together. A large glass of fresh apple juice set off the flavors perfectly.

But it was the conversation that made the dinner.

“...so, there I was, hanging upside down from the flagpole by a pair of socks. The clothing was ruined, but it was doing much, much better than my pride,” she laughed.

“I said I was sorry, Trueblood,” Ditzy laughed herself. “Thought I totally know where that one went wrong. If you gave me another chance, I’m sure I could get you all the way across the city in a single shot!”

“Oh, I would pay to see that!” Gilda shouted.

“Me too!” Husk chimed in.

“Okay, okay,” Twilight giggled, “so, what happened? How did you get down?”

“I can teleport!” Trueblood insisted. “I was just...occupied at the time.”

“Yeah, by the city guard surrounding the pole and insisting that you give yourself up!” Gilda said.

“The problem was with the release point,” Ditzy said to Twilight. “If I had held onto Trueblood for a full second longer, then she would have had the right angle to clear onto the next roof and would have just been able to run away. Either that or she would have landed in the fountain in the center of town, instead of the flagpole.”

“Well, the important thing is that I made it over there alive,” Trueblood said. “And I was able to get the guards away from the young mare that was really in trouble.”

“By dressing up like a whorse,” Bea stated.

“Hey, it worked!” Trueblood laughed.

“But how did you get away?” Twilight asked again, her eyes wide.

“Oh, that was the easy part, Sparky,” she smiled. “I gave up.”

“Part of the advantage of having a royal lineage,” Husk stated.

“Yeah, as soon as the guards realized who she was, they couldn’t apologize fast enough,” Gilda explained.

“That doesn’t work anymore,” Bea stated. “Not since Coldheart directly told all the cities that Trueblood wasn’t under her protection.”

“Yeah, like she ever was!” Gilda said.

“Fantasia may be a lot of things, but...” Trueblood began, “well, okay, she’s all of those things. And then some.”

“How did you turn out this way?” Twilight asked.

“A scoundrel in the woods?” Trueblood smiled, her teeth gleeming in the light.

“No,” Twilight smiled back. “Well, yes, I suppose. I mean, how did you not turn out like her?”

“Because she’s a good mare,” Bea said. “She recognizes evil when she sees it.”

“I should be able to by now,” Trueblood stated.

“You should be the best in the world at it,” Bea followed up.

“It’s just so...amazing,” Twilight said.

“Trueblood is the most amazing mare I’ve ever met,” Husk said. “She gave me a chance when no pony else would. She believed in me.”

“We wouldn’t be anywhere without you, Husk,” Trueblood said.

“I know that I wouldn’t,” Twilight said. “I--I’m sorry I reacted the way that I did.”

“Don’t apologize,” Husk smiled back. “There is a long history of violence and distrust between our kind. And from what you have said, there has been recent dealings with you personally back in your world.”

“Yeah, you could say that,” Twilight muttered.

“I’m sorry,” Husk said.

There was a brief silence. The dining room inside the treehouse was cozy and warm, though still with ample room for all six of them to sit around the table. Small lanterns lit it with a gentle glow from the center of the table. Even though the sun still rested above the horizon, the light was too low to penetrate the canopy of trees and light the interior of the hut.

“Don’t worry, Husk,” Bea said. “Your kind doesn’t hold half the vitriol that ponies have for griffins these days.”

“That...was a little harsh, Tri--Bea,” Twilight said.

“Still having issues with my name, eh?” Bea replied. “My counterpart must have done a number on you for you to hold on so tight. I suppose I should be watching my back around you.”

“Hey, now that’s not fair! I am just used to a different name, is all!” Twilight protested.

“Easy, both of you,” Trueblood said calmly.

“Yeah, and don’t worry about what she said, squirt,” Gilda stated. “She’s just blunt like that. Always tells it like she sees it.”

“Yeah, I can see that, I suppose,” Twilight said. “I’ve got a friend...like that...back...”

Her eyes grew huge. She stared at Bea, her mouth falling open. Snapping her head in a circle, her eyes fell on each of the beings at the table in turn. Her jaw quivering, she tried to form words, even as her face pulled back into a huge smile.

“What is it, Sparky?” Trueblood asked.

Her hoof shot up, pointing it directly at Bea. “Honesty!” She turned and pointed to Husk. “Kindness!” To Ditzy. “Laughter!” To Gilda. “Loyalty!” And finally turning to Trueblood, Twilight’s smile shined brighter than the lanterns. “And if you aren’t Magic, then I’ve never seen it before in my life!”

“That’s...nice,” Trueblood said, pulling her head back a little.

“The Elements!” Twilight jumped up, and began prancing around the table. “The Elements of Harmony! You’ve been gathering the Elements!”

Five blank faces stared back at her.

“You know! The Elements of Harmony! The artifacts! The ancient relics of power that...that...you’ve never heard of...” Twilight’s voice trailed off. “You have no idea what I’m talking about, do you?”

“Not a clue, Sparky,” Trueblood said, “but I appreciate your enthusiasm.”

Twilight remained cheery. “But you still did it! You gathered them!” She looked around the table once more. “Well, most of them, anyway. You’re one short.”

“She’s not the only one that’s short one thing here at the table...” Gilda muttered.

“No, I’m serious!” Twilight said. “Back on my world I’m one of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony. They are a set of ancient magical artifacts that wield the power of friendship. Together, the six elements can combine to do amazing things!” She looked at the gathered ponies around the table, each of them staring back with uncertainty. “You can beat her. You can defeat Coldheart.”

“A goddess couldn’t do that,” Ditzy stated.

“Or a queen,” Husk added.

“Yeah, but...” Trueblood let her thought wander. “She sounds like she knows what she’s talking about.”

“I do!” Twilight said. “I’ve fought threats to the world before. I’ve used the Elements to save everypony multiple times. It might sound crazy, but it will work!” She looked at them, her face hopeful. “Besides, it’s a chance, isn’t it?”

They looked at each other, taking a measure of what was being suggested.

“Well, even if we believe what you’re saying, we still have a little problem,” Gilda stated. “You said these things were actual items, and we don’t have them.”

“Aren’t they at the castle?” Twilight asked Trueblood.

“Not that I know of. And if Fantasia knew about anything like that, she would have destroyed it a long, long time ago,” Trueblood stated.

“Then we’re going to have to find them, as well as the Element of Generosity,” Twilight said. “We’re gonna need a good place to start.”

“Endymion,” Bea stated, causing everypony to look at her. “History has called him the Lord of Harmony.”

“Wait,” Twilight shook her head, “you know Endymion?”

“Of course we do, Sparky,” Trueblood said. “He’s a bit of a legend.”

“I came here looking for him,” she said. “Or, at least, what happened to him.”

“Well, it sounds like you are getting your wish, Twilight Sparkle,” Bea said. “For if we are going to find these Elements of Harmony, we are going to need to make a bit of a journey.”

“What are you suggesting, Bea?” Trueblood asked.

“What better place to find the Elements of Harmony, than at the tomb of the Lord of Harmony? The Tomb of Endymion?” Bea suggested.

There was a pause in the room.

“Woo-hoo!” Ditzy shouted. “ROAD TRIP!”

* * * * * * *

Her lungs filled and then emptied, and then they did it again, taking in a deeper breath.

“What a wondrous moment,” Coldheart said. “Breathing the air of a new world. Taking my first breath of my new kingdom.”

Dozens of ponies milled about, moving to and fro and setting up tents and tables. Looking at the commotion, Coldheart frowned.

“Commander?” she spoke softly, but it stopped the pony dead in his tracks.

“Yes, Empress?” He bowed as he stepped up to her.

“What are you doing? Why are you putting up all of these tents?” she asked.

“We are establishing our temporary headquarters, Empress,” he answered.

Looking down at him, she batted her eyelashes. “But...why?”

“Um, so that we have a base of operations. A place to use as the starting point for our conquest,” he explained.

“And who made this decision?” she asked.

“That would be General Steelshank, Empress,” he said.

“Do me a favor, would you? Summon him here to me.” She smiled as she dismissed him with a wave of her hoof.

She turned and looked back up the mountain, staring up into the light of the day. The sky, the terrain, everything that she saw looked exactly like her own empire. But then, she already thought of this world as her empire, as well.

“You called for me, Empress?” a voice said behind her.

“I did, General.” She didn’t even turn to face him. “I understand that it was your order to create the headquarters here. Is that correct?”

“Yes, Empress. This is a highly defensible position, and now that we have an established hoof-hold on the area, we can use this as a base to--”

“Dismantle it,” she interrupted.

He stood there silent for a moment. “Dismantle it? I strongly recommend you reconsider, Empress. I have looked over the area and determined this to be the best location to--”

“My Dragoon secured this area by my command. I did not instruct anypony to set up any sort of base to work from, General,” she said.

“With all due respect, Empress, it is important that we have a secure base,” he stated.

“Are you questioning me, General?” she asked.

“No, Empress. I’m advising you. It is my duty to--”

Those were the last words he ever spoke. His body was surrounded by a brilliant pink glow, and his face pulled taught in agony, though no sound escaped his throat. Twitching uncontrollably, his form was lifted into the air, several meters above the ground. Every pony froze, their eyes fixated on their general, whose body began to distort. Loud cracking sounds shot across the area, making every pony wince in pain. Twisting and turning, his face contorted into a silent scream as his entire body twisted like a wet rag ringing itself dry.

He fell to the ground with a wet thud.

“Commander?” Coldheart had yet to turn back to face away from the mountain view.

“Y--yes, Empress?” the young stallion replied.

“See to the dismantling of this very unnecessary base,” she said. “We march to Canterlot. I wish to dine there tomorrow for lunch.”

“O--of course, Empress.” He bowed and quickly rushed away, barking orders to the other ponies in the area.

Coldheart’s smile grew as she took in a deep breath of the fresh Equestrian air.

* * * * * * *

“Tell me exactly what happened,” Celestia said coldly.

“I’ve already told you, Your Majesty,” the soldier answered. His hoof trembled as he spoke, his eyes fixed firmly on the ground. “We were guarding the portal. Watching it as you and Shining Armor instructed, on full alert and prepared to respond at a moment’s notice. And that was when...” His voice wavered. “That was when the portal opened.”

He swallowed, shaking his head. “They responded immediately. The unicorns with magic, the pegasus with aerial strikes, and the earth ponies with a direct assault--but we weren’t fast enough. They were cut down, one after another. I--I don’t know how long it took, but...it wasn’t long. My C.O. turned to me and told me to fly. To come back here and tell everypony--tell you--that they had made it through.”

Celestia was silent for a moment. “How many of them were there, soldier?”

He finally looked up, his eyes welling with tears. “One,” his voice cracked. “There was only one of them. It was some...monster. A pony that looked like a dragon--or maybe the other way around. And we couldn’t stop it!”

Stepping over to him, Celestia raised a hoof up and placed it on his withers. “You did well, soldier. You got back to us. That was your assignment, and you performed it perfectly.” She smiled at him, and he could feel his heart swell. “Go rest. You’ve done your duty.”

“If it’s all the same, Your Majesty,” he cleared his throat, standing up. “I want to go back out there.”

She nodded, taking her hoof away from him. He came to attention, his body still weak, and saluted. Celestia responded, and the young stallion took to the air, flying off of the balcony and towards a formation of pegasus that circled overhead. Celestia watched him until he was with them.

“It’s bad,” Cadance said. “It’s very bad, isn’t it?”

“It is,” Celestia answered. She turned to look at her young niece, who stood there, hiding her nervousness.

Her eyes shifted over to Luna, her head held high and her mane flowing easily in the late evening sun. She let herself feel a moment of joy looking at her, despite the situation.

“We are Princesses,” Celestia said. “These ponies depend upon us. Look up to us. Count on us. We are not going to disappoint them this day. When their foals ask to hear a story of the past, these stallions and mares will be able to point to this event. They will be able to trace back to this moment in history and recall that this was our proudest moment. This was the defining point in their lives.”

Cadance stood up, stepping forward, wearing her typical attire--a crown, a breastplate and some shoes.

Luna raised her helmet, placing it down upon her head, the ethereal mane of the night leaking out beneath it and flowing down her back gracefully. Her body was clad in silver armor, reflecting the scene like a mirror, as it ran across her back and up the sides of her neck. Each leg was shod in long boots to protect her legs and add to her strength.

Together they walked up next to Celestia, who turned to walk to the edge of the balcony. Golden armor gleamed in the setting sunlight. Plates of overlapping metal running down her back and sides, flowing down off her flank. Tall sheets of golden metal covered her forelegs, protecting them. Her golden helm bore a long spike of metal that rose in front of her horn, shielding it and giving her a sharp weapon on her head.

They looked out onto the plains beyond the castle. Formations moved in precision, each of them positioning themselves according to the Captain of the Guard’s orders. Thousands of ponies marching, while hundreds more flew overhead.

Celestia stood, Luna standing at her side, while Cadance waited a couple of steps behind. The two celestial goddesses turned to look at each other, their eyes turning to steel as they shared a common thought.

“This is a moment that will live in the memory of ponies for centuries,” Celestia said what they all thought. “For today is the day that Equestria goes to war.”

...to be continued.