Dark Libra

Rarity took a step back and quickly regained her composure. Twilight had walked in on her conversation with Queen Chrysalis and had probably been listening in the whole time.
The question was how much did she over hear and what Rarity could get away with.
She looked at the lavender mare who looked back in a mixture of surprise and disgust.

"Twilight I... I had intercepted a spell from Trixie. I was listening in on it and was just going to get you." Rarity said quickly.

"Rarity you are a bad liar. What were you really doing?" Twilight said sternly as she took a step closer.

Rarity began to sweat even more and stumbled over her words, "Well I-I was...I was going to... I mean..."

Suddenly Rarity bolted past Twilight and galloped out of the doors of the boutique. Twilight quickly followed after her, Rarity was moving faster than she had ever ran before. Her legs let off the faint glow of red from enchantments. Sure enough, Twilight caught a glimpse of one as Rarity nearly tripped on a stone when she ran past the Sugar Cube Corner. Twilight used a teleportation spell to get ahead of her. As she popped into existence the white unicorn slammed right into her toppling them both over. Rarity tried to quickly get up, but Twilight held her down with her magic. The white unicorn struggled frantically and tried to counter Twilight's magic with her own, but failed. Twilight got up and stood over her as a crowd of curious bystanders started to gather and looked on.

Once Rarity finally tired herself out Twilight asked, "Rarity, what was that back at the boutique? Why are you talking to Queen Chrysalis?"

Gasps were heard from the gathering ponies and Rarity closed her eyes in shame.

She spoke softly and a tear fell from her cheek smearing her makeup, "I did it to protect Sweetie Belle. When Cassius stabbed you in the basement he looked me in the eyes and showed me the horrors of what was to come. I saw every pony here dead and my sister was laying lifeless before me. Cassius offered me a way to prevent this and I took it in a heartbeat. I love her and I would do anything to keep her safe. Even if it costed me my life. Hope you can forgive me when we meet in the eternal plains."

A stream of shadows leaped at Twilight from a nearby building. The lavender mare jumped back and shot six energy bolts at it. The shadows retreated and took the form of armor around Rarity. She stood on her hind legs and let two shadow blades cling to her hooves, cutting the ground. Twilight looked over the situation before her and slammed a hoof to the dirt path she stood on.
A purple rune formed around it and Twilight was engulfed in a golden flash of light. When the blinding light was gone, she stood on her hind legs in golden armor with two blades of light emitting from her hooves just like Rarity.

The two friends stared each other down for a moment, before Rarity asked,
"Where did you learn that from Twilight?"

Twilight narrowed her eyes and replied,
"You are not the only one who can learn new tricks from Alicorns."

With that the two ran at each other and a flash of light flared form the colliding forces.
The swords were letting off sparks as the two mares tried to push them into each other.
Twilight got the upper hoof, pushing Rarity off and taking a swing at her legs. Rarity retaliated by slamming a blade into the ground and blocked the swing. The sword of light bounced of its dark counterpart with a flash of sparks. She spun and kicked Twilight in the head with her leg and brought the other sword up at a slicing motion freeing the first blade from the earth.
Twilight stumbled, but managed to cross her swords of light and caught the shadow blades. She pushed again and swung to the side with one blade and slashed up with the other.
The shadow unicorn countered the side attack, but got her left foreleg clipped by the other blade. The shadows around her limb twitched and dissipated from the energy Twilight's weapons were giving off. A splatter of blood fell to the ground and a yelp escaped Rarity's muzzle. She gritted her teeth and looked at Twilight with her eyes glowing a bright blue. She charged and unleashed a fury of slashes and stabs in all directions. Twilight couldn't keep up with the hellbent unicorn for long at the rate she was letting out attacks. She took some slashes to the sides of her legs and chest. The gold and lavender mare used her magic, creating a barrier around herself.
When Rarities sword hit the bubble the blade bounced off and impacted into her shoulder, almost severing her limb altogether. A shriek of agony erupted from her as the blade vanished along with her rage leaving only a limp foreleg hanging on a small strand of tissue.
Rarity fell to the haunches of her hind legs while covering her near severed limb with a hoof.
The shadows around her dissipated leaving a bloodied white unicorn screaming in pain.
Twilight let her swords vanish but kept the armor and shield spell up. She hurried over the her friend, but Rarity was bleeding badly and wouldn't stop screaming.

"Rarity, you need to calm down and let me help you." Twilight said as she thought of a healing spell Sereen had taught her.

Rarity only glared at Twilight with hate and sent a wave of shadows at her. The barrier shattered from the force of the impact and Twilight was pushed back into the wall of a building and held in place. Rarity drew a glyph on the ground with her own blood. When she was finished she looked at Twilight not with hate, but with remorse.

Rarity yelled over to Twilight with tears running down her muzzle, "Forgive me Twilight, I saw no other choice! Please keep Sweetie Belle safe for me!"

Still looking to Twilight, Rarity slammed a hoof into the glyph and vanished in an explosion of darkness. The Shadow that held her to the wall faded into nothingness allowing their captive to fall to the ground. All the was left of Rarity was a blood stain in the shape of a smeared glyph in the ground. Twilight looked over to the remains of the glyph to see it was a long distance teleportation spell. Rarity was running to Queen Chrysalis and Cassius.
Twilight dispelled her magic and sat in the dirt to rest. She looked around to see the spectators had run off when they used their magic to armor up and fight. Twilight was left in the moonlight with her thoughts and plenty of time to heal.

************************************

Rainbow Dash was walking in through the markets of the changeling castle courtyard. All kinds of creatures where bartering for goods with one another. Suddenly the conversations stopped as an explosion of shadows erupted followed by screams pain. Rainbow Dash instantly recognized the source as her friend Rarity. She flew to the sound to find some changelings loading her into a stretcher. She saw bone in her open wound as blood poured from it and to the ground, staining the white of her coat and the stretcher. A rumble came from the tower and the shadow barrier slowly fell. A very tired looking Cassius flew out of it and landed next to them with an irritated look on his muzzle. The sight of Cassius made every creature bow before to their wounded leader. Pinkamena was on her haunches and even Rarity tried to bow, but failed due to the great pain she was in. Cassius's body was covered with wrappings, the right side of his shoulder to the upper pelvis was burned from something. He looked to Rarity and on her limb that hung only by the little tissue that had remained intact. The bone was severed and the pain seemed unbearable from the sounds of her screams.

"Miss. Rarity, how did this happen to you?" Cassius asked in a quiet voice as though he hadn't spoken in days.

Rarity began to speak through gritted teeth as Cassius used his magic to heal her. The healing spell had calmed her as the bond and flesh regenerated and connected. When Rarity finished her report Cassius had finished his spell leaving only a large scar in place of the deadly wound.

"Um... Cassius?" Rarity said softly.

"Yes?" replied the gray Alicorn.

"Is there any way you can get rid of this hideous mark?" Rarity asked in a seductive tone.

Cassius just looked at her for a moment then said, "I don't have the energy to and just be glad I was able to save you at all. Living for a few days with that won't kill you. I will try to do something later, but for now report what you learned to Slayershy then get some rest."

He looked over to Pinkamena and Rainbow Dash as everyone else got back to their business. He walked over with a blank and tired expression on his muzzle.
When he was a few feet in front of them Pinkamena saluted him.

"Pinkamena, Why is she here?" He asked.

"She wishes to join you. I found her at the camp you sent me to, and she well..."
the pink pony said.

"I can not give her any gifts Pinkamena. I am still too weak, just healing Rarity took a lot out of me. She may stay, but you are responsible for her until I can give her some of my power.
She is not to be allowed to leave until then. Is that clear?" Cassius said sternly.

Pinkamena bowed and replied, "Yes, thank you."

Cassius walked a few feet away before taking off into the air at high speeds to show he was still physically capable of fighting. He reentered the tower and the barrier of shadows came back to life. Rarity got up and slowly walked to them.

"So Pinkamena you found Rainbow Dash. What happened?" she asked calmly.

"Well I was sent to the nearest camp to kill everypony there when I found out Dashy was there.
I killed a very angry captain and waited for her. I had some very good hay stew as well. Anyway after I found out she was there it only took a few minutes for her to find me in the tent with the food. And well I attacked to see how she would react and she was going to fight me to the death. So I offered to take her here. Now what happened to you? You looked like you and Twilight had tried to kill each other." Pinkamena said pointing a hoof too Rarity's Shoulder.

Rarity looked down and said softly, "Yes, we did."

The white mare walked away toward the castle in silence.

Rainbow Dash blinked a few times trying to process what was just said. Pinkamena shared her look but registered the severity first.

"Rainbow, lets go to my room and get you settled in." she said softly as she pulled on Rainbow Dash foreleg.

*******************************************************

Celestia had heard about the fight between Rarity and Twilight in Ponyville. The news of losing four elements made her stomach sink. She was beside herself but felt as though she could still win. Luna had taken the news harder and went back to trying to find Cassius in the dream realm before he could strike on another pony. The princess of the night laid in her bed as she frantically searched for him in the realm of dreamers. Celestia walked into the dark room and calmly called her name. Luna heard it from the great hall in the dream realm and exited back into her body. She opened her eyes to see her sister sitting on the edge of her bed looking at her.

"Tia, what is it? Did something else happen?" Luna asked quickly while trying to get up.

"No dearest sister, nothing has happened. I was just wondering how you where. I know this must be hard on you given your relationship with him." Celestia said in a soothing voice.

"Tia, this is expected given his vows to the Eternal Herd and...Mother. He is doing their bidding for the greater good and mothers will. Still it pains me to see him like this, Cassius is a good pony at heart and to be the source of so much pain." Luna looked down to her hooves.

Celestia wrapped a wing over her and whispered, "Luna, he has chosen his path and we both know he will do all in his power to fulfill his mission or die trying. No matter what happens though, whoever does die. Just remember it is only the physical body that dies and the spirit will rejoin the herd as it’s true self. He is and just like you or I, he will still be able to see you in your dreams dead or alive. Mother might even let him return to you in another form."

Luna looked up to meet Celestia's gaze and muttered to her, "He has visited me in my dreams."

Celestia's eyes went wide, she blinked a few times before asking, "What did he say to you?"

"He was sorry for the things he must do and for all that must die. He will fight to his last breath to restore the balance even if it means destroying all of Equestria in the process."
Luna recited quietly .

Celestia got up from the bed and turned away from her to take her leave.

Before she could walk out of the room however, Luna spoke again, "Tia, he wants you dead, but me untouched. I don't know what to do."

Celestia didn't even look back before replying, "Find him and stop him. Its all we can do Luna."

She left the room, closing the door with her magic. She knew Cassius would still protect Luna and she was counting on it. That was his second priority as guardian of the night.
He still cared for her, and Celestia would use this to strike a deal with him soon.

********************************************************

Hours had passed since Celestia had visited Luna. She was back in the dream realm and was waiting in the great hall for Cassius to enter somepony's dream. She knew he was asleep because the hallway that read "Changeling Kingdom" was always up. Ever since Sereen returned from the Crystal Empire, the hall had never closed until earlier that morning.
She was tired of waiting and decided to enter. Luna wished she had control of what the signs said because new ones had appeared in this hall and she didn't know who the dreamers where. She couldn't even enter them because, Cassius was keeping her out using his power of this realm. This was one of the many things the two of them shared. This time was different, all the other doors were locked to her except Cassius dream rather than the other way around.
She hadn't felt his doors presence all day and Luna didn't know what to expect from it. The door looked normal for once instead of the rotted wood it would usually appear as. She hesitantly pushed it open and looked inside to find the sun out and the Canterlot gardens the choice destination. This sight before her caught Luna off guard for only a few moments. It seemed so peaceful and calm rather than the dark and desolate dreams that usually called this place home. A voice came from the hedge maze that Luna didn't recognize. She took flight and flew over the maze to get a good view of everything. From her vantage point she saw a little dark blue filly running from what was most likely Cassius. She was screaming as he chased her from turn to turn in the green labyrinth. Luna dove down and snatched her after she rounded the corner leaving Cassius try to figure out where she went.

The filly squirmed in her arms and yelled, "Put me down, put me down! Cassius help!"

From the ground Cassius called back as he looked around frantically, "Luna, where are you!?"

The princess of the night was shocked to hear him say that. She turned to the filly and looked her in the face to see she was her as a young filly. Cassius was remembering their game of tag in the garden they had together and she had walked into it.

"Cassius, I'm up here!" She yelled back looking into her older versions eyes.

Cassius looked up to see both Luna's hovering in mid air.

"Luna! I'm coming hold on!" yelled Cassius as he shot at them releasing a sonic boom in his wake.

The gray Alicorn rushed to the princess of the night but stopped a foot short from colliding with her. He looked at her with a blank expression like he didn't know her.

"Luna, why are you here?" He said softly taking the filly from her.

"Cassius, what is this. I was waiting for you to enter somepony else's dreams. Instead I find you here in a good memory." Luna said.

"You sound disappointed." Cassius laughed.

"Well...I....Why are you acting like...you? Does this mean the balance is back to normal?" Luna asked with a blush.

"The fight Sereen and I had left me too drained to actually enter others dreams for very long so I thought I would remember the good times with you. As for the balance and your mother, no it is not fixed. I was granted a rest from most of my power and allowed one dream of my own without any... gifts involved." Cassius said as he descended with Luna's younger version.

He set her down and gave her a paper hat made of a map that sat on the ground and placed it on her head. She ran back into the maze giggling and calling Cassius to catch her. Luna landed next to him and watched the filly running and having fun. She also noticed the smile in Cassius muzzle.

Keeping his multi colored eyes on the filly he said, "You know your Elements of Harmony said I was great with young foals. I thought it was funny, because I didn't know why. That is until I remembered everything. I still wondered why I locked all of my memories, especially this one."

Luna looked at him and said, "Cassius, you really do care for me don't you?"

Cassius looked to her with a raised eyebrow, "Of course I do Luna. Don't you remember the promises I made to you?"

Luna closed her eye and recited his promise, "I will watch over you and protect you no matter what the cost. You will never be alone as long as I am here."

"I meant it and I'm back for now. Luna don't think for a second that I would ever let harm befall you. On that I want you to find me. Celestia plans to use you to get me to come for you without my army." Cassius said.

Luna looked at him for a moment trying to find words, but nothing came. She was surprised to hear that. Celestia, her sister was going to sacrifice her to get to Cassius. It didn't seem like her in the slightest.

"Luna I have never lied to you, I have always cared for you. Why would I be dishonest now.
The last time this happened I made Celestia and Sereen keep you away from me in fear I would hurt you, or worse. Now that I have taken four of the Elements of Harmony, I have all of the Elements of Chaos and Sereen is badly wounded. Tia is running out of options fast. She is going you put you in danger by setting you up to die, just so I put myself in your place and take the killing blow for you. Luna, go to her dream tonight and you will see. If I am right then come join me. If I am wrong then I will never bother you again, if you want." Cassius explained.

He walked over to a door that led to the castle in his dream and opened it. He walked into the great hall and morphed into the nightmare spawn. This was his form of choice in others dreams. Luna would take up his offer to see Celestia's dream tonight. Until then she needed to follow and stop Cassius from tormenting another pony. The chase was on for Luna and Nightmare Spawn Cassius.