//------------------------------// // Memories of the Past. // Story: To The End // by Zubric //------------------------------// The morning sun glittered through the window of Cadence and Shining’s bed chamber. A soothing breeze fluttered the curtains about like wisps. Yesterday’s foal sitting had been a lot more tiring than Cadence had imagined but was so worth it for Shining to be on her side, or, rather, supporting Twilight like her brother again.   Cadence opened her eyes smiling at her husband warmly before letting out a cute yawn. "Good morning, dear." She said hugging him closer.   “Morning Sweetie.” He kissed her on the lips, snuggling lovingly as he moved his hoof along her silky wings.   “Feeling better today?” Cadence kissed back.   He nodded gently. “Yeah, much better. Still going to try and turn her back though.”   Before the two could cuddle more, there was a knock on the door and the whiny voice of Twilight beyond it.   “Caddy wake up!” she cried out, knocking rapidly on the door, to much of their annoyance.   With a soft groan, Cadence rolled out of bed, heading to the door. She yawned, opening it and looking at the filly.   “Yes Twilight, what is it?” She asked tiredly, though she guessed she just wanted a diaper change.   “I need diapee change,” she said, pointing at her obviously bulging diaper, with a little frown.   Cadence worked up a smile and exited the room, since she had left the bag in the guest room across the hall where twilight was sleeping. “Okay, let’s get this done.”   Twilight follows behind quickly as she points to the diaper bag.  Cadence pulls out the supplies and the mat once more happy that Twilight laid down on it quickly. It did not take long to do the change Twilight, as a new white diaper was taped on her rump.   After the series of the usual morning rituals, the three ponies headed out towards the dinner hall.  Shining who had stopped by a calendar noticed the date, one that would normally be just any other day for any other pony.   But for Shining, today was different.   “Today… on a cold morning of winter, a week before Carnival... I lost you,” he said, as he bowed his head “I swear I won't stop trying to get you back.”   Cadence turned around noticing Shining starring the calendar, and hearing his mumblings.   “Sweetie, are you coming?”   “Yes, my dear,” shining sighed fixing his mane a bit in the mirror adjacent. “Just give me a minute.”  He watched as Cadence nudged Twilight to continue walking, and Twilight obeying to the command. Soon they were out of sight.    Last night had been a revelation to him.   “So much time hating and not enough focused on my own life... not that I had neglected it at all, considered how much I worked. I can cast a shield spell, for crying out loud, a mental reversal should be simple enough in theory, but, apparently, Princess Celestia has more knowledge about counter-offensive magic than me.”   Shining after several more long moments of rambles made his to the dinner hall. Twilight had already been seated next to Cadence, a cute baby blue bib tied on her neck.  With a smile on his face, he took a seat on the other side of his sister awaiting the morning meal to be made.   “So, did you sleep well Twilight?” He put his hoof over her shoulder.   Twilight turned as she played around with the bib. “Yes, I did. Had dweam about big twin.”   Cadence tilted her head a bit at the statement though let Shining ask the questions.   “Twin? What do you mean Twi?” Shining tickled Twilight tummy a bit.   Twilight giggled lightly. “She was big, weawing doctah coat. She tawk about bwain and doors and poke me with a cold round thing. It tickled. Den towd me to ‘see fwiends’ and ‘use deiw hewp.’ Dunno wat means.”   Cadence blinked a bit and looked over at Shining who had the same puzzled expression, but, at the same time, they both understood the actual meaning… to some degree.   “There is hope…” Shining murmured   Cadence nodded a bit in reply, as the bowls of oatmeal were wheeled into the hall. “I think I know what she should do today.”   -------- “Three tickets to Ponyville please.” Cadence said handing thirty bits to the teller. The train’s bells ring outside as the teller gave her the tickets.  She had insisted on paying for a private car but didn’t want any guards, unlike how the usual escort procedures said to do.  To be frank, they were rather unnecessary most of the time, she could handle herself just fine in a shuffle.   With a quick twist of her side, she adjusted her saddlebag, her cutie mark emblazoned on the side.  Taking the tickets in her magic, she walked back to Shining and Twilight who were both happily eating a vanilla ice cream, Shining slowly and orderly, Twilight messily and rapidly.   “Okay, I’ve got the tickets and supplies, we need to get going.” Cadence said, while waving a hoof towards the platform, thusly casually greeting her subjects.  Twilight hopped up, nuzzled Cadence and followed.  Once onboard of the train, the three get settled, Cadence pulling out a few puzzles to occupy Twilight’s time.   She leans on her husband's neck and whispered into his ear “Shining we should talk in private.”                      Without hesitation, Shining nodded leaving her sis to work on the puzzle as they went into the small side sleeping car adjacent.  He sat on the bed, the springs bouncing him a bit. “You think there is hope in saving my sister.”   “That is the hope of this entire trip, Shining.” She replied taking a seat next to him. “If she could remember you as her brother, even after all this time, then I can prove that Celestia never erased her memory, but just suppressed it.”   Shining kissed her before replying. “I know I already said I’m sorry, but I’d just like to say it again. Though, why are we talking in private?”   Cadence shrugged.  “I thought that Twilight could overhear, get confused, and ask more questions. “   Shining looked out the window at the passing scenery “Yeah, hopefully seeing past friends will help in the recovery.”   “That is also my hope,” Cadence said, leaving the room silent for a few minutes.   “Do we go back to Twilight now?” Shining asked for break the ice.   “Yes, that would be better,” Cadence said, as she rose up from the bed “Elysium knows what she did while we were somewhere else…”   The train came to a halt, The whistle blaring as it pulled into the station around noon. The platform was near vacant as they exited the train. Cadence had tried to send a letter to Spike in advance to notice them of their visit, but, naturally, since Spike had lost his prerogative as post burped, Cadence had to send it via telegraph. Cadence still hoped that they could read it in time for her coming.   Shining took a breath of the fresh air as he stretched out his muscles. Taking a gander down the street, he saw the spotless white unicorn mare walking towards the station. Spike rode on her back, a right once reserved for Twilight herself.  Rarity trotted up with her usual grace up to the group. Her saddle bag, oddly enough, had a noticeable small in-built saddle                        “Ah Princess Cadence, Shining Armour, What a pleasant surprise to see you here,” Rarity said with a bow, before noticing that Twilight was also with them, at which point she let out a cringed face, before grinning in a clearly awkward way.   Twilight was oblivious taking the grin as just what, in her limited mind, looked like a happy gesture. Her eyes moved towards Rarity’s back, at which point she smiled.   “Rarara.” She said, pointing to Rarity and smiling widely at her.   Rarity’s head cocked and her pupils shrunk to microscopic size.   “Y-yes… it’s me, Rarity, Twilight. I… didn’t expect an answer, or actual recognition, from you.”   Then Rarity looked confused at Cadence, while Twilight happily smiled at Rarity with a puffed out chest.   “What happened to her, after our first meeting here in this quaint town?”   “First meeting?” Cadence asked “Didn’t you meet only at my wedding?”   “To be truthful…” Rarity started to tell her tale.   //---//   “Rarity, what has gotten in you? You are in such a hurry, that you couldn’t let me eat?” Applejack asked being hastily escorted by her unicorn friend.   “Spike told me to fetch the others, since it is something very important, and I just happen to be the closest pony he found.” She replied. “He seemed quite distraught about whatever it was, but he talked very fast about it, so I didn’t get the details.”   “Okay I'm moving, just stop draggin’ me around like if I was a plow!” Applejack said, dragging her hooves along, creating a very visible trench on the mud.   Rarity blinked, stopping what she was doing and turned back to look. “Oh sorry I just worry about Spike a lot more since Twilight been gone.”   Applejack nodded “Yeah he has been spending a lot of time with ya.” She adjusted her hat “Did you get the others yet?”   Rarity nodded. “Oh no need to worry I sent Dash out to get them, now come along, we must get to the library as soon as we can!” ---------   Princess Celestia stood tall standing in the center of the library, her mane still blowing, even without any trace of wind around. The expression on her face almost told the whole situation without a single word.  The usual posture she held in public looked slightly shaky.   It didn’t take long for them to notice Twilight’s posture and current state, since she drooled quite profusely from the side of her mouth, and was staring into the empty space.   “What happened to her?” Spike asked again, his entire body shaking like a leaf.   “Yeah, what happened to her, princess?” Rainbow Dash asked, while looking at her purple friend sideways with a frown. “She seems… retarded.”   “Was there an accident?” Pinkie asked approaching Twilight slowly, her usual grin faltering with each second she stared at her absent-minded friend.   Celestia darted her eyes about for a second before replying. “Yes she was attempting a mental enhancement spell and…” Celestia gulped “it backfired.” “Mental enhancement? She’s already smart! Why would she even do something like that?” Applejack asked suspicious, narrowing her eyes.   Celestia’s hooves shuffle a bit as the gang all look towards her, minus one dragon who kept watching Twilight his own posture crumbling with each passing second.   “She… she wanted to impress her classmates.” Princess Celestia said quickly.   “They were Kindergarteners. It wouldn't have taken a spell to impress them!” Dash protested. “No offense, princess, but I think you're hiding something.”   “I also do,” Rarity said “I, and my companions, would like an actual explanation of what truly happened to our friend. It is in our interest, both as her friends and as Bearers.” Rarity looked in Princess Celestia’s eyes “Tell us.”   Celestia looked away. There was silence for a long time, interrupted only by light crinkles from the diaper that Twilight now wore.     Then there was a sniffle and another, and finally, Celestia violently turned around and spoke up.   “She is regressed! She thinks, speaks and acts like a one year and half old! She cannot recognize herself in a mirror! She can’t write, read or anything of such magnitude! She is just a filly now!” She tears up a bit “I did it okay!”   The group gasped and suddenly as if a cannon had gone off, things got out of hoof.   Applejack was the first to speak gesturing a hoof. “Why did you do it!? You have taken our friend away like that, without even warning us!”   Fluttershy was already sobbing loudly, loud moans accompanying each sighs, and tears streaming down her eyes like a spring waterfall.   Rainbow Dash, after letting out a couple of snort, flew up face to face with Celestia and screamed.  “You did it! You just did it! Get out of this place now, or else I will tear you apart, limb by limb!”   Applejack yanked Dash back out of fear of retaliation. The tension in the room kept building like a boiling pot as time went on.   “I just...well…” Celestia quivered a bit in hooves. They honestly had never seen Celestia so terrified like that time.   Pinkie only smiled, seemingly oblivious to the situation happening around her.   “Get out!” Dash yelled, being held only by her earth pony friend, who just happened to be strong enough to avoid problems.   While the rest seemed to focus their anger and sorrow on the princess Spike’s only goal was on Twilight.  He approached her slowly reaching out a claw. “T-twilight?”   All he got in response were a curious stare from Twilight.   Spike wavered, at the blank, empty eyes.  The situation crushed his soul as he realized the new reality. Within seconds, Spike’s eyes watered, as he ran away.  “No! No, please no! Not this!”   Rarity turned immediately focusing all her attention on her dragon friend as she gave chase after him. “Spike wait!”   \\--\\   “And that is how our first meeting with her went,” Rarity said, before letting out a sigh. “it was quite distressing on an emotional level. But I’m happy that Twilight has slowly regained some of her brain.”   Twilight squared Rarity with wide eyes, frowning a bit, unable to remember that moment.   Shining waved at Spike happy to see him as well.  The purple dragon looked over at Twilight, his face changing to fit his likely mixed emotions inside him.   “Is… is she okay now?” He asked with a voice that mixed fearfulness, hope, and curiosity all at the same time. Then he climbed off Rarity’s back and approached.   Shining nodded at Spike’s question. “She seems to be recovering from whatever Celestia did to her.” He petted Twilight mane gently.   Spike looked into Twilight eyes and, within an eyelid bat, he was hugging her tightly, and Twilight instinctively hugs back murmuring “Spike.”   “Do you remember me now?” He asked with hopeful smile.   Shining watched Twilight thinking about it for a few seconds.   He was smiling. “Just concentrate Twily, you can do it.” He said into her ear.   Twilight kept hugging Spike “Umm, wedding?”   Shining nodded ever so slightly, even if he wasn’t waiting for that response.   “Yes, he was there, but also…”   Shining moved his left hoof in cue, and so did Cadence, while Spike crossed his fingers, hope in his eyes                      “Fwiend!” she said, hugging him again and thusly causing him to drop his finger crossing.   “Not what I was wishing for,” he said a bit flustered “but close enough for now.” “No, it is not enough,” Shining murmured annoyed, before going up to Twilight and shaking her lightly “Come on, Twily, remember!” Cadence quickly made Shining stop shaking Twilight   “Calm down it might take some time.” She said, before looking at Twilight’s startled expression. “I know you and everyone else wants her back, but being aggressive won’t help.”   Shining let go of her sister standing up to his usual stance, “I’m just determined, sorry.” He said, before joining the small gang.   Spike hugged Twilight again, before going back to Rarity and climbing back on. The group starts moving down the street all wanting to grab something to eat.   “Just keep Twilight away from Velvet.” He warns.   “Why exactly? Isn’t she already seeing her like a filly?” Shining Armour asked.   “She’s nuts!” Spike declared throwing his arms up.   Rarity turned to look back at him with a scolding look “Now, Spike we talked about this.”   “I know, I know, but still...”   Shining scanned about the street, cautious as a jittery mouse ran after crumbs. “Wait, what about my mother? Don’t tell me she got worse!”   Rarity scratched the back of her head, and tried to spoke up, but she was interrupted by the sound of squeaking wheels getting nearby.  An oversized foal carriage came around the corner, being pulled by a well-dressed white and purple mare that Shining immediately recognized as Velvet.   Without even thinking about it, he took a defensive position with his horn and body, and his wife and sister behind him like if he was protecting a scared child. Admittedly, it was a rather amusing sight to behold.   His eyes focusing on the odd sight of the pink earth pony in the clearly oversized carriage. Pinkie was fully dressed like a foal including booties, a light blue bonnet and a white pacifier strapped around her neck. To top it off, she wore a light yellow sundress that stopped just short of the diaper.   Pinkie, from her carriage, waved at the group, and Velvet sing-sang.  “Oh, hello there Shiny! Enjoying your time with your love birdie Caddy?”   Shining noticed Cadence’s light blush as he looked back at her, before facing back to her insane mother.   “Yes we just came for a visit. So, no, no mind games with us!” He does his best to hide Twilight, although the little filly’s mind wasn’t interested in playing hide and seek.   “Pink Pink!” Twilight cheered coming out from behind the two. She ran up to the carriage, bouncing in her step, unlike her usual walking pose, a waddle.   Shining cringed, fearing the worst, as Velvet moved out from behind the carriage and up to the filly, so he rushed up behind her just to be sure.   Velvet gave wide happy smile before she spoke.  “Oh, my dear Twilight is here as well!” Velvet said cooing, while her mentally regressed daughter went towards her. “Come on, give mommy a hug!”   “Yes, mommy!” Twilight said as she jumped onto Velvet hugging her.  Shining resisted the temptation to rip the two away but kept at bay for now.   While the two hugged, Cadence glanced at Pinkie once more.   “Well... uh... you’re looking cute.” She said, scratching her ear while doing so. Pinkie’s reply was fast.   “Well, thank you,” she said with a giggle “I’ve gotten used to it.” She grinned as she looked at Twilight “Hard to do parties though.”   “I see,” Cadence said “thought… what happened to Velvet exactly? Why is she still like this?”   “Well, with Twilight ‘gone,’ she has fallen into despair and kind of saw me as a one year old foal.” Her face took on a light shade of blush. “Not so bad, at least she’s not babying the whole town, and I am happy with this treatment.”   After a short look back at Velvet tickling Twilight, she giggled as well. “I’m still town’s number one party pony, just a diapered one, hehe…”   “I see.” Cadence said, while Shining Armour tried to separate Velvet from Twilight.   “Okay, time to get moving.” He said quickly, staring cautiously at Velvet.   “Oh, do you mind if walk with you?” Velvet asked as her aura grabbed the handlebar of the carriage.   “Yes, a lot, mother,” Shining said scornful “keep away from me.”   “No need to be rude Shiny, didn’t Caddy teach you any manners?” She mothered, only adding more fuel to the fire.   Shining got Twilight back over to Cadence and pointed a hoof towards the library.     “Let’s go before she tries something!” He hushed into Cadence’s ear.   Cadence shrugged and the group started moving again. Twilight waved at Pinkie as they leave, the happy huge filly giggling when Pinkie made a silly face back. The group broke off, as Rarity and Spike headed to the Sugarcube Corner.   “Alright,” Shining said, while he quickly recalled the trip’s path in his mind “next stop, the Golden Oaks Library, now Estive Residence of Duchess Sunset of Manehattan.”   “Why do you want to see her, dear?” Cadence asked while petting Twilight’s mane on the walk.                      “She lives in the same building where my sister used to live before the punishment,” He replied. “and she might know more about how to speed up Twilight’s recovery. before the week is up and Celestia keeps ruining her.”   “Oh, alright,” Cadence said “Just don’t do anything… crazy.”   Shining scoffed “Bah, enough crazies in our family tree as is.”   As soon as he said that, Shining raised his head, and saw the tree-library covered in bronze and brass in front of him, making it look like an imposing and strong structure.   After knocking the now-huge and decorated door with a nearby small hammer, Shining and Cadence with Twilight in tow waited for a response from inside.   A raspy voice rang out from beyond the door asking.  “State your identity, whoever you are!”   “I’m Emperor Shining Armour, Baron of Athina and Duke of Flowerence,” Shining said “We came to visit the Duchess.”   There was a quick green aura passing over Shining’s body, before the door could be heard squeaking.   “Very well. You come most carefully upon Duchess Shimmer’s hour of leisure.” The door opened revealing a tall stallion in leather guard attire. He waves his hoof towards the stairs.   The three wasted no time waiting, and ran into the big hall with the floor made of marble and the walls covered in amber.   “She should be upstairs,” Shining quickly ascended the stairs, his hooves echoing through the large hall, along with the much lighter steps of Cadence and Twilight.   After a rather short walk up the stairs, Shinning was greeted by the sight of a narrow corridor and a red wooden door with granite caryatids as support at the end of it. He had to admit, for a simple library, Sunset sure hadn’t wasted any expense on making it look fanciful.   Shining stood upright regaining his guard composure and knocked with a firm clack. It only took a few moments for a response to be heard from the other side.   “Who is requesting my attention?” Sunset's voice rang proudly.   “Emperor Shining Armour and Empress Cadence, we just want to have a meeting with you, Grace.”   The door opened revealing the study beyond a fire roasting in the cobblestone fireplace.  Sunset sitting at her desk, an assortment of papers stacked about, along with scrolls and other objects of varying purpose. She stood up and adjusted the sun-shaped pin in her mane, before trotting out from behind and into the center of the room accepting the hoof shake Shining offered a few seconds later.   “It is a great pleasure to see you again, Shining Armour, how long has it been?” She greeted while looking away.   Shining took a moment to look back at Cadence and his sister still standing in the doorway gesturing them inside. “I do believe the last we saw each other was during my wedding.”   She nodded in reply.   “I can recall that is correct.” Her eyes moved beyond the stallion noticing the other two guests, one in particular attracting her attention. “Oh, hello again, Lost Student.” She waved at the diapered mare.   Twilight stood beside Cadence, idly smiling at Sunset, with her filly-like innocence. “Hi, new nice mare!”   “Her name is Sunset Shimmer, Twily.” Shining reminded her.   Twilight let out a small giggle, clearly finding something amusing. “Shimmy shake.”   Shining’s face turned red, while Cadence hurried and put a hoof over Twilight’s mouth, smiling awkwardly.   “Sorry, Your Grace, she is still trying to understand.”   “It is fine,” Sunset said “I’ve heard worse directed to me. Also, it is kind of amusing, if I have to be perfectly honest.”   Sunset walked back to her chair and sat down. “So, what do you wish from me?”   Shining, of course was the first speak up.  “Well we were wondering if you had any more knowledge on memory spells, since you have access to the Royal Archives and similar.”   Sunset ear twitched lightly at the mention of the archives. “I see this has something to do with Celestia, doesn’t it?”  She asked dryly.   Both the adult ponies nodded, while Twilight went on to toy around with a wooden globe nearby.   Sunset Shimmer sighed and looked outside the window. “I will do it… eventually. But it will take a bit.”   Shining approached the desk a slight frown on his face, putting his hoof on the wooden surface. “We only have a week, we can’t wait.”   Sunset hadn’t even flinched at the somewhat aggressive stand Shining was taking. She looked towards Twilight, as she fiddled with the pin in her mane, and looked briefly at the full sun decoration at the base of the globe.   The symbol brought back memories to Sunset…   //---//     Sunset was standing in front of the statue where ages ago served as entrance point in the human world, which she visited out of a desire of power.   However, she had quickly found out that no power waited for her there. So, when she had received a letter written in the unmistakable calligraphy of Princess Celestia, she jumped at the opportunity. After all, an amnesty, even with undisclosed reasons, was an amnesty, and Sunset wasn’t going to lose that opportunity.   So she had set her journey from the boarding house to the statue just in front of Canterlot High School, and waited.   And waited…And waited…And waited for hours on end.   “Ugh,” Sunset thought, as she noticed the sun setting on the horizon “when this portal is going to activate?”   As soon as she said that, she noticed a leaf flying towards the portal… and vanishing.   ‘Finally.” She walked effortlessly through the shimmer silver wall, and felt the ever-so-missed feeling of magic ravaging her body like ocean waves. Few seconds later, Sunset felt pushed forward, and so she prepared her hooves for the landing on the hard stone floor.   And, as she had predicted she absorbed the impact, then looked up, and saw Princess Celestia standing there with a frown and a lowered face. For a moment, she had thought this was a trap, and that she was still waiting to reap her head   “So, Princess Celestia,” She asked with cocksureness, moments later of odd quiet. “Have you finally decided to forgive me?”   “Yes… for the greater good of the realm.” Celestia said with a sigh, “My new personal student has…”   “Left for better life options? Sunset said with a snicker.   “Not exactly.” Her hooves shuffled on the floor. “I… I… gave her said option.”   “So... she failed you, and you thought I could do better?” She asked with a hint of snark.   “Well… yes… since she can’t kind of do anything as she is now…”   Sunset ears perked up “Wait...is she dead!” She asked, jumping to worst-case scenario immediately, and causing Celestia to reply quickly.   “Nonono, that didn’t happen, she has simply returned to a…” Celestia gulped, “Simpler state.”   “What do you mean by a ‘simpler state’? Did she get turned into a foal?”   Celestia blinked surprised at the quick guess.  “Yes, terrible accident, quite... tragic.”   Sunset nodded “Very well, if that is so, I shall be your student once again. After all, I’ve been far from my brothers for too long, and the effect of not seeing familiar faces has worn me. But I will serve you under several conditions…”   “What are those?” Celestia asked with a hint of pleading in her voice.   “A duchy grant,” Sunset said with a grin, “full regalia, and ability to have it as hereditary title.”   Celestia gulped a bit, but looked desperate. this only made Sunset grin grow ever so slightly.  “Well...” Celestia said, clearly attempting to cut her losses “Is the Duchy of Appaloosa enough?”   Sunset shook her head.  “Give me the best you have. Flowerence… Manehattan… Romea… Fillydelphia…” \\--\\ Sunset Shimmer as brought out of her trance by a loud thump upon her desk causing several bobbles to rattle from the impact. She gulped as she looked right into Shining’s stare.   “Well?”  Shining asked again. “Will you help or not?” He kept up his stance, staring deep enough to pierce her very soul. A growing sense of urgency could be seen in his expression with every second he didn’t receive an answer from the mare.   “I… I will.” Sunset said with clear reluctance. “I will do as fast as I can, but I cannot guarantee anything.”   Shining loosened his stance ever so slightly, as he put his hoof back on the floor. He nodded at her answer satisfied enough yet still uneasy feeling Sunset was just going to stale to keep her all so prodigious position.  Despite this he trusted her to do the right thing, in the end, anything was fine for get her sister back.   “Thank you, Sunset this means a lot more than you would guess at first glance.”   Sunset rose from her chair once more going over to Twilight and gently petting the mare’s mane.  “I understand clearly Shining. You just want your sister back, and enjoy what family you still have. Must be a shame to have both your parents be…how do I put it lightly?”   “Without the light of reason?” Cadence pipes up.   Sunset nodded and kept petting “I guess that is as close assessment as any.”   Twilight enjoyed the petting. She looked... joyful for some reason, but at this point it was unsure what she was so happy about.  Could have easily been the fact that she had found a new friend. Worst case scenario, it was just gas.   After a quick chat, Shining and Sunset headed down to the library floor to do some research, while Cadence kept Twilight occupied with a makeover.   “So anything you can suggest?” He asked.  After a quick walk down the stairs, he watches Sunset flip through pages of several books at once.   “I’m looking for Mind Keys Spells, for such things aren’t uncommon, but are very hard to cast. They are supposed to be reserved for Princess Celestia and Interrogators, but I rule over there, so...” She stated as she set a few books back in a steady progression. Her eyes never seemed to leave a page for more than a second, skipping from point to point like fireflies. “Let’s just say I acquired a few things I shouldn't really have my hooves on.”   Shining nodded not really interested in the point of her having access to restricted materials. After all, she was trustworthy enough not to do something stupid or reckless. He felt like some lab assistant, in just sitting there idly.  As much as he wanted to help in the search, he really didn’t know anything about this library.   After half an hour of painstakingly peeking at every tome she could possible glue her eyes too, Sunset sighed wiping her brow. “Alright, I think I have an idea but it will take a couple of days to piece it all together.”   Suddenly her stomach gave out an audible rumble, and she blushed a bit.   “Hehe time for lunch I take it?” Shining teased getting up off his chair.   “Technically, yes,” she said “but I am willing to keep going for quite a while. If that pleases you, leave. I will inform you as soon as I have something.”   Cadence and Twilight came down together both smiling. Twilight had her mane styled in cute bun, just like her sister-in-law used to have in her teenage years.     “We are closer to the solution now. The Duchess Sunset will give us what we need to fix Twilight in two days.” A small grin came to Shining face as he waved at the descending mares.   “Really?” Cadence said, before turning to Twilight “That is really nice to hear!”   Twilight remained silent, as she hummed something that sounded like a song about siblinghood and how it benefited her.   Shining turned back to Sunset for a moment adjusting his mane. “Sunset, would you care to join us for lunch at Sugarcube Corner?”   Sunset, rubbed of her chin for a few seconds, before she shrugged. “Sure thing, an hour or two isn’t going to slow my progresses that much.”   With a quick nod to the guard the group head out into the street.  Along the way, Twilight scanned her surrounding, eying anything that caught her eye or seemed to spark something inside her.   Shining smile was now glued to his face at all the good things happening in this little amount of time.   “Everything is going so well, what could go wrong now?” He thought, before quickly correcting himself “Actually, scratch that. It tends to attract bad luck.”   Twilight froze at the door of the cafe looking upwards the building. Her eyes scanning it delicately and with the same child-like wonder as they did at the right time of life. Shining really wished he could see inside Twilight’s mind.   Pinkie waddled up to the counter putting her hooves on the counter, seemingly no one minding Pinkie attire much. Although all she had on for the moment was a silly flower yellow bonnet.  “Hey again.” She greeted, looking about cautiously. “Here for lunch?”   “Yes.” Shining stated dryly, as he gestured to Cadence and Twilight to take a seat “What kind of foods do you serve, baked goods aside?”   “Oh, buns, sandwiches, that kind of stuff,” she said. “Wanna take a seat, before I take your order?”   Shining and the rest took a seat at the far end of the main room. Pinkie gave Twilight a colouring booklet usually reserved for actual foals and a few crayons before getting the menus for the three adults.   Shining took a quick look at the room, before letting out a sigh of relief at the absence of Velvet and the presence of a couple of lone ponies instead.  He watched Twilight idly colour in Luna’s flank with green making him chuckle a bit.   “Hehe, that’s the wrong colour, sis.”   Twilight giggled, looking at the cheesecake ad on the little pamphlet. “Green cheese moon.”   Shining shrugged, before smirking patting Twilight head. “You have the strangest imagination at times.”   As soon as he said that, Pinkie returned with a notepad and a pen. “So, are you ready to order?” She asked adjusting her bonnet a bit.   Sunset, who had been idly polishing her nails while waiting, looked up. “I’ll have a coffee and two waffles, please. Extra strawberries, if that is possible.”   “Mushroom salad for me.” Candace replied “Oh what should we get Twilight?”   Twilight suddenly points to Sunset making the mare jump a bit. “Pancake.”   “Well guess that answers it.” Cadence chuckled as Pinkie wrote it down.   Shining looked up from his menu looking puzzled. “I know what I want, just one question first,” His eyes scanned the room again, still not convinced the coast was clear. “Is Velvet around?”   Pinkie nodded making Shining cringe a bit. “She just upstairs taking care of Pumpkin and Pound Cake.” She said “Only time I can seem to get privacy.” She added light heartedly.   Shining was still tense but eased enough to enjoy his time here with Cadence. Taking one more look towards the door, he saw the other Elements Bearers walking in all looking rather cheery.  Rarity seemed to be talking with Applejack as they came in.   “Well, why didn’t ya’ tell me they were visiting sooner, Rarity?”   “I just wasn’t sure how you would react is all.  You do have a tendency to overreact.”   “This is coming from the drama queen.” Applejack quips before spotting the group in question. With a quick trot over to the table, she smiled.   “Good day y’all!” Applejack said, while Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash followed, their eyes all focusing on their friend drawing the green-coated Luna.   “Good day, Applejack,” Sunset shimmer said “I see that everypony else is also here!”   “Yeah, we all met up at mah farm for quick drink before coming over here.” Applejack replied once more staring at Twilight. “How is she?”   “A bit broken still,” Shining quickly said. “But she’s recovering a little.” He gave a nudge to Twilight to get her attention ay from her crafts.   Twilight blinked as she noticed all the stares, before springing towards them hastily climbing over Shining to reach them.   “Jacky! Dashy! Flut-flut!” She said happily, while the ones mentioned stared, unsure on what to do, aside from wave awkwardly.  She hugged Fluttershy first, sniffing her usual flowery scent.   Fluttershy froze for a second due to her timid nature. “Oh, h-hey Twilight I see you are doing well.”   Twilight hugged a bit stronger, causing Fluttershy’s eyes to bug out, and for Applejack to intervene in separating the two.   “She’s still as dumb as a box of ripe apples, though!” Applejack said, before Twilight turned to hug her as a result.   “She isn’t stupid. I mean, remember the wedding?” Pinkie blurts from behind scaring the group half to death, how they didn’t hear her crinkles was a mystery.   Rarity was the first to turn around, holding her hoof to her chest. “Pinkie, how many times do we have to tell you not to sneak up on us like that?”   Pinkie let out a small giggle. “Oh, I’m surprised you didn’t hear the diaper crinkling or something.” She set the orders down on the table with the slightest of ease.   “What was about the wedding?” Shining asked, waving a Pinkie again as he let Twilight get back into her seat to eat.   “Oh, don’t you remember? Twilight recognized Chrysalis disguised like Cadence because the first taped the diaper the wrong way and did not know where to apply the powder.”   Twilight and Shining both chuckled, as Applejack tilted her head.   “Yeah, but that was still foal stuff, it didn’t mean she was smart.”   “True. But she still made the connection, between a stranger in disguise and Cadence unable to do things that she had taken for granted.” Shining pointed out, causing Cadence to blush slightly. Meanwhile, Twilight undid her hug and commented.   “Big black horsebug was meanie.” She stuck out her tongue rather comically. Twilight picks up the fork with her magic, apparently subconsciously, and then she clapped. “Oh lookie!” The fork kept hovering there as she stared at her floating fork with wonder.   Rarity smiled at the sight a smile of delight on her face. “Has she used magic since her change?” She asked surprised.   “Actually… yes. In fact, she has thrown my Chancellor out of a window by accident,” Shining grinned awkwardly. “The poor guy refused to stay around her ever since.”   A few more lines of dialogue were exchanged between the gang as they ate. Suddenly, in a moment of silence, Rarity blurted out.   “I hope Spike is doing fine, while with my sister’s friends. I mean, between his hot headedness and my sister’s impulsive nature, the result could be messy.”   “Oh you worry too much about Spike sometimes Rarity.” Dash ate her salad as she commented rolling her eyes.   “Well, somepony has to look after Spikey Wikey. I didn’t see anyone else volunteering. at the time” Rarity replied twiddling her fork about.   “Oh.” Rainbow Dash stated, as she took out some bits. ”Well I should be going, promised Scootaloo I’d watch her do some tricks in a bit.”   Rarity waved goodbye as Dash flew towards the door “Say hello to Spike for me.” She mothered just as her friend zipped out leaving her usual trail of rainbow behind.   ---------   “Well that was certainly a productive visit.” Shining said as three waited at the train platform for the train to arrive.  Time after lunch had been relaxed overall even manage to work in a walk through the park.  Twilight seemed happier which in turn made Shining happy as well.   “It was very nice outing indeed, and I’m happy we can restore Twilight soon, even if it means conspiring behind Aunt Celestia’s back.” The last part of her sentence made her nervous a bit.   “It is hardly conspiring against Celestia, dear, it getting back what she stole from us. Totally different thing altogether.”   “I’m still not sure about that, but okay.” Cadence replied still a bit uneasy watching Twilight play with a Daring Do doll they got her from the toy store.   Shining on the other hoof seemed rather confident in his actions. “I know what I'm doing is right. It’s how it should be. I just want my sister back. We are so close no turning back now.”   Cadence put a hoof on his shoulder “I know, and I do too, just nervous of what Celestia might think of us doing this and all.”   Shining rolled his eyes. “She may be royalty but Luna, she just stood by while all that happened.” He points to Twilight. “I don't know why she didn’t do anything about Celestia actions, it’s like she just put it aside for the sake of being sisters.”   They made their way onto the train and take their seats, Twilight sitting next to Cadence while Shining once more looked out the window.   The ride was scheduled to go through Canterlot and then roundabout to the empire. The trip to Canterlot took around two hours. Suddenly there was a harsh rattling as the train came to a halt near the station.  A voice rang over the intercom.   “What do you mean ‘the axis is broken?”