//------------------------------//
// Chapter XXIII: The Canterlot Consequence 
// Story: The Clockwork Consequence 
// by Michy 
//------------------------------//


Chapter XXIII: The Canterlot Consequence


Chapter 22 Recap: The accumulation of the Canterlot Lockdown, has reached its end.





Lady Rarity was silent, sitting within the welcomed quiet of the diner deep inside Nightmare Moon's castle. She had a warmed cup of coffee, as it was just her for now, located at the very same table she'd talked to both Diane and Trixie in earlier in the night. She sat neatly, calmly, deep in thought as both her forehooves were at the sides of her cup. She eventually took a sip of that coffee, collecting herself. So Princess ... it seems you do plan to leave me in charge of... all this. Per usual I shall not fail you, but I must wonder... what could be more important? The pale moonlight graced Lady Rarity's features as she sat there, and she eventually gazed out the window towards the lowering moon. I guess we will find out with time. Her features worsened only slightly, as if contemplative. As it always tends to be.

Soon the door to the diner slowly crept open, revealing a single pegasus guard. He saluted, "Lady Rarity."

Lady Rarity glanced back at him casually, blankly even. "Yes Darling, what is it you need to report?"

The guard nodded. "The guards have arrived at the city borders per our missives. Proceed as planned?"

Lady Rarity gazed back out the window. "Yes, conduct a clean sweep of the city and lock it back down. Deploy the new spheres and check the perimeters for any sort of suspicious activity. Though Canterlot was ahead of schedule, we need to keep the process flowing smoothly. We must also prepare the citizens for the bedding procedure before investigative actions can take place."  She paused with a squint, "Do search thoroughly for Captain Dash. I want her back here."

The guard nodded once again and bowed his head further. "Yes M'lady." He then began to close the door.

But Lady Rarity called out to him one last time. "Oh and Darling."

The guard's eyes widened as he poked his head back in. "Y-Yes M'lady?"

Lady Rarity uttered out while looking out the window at this point. "Do check the skies. It's Dash..."

The guard raised both brows, before tipping his helmet some. "Um ... Yes M'lady." He then departed.

Lady Rarity slid her cup a bit further down the table, before crossing her forehooves over one another. She eyed the surface of the table once more in silence, before peering ahead more seriously with half closed eyes, saying nothing.





It felt like hours, even an eternity, since Applejack departed into the forest.

Apple Bloom rolled from side to side in her bed, frowning all the while. She peered up at the ceiling, frowning even further. "Uh ... how am I supposed ta sleep Big Sis?" She paused, "Knowing you're out there all alone?" Apple Bloom sighed heavily. She laid on her back for awhile, feeling tiny within her spacious gigantic room. Her bed was centered along the far right wall, with a gorgeous gold threaded netting wrapped around it. She had two large windows which gave a good view of the beautiful town of Ponyville, with its cobble stoned streets, and from her small sector, extravagantly decorated houses. A candle on the far end of her room emitted the only light within it, as her door was slightly cracked open which allowed the hallway lights to pour in somewhat. She laid there, deep in thought. "J-Just what in the hay is going on out there?"

Peck! Peck! ... Peck!

Apple Bloom's brow cocked, as she leaned up in her bed and squinted one eye a bit. Her ear twitched.

Peck! Peck! Peck!

Eventually the filly glanced around bewildered, before she looked towards her window. "Is that the signal?" She hopped from the side of her bed, before her back hoof got wrapped up in the netting and she tripped, slamming her face. "Uh..." She groaned, kicking the side of the bed in frustration only to hurt her hoof on the spectacular gold plating which helped make up the frame. She wheezed, biting her lower lip and nearly crying out. But she managed to hold in her unfathomable rage towards her bed before wobbling and hopping up to all fours with a mutter, "Who even needs netting anyway!?"

Apple Bloom hopped towards her window, peering outside and down into her front yard. She squinted even further, attempting to concentrate. She eyed firstly her front gate, seeing nothing. Then the neat paths leading further into Ponyville, to which she saw some street lanterns and perhaps two or three citizens trotting about, but ultimately nothing. Her gaze drifted back towards her front yard, nothing out in the open grassy field. Then to some bushes right at the edge of her house, to which she saw a small light pink pony figure. Her brow cocked further, "Hm?" She then opened her window before calling out towards that figure with a hushed whisper. "Diamond Tiara, what're you doing here? It's late."

The filly revealed as Diamond Tiara cupped her muzzle with one hoof. "Actually ... it's just really early!"

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes before resting a hoof against her cheek, leaning on the window sill. "Ya get what I'm sayin, and won't yer mom get mad at you? Ya know we got school tomorrow don't ya?" She looked at the filly skeptically.

Diamond Tiara smirked from below, "That's what I came to tell you about, I got some news from Sweetie Belle."

Apple Bloom's eyes widened, as she leaned further out her window, intrigued. She then glanced back cautiously, before using a hoof to motion Diamond Tiara to come up, again with a loud enough whisper. "Fine fine, get up here." Apple Bloom scurried back into her room for but a moment, returning to the window with a tied bed sheet, implying she'd done this before. She tossed it out the window towards Diamond Tiara, cupping her muzzle. "Big Mac is still downstairs."

Diamond Tiara grabbed onto the bed sheet, before giving Apple Bloom a salute with a smirk.

Apple Bloom nodded to her then made her way back in her room again, with the far end of the sheet in her muzzle as she gripped it tightly with her teeth, then kicking back on her rear hooves and going off into a hurried trot towards the opposing end of its spacious vacancy. It required little effort on her part, before she felt Diamond Tiara get pulled up and even hurled through her window. The opposing filly landed perfectly onto her huge bed as she smirked silently.

Diamond Tiara patted herself off before bouncing on the bed. "Never ever gonna get tired of that." The filly crossed her hooves behind her head then as she laid down comfortably on Apple Bloom's bed. "You been practicing lately?"

Apple Bloom dropped the sheet from her muzzle before appearing quite impressed with herself. "Well duh, my big sis is one of the big three, gotta keep up appearances ya know." She closed her eyes, raising her head then confidently.

Diamond Tiara sat on the bed, leaning forward then. "True true. She must be busy quite often I imagine."

Apple Bloom exhaled, "Yeah. But I can't complain, shucks, she really turned things around for us here." She looked to Diamond Tiara a bit more seriously. "S-So uh, before we get off topic and all, what'd Sweetie Belle say? She okay?"

Diamond Tiara's eyes widened as her rear hooves were crossed. She blinked, an enlightened expression coming upon her soon after as she raised a hoof. "Right! So, get this ... apparently, we might not have school tomorrow. A lot of crazy adult stuff is going on, and apparently, school is planned to be cancelled! Plus it's a Sun Day, so it'd be too hot anyway."

Apple Bloom seemed a bit more worried. "I-It's cause of those sirens isn't it?" 

Diamond Tiara nodded, smirking some. "Yeah! Sweetie Belle said her sister hasn't even come home yet."

Apple Bloom's eyes widened. "R-Really? She must be really hooves deep in this then..."

Diamond Tiara crossed her forehooves. "Sweetie Belle didn't tell me any more than that. She seemed very hushed about most of the juicy bits. She's heading over to Silver Spoon's house to tell her too, which is why she isn't here."

Apple Bloom sighed heavily, glancing to her lower right. "She's also probably real worried about her big sis."

Diamond Tiara leaned forward, grinning some. "Lady Rarity!? Why? She's like ... the Princess' right hoof!"

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes before turning towards an opposing wall, worriedly. She sighed heavily.

Diamond Tiara tilted her head to the right. "Hey ... you okay? You seem a little down to be honest."

Apple Bloom frowned, eyes half closed as she eyed the ground. "I-It's just ... my big sis. She hasn't come back yet too."

Diamond Tiara's eyes widened at Apple Bloom, looking to her skeptically. "Back from where?"

Apple Bloom paused for a bit longer, before speaking in a grim manner. "I don't know."

Diamond Tiara smirked upon her bed. "Well I wouldn't worry too much. It's your sister after all."

Apple Bloom glanced back at Diamond Tiara on her bed, appreciative of her words. She understood where the fellow filly was coming from, but it wasn't that simple. Reality slowly crept in, as it typically did. She looked towards the floorboards, trying not to cloud her thoughts with that realization she'd caught onto long ago. "That's true Diamond Tiara, but nopony is invincible. That's not how it works, bad things still happen to good ponies all the time." She put on a hopeful smile as her eyes gave hint to uncertainty. "But as fillies, I think it makes sense to forget that sometimes."

Diamond Tiara was struck by Apple Bloom's expression. For her, it was a trigger in her mind, a reminder that Apple Bloom had lost many ponies very near and dear to her before. Guilt set in for Diamond Tiara as she eyed the bed covers more for her own sense of ease, before uttering. "R-Right. Sorry Apple Bloom I didn't mean to remind you of that stuff."

Eventually a somewhat awkward silence passed between them.

Diamond Tiara looked back to Apple Bloom, eventually wishing to break that awkwardness. "So ... uh, what now?"

Apple Bloom raised a hoof to her muzzle, eyeing the floorboards. "We wait I guess."

Diamond Tiara leaned onto her side, resting a hoof against her cheek. "For what? Your sister?"

Apple Bloom blinked a few times at Diamond Tiara before looking towards her upper right and smiling with interest. She eventually looked back to Diamond Tiara, "I wouldn't say that." Her more cautious mind came into play, a belief structure she adopted. "Let's wait for whatever needs ta happen," she paused again, smiling hopefully, "Ta happen."





The sky had become a dim blue haze further out from Canterlot, a mixture between the dark and light. The sun crept in over the distant mountains, peeking just enough to reveal itself to those who'd eyed its direction. The night was very near its end, as brisk warmed winds carried through the forests. Fleetfoot, Marble, and Cloudchaser, all carrying their respective ponies continued to trot deeper and deeper into the forests, away from Canterlot. For Cloudchaser, the atmosphere was surreal in the absence of conflict. She glanced around, seeing a beautiful creek which coursed further into a river nearby. As they were covered by the shade of lush lively trees, the river steadily flowed through the nooks and crannies of rocks and ledges, dug between moss and branches. She eyed it particularly, wondering ... what came next for the lot of them.

Fleetfoot continued to trot, Moondancer on her back sleeping soundly. She seemed to have gained her prior demeanor back, her confidence. She was ahead of both Marble and Cloudchaser, eyeing further into the forest. Looking straight ahead, perhaps more as a sense of symbolism. She merely kept trotting, laying out the path for their goals ahead.

Though it was welcomed, Marble broke the silence for personal inquiries. "Fleetfoot ... what do we do now?"

Fleetfoot's expression didn't change. "We reach our destination Marble. We were only lucky."

Both Marble and Cloudchaser eyed the pegasus in concern, and slight surprise due to her choice of words.

Fleetfoot continued to trot. "Those still left in Canterlot will be trapped and interrogated by whatever means the Princess has left of delving into their dreams. I doubt there's much else they can do. All other cities, unless they've also staged rebellions, are going to be trapped within the perimeters of their lockdown." She glanced downward, "We and whomever else escaped, may just be the few voices left on the outside who have any form of resistance against the Princess. We're a small desperate force and honestly ... a hopeless one unless we find some sort of weapon to aid us." 

The three ascended some small dirt hills and patches, trying not to trip over slipper rocks moist with creek water. Thankfully nearby trees allowed them to have a grip for some momentum, and balance to push forward.

Marble glanced to her right. "Weapon? Y-You mean ... like Twilight Sparkle?"

Fleetfoot flinched, pausing and trembling for a second as she looked down, trying not to bear that guilty frown again. She shook her head, and looked forward again with determination. "Twilight Sparkle is her own mare Marble."

Both Marble and Cloudchaser paused again, once again stunned by Fleetfoot's proclamation.

Fleetfoot continued with her train of thought. "She cannot be part of the plan, nor can we rely on her existence. She was our saving grace in a desperate moment, but from here on out we're on our own. Twilight Sparkle is already too far gone for us to proactively include her in all this. We don't even know if we'll ever see her again ... or if she'll be captured."

Marble stomped a hoof angrily, "You don't have to be so negative F-Fleetfoot!"

Fleetfoot glanced back at her with a pinch of annoyance. "Negative? I'm being realistic Marble. Do I hope Twilight Sparkle escaped Canterlot and Dash? Yes. But do I know if she did for certain? No. We need to think smarter if we're going to be serious about finding a way to stop the Princess. We finally got the courage to directly oppose her, so there's no turning back now. But as we are now, we're just a bunch of measly ants beneath her hooves. We have no means of effectively defeating her. Twilight Sparkle was a start, but until she shows up in my face again I can't choose to rely on her." She huffed, "As much as I'd like to. We're seriously on our own with this. But this is Equestria ... there has to be more the Princess doesn't want us to find. We just need to figure out what that is, and where she's hiding it." She tossed an almost playful smirk back at Cloudchaser with some amused but hopeful eyes. "Got any tips for us, now ex-guard?"

Cloudchaser flinched as she blushed and cast her gaze downward. "A-Ah no ... I'm sorry, I was just a grunt."

Fleetfoot's smile widened as she looked up past the trees. "No worries. I was just messing with ya."

Marble had fell silent again, contemplative and worried about the future.

Fleetfoot exhaled. "For now let's just use the free time we have to regroup with the others still back at home base. I'm sure your big sis is worried about you, as is Infinity." She glanced back at Marble again, "Home sounds nice, doesn't it?"

Marble's expression softened as she smiled, nodding to Fleetfoot. "M-Mhm..."

"Home base huh? Mind taking me along?" The voice was weak and raspy, but familiar.

Marble, Fleetfoot, and Cloudchaser all froze as they glanced immediately to their right in the further distance.

There, laying at the base of a tree with only a fraction of her armor upon her body was Lieutenant Dust. Her body was littered with gashes which bled only slightly, as her mane was disheveled and patched with dirt. One of her rear hooves was twisted grimly out of place, as she used the stick of her now broken in half lance for a form of support. "Sounds fun."

The three remained all frozen there for a second, especially Cloudchaser. But it didn't take long for Cloudchaser to sprint on over towards Lieutenant Dust, still with Flitters upon her back. She knelt down, trembling as she looked worriedly over her superior, in shock and at a loss for words. "L-Lieutenant. You're ... You're hurt. You need to see a medic."

Fleetfoot looked gravely towards Lieutenant Dust. "D-Dust...."

Lieutenant Dust smiled at Cloudchaser. "Switched sides huh Corporal? Well, ain't surprising to me. Dash really screwed things up with us didn't she." Weak choked laughter escaped her as she wheezed. "Well hay, I'll be happy for you."

Marble looked to Fleetfoot worriedly. "F-Fleetfoot ... we uh, we can't just leave her-"

Lieutenant Dust snickered. "I'm not seriously considering joining your lot. Just wanted to get your attention before you left." She closed her eyes and sighed, lowering her head somewhat with a smile. "I've still got things to take care of back at our home base after all this is over. I'm still more confident in the Princess, despite the mix-ups we've had here."

Fleetfoot snapped at the fellow pegasus. "You're still going to side with her!? Even after all that's happened!?"

Lieutenant Dust eyed Fleetfoot with a smirk. "Of course ... you see what she just pulled off when not even here? What do you think she can do when she's really mad ... or worse, here herself." She lowered her head again and closed her eyes. "I'm not confident to oppose that power, no matter what I think. I'll play my cards my way, and you yours Fleetfoot."

Fleetfoot, despite how much she wanted to rebuke and refute Dust's words, understood them. At least, she felt she did. She only looked upon the pegasus in pity as she uttered. "If that's the way you see it, then I guess I can't stop you."

Cloudchaser looked back at Fleetfoot almost in shocked disappointment she didn't try harder. But as she looked back at Lieutenant Dust, she eyed the ground guiltily and also found herself unable to say anything. She also understood.

Lieutenant Dust continued as she glanced casually to her right. "Looks like Canterlot is still standing. Which leads me to believe Dash didn't succeed in her plans." She frowned a bit, "Tell me, did you all somehow manage to neutralize her?"

Fleetfoot opened her muzzle, about to speak before near immediately silencing herself. She gathered her thoughts, then thought of another response. "Well, I guess you'll just have to go and find out yourself, Lieutenant Dust."

Lieutenant Dust couldn't help but eye Fleetfoot in amusement and let loose a snicker. "Hah."

Fleetfoot continued to look down at her, this time blankly. "Come on Marble, Cloudchaser. We're heading out of here. We're not friends, if she's still on the Princess' side then we best move on. We're better off not talking to her."

Cloudchaser flinched again, as she eyed Fleetfoot then looked back to Lieutenant Dust with further concern. 

Lieutenant Dust smirked at Cloudchaser, almost in a nostalgic manner. "Out of my sight, traitor. I'll be alright."

Cloudchaser frowned to Lieutenant Dust with a flinch, but understanding. She rose, before saluting Lieutenant Dust one final time and then heading back over towards Fleetfoot and Marble again, nodding to them afterwords.

With that, the three began trotting off back further into the forest, though Marble did so more hesitantly.

Lieutenant Dust snickered, as she squinted at them as they departed ... playfully. "See ya arooound you six."

As they grew more distant from her, Marble whispered in Fleetfoot's ear. "Are you sure ... Fleetfoot?"

Fleetfoot remained serious. "Yes, she'll be fine Marble don't worry. She's tough as nails apparently. Honestly, I'm more disappointed we couldn't bring her along as a prisoner." She glanced back at Moondancer on her back, "She no doubt got a good look at Moondancer and Twilight Sparkle's mother. I'd like to hope it doesn't cause us complications, but I'd be stupid to think that anything that gives them any sort of advantage wouldn't cause us trouble later so in other words ... it will."

Marble sighed heavily as she looked downward again. "I-I guess ... we'll just figure it out when the time comes."

Fleetfoot smiled back at Marble gently. "Also, Marble."

Marble blinked a bit, looking back to Fleetfoot. "H-Hm?"

Fleetfoot closed her eyes and grinned a bit. "When did you start talking so much?"

Marble flushed red as she closed her eyes and looked away. "Hmph!"

Cloudchaser as she trailed behind them could only cast a slight smile back at her sister. But also a worried gaze at Lieutenant Dust further back in the distance. She worriedly looked ahead, wondering if she were truly making the best decision. But soon enough she raised her head confidently and nodded to herself. She had to believe she was right.

Lieutenant Dust continued to smirk at them departing, before she grunted, wobbling to one hoof with the support of her broken lance. She turned towards the opposite direction, eyeing the sky. "Well, guess I'll be on my way then."

As they chose to go in different directions, they each knew they had much to do. They made their choices.





Her mind was a fogged haze as her forehoof trembled there upon the cloud. She saw it, the bright colored red substance that had never before been so apparent for her. It was surreal. Captain Dash's view was dazed as the blade was slowly pulled from her chest, the ethereal substance grinding against her now torn flesh which sent a stinging almost numbing pain throughout her body. As it'd been fully removed, red spattered across the cloud and she fell to her rear hooves, hunched over as she wheezed. Yes ... this was reality, she knew it was over. This was the end of her pursuit.

Twilight Sparkle continued to smile down at her, as she had the blade elevated at her side still. "So..."

The warmed brisk winds which were now more apparent, passed between them in their silence.

Captain Dash smirked slightly with tired saddened eyes as blood trailed down her muzzle. She almost seemed relieved, in a sense. "I guess ... you're free to do what you'd like Alicorn. I can't stop you, not now. I guess ... I'm finally spent." She exhaled slowly, trying to catch her breath as her body trembled and she knew she had to stop the blood loss, but it was more than difficult. She almost ignored it, holding a hoof to the wound casually, as if her fate didn't really matter to her in the end. "Your magic is amazing, maybe ... you do have what it takes to make it out there. Out in our Equestria."

Twilight continued to give the mare an amused smile, glad that she had accepted her grim position.





But as she watched within her own mind, Twilight in what she felt was her true self, could only look upon Captain Dash in both horror and concern. She shook her head, knowing this isn't what she imagined. This isn't the result she wanted for her.





Captain Dash continued to eye the cloud, as she seemed serene, calm. "For so long I tried to deny it you know. Deny the possibility that lurked in the back of my mind Alicorn. I know you and her are not one in the same ... but it's still haunted me." She paused, "The idea that I might've caused the world to crumble, because of one stupid race." 





Within her mind again, Twilight's eyes widened as she listened to Captain Dash. Thrown off by her proclamation.





The Alicorn only raised a brow, peaked a bit with interest in Captain Dash's utmost strange confession.

Captain Dash showed a hint of frustration but her words were still calmed. "How was I supposed to accept such absurdity ... t-the idea .." she coughed, wheezing again. "T-That a race, a stupid race, is responsible for everything. But I saw you that night, even if I'd buried that memory long ago, that night I saw you ... it came reaching up, strangling me like a vice. I kept it to myself, determined to prove that you were crazy, that you were wrong. T-That this time magic nonsense, everything, was just some filly's tale. But I see now ... I see, it was just wishful thinking." She snickered just barely. "I guess I may just have been destined to fail. To fail my parents. To fail the Princess. To fail here. Maybe ... it all was beyond me."

The Alicorn tilted her head at Captain Dash, not even certain what all this was pinpointing at.

Captain Dash lowered her head further. "I set out after you'd escaped to end you, either you or that other unicorn you were with that day. To bring peace to the Princess, and set things right. To continue on as I always have, in the hopes you'd disappear like a bad dream. To accept you were right meant to accept I was the factor. T-To accept, that I'd failed everypony before I even began." Her gaze became even more tired. "Maybe ... j-just maybe, I'd be quick enough to shut up all your nonsense." She paused, coughing again. "I was a kid, witnessing a spectacle. A spectacle I made nothing more of."

Captain Dash needed to take a breath, before continuing. "Even now, i-it's hard to think, that one bad decision, unknowingly lead us along this thread. W-Was I it ... Princess Celestia?" She smiled gently, bags beneath her eyes. "But you know what Alicorn? .... I have no regrets. After you'd came, and insulted us by preaching about how the world should be, how what should've happened, I only felt more passionate about all that I'd done. The decisions I made, the mare I've become, that's just who I am. Even if I'm the cause of even us, here and now, I wouldn't have it any other way because ... I-I'm still my own mare. Just like, you're your own mare. Do you get it Alicorn?" Captain Dash eyed up at Twilight with a smirk, "I never cared about any correct future, only the one I've created for myself. I care about my Equestria."

Twilight Sparkle tilted her head to the right, squinting at Captain Dash with a light chuckle. "You've gone mad..." She soon raised the ethereal blade over Captain Dash's head, preparing to swing it down. "Let's put you out of your misery."

Captain Dash smiled wider. "One day you'll understand, the cycle of violence that runs its course, the strength required to protect Equestria ... will always be there." Captain Dash awaited her fate, "I doubt ... you'll prove me wrong."

And with that, the Alicorn swung downward upon Captain Dash to finish her off. But just as her blade reached the pegasus' neck, it halted. The ethereal blade trembled, mere inches from Captain Dash's blue coat. "W-What?"

W-Wrong. You're both wrong. All of this is wrong! 

Captain Dash whom openly accepted the result, eyed the Alicorn in further confusion and now ... concern.

The Alicorn struggled, as she began to sweat as she muttered. "Twilight ... W-What're you doing? Stop it."

No, I won't! I-I ... won't, let you do this. There was apparent struggle in her voice as well.

Captain Dash could not hear that opposing voice, she only witnessed the actions the Alicorn took. 

The Alicorn became further frustrated as she grimaced. "Don't you understand? I'm saving your life!"

Then don't! I don't want to be saved if this is what it means! I-I won't become a part in this!

Captain Dash eyed Twilight more in annoyance. "What're you doing? Do it. Finish this!"

The Alicorn also agreed, she wanted nothing more than to finish this bothersome blue pegasus. "Twilight!"

But Twilight within her own mind screamed. I won't! I said it and I mean it! I won't do this!

The Alicorn flinched, due to the ferocity from Twilight she'd never heard before. She had no response yet.





Twilight continued to berate her. All I've ever done with my life is ... is nothing. I didn't have a care about any of those ponies on the outside. Yet I still desired those connections. I ... I found them tonight in Moondancer. I found them in my Mom, in everything that was threatened by all this. I found it! I f-finally felt happy, even though a pony as pitiful as I am didn't deserve it, it all still came to me. This magic, these chances, it all still came! I want nothing more than to protect those feelings, but this? T-This isn't the way I want to protect them. She paused. This world of Nightmare Moon that caused all this to happen in the first place, the sadness and paranoia of other ponies continuing on in some endless cycle. From within her mind, her raged expression was apparent but tears drenched her face. If doing this means I'm just going to become no different than Nightmare Moon then ... I refuse to play any sort of part in it! I refuse!

She thought of Moondancer. She thought of her Mother & Father. She thought of Joe and his family. She thought of Twinkleshine. She thought of Specialist Ebonblitz. She thought of the colt who'd appeared in her dreams. She thought of every single guard and citizen who'd been put to sleep by this spell. And finally, she thought of Princess Celestia. A pony who'd lost hope from this cycle, and one who caused her to become just as uncaring as well. To become one only obsessed with the result, but not the consequences of achieving it. She was smarter than this. She had to be! She couldn't fall into the trap all others fell into before, she didn't want to experience a night like this ever again. If anything, she wanted to push towards a new future with Moondancer. That meant ... being different. She couldn't be more of the same, she refused to be! She would be different.

And with one piercing violent shout, Twilight Sparkle cried out. "I refuse to make those same mistakes!"





Captain Dash's eyes only widened further as she remained there, unable to move due to her wound.

The Alicorn wore a disappointed expression as her face began to crack like glass, as did her whole body. She sighed heavily. "Twilight Sparkle ... you still have so much to learn. But fine, I wish not to upset you."

Captain Dash's confusion became near maddening as she witnessed this, squinting one eye some.

The Alicorn smiled, looking up. "I won't deny you the freedom to pursue this but remember..." A bright light emitted from her body as the pieces of her current appearance cracked and fell. "I'll always be watching."

Captain Dash needed to look away due to the intensity of a vibrant flash, which left her stunned.

Emerging from the light was not an alicorn, but once again a purple unicorn with disheveled hair, breathing heavily still with tears running down her face. As she stood there, standing, Twilight soon overlooked herself in shock. "H-Huh?" The alicorn magic surrounding her body still remained, but sunk back into her, as if sheltering itself for the time being. The feathers which made up her black raven wings casually departed from her, dissipating into the air as well. Twilight overlooked her hooves, trembling all the while, in slight disbelief.

Captain Dash soon looked at her, still in shock before shouting. "W-What!? What're you doing! Finish this!"

Twilight's ethereal sword cracked and faded with the wind, as she gathered herself and looked to Captain Dash blankly. "I won't Captain Dash." She squinted her eyes somewhat, "I won't do as you said. I'll prove you wrong completely." She frowned at the pegasus. "We all will. We won't play a part in Nightmare Moon's Tyranny." She paused, "I have no idea about these threads, or the choice you made, nothing about some race. But I'm still my own mare, like you are. And I'll still make my own decisions from here, but ... I plan to make the right ones."

Captain Dash flinched, before she huffed beneath her breath. "You still believe ... i-in those filly tales?"

Twilight rushed up to the pegasus, before grabbing hold of her and looking over the wound. She seemed panicked as the color drained from her face and she began muttering to herself, passages from books to help jog her memory on what should be done. Telekinetic magic hovered over the wounds, trying to prevent the bleeding as she gulped. "P-Please stop talking! You're expending energy, just focus on remaining conscious!"

Captain Dash was now leaned back as she eyed up at the alicorn tiredly. "You've made your choice alicorn. Don't say I didn't warn you. I've seen more than you have, I know what's waiting out there. Waiting for you...."

Twilight began to panic further as she snapped, visibly irritated at the pegasus. "Just shut up!"

But then came a grave silence as Captain Dash finally grew hushed with her breathing. She only looked further in the sky blankly as she muttered. "So emotional ... don't tell me what to do." A choked snicker escaped her.

Twilight's own eyes widened as she was speechless, trembling as she looked down at Captain Dash.

Captain Dash slowly closed her eyes as she smiled to herself. "Be seeing the lot of you ... Alicorn."

As more winds blew, Twilight continued to overlook Captain Dash blankly. "Captain Dash?" But as she was met with no response, she shook her head as her eyes became moist yet again. Her face twisted into a grimace of both disgust and anger as she lightly shook the pegasus, biting her lower lip. "Please ... I don't want this. I never have. Please?" But once again she was met with no response as the pegasus just laid there silently. She soon screamed, enraged as she gripped Captain Dash tighter with her hooves. "I told you I need you to stay awake! This is your fault!" She leaned closer, shaking her head. "You chose this! Not me! You Captain Dash!"

But her words made no difference, the pegasus was still silent and quiet, and deathly still.

Twilight's broken expression only continued to worsen as she trembled, crying out once again in frustration.

Her cries however were short lived as she was immediately overcome by a band of multiple pegasus whom rose above the cloud they were on, all immediately focused upon the unicorn with their lances.

Twilight was left stunned by their sudden appearance as she immediately rose, breathing heavily. Her world slowed as she found her rear hoof sinking into the cloud and she glanced downward. "Uh?" Then fell rapidly through it. Her body tumbled and spun through the air as she descended. Her panic only rising.

One of the pegasus Nightmare Guards immediately touched down beside Captain Dash as he took hold of her and looked her over. "Captain Dash!? Ma'am! Are you alright!?" A shiver ran down his spine as he saw her condition, with the exposed wound and the drained color from her face. He snapped at his fellow guards, "Hey!! I need some help over here!" He continued to shake her, "Captain Dash! Captain Dash!!"

As Twilight continued to descend, she looked to her left only to see Smarty Pants falling alongside her.

A multitude of the pegasus continued to descend after the unicorn themselves.

Twilight slowly reached out towards Smarty Pants, wanting to grab hold of him for safekeeping.

When then, a stream of magic blasted through the doll, reducing him to cinders.

Once again ... Twilight's world was slowed as she still had her hoof reached out. She eventually turned her gaze towards her far left, eyeing whomever it was that committed the action. Shock written plainly all over her.

There in the distance at a cliff's edge were two figures. A blue unicorn with a pointed hat, and a cloaked pony.

As she continued to fall, there was too much happening at once for her to properly gather her thoughts. Twilight couldn't maneuver well in the air in her current condition, and she desperately tried to come up with a solution. Her mind was a mess, as she felt exhausted, both mentally and physically. Hushed cries escaped her.

The unicorn at the cliff's edge smirked, creating a sphere of magic which she sent hurdling towards Twilight.

Twilight grimaced as she prepared to teleport right as it'd arrive to her position. She had to dodge it!

But as it had arrived, another sphere of magic slammed into the one that aimed to decimate Twilight.

The blue unicorn gasped, snarling as she snapped. "What!?" 

Twilight's gaze now drifted towards her right, towards the far edge of Canterlot City.

Standing there was another cloaked unicorn, however it was a familiar face. Standing idly by herself, was Twinkleshine whom stayed behind in the city. She tossed Twilight a casual salute with a serious expression. "See ya Sparkle." With that, Twinkleshine began trying to buy more time for Twilight who'd gotten the jump on her, by tossing more spheres of magic at the descending pegasi, and even more at the ponies at the cliff's edge. 

Some of the pegasus diverged to pursue Twinkleshine, one calling out. "Get her! That one over there!"

As Twilight fell, she still tried desperately to come to a serene calm. But everything was happening so fast, it was all so chaotic and ultimately ... she was tired. Eventually, as she thought now about Moondancer and the others, she didn't even know where they were. When she thought about Smarty Pants and Captain Dash, immediate heartache hit her. She just wanted peace and quiet ... that's all she wanted, was quiet. She slowly closed her eyes, and soon came in the calm. But despite how much she wanted to reside in that peace of mind, she opened her eyes, logic hitting her once again. It didn't matter how fast the world moved, how quickly everything seemed to pass. How hurt she was ... she had to move along with it. Twilight came to a rapid descent in the forest, attempting to rapidly teleport last second to perhaps slow her fall into some bushes or trees. But she slammed into branches, crashing through them violently with pitiful grunts as her trajectory sent her crashing through the dirt before slamming her back against the trunk of a tree. She coughed, wheezing heavily. 

Twilight's world became blurry. Surrounding her she could hear the sound of numerous ponies, pegasus and unicorns alike. Just how many had come back to this area? She tried to move, to gather some momentum to carry herself. But it just wasn't there. Nothing was there anymore. Her world now started to grow black as the surrounding sounds started to fade. As her eyes began to close, she thought of Captain Dash's words. 

I doubt ... you'll prove me wrong. 

As her world continued fade, Twilight felt she saw the pegasus standing only a few feet ahead of her. She muttered, "C-Captain Dash?" But the image cleared just barely, only unveiling another figure. Her coat was orange and her mane a gorgeous yellow. She wore a serious expression as she casually trotted up to the unicorn. Twilight turned her gaze up to her ... no longer able to speak. An ... earth pony? The short maned earth pony just eyed down at Twilight in silence still, her expression wholly serious as she waited for the mare to pass out while she stood over her. Twilight now allowed the black to take her, as her cheek slowly fell into her shoulder. A few quiet breaths escaped her while she sat there. She welcomed it, finally ... everything was quiet.

For better or for worse, Twilight knew this chapter of her life was over. She felt ... she'd tried her best.